TODAY’S TOPICS:
Jersey Shore party foul …24 lifeguards on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, tested positive for COVID-19 after attending two parties. The lifeguards are being quarantined and won’t be back on the job until they are cleared by doctors. (NJ.com)
Speaking of parties …A new survey by Evite found that 33% of respondents say they’ve already attended at least one in-person party since COVID-19 started. 41% say they would attend a family member’s birthday party, even if coronavirus cases are increasing in their area. 36% said would go to a friend’s birthday party and 26% would attend a wedding. That said, 60% said they would prefer to attend parties virtually for the rest of the year
What would make people feel safer when attending parties?78% say they want strict health and safety rules in place when going to in-person events. That would mean attending parties with only about six guests there. 49% say they want socially distanced chairs and tables. Another 49% say they would feel better if everyone was wearing a mask and ate individual food servings. 67% say they’d like temperature checks at parties, and 43% want to make sure everyone attending the party has tested negative for COVID-19.
Secret socializers …The survey also revealed that 50% of respondents say they have become “secret socializers,” who hide the fact that they are getting together with people. And 54% plan to keep their socializing secret for the time being.
Burrito bowl essay pays off …18-year-old Alex Tiso of Rockland County, New York, was struggling to find a topic to write about for his college application essay. So he decided to write about his favorite burrito bowl from Qdoba Mexican restaurant: White rice, brisket, black beans, bacon, extra queso, and every single topping. In his essay Alex explained how each ingredient in his go-to burrito bowl represented an aspect of his character. Part of his essay read, "There is another side of me that can be a 'social butterfly,' which makes me 'the cheese' of the bow l... Just like queso, I can adapt to any situation, an ability that is especially prominent when it comes to interacting with new people." Thanks to his creativity, Alex was accepted into his dream school, The University of Delaware. Not only that … he is getting free Qdoba meals for a year and will even have a burrito bowl named after him at the chain’s location near the University of Delaware campus. (Insider)
Bye-bye, hot dog legs …Remember when the hottest summer photos on social media were of "hot dog legs" at the beach? Well, that trend is over -- likely because people aren’t traveling right now. Instead, your feed is probably filled with fake picnic photos. When you’re stuck at home and your only outdoor access is your backyard or the local park, you’ve got to stage the perfect photoshoot to get your likes. Influencers and your average Instagram users are making social distancing seem very chic by decorating a small patch of grass with a fancy blanket or bed sheet, and either books, notepads, picnic baskets or all the props you can squeeze into the frame to create the perfect ambiance to show you are living your best life. (WhoWhatWear)
Finally, some good news …A new study found that eating chocolate is good for your heart. The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, found that eating chocolate at least once a week could lead to a lower risk of heart disease. The study did not reveal how much chocolate to eat to get the heart-healthy benefits, but the study authors said, "It's likely that large quantities do not" have the desired effect on heart health. In other words … everything in moderation. (Insider)
Is there an amount of time it takes to get over someone? Seems according to science, there is. But it depends on your age. A study of undergraduate students who had gone through a breakup in the last 6 months found that it took 71% of participants 11 weeks to “get over it.” Another study of divorced adult over the age of 50 found that it took an average of 17 months and 26 days after the divorce was finalized to get over the split. (Your Tango)