KRISTEN’S STORY: (WINNER)
What’s The Deal With Ear Candling?
The Bottom Line: Doctors doubt the usefulness of ear candles.
People who are into ear candling really want to convert us ear candling virgins. And if you’re into the world of natural remedies, essential oils, and treating ear infections with olive oil and garlic, you’ve probably had friends share all the benefits of ear candling with you, but for those that don’t know, here’s the low-down.
An ear candle is a hollow cone, about a foot long, shaped like a tapered candle. It’s usually made out of unbleached linen dipped in paraffin or beeswax. A person lies down on their side and someone inserts the “candle” in their ear and lights it. A paper plate protects the outside of the ear and head as the candle burns down for about 10 minutes.
Those who love it say the burning candle creates a vacuum, sucking the ear wax out into the hollow part of the candle. They say they hear better and have less ear wax. Fans even point out that you see gunk that looks like ear wax in there. Ew!
But despite their excitement over the practice, research just doesn’t back it up. That gunk is there even if you burn the candle outside the ear, it’s from the burning candle itself. Studies done on ear candles have shown that no vacuum is created when they’re burned in the ear. And it’s generally not a good idea to stick something on fire into your body. Doctors report injuries like burns and eardrum perforations as a result of ear candling. So let the hippies have their fun, but don’t believe the ear candling hype.
Source: Scary Mommy
JASON'S STORY:
Guy Breaks Up With Gym With A Breakup Letter
It’s such a pain actually signing up for a gym membership. And it’s hard to get yourself motivated to actually workout. However, it’s not that hard to just decide not to go. Except if you’re this one guy, who actually wrote a break up letter to his gym after moving away. He was a member of Planet Fitness gym. When he moved to another state, he was forced to cancel the membership. Unfortunately, contracts with Planet Fitness…like most gyms…are pretty difficult to break. As a result, Planet Fitness wouldn’t allow him to cancel his contract over the phone. They wanted a certified letter of cancellation. So he wrote one…just like a heartbreaking breakup letter.
‘It is with deep regret, and a heavy heart that I write this letter, but I must come forth with my intentions with sincerity and honesty. Certain events in my life have put me in a different place, and while it was one of the more taxing decisions I’ve had to make of late, it is the right one. The purpose of this letter is to end my relationship with Planet Fitness. I know I’ve been distant, but it’s because I’ve changed. I have different needs now, and to be frank… you really haven’t changed at all. You’re still that bulky, purple and yellow building with the tootsie rolls at the counter. I don’t want to change you, and it pains me to think that we were once one, but are now separate and in different places. I don’t want you to be jealous, or to judge me based on this decision, he wrote. That’s not the Planet Fitness that I know and love. I still love you, but more like a friend at this point. I’m sorry things couldn’t have been better between us. I still think fondly of you, and the time we spent together as I drive by one of your many locations. Sometimes, when I’m alone, I even throw one of my old ‘power-pop workout’ playlists and feel the rush of our past course through me as if we were still one; holding hands with your elliptical machine, and gingerly brushing my sweaty bangs out of my face as I huff and puff in a tumultuous vortex of sweat and endorphins. He concluded the letter: However, all good things must come to an end, and I hope this letter finds you well. You just keep being you, and while we will both grow, it will be into our own new lives without each other. I think this is for the better.
P.S, my wife also needs to cancel her membership. If we were Planet Express right now, we’d be hurting.
The people at Planet Fitness probably wish they would have just let him cancel over the phone!