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There’s a reason why the Japanese don’t need to dust as much as we do. And you can apply it easily

February 17, 2026 by usatoday24

When I was little and living in Switzerland, there was an unspoken rule that we all knew: the shoes They didn’t go beyond the doormat. It was common to see small shelves outside the doors, on the landing, where footwear that had walked on the street was abandoned. For us it was the norm, but when we crossed borders, that custom faded. Today, however, the situation seems to be changing globally. What we previously saw as a cultural curiosity of Japan or a Nordic eccentricity is beginning to make sense in the rest of the world. The contrast is fascinating. While in many Western homes cleaning is understood as a reaction (cleaning what has become dirty), in other cultures it is a preventive lifestyle design. In Japan the secret is not to clean for hours, but to prevent dirt from getting cross the threshold: “Cleaning is not a reaction, but a life design based on prevention.” This philosophy even extends to the air they breathe; Japanese residential ventilation technical documents highlight the critical importance of creating “air passages” by opening opposite windows to expel suspended particles, an obsession with environmental hygiene that invariably begins at the front door. And it’s not just a matter of visual perception. A study from Macquarie University in Sydney, puts it in perspective: until 60% of the dust and the dirt that accumulates inside a house comes from outside, and enters precisely through our feet. The architecture of custom Why is the world divided between those who barefoot and those who don’t? The answer lies in a mix of climate, architecture and philosophy. In Japan, the border is physical. According to the digital media Nipponthe houses have the genkana specific area at the entrance with a step called agari kamachi. This step marks the sacred boundary between the “outer world” (dirty) and the “inner world” (clean). Furthermore, traditional Japanese architecture uses floors tatami (straw mats), a delicate material that would be destroyed by rigid street shoes. In the Anglo-Saxon world, resistance it’s cultural. Journalist Jeff Yang tells in The Guardian a revealing anecdote about his Taiwanese aunt, who told him a lapidary phrase when she saw him enter wearing shoes: “When you enter my house with shoes, you are walking on my heart.” This clash illustrates the division: for some it is respect; for others, as indicated Real Simplewhere only 31% of Americans always barefoot, is an uncomfortable imposition. In Spain, the story is different and has its own peculiarities. There is no deep-rooted tradition to take off your shoes when entering. Historically, doing it in someone else’s house could even be interpreted as a lack of education or excessive trust (“taking too much confidence”). Unlike Nordic or Asian countries, Spain relies on reactive cleaning, something that users on discussion forums such as reddit rsummarize with humor and irony: “We can afford that custom because we invented the mop.” However, the trend is changing after the pandemic. More and more hosts are imposing the “zero shoe” rule for hygiene. It is the case of the influencer of lifestyle Patricia Fernández who, cited in Readingsassures that “removing your shoes at the entrance is your number 1 rule”, always offering comfortable options or baskets with slippers for your guests. Beyond the visible dirt, taking off your shoes has a profound psychological and symbolic impact. It’s not just hygiene, it’s a transition ritual. Dr. Manuel Viso explained that taking off your shoes sends a powerful signal to our brain: “Let’s change the environment, relax, we’re home, we’ve left work behind.” It is a physical switch for mental disconnection, how to change clothes. From an energy perspective, Feng Shui expert Gloria Ramos details in Interior Magazine that the main door is “the mouth of Qi“(vital energy). Leaving your shoes lying around or entering with them blocks that energy and the well-being of the home. Even the way you do it matters, in Japan etiquette requires not only taking off your shoes, but turn them so that they point towards the door (ready for departure) and do so without turning your back on the host, a gesture that denotes respect and consideration towards the community that inhabits that house. Science tips the balance decisively This is where the cultural debate collides with microscopic reality. If you thought your shoes were clean because you didn’t step in mud, experts have bad news. “99% of the shoes analyzed test positive for fecal matter,” pharmacist Álvaro Fernández flatly states. in The Aragon Newspaper. This is because we walk through streets where there are invisible remains of animal excrement and dirt from public toilets. Microbiologist Jonathan Sexton, from the University of Arizona, confirm in Very interesting that almost all soles harbor bacteria such as E.coli (present in 96% of cases) and Clostridium difficilea bacteria that causes serious intestinal problems. But it’s not just bacteria. According to The Conversation, Shoes carry pesticides from gardens, lead from urban dust, and carcinogenic asphalt sealants that end up in the air in our living rooms. It is important not to fall into alarmism. Although shoes are centers of dirt, they are not the only culprits. A published study in Scientific Reports warns that mobile phones are also “dangerous microbial platforms“that harbor a wide spectrum of organisms, often resistant to antibiotics, and that we constantly carry on our faces. It is another reminder that objects such as cell phones or kitchen sponges can have as much or more bacterial load than footwear. Still, experts like Kevin Garey they clarify thatalthough for a healthy adult the risk of infection from the floor is low (since we do not live at ground level), the recommendation is strict if there are crawling children or immunosuppressed people at home. The trend is clear: the frontier of the doormat is hardening in the West, but with our own style. we don’t have genkanbut we have learned to adapt our halls. More and more homes are incorporating benches, wicker baskets or narrow shoe racks … Read more

Countries are desperate to raise their birth rates. They have a very simple weapon to apply: teleworking

February 13, 2026 by usatoday24

He aging population is one of the most pressing problems for large economies around the world. The birth rate is a pillar in a country’s economy, since the economy, the labor market, education and health, among many other policies, depend on it. When governments talk about “birth crisis“, they almost always resort to the same repertoire of solutions: baby checks, tax deductions or daycare aid. The problem is that, after years of applying them, fertility in most rich countries continues on the ground. However, a new study raises a new perspective: what if the solution to the birth rate problem was in the way we work? In that scenario, teleworking appears as a surprisingly powerful lever. Telework to have more children. a study carried out by researchers at Stanford University has discovered that offering work flexibility and teleworking improves the fertility rate in couples in which one of the members teleworks. The researchers did not measure the number of births (natality), but rather the fertility indicator. That is, the number of children that participants say they plan to have. The result is difficult to ignore because someone who does not have free time or who considers that they could not take on the upbringing of a child, nor do they consider having one. That is to say, there is no such predisposition, which does not help the birth rate grows. According to the study, going from having no teleworking option to teleworking five days a week is associated with an approximate increase of 0.13 children per woman in terms of expected fertility. This is equivalent to an increase of between 7% and 8% over the average of the group analyzed. Birth and fertility are not the same. It should be noted that talking about birth and fertility represents different scenarios, and this confusion can distort the debate. The birth rate It is the number of births that occur in a country during a specific period. It is the most common data when talking about birth rate since it determines, in real terms, the number of annual births, and allows it to be compared with the number of deaths to establish the demographic balance. Fertility, on the other hand, is a background indicator. It represents the number of children a woman has (or is expected to have) throughout her life. It is usually expressed as Global Fertility Rate (TGF). The difference between both concepts is important. While the birth rate can vary from year to year (for example, advancing decisions or in response to certain policies) without changing the structural trend, the fertility rate is a long-term metric: it indicates whether a woman plans to have only one child (no matter the year) or more. Motivated to have children. Examples like South Korea or Japan They show how complicated, and how expensive, it is to change a downward birth rate trend. That is why the increase in the intention to have children, without making any investment or applying additional fiscal policies, is very striking. The results of the study suggest that, perhaps, the way forward is not to subsidize the birth of more children, but rather to make the organization of parents’ work compatible with their upbringing. It’s not for money: it’s for time. For years, the political response has been fairly predictable. Having children is expensiveso you have to put money on the table to lighten that burden. The problem is that, although in most homes they need two salaries To survive, the truly scarce resource is time to take care of the children. Teleworking and flexible hours have reduced this daily friction since it implies less time traveling, greater control over schedules and, above all, greater ability to react to unforeseen events. for child care. The report ‘Women in the Workplace’ prepared by McKinsey showed that the lack of flexible hours forces many women to reduce their hours or stagnate their professional career. On this point, the conclusions of the Stanford researchers fit with the data that Pew Research got In a previous survey: Even with the difficulties of reconciling family and work, the majority of respondents considered it necessary to continue working and did not want to sacrifice their professional careers. What they needed was a job that does not make work life and childcare incompatible. It needs investment, but it is cheap. The study concludes that to match the fertility rate achieved by teleworking, it would be necessary to apply fiscal policies and incentives at a much higher cost. Subsidized childcare can improve the situation, but none of these measures make it easier. child care on a day-to-day basis, nor does it encourage families to have more children that complicate logistics even more. The time availability and flexibility of teleworking does. This does not mean that the implementation of teleworking is free. Has organizational costs for companiesyou cannot telework in all sectors and it can generate inequalities between employees whose positions do allow teleworking and those who do not. In Xataka | We have been teleworking for four years and a study has reached a conclusion: working from home makes us happier Image | Pexels (Anastasia Shuraeva)

Brussels has asked to apply 5% VAT to electricity to protect industries and homes

March 1, 2025 by usatoday24

The year 2025 entered and the fiscal reduction of electricity ended in Spain, the same one that remained for three and a half years. We have gone from 5% to mitigate the effects of the energy crisis, to which return to its general type of 21%. However, Brussels have other plans. Brussels measure. The European Commission has presented An action plan to make energy more affordable in the EU. This includes a series of measures, such as energy reduction, in order to relieve electricity and energy costs for citizens and companies. The most outstanding measure is the proposal to apply a minimum VAT of 5% in electricity. Reduce VAT. The objective is based on reducing short -term costs for consumers and companies. The energy commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, has estimated Energy savings of 45,000 million in 2025, which will increase up to 130,000 million a year by 2030 and up to 260,000 million annually by 2040. In addition, from the EU they seek to “turn the current situation” characterized by dependence on foreign fossil fuels, the existence of a fragmented electrical system and a continuous increase in system costs. Gas dependence. The European Union has accelerated the emptying of its gas reserves in the last three years Due to the energy crisis. Gas is being one of the great War paradoxesbecause while European funds are destined for Ukraine to help it, Gas and oil are still bought from Russia. This dependence increases the cost of electricity production, especially when gas is used as a primary generation source. For its part, the price of gas has returned to high levels similar to those of 2022, especially affecting industries such as chemistry and metallurgical, which depend on both and energy source and raw material. This increase has been driven by cold temperatures and a lower renewable energy generation. The forecasts indicate that, if the demand remains high and the cold climate persists, the prices They could continue to go upwhich would impact the competitiveness and inflation of industrial products in Europe. So renewables? Another point is clean energies, Europe has a great renewable capacity, but as We have mentioned in Xataka, There are two factors that the EU still has to resolve: the famous “Dunkelflaute”, a period without wind or sun, which reduces the generation of renewables, and an aged electricity, which makes it difficult to transmit. These factors have made the dependence on fossil sources increase, raising costs. The consequences are reflected in a more volatile electricity market and the impact on consumers. And what happens in Spain? The year began with a series of fiscal changes in the country, such as VAT increase. This return to previous tax levels (21%) after the fiscal reduction implemented to mitigate the energy crisis has raised short -term costs. Although this has not been the only climb, they have also increased The Electricity Tax (IEE) and The Value Tax of Electric Power Production (IVPEE). However, a system of Progressive reduction in the social bonus For vulnerable homes, which could mitigate the effects on the most affected by the climb. On the other hand, the fees options, such as the PVPC rate and fixed or variable rates in the free market, will allow consumers to adapt their consumption and select a rate that best suits their needs and patterns of use, which can help optimize costs despite fiscal increases. Although Spain has advanced Towards a greater proportion of renewable energy, factors such as tax rise, dependence on fossil fuels and an aging of the energy network still affect the costs of electricity Image | Pxhere Xataka | Thousands of trapped people, chaos in the streets and a country looking for answers: Chile has faced the worst blackout in 14 years

Donald Trump prepares to apply tariffs of more than 25% for chips and that means one thing: much more expensive laptops

February 19, 2025 by usatoday24

Donald Trump does not hesitate. At a press conference on Tuesday, the president of the United States Indian than your administration It could apply tariffs of about 25% to the car industry. But this is not the worst: the worst thing is that the pharmaceutical industry and The semiconductor They could be even more affected. In both cases, tariffs could be even greater than 25%. What are tariffs. Tariffs are taxes that apply to foreign products. They are paid by the importer of the product, which in this case are the US companies and consumers, but not for the exporter, which may be anywhere in the world. An example. Let’s give an example: Acer, Taiwanese company, wants to sell its laptops in the United States. Acer the factory in Taiwan, and sends them to the US. When those laptops reach the US Customs, a US -based company (the importer, which may be the Acer division in the US, or a wholesaler, for example) takes possession of them. The US customs applies tariffs. Let’s say it is 10%. The importer (which is not Acer Taiwan) pays those tariffs to the US government. If the order is one million, the importer would have to pay $ 100,000. It is then that the importer decides how to manage that extra cost. It can absorb the cost and reduce your profit margin, you can pass it to stores, which could increase the price for consumers, or you can negotiate with Acer Taiwan to make the original order come out something cheaper. More details on April 2. In the case of cars tariffs, the pharmacological industry and Trump chips Indian that “I will probably tell you on April 2, but there will be around 25%” when asked about tariffs on the car industry. For Farma and Chips, Trump said “it will be 25% or more, and will grow substantially in the course of a year.” The US president claimed to want to give companies “time to come (to the US)” before announcing new import tariffs. Manufacture here, or pay tariffs. All these measures are aimed at the same thing: avoid dependence on other countries to the maximum possible, boost companies to manufacture their products in the US (and make large investments in the country) and impose huge tariffs for those who do not. The impact will be colossal. The measures raised by Trump will have huge consequences. Among other things, will aggravate the historical crisis that the European car is experiencing. Last year about eight million cars and light trucks in the US were imported, half of all sales in that country. Manufacturers like Volkswagen They would be especially affectedbut also great Asian manufacturers (not only China) like Hyundai. We will pay more for (almost) everything. Experts are clear that these tariffs will have very important collateral effects, including the price increase for consumers and costs for these industries. Portable 10% more expensive. In the case of chips, among the many affected are laptops prices. Jason Chen, CEO of Acer, Indian that these tariffs will cause that “we have to adjust the final price to reflect these tariffs. We believe that 10% will probably be the default increase for the price for import rates. It is very simple.” Acer already considers manufacturing outside China. About 80% of the laptops that are imported in the US come from China. Trump imposed 10% tariffs in China this month, although they do not apply to products that abandoned China before February. Chen declared that they had already migrated part of the assembly of their computers outside China during Trump’s first mandate, when he imposed 25%tariffs. They are now looking for “different distribution chains beyond China”, and stressed that manufacturing in the US was “one of the options.” Much ado about nothing? The truth is that Trump has already announced important tariffs For Canada and Mexico. They had to go into force on February 1but They have not done soand also the tax and aluminum taxes have been modified –No exceptions– And that theoretically will be applied as of March 12. A series of “were also announcedreciprocal tariffs“Last week, but they will not take effect until April. There is a lot of ads of tariffs, but for the moment little start -up (or none) of such measures. Image | The White House | Laura Ockel In Xataka | All Big Tech wrapped Trump in his investiture. In return, 192,000 million dollars will be saved in taxes

apply blush in ‘L’

January 24, 2025 by usatoday24

During the last couple of years blush has become the star cosmetic of the toiletry bag and in 2025 it maintains a winning position compared to sun powders and even highlighter due to its ability to completely lift the cheekbone with the minimum amount of product. Tamara Falcó knows all her secrets and make the most of it, turning your look into a permanent source of inspiration for everyday life or guest events. One of the main characteristics of her makeup is the freshness and naturalness that it gives off and although the Marquise of Griñón avoids artifice, she does know an application method that rejuvenates with immediate effect: the “L” shape. Although he uses the technique very often, in one of the photos he recently published you can especially see how good it feels. the tendency with which the cheeks project even morea feature that appears younger when it maintains its roundness and volume. Next, we show you the step by step to achieve the look and some products with which to give color and luminosity to the cheekbones. © tamara_falco Tamara Falcó’s rejuvenating blush It is normal that being an ambassador for Sisley, one of the most prestigious beauty brands on the market, she knows the best makeup tricks inside out and, as we told you, the one she repeats often because of how good it feels is apply blush in an “L” shape. In practice, the step by step consists of place your thumb and index finger at a 90º angleplace the first one just below the apple of the cheek, the second on the temple (where the hair on the sideburns begins to grow) and use this template as a guide when brushing the blush. © tamara_falco Thanks to this simple trick, the face is given a rejuvenated appearance, since the area loses volume as the years go by. At the same time, when applying the blush In an ascending direction, the features are also stylized as the Druni makeup artists explain: “Choose a soft and warm tone that complements your skin tone. With a specific medium density brush, apply the product at a diagonal angle from the middle of the cheek towards the temple. “This will help highlight your cheekbones and visually elongate your face.” © GTRES As for the type of perfect formula with which to imitate Tamara, the ideal is that in addition to color pigment the product also contains luminous particles that reflect ambient light to give even more freshness to the finish and increase the sensation of volume. In this sense you can opt for those that are powder and mix blush shades with a highlighter, or creamy/liquid ones with a satin finish or juicy that leave a radiant finish on the skin. Below we present some options with which to sign up for the Tamara effect. Luminous blushes to copy Tamara’s look From left to right: L’Orchidée Rose in the shade Rose, by Sisley (104.50 euros); Rouge Blush Color & Glow in tone 457 Diorette, by Dior (60 euros); Blush Filter in the tone Cotton Candy, from Huda Beauty (28.99 euros); Make Me Blush in the tone Restless Rosé, from YSL Beauty (55 euros), and Soft Pop Blush Stick in the tone Watermelon, from Makeup by Mario (35.99 euros).

Do you want to work as a volunteer at the Club World Cup? You can now apply, these are the requirements

January 24, 2025 by usatoday24

The FIFA has already launched the call and has opened volunteer applications for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. If you want to participate, here we tell you what you need. The highest body in world football is looking for passionate and enthusiastic people in the United States who will contribute to the Club World Cup be an unforgettable experience between June 14 and Sunday, July 13, 2025. These volunteers will experience the competition in person and offer fans a unique perspective of the eleven host cities, where 12 stadiums will host 32 matches between the 32 teams that will seek the new trophyincluding FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Miami, Pachuca and the Lion by James Rodríguez, among many others. “We look forward to the participation of local communities in the eleven magnificent host cities of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup through the volunteer program. “Together, we will ensure that the fans who will come from all over the world have the best possible experience and witness an unprecedented tournament that will redefine global club football,” mentions the statement signed by Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA. What is needed to apply? – The first requirement is to be a citizen and permanent resident of the United States.– Be 18 years or older.– Have a good command of English (if they speak more languages it will be better).– Be available during the tournament, including previous training activities.– Have a passion for football, the ability to work as a team and a friendly and proactive attitude. This is what is necessary in general terms, although the statement emphasizes that certain positions may require additional experience or skills that will be clarified later for each specific case. What does it mean to be a FIFA volunteer? The importance of participating in this program is great, because itVolunteers are the image of the tournament and represent FIFA and their host city, so they must show enthusiasm and pride. They are instrumental in various tournament-related locations, from hotels to stadiums and training facilities. Where can you register? Interested parties are advised to submit their application as soon as possible on the official FIFA website, as the call will be closed when sufficient amounts are received. Remember that There are only 9,000 spots available. and it is a unique opportunity, so Quite a few applicants are expected. You can register by clicking here. Keep reading:· What Club World Cup games will the Rose Bowl have in Los Angeles?· Ticket sales for the 2025 Club World Cup: prices and schedules· James Rodríguez and the decisive factor in deciding to play for León

how and where to apply perfume depending on your objective

January 24, 2025 by usatoday24

“Perfume is something very personal, a way of communicating invisible to the eyesbut immediately perceptible”, Odile Gonzalez-Colaço begins by saying, retail education director by Prada Beauty. María Dionisio, from the DKNY Beauty Spain training team, also assures that “the way we apply perfume and the areas of the body we choose to do so have a profound impact on how we perceive fragrance and how others experience it.” For these reasons, he says, “beyond the choice of fragrance In itself, the act of applying it is an intimate dance between the essence of the perfume and our own.” If you want to know how and where to apply the perfume depending on the effect you want to have on you and the person in front of youkeep reading. © armanibeauty How to apply perfume according to your objective? “Every person has their own reasons for wearing perfume, and these desires influence how and where we apply it, whether to attract, to feel good or to leave an invisible markbut memorable,” explains María Dionisio. According to this, How should you apply perfume based on your objective? With your help, we analyze some possible situations: To attract others: If what we seek is to leave a memorable mark and captivate the attention of those around us, the strategic application of perfume becomes an art. Choosing the visible areas with the greatest projection ensures that our fragrance accompanies us subtly, but with strength, leaving an impression that is not forgotten. We will apply to the wrists, neck, behind the ears and on the inside of the elbows and knees, as these points emit heat, which causes the fragrance to be released more intensely. To feel good about yourself: For some, perfume is a small personal luxury, an invisible touch that has the power to lift your spirits and envelop you in a feeling of well-being. It is a way to enjoy a fragrance that makes us feel special, like a sensory caress that connects us with our own essence. Applying perfume near your torso such as the chest or stomach, areas where the aroma is closest to you, can be a more intimate way to enjoy it and is less obvious to others. To enhance the durability and longevity of the fragrance: If what we want is for the fragrance to last throughout the day, the key is knowing where and how to apply it. Strategic areas, such as pulse points, allow the aroma to be released slowly, ensuring that it accompanies us for hours without losing its intensity. The heat from these areas activates the fragrance molecules. To “go unnoticed”: at certain times, what we seek is not to stand out, but to enjoy a subtle and delicate fragrance that only those closest to us can perceive. A light and well-dosed touch creates an intimate, almost personal atmosphere, where the fragrance becomes a secret shared only with those who are nearby. Avoiding areas of intense heat, using less, and applying perfume from a greater distance can make the scent softer and less invasive. © armanibeauty Where should you put it depending on what you want to achieve? Odile Gonzalez-Colaço assures that, depending on the trail we want to leave, we can perfume one or more areas until we achieve the desired amount of perfume: the sides of the neck, the inside of the wrists, the inside of the elbows…, we can even perfume the inside of the knees (a very sexy gesture) if what we want is to leave a trail as we walk. According to María Dionisio, “on the neck, the area behind the ears, the chest or the wrists (where body heat is released naturally), the perfume comes to life in a magical way“. © rouje It will be in those areas where you will have to put on perfume if you want to leave a mark wherever you gobut, if what you want is to make others perceive your aroma in a subtle and discreet way, according to Odile, what you can do is perfume the lining of the jacket that you are going to take. “This way we will lose the effect that is produced by combining the fragrance with your own skin, but you will be able to be lightly perfumed without the olfactory sensation becoming intoxicating.” For Odile, another way to discreetly perfume yourself is apply the fragrance on a handkerchief we have at home and gently slide it around our neck before leaving, this will produce a “caressing fragrance” effect. However, he tells us that, if what we want is to make everyone turn their heads as we pass by, “we should perfume ourselves in as many pulse zones as possible, even help fix our fragrance with a lotion or body cream of the same aroma, if available and otherwise with a lotion with a neutral aroma, since when the skin is well hydrated, the fragrances set much better and we will achieve a greater trail and a prolonged effect of our aroma throughout the day or night“. © pradabeauty Who do you perfume yourself for? In short, the key, according to María, is to understand that fragrance perception changes depending on contextand although for yourself it may be something subtle and close, for others it can be a much more immersive and bold experience. So: If your goal is to please otherss, you can opt for a more generous and visible application, focused on the areas of greatest projection, such as the neck or wrists, with more intense notes. If your goal is more personal and focused on yourselfyou can opt for a more discreet application and in less obvious areas, such as the chest or the inside of the elbows, using citrus or floral fragrances. Perfume is a wonderful universe from which there are always things to learn.

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