Latest news with #superstitions
National Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Up Close: Meet Roughriders receiver KeeSean Johnson
Article content Article content Any game-day superstitions? Article content 'Since I had children, I have to talk to my children before I go out there and play, before I leave the locker room … That's who I do it for, obviously. That's what I strive for is to give them the best life. Article content 'I talk to my mom, talk to my dad. Me and my mom, we say our prayer together; me and my dad, we talk ball together. Article content What would you be doing if you weren't playing football? Article content 'If wasn't playing football, I would probably be coaching or probably helping somewhere with the youth, doing something in that form. Article content 'That's always something I enjoy is spending time with younger kids and being able to give them something positive and showing them a positive role model. Article content 'Growing up in a tougher area, obviously you see different things, and you can still, you know, the sky's the limit. You can do whatever you want, whatever you put your mind to. No one tells you no other than yourself.' Article content 'No, my mom worked so hard to take that stress off of me and just let me and my brother be kids when we were kids and let us focus on school. Article content Article content 'She worked really hard. That was something that she always took pride in, working really hard and making sure if we do good, we get things that we want. And that's what I kind of try to throw into my kids now — as long as you do what you need to do, I can provide for your life and take stress off you to have you focus on what you what your goals are.' Article content Article content 'I'm pretty good at bowling. I can say that. I got into that when I was in Philly. One of my teammates, him and his mom took it really serious. Article content 'I went with them one day and it was like, 'OK, I'm not good at bowling, like at all.' And then it's kind of just, the competitor in me, started to just go, ended up buying my own balls and figuring it out. And now I'm pretty good at bowling. Article content 'When I'm back home, me and my boys, we tend to have a day here and there to go out and bowl.' Article content What else should people know about you? Article content 'I'm very competitive. I don't like losing. Losing is something that's not in me; I could take it, but it's not in me. Article content Article content 'I don't like losing; don't like being wrong. I like to go out there and I try to do my best to be right. I try to do my best on the football field. Article content 'In life, there's obviously ways that you can be wrong and learn different things, but on the football field, I try to do my assignments (and) make sure I know my assignments.' Article content
The Sun
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Half of new parents believed pregnancy myths that turned out to be FALSE – which ones do you think are right?
FOOD cravings and bump size are among the most common myths expectant parents believe. But half of parents believed myths during pregnancy that turned out to be false, according to new research. 1 By just looking at the bump and analysing pregnancy cravings, the challenge is to decide if it's a boy or a girl. According to these commonly believed myths, carrying the baby high in the womb means it's a girl, while lower means a boy. And salty or sour cravings point towards a boy whereas those craving sweet things are carrying a girl. It comes after research, commissioned by Vitabiotics Pregnacare, found 47 per cent of new parents originally believed well-known myths during pregnancy that they later realised weren't all true. A poll of 1,000 parents of children aged 0-10 found 11 per cent of those believed having sour cravings during the first trimester indicated you were expecting a boy. While the same percentage (11 per cent) thought carrying the baby high up in the womb meant you would be welcoming a little girl to the world. And 12 per cent believed that experiencing an influx of spots on your skin also indicated a female. But 79 per cent feel at least a few of the superstitions about pregnancy that they'd heard about and believed in ended up coming true. As a result, 51 per cent of those who had heard of a superstition used this to try and predict their baby's gender. With 44 per cent of these trying the 'swinging ring test' - where you tie a ring to a string and swing it over the belly to see which way it moves. Carly Sandland, doula and founder of The Doula Club, which matches pregnant women with doulas to provide support to families during pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum, said: 'As a doula, I've heard every pregnancy myth going. 'Carrying high? Must be a boy. Bad skin? Definitely a girl. Craving savoury food? That's obviously a boy. 'It's amazing how confidently people will make these calls - even from complete strangers in the supermarket. 'What this research shows is how common these myths still are - and how many people believe them, even just a little. 'But why not enjoy the guessing games? Have a laugh at the wild ones, and let people guess if they must. But don't let any of it carry more weight than it deserves. 'Myths aren't facts. And they definitely aren't a substitute for understanding your own body and the right professional advice. 'If something feels off, ask questions. If it doesn't sit right, trust yourself.' Parents-to-be who have heard about pregnancy myths also believed severe morning sickness would suggest a female baby, while mild sickness pointed towards a boy (14 per cent). While 10 per cent thought jumping up and down vigorously after sex would stop conception happening. It also emerged 30 per cent of those who tried to use a superstition to guess the baby's gender had a go at the 'key test', where the expectant parent is observed picking up a key and if they opt to grab it by the narrow end, it means a girl is due. And while 53 per cent of new parents asked friends and family for advice about their baby's arrival, 42 per cent turned to Google – and 23 per cent searched social media. But 13 per cent of parents who had heard about myths or superstitions claim they influenced their expectations of pregnancy 'a lot', according to the figures. A spokesperson for Vitabiotics Pregnacare added: 'Of course, not all of these tales are rooted in fact - but they can still be surprisingly persuasive. 'While these stories are usually fairly harmless, it's always best to check anything that may be concerning or unusual with a midwife or medical professional.' Top 20 myths expectant parents believed 1. Severe morning sickness means it's a girl/ mild or no morning sickness means it's a boy 2. Eating spicy food can induce labour 3. Having clear skin means it's a boy/ having bad skin means it's a girl 4. In your third trimester, if you're carrying high it's a girl and low for a boy 5. Craving sweets means it's a girl/ salty or sour foods means it's a boy 6. A round belly means it's a girl/a pointed belly means it's a boy 7. If you gain weight in your face, it's a girl/ if you gain weight in your hips and thighs, it's a boy 8. Avoiding spicy foods will prevent colic in the baby 9. A baby's heart rate above 140 bpm indicates it's a girl/ below indicates it's a boy 10. You shouldn't breast feed if you're ill 11. Jumping up and down immediately after intercourse will prevent conception 12. After intercourse, a hot bath or a heating pad on the stomach prevents conception 13. If the dark belly line extends above the belly button it means it's a boy/if it stays below the belly button it means it's a girl 14. Using the missionary position helps to conceive a girl 15. Eating yams increases fertility 16. You should only eat plain food while breastfeeding 17. If you're moodier, it's a girl/ if you're more relaxed, it's a boy 18. Dreaming about having a boy means you're having a girl, and vice versa 19. If when you swing a ring over your belly it moves in a circle it's a girl/ if moves back and forth it's a boy 20. Expectant parents will deliver babies similarly to the way their mothers did
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Are ghosts real? A social psychologist examines the evidence
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you'd like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@ Is it possible for there to be ghosts? – Madelyn, age 11, Fort Lupton, Colorado Certainly, lots of people believe in ghosts – a spirit left behind after someone who was alive has died. In a 2021 poll of 1,000 American adults, 41% said they believe in ghosts, and 20% said they had personally experienced them. If they're right, that's more than 50 million spirit encounters in the U.S. alone. That includes the owner of a retail shop near my home who believes his place is haunted. When I asked what most convinced him of this, he sent me dozens of eerie security camera video clips. He also brought in ghost hunters who reinforced his suspicions. Some of the videos show small orbs of light gliding around the room. In others, you can hear faint voices and loud bumping sounds when nobody's there. Others show a book flying off a desk and products jumping off a shelf. It's not uncommon for me to hear stories like this. As a sociologist, some of my work looks at beliefs in things like ghosts, aliens, pyramid power and superstitions. Along with others who practice scientific skepticism, I keep an open mind while maintaining that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Tell me you had a burger for lunch, and I'll take your word for it. Tell me you shared your fries with Abraham Lincoln's ghost, and I'll want more evidence. In the 'spirit' of critical thinking, consider the following three questions: People may think they're experiencing ghosts when they hear strange voices, see moving objects, witness balls or wisps of light or even translucent people. Yet no one describes ghosts as aging, eating, breathing or using bathrooms – despite plumbers receiving many calls about toilets 'ghost-flushing.' So could ghosts be made of a special kind of energy that hovers and flies without dissipating? If that's the case, that means when ghosts glow, move objects and make sounds, they are acting like matter – something that takes up space and has mass, like wood, water, plants and people. Conversely, when passing through walls or vanishing, they must not act like matter. But centuries of physics research have found nothing like this exists, which is why physicists say ghosts can't exist. And so far, there is no proof that any part of a person can continue on after death. Never before in history have people recorded so many ghost encounters, thanks in part to mobile phone cameras and microphones. It seems there would be great evidence by now. But scientists don't have it. Instead, there are lots of ambiguous recordings sabotaged by bad lighting and faulty equipment. But popular television shows on ghost hunting convince many viewers that blurry images and emotional reactions are proof enough. As for all the devices ghost hunters use to capture sounds, electrical fields and infrared radiation – they may look scientific, but they're not. Measurements are worthless without some knowledge of the thing you're measuring. When ghost hunters descend on an allegedly haunted location for a night of meandering and measurement, they usually find something they later deem paranormal. It may be a moving door (breeze?), a chill (gap in the floorboards?), a glow (light entering from outside?), electrical fluctuations (old wiring?), or bumps and faint voices (crew in other rooms?). Whatever happens, ghost hunters will draw a bull's-eye around it, interpret that as 'evidence' and investigate no further. Personal experiences with ghosts can be misleading due to the limitations of human senses. That's why anecdotes can't substitute for objective research. Alleged hauntings usually have plenty of non-ghostly explanations. One example is that retail establishment in my neighborhood. I reviewed the security camera clips and gathered information about the store's location and layout, and the exact equipment used in the recordings. First, the 'orbs': Videos captured many small globes of light seemingly moving around the room. In reality, the orbs are tiny particles of dust wafting close to the camera lens, made to 'bloom' by the camera's infrared lights. That they appear to float around the room is an optical illusion. Watch any orb video closely and you'll see they never go behind objects in the room. That's exactly what you'd expect with dust particles close to the camera lens. Next, voices and bumps: The shop is in a busy corner mini-mall. Three walls abut sidewalks, loading zones and parking areas; an adjacent store shares the fourth. The security camera mics probably recorded sounds from outdoors, other rooms and the adjacent unit. The owner never checked for these possibilities. Then, the flying objects: The video shows objects falling off the showroom wall. The shelf rests on adjustable brackets, one of which wasn't fully seated in its slot. The weight of the shelf caused the bracket to settle into place with a visible jerk. This movement sent some items tumbling off the shelf. Then, the flying book: I used a simple trick to recreate the event at home: a hidden string taped inside a book's cover, wrapped around the kitchen island, and tugged by my right hand out of camera range. Now I can't prove there wasn't a ghost in the original video. The point is to provide a more plausible explanation than 'it must have been a ghost.' One final consideration: Virtually all ghostly experiences involve impediments to making accurate perceptions and judgments – bad lighting, emotional arousal, sleep phenomena, social influences, culture, a misunderstanding of how recording devices work, and the prior beliefs and personality traits of those who claim to see ghosts. All of these hold the potential to induce unforgettable ghostly encounters. But all can be explained without ghosts being real. Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you'd like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@ Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live. And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you're wondering, too. We won't be able to answer every question, but we will do our best. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Barry Markovsky, University of South Carolina Read more: Is the Loch Ness monster real? Hearing ghost voices relies on pseudoscience and fallibility of human perception Why magical thinking is so widespread – a look at the psychological roots of common superstitions Barry Markovsky does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Globe and Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
‘Pub Delivery': Heineken® brings fans' matchday ritual – and their ‘lucky pub' - with them to Lisbon for the UEFA Women's Champions League final
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link. AMSTERDAM, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Half of football fans have matchday rituals – and nearly as many (46%)* believe their superstitions can influence the score. For two Arsenal fans, that ritual meant watching every game from the same corner of The Twelve Pins bar in North London - same seats, same beers, same pre-match routine. So, when their team reached the UEFA Women's Champions League final, Heineken did what needed to be done: packed up their lucky pub setup and shipped it to Lisbon. Rebuilt inside a truck, it gave the two women the ultimate matchday experience - ready for the game at the Estádio José Alvalade, ritual and all. For years, London-based Amelie Margaret Kirk and Sophie Hurst have made The Twelve Pins their matchday home - pints in hand, seats unchanged. As part of its ongoing celebration of football's most devoted hardcore fans and the women's game, Heineken transformed their personal tradition into a portable pre-match pub experience. Painstakingly recreated and transported over 2,200 kilometres from North London to the heart of Lisbon, every detail of their ritual was brought to life - beermats, bar stools, pint glasses and all - so they could follow the same routine they believe helps set their team up for success. For these two superstitious fans, it's not just a pub - it's a travelling talisman. Of course, it wouldn't be a real pub without Heineken on tap. Football legend and former Lioness, Jill Scott MBE, will be hitching a ride to raise a glass with two of football's most superstitious fans. Jill Scott MBE, former England midfielder, says: 'I've seen plenty of matchday rituals over the years – some hilarious, some heartfelt, but all completely serious to the person who believes in them. I love that Heineken is matching the energy of superstitious fans at the UEFA Women's Champions League final. It makes me happy to see hardcore fans of the women's game being acknowledged and celebrated in this way.' Nabil Nasser, Global Head of Heineken ® Brand, says:"Who are we to stand between superstitious fans and their matchday rituals? From recreating a lucky pub at the UEFA Women's Champions League final to shining a light on the fans who make the game what it is, 'Cheers to the Superstitious Fans' is all about celebrating fandom in all its forms. Since joining the women's game in 2021, we've seen it grow in incredible ways—and we're proud to continue championing that momentum.' Heineken has supported the UEFA Women's Champions League since 2021 and continues to spotlight the stories of real hardcore fans whose love for the game makes football more than just a sport. To learn more about the campaign and celebrate fan superstitions, visit: HERE Notes to editors: Editorial information: Fans can follow the campaign by searching using the hashtag #SuperstitiousFans Please find the campaign video: HERE Please find the high-resolution campaign image: HERE For more information, please contact: HNKNFootball@ Research: The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 12,011 Football fans in the UK, USA, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, and South Korea. The data was collected between 01.04.2025 - 07.04.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council. HEINEKEN is the world's most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken ® brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 300 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through "Brewing a Better World", sustainability is embedded in the business. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We employ over 85,000 employees and operate breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares trade on the Euronext in Amsterdam. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on Reuters under and HEINEKEN has two sponsored level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programmes: Heineken N.V. (OTCQX: HEINY) and Heineken Holding N.V. (OTCQX: HKHHY). Most recent information is available on HEINEKEN's website: and follow us on Twitter via @HEINEKENCorp. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
CTV News
13-05-2025
- CTV News
‘I feel like such an idiot': Two Ontario men lose more then $150,000 to psychics
Some people believe in the power of psychic. However, if a psychic makes unrealistic monetary demands and that should be a red flag that something is not right.
