Drivers Keep Using Buckling Storm-Damaged Bridge Because It’s Faster Than the Detour

Drivers in a region of Greece are continuing to drive over a buckling bridge damaged by a storm rather than taking a 19-mile detour. The Palaiopyrgos Bridge is located above the Pineios River and connects the villages of Palaiopyrgos and Alexandrini in Larissa, but it's been buckling for around three years because of the effects of Storm Daniel. The storm saw some Greek villages battered with 29 inches of rain in just one day, resulting in around $2.14 billion worth of damage and the loss of 17 people. The concrete span, which handles the weight of traffic, eroded as a result of the floods and has never been replaced. The bridge acts as an essential resource for farmers trying to reach their patches on the other side of the river. They say they risk death every day to cross the rickety bridge, but they feel like they have no choice. Politicians are now calling on the government to act amid fears the village could be flooded if the bridge continues to buckle. 

 

 

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Heinz Finally Settles the Debate About Where To Store Ketchup

When it’s time to get the ingredients together for an outdoor gathering, there’s no question about what condiment is a must-have: ketchup. The real question is: Where is the ketchup stored when the party is over: refrigerator or pantry? When it comes to condiments, some can sit in the pantry, while others are clearly marked “refrigerate after opening.” Heinz bottle labels in the U.S. clearly state, “For Best Results, Refrigerate After Opening.” Because of its natural acidity, ketchup is shelf-stable. That explains why the product is not found in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. However, Heinz maintains that consumers should refrigerate their ketchup once it has been opened to maintain product quality. People on social media were quick to ask one question: "How can restaurants leave ketchup sitting on their tables all the time?" As Heinz explained, “The turnover rate at a restaurant is much quicker than what takes place in a home kitchen, so it doesn’t actually end up sitting out long enough to decline in quality.” So, the next time you use ketchup, you won't have that lingering question about where to store it when you're finished.

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Good News For Those Taking Prescription Drugs

When it comes to prescription drugs, there’s plenty of bad news regarding prices. There is, however, some good news. Under the TrumpRX program, the government is acquiring drugs and selling directly to consumers, bypassing the intermediaries that have been responsible for huge price increases for decades. Under the new program, it's not about making money but rather saving consumers from high prescription prices using leverage that regular pharmacies and distributors don’t have. The program launched in early 2026 with about 43 branded drugs and now includes more than 800 medications in total. Many drugs sell for 50% to 95% off the list prices. At this point, it’s hard to know precisely how the FDA can succeed without a dramatic internal overhaul. In any case, TrumpRx is a start for which the administration deserves credit.

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The Chores Kids Did During Frontier Times Would Shock Today's Kids

A survey of U.S. parents found that that 80% of children today don't do household chores. Turn back the hands of time to the frontier times of the 19th century and you'll find that not only were children expected to contribute to the day-to-day running of the household by doing chores that included chopping wood, fetching water, working the land, churning butter, hunting, sewing and making candles. So why don't kids today do chores? Sometimes it's because parents remember how much they hated doing chores when they were younger. Then there are those parents who feel guilty about all the time they spend working, and finally there are parents who believe it's easier to hire somebody than to force their kids to do chores. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, doing chores teaches children time management and organization skills, as well as helping to establish responsibility within the family structure. Experts say parents who don’t give their children chores — or end up doing them because their kids are too busy — are robbing them of the opportunity to build character. Learning to contribute to the needs of the family as a child produces adults who are better employees, friends, and partners. The byproduct of teaching children how to function within a group through the completion of household chores is that they actually end up learning how to meet their needs and those of others. Eventually, our children will leave home, and not knowing how to feed themselves and maintain a clean, pleasant environment is a costly and grim prospect. So, whether you haven’t started at all or your efforts have been less than stellar, giving your child the responsibility of completing chores is one of the best things you can do for their development.

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