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All of us dread the process of cleaning our house. But it is very important to keep our living <keyword id="9603408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-clean">space clean</keyword> and hygienic, especially when we are fighting a pandemic like Covid-19. Procrastinating makes the job tougher; things that could have been cleared in a day become a huge pile within the week.<br /><br />Here are a few helpful tips, shared by <keyword id="9603410" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-better-home">The Better Home</keyword>, to successfully overcome delaying tendencies and to tidy up:<br /><strong><br />Start with the bedroom<br /></strong><br />It may sound like a small task, but making your bed the first thing in the morning helps you feel organised and fresh instantly. Keep the stuff on your bed minimal and do not allow one to eat in the bedroom. Wash your bedding at least once a week (with <keyword id="9603409" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="natural-cleaners">natural cleaners</keyword>) and change your pillow every six months or quarterly if you have allergies. <br /><br /><strong>Do not miss <keyword id="101423" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Laundry">laundry</keyword> day<br /></strong><br />Laundry is one of those things that can quickly turn from a pile to a dump. However, make sure you don't wash your clothes until you reach the maximum capacity of the washing machine - it is important to conserve water and energy while keeping your home clean.<br /><br /><strong>Quick clean up before bed time <br /></strong><br />This can save a lot of effort in the morning. You will be amazed to see that it takes as less as 15 minutes to quickly mop up the dirt up before you call it a day. Start with the largest task on hand to get that out of the way. Make sure the kitchen is free of grease and dirt before you call it a night. This is important as it doesn't allow germs to fester where your food resides!<br /><br />Instead of stocking them all together, keep your basic cleaning supplies close to where you use them. So, the toilet cleaner should be in the bathroom, kitchen cleaning arrangements close to the sink and laundry detergents near the washing machine; so that every time you pass by each of these it reminds you of the task at hand!<br /><br /><strong>Clean the high-traffic areas <br /></strong><br />As these spaces are touched more than other areas, door knobs, taps, cabinet tops, should be cleaned more often. Focussing on cleaning high <keyword id="9603407" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="traffic-areas">traffic areas</keyword> daily can help prevent the spread of dirt and dust through the rest of the house. Besides, during the pandemic, it also ensures that the surface do not have germs even if you are going out. Make sure you have a fixed area to keep shoes at the entrance to your home.<br /><br /><strong>Make sure your cleaners don't do more harm than good!<br /></strong><br />Even as you focus on the 'how's of cleaning, it is equally important to know what to clean with. Chemical-based cleaners are rife in the market; they clean well, but in the process release toxic fumes that could harm your loved ones, especially children and pets. Choosing an eco-friendly, pet and baby safe cleaner not only helps you keep your home hygienic but allows you to do so without harming anyone else.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/in-pics-bihar-floods-three-lakh-people-affected-in-eight-districts/slidelist/77048406.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">IN PICS: Devastating images of Bihar floods⁠— three lakh people affected in eight districts</a><br /><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/tcs-infosys-hcl-tech-and-wipro-open-up-lateral-hiring-as-more-people-walk-out-the-door-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/articleshow/77045880.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink"><strong>TCS, Infosys, HCL Tech and Wipro open up lateral hiring as more people walk out the door during the COVID-19 pandemic</strong></a><br />

Here are a few tips to help clean your house during the pandemic

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Low sheen finishes hide imperfections but are hard to clean. Use them in low-traffic areas.</li><li>Glossy sheens are easy to clean but highlight imperfections. Use them for high-traffic areas and trim.</li><li>When in doubt, eggshell has a subtle shine with added durability.</li></ul><p>There's more to choosing the right paint than just choosing the perfect color. The type of sheen you use can make or break your paint project.</p><p>Some sheens are shiny and reflect light, which can be bad if you're <keyword id="1197" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Painting">painting</keyword> a rough or otherwise imperfect area. On the other hand, paint with no sheen can make your area look too dull, and can also be hard to clean.</p><p>We asked Krystal Mindeck, senior product manager at <a href="https://www.hgtvhomebysherwinwilliams.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams</a>, and Hannah Yeo, color marketing and development manager at <a href="https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-US" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Benjamin Moore</a> to explain the what, when, and why of paint finishes.</p><h2>At a glance</h2><table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 132px;" border="1"><tbody><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Finish</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Sheen</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Durability</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Pros</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Cons</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">When to use</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Flat</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">None</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Low</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">High coverage, hides imperfections</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Difficult to clean</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Imperfect walls, ceilings, low-traffic rooms like diving rooms and bedrooms</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Eggshell</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Medium-low</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Medium-low</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">All around paint, hides imperfections</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Somewhat difficult to clean</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Medium traffic areas: Hallways, kids' bedrooms, living rooms, and laundry rooms</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Satin</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Medium</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Medium</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Easy to clean, provides subtle shine</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Won't hide imperfections</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">High traffic areas: Kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, living rooms, and laundry rooms</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Semi-gloss</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">High</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">High</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Easy to clean, reflects light</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Highlights imperfections</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">High traffic areas, trim, doors and millwork, cabinets/furniture, architectural details</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">High gloss</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">High</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">High</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Reflects light, great for furniture</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">Highlights imperfections</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 22px;">High traffic areas, trim, doors, millwork, cabinets/furniture, wainscoting.</td></tr></tbody></table><h2><strong>Flat paint</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="A close up of a gloved hand holding a paint roller painting a ceiling" height="1379" width="1839" msid="84909828" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>Flat paint (also known as matte paint) is a good choice in several scenarios - especially if you're working with rough surfaces that have cracks, nail holes, etc. "Flat paint has virtually no gloss and is excellent for hiding surface imperfections and underlying colors," says Mindeck. "It also does a great job of toning down bold and bright colors, so they feel more livable - especially in spaces with low lighting."</p><p>However, Mindeck warns that flat paint has minimal washability and durability. In other words, it's difficult to clean since the paint has a porous texture that tends to actually trap dirt. And if you try to scrub it or use cleansers, you could end up damaging the paint since it's not as resilient as glossier finishes.</p><p>When should you use flat paint? "It's best for use for low traffic areas such as ceilings, dining rooms, and bedrooms," Mindeck says.</p><h2><strong>Eggshell paint</strong></h2><p>In terms of sheen, eggshell paint is a slight step up from flat paint. Its name is derived from the fact that the sheen is similar to an egg's shell. "An eggshell finish has a subtle sheen or gloss appearance," says Mindeck. And, it's more washable and durable than a flat finish. "Eggshell is a nice middle ground of durability and low-luster, which means it's an all-around paint that can be used for most rooms in your <keyword id="6363870" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="home">home</keyword>."</p><p>Since eggshell resists stains better than flat paint, Mindeck recommends it in medium-traffic areas, such as hallways, kids' bedrooms, living rooms, and laundry rooms. But keep in mind that while it's easier to clean than flat paint, that doesn't mean that it's <em>easy</em> to clean.</p><p>"When in doubt of what paint finish to select, eggshell finish is an all-around a great choice as it provides an all-around subtle shine appearance with added durability," Mindeck advises. </p><h2><strong>Satin paint</strong></h2><div type="image" title="A gloved hang wiping purple cleaning spray off the wall with a sponge" height="1412" width="1883" msid="84909833" hostid="261"></div><p>A satin finish is right in the middle on the shine/gloss spectrum. "Satin finishes are easy to wipe down, as they offer overall excellent washability, scrub resistance, and durability - more than an eggshell finish," says Mindeck.</p><p>This type of sheen is ideal for those busier spaces in your home. "I recommend using a satin finish in medium to high traffic areas such kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, living rooms and hallways," she says.</p><p>Keep in mind that while it's not too shiny, it's just glossy enough to show imperfections.</p><h2><strong>Semi-gloss paint</strong></h2><p>If you want a high-sheen finish, semi-gloss is certainly a good option. "A semi-gloss finish creates a luminous look that cures to a smooth, furniture-like finish," says Yeo. It's not advisable to use on surfaces with imperfections since she says the light reflectance will accentuate those flaws. </p><p>"It is great for highlighting architectural details and creating dimension in a space, and is commonly used to paint trim, doors, and millwork, and also cabinets or furniture," says Yeo. And since it cures to a furniture-like finish, semi-gloss is considered one of the most durable sheens.</p><h2><strong>High-gloss paint</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="A hand holding a paintbrush and painting the baseboards" height="1414" width="1885" msid="84909836" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>As its name implies, high-gloss finish has the most shine of the five finishes. "Compared to all other paint finishes, it reflects the most light and can add a mirror-like finish with stunning, elegant shine," Yeo says.</p><p>In addition, it's extremely durable and easy to clean. "Similar to a semi-gloss, high gloss finishes are commonly used in high-traffic areas such as trim, doors and millwork, cabinets and furniture, wainscoting, etc," she says.</p><p>It can also be used to add dimension and interest to a space.  "Many designers use this mirror-like finish to feature a wall or to create a unique atmosphere," she says. "For example, create a luxe accent by using the same color as on the walls, but in a higher sheen on the ceiling." In addition, high-gloss paint is used to create a lacquer-like finish in accent furniture or kitchen cabinets. </p><p>As with semi-gloss paint, you shouldn't use it on an area that is not completely smooth, since it reflects so much light it will highlight any flaws.</p><h2><strong>Insider's takeaway</strong></h2><p>Selecting paint colors is only half of the puzzle. The right sheen can make or break your paint project. Flat and eggshell paint can help you hide imperfections but may be problematic if you expect the painted area to get dirty. On the other hand, glossy paint is much easier to clean, but doesn't do a good job of hiding imperfections.</p><a data-type="60f9d24f4dde6160590172e4">How to paint a room and give it a refresh</a><a data-type="60e601580cf12a0af5535941">How to prep and paint cabinets to give your kitchen the upgraded look it deserves</a><a data-type="60d1fdcf28d68a7b3f4db618">3 ways to remove wallpaper quickly</a><a data-type="60d4d1bb0d5b75365f350e93">21 bathroom tile design ideas, from trendy to timeless</a>

5 different paint finishes, from flat to high-gloss, and when to use them

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6377922" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="starbucks">Starbucks</keyword> saw foot traffic go "through the roof" in areas with higher vaccination rates. </li><li>The CEO attributed the rise in foot traffic to higher vaccination rates and relaxed COVID restrictions.</li><li><keyword id="6354851" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="retail">Retail</keyword> stores saw nearly 30% more foot traffic in March compared to January, data shows.</li></ul><p>Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said the company has seen a lot more people stopping into stores in areas where vaccination rates are higher. </p><p>"Consumer mobility shot through the roof and we started seeing traffic increasing in our stores" where vaccination is more widespread, Johnson told CNBC's Jim Cramer during an episode of <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/24/starbucks-ceo-sees-rebound-in-markets-where-vaccinations-are-up.html">CNBC's "Mad Money."</a></p><p>The exec attributed the rise in foot traffic to how governments are responding to higher vaccination rates and lower COVID case counts.</p><p>"When at least 35% or more of adults were vaccinated against the virus in a market, governments begin easing COVID restrictions, making way for business to rebound," Johnson told CNBC.</p><p>He said the US is setting the bar for how other countries can reopen their economies following larger vaccine efforts.</p><p>"We now see that happening in Mexico, we're starting to see that happen in Europe," Johnson told CNBC. "Every market around the world is going to see exactly what the United States has experienced here over the last 90 days."</p><p>Following an ease in COVID restrictions and an increase in <keyword id="622690" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Vaccinations">vaccinations</keyword>, US stores like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pandemic-saved-brick-and-mortar-stores-walmart-and-target-2021-5">Walmart and Target have reported an increase</a> in store shoppers. </p><p>Retail stores saw nearly 30% more foot traffic in March 2021 compared to January, according to Small Business Trends data, and the amount of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retail-foot-traffic-positioned-to-rebound-this-spring-2021-4">people shopping in person</a> is up 12.5% compared to last year, indicating shoppers were returning to stores more following the wider vaccine rollout.</p>

Starbucks store traffic 'shot through the roof' in areas with higher vaccination rates, CEO says

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Spencer Platt/Getty Images</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span>Crime levels <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/21/5-facts-about-crime-in-the-u-s/">have declined sharply</a> in the US over the past two decades. According to FBI statistics, the rate of violent crime <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/21/5-facts-about-crime-in-the-u-s/">fell 50%</a> between 1993 and 2015, the most recent full year available.</span></p><p><span>However, public perceptions about crime don't always align with the data. In 21 Gallup surveys since 1989, the majority of Americans said there was <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/1603/crime.aspx">more crime</a> compared to the year before, despite the downward trend in both violent and property crime rates in the US during that period.</span></p><p><span><a href="https://local.niche.com/">Niche</a>, a company that researches and collects reviews on cities, recently pinpointed the safest cities in the country in <a href="https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/search/safest-cities/">a 2017 ranking</a>.</span></p><p><span>The researchers analyzed public crime data - including larceny, vehicular theft, and homicide rates - from sources like the US Census and the FBI. They also considered over 100 million reviews from users, who rated how safe they feel in their cities. </span><span>The ranking suggests that California, with nine of the top 25 cities, is one of the safest states in the nation.</span></p><p><span>One caveat: the cities below have relatively low population numbers. As The Atlantic <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/05/density-and-crime/238944/">notes</a>, cities with higher densities tend to have more crime. But within a city, high traffic areas are generally safer than low-traffic areas. (The more foot traffic, the riskier an assault becomes for the assaulter.)</span></p><p><span>Check out the 25 safest cities in America, according to Niche:</span></p>

The 25 safest American cities to live in

<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:480px"><div class="image"><p class="source"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomasfano/2708621790/sizes/l/in/photostream/">Flickr / Creative Commons</a></p></div></div><keyword id="6361065" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="traffic">Traffic</keyword> congestion across the U.S. climbed 9.2% last month compared to May 2012, signaling continued economic improvement as auto and retail sales are on the rise.</p>
<p>The data is provided by INRIX, which tracks real-time traffic data.</p>
<p>In an interview, CEO Bryan Mistele said the correlations between worse congestion and better <keyword id="35023" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="economic-indicators">economic indicators</keyword> is easy to understand.</p>
<p>When more people are buying <keyword id="20632" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Cars">cars</keyword>, shopping, and going to work, there are more cars on the road.</p>
<p>While a good sign, more traffic still has its downsides. Wasted fuel and time <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/traffic-cost-americans-121-billion-in-2011-2013-2">cost Americans $121 billion in 2011</a>.</p>
<p>The rise in traffic is not equal across the country, INRIX said in a press release. The biggest jump, 15.7% over last year, was recorded in the metropolitan areas in the western U.S. The South is still lagging, with just a 2.4% increase in congestion.</p>
<p>INRIX analyzes congestion levels in metropolitan areas during peak traffic hours. Here's the gridlock chart for the past year:</p>
<p><div class="image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><p class="source">INRIX</p></div></div></div></p>

Traffic Is Getting Worse, And That's Excellent News For The Economy

<br /><br /><ul><li>The <keyword id="6355014" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="delhi-high-court">Delhi High Court</keyword> suggested that India’s national capital use drones to monitor water logged areas of the city to reduce traffic congestion and conduct water harvesting. <br /></li><li>In Mumbai, the <keyword id="66416" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Western-Railways">Western Railways</keyword> are also using drones to monitor train tracks that are prone to flooding. <br /></li><li>The government will use contractors to deploy camera drones, which will send back pictures from areas deemed vulnerable to <keyword id="52295" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="waterlogging">waterlogging</keyword> and flooding.<br /></li></ul>Every year the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-mystery-of-indias-erratic-monsoon-can-be-found-in-the-indian-ocean/articleshow/69215027.cms">monsoon rolls in</a> and India’s major cities, Mumbai and Delhi, are left flooded and water logged in the aftermath. <br /><br />Underpasses are submerged, potholes turn into mines that cars have to navigate through; and lack of drainage systems turns roads into swimming pools. <br /><br />This year, the <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/delhi-high-court-suggests-use-of-drones-to-identify-water-logging-sites-in-city-during-monsoon-2231843.html">Delhi High Court</a> suggested that the city rope drones to identify and keep an eye on the areas in the city that are vulnerable to excessive water collection. This will help take care of traffic congestion as well as water logging, <br /><br /><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/drone-cams-to-help-wr-stay-on-track-during-rains/articleshow/69299444.cms">The Western Railways</a> in Mumbai too has learnt lessons from last year. It has already contracted drones to keep an eye on the Virar-Nalasopara area, which is prone to water logging.<br /><br /><strong>Technology vs the monsoon<br /></strong><br />Drones are already used to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/mumbai-must-brace-for-floods-this-week-says-a-private-weather-forecaster/articleshow/70029004.cms">predict</a> weather patterns and rainfall. But, this is the first time that the governments are using drones for traffic surveillance and keep a check on water logging. <br /><br />In Delhi, the two-judge bench of Justice GS Sistani and Justice Jyoti Singh said, "We have no hesitation in saying that all the departments would cooperate with each other to ensure that citizens are not inconvenienced during the coming monsoon."<br /><br />The contractors selected by the government will deploy drones with cameras to areas that are known to be vulnerable, and send images back to the data collection point. <br /><br />The operators at the data centers will then decide whether or not there is a risk of water logging at the moment and plan the next action.<br /><br />Before deploying any drones, the police has to approve the use of air space. So far, the Western Railways has only gotten permission for the Virar-Nalasopara area even though other stretches like Frant Road, Prabhadevi, Dadar and Bandra-Khar are also flood prone areas.<br /><br /><strong>Too much water or not enough<br /></strong><br />In Delhi, the monsoon is a double-edged sword. There’s waterlogging, on the one hand, and a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/every-household-in-india-will-get-water-supply-by-2024-under-the-jal-jeevan-mission-says-nirmala-sitharaman/articleshow/70086396.cms">shortage of water</a>, on the other. <br /><br />The Delhi High Court has suggested that the city use the opportunity of monsoons to harvest water in water clogged areas, to hit two birds with one stone. <br /><br />The Indian Court took up the issue of water logging on its own, to point out how the resulting traffic congestion leads to loss of time. It also backs up emergency services, and idle engines at traffic jams cause massive air pollution.<br /><br /><strong>See also:<br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tatas-seeks-permit-to-test-drones-after-zomato-swiggy-and-others/articleshow/70025800.cms">Tatas seeks permit to test drones after Zomato, Swiggy and others</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/flying-drones-in-india-may-be-legal-but-that-doesnt-mean-youre-getting-doorstep-deliveries/articleshow/66932352.cms">Flying drones in India may be 'legal' — but that doesn’t mean you’re getting doorstep deliveries</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

Drones are going to help unclog India’s water logged cities this monsoon

<p>A big rig <keyword id="28762" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="fire">fire</keyword> on the Bay Bridge in <keyword id="12161" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="San-Francisco">San Francisco</keyword> has shut down two lanes of traffic on the bridge for about two hours, according to <a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Big-Rig-Catches-Fire-on-Bay-Bridge-Snarls-Traffic-218355661.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_BAYBrand">local news reports</a>.</p>
<p>Firefighters have extinguished the blaze, but traffic delays are expected to continue and the condition of the big rig's driver <a href="https://twitter.com/BobNBC/status/364379604154208257">is unknown</a>.</p>
<p>NBC Bay Area reporter Bob Redell is tweeting photos from the scene. He reports that smoke was filling the downtown area and that the fire created a "huge visual distraction":</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Big rig fire on wb 80 off the bay bridge in sf. Huge visual distraction in downtown <a href="http://t.co/VKgf7Asiho">pic.twitter.com/VKgf7Asiho</a></p>
— Bob Redell (@BobNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/BobNBC/statuses/364374545831981056">August 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Large vehicle fire on lower deck of bay bridge. Smoke filling downtown SF. <a href="http://t.co/wZ5FrSL5aV">pic.twitter.com/wZ5FrSL5aV</a></p>
— Bob Redell (@BobNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/BobNBC/statuses/364373072020652034">August 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<p>Here's a shot of the traffic back-up:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BREAKING&amp;src=hash">#BREAKING</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TRAFFIC&amp;src=hash">#TRAFFIC</a>: A big-rig fire is temporarily blocking all westbound lanes of the Bay Bridge at Treasure Island. <a href="http://t.co/AHwx3Z6VWl">pic.twitter.com/AHwx3Z6VWl</a></p>
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsBayArea) <a href="https://twitter.com/abc7newsBayArea/statuses/364371459600183296">August 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

Big Rig Fire Partially Shuts Down San Francisco Bay Bridge

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Shutterstock</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/traffic">Traffic</a> is the top headache for the 21 </strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/bay-area">Bay Area</a> residents I spoke to.</li><li><strong>Many people also expressed dismay about the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/homeless">homeless</a>. They were concerned and sad that more couldn't be done to provide housing.</strong></li><li><strong>Some people had a hard time coming up with even one thing they didn't like about the Bay Area. When pressed, the answers they gave were very personal.</strong></li></ul><p> </p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The most surprising result from my informal and very unscientific survey about living in the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/san-francisco">Bay Area</a> was that the cost of housing wasn't on everybody's grudge list. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That may reflect the fact that all the people I spoke with are housed, so that crisis, while concerning, isn't on their doorstep. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among their top concerns with the area were issues of homelessness and traffic, the latter being their primary headache. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are the worst things about living in the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/san-francisco-bay-area-nightmare-according-to-science-2018-4">Bay Area</a>, according to the 21 residents I asked. </span></p>

I asked 21 people for the worst thing about living in the Bay Area - here's what they said

<p>If you live in the Washington D.C. area, you already know that rush-hour traffic is a disaster.</p><p>Now the folks at the Texas A&amp;M Transportation Institute and INRIX confirm that with their <a href="http://mobility.tamu.edu/ums/report/">2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard</a>. They found that D.C. drivers spend an extra 82 hours (basically two workweeks!) a year sitting behind the wheel, going nowhere, which is almost double the national average of 42 hours of annual delays.</p><p>The Washington metropolitan area tops the "worst traffic" list of very large urban areas:</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table full"><div><div class="image"><p class="source"><span>2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>But that doesn't mean commuting in the rest of these areas is much better. You probably don't feel bad for Beltway drivers if you live in LA, which has the dubious distinction of having six of the top 10 worst gridlocked roads in the country (two others are in New York, two more in Chicago).</p><p>Bad traffic isn't limited to the largest of cities either. Despite its smaller population, San Jose beats out all but the top four "very large" areas.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table full"><div><div class="image"><p class="source"><span>2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>It is still pretty rough in medium sized cities.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table full"><div><div class="image"><p class="source"><span>2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>The smallest of urban areas don't have it as bad, but still, an average of 30 extra hours not going anywhere a year isn't fun.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table full"><div><div class="image"><p class="source"><span>2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>So if you can, take the subway - you still hit delays, but at least you can read. Or ride a bike.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-harrison-ford-life-changing-2015-7">Harrison Ford has some advice for the new 'Star Wars' cast in his first on-camera interview since the accident</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="docng3djoPMG7zr7tz2ESVOR3mKaFEWH" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

These are the cities you'll be stuck in traffic in the longest

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An artist pulled 99 smartphones around Berlin in a red wagon, tracking how the gadgets affected Google Maps' traffic interface.</li><li>Wherever the phones went, Google Maps showed a traffic jam, displaying a red line and routing Maps users around the area.</li><li>Google Maps determines traffic by pinging smartphones that use the app in order to predict the density of cars in a given area.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>An artist "hacked" Google Maps' traffic display - and all it took was a red wagon and 99 smartphones.</p><p>Simon Weckert toted the pile of smartphones down empty streets in Berlin. Every street he traversed suddenly appeared as a red, traffic-heavy zone on Google Maps, causing drivers to reroute to avoid the streets, as shown in Weckert's YouTube video documenting the results.</p><p>Weckert essentially gamed the mechanism Google Maps uses to predict traffic. The app constantly pings smartphones actively using Google's software in order to determine the approximate density of traffic and how fast that traffic is moving.</p><p>For Weckert's experiment, all 99 smartphones were turned on with Google Maps running.</p><p>In an email to Business Insider, Weckert said he isn't sure whether Google has patched Maps to protect against stunts like his. He carried out the experiment last summer, but published the results this week in honor of the nearing <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160406123606/http://www.google.co.uk/about/company/history/#2005">15th birthday of Google Maps</a>.</p><p>Weckert added that he wanted to draw attention to the blind trust many have in tech companies and platforms.</p><p>"Maps have the potential as an instrument of power for some intentions. They substitute political and military power," Weckert said. "We are highly focused on [apps like Google Maps'] data and tend to see them as objective ... Thus data are viewed as the world itself, forgetting that the numbers are only representing a model of the world."</p><p>"Whether via car or cart or camel, we love seeing creative uses of Google Maps as it helps us make maps work better over time," a Google spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement.</p><p class="tagline"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/payments-and-commerce-pro?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_subscription&amp;itm_content=iphone&amp;itm_campaign=payments-and-commerce-pro-2"></a></p>

An artist wheeled 99 smartphones around in a wagon to create fake traffic jams on Google Maps

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/tZDtyUrYrFU">Aron Van de Pol / Unsplash</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>A study has shown that walking around heavily polluted areas could reduce the positive impacts of exercise.</strong></li><li><strong>It concludes that over-60s and those with lung and heart problems should steer clear of urban areas with heavy traffic.</strong></li></ul><p><br />It's no secret that cities are some of the most polluted places on Earth. In fact, Oxford Street and other roads in London famously <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/06/london-breaches-toxic-air-pollution-limit-for-2017-in-just-five-days" target="_blank" rel="noopener">often surpass their legal pollution limit just a few days into the year.</a></p><p>But it can be difficult to think about what the pollution is doing to our health with so many other things to worry about. Many of us might think everything will be fine if we are healthy in other parts of our life, like eating well and exercising regularly.</p><p>Unfortunately, for some people, this is not true. According to a new study, <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)32643-0/fulltext?elsca1=tlpr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published in The Lancet</a>, some people who take walks around city streets could be putting their health at risk.</p><p>The researchers from Imperial College London and Duke University in the USA recruited 119 people for the study who were either healthy, had stable heart disease, or stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - a type of lung disease.</p><p>The participants were randomly assigned to walk around either Oxford Street or Hyde Park. Then, a few weeks later, they walked in the other location.</p><p>All the participants who walked around the park benefitted from increased lung capacity after the first hour, but very little difference was seen for those who walked around Oxford Street.</p><p>While people doing the park walk had increased blood flow and their arteries became less stiff by 24% in some cases, the Oxford Street walkers saw barely any improvement, with just a 4.6% improvement for healthy volunteers.</p><p>Oxford Street has been cleaning up its act recently by introducing electric buses, which has seen <a href="https://www.timeout.com/london/blog/pollution-on-oxford-street-has-dropped-by-a-third-in-12-months-011717" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pollution drop by a third</a>. However, it is still a notorious area for dirty air, with high levels of black carbon, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate matter.</p><p>"These findings are important as for many people, such as the elderly or those with chronic disease, very often the only exercise they can do is to walk," <a href="http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_5-12-2017-17-23-56" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said senior author Fan Chung</a>, Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Head of Experimental Studies Medicine at National Heart &amp; Lung Institute at Imperial College London. "Our research suggests that we might advise older adults to walk in green spaces, away from built-up areas and pollution from traffic."</p><p>Although the study was fairly small and the walks were short, the researchers concluded that the results suggest the over-60s and those with lung or heart problems should not walk around urban areas with heavy traffic. Chung said traffic pollution could also affect younger people who spend time in the polluted areas.</p><p>"For people living in the inner city it may be difficult to find areas where they can go and walk, away from pollution. There may be a cost associated as they have to travel further away from where they live or work," he said. "These are issues that mean we really need to reduce pollution by controlling traffic. That should allow everyone to be able to enjoy the health benefits of physical activity in any urban environment."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tiny-buttons-rivets-jeans-2016-11">What those tiny rivets on your jeans are for</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Here's how the traffic fumes in cities can wipe out the benefits of exercise

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Google has suspended live traffic updates in Israel and Gaza amid the war.</li><li>The move could help prevent the live-tracking of on-the-ground military movements.</li></ul><p>Google has stopped live traffic updates in Israel and the Gaza Strip amid the war, a spokesperson for the company confirmed to Insider on Tuesday.</p><p>This change was done at the request of the Israel Defense Forces, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-23/google-disables-live-traffic-in-israel-gaza-at-military-request?leadSource=uverify%20wall#xj4y7vzkg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg reported,</a> and impacts both Google Maps and Waze.</p><p>"As we have done previously in conflict situations and in response to the evolving situation in the region, we have temporarily disabled the ability to see live traffic conditions and busyness information out of consideration for the safety of local communities," a Google spokesperson told Insider. "Anyone navigating to a specific place will still get routes and ETAs that take current traffic conditions into account."</p><p>Google took a similar action in 2022 amid the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-maps-disables-ukrain-live-traffic-tool-russia-invasion-report-2022-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>. It turned off live traffic updates in Ukraine, reportedly because the apps were being used to track military movements.</p><p>Israel's war against Hamas, which was declared after the Palestinian militant group's October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, has continued to escalate. As of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-hamas-palestine-syria-lebanon-hezbollah-iran-military-defense-war?_gl=1*k6ivpv*_ga*MTkxNzg5NDI1MC4xNjg3NTYzODE1*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTY5ODE2MDAyMS4yNDUuMS4xNjk4MTYwNjE4LjYwLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener">October 23</a>, more than 5,000 Palestinian residents in Gaza and over 1,400 Israelis are <a href="https://ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-17" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated to have died</a> since October 7. An estimated 15,273 Palestinians have been injured in Gaza since Israel's military response, and more than 5,400 Israelis injured in the same time period.</p><p>The most recent change in Google Maps and Waze comes ahead of an anticipated ground invasion by Israel into Gaza, a scenario in which troop movements could theoretically impact traffic.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-google-maps-knows-about-traffic-2015-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google Maps'</a> live traffic updates work by getting data from smartphones that have the app installed. It uses location tracking to gauge how many cars are on a certain roadway and how fast they are going. Those with the app can get updates on how bad traffic might be in a certain area.</p><p>Those in the area will still be able to use Google Maps and Waze to help with navigation. However, Americans should think twice before traveling to the conflict zone. The <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/israel-west-bank-and-gaza-travel-advisory.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Department of State</a> urges Americans to "reconsider" travel to Israel and the West Bank. It also advises Americans to not travel to Gaza at all. Earlier this month, more than 40 airlines canceled flights from North America to <a href="https://www.insider.com/airlines-canceling-flights-to-israel-tel-aviv-2023-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel</a>.</p>

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