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11 traits all real men have in common
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How many men do you know who do these 11 things? - photo by Melinda Fox
The phrase "man up" can be damaging to males. This small and vague phrase is used to discourage emotion and promote destructive behaviors such as male dominance and homophobia.

But today the definition of masculinity is constantly being reevaluated. While what defines men is continually evolving, there are some core characteristics that the modern man can rely on as a standard of excellence.

Here are 11 things that every real man does:

1. Asks for directions

We know youll locate it eventually but that doesnt mean theres any shame in asking how to get there a little faster. A real mans pride isnt diminished by asking for help when he needs it.

2. Loves his mother

The way a man treats his mother is very telling about the kind of person he is. He cares about her, and he respects her. He worries for her and is grateful for her.

3. Doesn't look at pornography

In and of itself, pornography is not real. What's on the screen is a fabricated reality. The people have had plastic surgery and are photoshopped; the scenes are edited to make things that hurt women look pleasurable. Because pornography is not real, a real man does not watch it. Instead he is an advocate for women and respects them unconditionally.

4. Can cook

Humans need food to survive and men happen to be human. A real man doesnt rely on restaurants or his lady to do the cooking for him. He doesnt have to be an extraordinary cook, but he can at least heat up a chicken breast with some barbecue sauce and salt and pepper, with some green beans to go with it.

5. Is faithful

Whether its with small things like taking out the trash when he says he will, or with big things like being loyal in a relationship, a real man is true to his word and doesn't give someone reason to doubt it.

6. Can laugh at himself

If he slips on ice in front of a crowd of people, or if he accidentally says something dumb, he sees the humor in the situation. A real man doesn't take himself too seriously.

7. Has aspirations

A real man is passionate about something, and he lets that passion drive his goals. He isn't content to just sit and wait for things to happen to him. A real man sets goals for himself and does everything he can to realize them.

8. Is a good parent

Even if he doesn't have any kids yet, a real man is concerned about his future children and doing what he can today to prepare to parent them.

An inherent characteristic of men is their potential as fathers. A real man is aware of that and strives to be a loving parent who provides for the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of his children.

9. Learns from his mistakes

More than just realizing that forgetting to put the milk back in the fridge isn't alright, a real man looks for things that he isn't very good at because he knows that seeing his weaknesses is the stimulus for improving himself.

10. Is not ruled by insecurities

Having insecurities doesn't make him less masculine because he doesn't allow them to drive his actions. For example, even if he feels like he's an awful conversationalist, he doesn't let that get in the way of caring for other people and strives to focus on them instead of himself when he talks to others.

11. Doesn't need to prove he's a 'real man'

A real man doesn't feel pressure to assert his masculinity. He doesn't need to show he's the alpha male. He is confident in who he is regardless of what others think.

No man is expected to be perfect. However, a real man does what he can to strive for these ideals.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.