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How to raise the discreet child
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While public discretion is important to our careers, discretion in our private lives is also key to maintaining good relationships. Tiffany Lewis writes that a healthy marriage often involves knowing when to be honest, and when its best to keep the mouth shut. - photo by Tiffany Gee Lewis
Several years ago, my mom gave my oldest son a book called 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know.

The slim volume, written by John Bridges and Bryan Curtis, is filled with practical nuggets of wisdom such as how to write a thank-you note, how to keep nails trimmed and clean and what to do in an embarrassing situation.

However, as I was thumbing through the book this week, pondering on the state of the world, one chapter stood out: Knowing when to keep your mouth shut.

The chapter introduces the young gentleman to the idea of discretion, knowing when and where it is appropriate to reveal information.

In an era of oversharing, and with so many platforms on which to share, the idea of discretion has become almost obsolete, and yet discretion is one of the most important tools we can teach our young people.

As our private lives become increasingly more public, discretion may be one of the touchpoints of future success. Its crucial in professional settings. A 2012 article by Michael Fertik in Harvard Business Review stated that 75 percent of employers actively research candidates online, going so far as to mine a candidates social media, shopping profile and online gaming habits. Moreover, studies show further that more than 70 percent have decided NOT to hire a candidate based on what theyve found. If this was true four years ago, it is even more prevalent today.

While public discretion is important to our careers, discretion in our private lives is also key to maintaining good relationships. A healthy marriage often involves knowing when to be honest and when its best to keep the mouth shut. The same goes for interactions with children, extended family and friends.

As I sometimes remind my children, being an honest person is quite different from sharing every thought that pops into our heads. If what we say or do is going to cause harm to another person, don't say it.

When I think of my personal role models, nearly all of them have learned the power of discretion. I think of my father, from whom Ive never heard a flippant or unkind remark. I think of a former elementary school director who maintained an incredibly professional presence despite the actions of some parents to bring her down. I have long admired public persons such as author J.K. Rowling who use great discretion in how much of their lives they bare before the voyeuristic masses.

So much of our modern-day dialogue devolves to insults, crude remarks or simply mindless banter. Showing discretion means being willing to have a decent exchange of ideas without resorting to stereotypes and a loss of emotional control.

If your current Facebook feed is similar to mine, you know that its an absolute minefield of political opinion. I see friends and family jabbing at one another with words, creating wounds that will last long after the red or blue confetti of Nov. 8 is swept away.

If we want our society to stay relevant and functional into the future, we need to think right now about how we parcel out our words and actions.

Discretion isnt just for young gentlemen. Its for all of us.
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.