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An article in AARP Bulletin says that artificial intelligence tools can answer important questions about caregiving. I have discovered that consulting the internet can become a habit that leads to constant worry. A request for guidance from other people is common and many give unsolicited advice. What should a person do when confronting a difficult decision? Asking for help in the process is not a sign of weakness, and in health matters a second opinion is a must. Is there a skill in asking for...
There is a picture in November’s National Geographic of a 15th century linen “skirted bra” from Austria’s Lengberg Castle. This discovery in a cluttered vault resembles the modern long-line bra and is evidence of the “breast bags” referred to by some medieval authors. It surprised clothing historians who thought bra cups were a 19th century creation. There is no definite proof of when the brassiere was first introduced, but Aphrodite of Greek history is mentioned in Homer’s Iliad as wearing a...
Tony Quiroga in Car and Driver Magazine said, “I'm fascinated with people who care enough and know how to undo obsolescence.” We live in a society where on-board diagnostics tell the technician which part to pull out and replace. Remove and replace works well when shiny and new but what happens when a product has been out of production for years? There is a good feeling when you know people that can “keep the flame burning” and get something going again. Is obsolescence planned? Henry Ford bu...
How do you choose when you’ve had enough and decide to cut your losses? Cutting your losses is a decision-making process when you finally acknowledge that your investment of time, money or effort is not going to yield positive results. Many people decide to power through and there is some virtue in doing that but taking hours out of your life deciding to change direction is often well worth it. I once used a computer program that carried the message: “Repeatedly hitting the ‘Enter’ key will re...
Daylight Savings Time, love it or leave it? Only two states do not observe DST – Hawaii and Arizona – but is it here to stay? Florida introduced a bill that would have made the “Spring Forward” permanent, but it failed to pass. DST was intended to make better use of daylight during the longer days of summer. Shifting an hour of daylight from the morning when people are typically asleep just seemed to make sense. The practice was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784 while acting as U.S....
“But whatever you do, don’t just call it a ‘purse’.” – Jerry Seinfeld. The history of handbags dates back centuries. Otzi, the Iceman found preserved in the Austrian Alps and believed to have lived in 3500 B.C., was carrying a leather pouch. In ancient times, both men and women used them to carry items like coins and religious relics. Often made of leather or cloth, they were tied around the waist or worn under clothing. In the Middle Ages, the handbag evolved into a decorative item and reflect...
NATO is the familiar acronym for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Established in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union, General Dwight D. Eisenhower called it “The last remaining chance for the survival of Western Civilization.” After World War II, Britain, France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg forged a mutual-defense pact but Minister Paul-Henri Spaak of Belgium warned that any alliance without the United States would be “without practical value.” The United States became a member....
“Bring back those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, those days of soda and pretzels and beer.” – Nat King Cole, 1962. Summer is ending but a cold beer and pretzels sounds good in any season. What Say! My story about pretzels begins with mentioning “Auntie” Ann Beiler who started selling soft pretzels in 1988. Her franchise today has over 1,700 locations and we are fans, seeking one out in every mall we visit. What is there about pretzels that makes them so popular? Created by a medieval...
Aging is a privilege that some of my friends have not had. When we are young, we enter a complex rollercoaster of change that is characterized by various stages, each marked by distinct physical, psychological and social milestones. According to Alex Janin in Wall Street Journal, “A growing body of research says the aging process might resemble rolling hills more than a slow and steady decline. Instead of assigning the process to groups of years, it may come instead in waves at age 44 and 60.” M...
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a topic or issue that is highly charged emotionally or politically is called a hot button. Stop for a moment and think about what really upsets you. We all have a hot button. I know the hot button for most of my friends, and they are topics we avoid in conversation because they are ongoing dilemmas that are not solved at the coffee shop. Most are specific triggers or issues that provoke strong feelings that can lead to heated discussions or conflicts. Hot...
We live in an instant gratification society resulting in impatience. While it is a curse, there is also a good side. When we rush through life, we miss out on the experiences that come from taking our time. Aging isn’t just for Whiskey anymore. Experts agree, we should live in the moment, allowing us an appreciation for the journey and the small victories that come along the way. There are so many of us that don’t have the ability to wait. It is no wonder in a world where it is possible to get t...
“Laughter is the best medicine” is a well-known phrase. Laughter can improve mood and treatment outcomes, but what about anger? According to Samantha Reddy, too much anger harms your health. I have heard coaches tell their players, “Get angry!” Does it help win the game or merely increase stress? Research shows that getting mad is a normal response, but staying mad can cause problems. The secret to non-harmful anger is learning to express it in healthier ways. Anger causes harm to our cognitive...
“B-I-N-G-O and BINGO was his Name-O.” –William Swords, 1780. Much more than a pet’s name, BINGO is a game enjoyed by all ages. You are never too young nor old for BINGO. BINGO by this name began in America in 1929 when a traveling salesperson named Edwin S. Lowe was working his way through the South during the Great Depression. He stopped at a roadside carnival near Jacksonville, Florida, to see people lined up to play a game they called beano. You know the drill but using beans. Lowe asked t...
“Don’t call us, we’ll call you.” –Sugarloaf, 1970. People will respond quicker if you text them and it has become the dominant mode of communication for several reasons. The first is the onslaught of telemarketers. Many people are screening their calls, limiting incoming to those on their contact list. Not a bad idea if you aren’t in business. Chaffee Properties receives rental requests from area codes far from our trade area. Ignoring them might mean a missed opportunity. We should let them go...
“Hand me down my walkin’ cane, hand me down my hat. Hurry now and don’t be late ‘cause we ain’t got time to chat.” – Rubber Band Man, The Spinners, 1976. The rubber band is a simple, yet amazing, product that, like inventors of the weed eater, paint roller, and cordless drill, doesn’t get them the credit they deserve. The first use of rubber dates back to 1800 BCE. It was first used for balls for the Mesoamerican ball games by the Olmec Culture in Central America. A product made from the sap of...
Douglas Corrigan, better known as “Wrong Way” Corrigan, became famous for his 1938 transatlantic flight. He intended to fly from New York to California but ended up in Dublin, Ireland. His navigation blunder led to a remarkable achievement in aviation, cementing his place in lore by committing an error. Thanks to GPS, short for Global Positioning System, the guesswork has been taken out of travel. Initially developed for the military, it has become integral to everyday activities. Some of us...
A quote from AARP Magazine: “When you age, every morning when you get up, something will hurt. It may be the same thing every day or it may be something different.” I have discovered this to be true, and it is a sign that your body is responding to inflammation. Inflammation is a complex biological response that plays a crucial role in the body’s defense and healing mechanisms. While stiff joints are a part of the normal aging process, there exists a consensus among scientists that infla...
This week's loss of Richard Simmons brought back memories of my childhood battle with weight. Richard also struggled with his weight, which led to his passion for fitness and health. He gained fame and appeared on many shows touting his approach to fitness that emphasized fun. Who could forget "Sweatin' to the Oldies?" Mealtime was always prioritized in my family. I was never encouraged to "finish my plate," but Mother always had something ready. My teen years were as emotional as is expected,...
Blended families are more common today than ever before. Things often go well until the reading of the will. Step-family estates can present complex challenges in estate planning, involving legal, emotional and financial considerations. According to attorneys, contested wills can cause irreparable damage to relationships that had flourished over the years. The Brady Bunch, a sitcom by Sherwood Schwartz that aired from 1969 to 1974, was a milestone program that promoted communication and its...
The history of bread spans millennia, beginning in the fertile crescent, which makes up large portions of the Middle East including Egypt, Syria and Turkey. Bread-making evolved from a simple mixture of water and ground grains, shaped into cakes, and cooked over an open fire. These breads were unleavened, meaning no rising agent was added. Egyptian bakers found that yeast and its ability to make bread rise led to softer, lighter loaves that soon became a staple in the human diet. My mother...
“The gold standard is a system whereby countries agree to convert paper money into a fixed amount of gold. If the price of gold was $2,000 an ounce, the value of a dollar would be 1/500 of an ounce of gold.” – Nick Loudis, Investopedia. Steve Forbes, from Forbes Magazine, says, “We never had inflation when the dollar’s value was tied to the yellow metal.” He also says, “The real cause of monetary inflation is weakening the value of the dollar, usually by creating too many of them.” Is it...
Neurodivergent employees, including individuals with autism, ADHD, dyslexia and other cognitive differences, may bring unique perspectives and talents to the workplace. Down’s Syndrome individuals also have their own individual strengths and challenges. Tech giants such as Microsoft have long had programs to recruit and retain workers whose brains process information in ways that aren’t typical. Since Covid, focus on people’s mental health has increased and companies are discovering that atypica...
“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” – Love Story, 1970. After 50 years of marriage, I have violated that definition many times. One of Jethro Gibbs’ seven rules from NCIS is “Never say you’re sorry.” “I’m sorry” is a phrase that loses meaning when over-used, like the word awesome and the word stuff. Is there an art to apologizing? Can you make it sincere, or do you “throw it out there” as a one-size-fits-all response to everyday interactions? According to Healthline.com, by taking res...
“Ever since I was a young boy, I played the silver ball.” –The Who, 1969. Pinball’s popularity began in the 1930s. “Baffle Ball” featured a maze of pins, spawning the name. Pinball’s golden age started in 1947 with “Humpty Dumpty,” revolutionizing the game with flippers, allowing the player to “recycle” the ball. Classic machines from the ‘50s to the ‘70s added new layers of skill and strategy. In the ‘60s, my buddy Jim Tatro and I played the “Light a Card” at the bowling alley by the hour....
Secret recipes, like Kentucky Fried Chicken’s 11 herbs and spices and Bush’s Baked Beans, are not so secret anymore. Mass production requires some “fiddling” with ingredients to meet consistency, packaging and safety requirements, leading to a loss of originality. Grandma’s home cooking, quoting a local TV advertisement, was “often imitated but seldom duplicated.” Collecting cookbooks is a popular hobby, a step back in time. Ancient recipes provide a fascinating glimpse into the culinary trad...
