Lifestyles Newsletter

LifeStyle Newsletter

2^nd Quarter 2012

Stroll, Ramble, Wander, Promenade

Henry David Thoreau had a well-documented passion for walking. In one, oft-delivered lecture, he said, “I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits unless I spend four hours a day at least – and it is commonly more than that – sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields absolutely, free from all worldly engagements.” As it turns out, Thoreau was right about the positive benefits of walking – and wrong about the length of time required to attain them.

A body in motion tends to stay in motion

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), walking for just 30 minutes, five or more days a week, provides a multitude of benefits for the average adult. These include:

• Lowering blood pressure
• Reducing risk of heart disease
• Defending the brain against memory loss and Alzheimer’s
• Limiting the risk of Type 2 diabetes
• Diminishing some types of chronic pain
• Maintaining the ability to perform daily tasks
• Sleeping better

Unfortunately, few older Americans are reaping these benefits. NIH found that less than one-third of 45- to 64-year-olds engage in physical activities on a regular basis; about one-quarter of 65- to 74-year-olds do; and just 11 percent of those over age 75.

Give yourself momentum

It doesn’t take much to swap a sedentary lifestyle for renewed energy and vigor. However, if you haven’t been active for a while, it‘s a good idea to start slowly. Put on a pair of good walking shoes, and take a stroll around the neighborhood. Gradually, increase your time until you walk for 30 minutes each day. If you have trouble motivating yourself, find a walking partner and make it a social activity. Or, you can buy a pedometer and challenge yourself by counting your steps. You can learn more at www.go4life.niapublications.org– right after your walk!

2012: Year of the Potato

Predictions for the hottest restaurant trends in 2012 include savory ice cream flavors (e.g., lobster ice cream), vegetable desserts (e.g., celery pudding), and potato dishes (e.g., potato and ham soup). You can make the latter at home with this great recipe.
 

Potato and Ham Soup

4 cups potatoes, peeled and diced

1/2 cup celery, chopped fine

1/2 cup onion, chopped fine

1 cup smoked ham, diced

4 cups chicken or vegetable stock

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

5 tablespoons butter

5 tablespoons flour

2 cups milk

Parsley or chives

Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham,and chickenor vegetablestock in a large pot. Bring the ingredients to a boil, and cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender (about 10 to 15 minutes). Stir in the salt, white pepper, and cayenne pepper.

In a saucepan, make a roux. Melt the butter. Whisk in the flour. Stir the mixture it thickens. Slowly whisk in the milk. Cook the mixture over low-to-medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add it to the ingredients in the large pot, and whisk thoroughly. Garnish with parsley or chives.

Wht Do You Know About Mythology?

If you’re a grandparent – or fan of children’s books – you probably know that many of today’s most popular titles are based on mythology. Test your knowledge of mythology and children’sliterature with this brief quiz.

1. What was the purpose of mythology?
   1. To explain natural events
   2. To explain a culture’s view of the universe
   3. To explain a culture’s view of humanity
   4. All of the above

1. Greek and Roman mythology share many gods, but call these gods by different names. Which of the following pairs match the Roman name with the Greek name?
   1. Cupid               1.  Ares
   2. Diana               2.  Artemis
   3. Jupiter             3.  Eros
   4. Juno                 4.  Zeus
   5. Mars                5. Hera

1. Which of the following children’s book authors have written series that are grounded in mythology?
   1. Rick Riordan
   2. Nancy Farmer
   3. Eoin Colfer
   4. All of the above

1. Which of the following idioms do not have its origins in mythology?
   1. Raining cats and dogs
   2. Achilles’ heel
   3. Eat my hat
   4. Fortune favors the bold

A Smart Phone Revolution

Smart phones are changing the way many people use technology – and some suspect that they may eventually replace personal computers. Today, they’re altering the way people text.

Learn a new app

Since the mid-1990s, text messages have become a popular means of communication. Last year, 75 percent of cell phone owners in 21 countries texted regularly. Some experts believe that texting has helped sharpen our thinking, by forcing us to get to the point more quickly. If it still takes you several messages to make a point, you may be glad to know that some smart phone applications (apps) offer free texting. After downloading GroupMe, Disco, WhatsApp, Kik, or another option, you can text divide your friends into groups and text everyone at the same time – no matter what type of smart phone group members have.

Save money

Technically, ‘free’ texting isn’t free because texting apps piggyback on a smart phone’s data plan. However, this approach to texting is significantly less expensive than texting by cell phone, according to CNNMoney. For example, one text message requires, at most, 160 bytes of data. A megabyte of data (more than one million bytes or 6,250 text messages) costs:

• $1,250 when you pay $0.20 per cell phone text
• $2.80 with an unlimited texting plan
• $0.014 when you text through a smart phone app (Two gigabytes – 2,048 megabytes – of data cost about $25 to $30 a month)

If 6,250 text messages seem like a lot, think again. The average cell phone user sends 1,500 text messages a month, according to Pew Research. Teens lead the pack, sending more than 3,000 texts every month, while older Americans send less than 500 per month, according to Nielsen.

So, don’t worry. If you’re just becoming fluent in the number-letter-symbol language of texting, you will still have opportunities to use your new skills. You may even have a chance to show your kids and grandkids how to save on texting!
 

Quiz Answers:

1. All of the above.
2. A = 3; B = 2; C = 4; D = 5; and E = 1.
3. All of the above. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series incorporates Greek and Roman mythology; Nancy Farmer’s Trolls Trilogy has elements of Norse mythology, and Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series reference Irish mythology.
4. The idiom ‘Eat my hat’ originated in 1660 in the court of Charles II. It is also found in Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers. ‘Raining cats and dogs’ is believed to have its origin in Norse mythology.

Sources:

http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/new-mobile-obsession-u-s-teens-triple-data-usage/

http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Cell-Phone-Texting-2011/Main-Report.aspx

http://www.pewglobal.org/2011/12/20/global-digital-communication-texting-social-networking-popular-worldwide/

http://www.knowyourphrase.com/phrase-meanings/eat-my-hat.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseandphysicalfitness.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/SM00062_D

http://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-12-2011/walking-health-benefits.2.html

http://www.thoreau-online.org/walking-page2.html

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/22/technology/text_messaging/index.htm

http://www.pantheon.org/miscellaneous/roman_vs_greek.html

http://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/2012-year-potato

http://www.afandco.com/trends2012/slideshow.html#link5

Lifestyle Newsletter

July 2011

What Is Killing America’s Honey Bees?

It is a question that been plaguing scientists since 2006 when America’s bees began behaving in unusual and inexplicable ways. Normal, healthy adult bees have been abandoning their hives, and leaving their queens, their stored food, and their young. Some beekeepers have reported that 30% to 50% of their bees have disappeared almost overnight. This phenomenon is called colony collapse, and its cause has become a major field of scientific inquiry.[1]

So, what is causing colony collapse? Scientists have studied the few bees left in abandoned hives and have found that they have almost every virus and parasite known to infect the species. As a result, researchers believe that bees’ immune systems are failing. Why? Here are a few of the theories that scientists are studying:

• Poor nutrition: Beekeepers who provide their bees with nutritional supplements appear to have a lower incidence of colony collapse. Experts theorize that a focus on single crop farming, along with the elimination of weedy areas, has made it hard for bees to get enough protein or all of their essential amino acids.[2]

• Cell phones: Although cell phones don’t kill bees, research shows that the electromagnet radiation they create may interfere with bees’ ability to navigate and communicate. Research in India and Switzerland has found that cell phone activity creates disturbances in hives and that worker bees tend not to return to hives that are near cell phones. The disappearance of the workers eventually leads to colony collapse.[3]

• Pesticides: Researchers from Penn State found high levels of almost 100 different pesticides in the wax, pollen, and hive samples they studied. They reported that the toxicity was not high enough to kill honey bees; however, it may reduce their overall fitness.[4]In turn, that may affect the ability of bees’ immune systems to fight disease.

While no single cause of colony collapse has been identified, some speculate that a combination of factors – perhaps all of the above in combination with the mites and fungi that are natural threats to bees – is responsible.

A Liquid Salad from Andalucía

Gazpacho originated in Andalucía, a region in southern Spain. While most of us are familiar with red gazpacho, the original cold soup of the region was white. It was a peasant dish made with bread, garlic, and almonds. It wasn’t until tomatoes arrived in Spain from the Americas that red gazpacho became popular. 

Gazpacho

For the soup:

1 seedless cucumber, peeled and chopped

1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced

3 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, diced

2 garlic cloves, peeled

¼ cup sherry vinegar

½ cup sherry

¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 cups water

Sea salt to taste

Combine the cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, sherry, olive oil, and 2 cups of water in a food processor or blender. Puree the ingredients. Add the sea salt to taste. Pour the gazpacho through a strainer into a pitcher. Chill for about 1 hour.

For the garnish:

2 thick slices bread

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

½ cucumber, diced

½ green bell pepper, seeded and diced

½ red bell pepper, seeded and diced

Sea salt to taste

Preheat oven to 450?F. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes. Toss with two tablespoons of olive oil. Spread the bread on a baking sheet and bake on the middle rack until golden brown. Set aside to cool. Pour chilled soup into cups or bowls. Top with toasted bread, cucumbers, and peppers. Sprinkle with salt, drizzle with olive oil, and serve.

Is Your City Good for Your Health?

According to RealAge.com– a web site on which physicians, epidemiologists, and medical writers report on recent medical and scientific findings – some cities have healthier lifestyles than others. In fact, their residents tend to be at least two years younger physically than their chronological age. As you may expect, the web site also reported that in some cities residents are physically older than their age.

The survey’s findings were based on online health assessments taken by 27 million participants over a dozen years. They measured residents’ levels of hypertension, satisfaction with marriage, smoking habits, exercise routines, and sleep habits. If you would like to learn more, just visit www.RealAge.com.

LifeStyle Newsletter

April 2011

So Many Vacations, So Little Time

Are you ready for a vacation? Does your ultimate holiday include de-stressing while listening to the soothing rhythms of ocean waves? Taking your mind off everyday issues by immersing yourself in a new culture? Re-energizing by taking on a challenging physical adventure? Here are a few opportunities that may satisfy your vacation cravings – no matter what they are!

Bike or hike the Czech Greenways: Travel from Vienna to Prague, or Prague to Vienna, through some of Europe’s most pristine countryside. The Czech Greenways are a web of country roads and trails, many of which follow the former Iron Curtain. The trail is filled with historic towns, picturesque villages, romantic castles, and medieval churches.

Observe the Pacific Flyway: If you know that Black Turnstone, Marbled Godwit, and Verdin are not varieties of granite, then you might want to try bird watching in Southern California. Playa del Rey, the Bolsa Chica wetlands, and the Salton Sea are great areas to watch migration.

Hone your culinary skills: If you’re passionate about food, why not travel to Paris and spend some time at one of the most esteemed cooking schools in the world? Le Cordon Bleu Academie d'Art Culinaire offers short programs, lasting from two hours to four days, that will help refine the way you prepare desserts, sauces, breads, and other dishes.

Meditate silently: Researchers have found that meditation increases gray matter in the parts of the brain that are responsible for learning and memory, and reduces regions that are responsible for anxiety and stress.[1]If a few days of meditation and quiet appeal to you, look online for retreat options.

As Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Pizza!

Rumor has it that Americans eat about 100 acres of pizza a day. If you love pizza, pick up some fresh dough at the grocery store and try making one at home. If you have a pizza stone, you’ve probably already baked some masterpieces. If you don’t have a pizza stone, here is an alternative method for making delicious pizza on the grill.

Grilled Pizza

Fresh pizza dough

1 large package mozzarella cheese, shredded (Romano and other cheeses may be used, as well)

½ cup of your favorite pasta sauce

Your favorite pizza toppings (garlic, pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, etc.)

Divide the dough into six pieces. On a floured surface roll or shape each piece until it is about one-quarter inch thick and round, then let the dough rest. Preheat a grill pan or your barbecue.

Brush one side of each piece of dough with oil and cook it on the grill, oiled side down, for about 2 to 4 minutes. Brush the raw side with oil and flip the dough. Put a spoonful of pasta sauce on the cooked side and spread it around. Add mozzarella and your favorite pizza toppings. Cook until the cheese is bubbling and the crust is done.

What Do You Know About Baseball?

The season is upon us! If you’re a fan, you’ve probably already got your glove oiled and your season tickets in hand. Before you head to the ballpark, test your knowledge of the game by completing this brief quiz.

1. What was the term for the stitching used on the first baseballs?
   1. Lemon peel
   2. Rose pedal
   3. Figure eight
   4. A or B

The Human Brain and Metaphors

The human brain has a hard time distinguishing “between being a dirty scoundrel and being in need of a bath,”[2]according to Robert Sapolsky, a Professor of Biology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at Stanford University. That’s because our brains process real and symbolic versions of concepts in the same region – and that can create confusion.

In one experiment, researchers at Northwestern University and University of Toronto asked volunteers to recall a moral or an immoral act from their past. When the session was finished, the researchers offered a parting gift. Volunteers could select either a pencil or a package of antiseptic wipes. A majority of those who had recalled immoral acts chose the wipes. Researchers interpreted this to mean they felt a need to ‘clean up’ after discussing dirty or bad acts.

In another study, researchers from University of Colorado and Yale greeted study volunteers while overburdened with files. On each occasion, the researcher would ask the volunteer to hold his or her coffee. Sometimes the coffee was hot; other times it was iced. Next, volunteers were asked to read a description of a person they did not know. If the volunteer had been asked to hold warm coffee, he or she generally perceived the person described as having a warmer personality!

If you would like to know more about how the human brain processes metaphors, read Dr. Sapolsky’s article, This Is Your Brain on Metaphors. You can find it online at http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/this-is-your-brain-on-metaphors/.

Answers:

1. C. According to the Columbia Encyclopedia, Alexander Cartwright of the New York Knickerbocker Club set the standards for the field features and dimensions that are used today. The first rule book is believed to have been written by Henry Chadwick, a sportswriter, in 1858.

1. B. The Cincinnati Red Stockings was the first professional baseball team.

1. B. Pitching mounds were originally 15 inches high. They were lowered to 10 inches to help batters.

1. D. A single piece of leather was stitched around a core to form early baseballs. The "x" configuration was called a lemon peel or rose pedal.

LifeStyle Newsletter

January 2011

Could You Use An ADU?

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. If that is true, then Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – aka backyard cottages, in-law suites, or granny flats – are the offspring of the housing bust and the financial crisis. They provide alternative housing solutions for Americans who have seen the value of their homes and retirement accounts fall in response to recent financial events.

New trends have emerged in America

The financial and economic events of the past few years have caused many Americans to modify their lifestyles. Loss of wealth has caused some to spend less and save more. We’ve seen additional trends emerge, too, including:

• Reduced mobility for homeowners of all age groups, but particularly for homeowners age 65 and older, who moved from one home to another 38% less in 2009 than in 2005.[1] 
• Resurgence of multi-generational households as high unemployment and foreclosure rates caused family members to combine their housing resources.[2]
• Rising demand for less expensive dwellings that are durable, sustainable and located in areas where transportation and services infrastructure already exists.[3]

ADUs are housing solutions that meet new needs

ADUs are small dwellings that “accessorize” existing homes. If zoning laws allow it, you can have a prefab or custom ADU built in your backyard or attached to your current home. If needed, the ADU may be equipped with electronic monitoring and medical care equipment. These versatile abodes can provide housing for:

• Adult children (and their families) who return to live with their parents either temporarily or permanently.
• Older parents who come to live with their children.
• Retirees who would like to downsize and rent their primary residence.
• Elderly parents who would like an alternative to assisted-living facilities or nursing homes.

One of the key benefits of ADUs is that, unlike the money spent on apartments, assisted-living facilities and nursing homes, you may be able to recoup your investment. ADUs can be used as studios, home offices or rental properties when multi-generational arrangements are no longer required.

A cost-effective housing option

How much does it cost to put a cottage in the backyard? Experts estimate that modular construction costs up to 25% less than traditional homes built on-site. For example, an 800 to 900 square foot modular home may cost $50,000 to $60,000.[4] If you add the cost of in-home care, you may find that it’s possible to realize significant savings over the cost of a parent’s extended care in an assisted-living facility or nursing home.

See for yourself

If you would like to see some of the ADU options available, visit websites like www.FabCab.com, www.MedCottage.com, or www.kephartliving.com. You may be surprised by what you find!

Simple Berry Sherbet

Sherbet was originally a Turkish word. It was used to describe a sweetened fruit drink that was cooled with snow. The drink was introduced in Europe, where it was often carbonated. Today, we know sherbet as a delicious frozen dessert. Try this simple recipe the next time you need an easy treat.

Berry Sherbet

3 tablespoons honey
2 cups plain yogurt
Fresh mint sprigs
2 cups frozen berries
1 cup fresh berries

Blend the honey, yogurt and mint sprigs in a food processor. When they are well blended, add the frozen berries and blend again. Put the fresh berries in the bottom of dessert cups and then spoon the frozen mixture on top. Add a sprig of mint and serve.

What Do You Know About Funeral Rites?

The Baby Boom generation has transformed almost every segment of the American economy. As they have grown older, Boomers have begun to influence funeral rites and rituals, often moving away from tradition and favoring approaches that emphasize their individuality. Test your knowledge of changing norms with this brief quiz.

1.      Which of the following trends is gaining traction?

a.      Internet memorials

b.      Do-it-yourself funerals

c.       Biodegradable coffins

d.      All of the above

2.      What services are provided by the group called Some Mum?

a.      They create elaborate, personalized memorials for mothers.

b.      They mummify people and pets.

c.       They create beautiful floral bouquets.

d.      They have a mausoleum that houses only mothers.

3.      To stay relevant in their communities, cemeteries are offering which of the following?

a.      Nature walks

b.      Public lecture programs