Lifestyles Newsletter

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

c.       Art exhibits

d.      All of the above

4.      Which of the following is not likely to be found at a green funeral?

a.      Recycled programs

b.      Cremated remains

c.       Carpooling to the gravesite

d.      A concrete vault

Text and Chat Abbreviations

If you have grandchildren and a cell phone, you have probably received at least one text message that appeared to contain gibberish. Even if you’re pretty savvy about technology, text message and chat abbreviations can be confusing. Here are a few common abbreviations that may make it easier to communicate with younger generations.

10Q:          Thank you

143:           I love you

FYEO:         For your eyes only

511:           Too much information (more than 411)

BSTS:         Better safe than sorry

W@:          What?

PLMK:        Please let me know

14AA41:     One for all and all for one

CUL8R:      See you later

If you would like to learn more, check out the quick reference at www.Webopedia.com.