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Lori Borgman: Packing for a trip can be a clothes call
Years ago, we would pick up our son downtown after he took the Megabus home from college. He would get in the car and we would routinely ask, "Where's your luggage?" He would respond by holding up a small brown paper bag that most people use to pack a lunch.
The kid was a walking definition of "travel light."
These days he occasionally travels...Read more
2 weeks after giving birth, teacher had a heart attack. Then a cardiac arrest
After having their first child, Naiya Atkins and Tristan Griffith were settling into a routine. On leave from her job as a second grade teacher, Naiya was home with baby Joseph, whom they nicknamed JoJo. Tristan worked late hours and took care of JoJo at night.
JoJo was 2 weeks old when Naiya stood up from snuggling him in bed and almost ...Read more
Dynamic duo save the day from cyber terrorism in futuristic thriller
When HelioCorp’s connection to the Eastern U.S. power grid blows up — literally, killing one of the employees in the process — a firewall glitch or a system hack breached by an insider is suspected. Louise “Weezy” Napolitani, a brilliant computer specialist (hacker) for the IAC, is summoned to investigate the blow-up. She is not happy ...Read more
Inspiring advice on becoming 'Your Own Inspiration'
Dr. Christina Rahm’s third book in her Cure the Causes series, "Be Your Own Inspiration," stands out as a unique and comprehensive guide to self-discovery, self-empowerment and self-evolution. It’s not just another self-help book, but a transformative journey that starts with the self.
Rahm’s approach is not just theoretical, but highly ...Read more
Study: Cancer-causing chemicals found in Band-Aids, other bandage brands
Band-Aids and other popular brands of adhesive bandages have been found to contain higher-than-expected levels of cancer-causing “forever chemicals.”
In partnership with the Environmental Health Sciences blog and Mamavation, the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University examined 40 bandages from 18 different brands, and ...Read more
Debra-Lynn B. Hook: Mother longs for her children to know the power of their ancestors
I was lucky in many ways that my parents were young when I was born. My mother was 19, my father 22.
Their youth meant their parents were also relatively young, as were their parents’ parents, which dropped me into a multitude of grandparents and great-grandparents at birth, a tribe of elders whose physical presence would enrich my life for ...Read more
Lori Borgman: Students turn the table at home-school
When our kids were young, I briefly considered home schooling. Then I was teaching our son to play piano, found myself with the John Thompson Book for Beginners rolled up in my hand, ready to swat him on the arm, and realized I was not home-school material.
We paid a neighbor for piano lessons. She taught all the kids in the neighborhood and ...Read more
World-traveling couple introduces readers to incredible people from around the globe
Eternally curious and dogged in their pursuit, married travelers Scott and Tarantino know how to track down a good story, and not just any story.
In fact, their book "Looking For Legends," comes with a bold itinerary before you even get past the cover. “Let us take you somewhere you’ve never been before, and introduce you to our friends,”...Read more
Since losing her mom to heart disease at 53, health and fitness are her priorities
Sarah Steinsiek grew up in small-town Arkansas watching her mother, Ruthie Hare, join all sorts of fitness groups. Naturally slim, Ruthie especially loved aerobics and calisthenics.
She had another motivation, too. She knew it would help ward off the heart disease that had plagued nearly every member of her family.
Yet there was one healthy ...Read more
Why Sarah Jessica Parker doesn’t limit what her kids eat
Sarah Jessica Parker wants her twins to have a healthier relationship with food than she had growing up, she said on an episode of Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast. That’s why she doesn’t limit what they eat, she said.
“When I was growing up, we weren’t allowed sugar in the house, and we weren’t allowed cookies, and we weren’t allowed ...Read more
Indoctrination and gender ideology: A look at Moms for Liberty's claims about NC schools
RALEIGH, N.C. — National and local leaders of Moms for Liberty came to Raleigh this week to promote a message that parents have to fight against indoctrination of their children by public schools.
Panelists at the Town Hall voiced concerns on issues such as a rise in school crime and teacher turnover and the difficulties of parents getting ...Read more
Lori Borgman: Took the bait, hook, line and sinker
I took the bait and I'm not even embarrassed to say what the bait was.
It was a fishing scam. Not trout, bass, anything you throw back in the water, or cook on the grill -- fishing with a "ph." Phishing.
Phishing is when online fraudsters try to scam you out of money by enticing you to open an email or text without first checking the web ...Read more
Rockstar’s vulnerable, transformative journey from debauchery to redemption
The subtitle for Ben Mason’s memoir "Sex, Trucks, and Rock ‘N Roll" is “a Spiritual Journey,” but that’s much too tidy for this book. “ It’s four in the morning,” starts chapter one, “ and I’m still wired.”
So starts this headstrong story of the life of a musician, songwriter and free-thinking drummer. Every girl wants to ...Read more
The voucher effect? South Florida Catholic schools see more kids, even waiting lists
MIAMI -- Helped by an influx of new Floridians, and boosted by the state’s newly expanded voucher system, Catholic schools in South Florida are seeing steady growth and even adding new classrooms. That’s in stark contrast to what’s going on in the public schools, particularly in Broward County, which faces tough decisions on closing entire...Read more
Lori Borgman: Conversations are growing ear-resistible
My husband and I have experienced some hearing loss. The most frequently heard word at our house is "WHAT!?"
More pressing than our physical hearing loss is our selective hearing loss, something that happens to couples who have been married a long time.
Just the other day, the husband was working on his laptop at the kitchen table with his ...Read more
Bright outdoor light at night may increase stroke risk
Too much exposure to bright outdoor lights at night may increase a person's stroke risk, new research suggests.
The study involved more than 28,000 people living in a large city in China. Researchers found that people exposed to the highest levels of artificial outdoor light at night had a 43% increased risk of developing cerebrovascular ...Read more
A call to compassion and understanding in an increasingly divided world
Set against the backdrop of post-Roe v. Wade America, "Refuge" by Bill VanPatten dives into the profound impact of state laws on individual freedoms and explores the complexities of family, prejudice, and resilience in the face of adversity, all while fearlessly delving into the intricacies of a woman’s right to choose.
Jesse Pérez, who is ...Read more
Strokes in young adults may be caused more often by migraines, other nontraditional factors
Strokes are typically caused by high blood pressure and other traditional risk factors. But for adults under 35 who have a stroke, migraine headaches and other nontraditional risk factors may be more likely to blame, new research finds.
The higher risk declines as people age, according to the study, published in the American Heart Association ...Read more
She survived a cardiac arrest. Her husband didn't
Danielle McCollian needed some work done at her house. While at the post office, she saw an ad on the bulletin board for a guy who did remodeling.
She called, he came out and that was that. They married when she was 39 and Joe was 32. A year later, they decided to start a family. After several miscarriages, she used in vitro fertilization to ...Read more
Lori Borgman: You make the call: Take the phone or leave it
I left home without my phone the other day. I considered turning back but decided against it.
As I continued on my way, I felt a growing sense of euphoria. It was as though a weight had been lifted -- a small electronic weight that would fit in a pocket, a purse or rattle around in a cup holder in a car. It was freeing. For a short distance ...Read more