The entire world tuned in to the passing of one of the greatest men of our time. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, 95, dedicated his life to end apartheid and to nurture racial reconciliation in South Africa. Like Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr., Mandela is considered the leader of a movement and is often described as […]
It has been a stormy week. Apparently, Huracan, the weather god is not happy. Last week, Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda to locals) rocked the island chain of the Philippines. It is being called the most powerful storm ever. In its wake, an estimated 2,300 people died, and thousands more are now homeless. 200,000 pregnant Filipinos […]
Each December, Christians and Jews worldwide celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah, and many African-Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. While Christmas’ and Kwanzaa’s dates are fixed, Hanukkah’s date changes each year. Hanukkah’s seven day celebration begins each year on the 25th day of the Judaic month of Kislev. This corresponds to sometime between late November and late December on […]
What do donuts, microwaveable popcorn, and frozen pizza have in common? If you answered that they are delicious, you are not alone. But, they are also among the most unhealthy foods for you. Donuts, microwaveable popcorn, and frozen pizza, along with fried or processed foods contain trans fats. On Thursday, November 7, 2013, the Food […]
You are on the plane, settling in to your seat when the announcement is made: At this time, we request that all mobile phones, pagers, radios and remote controlled toys be turned off for the full duration of the flight, as these items might interfere with the navigational and communication equipment on this aircraft. We […]
Obamacare, or as it is officially known, the Affordable Care Act, has had a rough month. It began the month as the target of House Republicans determined to defund the ACA in exchange for ending the partial government shutdown. At the same time, registration opened October 1 for people who want to buy health insurance […]
For generations, stories of mysterious creatures that lurk beneath the sea or hide among mountain peaks have mesmerized and intrigued listeners. In Norse mythology, the serpent Jormungand is so long, he wraps around the world and holds his own tale. For decades, visitors have flocked to Scotland in hopes of seeing Nessie, the Loch Ness monster. In […]
Money, moola, lettuce, loot, long green, Benjamins, bills, bones. No matter what you call it, money is at the heart of much of what we do. Protecting our money is important. On October 8, a new $100 bill hit the streets. The new currency still features Ben Franklin, but it also includes new anti-counterfeit measures. […]
Members of Congress had until September 30 to pass a federal budget. Because they did not, the federal government began a partial shutdown on October 1. Without a budget to pay employees or the overhead needed for office expenses such as water and electricity, thousands of offices and sites are closed, projects are on hold, […]
For over a half-century the Korean Peninsula has existed in a state of limbo, neither at war, nor at peace. In the years since the Korean War, tensions between North Korea and South Korea have waxed and waned, though never dissipated. During the past month, tensions have been mounting again. As South Korea’s constant political […]