Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Happy Kings' Day from Mary Beth

Today is January 6, Epiphany...

...(or 'Kings' Day' in New Orleans), a day representative of the arrival of the Wise Men in Bethlehem. To help celebrate, check out the History of the King Cake.

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin launches 2009 Carnival season with King Cake party


If you don't think they take King Cake seriously in New Orleans, think again! Check out this official kickoff announcement, straight from the New Orleans Times Picayune.

Procedure shows promise in Parkinson's patients


Patients with advanced Parkinson's disease who received deep brain stimulation showed greater improvement in movement and quality of life after six months than those treated with medication, a new study shows.

The Best Laid Plans (A Devotion from the Road of Life - Number 18 in a series)


We make our plans. What happens when God's plan for you is different?

This is part of a series of devotions. To see more of the series, click here.


What Price Life?: Health-Care Rationing in Britain


Commentator Chuck Colson takes a look at what's happening under socialized medicine in Great Britain. Click here to read his perspective.

Hungry seal hits bonanza at fish hatchery

Looking for a stellar seafood place on the Cape, with locally raised fare and no wait? A brazen young harbor seal found just that today after she sneaked into a state fish hatchery in Sandwich and dined on an all-you-can-eat trout buffet before being nabbed and returned to the sea.

And what good news have you seen today?

Shot of the Day for January 6, 2009

the light at the end of the year

Oregon physician to help Congolese refugees
This Wednesday, a Bend volunteer doctor with Medical Teams International departs to care for families fleeing the rebel fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dr. Randall Jacobs will work in a Ugandan refugee camp where thousands of Congolese people are seeking medical care, food, clean water, and shelter. Jacobs, a physician at Bend Memorial Clinic, will serve a month-long assignment in Uganda. He joins Colleen Bradley, a volunteer nurse from Montana, and additional staff from the agency's Ugandan office.
For more of the story click here.

Mary's Stories for Jan. 6, 2009

Does Your Life Have a Purpose?

People living on the islands of Okinawa and Sardinia are more likely to reach 100 years of age than people living anywhere on earth. These people attribute their long lives not to healthy eating, leisure living, or great genes, but to a term they love to use -- ikigai which in essence means sense of purpose.”

To read the rest of this story click here.

Apple cuts iTunes pricing, eases copy protection

Apple is cutting the price of some songs in its market-leading iTunes online music store to 69 cents and plans to begin selling all tracks without copy protection.

To read the rest of this story click here.

How bad is economy? IRS feels sorry for you

As the nation sinks deeper into recession, the IRS is offering to waive late penalties, negotiate new payment plans and postpone asset seizures for delinquent taxpayers who are financially strapped, but make a good-faith effort to settle their tax debts.

To read the rest of this story click here.

Study raises hope for obesity treatment

U.S. researchers may have found an obesity treatment that unlocks the fat-fighting promise of leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone once hailed as the answer to the battle of the bulge.

To read the rest of this story click here.

Verizon Wireless plans to support Kindle rivals

Verizon Wireless is poised to have rivals of Amazon's popular electronic Kindle reader use its network to download material such as books and newspapers wirelessly, according to an executive for the wireless service provider.

To read the reso fo this story click here.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 Stories from Margaret

Exercise intelligence setting up a home gym

“Convenience is the biggest reason people opt to work out at home. Here are some things to keep in mind if you've been thinking about setting up your own home gym:”

Here is the rest of this story.


Flowering Houseplants

“Houseplants bring life into a room. As ornamental as houseplants are, many also provide health benefits by purifying the air and increasing humidity. Flowering houseplants add another layer of enjoyment, bringing color and maybe even scent into your decor. And you’d be surprised how some can survive on the most minimal attention. Try your hand at growing flowering houseplants or brighten someone else’s abode, with these 8 flowering houseplants that will thrive with minimal care.”

Here is the rest of this story.


'What's God Got to do with it?' Fitness and Weight Loss Expert Chantel Hobbs Says, 'Everything'

“Over five years ago, CHANTEL HOBBS told Oprah her story of losing over 200 pounds.

Today, she passionately shares with the world the lasting secret to her success, confidently stating, ‘God was the missing link to ending my diet drama for good!’"

Here is the rest of this story.

Walk to Ward Off Age-Related Weight Gain

Walking as little as half an hour a day may keep the extra pounds from adding up as you get older.
A new study suggests that the more you walk, the less likely you'll gain weight as you age. Researchers followed nearly 5,000 men and women for 15 years and found that a half hour of walking per day reduced the usual weight gain per year by 1 pound among women who were the heaviest at the start of the study.”

Here is the rest of this story.


How we paid off $30,000 of debt

“I had hoped for a magic solution, but when that didn't happen, my husband and I tried more-ordinary -- and more-difficult -- means. This is how we did it.”

Here is the rest of the story.