Connecting the historic dots to Charlemagne
When it comes to history, I’m always entertained by uncovering the surprising chain of connections that link the past with the present. To illustrate this game of connect the historic dots, let’s take this year’s centennial celebration of Silicon Valley’s Villa Montalvo estate and connect it, along a winding avenue, to the reign of the great Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne.
Immigration policy sends mixed messages
Back in the summer of 1994, I hopped on a light rail train in
Getting Out: Feel alive in Death Valley
Death Valley is the earth bare bones and naked. The light smattering of creosote bushes and cacti does not begin to disguise, even to a beginner’s eye, some of the simple features of the valley’s construction.
Molokai: The Hawaiian Island with gentle charm
When we think of Hawaii, Maui, Waikiki, Kauai and the Big Island come to mind: Stunning high rise buildings, dozens of outdoor activities – from surfing to sailing – with spectacular indoor entertainment in sophisticated night clubs that bring on visions of Las Vegas. Then there is Molokai: an idyllic 38 by 10 miles, a paradise with a little more than 7,000 laid back folks, of which about half are native Hawaiians. It is the least hyped of all the islands, with a small friendly population that makes a visitor feel like part of a special family.
Is late night eating really bad for you?
Like many, many people, I occasionally find myself attacked by the munchies late at night. The other day, while I was staring at the open insides of my pantry, I paused. There’s an urban legend that says that eating before you sleep will cause weight gain. Is that really true?Trolling the internet for concrete scientific answers initially lead to some definite confusion. One study claims that late night eating leads to greater weight gain, while another claims that late night eating will not lead to increased weight gain.Digging deeper into these studies, I found that there was a combination of habits that determine whether late night eating would lead to weight gain. Particularly important was what you eat late night, and what you’ve had throughout the day.If you’ve eaten well throughout the day, and are having a planned healthy snack, it may not be an issue. What is more likely to cause weight gain, is the spontaneous “so what’s in the pantry?” decisions, especially if you then don’t control the quality and quantity of what you’re eating.Conclusion: To limit weight issues from late night snacking, you have to either quit late night snacking, or plan for a healthy late night snack to be part of your daily food intake quota. Which of these two options you choose will depend on your personality type and frequency of late night snacking.Suggestions for quitting late night snacking include:1) Brush your teeth right after dinner2) Get your mind off food. Go for a walk, take up a night-time hobby, do anything on a to-do list (there's always something!).3) Drink water instead of eating. It’s often been said that people often unconsciously confuse hunger with thirst.Suggestions for controlling late night snacking:1) Keep a healthy late night snack accessible. The late night snack can be an opportunity to consume fresh (i.e. raw) fruits and vegetables. If there is any truth to the increased-absorption-at-night-theory, it’s better that the body absorb nutrients rather than empty calories.2) Rid your home of foods that you’re prone to binging on late at night and restock with healthier alternatives.3) Instead of eating, drink. In addition to rehydrating your body, fluids such as caffeine-free herbal tea or a cup of skim milk provide a great way to feel full without consuming too many calories.
Don’t take a ‘holiday’ from financial goals
We’re well into the holiday season now. And while the holidays are joyous, they can also be expensive. In fact, at this time of year, many people make spending decisions they end up regretting. But you can enjoy the holidays and still stay on track toward your financial goals by following a few simple guidelines, including the following:
The battle over birth control continues
"It is now a fact that as a result of birth control, the survival rate among mothers and children is higher. There is less suffering for all groups." - Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger
Some words are always uncalled for
It seems that every other week in the media someone is apologizing for something. President Obama apologized to the Afghan people for the accidental burning of the Koran. The reverend Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, apologized to President Obama for questioning his Christian faith in a cable network interview.
