The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit environmental research and advocacy organization has disclosed that, when grown conventionally, strawberries are contaminated with more types of pesticides and in higher concentrations than any other produce tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration. EWG analyzed test results of more than 35,000 samples of popular fruits and vegetables and found 98% of strawberries had detectable pesticide residues. While the levels were within Environmental Protection Agency limits, federal regulations are too lax and some... Read More

How can you describe America? Ronald Reagan famously called our country a “shining city on a hill.” Ralph Waldo Emerson opined that “America is another name for opportunity.” What do I think? I think America is a seriously weird-ass place. Here, I’ll prove it to you. The Creation Museum, located in Petersburg, Kentucky, displays the skeleton of an Allosaurus fragilis, as proof of the Biblical account of creation. Seriously. At Dartmouth College, a sorority held an all-you-can-eat taco bar fundraiser during Cinco de Mayo, which was subsequently cancelled due to... Read More

There have been studies conducted to determine if happy people live longer.  In a study from the UK, one of the longest-running studies on aging,  older people who said they were happy, were less likely to die over a five-year period. And the happier they were, the longer they lived. The study results showed that older people who reported feeling happiest were 35% less likely of dying during the study than those who were least happy. Earlier studies have looked at happiness and longevity by asking people to recall their emotional state, for example, happiness and anxiety, throughout the day.... Read More

Every week before I see the movie I end up reviewing, I talk to my kid about it. He’s 8 years old, bright, and possesses a goofy sense of humor. Sometimes he’s interested in what I’m going to see. Other times, his attention is captured by more lofty subjects.* I mentioned offhandedly to him that I was considering seeing The Jungle Book, the latest version of Rudyard Kipling’s venerable collection of stories. With the speed of a feral man-cub, he grabbed both sides of my face, leaned in close, and hissed, “I’m coming with you.” Having barely escaped a... Read More

When I was young, my mother went to the beauty salon to get a wash and set every week.  In between salon visits, my mother did not wash her hair.  These days, Americans seem to be almost obsessed with being clean, showering one or more times per day and washing their hair daily or almost daily.  To be sure, there are circumstances when washing daily is warranted.  If you have a job that is dirty or causes you to be exposed to toxins or disease, or if you are intensely physically active on a daily basis, you probably need to shower daily. For many of us, particularly in Colorado where the arid... Read More

Hardcore Henry is not a good movie. Hardcore Henry is an awesome movie. Let me explain.  Some films, like Spotlight, exist to illuminate an injustice. Other films, like United 93, are made to create an intense emotional reaction, to imagine ourselves in an unimaginable situation. Still other films, like The Shawshank Redemption, are inspirational fodder, designed to make us feel that we can overcome adversity just like the hero. That’s great, there’s a place for seriousness and art in cinema. But sometimes, seriousness won’t do. Sometimes we want fun, and fun in the... Read More

Not to sound like a drug commercial, but are you experiencing hormonal fluctuations, weight gain, sleep problems?  If you are having these symptoms, yoga might be the answer! There is no doubt that yoga makes you feel better. Practicing the postures, breathing exercises and meditation makes you healthier in body, mind and spirit. Research shows that yoga helps manage or control anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, headaches, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, stress and other conditions and diseases. What’s... Read More

In December of 2013, a wedding was scheduled in Yemen. This was not unusual and, with the exception of those participating, not particularly noteworthy. On December 13, the day of the wedding, a convoy consisting of approximately 60 people traveled from the home of the groom to a neighboring village where the bride lived. According to intelligence reports, some of the members of the convoy were believed to be al-Quaeda militants. A decision was made. By who, we do not know. Regardless, a U.S. drone attacked the convoy, and 4 of the 11 vehicles were targeted. 2 vehicles were utterly destroyed.... Read More