America was founded on the beliefs of liberty and rights. In 1776, the signers of the Declaration of the Independence proclaimed that all men have “certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of…

This Sunday, June 19th, marks the second observance of the Juneteenth National Independence Day (Juneteenth) federal holiday. Often referred to as the “2nd Independence Day” it commemorates the day, more than two months after the end of the Civil War, when…

Heraclitus of Ephesus (c. 535 BC – 475 BC) was a Greek philosopher, who like his predecessors, sought to understand the universe. Heraclitus is sometimes referred to as the “Riddler” because his philosophies were stated in a paradoxical form. He…

With May and the long Memorial Day weekend in the books, it was back to our weekday routine this week. We knew the return to our weekday schedule was closing in with each passing hour of the long weekend.…

Many Americans will enjoy a 3-day weekend in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. For many, Memorial Day is a time for barbecues, picnics, parades and perhaps a mini vacation. Memorial Day is often considered the unofficial kick-off of summer…

There was no shortage of healthcare news this week. On the COVID-19 front, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that around 45% of the U.S. population are deemed either a “medium” or “high” COVID-19 community level…

Feeling stressed lately? You are not alone. The American Psychological Association (APA) partnered with The Harris Poll survey to look at how people in the US were dealing with stress over the past two years. The original survey took…

History was made this week with the leak of an initial draft majority Supreme Court opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade, effectively ending federal protection of abortion rights.The Supreme Court released a statement stating that the leaked draft was genuine, but…

There is still plenty of time to engage in the annual ritual of spring cleaning!  If you have not cleaned out your medicine cabinet, now is the perfect time to do so. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s 22nd National Prescription Drug Take…

As is often the case, a range of healthcare topics were in the news this week. After a record high of nearly 107,000 overdose deaths in the part 12 months, President Biden sent the Administration’s national drug control…

As is often said, the devil is in the details. The annual Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) report released on Tuesday is no exception. The CDC reported data on three STDs; gonorrhea, syphilis,…

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month, providing an opportunity to increase awareness of alcohol addiction, also known as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), including causes, risks, and treatments. The monthly observance was started in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism…

April kicks off with a launch of new products that you do not want to miss! Today Hellmann’s announced their new Butterfinger mayonnaise, a mash-up of Butterfinger chocolate and peanut butter candy bars with traditional mayonnaise. Pringles went to…

Everybody talks – but not always in the same way. There is the traditional face-to-face and  the telephone conversation. Individuals with hearing loss use sign language to help facillitate communication. The use of text, email, chat as a first line…

As worries about Covid-19 are fading, concerns about inflation are growing. The annual inflation rate in the U.S. rose to 7.9% in February of 2022, the highest since January of 1982. Consumers are facing higher prices for food, gasoline,…

It’s nearly time to “spring forward”! In most of the U.S., Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 13 when clocks “spring forward” an hour, meaning one less hour of sleep! Arizona, with the exception Navajo Nation, and Hawaii…

President Joe Biden unveiled plans to address a wide range of healthcare issues in his State of the Union address on Tuesday. The President stated that the country was ready to move into a new phase of the…

February 2022 is nearly in the books! Today the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued updated guidance on masks that is based on metrics such as new Covid-19 hospitalizations, hospital capacity, and new Covid-19 cases rather than the prior…

As we pass the half way point for February, Covid-19 metrics in the U.S. are trending in the right direction. This week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration dropped its recommendation that everyone wear masks in schools and many other…

Valentine’s Day – celebrated on February 14 – is just around the corner. It’s a time for loved ones and friends to share cards, candy, flowers, and gifts. Right on the heels of Valentine’s day is National Random…

February is Black History Month, a way to show our country’s respect and recognition for the hard work and sacrifices made by African Americans. This year’s theme focuses on the importance of Black Health and Wellness. The…

Is life better in the U.S. today than 100 years ago? The 1920s, or the Roaring Twenties, was a time of great prosperity. With money to spend, Americans were buying mass-produced goods, such as ready-to-wear clothes, electric refrigerators, and radios.…

The pandemic continues to make life seem like a lemon for millions of Americans and others across the world. But this week, lemonade was made from some of the lemons. According to three studies released…

On Monday, our country will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The Martin Luther King holiday serves multiple purposes: it honors the total legacy of Dr. King, focuses on the issue of civil…

Happy new year and welcome to the first Weekend Reading edition of 2022! The new year starts with an all too familiar challenge – COVID-19. The highly transmissible omicron Covid-19 variant is resulting in record numbers of cases and…

Most of us have been asked to sing or listen to a child singing an alphabet song or two – multiple times! Perhaps it was the “traditional” ABC song that uses the same tune as Twinkle Twinkle…

We all have them – favorite routes traveled by car or by foot, by bike or other modes of transportation. Scattered landmarks along the routes  mark progress to the destination. Perhaps it’s a coffee shop, a park or the giant…