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The Cold Hard Facts

May 9, 2016 By admin

Photo: Dawn Allynn

We get more colds in winter than summer–not because it’s colder or wetter, but because we spend more time indoors where viruses are easier to swap. Classroom-cloistered children prove to be expert carriers of the malady.

Cold sufferers are infectious a day or two before they experience symptoms. Sinus congestion and colored nasal discharge are common signs of a cold, not necessarily the result of a bacterial infection, so antibiotics aren’t needed. Colds can last up to 14 days, and coughs can linger longer.

The best preventive action? Wash your hands often, and keep your immune system strong by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Hope Heart Institute

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Read more at the source: The Cold Hard Facts

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Staying young.

The ‘New’ Urbanism

April 21, 2016 By admin

Photo: Sanja Gjenero

Imagine buying a city. Completed in 2004, the sale of the Rouse Company included the city of Columbia, Maryland, and 37 malls. The cost was $7.2 billion.

Actually, according to the June 19, 2006, Washington Post article, “[The new owner] General Growth owns 246 of the 493 acres that make up Columbia’s town center, including 65 undeveloped acres. It makes money by selling land to builders, collecting rent from offices and restaurants, and redeveloping its properties.

“David Fick, an analyst at Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. in Baltimore, said the planned-community division sets General Growth apart from its rivals because few companies build entire cities.

“Fick is so sure that Columbia Town Center will prosper under General Growth, he moved there after selling his house in the county’s priciest neighborhood. His townhouse is on a road that rings the [Columbia] mall, overlooking the Cheesecake Factory.”

Columbia is a planned city that the Rouse Company started in 1967. An early brochure waxed eloquent about the new approach to building a community: “The heart of the city will be the home of art and music schools, theatres, museums and galleries. By day, one edge of the lake will be a park with restaurants, coffee shops, carousels and entertainment; by night, it will be transformed into a gay and playful wonderland for people of every age.”

A Reconfigured Community

That same year, another planned community was begun by a company in northern Virginia: Reston Town Center. Since then Reston Town Center has had four owners as compared to the two owners of Columbia. Each of the owners of Reston Town Center has implemented new concepts, with “new urbanism” shaping the most recent reconfiguration. While it has a mall, restaurants, and some office complexes, Columbia currently is not configured as a high-density town center.

In reaction to suburban sprawl, community development in the 1980s began to follow a model dubbed “new urbanism.” Such communities have a carefully planned mix of high-density residences (such as condos and townhouses) and high-rise office properties linked by pedestrian-friendly areas such as wide sidewalks, fountains, and pocket parks. A mixture of retail, entertainment, and restaurants within walking distance of the homes and offices evokes small-town America during the early 20th century. Each town center has a different density in line with local zoning ordinances.

Is this new concept of urbanism the answer for communities today?

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Read more at the source: The ‘New’ Urbanism

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from City Lights.

Cody’s Closes

April 15, 2016 By admin

Photo: Hemera

Cody’s Books opened on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, California, in 1956. It soon became a neighborhood cultural institution of the type that helps to give a community real character. While many cities are seeking local businesses of this type to make the kind of ambiance that attracts creative and affluent people to urban neighborhoods, Cody’s is closing and Berkeley leaders are concerned.

This is really a historic shop. It is the place where Allen Ginsberg read his “howl” poem. Mario Savio was a student employee before he led the campus revolution of the 1960s. Salman Rushdie showed up unannounced and read from his work in defiance of a fatwa. Countless other discussion forums, lectures by authors and poetry readings made this more than just a place to buy books.

In recent years big-box stores like Borders have been causing the demise of many small, independent bookstores. The corporate influence has reached all the way to left-wing Berkeley where Cody’s owner—Andy Ross—told the New York Times last week that he has been losing money for years. He simply cannot afford to keep going.

Changing Times

The neighborhood has changed over the years and so has the campus. Today’s students are less interested in political action and social change, and more oriented toward success in business. The “mix of freedom and unpredictable grit” that has always marked Telegraph Avenue is beginning to mellow or at least be out of favor with new generations.

What local businesses shape the character of the neighborhood where you live? How are they impacted by changes in the economy and culture? What important values do they bring to your community, and how can those values be preserved and the character of the neighborhood protected or even strengthened? Those are questions that require neighbors to get together, talk through the issues and then take creative action. If everyone is too busy or too preoccupied with their own individual and family needs to ask these questions, then the day will come when important community institutions, just like Cody’s Books in Berkeley, will close in your neighborhood.

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Read more at the source: Cody’s Closes

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from City Lights.

Faithful Dogs?

March 30, 2016 By admin

Photo: Valentina Jori

My dog is faithful. He is always glad to see me. He wags his tail and follows me around when I’m home. He seeks me out and sits by my feet. He is loyal to me as his owner. When I’m gone he sleeps, waiting for me to come back.

Is this an image of what it means to be faithful to God? We are waiting for Jesus to come back. If He were to come into our presence we’d be glad to see Him. We’d wag our tails and follow Him around. We’d sit by His feet. We’d be loyal to Him. But what are we doing while He is gone? Are we to sleep? Remember the ten virgins?

The image of a faithful dog doesn’t work for me. I can’t believe that Jesus wants us to sit around passive as a loyal, faithful dog until He comes back.

Is there an image that Jesus left us about being faithful? Yes! It’s found in the story of the “talents” in Matthew 25:14-30. It has one of my “life lines” in it. For me, a “life line” is a short phrase of what I want to live for. It motivates my life. The line is: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The master in the story spoke this to the servants who were faithful while he was gone on a long trip. When he came back he discovered that while he was gone the “good and faithful” servants had used the “talents” he had given them in a productive way so that his holdings increased.

Faithful Servants

There was nothing passive about these servants. They were not sleeping dogs. Rather, they were filled with life. They were risk takers. They were proactive and not reactive. They attacked life. They lived life with gusto. They focused on the possibilities they had and not all the reasons they couldn’t do it. They operated by faith and not by fear. They enjoyed life, living each day to the fullest until the master got home. They didn’t make excuses. They didn’t blame others for life being hard. They understood that the master had given them all they needed to be successful. Destiny was in their hands. Their attitudes made them good and faithful.They were filled with enthusiasm. They operated in joy. They made an impact and a difference. They pleased and honored their master.

But, there was one servant who didn’t produce. He was given the same opportunity. He was given resources. He was just as capable. He had the same amount of time. But, he feared life and he feared his master. He didn’t really long for him to come back. He expected his master to be hard on him so he acted out a scenario that assured it. He thought that if he just lived “safe” with no risks and no apparent failures then the master would be happy when he came back. He didn’t want to make waves. He didn’t want to be in the limelight. He’d just play it safe and give the master back his “talent” when he got home. Wrong choice!

In this parable the master wasn’t happy with the servant who tried to play it safe. He was pleased with the servants who were willing to take risks.

So, what about us today? Are we faithful? Are we using what God has given us to the greatest capacity? Are we risk takers? Are we living with gusto? Are we attacking life and taking the kingdom by force? Are we positive? Are we controlled by faith? Are we enthusiastic? Are we joyful? Are we making a difference in the world around us? If so, I think, no, I know, that Jesus is pleased. He can hardly wait to come back and tell us… “Well done, good and faithful servant(s)! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:21)!

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Laundry Days

March 29, 2016 By admin

Photo: Hemera

I know what you are thinking. How could laundry ever be enjoyable?

Yes, I have been there too. In fact, I used to dread doing the laundry. It was like a giant monster that grew larger every day. How could we possibly use that many clothes in one day?

So, I made it a point to learn how to make the job more efficient and less of a chore. Here are some pointers you may not have thought of:

Rule #1: If it does not smell and doesn’t look dirty, it is clean. Reinforce this motto into your children’s (and hubby’s) heads until they too chant the rule as they undress before bedtime. My children have been known to put their still folded clean clothes into the dirty clothes hamper. I was not a happy momma.

Rule #2: Hang towels to dry after showering. Reuse and wash once a week.

Rule #3: Fold socks up together when taking them off at night. Thus avoiding the phrase, “I know the washing machine eats them!”

Rule #4: Treat stains as soon as possible with a good stain remover such as Shout ®. or Spray’n Wash ®. You will be thankful later.

Rule #5: Never wash crayons with your clothes. This will keep them out of the dryer. I almost had a heart attack the first time I did this! Melted wax all over a whole load of clothes is not good. Quick Fix: Add 1 cup baking soda and your detergent to the washer and use hottest water possible.

Rule #6: Always check pockets before placing clothes in the washer. This almost goes without saying. If I had always done this I wouldn’t have known how to remove the crayons from the clothing.

Rule #7: Hang up dress shirts, slacks, and other garments as soon as the dryer stops and you won’t need to iron. Also, you could try and hang your clothes in the closest when you take them off!

Rule #8: Have your children put their own clothing away. This only works if you follow up to make sure it was done right.

Rule #9: Do one to two loads a day and you will stay on top of the game. This is a task that should be begun first thing in the morning. In between your other chores, place wet clothes in dryer and then fold.

Rule #10: Fold clothes as soon as the dryer stops. Then, put them away – immediately! So maybe doing the laundry will never be on your Top Ten List of Fun Activities… but at least it will get done easier!

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The Cold Hard Facts

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The ‘New’ Urbanism

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Cody’s Closes

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Faithful Dogs?

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Laundry Days

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