by Rupe | Mar 16, 2019 | Fitness, Health-Wellness-Sex
A napping habit could lower blood pressure to a similar extent as other lifestyle modifications and some drugs, according to research scheduled to be presented March 18 at the American College of Cardiology’s scientific sessions in New Orleans.
Researchers studied 212 people who were 62 years old on average and had a mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 129.9 mm Hg. Compared to those who didn’t nap, participants who took a daytime snooze had average 24-hour SBPs 5.3 mm Hg lower (127.6 mm Hg vs. 132.9 mm Hg). For each hour of napping—the average duration was 49 minutes—SBP was lowered by about 3 mm Hg.
Source: Cardiovascular Business
My Comments: I can get with this.
by Rupe | Mar 15, 2019 | Mad Musings
Meritocracy has become a leading social ideal. Politicians across the ideological spectrum continually return to the theme that the rewards of life – money, power, jobs, university admission – should be distributed according to skill and effort. The most common metaphor is the ‘even playing field’ upon which players can rise to the position that fits their merit. Conceptually and morally, meritocracy is presented as the opposite of systems such as hereditary aristocracy, in which one’s social position is determined by the lottery of birth. Under meritocracy, wealth and advantage are merit’s rightful compensation, not the fortuitous windfall of external events.
Source: Aeon
My Comment:
This is an important piece of writing. I am especially drawn to the relationship between the idea of a meritocracy and discrimination.
by Rupe | Jan 30, 2019 | Fitness, Health-Wellness-Sex
Imagine yourself exercising: running, hiking, dancing, lifting weights — whatever you like to do. Picture yourself pushing to a maximum intensity. Now, ask yourself: Are you breathing out of your nose or mouth?
If you are like most exercisers, you breathe through your mouth, especially as the intensity of the exercise mounts. But experts are learning that breathing through the mouth may not be as efficient or effective as breathing through the nose.
Source: Why you should use nasal breathing when you exercise
My Comments: Pretty interesting piece.
by Rupe | Jan 28, 2019 | Fitness, Health-Wellness-Sex
Happy New Year! If you’re ready to make some positive health changes in 2019, consider this your ultimate resolution checklist. Bookmark this article, and review it every three months for a reminder, for inspiration or just to see how you’re doing. Consider it our New Year’s gift to you: a longer, healthier, happier life.
Source: Live Longer, Prevent Disease, Feel Happier After 50
My Comments: Lots of great info and advice packed into one article from AARP. I just could not pass this one by.
by Rupe | Dec 3, 2018 | Deep Thoughts, Social-Race Issues
If you see police choking someone to death – such as Eric Garner, the 43-year-old black horticulturalist wrestled down on the streets of New York City in 2014 – you might choose to pepper-spray them and flee. You might even save an innocent life. But what ethical considerations justify such dangerous heroics? (After all, the cops might arrest or kill you.)I
Source: Aeon
My Thoughts: Well beautifully well put.
by Rupe | Dec 3, 2018 | Education
Bryson Sassau’s application would inspire any college admissions officer.
A founder of T.M. Landry College Preparatory School described him as a “bright, energetic, compassionate and genuinely well-rounded” student whose alcoholic father had beaten him and his mother and had denied them money for food and shelter. His transcript “speaks for itself,” the founder, Tracey Landry, wrote, but Mr. Sassau should also be lauded for founding a community service program, the Dry House, to help the children of abusive and alcoholic parents. He took four years of honors English, the application said, was a baseball M.V.P. and earned high honors in the “Mathematics Olympiad.”
Source: New York Times
My Comment:
Pretty long article. I started off think this was all about fraud across the board, but I think we might need to delve into it a bit more. It does appear Landry was an unsavory character in the least, but certainly some of those kids (especially the one who transferred in as high performing) would have done well anyway. I am just not totally convinced that all the kids were fraud – I would need to see more. I will admit that I am biased here, just because I have no doubt that this is not an isolated case – the dude was probably not sophisticated enough to keep it going.
by Rupe | Dec 1, 2018 | Health-Wellness-Sex
So it happened again. You let one slip out, and what’s worse, it happened in front of company. If this reminds you of a recent situation you have to ask yourself, should you really have been holding back your wind in the first place? Let’s face it your body is not a car, so you should not be holding on to your gas. Here are 10 health benefits of farting you need to know. Read more
by Rupe | Nov 7, 2018 | Deep Thoughts, Inspiration
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed–
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)
Keep on reading
by Rupe | Sep 12, 2018 | Health-Wellness-Sex
As we age, life’s end looms closer: but the end may be the peak of our happiness
If life wanted to mess with you, it couldn’t have come up with a better way than death. Especially the lead-up. Your strength flags; your world narrows; much of what once gave you pleasure and satisfaction is now gone. But as it turns out, happiness is still very much with you—often even more so than before.
Source: Why You Can Look Forward to Being Happier in Old Age
My Comment: Pretty informative piece.
by Rupe | Aug 24, 2018 | philosophy-religion, Reflections
Imagine you are at a child’s funeral. The child is yours. The air is numb with silence. An ache so deep you can barely breathe moves through you, until it bursts and you cry out loud. Somebody passes a tissue; another rests his hand on your shoulder.
In time, your eyes run out of tears. But now there is a hole in your heart in the shape of a child, and it feels like it will never heal. Maybe it shouldn’t, you think to yourself. You lost a child. This stays with you. It’s supposed to stay with you.
Source: Do not weep for your dead: how to mourn as the Stoics did
My Comments: Interesting piece on Stoicism. Well worth the read.
by Rupe | Aug 8, 2018 | Tweets
Once, the Internet was fun. It’s time to move on.
We’ve built up archives of our past selves online over the years — tweets, social media, message-board posts, live journals or, ahem, deadjournals. And, increasingly, those past selves have become liabilities.
Source: How do I delete my old tweets? Here’s a step-by-step guideMy Comments: Pretty good step by step
by Rupe | Aug 7, 2018 | Education, Mentoring
Starting college is an exciting, yet terrifying prospect. It’s worth it in the end for most students, but there are still some things I wish I’d known before my first day.
Source: Transition from High School – What I Wish I Knew Before Starting College
My Comments: Pretty good piece.
by Rupe | Jul 25, 2018 | Mentoring
Going to college is one of life’s most exciting events, but many students don’t realize it’s more than tuition, studying and fun. It may be the first time they have to manage their own finances. Parents can help by starting the conversation about finances early and teaching good habits while their student is still at home, so that when it’s time to head off to school, both will feel more confident. Here are four ideas that might help:
Source – NFCU
My Comments: Pretty good piece. Good advice.
by Rupe | Jul 2, 2018 | Mentoring
Advice is one thing that is freely given away, but watch that you take only what is worth having. He who takes advice about his savings from one who is inexperienced in such matters, shall pay with his savings for proving the falsity of their opinions.”
Source: Why You Shouldn’t Take Advice From (Almost) Anyone
Comments: Really good piece.
by Rupe | Jun 27, 2018 | Fitness
About 16 million adults in the U.S., and 350 million people around the world, have depression, a major source of physical and mental disability. It affects people’s employment and their ability to socialize and maintain relationships.
Source: Being Fit in Middle Age May Protect Against Depression
by Rupe | Jun 19, 2018 | Money Matters
Saving money can be difficult. But spending it? That part was supposed to be easy for retirees who’ve spent decades building up their nest eggs for their golden years.
Source: The Really Surprising Thing People Get Wrong In Retirement
My Comments: Excellent piece on steps to follow in retirement.
1. Update budget
2. Organize your income and expenses into buckets
3. Keep paying yourself first
4. Consider professional advice.
by Rupe | Jun 19, 2018 | Mad Musings
A President who invokes absolute authority to…pardon himself. An ambassador to Germany who declares he wants to…topple the German government. Senators — the most powerful people in democracy, save the President — knocking on the door of a …
Source: Do Americans Know How Much Trouble They’re In?
My Comments: This is very important piece.
by Rupe | Jun 19, 2018 | Money Matters, Pure Fun
Fritz Gilbert knew in his 20s that he did not want to die at his desk. Gilbert, 55, who retired last week, started saving decades ago for what could be one of our most fraught decisions: When do I retire?
Source: When should you retire? Don’t die at your desk, but don’t outlive your money either
My Comments: This is an excellent piece. It presses all the button for me.
by Rupe | Jun 14, 2018 | Fitness, Health-Wellness-Sex
We’ve known for a long time that exercise is healthy. However, a long-term study conducted by sports scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has found that people who lead active lifestyles are around 10 years younger in terms of motor skills.
Source: Fitness and Health
My Comments: Pretty article on keeping a heathy workout regiment to maintain a good body.
by Rupe | May 29, 2018 | Deep Thoughts
Psychologist Tom Gilovich and a former Cornell graduate student have found people are haunted more by regrets about failing to fulfill their hopes and dreams than by regrets about failing to fulfill their responsibilities.
Forsaken dreams. Romantic interests not pursued. Securing a job near home rather than an adventurous position overseas.
Our most enduring regrets are the ones that stem from our failure to live up to our ideal selves, according to new Cornell research.
Source: Woulda, coulda, shoulda: the haunting regret of failing our ideal selves
My Comments: Pretty good piece from the Cornell Chronicle
by Rupe | May 8, 2018 | Health-Wellness-Sex, Reflections
A young, but earnest, martial arts student asked his new teacher: “I am devoted to studying your martial system. How long will it take me to master it?”
The teacher replied casually: “Ten years.”
The student wanted to learn faster: “But what if I really, really work hard at it? How long will it take then?”
The teacher thought for a moment. “20 years,” he finally replied
Source: Why Training Your Mind Is the Most Important Priority in Life
My Comments: Really good piece on mind training.
by Rupe | May 8, 2018 | Fitness, Health-Wellness-Sex
Is it better to run on an empty stomach to boost fat burning or to jog at a low heart rate to stay in the right “zone”? Or, should we do short but exhausting intervals to fight off those extra pounds? Today, I want to shed a light on how to best burn fat while running.
Source: How To Burn Fat While Running
My Comments: Really informative piece.
by Rupe | Apr 23, 2018 | Mad Musings, Mentoring
Employees might join companies, but they leave managers. Too many managers view their position as one of entitlement rather than one of responsibility. In days past, managers would focus on developing their employees. Today they are more focused on self-promotion and securing their position.
Source: Employees Don’t Quit Their Job; They Quit Their Boss!
My Comments: Really good piece by Brigette Hyacinth
by Rupe | Apr 23, 2018 | Money Matters
I know how to save. It’s in my DNA.
Spending, now that’s a challenge. My dog chewed away part of the cushion on the inside of one of my shoes. You can clearly see his bite mark. But will I replace it? Not a chance. That, to me, is unnecessary spending.
You’ve no doubt heard many times that we have a retirement crisis in part because people are spending more than they are saving.
Source: How to live it up without going broke before you die
My Comments: Pretty insightful piece from Michelle
by Rupe | Apr 21, 2018 | Health-Wellness-Sex
Money might not buy love, but it can buy better health. And, to live as long as possible, the world’s wealthy are willing to pay up.
Over the past few decades, the average person’s lifespan has risen almost everywhere in the world. In China, the U.S. and most of Eastern Europe, the average life expectancy at birth has reached the late 70s, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD. People in Western Europe and Japan, meanwhile, can expect to live into their early 80s.
Source: The Rich Are Betting On Living to 100
My Comments: Very interesting.
by Rupe | Apr 21, 2018 | Money Matters
I enjoy almost every aspect of cooking, from finding recipes to plating. (In fairness, does anyone really enjoy cleaning up afterward?)
I spend about 45 minutes planning, preparing, and plating a meal that takes my family of 4 about 20 minutes to eat. In other words, we devour what I make in about half the time it takes me to make it.
Source: 4 steps to prepare for a secure retirement
My Comments: Pretty insightful piece.
by Rupe | Apr 19, 2018 | Inspiration, Money Matters
Vicki Robin literally wrote the book on retiring happy.
Vicki Robin had no idea she’d become a millennial icon.
The 72-year-old coauthor of the 1992 bestseller Your Money or Your Life was recuperating from a hip replacement early last year when a young man she’d met at a sustainability event months prior told her she was popular on a Reddit forum about financial independence.
Source: Meet Vicki Robin, the FIRE Early Retirement Community Idol
My Comments: Very inspirational piece. Search not for wealth but for life.
by Rupe | Apr 2, 2018 | Money Matters
Yes, it’s possible to retire on $500K in your 50’s and 60’s. Here’s how to do it safely and stretch your dollars as much as possible.
Question: Is it possible to retire on $500K (i.e. $500,000) in your 50’s and 60’s?
Unfortunately, not all of us are great savers. Most financial articles will recommend that you’ll need at least $1 to $2 million dollars in savings before you can even consider retirement.
Source: How to Retire on $500K In Your 50’s or 60’s – My Money Design
My Comments: Pretty good advice here.
by Rupe | Mar 30, 2018 | Deep Thoughts, Reflections
Memento mori – invitations to reflect on our own mortality – have been common throughout history. Two ancient traditions that made reflection on death central to their paths are Buddhism and Stoicism. For both, the starting point is the fact that our normal perceptions of value are deeply flawed, as we are constantly craving or loathing things that in reality are unimportant.
Source: Is meditating on death like putting on a fur coat in summer? | Aeon Ideas
My Comments: This is one of the most interesting if not important piece that I read at Aeon.
by Rupe | Mar 21, 2018 | Social-Race Issues
Black boys raised in America, even in the wealthiest families and living in some of the most well-to-do neighborhoods, still earn less in adulthood than white boys with similar backgrounds, according to a sweeping new study that traced the lives of millions of children.
Source: Extensive Data Shows Punishing Reach of Racism for Black Boys
My Comments: Not too surprised by this at all. The struggle continues and standing by to be blamed for being in our condition.
