Stroll, Ramble, Wander, Promenade

Henry David Thoreau had a well-documented passion for walking. In one, oft-delivered lecture, he said, “I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits unless I spend four hours a day at least – and it is commonly more than that – sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields absolutely, free from all worldly engagements.” As it turns out, Thoreau was right about the positive benefits of walking – and wrong about the length of time required to attain them.

A body in motion tends to stay in motion

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), walking for just 30 minutes, five or more days a week, provides a multitude of benefits for the average adult. These include:

• Lowering blood pressure
• Reducing risk of heart disease
• Defending the brain against memory loss and Alzheimer’s
• Limiting the risk of Type 2 diabetes
• Diminishing some types of chronic pain
• Maintaining the ability to perform daily tasks
• Sleeping better

Unfortunately, few older Americans are reaping these benefits. NIH found that less than one-third of 45- to 64-year-olds engage in physical activities on a regular basis; about one-quarter of 65- to 74-year-olds do; and just 11 percent of those over age 75.

Give yourself momentum

It doesn’t take much to swap a sedentary lifestyle for renewed energy and vigor. However, if you haven’t been active for a while, it‘s a good idea to start slowly. Put on a pair of good walking shoes, and take a stroll around the neighborhood. Gradually, increase your time until you walk for 30 minutes each day. If you have trouble motivating yourself, find a walking partner and make it a social activity. Or, you can buy a pedometer and challenge yourself by counting your steps. You can learn more at www.go4life.niapublications.org – right after your walk!

2012: Year of the Potato

Predictions for the hottest restaurant trends in 2012 include savory ice cream flavors (e.g., lobster ice cream), vegetable desserts (e.g., celery pudding), and potato dishes (e.g., potato and ham soup). You can make the latter at home with this great recipe:

Potato and Ham Soup

4 cups potatoes, peeled and diced

1/2 cup celery, chopped fine

1/2 cup onion, chopped fine

1 cup smoked ham, diced

4 cups chicken or vegetable stock

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

5 tablespoons butter

5 tablespoons flour

2 cups milk

Parsley or chives

Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham, and chicken or vegetable stock in a large pot. Bring the ingredients to a boil, and cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender (about 10 to 15 minutes). Stir in the salt, white pepper, and cayenne pepper.

In a saucepan, make a roux. Melt the butter. Whisk in the flour. Stir the mixture it thickens. Slowly whisk in the milk. Cook the mixture over low-to-medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add it to the ingredients in the large pot, and whisk thoroughly. Garnish with parsley or chives.

What Do You Know About Mythology?

If you’re a grandparent – or fan of children’s books – you probably know that many of today’s most popular titles are based on mythology. Test your knowledge of mythology and children’s literature with this brief quiz.

1. What was the purpose of mythology?
   1. To explain natural events
   2. To explain a culture’s view of the universe
   3. To explain a culture’s view of humanity
   4. All of the above

1. Greek and Roman mythology share many gods, but call these gods by different names. Which of the following pairs match the Roman name with the Greek name?

1. Cupid              1.  Ares
2. Diana               2.  Artemis
3. Jupiter             3.  Eros
4. Juno                 4.  Zeus
5. Mars                5. Hera

1. Which of the following children’s book authors have written series that are grounded in mythology?
   1. Rick Riordan
   2. Nancy Farmer
   3. Eoin Colfer
   4. All of the above

1. Which of the following idioms do not have its origins in mythology?
   1. Raining cats and dogs
   2. Achilles’ heel
   3. Eat my hat
   4. Fortune favors the bold

A Smart Phone Revolution

Smart phones are changing the way many people use technology – and some suspect that they may eventually replace personal computers. Today, they’re altering the way people text.

Learn a new app

Since the mid-1990s, text messages have become a popular means of communication. Last year, 75 percent of cell phone owners in 21 countries texted regularly. Some experts believe that texting has helped sharpen our thinking, by forcing us to get to the point more quickly. If it still takes you several messages to make a point, you may be glad to know that some smart phone applications (apps) offer free texting. After downloading GroupMe, Disco, WhatsApp, Kik, or another option, you can text divide your friends into groups and text everyone at the same time – no matter what type of smart phone group members have.

Save money

Technically, ‘free’ texting isn’t free because texting apps piggyback on a smart phone’s data plan. However, this approach to texting is significantly less expensive than texting by cell phone, according to CNNMoney. For example, one text message requires, at most, 160 bytes of data. A megabyte of data (more than one million bytes or 6,250 text messages) costs:

• $1,250 when you pay $0.20 per cell phone text
• $2.80 with an unlimited texting plan
• $0.014 when you text through a smart phone app (Two gigabytes – 2,048 megabytes – of data cost about $25 to $30 a month)

If 6,250 text messages seem like a lot, think again. The average cell phone user sends 1,500 text messages a month, according to Pew Research. Teens lead the pack, sending more than 3,000 texts every month, while older Americans send less than 500 per month, according to Nielsen.

So, don’t worry. If you’re just becoming fluent in the number-letter-symbol language of texting, you will still have opportunities to use your new skills. You may even have a chance to show your kids and grandkids how to save on texting!

Quiz Answers: 

1. All of the above.
2. A = 3; B = 2; C = 4; D = 5; and E = 1.
3. All of the above. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series incorporates Greek and Roman mythology; Nancy Farmer’s Trolls Trilogy has elements of Norse mythology, and Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series reference Irish mythology.
4. The idiom ‘Eat my hat’ originated in 1660 in the court of Charles II. It is also found in Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers. ‘Raining cats and dogs’ is believed to have its origin in Norse mythology.

Sources:

http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/new-mobile-obsession-u-s-teens-triple-data-usage/

http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Cell-Phone-Texting-2011/Main-Report.aspx

http://www.pewglobal.org/2011/12/20/global-digital-communication-texting-social-networking-popular-worldwide/

http://www.knowyourphrase.com/phrase-meanings/eat-my-hat.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseandphysicalfitness.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/SM00062_D

http://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-12-2011/walking-health-benefits.2.html

http://www.thoreau-online.org/walking-page2.html

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/22/technology/text_messaging/index.htm

http://www.pantheon.org/miscellaneous/roman_vs_greek.html

http://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/2012-year-potato

http://www.afandco.com/trends2012/slideshow.html#link5