Contributors

One of my several brothers-in-laws told me that his A1c test (also known as the hemoglobin HbA1c) has been at 6.2 for years. (This simple, and recommended, blood test measures your sugar levels averag…

One of my several br…

One of my several brothers-in-laws told me that his A1c test (also known as the hemoglobin HbA1c) has been at 6.2 for years. (This simple, and recommended, blood test measures your sugar levels averaged over 3 months, instead of just at the precise moment of testing.) Yes, 6.2 is a tad high, but he stopped worrying about the label of “pre-diabetic,” when he repeatedly exhibited no changes or bad symptoms. It didn’t seem particularly relevant for him. (Note for reference, the American Diabetes Association considerers “well-controlled” sugar levels are those kept around 5.6 A1c and whi…

Recently, after the sun went down on a rainy, damp day here in Southern Oregon, there was a treat to be had when putting our garbage outside. An owl was hooting. Rare for us. While a nightly occurrenc…

Recently, after the …

Recently, after the sun went down on a rainy, damp day here in Southern Oregon, there was a treat to be had when putting our garbage outside. An owl was hooting. Rare for us. While a nightly occurrence in our past Arizona life, we seldom hear them here; we agreed maybe less than once a year. (Of course, it doesn’t help if you have the TV chattering away in the evening.) The owl got me thinking about a post I did some years ago entitled: Bucket List Addition: Backyard Birding Literacy. I was remembering my ‘own’ owls (see the title picture) and was trying to recollect if there were new bi…

Ever weaken to the allure of check-out counter Enquirer headlines? Perhaps you shake your head (in disgust or disbelieve) and then pick out a more reputable magazine on popular psychology, science or …

Ever weaken to the a…

Ever weaken to the allure of check-out counter Enquirer headlines? Perhaps you shake your head (in disgust or disbelieve) and then pick out a more reputable magazine on popular psychology, science or health. If so, you’ve certainly seen stories about “self-efficacy.” In general terms, self-efficacy plays a role in how we think, act and feel about our place in community, and our ability to succeed in those roles. In less general terms, it’s all based on the work published in 1977 by Albert Bandura in his seminal paper “Self-Efficacy: Toward a Unifying Theory of Behavioral Change.” A…

The buzzer rings at 6:30 am. I don’t yet call it an alarm, but it is alarming, and I dislike its rude reminder to wake. It’s cold in my pink room with its white furniture and shag rug. At least my…

The buzzer rings at …

The buzzer rings at 6:30 am. I don’t yet call it an alarm, but it is alarming, and I dislike its rude reminder to wake. It’s cold in my pink room with its white furniture and shag rug. At least my tiny feet aren’t cold in the long rug fibers as I hop across the room to hit the button on the new clock that offers me a way to capture 9 extra minutes of sleep. [It won’t switch to the standard 10-minutes until years later.] At 6:39 it rings again. Two minutes later a warning comes, although not from the clock. “You’d better get your lazy bones up. I’m not driving you to school if you…

I have long been involved with voting and electoral systems, and how to reform election methods for the best. One thing I have learned to explain is that “no electoral system is perfect.” Even the…

I have long been inv…

I have long been involved with voting and electoral systems, and how to reform election methods for the best. One thing I have learned to explain is that “no electoral system is perfect.” Even the best of the alternative systems will have some short-comings, despite being superior to the norm. Speaking of elections makes one think of politics and ah, yes, it’s the ides of March. Those were bad politics. As the saying goes “If you want to avoid bad luck, beware the ides of March.” Of course, bad luck can come in many forms. Fortunately, a bit of planning can land you on the right side…