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“In the days of direct payment, a bill for a 4-day maternity and 4-day nursery stay, including $10 for the delivery room, was $52.50 in 1950 …The statement was handwritten on a half-sheet of paper.” —Dr. James Brook, “The High Price of Socialized Medicine” In...

“Oh, I love you, a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck…” —“Guys and Dolls,” circa 1950 I found myself humming the above song as I was reaching for the perfect sweet potatoes for my Thanksgiving dinner....

I’m starting to see the beginning of fall color on some trees. It’s an exciting time of year. My friend, Kate, in Bonny Doon has an Autumn Moon Japanese maple that’s always in color, no matter the time of year. On a visit to...

Picture yourself lying back, eyes closed, as gentle vibrations ripple through the air. In that moment, you begin to feel your body soften, your breath deepen, your mind quiet. There's something almost magical about this pause—when sound stops being background noise and becomes a...

This year I happen to have lots of fall blooming perennials. Just in time for Halloween, the ornamental sunflowers, golden coreopsis and black-eyed-Susan are still providing some color. If you want to decorate for Halloween, there is plenty of plant material you can harvest from...

“The most radical thing that could happen is we’ll become a nation of financial literates. It’s within the realm of possibility.” —Don Phillips Financial freedom motivates all my writing and professional career and I trace its history. Financial life planners aided this progress with better...

As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change, fall offers a natural opportunity to reset. The slower pace and cozy routines can be grounding—but they can also bring challenges. Shorter days, busier schedules and less sunlight can impact our mood and...

You probably think of mums as boring. They’re everywhere at this time of year. Many consider them a bit of color on the front porch that you compost after they’ve finished flowering. But mums have a lot more to offer than that. Mums are in...

This past week, I saw a flash of hope in our small corner of the world. Our City Council was tasked with selecting a new member to fill a vacant seat. The meeting opened, as it always does, with the Pledge of Allegiance. The packed...

Did you know having a regular fitness routine is one of the best things that you can do to reduce your risk of developing dementia? It’s true. Physical exercise helps improve memory, thinking skills and motor skills. How it works is, moving your body and...