Life Style & Travel

UNITED STATES—Poinsettias are very popular blooming potted plants for about a month prior to Christmas. Then, most quietly disappear prior to spring. A few become foliar houseplants. Fewer go into home gardens to likely succumb to frost or neglect. Very few survive for more than a few years. It is not easy to recover from the procedures that forced...

UNITED STATES—Cool season vegetables are the first clue. Now that they are seasonal, cool season color is also seasonal. Both comply with similar schedules. Their cool season centers around winter, including portions of spring and autumn. Some prefer to start early. Some prefer a later start. They also finish at variable times through spring. Some perform until summer. Warm season...

UNITED STATES—Trader Joe’s will comply with an online petition to remove "racist packaging" from its stores. Trader Joe’s opened its first store in Pasadena, California, in 1967 and sells original brand food at a low price. Trader Joe’s is also known for its friendly store culture and unique labeling of ethnic food products. However, some of their product labels...

HOLLYWOOD—I’ve talked about my gaming past some time ago. Like I told so many people who ask me why I no longer play video games? Well, the first would be the fact that I’m an adult, and the second would be life is so busy where is the time. However, I have started to carve out a small time...

HOLLYWOOD─I recently read a story that revealed fans of horror films are better prepared for outbreaks, pandemics and utter chaos that we only imagine can happen in the movies, but it feels like we’re living in a pandemic right now. Let’s be clear, this is not “Night of the Living Dead” or some zombie apocalypse, but we are dealing...

UNITED STATES—Some of the best and least invasive cosmetic treatments work by causing controlled skin damage. These procedures are designed to trigger the body's natural healing response for improved blood flow to the treatment area, faster skin cell renewal, and increased collagenesis, or collagen production. Performed with a hand-held device that's fitted with several rows of tiny needles, micro-needling...

UNITED STATES—If you don’t know by now, I am a huge sports fan in the football arena, especially of the NFL Detroit Lions. People may not know this, but the Lions have been brutalized in recent years because of the team’s performance, but within the last two years there has been a massive turnaround. Last year, so many people...

People really stress out over Christmas trees. Some do not want a cut Christmas tree because it involves killing the tree. Some do not want an artificial Christmas tree because it is . . . artificial. Some do not want a living Christmas tree because it is too expensive for a tree that is too small. There are so...

UNITED STATES—I wouldn’t make a very good politician. I leave shambles, wars and broken hearts wherever I go. It must be my big mouth. Anyhow, nothing bugs me as much as people who are time vampires. There may be somebody I really like but if they get off track on the phone and tell me about the wart on their...

UNITED STATES—"Are you going to stay the night?" says the mother. Hers is the last bed in the room that has a light on over the headboard of the hospital bed. "Don't go changing the subject," says the son. "I didn't know there was a subject," the mother groans. "Can you do something about my head, so it can get comfortable?" "The...