2025/10/23
Todays Thought
In politics, being deceived is no excuse.
-Leszek Kolakowski, philosopher (23 Oct 1927-2009)
2025/10/22
Todays Thought
That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but in a new way.
-Doris Lessing, novelist, poet, playwright, Nobel laureate (22 Oct 1919-2013)
2025/10/21
Todays Thought
Biographical history, as taught in our public schools, is still largely a history of boneheads: ridiculous kings and queens, paranoid political leaders, compulsive voyagers, ignorant generals, the flotsam and jetsam of historical currents. The men who radically altered history, the great creative scientists and mathematicians, are seldom mentioned if at all.
-Martin Gardner, mathematician and writer (21 Oct 1914-2010)
2025/10/20
Todays Thought
Life is mostly froth and bubble, / Two things stand like stone, / Kindness in another’s trouble, / Courage in your own.
-Adam Lindsay Gordon, poet (19 Oct 1833-1870)
2025/10/16
Todays Thought
Truth, in matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived.
- Oscar Wilde, writer (16 Oct 1854-1900)
2025/10/15
Todays Thought
He who has a why can endure any how.
-Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher (15 Oct 1844-1900)
2025/10/13
Todays Word
with Anu Garg
Language is an attic crammed with memories. What you find there are not just literal objects. Much of what’s stored away has meaning layered upon meaning.
A shell, for instance, may not just be a shell. It might recall that wistful afternoon on the beach when you met someone, shared a smile, and hesitated to ask for their number. (And now it is your regret-shell.)
Words, too, gather significance over time. This week, we’ll explore words that work double shifts. They mean what they mean, and then some. Use them any way you like: literally or figuratively (but figurative is more fun).
lace-curtain
MEANING:
ETYMOLOGY:
NOTES:
Today, the term survives as a light jab at anyone decorating their life a bit too finely while hoping no one peeks behind the curtain. Also see iron curtain.
USAGE:
Lucy Scholes; Style of His Own; The Independent (London, UK); Oct 14, 2018
2025/10/10
Todays Thought
When small men begin to cast big shadows, it means that the sun is about to set.
-Lin Yutang, writer and translator (10 Oct 1895-1976)
2025/10/09
Bro Bro and Baby Girl
🎵 "Bro Bro & Baby Girl: The Good Dog Detectives" 🎵
(Verse 1)
Out on the block, there’s trouble in the air,
But two fuzzy friends are already there.
Bro Bro’s nose knows every clue in sight,
Baby Girl’s bark keeps the bad guys in fright.
(Pre-Chorus)
They’re waggin’ tails and on the case,
Four paws of justice all over the place.
No crook too sneaky, no thief too sly,
These canine heroes always find the “why.”
(Chorus)
Bro Bro & Baby Girl, saving the day,
Sniffin’ out the mystery, chasing crime away.
From the alley to the park, they’re keeping it safe,
Neighborhood heroes with a tail-wagging grace.
(Verse 2)
Lost cat poster? They’re on the run,
Finding Mittens before the setting sun.
Snack shop robbery? They caught the scent,
Tracked the crumbs ‘til the crook repents.
(Bridge)
Flash of fur, a bark, and a leap,
They’re the watchdogs of your street to keep.
Every mystery, they’re hot on the trail,
No case too big, no scent too stale.
(Final Chorus)
Bro Bro & Baby Girl, saving the day,
Sniffin’ out the mystery, chasing crime away.
From the alley to the park, they’re keeping it safe,
Neighborhood heroes with a tail-wagging grace.
(Outro)
If you see paw prints and hear a happy bark,
You’ll know the good dogs are out after dark.
Bro Bro & Baby Girl, we’re proud to say,
They’re the best good dogs in the whole darn bay.
give me a song about my dogs "bro bro" and "baby girl" solving crimes in the neighborhood and being good dogs
2025/10/08
5 timeless habits for better health
5 timeless habits for better health
Adopting a healthier way of life moves us beyond quick fixes and fads.
- Reviewed by Wynne Armand, MD,
A veritable avalanche of influencers, news headlines, and well-meaning friends and family offer conflicting advice on wellness. If you’re overwhelmed by fads and hype around wellness, read on. Dr. Wynne Armand, a primary care physician at Harvard-affiliated Mass General Brigham health care in Boston, recommends five simple habits to boost health and wellness in everyday life.
Five wellness habits for life
Quick fixes and fads may do little for our health, and some even prove harmful. Try to work healthy habits into your daily routines. If you’re a parent, sharing and modeling them can help children and teens embrace wellness, too.
Bring mindfulness into your day
Mindfulness and meditation are overlapping techniques proven to ease stress, improve sleep, and enhance concentration. “Anxiety and stress are very common issues in my practice,” says Dr. Armand. Worrying too often about the past or future is rarely helpful. The too-frequent release of stress hormones affects our heart, brain, and sleep, all of which have downstream consequences for our health.A veritable avalanche of influencers, news headlines, and well-meaning friends and family offer conflicting advice on wellness. If you’re overwhelmed by fads and hype around wellness, read on. Dr. Wynne Armand, a primary care physician at Harvard-affiliated Mass General Brigham health care in Boston, recommends five simple habits to boost health and wellness in everyday life.Practicing mindfulness — whether simply by appreciating birds and plants on a walk in green space, or using apps like Calm and Headspace — anchors you in the present moment. This can calm anxiety, improve focus and concentration, and amp up positive feelings. When applied to eating, mindfulness may help with weight loss by encouraging people to slow down to savor meals.
Meditation knits together body and mind by focusing on sensations, such as breathing, images, or a repeated word or phrase. One exercise that works equally well for adults and younger people is box breathing. The rhythmic pattern of breathing helps regulate the nervous system, reining in anxiety and stress, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, and boosting focus. The rhythmic pattern of breathing helps regulate the nervous system, reining in anxiety and stress, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, and boosting focus.
Prioritize sleep
Sleeping poorly can leave you feeling awful — snappish, foggy-headed, slow moving — and take a toll on your health over time. By contrast, getting sufficient, restful sleep supports the immune system, helps control weight, and aids physical well-being, mental well-being, memory, judgment, and other cognitive functions. It may even extend longevity.
But how much sleep do you need? That varies with age and other factors: most adults need at least seven hours per night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, sleep quality (a measure of refreshing, uninterrupted sleep versus tossing and turning) may be more important than nailing seven hours. And it’s worth noting that too much sleep — nine hours or more in one analysis of multiple studies — is linked to higher risk for early deaths, too.
Be aware that sleep patterns and circadian rhythms that help rule sleep and wakefulness change over time. Good sleep hygiene can help. Tips include getting regular exercise, setting regular bedtime and wake-up times, avoiding caffeine in the afternoon and evening and large meals and alcohol before bedtime, and turning off screens at least 30 minutes before going to bed.If you have trouble falling asleep, wake repeatedly at night, or often feel tired during the day, talk to your doctor about ways to improve your sleep. In some cases, sleep apnea, which can raise risk for many health issues, or another sleep disorder may be preventing restful sleep.
Eat real, whole foods
A wealth of evidence shows that diets rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes and pulses like lentils, peas, and beans, and minimally processed foods support longevity and vitality. Plant-based and plant-forward dietsare better for our health: research links them to lower rates of heart disease, certain cancers, and chronic illnesses like diabetes and obesity. They’re better for the planet, too.
When foods are processed, their health and nutritional value often decline, partly due to additives. “Industries are adding ingredients like excess salt, sugar, artificial sweeteners, colorings, and other chemicals that may be unhealthy or trigger reactions in the brain to keep us craving more,” says Dr. Armand.
Move more, sit less
The hurry of life often short-circuits opportunities to be active. So, swap out the thought “What saves me time?” for a healthier one: “What keeps me mobile, flexible, and functioning well within my world?” Polishing off exercise requirements through a 30-minute block once daily is great, but you may reap even greater health and well-being benefits if you seek out ways to stay active throughout the day.
“Stop thinking about efficiency and think instead about pleasurable or creative ways to keep your body active,” suggests Dr. Armand. Combine exercise with work or pleasure: instead of meeting on Zoom, walk and talk. Instead of sitting with friends for a meal, socialize over coffee followed by a walk.Of course, many people experience mobility challenges due to age, illness, or accident. Look for opportunities that suit your needs or move beyond your comfort zone, possibly through adaptive sports.
Protect your body from everyday toxins
Air pollution, microplastics, and forever chemicals known as PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are difficult to dodge in modern life. Breathing in tiny particles (called particulate matter, or PM10, PM2.5, PM0.1) or ingesting microplastics and harmful chemicals affects your health in many ways.
For example, notes Dr. Armand, tiny pollutant or wildfire smoke particles travel deep into the lungs and may escape into the bloodstream, thus reaching tissues and organs throughout the body. This contributes to heart attacks, strokes, lung problems, and other health conditions. The use of gas stoves, which create nitrogen dioxide and release airborne PM2.5s, irritates lungs and is linked with higher risk for childhood asthma. Microplastics have been found in foods, water, cosmetics, and nearly everywhere in the human body. Their health impact is being investigated and may include raising risk for cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and respiratory and vascular problems.
These tips can help you reduce potentially harmful exposures at home:
- Use a water filter to reduce your exposure to PFAS, microplastics, and other contaminants.
- Swap out kitchen plastics with glass (such as inexpensive mason jars or glass food containers), stainless steel water bottles, and lead-free dinnerware.
- Run a correctly-sized air purifier with a MERV 13 or higher filter when wildfire smoke or pollution affects air quality near you. Local news reports can help you understand when air quality is in an unhealthy range, particularly for people who are most vulnerable, such as children, older adults, people with lung disease, and people who work outdoors.
- Vent gas stoves when cooking. Opening windows can also help. Better still, cook as much as you can using electric or induction appliances.
About the Author
Francesca Coltrera, Editor, Harvard Health Blog
Francesca Coltrera is editor of the Harvard Health Blog, and associate editor of multimedia content for Harvard Health Publishing. She is an award-winning medical writer and co-author of Living Through Breast Cancer and The Breast Cancer …See Full BioView all posts by Francesca ColtreraAbout the Reviewer
Wynne Armand, MD, Contributor
Dr. Wynne Armand is a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where she provides primary care; an assistant professor in medicine at Harvard Medical School; associate director of the MGH Center for the Environment and Health; … See Full BioView all posts by Wynne Armand, MD
2025/10/07
Phoenix finishes Metrocenter demolition. See what’s replacing it
Phoenix finishes Metrocenter demolition. See what’s replacing it
Phoenix IG, LLC
Phoenix’s most famous mall is now a pile of rubble. After almost a year of work, demolition of Metrocenter is complete, though the site won’t stay vacant for long. The 64.2-acre property near Interstate 17 and Dunlap Avenue will become The Metropolitan, the centerpiece of the Phoenix Metrocenter redevelopment.
The $850 million mixed-use project promises a “walkable urban village” with housing, dining, entertainment, office space and retail. Construction is slated to begin in early 2026. Once complete, the project will reinvent the once-blighted site into a new “crown jewel” of Phoenix, according to developers.
The Metropolitan will bring homes, shops and restaurants together in one dense, urban-style area. It’s designed as a place to live, work and play within walking distance. The project will also include rooftop hangouts, pedestrian pathways, public gathering spots and access to transit. Walkability is the goal.
And for longtime locals, a nod to Metrocenter’s past will be baked into the development’s DNA.
Phoenix IG, LLC
Metrocenter’s exit and The Metropolitan’s entrance
Once upon a time, Metrocenter was Phoenix’s most popular shopping destination. The 1.4-million-square-foot mall opened in 1973 and served generations of locals. As Phoenix New Times stated in 2020, Metrocenter was “everyone’s favorite west side mall” for most of its 47-year run. It didn’t last, though.
Around the turn of the millennium, Metrocenter was in serious decline. By 2019, it had become a shadow of its former self and closed the following year during the pandemic.
Florida-based developers Concord Wilshire Capital purchased the property in 2023, planning to transform it into The Metropolitan. Demolition began in late 2024.
Most of the mall is now dust and rubble, with only the structure of onetime anchor stores JCPenney and Sears remaining. JCPenney currently houses a self-storage business, while the former Sears will torn down at a later date.
Phoenix IG, LLC
A ‘crown jewel’ for Phoenix
Its centerpiece will be The Loop, a 140,000-square-foot retail and entertainment hub. The development will be oval-shaped, an indirect nod to Metrocenter’s design. Amenities will include boutique shops, rooftop restaurants, music venues and a weekly farmers market.
Surrounding The Loop are three distinct residential neighborhoods: Terra Court, Brava Gardens and Luna Villas. Together, they will include approximately 1,200 townhomes, blending modern design with community-focused amenities. There’s also Levante Apartments, a 350-unit complex with modern amenities. Housing includes a mix of rental and for-sale options.
Phoenix IG, LLC
While The Metropolitan won’t offer a hockey rink or arcades like Metrocenter in its heyday, the development will include recreation. An amenity deck above a parking garage will include features like pickleball courts and a swimming pool.
Here’s a look at more artist’s rendering of The Metropolitan.
Phoenix IG, LLC
Phoenix IG, LLC
Phoenix IG, LLC
Phoenix IG, LLC
Phoenix IG, LLC
Phoenix IG, LLC
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Arizona's huge new dark sky observatory: See the construction progress Renderings & Floorplan The 22,000 square-foot IDSDC will ac...
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Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace. -Benito Juárez, President of Mexico (21 Mar 1806-1872)
