Untitled Document What should consumers look for in natural furniture? Along with replacing your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents and driving your car less, upgrading to greener furniture is one of the healthiest things you can do for your family and the planet. Most furniture is made with wood from the tropics, so the […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
Still waiting for the first step
Untitled Document I recently attended a celebration in honor of the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. It ended, as many such celebrations do, with the audience members linking arms and singing that hopeful anthem, “We Shall Overcome.” I’ve belted this tune a million times. But on this occasion, my mouth simply wouldn’t make the […]
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Other recyclables
Untitled Document How do we find out about recycling the many other items we use that eventually break or die out, such as light bulbs, disposable batteries, portable electronics, and so on? It’s true that recycling items other than paper, plastic, and glass is still no easy task, but if you’re committed to unloading something […]
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A career in caring
Untitled Document The Frank J. Menolascino Award for Excellence, given yearly by the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed, was created to honor individuals “whose efforts have resulted in an improved quality of life for a significant number of persons with mental retardation and mental illness.” In October, the national organization presented the prestigious award […]
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Warm up, cool down
Untitled Document Tim Butler used to run in high school and college, but he says it’s nothing compared to what he’s been up to for the past 13 years. “If I ran two miles, it seemed like a long way,” Butler says. “Now I’ve run probably 20 half-marathons and even ran the Chicago Marathon once.” […]
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Winter is the time to learn and plan
Untitled Document You may not be able to engage in many garden activities outdoors right now, but this is a great time of year to learn more. Here are some programs gardeners will enjoy: • Garden Basics — The University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit and the Springfield Civic Garden Club will sponsor this series […]
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O-bomb-a
Untitled Document This is the stupidest column I’ve ever written. I just wanted to tell you that up front. And yeah, I know, my last column was about my dog — pretty lame (my column, that is; not Buddy — he’s buoyant as ever). But this one is going to make that Buddy thing look […]
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Tiny bubbles
Untitled Document How much of an effect, if any, does the carbon dioxide in carbonated beverages have on global warming? A typical 12-ounce can of soda contains as much as 6 grams (0.013 pounds) of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, which either escapes into the atmosphere from the liquid on being opened or from your body […]
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Stretch work
Untitled Document Got a fitness problem? Sometimes … you’ve got to stretch yourself. The most common injuries are sorted into two categories: chronic and traumatic. Chronic injuries occur thanks to repetitive movements, a tennis swing, for instance. Traumatic injuries happen, quite obviously, because of a more sudden occurrence, like taking a hard hit on the […]
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Health Briefs
Untitled Document This year, keep your workout promise With the new year comes the promise of starting, then sticking with fitness routines. Make a difference in 2008 and hire a professional who can help you stay on track, scientifically speaking. “When a fitness expert conveys goals to an exerciser, his or her vision can increase […]
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Those mighty mites
Untitled Document Dr. Glennon Paul has worked with Springfield asthma patients for 33 years, but even he admits that he doesn’t have all the answers. Asthma, a respiratory condition in which the airway constricts, becomes inflamed, or fills with excessive amounts of mucus, strikes people of different ages and for different reasons — and, as […]
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Untangling the Alzheimer’s mystery
Untitled Document First, let’s clear up a common misconception: Old age doesn’t cause Alzheimer’s disease. Rather, the risk of Alzheimer’s, a progressive and fatal disease that kills cells in the brain, increases with age, particularly in people older than 60 years. Medical experts also estimate that approximately a half-million 30-, 40-, and 50-year olds have Alzheimer’s […]
