Rich People Have Access to Better Microbes Than Poor People, Researchers Say – VICE

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Our bodies are home to an abundance of tiny organisms, collectively called the microbiome, which are essential to human health and longevity. But not all microbiomes are equal, according to an essay published on Tuesday in PLOS Biology that spotlights how access to healthy microbes is profoundly interlinked with social and economic inequities.

A team led by Suzanne Ishaq, an assistant professor at the University of Maine and an expert in animal microbiomes, outlines examples of the human microbiomes sensitivity to discrepancies in healthcare, nutrition, and safe environmental standards. This microbial inequality, as the essay calls it, raises the question of whether a healthy microbiome should be a right or a legal obligation for governments to pursue on behalf of people.

The diet that you eat and your lifestyle can have dramatic impacts on the gut microbes that you recruit and the benefits or the negatives that you derive from them, said Ishaq in a call. If you dont even have access to a good quality diet, you might be suffering the effects of not having those beneficial microbes and products in ways you might not have imagined.

Gaps in microbial health can emerge before a person is even born, because some of the most important microbes are fostered in utero. The fetal microbiome is influenced by the mothers access to healthy foods as well as her stress levels, which can be amplified by economic inequities. The availability of maternity leave or social support also affects the amount of time that new mothers can devote to breastfeeding their babies, which is another critical factor in the establishment of a healthy microbiome.

These microbial patterns play out over our entire lifetimes. Populations with access to quality nutrition will have better physical and mental health outcomes than those that do not, and that is reflected on a gut microbial level. The environmental quality of the buildings where we live and work also influence what lifeforms are inside us, as does our general proximity to greenspace, on the positive side, or polluting industrial and agricultural facilities, on the negative end.

Ishaq had been ruminating about these connections in her research for years, and decided to teach a special course on the subject at the University of Oregon over the summer. Fifteen undergraduate students with a wide variety of majors participated in the class, and are now co-authors on the new paper. Because the majority of the class were not science majors, the essay has an interdisciplinary approach that concludes with legal and political implications of microbial inequality, in addition to the medical dimensions.

They were actually much more familiar with the social policies than I was, given their background, which was really cool, Ishaq said of her students.

One of the questions the team explored is whether a healthy microbiome can be considered a human right or a legal obligation. One 2011 paper touched on this issue through the lens of biobanking, or archiving of human tissue, but there has never been a major legal case that establishes who owns an individuals microbiome, or if people are legally entitled to a healthy microbiome.

From the perspective of Ishaq and her colleagues, the dynamic nature of the microbiome suggests that legal arguments should emphasize access to healthy microbes, rather than ownership over ones microbiome.

Youre picking up and putting off hundreds of thousands of microbial cells every day so to think that whats in your gut is completely yours is probably the wrong way to think about it, Ishaq explained. They are more like passengers than things that you own.

In other words, healthy microbes could potentially be categorized as an essential resource or common good, like clean water, safe environments, and quality public health. Ishaq hopes the essay will encourage researchers across disciplines to think about the human microbiome as both a metric of social inequities, and a roadmap to more effectively bridge those divides.

It tends to be people that werent even involved with polluting water or growing too much food or pouring chemicals everywhere that end up being the ones that have to deal with these microbial-related problems, she said.

Addressing this problem will require restructuring our societies on the largest scales, in order to ensure that the small-scale lifeforms inside us can thrive, so that we can too.

This article originally appeared on VICE US.

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Rich People Have Access to Better Microbes Than Poor People, Researchers Say - VICE

There’s evidence that exercise after consuming olive oil could trigger changes linked to longevity – Insider – INSIDER

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A new study suggests olive oil could be integral to the Mediterranean diet's brilliance.

The diet, which US News & World Report ranked the best diet of 2019, has been linked to good health and longer lives.

According to new research by the University of Minnesota Medical School, olive oil alone, a staple ingredient of the diet, appears to have properties that promote longevity and decrease the risk of age-related disease like diabetes and heart disease.

Doug Mashek, the lead researcher, said that studying the way olive oil affected human cells in petri dishes indicated that the fats in olive oil activated cell pathways in the body that are linked to longer life.

"We found that the way this fat works is it first has to get stored in microscopic things called lipid droplets, which is how our cells store fat," Mashek said in a press release. "And then, when the fat is broken down during exercising or fasting, for example, is when the signaling and beneficial effects are realized."

Foods includingwhole-grain pita bread, fresh fruit, salads, nuts, beans, olive oil, and salmon are Mediterranean diet staples. Anna Kurzaeva/Getty Images

This isn't the first time the Mediterranean diet has been found beneficial for long-term health.

The concept of the Mediterranean diet comes from the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, where people historically ate mainly vegetables, oily fish, nuts, and healthy fats. The Harvard School of Public Health and a think tank called Oldways created a diet based on the general eating principles of these places, according to US News.

Unlike highly restrictive diets like the keto diet or the Atkins diet, the Mediterranean diet allows people to eat a wide variety of foods in moderation. In fact, the diet is safe for most people, including children and older people.

Foods including whole-grain pita bread, fresh fruit, salads, nuts, beans, olive oil, and salmon are Mediterranean diet staples and promote a variety of health benefits.

When people fill their diets with the fresh, unprocessed foods found in the Mediterranean diet, they may lose weight, improve their heart health, and prevent diabetes, according to US News.

Since the diet focuses on heart-healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, and salmon, it also couldlower bad cholesterol, a major cause of heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. "The Mediterranean diet discourages saturated fats and hydrogenated oils (trans fats), both of which contribute to heart disease," the Mayo Clinic said on its website.

The diet could also help prevent cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's as well as breast cancer.

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There's evidence that exercise after consuming olive oil could trigger changes linked to longevity - Insider - INSIDER

Rethinking the Revolutionary Recipe Barbara J. Falk – Visegrad Insight

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Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in Central and Eastern Europe, debates ensued regarding the nature of systemic change. Did the domino-like, state-by-state collapse of communism across the region constitute a revolution, a restoration, or even, in the clever 1989 formulation of British historian Timothy Garton Ash, a refolution, combining the elements of reform and revolution? Franois Furet and Jrgen Habermas both suggested there was nothing new inherent in either the programs or ideals of 1989.[i]

One important feature united the commentators in this discussion: the commitment to non-violence on the part of key domestic and international players in most states save for a short-lived civil conflict in Romania (from the nomenklatura to dissidents domestically, as well as the restraint of both Western leaders and then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev).

In 2003, I argued that 1989 represented a revolution in the very idea of revolutionsimultaneously self-limiting with far-reaching impact via a principled commitment to non-violence. In states ranging from Serbia in 2000, Ukraine in 2004 or 2014, Iran in 2009 to Egypt in 2011, the idea of peaceful or velvet revolution became part of the civil resistance playbook in responding to or even unseating authoritarian leaders.[ii]

However attractive the model of non-violent revolution that 1989 represented, it is unlikely to be replicated in the near future, despite the growth of academic and activist research and support for non-violent resistance. Recent efforts of replicating 1989 have been whole or at least partial failures.

Serbia, while democratic, sits uneasily at the edge of the European Union. Ukraine has strengthened democratic institutions yet is simultaneously mired in a frozen conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk, having already lost the Crimean Peninsula to unwelcome Russian annexation. The 2009 Green Revolution in Iran and the 2011 Arab Spring in Egypt have been defeated.

The current constellation of multipolar great power politics makes international agreement on conflict resolution difficult either through the United Nations or regional security organizations. The decline in the soft power attractiveness not only of the United States but even of liberal democracy more generally given the rise of populist, illiberal, nativist and nationalist sentiment has undermined the legitimacy of the democratic project.

An international legal regime and transitional justice paradigm dis-incentivizes unpopular authoritarians to peacefully step away from power. The fraught operationalization/moral hazard associated with the doctrine of Responsibility to Protect, have made non-violent revolutions far less likely as a model for the future. Given the disastrous consequences of the UN-sponsored Libyan mission and the conflict in Syria ending decidedly in Bashar al-Assads favour, order and basic human security are currently more fundamental than questions of regime type, citizen engagement or the more expansive protection of human rights.

More generally, contemporary authoritarian states are far deadlier and more punitive than their post-Stalinist East European predecessors in their response to resistance and dissent.

The current constellation of political, economic and social forces intersect to structurally render a repeat of 1989, or some form of non-violent revolution, nearly impossible. Why might a return of revolution or attempted revolutionary change with violence be more likely, given that 1989 proved that dramatic change could occur without recourse to violence?

Obviously, there are no simple answers or monocausal explanations, and more case-specific and comparative research needs to be done on unsuccessful efforts. Jennifer Welsh, responding to Fukuyamas thesis about the end of history, suggests that we are in the midst of a return to history, one aspect of which is increasing and increasingly barbaric levels of violence, xenophobia, and inequality. Here, I sketch out some of the factors that currently render the structural and ideological conditions for a repeat of 1989 specifically or for a non-violent revolution more generally, unlikely to be repeated in the short to medium term.

The United States is not in the same position of global leadership. Almost a decade after 9/11 and multiple military interventions later, the reputation of the remaining superpower is tarnished. The United States has entered a period of relative weakness if not outright decline (at least in terms of soft power), even prior to the election of Donald J. Trump. Failure to deliver sustainable security and better governance have precipitated ongoing regional and transnational security concerns, even leaving aside substandard economic performance in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The United States is not as well regarded in former Soviet or communist states as it was in the 1970s and 1980s in Central and Eastern Europe, let alone in contemporary North Africa or the Middle East. The failure to deliver on the promises of regime change, especially when aided and abetted by military coalitions of the willing, has been profound.

The attractiveness of American soft power took a hit under the presidency of George W. Bush and is taking a further nosedive under Donald J. Trump. Moreover, the post-intervention political failure of Iraqaided and abetted by the disastrous policies of de-Baathification and the disbanding of the Republican Guardwas arguably the single biggest contributing factor leading to the rise of ISIS.

We are also witnessing the return of great power politics, in an increasingly multipolar world where global and regional leaders can effectively delegitimize internal dissent and checkmate revisionist politics within neighbouring states within their zone of influence. Indeed, such approaches mesh neatly with nationalist revisionism and populism, as we have seen in Russia, China, and India.

The Arab Spring, even if what has occurred is regarded as round one in a longer game, has been largely a failure. What began as street protests against rulers whose longevity was well past their best-before date (Mubarek in Egypt or Gaddafi in Libya) did not usher in a successful revolution, refolution or a fourth wave of democratization in the Middle East and North Africa. To be sure, the Internet and social media functioned as a force multiplier in getting millions into the streets, but speed cannot replace the slow building of movements and coalitions that focus on the de minimus consensus needed both strategically and tactically to sustain oppositions over the long haul.

2011 proved that you cannot replicate 1989 in hyperdrive. Zeynep Tufekci discusses how digital technologies, have generated tactical freeze whereby the adhocracy and leaderlessness of movements make it difficult to establish either concrete or negotiable demands.

Asef Bayat outlines some of the paradoxes of limited or refolutionary approaches that the Arab Spring painfully made clear. Citizen activists feel more entitled to higher expectations, while their very creative disruption renders delivery on such expectations difficult in the short term. Minimally, non-violent or even minimally-violent people power approaches are supposed to keep basic services functioning, yet there develops a powerful quest to transform those very institutionsexpelling their bosses, altering rules of the game, and bringing in new bloodas a way to inculcate new political order.

States such as China, North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Egypt, are far less tolerant of dissent than the rulers of late communism. Post-Stalinism repressed or limited choices but were relatively safe and secure. After the 1950s dissidents were arrested but not tortured, and national party-states avoided purge trials and executions. Increasingly contemporary Russia also stifles the effectiveness of opposition and any serious challenges to the ruling hegemony.

Under late communism, law may have been deeply politicized, but law existed, and a rational process of technocratic bureaucratization ensured a social safety net for all and advanced education and economic opportunities for many (especially for the nomenklatura). Both the instrumental demonization of communism for political ends and communo-nostalgia exist, both of which make any honest and clear-eyed assessment of the past in terms of popular discourse difficult.

As Aviezer Tucker points out, only rough justice was possible during and after the transition, either in terms of retribution or restoration, given the overall costs and procedural challenges involved Such processes have fed conspiracy theories about the nature of change in 1989 as well as generating real grievances and legitimation challenges.

There may here now exists a different calculus for potential withdrawal from power for unpopular authoritarians. Given the advancement of international criminal law, the existence of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the ex post facto creation of hybrid courts for crimes of the past (such as in Cambodia) there simply is no soft landing in the south of France (as there was for Jean-Franois Duvalier of Haiti) or Hawaii (as was the case for Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines)the brutal and human rights-abusing authoritarians of yesteryear.

A different incentive structure is in play. Gorbachev may have won the Nobel Prize, but in the Putinesque and even populist calculus in contemporary Russia, he was also responsible for the dissolution of the Soviet Unionthus ending superpower status and bringing shame and economic disaster on the nation.

Bashar al-Assad had no choice but to fight for his version of Syria and has effectively won. Had he not, his own personal alternative would have been permanent exile and inability to travel anywhere given the increasing reach of universal jurisdiction.[iii] It is hard to imagine Kim Jong Un willingly give up power, or any domestic forces of non-violent dissent having a chance of success. North Korea is remarkably autarkic, relatively immune to even the smartest of sanctions.

We need to examine whether the ICC generates a reverse effectwhereby potential indictment increases the stakes and the personal survival of the authoritarian leader as an autonomous individual is at stakenot the case in either 1989 in Eastern Europe or 1991 in the Soviet Union.

Authoritarians themselves are proving to be adept and able students of the history and practice of non-violent regime changeand are ever more determined to avoid the conditions that made such change possible. During and after Irans failed Green Revolution in 2009, the regime actively searched for and discounted anything that smacked of velvet revolution, and responded not only with violent reprisals, but also a series of show trials resulting in periods of long imprisonment and even execution.

The Iranian fixation with prohibiting a velvet revolution and ongoing Russian accusations of deliberate government sponsorship of the coloured revolutions happily coexist with conspiracy theory regarding the tentacles of American global domination. Indeed, the United States unwittingly fed this narrative via its post-9/11 interventions and the triumphalist discourse both in government and academic circles about winning the Cold War.

The assumption that the replication of 1989 is both possible and desirable ignores much of the unique character of the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, where there was a wilfully retreating hegemon, oppositions-in-waiting given the decades-long cultivation of dissent, weak and non-performing governments, in some cases previous experiences with democracy, shared cultural and historical experiences with Western European democratic states, and populations willing to literally exit, voice and loyalty.

These are not small differences. Non-violence worked to a large degree in 1989 not only because of the discipline and social trust among the non-government and opposition forces but because the leaders-in-withdrawal hesitated to use violence and could rely neither on the USSR nor likely even on their own security forces.

This article is an extract of a longer paper titled Rethinking 1989 as Revolutionary Recipe presented by Barbara J. Falk to the Association for the Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies. Register for free to download a PDF version below.

[i] Furet (quoted by Ralf Dahrendorf) stated that with all the fuss and the noise, not a single new idea has come out of Eastern Europe in 1989. Habermas referred to the events of 1989 as the nachholende revolutionusually translated as rectifying but also with the sense of looking backwards, implying nothing new or original.

[ii] Velvet as appended to Revolution first appeared to describe the peaceful, non-violent negotiated transfer of power in Czechoslovakia in November-December 1989.

[iii] Assad would be not subject to indictment by the International Criminal Court given Syria is not a state party, but there is currently an International Documentation Center collecting forensic and other evidence that could be used in future prosecution(s).

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Rethinking the Revolutionary Recipe Barbara J. Falk - Visegrad Insight

Global Anti-Senescence Therapy Market is estimated to Grow at the Highest Growth Rate till 2026 | Key players: Unity Biotechnology, Siwa Therapeutics,…

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Up-To-Date Research on Anti-Senescence Therapy Market 2020:

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Companies Included: Unity Biotechnology, Siwa Therapeutics, Calico LLC, AgeX TherapeuticsInc, Numeric Biotech, Human Longevity Inc. (HLI), Cleara Biotech, OisinBiotechnologies, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Sierra Sciences, Proteostasis Therapeutics, Senolytic Therapeutics, Allergan

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Global Anti-Senescence Therapy Market is estimated to Grow at the Highest Growth Rate till 2026 | Key players: Unity Biotechnology, Siwa Therapeutics,...

Student teaches spirituality, yoga in organization – Temple News

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Miriam Schlafman, a junior human resources and management major, instructs senior media studies and production major Alesan Aboafahe on yoga poses in Charles Library on Feb. 20. CLAUDIA SALVATO / THE TEMPLE NEWS

Last August, Miriam Shlafman went to La Casa Shambala, a registered yoga school in the Ko Pha-ngan District in Thailand, where she became a certified yoga teacher.

I finally kind of was able to centralize my knowledge in a codified language, and that really helped me to develop further, refine my knowledge and understand better, said Shlafman, a junior human resource management major.

Shlafman returned to Temple University wanting to share her knowledge about spirituality and self-development with other students and created the student organization Owlwakening in Fall 2019. In the organization, she leads a 16-week course that guides and helps students find a purpose and have a better understanding of themselves.

College is a time period when there are so many options and a lot of exciting new opportunities, and it is really easy to get lost, Shlafman said. So, I want to help people find their voices and find themselves, and to not think there is something that society has put on them, but to find something that they are on the inside and bring that out and let that shine through them.

In the organizations first semester Shlafman met one-on-one with students to talk about spirituality and self-development.

This semester, Owlwakening is meeting in small groups. They focus on yoga and also do activities to explore art forms and complete writing prompts.

Kourtney Clark, the universitys fitness coordinator, hopes that having a student-led yoga classes may inspire others.

[Yoga] has a lot of health benefits, improving flexibility and helping improve your longevity and your health as an individual, Clark said. Also, I think for students it is important to do yoga because it can be a stress reliever and they can focus on mindfulness.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 30 minutes of physical exercise five days a week. It can be a moderate or vigorous activity, and yoga is perfect because it is a moderate level of physical activity but it also has great flexibility component, Clark said.

Yoga helps with stress management, mental and emotional health, promoting healthy habits, sleep and balance, according to National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Because students are focused on their careers, social life and money, college is an intense time period, helping students find a balance in life is one of her goals, Shlafman said.

A lot of our students have a great need for finding ways to practice, to access their spirituality and define to calm down and listen to their inner self and I think the way that the organization is set up for the participants to engage in these processes is very practical and very effective, said Merian Soto, a dance professor and the organizations advisor.

Julia Rudy, a junior Italian major and member of Owlwakening, said yoga has helped her get in touch with her body and feelings. As a transfer student, the club has been beneficial to her, she added.

It helps me feel better when I am focusing on working on myself, and I can do that through this club, Rudy said. It has been a really nice transition for a personal reason and I feel it is a very welcoming community.

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Student teaches spirituality, yoga in organization - Temple News

With strike looming, Becker County and Teamsters continue talks – Detroit Lakes Tribune

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No date for the strike has yet been announced.

In a news release, County Administrator Mike Brethorst said the county was verbally notified on Thursday, Feb. 20, that the employees of the Courthouse and Human Services unions had authorized their union representatives to pursue a strike. The county is disappointed that this has occurred, he said, adding that a fair package was offered to the employees.

Becker County has offered a 2.25% general wage increase this year, plus steps on the salary schedule of approximately 3% for those eligible, which amounts to 5.25% increases, not including longevity pay.

For next year, the county has offered a 2.5% general wage increase plus steps on the 10-step salary schedule of approximately 3% for those eligible, which amounts to 5.5% increases, not including longevity pay.

Longevity pay is based on years of service and date of hire, according to the county's news release. It would add an extra 1% pay increase to eligible employees.

Those employees who are in the sweet spot and qualify for step hikes and longevity pay would see a double-digit pay hike over the next two years, according to the news release.

For example, an employee with six years of service would see a 6.25% proposed pay increase this year, and 6.5% proposed pay increase next year. Add it together and it equals a 12.75% total proposed pay increase over the two-year contract on top of base pay set for 2019, according to the news release.

On average, Becker County says it is offering general wage increases as good or better than comparable counties.

In the release, Becker lists several Minnesota counties that offered its workers comparable pay hikes. The average of those selected counties is 2.16% this year and 2.5% next year, according to the countys news release.

Commissioners were criticized by the union for giving themselves a larger percentage pay raise (2.5% for this year) than was offered to employees.

In response, the county noted that employees have received general wage increases every year for the past 10 years, for an average increase of 1.83%.

By comparison, commissioners received no increase in five of those 10 years. Over the same period, commissioners have seen an average increase of 1.19%. Commissioners also dont receive the average 3% hike in step increases and longevity pay.

In December, Becker County Commissioner Larry Knutson cast the only vote against salary increases for elected officials and commissioners.

The union is also asking that part-time workers be covered by county health insurance, and it criticized commissioners for hiring part-timers to avoid paying health insurance. Commissioners were also criticized for making themselves eligible for health insurance for what the union termed their part time jobs.

In response, the county noted in its news release that the Affordable Care Act has set 30 hours per week as the point where employers are to provide insurance.

Becker County believes that this is appropriate and that there is no compelling reason to expand coverage beyond the level set by Congress, nor can the county afford to do so, the county said in its news release.

Becker County offers health insurance contributions to employees who work 30 hours per week or more, according to their release. It has never made contributions to employees working less than 30 hours. Part-time employees do accrue vacation and sick leave.

Under state law, the union and county must initially participate in mediation for 45 days, and the two parties are then subjected to a 10-day cooling off period before the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services calls them back into mediation for a final session, according to the Teamsters.

If the session fails to produce an agreement, then the county employees are permitted to strike at a time of their choosing. The law provides striking county employees with union protections, and requires that terms of the expired labor agreement be followed until a successor agreement is negotiated, according to the union website.

Becker County said that the next step in the process will be to wait to receive official notice from the union. Pending notice, the county and union will continue to meet for negotiations.

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With strike looming, Becker County and Teamsters continue talks - Detroit Lakes Tribune

Were Partners, But Were Also Best Friends: Tschabalala Self and Mike Mosby on the Rewards of Artistic Love – artnet News

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Historically, the lore of romantic relationships between famous artists has long been marked by infamy, jealousy and, more often than not, the interference of a third person. Theres Cristina Kahlo, who briefly romanced Diego Rivera and drove her sister, Frida, a little mad in so doing; Dorothea Tanning, who lured Max Ernst away from Peggy Guggenheim after a single game of chess; and Franoise Gilot, Pablo Picassos ultimate obsession and muse, who brought an end to his habit of trading one lover for another by eventually walking out on him.And should we be surprised? Governed by passion in their profession, its no wonder that artists, encouraged to explore human desire in their work, allow that fiery energy to spill over into their personal lives.

For a new series, Portraits of Love,Artnet News decided to learn about how present day, very-much-in-love art world couples navigate their relationships in a healthy way. Last week, we sat down with artist Tschabalala Selfa young art star whose market has exploded since she graduated from Yale in 2015and her boyfriend, Mike Mosby (an art therapist, independent curator, and DJ) to learn about how they navigate their partnership as two creative souls in love.

Below, in their first joint interview to date, Self and Mosby share what its like to date your best friend, how they cultivate balance in their relationship, and how they support each other through it all.

Tell me a little about your backgrounds and how you decided to pursue your interest in the arts.

Tschabalala: I grew up in Harlem, New York. I always had an interest in art, and then I studied studio art in college and painting in grad school [at Yale]. After leaving grad school, I started pursuing it more professionally. Its something that Ive always had an interest in and, through school and work, Ive been able to turn that interest into something greater.

Mike: I became interested in creative fields through my familyI grew up in a very fashionable and creative household, between my grandmother and my mother. My mother was a model when she was a teenager in Manhattan. I loved freehand-drawing on cereal boxes as a child, and I got into art films as a teen. My family moved to upstate New York from the city. Up there, I was pretty much surrounded by artists, which was pretty powerful.

So youre both New Yorkers.

Tschabalala: Yeah. We both have family in Harlem. I went to Bard for college, and I hadnt really gone back up there until we started dating, maybe 10 yearsactually, no, not 10 years, Im not that old [laughs]I guess six years after I graduated.

And did you like Bard?

Tschabalala: I did. I didnt really like the area at the time, though. I didnt really appreciate it until I got older.

Did you both know that you wanted to pursue art professionally from a young age?

Mike: Actually, I was a pretty serious athlete growing up. I played football for 12 years of my life. I got badly injured in high school, though, and tore two ligaments in my ankle, so that sort of stopped my football career. But I still had art at the back of my mindit was always with me. It was my Plan B in that sense, and I started to get into it more seriously. I got a job doing art therapy, working with autistic kids and adults, teaching them to express themselves and communicate through art, particularly when theres a lack of language skills. The arts are very calming, centering, and therapeutic for the individuals I work with.

Tschabalala: I guess when I was younger I considered doing other things, but I never really applied myself that seriously to anything other than the arts. Ive always focused on it. I dont really know what else I could have done. I think if I wasnt an artist, I would definitely be doing something else thats trade-orientedsomething maybe in design, or even

Mike: Medicine?

Tschabalala: I mean, I did say that I would love to be a plastic surgeon. Also, because Im a hypochondriac, I sometimes wish I had gone to medical school. But yeah, maybe something trade-oriented where I could work with my hands and interact with a lot of people. I do enjoy that a lot about artthat its public-facing.

Self and Mosby. Photo courtesy Araba Ankuma.

Were there any artistsfine artists, actors, musicians or anyone in a creative industry, reallywho influenced you significantly growing up?

Mike:I would have to say Denzel Washington, first and foremost. He can play any role, hes a very versatile actor. He can play a doctor or gangster cop or a radical activist. And hes a New Yorker, which is the icing on the cake.

Tschabalala: Oh, he is? I didnt know that.

Mike: Yeah, hes from Mount Vernon. And he was very involved in the Boys & Girls Clubs programs.

Also a guy named Reggie Madison. Hes an older gentleman that I grew up knowing while living upstate in Hudson. Hes a sculptor and he paints. He also incorporates a lot of jazz in his artworkhe can hear a Miles Davis or Sun Ra track, and hell paint or sculpt something around it. He blends music and art together.

Tschabalala: I would say a significant influence for me growing up was a woman I used to work for named Montgomery Harris. She had a boutique in Harlem called Montgomery that housed all her own bespoke designs. I worked for her pretty much every summer in high school. I really admired her because she had opened her business on her own, as a black woman creative, and shed brought something so interesting and unique to the neighborhood. It was amazing to see what she was doing on an entrepreneurial and artistic level; it was just such a brave thing to do. So for me to see that model at that time, and to work for her, was really motivating. I got to see what it was like to live the life of a creativeall the glory of it and all the hard parts, too. She was a huge influence, and she taught me so much about fashion, art, and design. Shes still a very close friend of mine.

Is there a piece of advice that she gave you that youve held onto over the years?

Tschabalala: I cant say that it was just one piece of advice, but just how she moved in the world and how she carried herself through the trials and tribulations. I took a lot from that.

And Mike, was there anything that your mentors imparted to you thats stayed with you?

Mike: Definitely. Back to Reggie, he sort of always told me, Be free with your mind. And to do what makes you happy as far as art goes. He collects all these found objectsold books, old pieces of furnitureand builds these beautiful art objects and pieces. And hed just tell me to keep pursuing what I wanted to pursue, and to be inspired by my surroundings. Hes like over 70 years oldits not about the money for him, its about having a say in the art world and the world in general. About having a voice.

Tschabalala Self, Bodega Run installation view at the Hammer Museum (2019). Photo courtesy Joshua White.

How did you two meet?

Tschabalala: Through mutual friends.

Mike: At an art show! Again, in part because of my mentor and my good friend, Reggie Madison. It was the last day of Kerry James Marshalls Mastery show at the Met. So on that day, I was on social media, butto backtrack, Id been following Tschabas work for a few years from her show at the Studio Museum in Harlem. She was in a group show there with some people that I knew. So, fast forward to the day. I DMd her. I sent her a message and I was like, Oh hey, theres a guy having a show in Harlem named Derek Fordjour.

Tschabalala:It was a group show, but I cant remember who else was in the show.

Mike: But it was definitely Derek, and I was like, Im coming up. That was overwhelming, the Mastry show, by the way. After seeing that, you cant see anymore art, you sort of need time to really digest what youve seen. But I said, You know what, Im intrigued. So I went up there [to the group show in Harlem], and I saw her outside and I was like, Wow, who is this beautiful lady? This is her?! And Reggies like, Oh man, shes beautiful. And then we had a conversation for the whole time at the show, while we were looking at the art. We just connected. And we had mutual friends, too, and a lot of things in common, so it sort of felt like dotting the is, in that sense.

Tschabalala: It was sort of the perfect place to have a first date, because all my friends were there for the show.

Mike: It was a very comfortable setting in that way.

Tschabalala: And I think we all went out afterwards to Corner Social. And then I left for four weeks after that for a residency.

Mike: In Detroit!

Tschabalala: So we didnt see each other for another month, but we talked every day.

Mike: We did the phone thing.

Phone calls or FaceTime?

Tschabalala: We did calls.

Mike: I had a flip phone, remember? iPhones are very distracting and, yeah, it would have been nice to see each other, but that would have changed the whole energy. Youre not really here you know?

Self and Mosby. Photo courtesy Araba Ankuma.

Totally. Did you go out to visit her at all when she was over there?

Mike: No, because she was working pretty much all the time.

Tschabalala: Yeah, and my familys out there. My aunts and my cousins live thereso I was catching up with them.

Mike: But then when she came back to New York, we just connected.

How long have you been together now?

Tschabalala: I know we first spoke on the day of the [Trump] inaugurationso as long as that.

Oh, god. No way.

Mike: I had to support her that day. So were going on three years!

A historic day for many reasons, in that case. How would you describe the nature of your relationship in a couple of words?

Mike: Very vibrant. Fun. A lot of teachable moments. Very spontaneous at times, but in a good way. You know every couple says, Were friends. But I could really say this is my friend. We do all the things that friends do together. We go on a lot of journeys together, we have a lot of good times. Theres no pressure, no ones really getting dragged into things they dont want to do. Everything is mutual, so we do a lot together.

Tschabalala: I feel like I cant beat that [description]. I would say that Mike feels very familiar and he reminds me of all the best parts of my life before I met him. I can carry all the best things with me moving forward because of him.

Sort of like your anchor, in a way.

Tschabalala: Yeah, but he encompasses all the best qualities of all my loved ones. He has all their best traits.

Mike: And she also has all the best qualities of the women in my life, my grandmother and my mother. Shes very drivenI tell her that shes the hardest working woman I know, alongside my grandmother and my mother. This woman right here, shes literally a workaholic, but she makes it look fun. And once you get into that world, you understand how hard it is. People have no idea. Its seriously a ton of work. And outside of the art world, your personal life is your own life. It can be very complicated.

How have you managed to support one another through such a momentous time in both of your lives?

Mike: Communication. Just listening and trying to understand. And patienceyouve got to have patience, too, especially for a relationship like this. Youve got to understand the person and who youre with. You have to give them space and time, you cant be too clingy. Youve got to let that person be who theyve got to be.

Tschabalala: I would agree, its a balance between working on building a life together, but also making sure youre working on your individual identity at the same so that you can be fully present in your relationship.

Is it ever hard to navigate the slipping on and off of those identities, those hats, as a creative and as a significant other?

Mike: I think its very easy for me. I dont think Ive ever really struggled with that. And weve also collaborated on a few things together.

Tschabalala: Yeah, I feel like you dont have to take that hat off. We like to keep it on. But also relationships get really complicated, so you have to figure out ways to problem-solve creatively. But yeah, I dont think you ever really have to take that creative hat off. I guess its good to always be open-minded about whats possible.

Mike: I guess some people are afraid of compromise, but its really just about being understanding. You can keep your creative hat on at the same time and navigate life together. Of course you want to have your own identity and your own thoughts; you dont want to blur everything together. But if you have an idea, you can share those ideas together.

Tschabalala: And I think that creatives understand thateven within their relationships to their work, theres sacrifice and compromise, theres some push and pull. If you apply that same logic to your relationshipand allow there to be some imperfectionI think that makes things simpler. I think thats how I relate to my practice, and my relationships to my other loved ones as well. I think you have to allow for things to sometimes be nonsensical.

Mike: PerfectionI mean, come on, theres gotta be flaws there. Whats the fun in perfection?

Self and Mosby. Photo courtesy Araba Ankuma.

Walk me through what its like for you to collaborate on a project. How do you come up with an idea and then how do you see it through?

Tschabalala:A lot of times when were working on something together, Mike comes up with the idea and I figure out how to actualize it.

Mike: Yeah, Tschabas definitelyshes the one to sort of bring it to life. Whats an idea without any real substance? You need the action behind it, to make it something you can see.

Tschabalala: And the only thing weve actualized so far, really, has been our party series, Free Range. And it was really Mikes idea to do something like that in Hudson, and then I worked to build up the infrastructure for it, and we also had one other collaborator, our friend Shaneika, who helped to form the concept. Shes a writer and a curator, so she helped to establish the vibe and mood. It was cool.

Mike: Yeah, I mean we all have our own ideas, so of course sometimes theres friction. It happens, but we support one another. Tschabas been very supportive in my new venture. Im embarking on a curatorial project, a four-person show in Hudson opening in October this year. It will be at a beautiful spacea great place to explore yourself and art. So thats very exciting.

Thats great. Could you guys ever see yourselves living up there in Hudson together?

Tschabalala: Mike lives there, and I want to eventually transition up there from Connecticut. Because I dont imagine myself moving back to New York City. I need so much space, and because its so expensive here, New York isnt so conducive to having a studio in addition to an apartment. So for me, I need a place thats cheaper, where I can get more space for less money. Ive been living in Connecticut for seven years now, so Im going to maybe move back to New York state soon, maybe somewhere in the Hudson Valley or in Columbia County.

How often do you see each other?

Tschabalala: We see each other a lot, when Im here. When we dont see each other is when Im traveling for work.

Mike: And thats where the relationship has to come with understanding. We both like our space. So we know how to separate and come back together.

So you both really value your freedom and ability to live separately, sometimes, when youre pursuing your work?

Mike: Oh, definitely. And then when were back together, it makes us much more appreciative. Its fun and we have fun together, like 8 out of 10 times. [laughs]

Tschabalala: [laughs] 8 out of 10 times, like a B+.

Mike: No, but Im being real! Its great most of the time, but occasionally youre going to have debates, youre going to have stuff to work on.

Tschabalala: Right, some of the time its about relationship-building.

Tschabalala Self, Black Joy 8Chocolate Lady with Pretty Teeth, Black Joy 9Long Neck, Black Joy 10Good Man (2019). Courtesy Pilar Corrias Gallery.

How do you guys weigh in on each others work? What have you learned about how you each like to receive feedback?

Mike: Tschabalalas still learning aboutmy work within the field of autism-spectrum disorders, because its a very complex thing. But because she has a very high understanding of art, she definitely understands how much I care about using art as a form of therapy. Both of our jobs are very demanding and require a a lot of sensitivity. In the arts, people seem less friendly, and its this idea of fake it till you make it. And thats fine, whatever, so Im learning about all of that, and the intensity of all that.

Which must be so cutthroat, Im sure.

Mike: Yeah, its really about having a wolf mentality sometimes. A survival mentality. You have to be like a shark in that sense, to have longevity.

Tschabalala:In terms of Mike, Ill give him opinions about things and Ill say, This is a good idea, or Maybe it would be better if it was executed this way. I think Mike is pretty receptive to my ideas, but hes very much an independent thinker, too. He goes about things his own way, which I actually admire. I think Im similar.

Mike: Oh, yeah. And Im a social person, and shes not really. Ill say, Tschaba, go say hi to that collector, or that curator! And shes like, Hmmm

Tschabalala: We saw John Waters at the New Museum opening for Jordan Casteel and Peter SaulIm a huge fan of his, but I couldnt manage to walk over to say hi.

Mike: Not a peep.

Tschabalala: Yeah. But Mike is great at parties, hell talk to everyone. Hell do all the introductions and then I dont really have to break the ice.

Mike: I think when youre working with kids and adults who have unique needs you have to develop really strong communication skills. So I can go up to anyone, if Im interested in that person, and have a conversation with them. And they can turn out to be cool peopleyoud never know if you didnt talk to them! Tschaba, you should try it, but then again youve made it this far without it.

What are you focusing on in 2020?

Tschabalala: Im focusing mostly on my solo shows. I just opened up a show at the ICA Boston, which Im very proud of. Its a very mature overview of my practice thus far, and points to where my work is going. I am also currently working on my show opening at Eva Presenhuber Gallery in New York this May and preparing for my next institutional show at the Baltimore Museum of Art opening in the summer. So Im focusing mainly on those projects, experimenting in my studio, and further developing my sculptural works. Those are my main objectives for 2020. I feel like its already zipping by.

Mike: Im going to focus on curating the show in Hudson this fall and making sure its a success for all the artists involved. So yeah, just more exposure to art and learning about art as I pursue this next step. I want to keep learning about artiststheir personalities and people in that world. Thank god I have the patience for that.

Tschabalala: Yeah, cause of me.

Mike: Yeah! And artists are like the customerstheyre always right, you know? You have to be like, Im not about to have a power struggle. Im the curator, for me its about working together and making their vision come to life. So thats definitely my biggest goal for 2020.

What art-related activities do you guys like doing together?

Tschabalala: We like to see shows. We go to MASS MoCA a lot, because its close to HudsonArt Omi. Were going to go to Dia:Beacon and Storm King this spring. We havent gone together; weve actually never been to Dia:Beacon at all. And then friends openings.

Mike: And we watch a lot of films together, too.

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Were Partners, But Were Also Best Friends: Tschabalala Self and Mike Mosby on the Rewards of Artistic Love - artnet News

Gaia adds Three New Yoga Specialists To Its Streaming Subscription Platform – PRNewswire

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Jafar Alexander - Based in Washington, DC, Jafarbegan sharing the practice of yoga in 2008 after years as an athlete and is certified in the styles of hatha, restorative, therapeutic, vinyasa, and yin. He is also a passionate meditation guide. New classes include "Arise and Unwind" (Vinyasa Level 1), "Softening the Shoulders" (Yin Level 1-2) and "Energetic Armor" (Meditation). See Jafar Alexander here.

Tiffany Bush- Based in Colorado, Tiffany is a 500-hour certified yoga teacher and loves teaching to underserved populations, athletes, and those interested in redefining their health. She specializes in flowing yoga asana and meditation. Newly added classes include "Shoulder Care for Climbers" (Hatha Level 2) and "Workday Rest for Hips" (Vinyasa Level 2). See Tiffany Bush here.

Taylor Harkness- Based in Atlanta, GA, Taylor is passionate about public health and social issues. As a former paramedic, he found his way to yoga in response to the stress of long nights spent driving an ambulance.Now a yoga teacher and nurse, his friendly, energetic and personable teaching style is supported with his medical background for a strong foundation in anatomy and his love of helping people de-stress and find healthy lifestyles. Newly added classes include "All Day Strong" (Vinyasa Level 1-2) and "Energy Flow" (Vinyasa Level 2). See Taylor Harkness here.

Jafar, Tiffany and Taylor join ranks of world-renowned yoga and meditation teachers now accessible to gaia.comsubscribers around the world.

About GaiaGaia is a member-supported streaming video subscription service available in 185 countries around the world. Using a powerful combination of modern technology and ancient traditions, Gaia produces and curates transformational video content that includes guided yoga and meditation instruction, as well as series and films covering a wide variety of topics, from health and longevity to human transformation and science, all of which aim to empower the evolution of consciousness. Gaia is available on Apple TV, IOS, Android, Roku, Chromecast, and sold through Amazon Prime Video and Comcast Xfinity. Subscriptions are US$11.99 a month and include exclusive, ad-free access to over 8,000 films, documentaries and original programs. Gaia is a division of Gaia, Inc. (NASDAQ: GAIA). For more information, visit: http://www.gaia.com

SOURCE Gaia

http://www.gaia.com

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Gaia adds Three New Yoga Specialists To Its Streaming Subscription Platform - PRNewswire

How to live a long, happy life, according to this 113-year-old man – Ladders

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Truthfully, theres no secret to living longer.

Many studies will tell you that if you eat this or have a better outlook on life, you could increase the chances of living a longer life than others who dont. If youre an optimist, you might live past 85. If you play team sports, it could make you live longer. Oh, and even how fast you walk could even you get the picture.

Getting to 100 is a big milestone. Recently, Sport Obermeyer founder Klaus Obermeyer celebrated his 100th birthday and he hasnt stopped working. Obermeyer said hed tell those younger than him to set priorities like your health through eating and exercising, living and breathing. He also suggested finding out how to make a living and most importantly, find out what you want to do for your fun stuff.

If youre not a believer in science, take it from someone who is actually the worlds oldest living man.

Meet Chitetsu Watanabe, who will turn 113 next month. He was presented with a certificate from the Guinness World Records at a nursing home in Japan, where he became the worlds oldest man at 112 years, 344 days old, according to Guinness.

Watanabe, a father of five, worked in a sugar company for years before taking a career with Japans government until he decided to settle down and retire. According to CNN, he was also in the military at the end of World War II in 1944.

The once avid gardener who continued tending plants until he was 104 said in an interview last year that the secret to longevity is pretty simple.

Not to get angry and keep a smile on your face, Watanabe told a local paper in 2019.

Yoko Watanabe, the wife of Tetsuo, the first son of Chitetsu, said that Chitetsus philosophy is true she never saw him angry.

Ive lived together with him for over 50 years, and Ive never seen him raise his voice or get mad, Watanabe said via the Guinness World Records. Hes also caring. When I was working on my patchwork hobby, he was the one who praised my work the most. I think having lived with a big family under one roof, mingling with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren helped keep a smile on his face as well.

Recently, retired Brigadier General Charles McGee a Tuskegee Airman and World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran attended President Trumps State of the Union address where the 100-year-old shared similar advice on his longevity.

Thinking positive and the good Lords many blessings, he told WTOP last year. We human beings are just one small aspect in a mighty grand world.

McGee also shared this advice for young people, built on what he calls the four Ps: Perceive (Find something you like), prepare (education), perform (strive for excellence), and persevere.

If youre more interested in the health and science route to live longer, John Hopkins Medicine suggested abiding by these four pillars:

1. Dont smoke

2. Maintain a healthy weight

3. Exercise!

4. Make healthy food choices

And with exercise one you may want to consider in particular is swimming. According to a 2017 study bySwim England, swimmers have a 28% lower risk of early death and a 41% lower risk of death as a result of stroke or heart disease.Swimming is good for individuals with arthritis because its less weight-bearing, Dr. I-Min Lee, professor of medicine atHarvard Medical School, told Harvard Health.

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How to live a long, happy life, according to this 113-year-old man - Ladders

NASA needs to put a price on its moon landing missions to gain support from Congress – Space.com

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When planning for human moon landing missions in the 2020s, NASA needs detailed budgetary estimates to get a better chance of securing congressional support, Rep. Kendra Horn, chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, said in an exclusive interview with Space.com.

The subcommittee recently marked up NASA's fiscal year 2021 bill, which is supposed to ramp up funding in preparation for a mission to land astronauts on the moon in 2024 as a part of the agency's Artemis program. The White House's budget request includes a 12% increase in NASA's total budget, putting its cap at around $25.2 billion. The biggest line item on the wish list is $3.37 billion for the crewed lunar landing system, according to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine's State of NASA speech last week..

The subcommittee introduced several large changes in its version of the bill, including pushing back the moon landing deadline to 2028 (giving NASA the option to go earlier if it has the appropriate resources) and asking for NASA to take more control of the moon lander's design. NASA has expressed worries that the commercial partners would not be involved enough, but Horn said the subcommittee made that decision after hearing testimony from Apollo 10 astronaut Tom Stafford in November 2019.

Related: Trump calls for $25 billion NASA budget for 2021 to boost moon and Mars goals

In his testimony, Stafford spoke of the success of the first Apollo moon landing in 1969 (that of Apollo 11); the moon landings continued through Apollo 17 in 1972, with some design changes made after a serious explosion in space during Apollo 13 in 1970. His written statement did not mention Apollo 1, whose crew died in a launchpad fire in 1967 in part due to faulty communication between the agency and its contractors, prompting changes in communication. But Stafford did say close relationships with contractors were key to NASA's ability to put humans on the moon in the 1960s and 1970s.

"He said the thing that allowed NASA to be successful in the Apollo program was that you had NASA right there in the center," Horn told Space.com. "You had the engineers, the administrator, the technical experts [and] the astronauts, working side by side with contractors."

The new moon landing effort also will require more details on how money will be spent in budgetary line items, Horn said, considering the troubled history of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Two Commercial Crew companies SpaceX and Boeing were selected in 2014 to provide spacecraft to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station; at the time, NASA said the companies were expected to have at least one commercial vehicle ready by 2017.

It's now three years past that deadline, and neither vehicle has launched humans to space, although both companies are in the final testing stages and flew uncrewed orbital flights in 2019. SpaceX's Crew Dragon safely reached the International Space Station during an uncrewed test flight in March 2019, and the company is getting ready to launch its first astronauts in May. However, multiple software errors prevented Boeing's CST-100 Starliner from accomplishing the same feat in December.

NASA "has been chronically underfunded; that's one of the reasons things have taken a long time," Horn said. She also pointed to other factors, such as overly optimistic cost assessments (including criticism of the NASA Office of Inspector General in 2019) and "challenges unseen," referring to developmental issues the companies encountered.

"We know things are going to change," Horn said of NASA's Artemis plans, because many of the big pieces are still being developed for example, the Space Launch System rocket and lunar spacesuits, both of which haven't been tested in space.

The subcommittee asks NASA for feedback and plans, and those details help the subcommittee present the budget to Congress to "ensure that NASA can get the funding it needs," Horn said.

In October 2019, Bridenstine told the House Appropriations Committee that NASA doesn't have the line items ready yet. Several members of that subcommittee repeatedly asked Bridenstine for detailed cost estimates, saying they can approve more money only if they know what that funding would be used for.

Bridenstine said the 2024 moon landing deadline is good for NASA because proceeding with the plans safely while political support is in place will give the agency a better chance of success than pushing out the deadline would. That's because long lead times killed similar moon landing efforts under the Bush administrations in the 1990s and early 2000s.

But moving past 2024 would mean the moon landing happens after the Trump administration leaves the White House, regardless of whether the president is reelected. And it's still unknown which political party will control the White House, and thus NASA's efforts, at that time. When asked if the moon effort could persist under a new administration or a different political party, Horn said the bill's bipartisan support in her subcommittee gives it a better chance of continuing.

"This is a story that isn't told nearly enough, which is that this was a true bipartisan effort," Horn said of her subcommittee's work. "We worked together in a way that was intentional, and we took our time. We did that, and we wanted to get that right."

The subcommittee's goal, she said, is to provide a bill with "certainty and longevity," and she noted that it's up to NASA to do the same. NASA's plans changed rapidly during the budget negotiations for fiscal year 2020, she added. In a span of just three weeks in 2019, she said, the Trump administration requested a 2024 landing effort, even while the NASA budget was in the process of being approved.

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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NASA needs to put a price on its moon landing missions to gain support from Congress - Space.com

The Really Good And Really Bad News On Lifelong Learning – Forbes

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There is light at the end of the tunnel for lifelong learning, but not for the reasons you may ... [+] think.

We are now closer to the year 2050 than the year 1990. Let that sink in for a bit and along with it try to contemplate the massive talent development revolution we will face in the next 30 years. With rapidly changing technology, the speed at which businesses must operate to be competitive in a global economy and with human life expectancy rising steadily, its clear that lifelong learning will become essential for humans to remain relevant in the workplace. The bad news is theres little evidence that lifelong learning can be taught and that any organization thus far has mastered it for their own human resource needs. The good news is that those hard truths might not matter anymore simply because lifelong learning will be thrust upon us as a staple of everyday work life. It will no longer be optional or aspirational; it will be a necessity and ubiquitous.

Weve already heard some of the statistics that project people will have as many 15 different jobs over their working lifetime. And we know the shelf-life of technical skills, such as software development, are getting shorter and shorter. Then theres the recent IBM report that predicts more than 120 million people will need up-skilling or re-skilling in the next three years and that the average length of training needed to close skills gaps has increased from 3 days to 36 days in just five years time. On top of the fast-changing marketplace of jobs and technology, theres also the coming impact of human longevity. Projections from a 2015 United Nations report indicate that average lifespans in the U.S. will reach 95 years for females and 90 years for males in the U.S. by 2050. Another report from 2012 indicated that 1/3 of babies born that year will live to 100. If it becomes common for people to live to 100 (or beyond), it will also become common for them to retire in their 80s extending their working years dramatically.

How will we grapple with all this? Its hard to fathom. But whats clear is that we need to build and operate a talent development system that is closer to the 2050 version than to the 1990 (or dare I say 1890) model we have now. Lifelong learning has long been a stated ambition of colleges and universities. The words lifelong learning are among the most commonly used in college mission statements. Given that, we ought to have ample outcome measures that demonstrate how graduates become lifelong learners. The truth is, we dont. Searching for evidence of lifelong learning is a little like the search for evidence of life on Mars; many scientists believe well eventually find it, but so far we havent.

Through an analysis of responses from more than 250,000 U.S. adults conducted by Gallup, there was no difference in the likelihood of respondents saying they learn or do something interesting each day across high school drop-outs, high school graduates, associates degree holders and bachelors degree holders. The only group that was statistically more likely to say so were those with post-graduate education. Other Gallup research arguably its most profound and influential of all on innate talent and strengths-based development, makes a strong case that some humans are born with learner talent. That is, learning comes more intuitively and naturally to them than it does to others. My current thesis about why post-graduate degree holders are more likely to report lifelong learning is two-fold. First, they are simply more likely to be those innate learners. And, second, post-graduate education involves more applied learning and in-depth research work than the typical undergraduate education.

If its the case that not even bachelors degrees are guarantees for becoming lifelong learners, how will we ever get our entire workforce there? The answer is a hopeful one because the question has rather suddenly been rendered moot. A quick look around our world today and a peek onto the horizon of 2050 tells us so. The expression necessity is the mother of invention is rather apropos here. Well bring the invention of lifelong learning to fruition once and for all because of outright necessity.

Colleges, for example, can no longer hope that lifelong learning magically happens for graduates after 4 years of study; they have to extend their roles by getting directly involved in delivering it for graduates next 40 to 60 years of their careers. Employers can no longer assume that a sprinkling of compliance training, some occasional professional development and some sporadic technical re-skilling will turn their human capital into lifelong learners. It will require them to transform everything from how hours are spent during the workday to how continual learning and education will be financed. What every CEO will soon realize is that business transformations require human capital transformations. And once that realization sinks in, we will all become lifelong learners whether we like it or not.

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The Really Good And Really Bad News On Lifelong Learning - Forbes

We need to take steps toward building a consensus definition of biological aging – STAT

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Ive been committed to understanding the biology of aging since I was a teenager, and my education and career took aim at this problem from many angles. One aspect that still perplexes me is that there isnt a good, easily communicable answer to this simple question: What is biological aging?

When it comes to biological aging research or, to use a fancier term, translational geroscience, scientists finally have a pretty good understanding of the major components of aging. But theres no consensus definition of it that consolidates the existing framework.

Why do we need such a definition of biological aging? A good definition can grab the essential characteristics of an entity and put them to good use. Two examples illustrate this.

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Here is an example from medicine, published this month in Nature: Cancer is a catch-all term used to denote a set of diseases characterized by autonomous expansion and spread of a somatic clone. That is a more exact way of saying, Cancer is a disease caused by uncontrolled division of abnormal cells. This definition captures the universal mechanism behind all cancers. As such, it also offers therapeutic options. No matter how diverse cancers get, keeping them under one umbrella is easier compared to the broad-spectrum of biological aging.

A definition from mathematics is also instructive: The derivative of a function is the measure of the rate of change of the value of the function dependent on changes in the input. It is a solid definition as it offers a procedure to compute the extreme values of a function.

Here are three consecutive steps empirical, philosophical, and computational that can be taken to create a good definition of biological aging:

The empirical step involves collecting what is already out there. Over the years, researchers have invented their own idiosyncratic definitions of biological aging, though these generally miss parts of the story.

Scientists often start papers with a summary referring to the consensus knowledge in the field and then ask the particular question they want to address and highlight the results. These summaries, which often contain definitions, are important educational windows into science, used by mainstream media to publicize results and form relevant narratives.

To illustrate the empirical step, I extracted four definitions from scientific papers exploring different aspects of aging that reveal the conceptual mess around defining biological aging.

Aging is characterized by a progressive loss of physiological integrity, leading to impaired function and increased vulnerability to death came from a 2013 paper in the journal Cell by Carlos Lpez-Otn and colleagues.

Aging underlies progressive changes in organ functions and is the primary risk factor for a large number of human diseases was the definition in a 2019 report in Nature Medicine by Benoit Lehallier and colleagues.

Aging is a progressive decline in functional integrity and homeostasis, culminating in death was used in a 2019 review of the genetics of aging in Cell by Param Priya Singh and colleagues.

Finally, a 2020 paper in Nature Medicine on personal markers of aging by Sara Ahadi and colleagues offered this: Aging is a universal process of physiological and molecular changes that are strongly associated with susceptibility to disease and ultimately death.

I analyzed several components of these definitions of biological aging, as indicated by the column headers in the table below, and identified some recurring themes. The final column indicates logical connections between these components.

This analysis offers two lessons, one negative and one positive. The negative lesson is that some definitions have hardly any overlap, as seen in I and II its apples and oranges. The positive lesson is that the recurring themes suggest the possibility of creating a core definition for biological aging using a bottom-up, empirical approach by analyzing many attempted definitions.

However, I dont believe that such a process would be sufficient.

The myriad definitions of biological aging help identify some necessary components of it. But an aggregated mash-up wont guarantee a formally correct and useful definition. Identifying the content itself is not enough, especially when dealing with such a complex and lifelong process. Just because we have found most of the puzzle pieces does not mean we can put the puzzle together without a clue to its shape.

This is where the philosophical step comes into the picture. Here, biologists will benefit from recruiting people trained to come up with a formal definition: philosophers, mathematicians, computer scientists, and the like.

The philosophical step involves identifying a list of criteria that a consensus definition of biological aging should meet. I believe that such a definition should meet at least these five criteria:

Completing the empirical and philosophical steps would yield a good starting point for a well-formed definition that captures the essentials of biological aging.

A consensus definition that meets both content and formal criteria, achieved through the empirical and philosophical steps, might help stabilize not just scientific consensus but consensus on public policy. Here the main issues are the relationship between biological aging and disease; and regulatory, clinical, and social aspects of healthy longevity. But a completed computational step will give us actual tools, helping the biomedical technology that advances healthy lifespans.

Applicability is perhaps the most important feature of a good definition, and this where the computational step comes in. The definition should suggest future experiments and, even more important, lend itself to computability so a formal model of biological aging can be built from it. Such a model can be used to simulate and compute biological aging scores based on input data and assess the effects of planned or real interventions to slow or stop negative aging processes.

Biomedical researchers now have a solid core of knowledge on biological aging, but do not have a working consensus definition to consolidate and represent this core knowledge and capture this so far elusive life process. The lack of an unambiguous and computable formal consensus definition of biological aging severely limits the applicability of this core knowledge to design comprehensive interventions to slow or stop negative aging processes.

A confident answer to the question What is biological aging? in humans will help us ensure that complexity does not hide any magical mysteries. Controlling that complexity to maximize a healthy lifespan wouldnt need a magic wand, either.

Attila Csordas is a longevity biologist and philosopher and the founding director of AgeCurve Limited, based in Cambridge, U.K.

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We need to take steps toward building a consensus definition of biological aging - STAT

6 habits of highly healthy brains – Ladders

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The relationships between our brain and body and the world around us are complex. What you do or dont do can significantly change how your health and wellbeing.

A healthy brain is determined by both biological and physiological factors genes, hormones, the immune system, nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle choices.

Social, psychological and environmental factors including relationships, stress, emotions, mindset, life events and current circumstances also contribute to your brain health.

Each element can impact others in a multi-directional and dynamic way. Example, your thoughts can influence your physical health (which is why chronic stress can lead to abnormal heart rhythms or heart attacks).

Everyone wants to live an active, vibrant life for as long as possible. And that goal depends on robust brain health. You cant do much about your genes, but other physiological, social and environmental factors can be modified to improve your brain.

Our brains naturally decline if we do nothing to protect them. However, if we intervene early, we can slow the decline process its easier to protect a healthy brain than to try to repair damage once it is extensive.

You can improve your lifestyle habits to promote a highly healthy brain one free of physical or mental illness, disease, and pain. We have more control over our ageing brains than we realise.

These habits are just a reminder you already know the importance of these lifestyle choices. It pays to make a conscious effort to help yourself your brain will thank you.

That means eating lots of foods associated with slowing cognitive decline blueberries, vegetables (leafy greens kale, spinach, broccoli), whole grains, getting protein from fish and legumes and choosing healthy unsaturated fats (olive oil) over saturated fats (butter).

The connection between what goes into your body and how your brain performs is a strong one. The best diet should also be good for your brain, your heart and blood vessels.

Omega-3 fats from fish or nuts fight inflammation associated with neurodegeneration. Fruit and vegetables combat age-related oxidative stress that causes wear and tear on brain cells, says Dr Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry and ageing, and director of the Longevity Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles.

Find your moment or place of calm and separate yourself from chronic stress.

Chronic stress can change the wiring of our brains.Stress shrinks the brains memory centres, and the stress hormone cortisol temporarily impairs memory, says Dr Small.

To reverse stress and improve your mood and memory, adopt relaxation methods like meditation. Meditation even rewires the brain and improves measures of chromosomes telomere (protective cap) length, which predicts longer life expectancy argues Dr Small.

Find your place or moment of calm, and do something pleasurable that makes you come alive a personal passion project can help you destress.

Physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your brain and body. You already know the countless benefits of exercising.

Dozens ofresearchhave found that that nearly any type of physical activity walking, running, cycling, minimal weight-lifting and even mindful exercise such as yoga contribute to improved cognitive performance.

Exercise stimulates the brain to release brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a molecule essential for repairing brain cells and creating connections between them.

Physical activity also boosts endorphins, which can lift your mood. Aerobic exercise helps improve the health of brain tissue by increasing blood flow to the brain and reducing the chances of injury to the brain from cholesterol buildup in blood vessels and from high blood pressure, says Dr Joel Salinas, a neurologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

A simple walk outdoors gets you away from digital devices and into nature. Youll do your best thinking when walking.

Stimulating and challenging the brain helps it stay fit and firing. Spend some time in new thoughts.

To improve your brain health, try to do one activity that challenges the mind every day spend some time in new thoughts. The desire to learn and understand other people, ideas, cultures and concepts can boost your brain.

higher cognitive activity endows the brain with a greater ability to endure the effects of brain pathologies compared to a person with lower cognitive engagement throughout life, says David S. Knopman, M.D., a clinical neurologist involved in research in late-life cognitive disorders.

Lifelong learning and mentally challenging work build cognitive reserve. Find reasonably challenging activities you can practice regularly try activities that combine mental, social and physical challenges.

Were social creatures meaningful social connections make us happier. Happiness makes your brain work better.

Psychological studies show that conversation stimulates the brain. It may seem effortless to many, but it requires a complex combination of skills including attention, memory, thinking, speech and social awareness.

Astudypublished in theAmerican Journal of Public Healthfound that better social interaction can help protect the brain against dementia and Alzheimers.

Social connections are as important to our flourishing as the need for food, safety, and shelter. The urge to connect is a life-long human need.

Matthew Lieberman, a social psychologist, neuroscientist, and author ofSocial: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect,sees the brain as the center of the social self. He writes in his book, Its hard to find meaning in what we do if at some level it doesnt help someone else or make someone happier.

Researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Michigan havesuggestedthat human interaction and conversation could be the keys to maintaining brain function as we grow older.

Supportive friends, family and social connections helps you live longer, happier and healthier. Socialising reduces the harmful effects of stress

Sleep is the number one, fundamental bedrock of good health. A good night sleep every night should be a priority, not a luxury.

Without good sleep, we see increased anxiety and stress. Sleep is restorative, helping you be more mentally energetic and productive, advises Sandra Bond Chapman, Ph.D., founder and chief director of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas and author ofMake Your Brain Smarter.

Apart from getting a good and quality night sleep, make time for wakeful rest it pays to plan breaks in between your busy schedule. Plan downtime on your calendar.

After a busy day, give your brain time to recover sit back, close your eyes and let your mind wander (spontaneous thought in our wakeful life) in the knowledge that your brain is busy consolidating information.

In a study onBoosting Long-Term Memory via Wakeful Rest,the authors found that wakeful rest without any external stimulation allows the brain to consolidate the memories of what it has learned.

It is never too early or too late to start living more healthily. Your daily habits have more impact on how long and how well you live plan to eat well, take short walks, engage in mental stimulation, and manage your social connections for better brain health.

This article first appeared on Medium.

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AgeX Therapeutics to Collaborate with University of California, Irvine on Neural Stem Cell Research Program for Huntingtons Disease and Other…

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AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. ("AgeX"; NYSE American: AGE), a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics for human aging and regeneration, announced a research collaboration with the University of California, Irvine (UCI) using AgeXs PureStem technology to derive neural stem cells, with the goal of developing cellular therapies to treat neurological disorders and diseases for which there are no cures. The collaborations initial R&D work, expected to take approximately one year, will be conducted in the UCI laboratory of Leslie Thompson, PhD, Chancellors Professor of Psychiatry & Human Behavior and Neurobiology & Behavior, a leading researcher in the field of Huntingtons disease and other neurological disorders, under a Sponsored Research Agreement handled by the Industry Sponsored Research team at UCI Beall Applied Innovation. The initial focus will be on Huntingtons disease, while other potential targets may include Parkinsons, Alzheimers, and stroke.

The primary goal of the research will be to develop a robust method of deriving neural stem cells from pluripotent stem cells in sufficient quantity and with sufficient purity and identity for use in cell-based therapy. Professor Thompsons laboratory has already accumulated safety and efficacy animal data that may support an IND submission to the FDA as early as 2021 for the commencement of clinical trials to treat Huntingtons disease.

"We look forward to utilizing AgeXs cell derivation and manufacturing PureStem technology, with its many potential advantages, including industrial scalable manufacturing, lower cost of goods, and clonal cells with high purity and identity. Our goal is to have an improved neural stem cell production method ready within a year to move into clinical development," said Professor Thompson.

"We are absolutely delighted to start this exciting collaboration with Professor Thompson, who has worked tirelessly over her career to develop a neural stem cell product candidate for Huntingtons disease and who has already generated preclinical animal data that may support the initiation of clinical studies," said Dr. Nafees Malik, Chief Operating Officer of AgeX. "Moreover, we are very excited to be entering the field of neurology, which has huge clinical and commercial potential. Neural stem cells may be very useful in other neurological disorders that are common in aging demographics, such as Parkinsons, Alzheimers and stroke."

"This is an example of the kind of collaboration we will be seeking under our newly-unveiled collaboration and licensing strategy, which is to run parallel to our in-house product development," said Dr. Greg Bailey, Chair of AgeX. "We will be collaborating with a world leader in their field on a research project which is close to the clinic."

The collaboration includes an opportunity for AgeX to organize a company to be jointly owned with Professor Thompson and other researchers to pursue clinical development and commercialization of cell therapies derived using licensed inventions arising from the research program, as well as certain patent pending technology for neural stem cell derivation, and certain technical data, including animal data, to support IND submissions.

About AgeX Therapeutics

AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: AGE) is focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics for human aging. Its PureStem and UniverCyte manufacturing and immunotolerance technologies are designed to work together to generate highly-defined, universal, allogeneic, off-the-shelf pluripotent stem cell-derived young cells of any type for application in a variety of diseases with a high unmet medical need. AgeX has two preclinical cell therapy programs: AGEX-VASC1 (vascular progenitor cells) for tissue ischemia and AGEX-BAT1 (brown fat cells) for Type II diabetes. AgeXs revolutionary longevity platform induced Tissue Regeneration (iTR) aims to unlock cellular immortality and regenerative capacity to reverse age-related changes within tissues. AGEX-iTR1547 is an iTR-based formulation in preclinical development. HyStem is AgeXs delivery technology to stably engraft PureStem cell therapies in the body. AgeX is developing its core product pipeline for use in the clinic to extend human healthspan and is seeking opportunities to establish licensing and collaboration agreements around its broad IP estate and proprietary technology platforms.

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For more information, please visit http://www.agexinc.com or connect with the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not historical fact including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates" should also be considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. and its subsidiaries particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of AgeXs Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (copies of which may be obtained at http://www.sec.gov). Further, in the case of AgeXs new neural stem cell program there can be no assurance that: (i) any new cell derivation methods will be invented in the sponsored research program, (ii) any derivation methods that may be developed will be sufficient to derive neural stem cells in quantities and of purity suitable for clinical use and commercialization, (iii) that any new inventions or existing technology will be licensed on commercially favorable terms, (iv) that any neural stem cells derived for therapeutic use will be shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials, and (v) that any neural stem cells derived for therapeutic use will be successfully commercialized even if clinical trials are successful. Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. AgeX specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200203005261/en/

Contacts

Media Contact for AgeX: Bill Douglass Gotham Communications, LLC bill@gothamcomm.com (646) 504-0890

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What ‘dry fasting’ is and why you shouldn’t do it – PostBulletin.com

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A new fad diet making the rounds on wellness influencer Instagram won't actually help you lose weight. And it could cause dehydration, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, organ failure - even death.

It's called "dry fasting." It goes beyond what most of us would consider fasting - abstaining from solid food or liquid calories - and requires consuming no water or liquids of any kind for many hours or even days at a time.

Instagram and other social media sites have provided a glossy new platform for extremely dubious health and nutrition claims. Posts about dry fasting often tout the need to "heal" or "rest" or "reset" your kidneys, or "boost" their filtration. In practice, what dry fasting will do is make you look a bit more toned, because your body is using up the water in your cells for energy.

Even more dubious claims suggest that dry fasting forces your body to burn toxins, or fat, or inflammation, or tumors. It does not. When you stop feeding your body calories, it breaks down muscle and fat. The toxic byproducts of that breakdown process build up in your system, requiring extra hydration to flush them out.

In other words, if you're abstaining from food, your body needs more water, not less.

Experts agree: There is no dietary or nutritional reason to go on a "dry fast."

"I don't recommend it at all," said Dr. Pauline Yi, a physician at UCLA Health Beverly Hills who regularly treats patients in their late teens and early 20s. She said intermittent fasting and other fasting-type diets are a popular topic with patients, and she has no problem with people trying them out.

"But I also tell them when you're fasting you have to drink water," she said. "You cannot go without hydration."

The majority of the human body is water. Your individual water consumption needs depend on your height, weight, health and the climate, but generally speaking, Yi said people should be consuming at least 68 ounces - almost nine cups - of water every day.

Cary Kreutzer, an associate professor at USC's schools of gerontology and medicine whose area of expertise includes nutrition and diet, says digestive systems aren't meant to have extended "breaks." She likened making your kidneys go without water to letting your car's engine run out of oil. "You can basically burn out some parts of the car that you're going to have to get replaced," she said. "You don't want those replacement parts to include your vital organs."

Another unintended consequence of dry fasting: It sets your body in water-conservation mode.

"Your body likes homeostasis," said Yi, the physician. "If you're going to cut back on water, your body will produce hormones and chemicals to hold onto any water."

So while you might gain a very short-term benefit by looking a tiny bit more toned while you're severely dehydrated (body-builders have been known to dry fast before competitions for that reason), once you consume liquid again, your body rebounds and desperately hangs on to even more water than before. It's like yo-yo dieting in fast motion.

Dry fasting is not the same thing as intermittent fasting, which has become a popular fad diet in recent years. There are different variations of intermittent fasting, but most people start with 16 hours of fasting followed by eight hours of eating. Martin Berkhan created the "LeanGains" 16:8 intermittent fasting guide and is widely credited with popularizing the diet. On his website, leangains.com, Berkhan writes that during the 16-hour fasting window, coffee, calorie-free sweeteners, diet soda, sugar-free gum and up to a teaspoon of milk in a cup of coffee won't break the fast.

The subreddit for fasting, r/fasting, has an "Introduction to Intermittent Fasting" guide that contains the following tips for surviving the fasting portion of your day:

Always carry water, a canteen, a bottle, or keep a full glass within sight

Water, water, water, water

Valter Longo has studied starvation, fasting and calorie restriction in humans for nearly 30 years. He's currently the director of the Longevity Institute at USC and a professor of gerontology. He developed the Fasting-Mimicking Diet, or FMD, a fasting-type diet with small prepackaged meals intended to provide the health and longevity benefits of a five-day fast without requiring a doctor's supervision. Fasting-type diets have grown in popularity in recent years for a simple reason, he said: "Because they work."

But he said he's not aware of any reputable studies about the effects of dry fasting, and said he wouldn't even consider putting one together, also for a simple reason: It's incredibly dangerous.

"For sure, the body needs to reset, but there are safe ways of doing that, and dry fasting is not one of them," Longo said. "We require water."

His work has also involved looking at how cultures and religions have engaged with starvation and fasting throughout human history, and says he hasn't heard of any that involved extended fasting without water. The closest is Ramadan, during which observers go without food or water during daylight hours - but at most, that lasts for 16 hours, and it's preceded and followed by extensive hydration.

If someone tries dry fasting for a full day, Longo said, they risk side effects like developing kidney stones. Longer than that, and you start risking your life.

Some proponents of "dry fasting" eschew water but recommend hydrating with fresh fruits and vegetables. Hydrating with fruit is certainly better than not hydrating at all. An orange has about a half-cup of water in it; to get to the recommended 68 ounces of water a day, you'd have to eat around 17 oranges. That's a lot of peeling.

So, in conclusion: Dry fasting puts you at risk of kidney stones or organ failure. There are no known, proven long-term benefits to doing it. Though different types of fasts and fasting diets can be beneficial, there is no medical evidence to suggest you need to stop consuming water for any period of time, or that water from fruit is better for you than filtered drinking water. Do not take medical advice from a photo of a person in a sarong.

(c)2020 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Cars We Remember: The Rebel Machine by AMC and a rare 1971 Matador Go Machine – The Providence Journal

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Q: I enjoy the nostalgia articles in my hometown newspaper The Gainesville Sun. The recent Cars We Remember section was really fun to read, and I enjoyed the AMC history of high performance. One AMC car you didn't mention was the 1970 Rebel Machine, and I'm wondering your thoughts on the Rebel Machine by AMC? How many were ever made and is it a worthy collector car?

Shawn S., Gainesville, Florida.

A: Shawn, I'm happy to tell you about the 1970 Rebel Machine and also a very rare 1971 AMC muscle car, too.

As I mentioned in the Cars We Remember special edition, by the time AMC released its pony and muscle car lineup during the latter part of the 1960s the company was way behind the performance youth movement that began in earnest with the 1964 GTO. And even though Chevy, Ford and Chrysler produced some really hot full-size muscle cars in 1961-1963 like the Chevy 409, Ford 390-406-427 and the MOPAR 413-426, American Motors was not in the performance ballgame at all.

To make things worse when it came to AMC completely missing this very profitable muscle car boom, the stuffed shirts at the board meetings decided to release newspaper advertisements that emphasized the only "race" AMC was interested in was the "human race." So, even though the baby boomer generation was clearly into excitement and muscle cars in a big way, AMC was not.

After finally relenting, AMCs mid-size performance started in 1967, when the good-looking Rebel SST hit the showroom floors. As a precursor to the Rebel Machine, the SST featured a 343-inch V8 with 280 horsepower and some interesting high-performance options like Carter 4-barrel carb, bigger camshaft, and even an optional 4:44 rear end gear. Still, a 343-V8 with just 280 horsepower was no match against the competition, like an Olds 442, Chevelle SS396 or a Ford Fairlane GT. It just didn't cut it.

But to answer your Rebel Machine question, immediately following AMC's compact size SC/Rambler American in 1969, which happened to be the hottest AMC ever to hit the roads and just 1,512 were ever built, AMC then decided to release the Rebel Machine in 1970. The Rebel Machine rode on a 114-inch wheelbase and was more in line with the Plymouth Roadrunner size of muscle car than the compact style SC/Rambler. The first 1,000 were painted red, white and blue, while the others could be ordered in any solid color.

Under the hood sat a 390-inch, 340-horse engine mated to the great shifting Borg Warner T-10 four-speed with a factory Hurst shifter. The suspension was beefed up with stiffer AMC station wagon springs in the rear, resulting in a nice "funny car style" rake. However, the raised rear resulted in some wheel hop under full acceleration with street tires at the drags. The car would run in the 14-second range at 90 mph, which was good back then for a street muscle car.

Other "The Machine" notables were a ram air type hood operated by vacuum with an integrated 8,000 RPM tachometer. In my opinion, the Rebel SST and the Rebel Machine were the best-looking AMC's of all, hands down.

As for longevity, the Rebel Machine was produced only one year, 1970, at a base price of $3,450. Thus, it is a very rare collector car and only 2,326 were ever built. Concerning pricing, a 390 Rebel Machine in excellent original or fully restored condition today will fetch an easy $50,000 and up according to NADA pricing. Even an average condition Machine needing some TLC should go in the $20,000 range, making it a desirable collector car.

Now for that other AMC performance car I mention above, which may well be the rarest AMC muscle car ever built.

Following AMC dropping the Rebel Machine from its lineup, a real sleeper popped up for just a bit of time in 1971 when less than 60 1971 AMC Matador two-door hardtops were delivered with AMC's "The Machine Go Package" option. The Go Package added either a 360-V8 at 290 horses or the preferred 401-inch V8 with 330-horsepower. The Borg Warner T-10 was again part of the package, along with dual exhaust, heavy duty suspension, 15-inch Goodyear Polyglas raised letter tires and a 3.90 rear end gear. As rare as this Rambler is, I've never seen one in person but it may well be the best of the mid-size muscle cars from AMC. By mid-1971, the option disappeared.

If you ever see a 1971 Matador with the 401 The Machine Go Package (valued at a top price of near $50,000) you are in the minority as very few survived the crusher. Thanks for your question.

Greg Zyla writes weekly for More Content Now and GateHouse Media. Contact him at greg@gregzyla.com.

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National Spotlight on Ikarian Honey on CBS Sunday Morning News – The Pappas Post

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The national spotlight fell upon the Greek island of Ikaria and particularly the islands honey.

CBS News featured a video spot on the islands special elixir, which it suggested, could be the secret to the longevity of the islands residents who have one of the highest life-expectancies in the world.

The video featured the natural process involved in producing the honey, which involves no chemicals or industrial processing.

Honey throughout Greece is produced in similar ways, especially on Crete, which is one of the most prolific natural honey producers in Greece.

Most recently, Chef Maria Loi under her Loi brand of products began importing two kinds of honey from Crete to Whole Foods Markets throughout the Northeast, with plans for wider distribution throughout the United States.

But like the product from Ikaria, Chef Loi has a hard time keeping it on the shelves at the popular super market chain because of limited production.

We can only bring as much as the bees produce, Loi explains, adding that her honey is 100% natural and has no human or mechanical intervention other than the bee keepers pouring it from the beehives.

Many of her recipes feature honey as a substitute for sugar and her best-selling book, The Greek Diet, includes a lot of information about the medicinal values of the Greek delicacy.

Chef Lois honey isnt available via mail order but several brands of honey from Crete are, including a fine brand from the mountains of western Crete that is farmed and imported by the Saviolakis family, which sells it via Amazon.

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National Spotlight on Ikarian Honey on CBS Sunday Morning News - The Pappas Post

Three reasons women live longer than men – Firstpost

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Worldwide, there are now 31 people over the age of 110. Of these, 30 are women.

Sounds odd?

According to the Morbidity-Mortality Paradox or Health Paradox, despite higher rates of disability and poorer health than men, women experience greater longevity in modern human societies.

Representational image. Image source: Getty Images.

What is the reason behind this? Is it a woman's immune system, luck or magical powers?

None of the above. Here are three science-backed reasons why women outlive men:

One of the factors that affect longevity in men is that they are more likely to be seen with a cigarette hanging out of their mouths - according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 40% of men are smokers compared to 9% of women. Also, fewer women tend to abuse alcohol compared to men.

Scientists confirm that these habits make men more prone to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, coronary heart disease, digestive problems, and liver disease.

Studies have also shown that compared to women, men are at a higher risk of developing diabetes and its complications like diabetic nephropathy and diabetic foot.

Also read:World COPD Day 2019: Why this lung disease is still under-diagnosed in India

Scientists have shown that testosterone may stimulate the prostate gland and increase the risk of prostate cancer. Also, studies have shown that testosterone improves reproductive function earlier in life but shortens the lifespan in the long run (antagonistic pleiotropy effect).

Other than maintaining female sexual organs, estrogen helps in blood clotting, increases the level of good cholesterol and maintains gastrointestinal tract.

Estrogen also has antioxidant properties and helps delay the decrease of skin collagen in women as they grow older.

Scientists believe that because of estrogens protective effect, premenopausal women are less likely to have coronary heart disease than men and women who have hit menopause.

Some scientists believe that girls are more robust, stronger and healthier, than boys from birth itself.

Joy Lawn, director of the Centre for Maternal, Reproductive, and Child Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has said that whenever a newborn boy comes into the neonatal unit, statistically, he is more likely to die compared to a girl.

The extra X chromosome in the female DNA is somehow said to be responsible for this.

Human DNA is made up of at least two sex chromosomes that decide the gender. Females have XX, whereas males have XY.

Recently, research was done on two sets of mice: one with natural male-female mouse biology (XX and XY) and the other set with XX chromosomes paired with testes and XY chromosomes paired with ovaries. A senior author of the study and neurologist, Dena Dubal, found that mice with two X-chromosomes outlived all the mice but the ones with testes and XX chromosome also turned out to live longer. This longevity effect was observed after 21 months, as it is considered to be the end of a normal mouse's lifespan.

The researchers concluded that the second X and its genetic expression has a protective effect that increases survival.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health. For more information, please read our article onEstrogen.

Updated Date: Dec 02, 2019 15:39:41 IST

Tags : Live Longer, Longer Life, Longer Lifespan, Longevity, Men Age, NewsTracker, Why Women Live Longer, Women Live Longer

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PETER YOUNG: Are we doing enough to prevent economy being left in ruins? – Bahamas Tribune

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In writing further about the coronavirus crisis - now being called the greatest ever threat to the world in peacetime - I offer comment this week on the latest developments in Europe, including Britain, and here at home as well. The crisis affecting so many countries has become nothing short of a human catastrophe and the most serious global health challenge of our times. Its effects have also had a horrifying impact on the world economy and have disrupted modern society on an unimaginable scale.

As of yesterday, there have been more than 700,000 infections worldwide and some 20,000 deaths in Europe, with Italy recording 10,000 fatalities the most anywhere in the world and Spain some 6,000. In the UK, there have been more than 1,000 deaths with 17,000 people testing positive for the virus. In a letter over the weekend to 30 million households, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the situation will become worse before improving and stressed the importance of social distancing, a message that has been repeated so often that even those who are still asking what all the fuss is about should take heed of by now.

The UK government has produced what appears to be a generous financial bailout and support package designed to help keep afloat as many floundering businesses as possible and also to assist the self-employed. The new Chancellor of the Exchequer (Minister of Finance) spoke in inspiring fashion in defining the crisis as a generation-defining moment that had to be met with a collective national response. The government is also opening new hospitals, extending coronavirus testing to National Health Service staff and increasing supply of equipment like ventilators, surgical masks and gloves and hand sanitisers.

Meanwhile, the situation worsens by the day in the US. Ever the accused villain of the piece, President Trump has been criticised for his governments slow and inadequate response, particularly the lack of testing that meant the spread of the virus could not be tracked properly. But, as well as extending the emergency measures until April 30, he has signed the $2.2 trillion stimulus bill which will surely be a lifeline to the domestic economy after more thanthree million Americans applied for unemployment benefit last week, the largest number in US history.

To my mind, much of the criticism of both the US and UK governments ignores the fact that a silent and invisible virus on this scale - and without any real prior warning - was bound to challenge even the most well-funded and equipped health system. Despite the situation probably becoming worse in the immediate future, the UK may not be that far off a peak of positive cases while the US may end up with the worst outbreak in the industrialised world Trump tops the world was the headline, but how grotesquely inappropriate and insensitive was Hilary Clintons reported tweet that he did promise America First.

In The Bahamas, with 14 cases of COVID-19 confirmed as of yesterday, the Governments emergency measures announced on March 17 seem to have been effective in limiting any real spread, though it can only be speculated whether there would have been more cases without such draconian measures. No one can know this for sure, but people instinctively accept that such tough action is for the common good because health and the preservation of life must be any governments top priority - as one British government minister put it, you cannot put a price on peoples lives.

Now, the 24/7 curfewhas been extended by eight days. Surely, few would disagree with this despite the personal inconvenience to so many and the inevitable continuing serious effects on the local economy when businesses are forced to remain closed.

It is interesting that, after initially criticising the Prime Minister, the PLP changed tack and supported him when just about the whole country seemed to think Dr Minnis emergency measures were correct and timely. Not to have done so could have been ruinous politically.

The economic consequences of an extended lockdown are incalculable. But it looks almost certain that without some sort of financial support from the government such a lockdown could destroy the local economy. So, in light of the stark reality, the question is, even if everyone survived the current crisis, how would they fare in the longer term if the economy was in ruins. Since the main driver of the nations wealth is tourism - and we have no control over when visitors from the US, Canada and Europe are likely to return - the only thing left is the remaining parts of the economy which are needed to sustain us, not in some distant future but right now.

The Minister of Finance is quoted as saying that after the first case of Covid-19 about two weeks ago the government announced several relief measures for workers in the tourism industry who have been most affected by the crisis. But so many others are hurting as well and they have to be able to put food on the table.

Finance Minister Peter Turnquest announced a series of new measures offering some assistance yesterday but I fear it does not go nearly far enough.Many countries have accepted they must throw huge sumsat the problem - to keep families safe and fed, to keep businesses afloat through the crisis - not just to start up again when the pandemic fades away.

Is it not possible, for example, to be more selective in determining the list of essential services as long as assurances can be given about observing social distancing, and should this not be under constant review during the lockdown period? Moreover, could not the government be more flexible in allowing businesses to open on a restricted and rotating basis, as suggested by my fellow columnist, Diane Phillips, in this newspaper last week?

The whole world order in finance is changing before our eyes. Now is not the time to beoverly concerned about pressure on the nations foreign currency reserves even though it is important to maintain suitable levels of reserves in order to maintain parity between the Bahamian and US dollar. For this is a national emergency requiring immediate action.

Long-term considerations about the economy and worrying about matters like the credit agencies ratings should surely be put aside in the short-term in order to concentrate on measures to enable the economy simply to survive even if that means taxes will have to be increased in the longer term.

In recent weeks, people in Britain have become so accustomed to watching the regular briefings about the virus crisis by Boris Johnson, flanked by the Chief Medical Officer for England and the governments main adviser Professor Chris Whitty, that they probably found it hard to believe these two could themselves become infected with COVID-19.

So it was a surprise to many that Mr Johnson announced a few days ago he had tested positive. He is, therefore, now holed up on his own for14 days in the spacious flat at No 11 Downing Street next door to No 10, the famous office and residence of British prime ministers. He is reported to be continuing to work by using video conferencing and he remains in charge of the government. Meanwhile, Professor Whitty declared he was showing symptoms of the virus and would be self-isolating at home. In addition, the Health Minister, Matt Hancock - with whom both were in regular contact - has tested positive and the trio are now being accused of failing to practise what they have been preaching about social distancing.

Earlier, of course, Prince Charles also tested positive and it was announced at the weekend that Spanish Princess Maria Teresa had died of complications from coronavirus at the age of 86. There are reports Prince Charles is coming to the end of his self-isolation at The Queens royal residence of Balmoral in Scotland. He is said to be in good spirits but there are concerns about the last time he was in contact with his mother, which apparently was as recently as March 13 - and, reportedly, infection from him cannot be ruled out.

So this virus respects no-one, whoever they might be, and everyone is vulnerable. It is now well known that social distancing remains the key in order to guard against its spread. From what I have heard, most people who have tested positive are all too ready to self-isolate for the incubation period of the virus if that serves to prevent them passing it on to others. But still, it seems, the government is having difficulty in persuading people that it is even better to stay away from other people in a bid to avoid contracting it in the first place. That would have been all but impossible for the Prime Minister who has paid the price accordingly. But his approval rating is currently high and many will wish him well while he awaits a full return to his duties.

To lighten the gloom and despair a bit, a happier tale to relate is the 112th birthday of the oldest man in the world. Having written last week about the 103rd birthday of Britains national treasure, the famous singer Vera Lynn, I cannot resist drawing attention to the story of Englishman, Bob Weighton, a former teacher who celebrated his birthday on March 29 and he did so this year as the oldest man in the world following the death in February of the Japanese previous holder of that distinction.

Living in his own flat in the town of Alton in Hampshire in the south of England and supported by family and friends, this now 112-year-old great-grandfather remains in relatively good health and pursues his hobbies of reading and making model windmills. As someone over 110, he is called a super-centenarian and he has received ten traditional birthday cards from The Queen, but he now says he does not want to give her the trouble of sending him any more greetings!

Mr Weighton says he is surprised to have lived so long and cannot account for his great age for he never planned it and has no secret to his longevity. He has remarked that the worlds in a bit of a mess over coronavirus and this worries him because nobody knows what is going to happen.

Coincidentally, Britains oldest woman, Joan Hocguard, of Poole in Dorset also in the south of England, not only shares a birthday with him but also reached the same milestone of 112-years-old on March 29. So, the pair are the joint-oldest people in Britain and have wished each other a happy birthday.

According to UK press reports, there has been talk of the importance of kindness during the course of their long lives and that the joy of family and friends has been at the heart of everything.

Such longevity combined with good health is a remarkable achievement, and it seems that both of them have been well looked after and provided for in their declining years. But, perhaps it also reflects well on Britain, indirectly, as a nation in which, generally, the old, frail and vulnerable are not left to feel abandoned because, if families are unable or unwilling to protect them, society is equipped to provide a safety net and step in to do what is required in the name of human kindness.

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PETER YOUNG: Are we doing enough to prevent economy being left in ruins? - Bahamas Tribune

Tece Hendrickson/Voices | Let this change us for the good forever – Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette

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The chaos of the coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly affected each one of us in some way or another. For most, in the world and our country, it has had a salty effect on lives one that you wish you could just spit out and be done with.

Maybe it was the temporary shutdown of your dream business, a loved one lost, one who died alone, a fearful child, a nurse lamenting going to work or the one who hurts because she needs to work to pay the bills but doesnt want to bring the virus home to her weak mother with cancerous lungs.

There is no doubt that the pandemic has had an effect probably on every human being that has the ability and maturity to reason and feel. Unfortunately, we cant spit out the salty taste of COVID-19. At least not now. We can pray, as has clearly been seen on many different social-media venues. And, as faithful people, we know it will make a difference. It will minimize the pain for many and bring hope and love. We know this and believe this as faith-filled people who are longing for brighter days.

We can unite and bring good to those in need, which has been done in this amazing community of Champaign-Urbana. There are silver linings to everything, and yes, chaos always brings opportunity. But there is just too much hurt in too many places to count the silver linings openly. However, I am challenging myself and those in my family to let this change us, not just for this spring of 2020, but forever.

What is it about this experience that we are living through that can permanently change us for the better? Is it more donations to Eastern Illinois Foodbank because we realized how many children go without food? Or do we vow to pray more because we noticed that this last week, we were on our knees more often, and it actually felt good? Do we say to ourselves, I had strength I didnt know existed in myself, then bottle up that strength for another day down the road when life turns upside down? Is it a newfound appreciation for your job, such that when you want to complain and forfeit the day sometime this summer, you instead dig deep and forge through because you know you are lucky to have one? Will it be you that you understand more deeply the value of human life, whether it be riddled with Alzheimers disease or just simply longevity, because you know more deeply that every life is precious?

Pick one way this has changed you for the good and let it change you forever. Today, write in your planner or enter into Google Calender a reminder for every week of the next year about what it is that tangibly made you change for the good, and live that change.

A few years down the road, or even longer, when you hear COVID-19, that salty taste might come to mind, and you will be able to spit it out. But maybe instead you might just humbly hang your head, because you know that somewhere deep down inside you, it changed you for the good, forever.

Tece Hendrickson is a freelance writer who lives in Champaign.

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Tece Hendrickson/Voices | Let this change us for the good forever - Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette