The Saturday Evening Post articles from May 2008

The Saturday Evening Post archives from May 2008

Tony Bennett.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Thank you so much for the article on Tony Bennett in the March/April 2008 issue. I've been a fan of Mr. Bennett's since my high-school days in the '50s. (I'm now 68.) After most singers from his time have passed, he still goes on in all...

Keep it coming.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Recently, I became a subscriber to The Saturday Evening Post, and I must tell you, I find the magazine to be excellent. Apart from the torture of doing the geography quiz, it is a pleasure to read this thoughtful and informative magazine. I am...

Eugene Iverd.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... I would like to commend you on the excellent SatEvePost (Mar./Apr.) edition. We are renewing immediately. Thanks. May I suggest a review of Erie, Pennsylvania's famous artist Eugene Iverd's paintings? As an Erie native (born 1917) and son...

Rockwell's girl on the train.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... I received my March/April 2008 issue of The Saturday Evening Post and was delighted to see on pages 58 and 59 my favorite cover illustration. I'd just turned 14 when the August 12, 1944, issue was published with Norman Rockwell's painting of...

Safe and sound.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... I very much enjoyed the great article on keeping safe at home [Mar./Apr. 08] I have an additional tip for any of our many single ladies. After my husband died, I took his set of car keys and kept them on my nightstand. If I were to hear any...

[Cartoon].(Letters)(Cartoon)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I realize that it's not annoying when someone fails to respond to your e-mail. But I hardly think it merits a five-billion-dollar lawsuit."

Rendering unto God and Caesar.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... In your article, "Inheritance Can Be Challenging," Jan./Feb. 2008, the writer made this statement: "You can give unlimited amounts to your spouse and charities." He was right regarding the spouse, but appreciated stock given to...

Back to school.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Re: "The Back to School Boom," Mar./Apr. '08. After my husband died in 1989, I returned to school, enrolling in Boise State University. A veteran's educational allowance was helpful, but eventually finances were hitting rock bottom. A professor...

Train memories.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... I enjoyed reading Dwight Lamb's travels by rail out west. What a neat way to enjoy the beauty of our country. My Grandpop was an engineer many, many years ago--long before I was ever thought of. He used to tell of what a lonesome job it was...

To whom it may concern.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... When I was ten years old, I wanted a bicycle very bad. This was during the great depression (1935). I had read that the Curtis Publishing Company, which sold The Saturday Evening Post, gave brownie coupons and, with a certain amount, you could...

[Cartoon].(Letters)(Cartoon)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I could use a boost here."

Century of cycling.(Now and Then)
May 1, 2008... By the time the Post wrote about "Reviving the Bicycle" in its issue of February 15, 1908, bicycling had already peaked the decade before. By 1904, editors wrote, American bike manufacturers had built only a quarter million of the devices....

The wheel thing: for transport, exercise, and just pure fun, elder adults are taking to bicycling in a big way.
May 1, 2008... Herb Schon gave himself a unique 75th birthday present--a 3,900-mile bicycle ride from sea to shining sea last summer, through days of boiling sun and biting rain and snow. This treat, or feat, of endurance on his racing bike took 52 days....

Escaping the Western diet: food journalist Michael Pollan offers a liberating solution to the way of eating that is ruining Americans' health.(Book review)
May 1, 2008... In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan, 256 pages, The Penguin Press, $21.95 For the last 30 years and more, something has been disappearing from the American diet. Its absence, according to Michael Pollan, author of...

Saving energy at home.(Research Front)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Research suggests that two innovative products may help you save money--and the planet, too. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PowerCost Monitor Study results released at the 2008 Association of Energy Services Professionals conference show...

Gene test for anticoagulant therapy.(Research Front)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... A recent discovery sheds light on why our initial response to taking the common blood-thinner Coumadin (generic: warfarin) is highly individual--it is in our genes. Dr. Ute I. Schwarz and colleagues at Vanderbilt University School of...

Post-op Rx: chew gum.(Research Front)(benefits of chewing gum in post surgery patients)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The act of chewing gum helps people regain normal bowel function after reconstructive surgery for bladder cancer, according to preliminary study results from a University of North Carolina research team. Benefits of the simple and...

Taking tomatoes to heart: lighten up with spring salads!(Heart Beat)
May 1, 2008... Fresh, savory salads are a great way to "spring" into the summer season. Who doesn't enjoy crisp greens, whole grains, or perfect pasta combined with ripe red tomatoes as a quick, easy entree or complement to any meal? Nutrient-rich...

[Cartoon].(Cartoon)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "You're free to go, but next time you want to film on location here, don't tell a passenger you're here to shoot a pilo."

[Cartoon].(Cartoon)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Side with you against Mom? Do I look crazy to you?"

[Cartoon].(Cartoon)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We wouldn't be in this predicament if we'd had tougher immigration laws!"

The wit and wisdom of Benjamin Franklin: his enduring wisdom leads us to a higher appreciation of his genius.(Poor Richard Speaks)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Who has deceiv'd thee so off as thy self? The family of Fools is ancient. A traveller should have a hog's nose, a deer's legs, and an ass's back. Money & Man a mutual Friendship show: Man makes false Money, Money makes Man so. ...

Home grown: with container gardening, you don't have to own acres of land to grow and enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables.(Gardening)
May 1, 2008... Anyone can grow a container garden. Whether you live in an apartment or simply don't want the hassle of a large garden, container gardening allows you to create the type of garden you desire. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Almost any container...

To-do list for health.(Living Well: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Take charge of your health. Post the following checklist inside the medicine cabinet for easy reference. Timing of tests depends on your health history. DAILY: Brush teeth twice daily and floss at least once. Walk for 30 minutes. ...

Foot facts.(Living Well: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... "For want of a shoe, the horse was lost" goes part of an old nursery rhyme. Common myths about foot care may have serious consequences. Here are the realities behind some widespread misconceptions from the American College of Foot and Ankle...

Discover a hobby.(Living Well: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Looking to beat boredom or explore something new? Take time for favorite activities or a new hobby. Creative pastimes such as calligraphy, writing poems, and making pottery stretch your imagination. Physical activities such as croquet, hiking,...

Talking to your doctor.(Living Well: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... People who are active partners in their own healthcare have better medical outcomes. To get the most out of your next appointment, Dr. Richard Frankel, professor of medicine and geriatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine and a...

The proof is in the pudding: so you think the old Protestant work ethic is not what it used to be? The reason may be sitting right there on your kitchen counter.(Open Forum)(Essay)
May 1, 2008... It is hard to figure out exactly when Americans began losing what has been called "the Protestant work ethic" and began sculpting a belief system based on entitlement. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In my own life experience, I trace it back...

Allergies on the rise: in a surprising twist, adults are discovering that allergies emerge at any time of life.
May 1, 2008... It came as a big surprise when Gittel Willner suffered her first bout of hay fever at the age of 47. "I never had allergies before," said Mrs. Willner, now in her 50s and living in Brooklyn, New York. "I remember thinking, How could this...

Faster pulse may be okay.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions. )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q: I have chronic obstructive lung disease. I smoked for a few years nearly 50 years ago. My problem is a consistently fast heart rate. Is there nothing I can do to reduce this? My oxygen level is around 92, even after the mandatory six-minute...

Clot on ICD raises questions.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions.)(implantable cardioverter-defibrillator)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q: My heart went out of rhythm on November 1, 2007, and two weeks later I had a stroke. They were going to use my ICD to get the heart back in rhythm, but when they checked for a clot in the heart, they found one on the terminal of the ICD. For...

Reader hears her heart beating.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q: For several months, I have noticed the sound of my heart beating as I lay in bed trying to fail asleep. It is more noticeable in my right ear, and on rare occasions I have heard it while walking in a quiet room. My BP is controlled with...

Statins and heart health.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q: I think you need to read a recent cover article reporting that science does not show that everyone who has high cholesterol, or even that everyone who has high LDL cholesterol, should be taking a statin drug. It says that lifestyle...

Skipped beats are common.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q: I have been having a feeling of skipped or extra beats and some pounding feelings for quite a while now. Although I have a wonderful cardiologist who explains everything to me, I still am very scared when these things happen. I'm diabetic...

Vitamin K counteracts Coumadin.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q: I am taking Cardizem and Coumadin for atrial fibrillation. I also take medicine for osteoporosis. Lately I've been reading about the importance of vitamin K for bone health. Will I get any good from vitamin K since I am taking Coumadin? ...

Legislation with a heart.(Saving time saves lives: Update on early defibrillation programs and emerging technology.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Legislation With a Heart: Legislation introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives in December 2007 would provide federal grant money to equip every elementary and secondary school in the nation with an AED. Schools receiving the grants must...

Cardiac risk among athletes.(Saving time saves lives: Update on early defibrillation programs and emerging technology.)(Report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Cardiac Risk Among Athletes: an Italian study suggests that some electrocardiogram abnormalities commonly considered to be innocent manifestations of "athlete's heart" may foretell life-threatening trouble. Data show that five of 81 athletes...

About iPods and pacemakers.(Saving time saves lives: Update on early defibrillation programs and emerging technology.)(Case study)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... About iPods and Pacemakers: Electromagnetic fields generated by iPods are actually too weak to affect pacemakers, according to a laboratory study conducted by the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Four models of iPod were...

Dogs who made a difference: true tales of the extraordinary intelligence, bravery, and loving nature of man's most valued animal companion.
May 1, 2008... Dorado, The Dog Who Saved His Master on 9/11 The tragedy of 9/11 produced countless examples of courage in the face of danger, but few tales of self-sacrifice and steadfast bravery rival that of Dorado, a four-year-old Labrador retriever....

Help! I'm turning into my mother! He had been a typically slobby guy, then, suddenly, after a fraternity poker marathon, his maternal "neatness genes" kicked in.(Short story)
May 1, 2008... Most men, I think it's safe to say, want to grow up to be like their fathers. They want to learn how to build stuff. Or, at the very least, knock stuff down. For birthday presents, they want things like sanders, levels and stud-finders....

Who's looking at your medical records? You may be surprised by who's accessing your health information!
May 1, 2008... The electronic medical record (EMIR) has gotten a lot of press over the past few years. In fact, President Bush and others--usually insurers and other private organizations rather than consumer groups--have made a national goal of converting...

Ty Pennington: the real deal: when it comes to the hyper host of TV's popular reality show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, what you see is what you get. Give him a hammer and he'll build you a house--in a week.(Interview)(Cover story)
May 1, 2008... Watch a segment or two of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and you quickly pick up on the show's winning formula. A bus rolls into town carrying a team of skilled designers and carpenters led by a wildly enthusiastic host with a loud voice and a...

Time to downsize? A professional organizer shares inside tips to simplify the transition.
May 1, 2008... Are you moving to a smaller place and all your "stuff" just won't fit? Whether you are shifting from 5,200 sq. feet to 1,600 sq. feet or from 900 sq. feet to 500 sq. feet, the squeeze will be tight. Even if you want to "get rid of everything,"...

What's your net worth?
May 1, 2008... Taking an inventory of your current financial position is much more than an accounting exercise. It's essential information you'll need for making wise financial decisions and for doing any long-range planning. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Moms will be moms: artists seeking cover ideas can always look to their mothers.(THE AMERICAN ILLUSTRATORS HALL OF FAME)(Ambrose Bierce and Norman Rockwell)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... A sweater, Ambrose Bierce wrote in his humorous Devil's Dictionary, is a "garment worn by a child when its mother is feeling chilly." Overdressing children, of course, is just one of many motherisms that seem to go with the job. Our overly...

Targeting melanoma: a new arsenal of therapies is aimed at a widespread and lethal skin cancer.
May 1, 2008... When Edward Watson found a black spot on his left forearm in May 2004, the physician, then 39 years old, realized that it was the return of the melanoma that he had previously been treated for. This time it was beyond a skin cancer. Tumors had...

Small wonders: a closeup look reveals the uncommon beauty of common things too small for the eye to see.
May 1, 2008... With powerful scanning electron microscopes, scientists can see on the order of 22 million magnification. What their instruments reveal, however, is not always easy to make out because electron images are only formed in varying shades of gray....

The bone zone: developing a winning strategy can help put the brakes on bone loss.
May 1, 2008... For individuals with osteoporosis, it can happen in an instant. Step off a curb, slip on a rug, sneeze, or even hug too tightly, and snap--a bone breaks. The hardest, most durable structures in the human body, bones are built tough, designed to...

You take the cake: folks who decide to bake their own wedding cake may well be out of their minds.
May 1, 2008... Should you ever decide to help your daughter bake her own wedding cake, the first thing you should know is that a deluxe Scrabble board on a swivel stand will not spin while holding the weight of a four-layer 12-inch cake. No, not even if you...

The perfect squelch.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The community band conductor, a peevish type, took out most of his wrath on the band's quiet young snare drummer. He gibed at the boy continually for being a poor musician. One hot day at a public rehearsal, with many summer residents in...

Where do you think you are?(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] East, West, North, or South, each of the areas above appears on the map of a single state or province. Can you identify these locations? if you find the game too easy (but you won't), try to guess this issue's...

You be the judge.(New York City ordinance against advertising vehicles)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Joe, with a keen eye to business, bought an ancient wagon and two bedraggled burros. On the side of the wagon he painted in large red letters Joe's Bar and Grill, together with his address. Then he hired a lad to...

Unusual sign of serious problem.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I have not seen my symptoms (and its surprise outcome) addressed in your magazine, and I feel that perhaps my experience could serve as a warning to others. In 2006, I had persistent hoarseness and the feeling that...

Fuchs' dystrophy.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I have been diagnosed with Fuchs' dystrophy and am using Muro-128 ointment and eye drops. What can you tell me about this condition and its preferred treatment? Doris Wittig Oak Grove, Missouri Fuchs'...

Mysterious skin discoloration.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I had a hip replacement in December 1996. About one month later, the doctor suspected I had a blood clot that dissolved on its own. Since then my legs have continuously gotten darker. My doctor and a vascular specialist...

Countering constipation.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, My husband has been plagued with constant constipation for about a year. Even Citrucel is not helping. He eats prunes dally, raisin bran about twice a week, and broccoli and cauliflower at least once a week. He stopped...

Her vitiligo has improved.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... I read with interest the letter from Josie Bocheck [Jan./Feb. 2008] regarding vitiligo and whether her earlier pregnancy may have prompted the condition. My first outbreak occurred after the birth of my first child. During my second pregnancy,...

Reader tips to restore taste and smell.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, Like Ed Hart in the Nov./Dec., 2007 issue, I suffered from not being able to taste my food. Everything was fiat and tasteless. I came across a product that cured me. I remain grateful to God and East Park Research for...

The ABCs of molecular genetics.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I consider myself an educated reader, but I have forgotten the basics about genes and how RNA differs from DNA, Could you address this in basic language? Donald Ray Indianapolis, Indiana Molecular biologists...

Son bothered by ringing in ears.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, We have been subscribing to your magazine for years and have reaped great benefit from your helpful medical information. Recently, my son started having constant ringing in his ears. I wonder if he is dealing with...

Vitamin [B.sub.12] helps her hair, too.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I began taking [B.sub.12] for energy about one year ago and have since noticed a positive change in the growth of my hair, nails, and lashes. My friends wonder whether extra [B.sub.12] will make facial hair grow, but that...

From one drip to another.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I am responding to Bob Canaday's letter in the Jan./ Feb. Medical Mailbox. I have had nasal drip for at least 15 years--left nostril worse than right. My ENT doctor diagnosed this condition as nonallergic rhinitis, which...

When to get a pap test.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, Is there a time when one need not continue getting Pap smears? Annual tests over the past 33 years were negative, and insurance no longer pays for it. The individual is in her late 50s and not sexually active. She was...

Pluck without pain.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, To Wearied by Unwanted Hair [Jan./Feb. 2008]: Remember the ointment we rubbed on the gums of babies to relieve teething pain? Try applying a little Orajel to the area where you want to remove unwanted hair. Wait a few...

Shingles vaccine.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I came down with shingles the middle of October, and the rash lasted almost until Christmas. Now I have a small case of them again, in a different location. When I finally get rid of them, can I get the vaccine? ...

Not "belly" fat at all.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas; I am a retired dentist, and the story of Helen Allen's big stomach [Mar./Apr. '08] reminded me of a patient who also had a large and growing stomach. Even though she was very active, a backpacker, and watched her food...

Brachytherapy for prostate cancer.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas; Having experienced prostate cancer diagnosis ten years ago at age 73, I felt compelled to share my experience with Richard Metz, Mar./Apr. '08. Following the advise of my local physician, I searched for a second opinion...

From the pharmacy.
May 1, 2008... X Pain Relief Options: To W.D. from Marana, Arizona: In general, Tylenol (generic name: acetaminophen) is safe and effective for pain caused by an injury or arthritis. Package directions indicate that up to eight 500 mg tablets may be taken in...

The glue.(POST SCRIPTS)(Quotation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Notice on bulletin board of local church: "After God created the world, He made men and women. Then, to keep the whole thing from collapsing, He invented humor."

A lot of bull.(POST SCRIPTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... A lawyer was representing the railroad in a lawsuit filed by an old rancher. The rancher's prize bull was missing from the section through which the railroad passed. The rancher only wanted to be paid the fair value of the bull. Before the...

Brief visit.(POST SCRIPTS)(Poem)
May 1, 2008... Brief Visit One cause for squawks And many a sigh: When money talks It says, "Goodbye!"

Thank you for calling ...(POST SCRIPTS)(Engineering Information External Inquiries Office)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... During the mid '60s, my sister worked for a large aerospace company near Hollywood, California. The specific agency was entitled: "Engineering Information External Inquiries Office." Despite her many protests, she was forced to answer the...

Isn't it romantic?.(POST SCRIPTS)
May 1, 2008... Wife: "I feel like taking a long, quiet walk in the moonlight." Husband: "Good idea. Take the dog with you."

Experiment gone wrong.(POST SCRIPTS)
May 1, 2008... Grandma claims her pineapple cheesecake once garnered first prize at the state fair. Grandpa counters that she actually won "Best Science Project."

Par for the course.(POST SCRIPTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... A man was about to tee off on the golf course when he felt a tap on his shoulder. A man handed him a card that read, "I am mute. I am not able to speak. May I play through, please?" The first man angrily gave the card back and communicated...

Not what it use to be.(POST SCRIPTS)(spring)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Spring was once the time for taking the young virgins into the fields, there in dalliance to set an example in fertility for nature to follow. Now we just set the clocks an hour ahead and change the oil in the crankcase.

[Cartoon].(POST SCRIPTS)(Cartoon)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "You're missing out on some great Father's Day gifts by not raising my allowance."