The Saturday Evening Post articles from November 2008

The Saturday Evening Post archives from November 2008

Julie Andrews.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... An observation after reading the Sept./Oct. 2008 edition. Your feature about Julie Andrews was fascinating. I am in complete agreement about reading to children at a very early age. My sons are testimony to that. Not only are they both...

Harmony.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... As the Youth In Harmony Coordinator for Florida's Western Panhandle, let me say thank you and congratulations for your excellent article on barbershop harmony in your recent issue. On September 15th, we will present our 9th Youth Music Festival...

Not just handing you a line!(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... I immediately related to Peter Gerstenzang's article in your Sept./Oct. issue, because I, too, possess the "gift" of picking the line that will hang up. I once turned to the shopper right behind me and said, "Take a look at my face;...

Untimely prediction.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... I am a 75-year-old reader of the Post. I have never found a reason to become upset or doubt the integrity of OUR magazine; however, when I received my Sept./Oct. issue yesterday, the first thing I read was Mark Stevens' article, "Rich Is a...

Meredith Vieira.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... [Re: Meredith Vieira, Sept./Oct. 2008 SatEvePost]: I question your sense of curiosity... with a name as pretty as Vieira (pure Spanish), you were not curious enough to ask her where she got that last name from? Is that from her husband?...

Frozen shoulder.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... "Thawing Out Frozen Shoulder" by Patricia Hagen, Sept./Oct. 2008, reminded me about my experience with frozen shoulder (I thought it might be helpful to others). I was in my late 60s when I woke up one morning and my left shoulder wouldn't...

[Cartoon].(Letters)(Cartoon)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "How long have you been unemployed? I have never seen a resume prepared in needlepoint."

Tobacco good for something.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... I enjoy your magazine (period!)--so many good articles on health, finances. chuckles, etc. Thanks. In your Sept./Oct. issue, page 6, "Wasp Sting" immediately brought to mind my personal experience with the stinging variety. While...

More about how doctors think.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... RE: The letter of Sept./Oct. from "Name Withheld" from Adrian, Michigan, in response to "How Doctors Think" in July/August 2008 issue. It may well be that the doctor described as indifferent to his patient of several years is suffering...

They're laughing at us.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... Re: July/August 2008, page 36, "Healing Humor," Tait Trussell: I wish to take exception to the fifth paragraph "the ability of practically the only species that can laugh--humans." I had a large bun sandwich and walked into the horse...

The urgency of Alzheimer's.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Melissa Isaacson's story is very moving. The horror of it, I know from personal experience, is very real. Her final paragraphs should be written in red boldface. I pray that someone, somewhere will discover what...

[Cartoon].(Letters)(Cartoon)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We were expecting cowboys!"

The king: still making waves.(Now and Then)(Elvis Presley)
November 1, 2008... For someone whom Forbes magazine recently cited as "one of the 20th century's biggest cultural forces," Elvis Presley appeared sporadically in the SatEvePost during his brief lifetime. A quick glance in the Post Archives shows the fledgling...

Brushing up on oral hygiene: experts concur that good dental hygiene is an important tool in managing diabetes.
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's been called a two-way street, a bidirectional arrow, a loop and a vicious circle. "It" is the complicated connection between two seemingly unrelated conditions: diabetes and periodontal disease. The reason...

The gift of knitting.(Living Well: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Babies, seniors, and soldiers around the world are in need of warm blankets, hats, mittens, socks, and sweaters. Knitted toys, dolls, and prayer shawls also help comfort those facing difficult situations. Work on your own or check with the Red...

Digestive health check.(Living Well: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Changes in one's usual schedule, diet, and lifestyle may sometimes lead to temporary alterations in bowel habits. When constipation persists, however, consider a careful review of your medicines with a physician or pharmacist. Constipation is a...

Website of the month.(Living Well: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD)(FamilytreeDna.com)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Serious about tracing your family tree, or know someone who is? FamilytreeDna.com offers DNA test kits to help re-create lost family links. The tests are not for paternity, alimony, or other legal purposes. The basic kit costs $129 and includes...

Nuggets of wisdom from Post readers: six wise words for living well (as requested in the Sept./Oct issue).(Living Well: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD)
November 1, 2008... Find someone to share your time.--Alice * Exercise your body, mind, and spirit--Art * Be a fountain, not a drain.--Alta You are responsible for your happiness.--Patti * Give out love; get it back.--Cynthia * Don't assume that you know...

Some assembly required.(Poem)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Some Assembly Required 'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse. Instructions were studied and we were inspired, In hopes we...

Lessons from the heart: thinking of broadcaster Tim Russert--and not a moment too soon.(Heart Beat)
November 1, 2008... Most Saturday mornings, I bicycle with a group of men, mostly in their 50s, whom I affectionately call the Cheat Death group. We are all in pretty good shape, competitive but supportive, and convinced that hard-core exercise is our ticket to...

[Cartoon].(Heart Beat)(Cartoon)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "You can trust our money-back guarantee. Just send back the unused portion of our product, and we'll send back the unused portion of your money!"

[Cartoon].(Heart Beat)(Cartoon)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NO PARKING ON MONTHS ENDING IN 'ER' or 'Y' MON-WED. FRI 4 PM 4 AM

Diet, drugs may affect Coumadin.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)
November 1, 2008... Q: I was recently hospitalized because my blood was dangerously thin. I was taking Coumadin as prescribed by my doctor. I would appreciate any information and also want to know if Bufferin or aspirin do thin the blood. Coumadin (trade name...

Keep hoping--and working.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Q: I have a question concerning the angiogenesis procedure that may be FDA approved in 2009. Might I possibly be a candidate? I am 76 years old with a 20-year history of heart problems. My electrophysiologist said I was a prime candidate for a...

Pacemaker safety.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)
November 1, 2008... Q: Two questions, if you please. I have an Adapta DR pacemaker. May I use an electric adjustable bed with optional head and foot massage? And, will the pulsations of a bath spa harm the pacemaker and a human valve replacement? Thank you kindly....

Dodging DNA destiny.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)(deoxyribonucleic acid)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Q: After reading your articles in The Saturday Evening Post, I felt compelled to send you a question about diastolic dysfunction. I'm interested in knowing if a genetic marker has been identified and if a test is available. I have high blood...

Common problem may be annoying.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Q: I am an 83-year-old great-grandmother and was diagnosed with benign premature ventricular contractions 40 years ago. I've been asymptomatic all these years. My question is this: Have you encountered this particular arrhythmia in your study...

Convoluted heart vessels.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Q: My heart catheterization was normal, other than "very tortuous cardiac vessels." Are you aware of studies showing the cause or consequence of my cardiac vessel condition? Should my offspring or "grands" be tested, and can it be detected...

Defibrillators keep the beat.(Saving Time Saves Lives: Update on early-defibrillation programs and emerging technology)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... It's been ten years since a portable defibrillator was first used to save the life of a passenger on board a flight operated by American Airlines--the original U.S. airline to carry the easy-to-use devices. Today, public-access defibrillators...

Survivor spotlight.(Saving Time Saves Lives: Update on early-defibrillation programs and emerging technology)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Survivor Spotlight: For the people shown above, quick access to a defibrillator means they are alive and well to talk about it. Many are not as fortunate. We invite NHW defibrillator advocates to report local...

Dear Dr. Franklin.(Benjamin Franklin)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What if Saturday Evening Post founder Benjamin Franklin could be brought back to life and we could speak to him about his many prescient theories and follow their outcomes after more than 200 years? Subject: The...

The Jewish roots of Christmas: the ancient grade-school music teacher and the ACLU would not have seen eye to eye. Fortunately, they didn't know about each other.
November 1, 2008... Way back in the fifth grade, long, long ago, when the dinosaurs roamed and before everyone got all thin-skinned and put their attorneys on speed dial, we sang Hanukkah songs in my public school: "Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah/Come light the...

Talking turkey: spend less time in the kitchen and more time with guests with this easy holiday menu.(recipe)(Recipe)
November 1, 2008... Humorist Erma Bombeck eagerly anticipated Thanksgiving Day. "What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets," wrote Bombeck. "I mean, why else would they call it...

Foods that fight colon cancer.(Food in the News)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] A diet high in onions, apples, tea, beans, and kale may reduce the risk for advanced colon cancer by 76 percent. National Cancer Institute researchers found the startling results in a study of 2,000 men and women...

Indulging at breakfast can help you shed pounds.(Food in the News)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Eating a large breakfast can help you stay slim. When Venezuelan and U.S. researchers put women on low-carb diets of 1,085 and 1,240 calories a day, with the latter group eating a larger breakfast of 610 more...

Sweet things.(Food in the News)(natural sweeteners)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... The search is on for new and better "natural" sweeteners that add no calories to the diet and help people better manage weight. * One new product called Truvia, now entering the marketplace, is an improvement on stevia, the sweetener...

Flexing your arteries.(OMEGA-3 UPDATE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Consuming omega-3 fatty acids along with a high-fat meal can have an immediate positive effect on heart health. Researchers at King's College, London, fed 17 healthy men high-fat meals, one containing 51 grams of fat from high-oleic sunflower...

Eye protection.(OMEGA-3 UPDATE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Omega-3 EPA and DHA may help reduce the onset of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over 55. An Australian analysis of nine different studies showed high intake of omega-3 EPA and DHA reduced the risk of...

Unvarnished truth: the incomparable H.L. Mencken.(Biography)
November 1, 2008... An impartial critic of every race or religion, the "Sage of Baltimore" lived before "political correctness" became the fashion. H.L. Mencken, a giant in American literature, held politics and politicians in abysmal regard. His ancient...

But wait! There's more!! For those who easily succumb to the temptation of TV infomercials, there may be only one solution.
November 1, 2008... Okay, that's it. My TV has to go. I can't afford to keep it. No, it's not guzzling too much electricity. It's just that every time I turn it on, one of those insidious infomercials is blaring; and unless I'm suddenly struck deaf and blind, odds...

Christmas countdown.(Cartoon)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I live in a gated community... here's the entrance code." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "'Breaking and entering'... what about you?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Honey, want to see what you're giving me for...

Don't let old man winter empty your wallet: with energy costs going through the roof, be sure your heated air is not.
November 1, 2008... You've watched with alarm as the numbers on the gas pump flash past faster and faster, emptying your wallet more and more quickly. If your house came equipped with a similar gauge measuring energy costs, it would be spinning more quickly than...

Beating the blues: new approaches are lifting the veil of melancholy for millions of Americans.(Dysthymia)
November 1, 2008... For as long as he could remember, Frank de Falco lived with a mild melancholy. Like background noise, it was there but he'd never thought much of it until the birth of his first child in 1995, when he began to consider what he wanted to be like...

Dean Ornish's battle with depression.
November 1, 2008... Economic and political leaders of the world gather in Davos, Switzerland, each January to review the past year's events and chart a course for the coming year. On the last day of the meeting, the entire ensemble ascends to the Schatzalp, or...

The toy maker: this holiday season, millions of children will soon open presents containing the latest computer chip-operated gadgets and gizmos, but lucky children in the Finger Lakes region of New York will be thrilled to find timeless classics under the tree--wooden toys.(Norman Riley)
November 1, 2008... Woodworking has been a lifelong hobby for 81-year-old Norman Riley. But it wasn't until he had children that he really developed a passion for making wooden toys. "It started about 58 years ago," said Margaret Riley, Norman's high-school...

A Leyendecker Christmas.(THE AMERICAN ILLUSTRATORS HALL OF FAME)(Christian Leyendecker)
November 1, 2008... Before there was Norman Rockwell, the images that defined America flowed from the deft, artistic hand of a slight, but dapper young man born in a small town in the German Westerwald. The Arrow shirt, the Interwoven stocking, the New Year's...

The Leyendecker Look: a new book provides an in-depth view of the great American illustrator who inspired Norman Rockwell and changed the way Americans looked at the world.(J.C. Leyendecker)(Book review)
November 1, 2008... J.C. Leyendecker by Laurence S. Cutler and Judy Goffman Cutler 256 pages, Abrams, $50.00 In his heyday in the early 1920s, film star Rudolph Valentino reigned as the nation's foremost "lady killer," but in terms of fan mail received from...

Voice of experience: in an election year when many talk radio hosts rant on the right or lobby on the left, veteran journalist Diane Rehm gives equal time to all sides of an issue and both sides of the aisle.(Interview)
November 1, 2008... Two characteristics set radio talk show host Diane Rehm apart from her on-air colleagues. First, there's her voice. Diagnosed a decade ago with an incurable disorder called spasmodic dysphonia, she has a distinct delivery that varies in...

A checklist that's saving lives: The best ideas are often the simplest.
November 1, 2008... When Peter Pronovost was a fourth-year medical student at Johns Hopkins, he worked briefly in a mission hospital in Ogbomosho, Nigeria. On any given day, hundreds of people lined up outside the clinic. While treating cases, he realized many...

Getting better with age: dive in: while not every swimmer over 40 can set world records, for many fitness is as much the goal as speed.
November 1, 2008... Dara Torres, the 41-year-old Olympic swimmer with the impossibly chiseled abs who collected three silver medals in Beijing, has proved at the elite level that getting older doesn't mean getting slower in the water. But put her aside for now....

Elvis: the comeback special.(Elvis Presley)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Last March, Priscilla Presley sat at the William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles, watching a screening of a 40-year old TV special in which a man in a black leather suit recaptures his lost glory. Beside...

Freedom after 50: live long enough, you get old--that's life, but living free, fit and fabulous--that's the challenge.
November 1, 2008... Five years ago, baby boomer Jennifer King had what she calls "that old-school notion of seniors." Poised to begin a new job--as director of the West Oakland Senior Center--"I expected to be spending the rest of my working life calling out bingo...

The call of the wild: three talented brothers from Minnesota have made an art out of winning the Federal Duck Stamp contest.(Joe, Bob, and Jim Hautman)
November 1, 2008... Each fall in a selected U.S. city, a battle of the brushes heats up among America's wildlife artists. The object of contention is a 1 1/4" by l 3/4" perforated stamp issued yearly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a receipt for a...

Fire up the kindling: a contraption called the Kindle promises to reinvent the way we read books. I'd rather use it for kindling.(Speaking Out)
November 1, 2008... I have been reading books since the age of 6, when Mrs. Wilma Mann, my first-grade teacher, taught me how. Shortly thereafter, I acquired my first library card, and I've been at it ever since, working my way through the stacks. My interest in...

Turbocharge your savings: tough economic times call for sound strategies to safeguard your financial future.(Your Finances)
November 1, 2008... Wendy and Jim Longacre have always been good money managers. Since May, though, they've even ratcheted up their efforts. That's because Wendy joined a personal finance class at church. "I think since joining the class, I am far more...

The big freeze: coldest state in the country? Alaska, of course--even though some fondly refer to International Falls, Minnesota, as "The Icebox of the Nation.".(State overview)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] International Falls, Minnesota, Pop: 6,332 International Falls, Minnesota, claims the title "Coldest Spot in the Nation," and you'd think they'd be welcome to it. Nope. Proud residents of Embarrass, Minnesota...

[Cartoon].(Cartoon)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "When are you going to log off?"

Where do you think you are?(states)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION 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 theme....

You be the judge.(employment terminations)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Police Sergeant Riley returned to work after a heart attack, feeling as fit as ever. His chief, days later, handed him a jolt. He wrote a letter suggesting that the sergeant retire voluntarily, so that the department...

The perfect squelch.(humor)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wilhart was with his daughter and son-in-law at the department store, waiting for her while she tried on a new dress. Soon she appeared with the dress and modeled it for approval. "No way," said her husband....

Going for 100.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(brain aneurysm)
November 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, Thanks for your kindness in regard to the many questions sent to, and answered by, you. I'm eager to know, is there any test for predicting brain aneurysms? I'm currently 83, loving life, and going for 100. Jeanne...

Managing Meniere's disease.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Dr. SerVaas, I read every article in The Saturday Evening Post and especially letters to you. Will you please tell me if anyone with Meniere's disease has gotten help--and, if so, how? I have a bad spell of...

Chronic pancreatitis.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)
November 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I have had chronic pancreatitis for many years. The attacks are frequent, with severe pain and nausea. I have been hospitalized many times and am on a low-fat diet. I will appreciate any information you can provide about...

Help for aging eyes.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(macular degeneration)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I would so appreciate any information about age-related macular degeneration. It is scary not knowing what is ahead! Might special vitamins be of help? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] E.K.B. Richardson, Texas ...

[Cartoon].(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Cartoon)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Honestly, if there was a virtual prostate exam, don't you think I'd want to be the first to know?"

Speak up for urinary health.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, Two years ago, I was at my sister's house and read an article in your magazine about urinary leakage. The article said women do not have to put up with excessive leakage because there are things that can be done. I was so...

Kidney cysts usually harmless.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I have learned so much from your column. I pray you will address my problem. The doctor says I have a cyst on my kidney but did not explain what to do or why I got it. Will it turn into cancer? I had renal failure...

Readers offer more help for heel pain.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I will tell you what has completely healed my foot. Clarks shoes! These are slip-on shoes with no strap around the back of the heel. Buy one size larger than usual so the foot rests fiat. Good luck. The shoes are a great...

Another tip to counter constipation.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I am 66 years old and have been constipated all my life. My mother said I cried constantly my first year of life. I have tried everything, but three years ago my doctor prescribed lactulose, an indigestible sugar syrup. I...

Fish oil relieves her psoriasis.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, This is my story. I inherited psoriasis from my father and broke out with this horrible, embarrassing disease when I was 30 years old. I have suffered with this heartache for almost 42 years--ugly lesions on my elbows,...

Persistent tearing.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, In December 2005, I had an Ahmed Valve put in to relieve eye pressure. It was too late, however, because the optic nerve was already dead. Now I have tears from that eye constantly running down my face. My surgeon inserts...

We'll drink to that!(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(drinking water and digestion)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I have read that drinking liquids with meals hinders digestion, and one should not drink liquids an hour before or after meals. This seems very inconvenient, since I have always taken vitamin pills with meals. Please give...

From the pharmacy.
November 1, 2008... X Help for Sinus Drainage: To B.H., Longview, Texas: Each AlleRx Dose Pack has two pills to treat a runny nose associated with allergies or colds. The morning dose includes pseudoephedrine (a nasal decongestant) and methscopolamine (to help...

The Christmas hobby horse.(POST SCRIPTS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... A grandfather bought a hobby horse by mail order as a Christmas present for his granddaughter. The toy arrived in 189 pieces. The instructions said that it could be put together in an hour. However, it took the old man two days to assemble...

The countdown is on!(POST SCRIPTS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... While I was babysitting my seven-year-old grandson Billy, he started acting mischievously. I told him I would count to ten and then if he didn't behave, he would have to go to his "time out" chair. I tried not to chuckle when, without...

The unkindest cut.(POST SCRIPTS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... A man was getting a haircut prior to a trip to Rome. He mentioned the trip to the barber who responded, "Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded, dirty and full of Italians. You're crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting...

Wait!(POST SCRIPTS)(Poem)
November 1, 2008... Wait! In waiting rooms I'm often vexed When I am not The one who's "next." Unless I'm there To get a shot, And then I'm Very glad I'm not.