Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2024 i Reader's Digest

I LIKE RO SAY our mission at Reader's Digest is to find something good in the world and praise it. Sometimes it's as simple as a story about an ordinary person doing something kind for a neighbor or helping out in their community. Average folks making an impact on the people around them. This month, we wanted to look for people with big ideas and goals for making the entire world a better place. In “What a Great Idea!” (page 44), we pull together a dozen powerful stories about some inspiring people working to make a positive impact on everything from medical science to climate and even the food on our shelves. I found it heartening to read about the brilliant minds working to improve life for all of us,…

Picture Perfect It had been fun: a friend's bridal shower, the wedding, tubing down the Animas River in Durango, Colorado. And Coral Amayi's camera captured it all. But while tubing, she lost the camera. Amayi was devastated. Cut to March 2023—13 years later. Spencer Greiner was fishing on the Animas when he found a camera sticking out of the sand. Curious, he pried open the camera door and plugged the memory card into his computer. Soon he was scrolling through photos of tubers, a bachelorette party, and wedding guests wearing silly hats. Greiner posted the photos on a Durango Facebook page. One lead led to the next, and soon he was sending the camera back to Amayi. “I did a happy dance,” she told the Washington Post. “After all these…

Coming up with a good name for your baby isn't easy. Still! Some people took to Reddit to share the more outlandish names they've encountered. * “I knew triplets named Cinnamon, Rosemary and Paprika. People called them the Spice Girls.” * “I do contract-based IT work. Recently, I worked with an office manager named Moronica.” * “My partner is a midwife. She once looked after a couple who were intending to call their daughter Urethra. They didn't know what it meant, they just liked how it sounds.” * “My wife worked in a bank and had a regular customer named Dextrose. Always wondered if he had siblings named Sucrose and Fructose.” * “Lice. Pronounced lih-say.” * “KVIIITLYN. Pronounced Kaitlyn.” * “I once met a woman who named her sons Doral…

My son was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina when he texted, telling me to expect a call in 10 minutes. My curiosity was piqued. Was everything OK? As promised, 10 minutes later the phone rang. “Vince, what's up?” I said. “Can you hear me?” he shouted. “Yes. Why?” “I just jumped out of a plane and wanted to see if I'd get reception on the way dowm!“ —CARLA HOUSEHOLDER Sparta, NJ A fellow Air Force cadet entered the chow hall without doffing his cap—a big no-no—and our drill instructor let him know it. The cadet was ordered to throw the cap to the ground and stomp on it, hollering, “Bad hat! Bad hat!” —KENNY SMITH Mexico, MO During the Cold War, I served as a radio operator in…

Question: Tell us about a problem you had with a colleague and how it was resolved. Answer: The problem was that we hated each other, and the resolution was violence resulting in us both being sacked. Q: Describe yourself three words: A: Tall, dark and handsome. Q: What do you know about us? A: Not much, why don't you fill me in? Q: Tell me of a time you made a mistake and how you dealt with it. A: I stole some equipment from my old job, and I had to pay for it to be replaced. Q: Why did you leave your last job? A: I have a problem with authority. Q: Have you got any further questions? A: If I get a job offer, how long do I…

A CURE FOR “MEAN WORLD SYNDROME” Although news stories about disturbing events can be worth your attention, good news benefits your mental health, concludes a British experiment. More than 300 participants read stories about cruelty or violence, which, not surprisingly dampened their moods. Those who went on to read lighthearted anecdotes (e.g., a mouthy parrot) felt better, but those who read stories about acts of kindness reported a greater belief in the overall goodness of humanity. These results suggest that even if you're exposed to a daily barrage of bad news, hearing about the kindness of others makes you happier and protects you against what some researchers call mean world syndrome, an anxious outlook caused by an overestimation of the world's dangers. Common Vaccines Bring Extra Bonus Staying up to…

When industrial engineer Abel Cruz was a boy, his weekly chore was to scramble down a ravine in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes to fetch the family's water from aspring. “It was downhill from the house, far away and steep,“ he says. Cruz began dreaming up better ways to collect water. He noticed that subtropical plants, for instance, capture rain and mist with their wide leaves. Eventually, he struck upon the idea of a fog net, a concept that he would go on to refine and share around the world. Each vertical net is 215 square feet of synthetic resin mesh. Micro-droplets of water condense and then dribble down into collection tanks. One net can collect 50 to 100 gallons per day. Locals can fetch the water in buckets…

My jaw hurts. Big deal, right? It starts with a looming deadline or a squabble with my spouse, but tension becomes clenching and then pain. Soon I can't eat crunchy sandwiches, my blood sugar drops and a headache is inevitable. I might cancel plans to exercise or see a friend, so my mood is going south at record speed. A good night's sleep is impossible. I'll toss and turn instead and clench some more, then start it all over again tomorrow. Stress IS a big deal. Even the littlest seed of stress can quickly snowball to make you sick. Not anxious or irritable or depressed (though it can certainly do that too). I mean physically ill in the whole body—from dead stem cells causing prematurely gray hairs on your head…

Breaking (and Taking) the Ice I started playing in a women's hockey league at age 45. One of the other women and I found out we had lots in common: career paths and our love for hockey, dogs, pizza and wings. We even began playing at the same age. We were defensive partners on the ice and shared countless postgame dinners, drinks and pieces of wisdom over the years. Cheri and I both retired from hockey at age 65 and continue to be good friends. —NANCY DELLOSSO Weston, ON A Bargain at Twice the Price In 2008, I bought a phone case on eBay and had to contact the seller. She shared that she often visited the area where I lived, and we decided to meet for lunch during her…

1. kukri n. Okook-ree) A sharp-billed bird B short sword C musical semitone 2. whet v. (wet) A hone B splice C cut 3. echidna n. (uh-'kid-nuh) A two-pronged fork B hairpin turn C hedgehog-like mammal 4. carnassial n. (kahr-'nass-ee-uhl) A carnivore's tooth B sour taste C rose's thorn 5. awl n. (awl) A piercing tool B barbed weapon C bone spur 6. acuity n. (uh-'kyoo-uh-tee) A steep incline B keen perception C sudden illness 7. toxophilite n. (to k-'saw-fuh-light) A expert archer B clawed parasite C stinging snake 8. pique v. (peek) A Dire B provoke C snag 9. piton n. ('pee-ton) A briar bush B mountain climber's peg C gazelle antler 10. riposte n. (ruh-'pohst) A fencer's helmet B clever retort C acidic dessert 11. trenchant adj. ('tren-chnt) A penetrating B savvy C tangy 12. durian n. ('dur-ee-uhn) A three-horned…

WEARING A PINK feather boa and daisy-adorned sunglasses, Rosalie was ready for her close-up. With photographer Kelsey Dubinsky behind the lens, St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey, was confident Rosalie's sweet, funny personality would shine through. Older dogs like Rosalie—a 7-year-old terrier and pit bull mix—tend to take longer to be adopted. The glam photo shoot was part of a campaign to bring awareness to their plight, with the goal of matching some of the center's long-term residents with their perfect human. Nearly all the dogs who took part in the photo shoot were adopted, and no doubt Rosalie's time is nigh, says Diane Ashton, director of communications at St. Hubert's. “These lovable dogs just need a little extra help to find their forever homes.”…

WHAT WOULD a Cuban sandwich be without pickles pressed alongside the smoky pork and melty Swiss? Ditto the piquant pickle marrying spiced meat and garlic sauce in a shawarma. Or the one-two punch of neon green relish and a dill spear on a classic Chicago dog. But these briny delights aren't just the sandwich's most loyal companion, its ubiquitous sidekick on a plate as garnish. Pickles can hold their own all on their own, with a crisp acidity and a satisfying snap that makes for a bite like no other. Kosher dills are king in the United States, far surpassing gherkins and bread-and-butter chips in popularity. Eastern European Jewish immigrants cemented that status in New York City in the late 1800s, when traditional kosher dill recipes called for fresh cucumbers…

WE AMERICANS ARE voracious consumers of advice, seeking wisdom wherever we can find it: podcasts, books, TED Talks, life coaches, influencers, religion, therapy, Dear Abby, barbers, bartenders, Uber drivers—the list goes on. I'd like to add my personal source for guidance: obituaries. It turns out, the dead know a thing or two about living. I've been an avid obit reader for decades for the same reason that artist Maira Kalman says she reads them every morning: “Maybe it is a way of trying to figure out, before the day begins, what is important.” Recently, I've begun using my TikTok account, called Tips from Dead People, to share some life lessons I've learned from obituaries. Here are a few favorites: Success is measured in kindness. Maureen Brennan-Weaver of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was…

ONE MORNING LAST winter, Lynn Smith was doing a series of gentie stretches on a mat in her living room, trying to loosen up a stiff lower back. When the 56-year-old sat up, she felt a bit strange. “I started to feel dizzy in a way I had not felt before” she says. Then, when she got into bed that night, she felt as if the room was spinning around her. She went to her doctor, who put a name to her experiences: vertigo. While it's often described as a sensation of motion, vertigo is more complex than a dizzy spell. People can experience ringing in the ears, loss of balance, double vision and trouble swallowing, depending on what's causing the vertigo. Episodes can last anywhere from a few minutes…

Kawasaki disease is every parent's nightmare. This rare illness causes inflammation in blood vessels throughout the body and is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in babies and young children. Historically, it's been difficult to diagnose, until recently, when a young inventor developed an app that can detect it. Ellen Xu's invention scans a photograph of the child and looks for telltale signs of Kawasaki disease, such as rashes and a swollen tongue. It's a brilliant innovation that likely wouldn't have come about if it all weren't so personal. When Xu, a San Diego native, was 5 years old, her parents rushed her kid sister to the hospital. Three-year-old Kate had a fever, reddened eyes, a rash and swelling in her hands and tongue. At first the puzzled doctors…

On my son Andrew's 15th birthday, I whisked him to a shoe store near our home in Toronto to get a pair of sandals. We knew the exact style and size he wanted, and arrived right when the store opened. Andrew is nonspeaking autistic and prefers shopping when it's not busy. “Size 41 of those black slip-on sandals, please,” I told the clerks. Andrew slipped his feet into the shoes with no protest or head banging (signs of distress we have seen in the past). A perfect fit. We boxed them up, paid and thanked the clerks. “It's Andrew's birthday today. Fifteen! Got our new shoes and now we're off to celebrate with family,” I said. “Happy birthday!” they said. “Have fun!” What comes next only happens when you act…

The more I grow, the more I realize it's about joy, not about 4 perfection. —Beyonce, MUSICIAN, ON THE RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR Mornings are my worry time, along with afternoons and evenings. —J.R. Moehringer, AUTHOR, IN THE NEW YORKER If you don't think you have anything to be grateful for, keep looking. Because you don't j ust receive optimism. You can't wait for things to be great and then be grateful for that. You've got to behave in a way that promotes that. —Michael J. Fox, ACTOR, IN AARP THE MAGAZINE No good disliking ourselves—gives the world an excuse to do the same. —Kenneth Branagh, FILMMAKER, IN VANITY FAIR If you want to be successful… you need to be bad, then you need to be good. Then when you're good, you…

ON SEPT. 17, 2022, a father and on set out to begin the first of three legs of the Ironman competition in Cambridge, Mary-land. Jeff Agar, 59, and his son, Johnny Agar, 28, weren't the typical entrants. Johnny has cerebral palsy. His difficulty walking is compounded by muscle weakness and spasms. Jeff would act as his arms and legs, literally carrying the weight of his son throughout the race. To qualify as having finished, competitors must complete a grueling 140 miles of swimming, bicycling and running in under 17 hours. Jeff and Johnny had participated together in five Ironman competitions, but they had yet to finish in the requisite time frame. From the day Johnny was born, Jeff and Becki Agar refused to let their son's disabilities hold him back.…

I worked with an older woman who would greet me each day with a jubilant “Good morning, Mrs. C!” I urged her to call me by my first name, but she had trouble remembering “Diane.” “Just think of Diana,“ I suggested. “You know, like the princess.” It worked … sort of. The next day, she greeted me by proudly proclaiming, “Good morning, Grace!” —DIANE C. Manitowoc, WI Traveling in Costa Rica, we noticed that people often sold water, fruit, meals and souvenirs from their front yards. One hot day, my husband and I saw a house with tables and chairs set up on the lawn, and we decided to stop for a beer. We sat down and, when the man came out from his house, we ordered two beers. He…

For the most common cause of vertigo, BPPV, your doctor may suggest the Epley maneuver. Perform each step in order, holding each position for 30 to 60 seconds. 1. Sit on your bed. Turn your head 45 degrees toward the affected ear. (If you get dizzy when you roll your head to the right, it's likely your right ear.) 2. Keeping your head turned, lie back so your head hangs off the bed. 3. Slowly turn your head 90 degrees toward the other side. 4. Roll onto your side in the direction you're looking, then turn your head so you're looking down. 5. Sit upright, keeping your head turned. TIP: If you can, have someone with you for support as you will likely experience vertigo.…

The man squinted his eyes as the blistering cold winds battered his rugged face, his eyes darting about, desperately hoping, daring to dream that amidst the frozen wasteland, he would find the last Klondike bar that he had hidden in his freezer. —OLIVER MAUSER Jacksonville, FL Having attended Oktoberfest, taken in the beautiful foliage of New England, gone apple-picking, roamed through a corn maze and visited a pumpkin patch, one thing was certain— Humpty Dumpty had a great Fall. —MARK MEICHES Dallas, TX Officer Meyer Briggs burst into the bedroom and saw professor Rorschach standing over the body of his mother, bloody knife in hand. “I swear it's not what it looks like!“ Rorschach exclaimed. —JUSTIN C. MCCARTHY Cranston, RI She was just like Greta, who'd poisoned her family, burned…

The good thing about food preservatives is of course that they preserve food. The bad thing about food preservatives is that they can be bad for us. Calcium propionate, for instance, is used to kill bacteria and yeast in breads to ward off mold. But it's also been linked to an elevated risk of diabetes and obesity. Chemists David Brown and Natasha jean, old friends from college, came up with a way to preserve foods naturally. In 2023, their company, Chinova Bioworks, perfected a way to process mushroom-fiber extract so that when it's added to foods, it increases their shelf life without altering flavor. “We took an organic cream-cheese product and extended its shelf life from six weeks to 10,“ says Brown. That's an extra month to schmear your bagels,…

I know my way around the woods pretty well. I can walk the path to the lake near our house in the dark without a flashlight— my feet know the way. Around my family's cabin in Ontario, there are more than 100 acres to explore, crossed by deer trails, creeks and valleys. I've been tromping over that land for my whole life, so it was a shock when I got lost last winter. Late one bright, frigid afternoon in February, my two daughters, ages 9 and 12, my husband, Steve, and I strapped on our snowshoes and headed northwest from the house. While making our way up the long, gradual slope, we stopped to look at the convoluted trails of mice running between trees, to investigate lichen and bracket fungi,…

Fact or Fiction? MEDIUM Determine whether each statement is fact or fiction. To reveal the solution to the bonus question at the bottom, write the letters indicated by your responses in the corresponding numbered blanks. Turn the page upside down for the answers. 1. White chocolate isn't real chocolate. FACT: R FICTION: M 2. February became Black History Month to overlap with Harriet Tubman's birthday. FACT: I FICTION: C 3. Beavers mate for life. FACT: C FICTION: N 4. No artist has performed in j the Super Bowl halftime show more than once. FACT: G FICTION: A 5.Internet access is a basic human right. FACT: R FICTION: O 6. Every president has been married. FACT: S FICTION: T 7. New Mexico is the only U.S. state whose motto is in…