Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2023 i Reader's Digest

BREAKFAST IS SAVED. A few months ago, I wrote here about how my poor pancake-making skills have doomed me to a life of eating the burned and broken ones my kids won't touch. I was thrilled by the number of you who sent me tips, recipes and encouragement. Here are a few of my favorites: “Don't flip the pancake till there are 21 holes in the pancake.” —SUSIE REBECK, Helena, Montana “For perfect pancakes, try the ‘sneak a peek’ technique: Use a spatula to lift the pancake a little, sneak a peek and continue.” — ANDY ROULEAU, Graniteville, Vermont Many of you had delicious advice on what to add to the pancake batter, including fruit, sparkling water and even bacon flavoring. “I used to add vanilla to the pancake batter…

Give Us a “K”! When three of the four cheerleaders from Morrill High School, in Morrill, Nebraska, quit, it seemed as though the Lions would have to skip the state cheerleading tournament. But the remaining member, senior Katrina Kohel, was determined to go. “I'll cheer by myself,” she told her coach, according to omaha.com. In February, Kohel nervously stepped onto the gym floor alone, repeating her mantra, “Even if I mess up … it's going to be OK.” And it was. Rhythmic clapping accompanied her every move. Cheers punctuated each scissor kick. Kohel even got the crowd, including her competition, to chant “Let's go, Lions!” Team Kohel ended up placing eighth out of 12 squads—and even so, it was the highest the Lions had landed in the past three years.…

The day after Thanksgiving, I took a call from a customer who was paying his bill. The moment I finished entering his credit card information, he yelled, “I know it's Black Friday! Don't you dare try anything!” I was stunned, unsure what I was being accused of. Suddenly, his tone changed. “Sorry,” he said. “I was talking to my wife, not you.” —CALLEN HARTY Monona, WI Our tour guide in Hawaii shared a story about a previous client who was totally confounded by the Polynesian language. He helped her out with a few pronunciations of words they came upon, then she decided to try one out on her own. She noticed a sign and slowly sounded out the word: oo-ha-ool. 33-year-old Amy Poehler playing the mom of 26-year-old Rachel McAdams…

A man's boat sinks, and he washes up on a deserted island. He's there for weeks and losing hope when a box labeled Rescue Kit floats up onto the beach. He tears it open only to find a deck of cards. “What kind of rescue kit is this?!” he says, sobbing. Eventually, boredom overtakes him, and he deals out a game of Solitaire. Suddenly, a man appears behind him. “Hey,” the man says, “put the red eight on the black nine.” —JORDAN LETURGEZ Fort Wayne, IN It's crazy how your siblings actually have their own lives. I literally see them as side characters in mine. @SHARONSZN_ Three conspiracy theorists walk into a bar. You can't tell me that's just a coincidence! —GARY KATZ Long Grove, IL Pat and his two…

WHILE POLITELY MAKING small talk at a baby shower, my day was ruined in one fell swoop. “Ooh, are you expecting?!” asked a family friend, eyeballing my body up and down. I sheepishly shook my head, instantly regretting both my party dress and my ample plate of mini-sandwiches. Then, just when I thought this conversation couldn't get worse, it did: “Well,” she asked earnestly, “why not?” Reasons and retorts flooded my mind—deep-rooted doubts about my maternal capabilities, fear of climate change, “just fat, thanks” or perhaps a wellchosen expletive. Instead, I mumtured something about being busy at work and excused myself to mope for the rest of the afternoon. I've since recovered emotionally, though I sometimes daydream of a do-over. What should I have said to such a nosy question…

EIGHT YEARS AGO, neurologist Dan Gibbs was sitting in a room with two dozen doctors and researchers. He was getting ready to look at brain scans—not a patient's, but his own. They would definitively answer a question he'd had for years: What was wrong with him? It started when he was 55 and working in Portland, Oregon. He noticed he couldn't smell certain things, like flowers. Then he began to smell things that weren't there, like perfume, citrus or baking bread. He randomly got a clue as to what might be the cause after doing an at-home DNA test to find out more about his family tree. The results showed he had two copies of a gene, APOE4, that increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's. He was shocked: Before his…

FILM In this (almost too good to be) true story, Hilary Swank plays Sharon Stevens, a scrappy, struggling hairdresser and recovering alcoholic who finds purpose upon meeting a widower (Alan Ritchson) desperate to secure a liver transplant for his 3-year-old daughter, Michelle (Emily Mitchell). Stevens raises money for the family, and when a blizzard hits on the night Michelle needs to be transported to the hospital, Stevens rallies the community to help get her there. For Swank, who once took a three-year break from acting to care for her father after his lung transplant, the movie's message resonates especially well—and her performance shows it. “I was drawn to this beautiful true story because it's such a powerful reminder that angels reside everywhere among us,” she told Today. “Faith, hope, grit…

It's OK to come home and go, “I want to quit.” As long as you get up the next day and do what you've got to do. —Leslie Jones, COMEDIAN, ON THE VIEW You need help, you need advice, you need wisdom, you need the support, you need the joy. And it all comes from one generation to the next. —Henry Winkler, ACTOR, IN THE HEALTHY My ultimate goal in life is to read books I like, listen to music I enjoy, play with my cats, drink some semi-decent red wine and watch a live baseball game on TV. Living itself is adventure enough. —Haruki Murakami, NOVELIST, IN INTERVIEW MAGAZINE I was never worried when he went into space—though of the two of us, we never could have predicted that…

1. tantalize v. (‘tan-tuh-lighz) A dream B tease C inspire 2. zephyr n. (‘zeh-fr) A gentle west wind B light touch C quickturn 3. Sisyphean adj. (si-suh-'fee-uhn) A constant and ineffective B difficult C worthwhile 4. halcyon adj. (‘hal-see-uhn) A sugary B secretive C idyllically calm 5. heliotropic adj. (hee-lee-oh-'troh-pik) A brightly lit B powerful C sun-following 6. nemesis n. (‘neh-muh-sis) A flatterer B archrival C secretary 7. iridescent adj. (ihr-ruh-'deh-snt) A rainbow-hued B uncomplicated C many-sided 8. lethargy n. (‘leh-thr-jee) A lack of energy B anxiety C perception 9. labyrinth n. (‘la-br-inth) A path B maze C misunderstanding 10. hector v. (‘hek-tr) A call B bully C ignore 11. psyche n. (‘sigh-kee) A singer B actor C soul 12. stentorian adj. (sten-'tor-ee-uhn) A dictatorial B extremely loud C stretched out 13. mnemonic n. (nuh-'mah-nik) A memory device B confusion C funny anecdote 14. aegis n. (‘ee-juhss) A influence B patronage C accident 15. hedonist n. (‘hee-duh-nist) A patriot B pursuer of pleasure C athlete Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid. From the root…

JAPAN IS HOME to iconic landmarks such as the ancient temples of Kyoto and the neon-lit skyscrapers of Tokyo. But what's underfoot also wows: Since the 1980s, Japan has taken a creative approach to beautifying its manhole covers. Roughly 6,000 of these metal plates also serve as canvases depicting cultural symbols and events and the regions in which they're found. British-Australian photographer Remo Camerota, who documented them for his book Drainspotting, says, “Finding them is the best part. It feels like a treasure hunt.”…

DON POWELL WAS pulling the usual assortment of envelopes from the mailbox outside his home in Orchard Lake Village, Michigan, when he noticed something out of the ordinary: A tiny doll couple were sitting on a love seat inside the mailbox. A small sticky note was also tucked inside. “We've decided to live here,” the message read. It was signed from Mary and Shelley. Powell, 72, says he initially figured that somebody must have left the wooden dolls inside his mailbox back in August 2022 by mistake. He and his wife, Nancy Powell, had a custom-designed mailbox resembling their contemporary white house installed about four years ago. “We could understand why dolls would want to move into such a nice mailbox, but we were still perplexed,” Don says. “I asked…

Relaxing in my bathrobe, toeing the fine line between looking like “60-yearold divorcee at her best” and “Tony Soprano at his worst.” @BROTIGUPTA 20s me at a concert: “Woohoo!” 40s me at a concert: “I'm surprised there's grass on this field at all. All this beer spillage can't be good for the turf. Must be fescue. I don't think Bermuda could take this abuse.” @BENBOVEN1 Now that I'm in my 50s, some stuff takes me three or four fell swoops. —JEFFREY ANBINDER, on top5list.com…

As a judge advocate, I taught military justice to new second lieutenants at Fort Sam Houston. I suppose it wasn't the most scintillating topic, because one day a student dozed off. I stopped my lecture, stood in front of him and bellowed, “Lieutenant! How much are they paying you to sleep in this class?” The lieutenant stirred and responded sleepily, “Sir, clearly not enough.” —RICHARD HUFF Rockville, MD My dad said he joined the Marines out of high school for one reason: He was tired of people telling him what to do. —RANDY MATTHEWS Woodland Park, CO At the end of World War II, I did my basic training at Camp Blanding, Florida. During KP duty, I worked beside our company mess sergeant as he prepared that evening's supper. After…

THAT ARTIFICIAL FOOD dyes are unhealthy is not news. Some of the most common additives—used to give color to everything from M&M's to soup—are known to cause hyperactivity in some children, affecting their ability to learn. But regulatory agencies around the world don't necessarily agree on which food dyes are a problem, or why. That may soon change, thanks in part to increasing consumer pressure. In addition, a comprehensive 2021 peer-reviewed report prepared by the state of California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) concluded that synthetic food dyes “cause or exacerbate neurobehavioral problems in some children” and that the current levels deemed safe for consumption by the federal government are too high. In response to the report and a subsequent petition signed by children's advocates, consumer advocacy groups,…

Remember The Hollywood Squares? The popular TV game show ran from 1966 to 1980. Celebrities would be asked questions and contestants had to decide if the answers were correct or not. Our friends over at the Planet Proctor newsletter shared some of the least correct celebrity answers: Q: True or false: A pea can last as long as 5,000 years. George Gobel: It sure seems that way sometimes. Real answer: True. Q: Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older? Charlie Weaver: My sense of decency. Real answer: Smell. Q: Do female frogs croak? Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough. Real answer: Occasionally, but it's mostly the male. Q: You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a…

WRONG PERSON, RIGHT TIME I saw an old high school friend's name pop up on Facebook. The account had no photo, but I was excited and wrote her a message: “Melinda, I'm so happy to find you again!” She replied, “Nice to hear from you, Bonnie. Let's catch up.” We went back and forth, updating each another on the years since high school. But something wasn't right. The stories just didn't jibe with my memories. Turned out this was a different Melinda from high school, not the one I had thought. But we were having so much fun, we kept in touch, and she's become a valued friend. I'm quite thankful for the case of mistaken identity. —BONNIE DRURY Carmichael, CA Old Flame Name Game Years ago, I called my…

The Football 100 By Mike Sando, Dan Pompei and The Athletic NFL Staff In its storied history, the NFL has seen more than 27,000 athletes take the field. Now, sports news service The Athletic both asks and answers: Who is the greatest of all time? Stats don't paint a full picture—the game that quarterback Patrick Mahomes plays today barely resembles the one dominated by Otto Graham 70 years ago. Going beyond box scores with hundreds of interviews, The Football 100 is a ranking of NFL greats. With all the research and experience brought by The Athletic staff, fans can't possibly argue their favorite players’ rankings—right? —Cameron Songer Holly By Stephen King Coy-yet-capable sleuth Holly Gibney entered the Stephen King multiverse in 2014's Mr. Mercedes—and already stands out among decades of…

Because Life Is Funnier than Fiction Who pokes fun at the facts and foibles of daily life better than Reader's Digest? Instead of racking your brain trying to answer that question, pick up our latest humor compilation, Laughter, the Best Medicine 2023. It's full of 100 years’ worth of our best jokes, stories, riddles and cartoons guaranteed to put laughter in your day. Stir up a room full of smiles from the likes of famous funny folks, along with the best contributions from readers like you. To order for just$10, visit rd.com/LJA2.…

WHEN MARK ANTHONY Gonzales saw a police officer in need of assistance, every element of the moral code instilled in him through his Brazilian jiu-jitsu training—morality, courage, benevolence—told him to stop his car and lend a hand. Even though he was out on bond following an arrest three months earlier for possession of a firearm, a charge that he had disputed and that would later be dropped. Even though he was on his way to work and had his wife, Rachel Ortiz, his four kids, ages 6 and under, and three other extended family members in the car. He saw an officer struggling with a suspect and knew what he had to do. As Gonzales was driving to open up the martial arts gym where he trains and volunteers, he…

AT ANY TIME, in almost any eatery north of the border, diners are digging in to plates piled with poutine. Born in Quebec, this artery-clogging comfort food—crispy fries topped with cheddar cheese curds and doused with beef gravy—is finding fans far from home. The word pontine likely comes from a Quebecois slang word for a “mess”—an admittedly apt description. Pontine superfan Sylvain Charlebois, a food economist and the author of Pontine Nation, confirms that the earliest version of the dish was invented in 1957 in Warwick, a small daily town in southern Quebec, where cheese curds are sold in bags as a snack. A hungry takeout customer named Eddy Lainesse asked restaurateur Fernand Lachance to put cheese curds and fries together in a brown paper bag because he was in…

Instead of sprinkling salt on foods, go for more herbs and spices. Not only will they add more flavor, they're also good for your gut health, according to a study published in November 2022 in the Journal of Nutrition. The participants added 24 herbs and spices, including ginger, rosemary, basil and cinnamon, to their diets. After four weeks, those who'd sprinkled even as little as a teaspoon a day on their meals increased the variety of microbes living in their digestive tracts. A diverse gut microbiome is important for overall health and well-being, including immunity. A New Way to Diagnose Parkinson's Sooner Currently, doctors diagnose Parkinson's disease based on symptoms. That's not ideal because the ailments that often appear first—constipation, depression or sleep issues, for example—are shared by many other…

WHERE, OH WHERE? (page 30) B. Petersburg, West Virginia. The photo was taken in the Roaring Plains West Wilderness area of Monongahela National Forest. BRAIN GAMES (pages 107-108) Pathfinder Sweet Treat 5. No Big Deal Each card is the sum of the two numbers immediately above it; black cards have a positive value and red cards have a negative value. Therefore, the sum of seven of clubs (+7) and the four of hearts (-4) is +3. The three of clubs has already been laid, so the missing card must be the three of spades. On the Flip Side Reader's Digest (ISSN 0034-0375) (USPS 865-820), (CPM Agreement# 40031457), Vol. 202, No. 1193, November 2023. © 2023. Published monthly, except bimonthly in March/April, July/August, and December/January (subject to change without notice), by…