How to Start a Year-Round Family Gratitude Ritual

By RON LIEBER
November 28, 2013


Sometime this Thanksgiving or in the coming weeks, you and yours will probably share notes on the things for which you’re thankful.

Perhaps you’ll take the basic approach, where everyone at the table mentions one thing. Or you’ll ask everyone to write an affirming note of some sort on every guest’s place card. Or distribute a pre-meal questionnaire.

But after a few tears and belly laughs, you may also wonder why you and your children don’t do this kind of thing more often. There is a fast-growing collection of studies around gratitude and its links to everything from stronger immune systems to better divorces. And while the study of gratitude in children is still in its early stages, evidence is also emerging that it can help them too.

Here are a few things to try.

Continued at:

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/28/how-to-start-a-year-round-family-gratitude-ritual/

Myrtle Beach Shopping Days aim to lure customers this weekend

By Maya T. Prabhu


MYRTLE BEACH — Grand Strand residents are encouraged to head to Myrtle Beach businesses this weekend for 72 hours of sales during “Myrtle Beach Shopping Days.”

Businesses in Myrtle Beach can participate in the city-wide shopping days event, where certain regulations are relaxed to allow businesses to promote three days of sales.

According to a resolution approved by the Myrtle Beach City Council in July, the “Myrtle Beach Shopping Days” will be held the weekend after Thanksgiving and Easter weekend.

Continue at:

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2013/11/25/3861433/myrtle-beach-shopping-days-aim.html

Why Does Health Care Cost so Much in America? Ask Harvard's David Cutler

By David Cutler



The American health care system is structured differently from systems in other countries, making it more expensive. Photo courtesy of Joe
Paul Solman: Harvard's David Cutler is among the country's foremost health economists, famous for -- among other research -- a controversial paper arguing that even our exorbitant health care industry, in terms of increased productivity and life span outcomes, delivers more than what we pay for it.

Cutler, who was profiled by Roger Lowenstein in the New York Times Magazine in 2005, subsequently worked for President Barack Obama on health care issues, and talked to us recently for a story about cost savings. But far more of what he had to say seemed worthwhile than what we have time to air. Here is some of it.

Paul Solman: Why does health care cost so much in America?

David Cutler: Let me give you three reasons why. The first one is because the administrative costs of running our health care system are astronomical. About one quarter of health care cost is associated with administration, which is far higher than in any other country.

Paul Solman: What's the next highest?

David Cutler: About 10, 15 percent. Just to give you one example, Duke University Hospital has 900 hospital beds and 1,300 billing clerks. The typical Canadian hospital has a handful of billing clerks. Single-payer systems have fewer administrative needs. That's not to say they're better, but that's just on one dimension that they clearly cost less. What a lot of those people are doing in America is they are figuring out how to bill different insurers for different systems, figuring out how to collect money from people, all of that sort of stuff.

The second reason health care costs so much in America is that the U.S. spends more than other countries do on many of the same things. Drugs are the most commonly noted item, where a branded drug will cost much more in the U.S. than in other countries. But, for example, doctors also earn more for doing the same thing in the U.S. than they do in other countries, and a lot of suppliers charge more for things like durable medical equipment in the U.S. than in other countries.

Continue at:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/businessdesk/2013/11/why-does-health-care-cost-so-m.html

Murrells Inlet: Changing board signals group’s changing priorities

By Jason Lesley

Coastal Observer

Last week’s changing of the guard on the Murrells Inlet 2020 board of directors was set in motion 16 years ago when the group was formed with the dual mission of promoting economic growth and protecting the inlet’s water quality.

Eventually, directors would have to choose one over the other.

When owners of the six restaurants along the Marsh Walk decided to stage a series of weekly fireworks displays to promote tourism last summer, a majority of Murrells Inlet 2020 directors objected on the grounds that the fireworks residue polluted the water. That vote exposed a rift between the economic growth and water quality factions. Al Hitchcock, an owner of Drunken Jack’s Restaurant and Inlet Affairs, and Charlie Campbell, owner of Dead Dog Salloon, were asked to leave a board meeting during fireworks discussions after new conflict of interest guidelines were established. Without the restaurateurs’ input the board voted to condemn the weekly fireworks exhibits.

Continued at:

http://www.coastalobserver.com/articles/2013/111413/4.html

Why Scandinavian women make the rest of the world jealous

By Lynn Parramore



Right:  Denmark's member of the European Parliament Hanne Dahl votes as she attends with her baby a voting session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg March 26, 2009. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler


Icelanders are among the happiest and healthiest people on Earth. They publish more books per capita than any other country, and they have more artists. They boast the most prevalent belief in evolution — and elves, too. Iceland is the world's most peaceful nation (the cops don't even carry guns), and the best place for kids. Oh, and they've got a lesbian head of state, the world's first. Granted, the national dish is putrefied shark meat, but you can't have everything.

Iceland is also the best place to have a uterus, according to the folks at the World Economic Forum. The Global Gender Gap Report ranks countries based on where women have the most equal access to education and healthcare, and where they can participate most fully in the country's political and economic life.

According to the 2013 report, Icelandic women pretty much have it all. Their sisters in Finland, Norway, and Sweden have it pretty good, too: those countries came in second, third and fourth, respectively. Denmark is not far behind at number seven.

The U.S. comes in at a dismal 23rd, which is a notch down from last year. At least we're not Yemen, which is dead last out of 136 countries.

Continue at:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/31/us-why-scandinavian-women-idUSBRE99U18W20131031

Veterans from WWII to Iraq reflect on their service

Nov 08, 2013
By Heather Biance

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Their reasons for joining the military were all different - some volunteered, others were drafted. On Veterans Day, the country honors their selfless service in times of war.

"I felt proud to be an American. I felt a new kind of strength to be considered a man at 17," says World War II Veteran, Alford Powell.

Others, like Vietnam veteran Carl Crowthers, were drafted. The then-27-year-old went from being a salesman to a medic in eight short weeks of training.

"It was very fulfilling, but on the other hand I saw a lot of casualties and lost some good friends while I was there," says Crowthers.

It's been more than 40 years, but even after all this time, it takes one mention of James' name to bring him back in time.

Crowther's goes on, "He pleaded to me everyday Lieutenant, Lieutenant, I'm going to die, I'm going to die. And I said 'James, I'll get you out of here as soon as I can.' But there was just no replacement. Medics were short at the time. That weighs on me."

Continue at:

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/23917291/veterans-from-wwii-to-iraq-reflect-on-their-service

New movies this week in Myrtle Beach-area theaters

Published: November 7, 2013 

VIA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


New this week

About Time 
When Tim Lake is 21, his father tells him a secret: The men in their family can travel through time. Although he can’t change history, Tim resolves to improve his life by getting a girlfriend. R. Starring: Tom Hughes, Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams. Critic’s rating: n/a

Thor: The Dark World
Thor, the Mighty Avenger, battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. PG-13. Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Tom Hiddleston. Critic’s rating: 2.5 stars.

Twelve Years a Slave  
In the years before the Civil War, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. Subjected to the cruelty of one owner, he also found unexpected kindness from another, as he struggled continually to survive and maintain some of his dignity. R. Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt. Critic’s rating: 3.5 stars.

Read more here: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2013/11/07/3819132/new-movies-this-week-in-myrtle.html#storylink=cpy

More Movie Summaries:

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2013/11/07/3819132/new-movies-this-week-in-myrtle.html#storylink=cpy

Myrtle Beach performing arts center close to becoming reality after Tuesday referendum

By Maya T. Prabhu

November 5, 2013


MYRTLE BEACH — With the votes from the Coastal Lane 1 precinct still out, about 54 percent of Myrtle Beach voters on Tuesday supported a referendum that would allow the city to raise property taxes to pay for the construction of a $10 million performing arts center.

One of the voting machines went down at Coastal Lane 1, and those votes weren’t counted with the others Tuesday evening. The machine had to be sent to the county to retrieve the votes, with the results expected to be available Wednesday morning. Between 200 and 220 residents reportedly voted at the Coastal Lane 1 precinct at the Horry County Complex on 21st Avenue North, said city spokesman Mark Kruea, a number that wouldn’t change Tuesday’s outcome.

Continue at:

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2013/11/05/3817997/myrtle-beach-performing-arts-referendum.html

Dining notes for the Myrtle Beach area

Published: November 4, 2013

Sprinkles are rainbowlicious

If you could see me as I write this, you would notice that I am grinning from ear to ear. The gorgeously decadent sprinkle enrobed rainbow cake on the cover is such a lovely and tasty looking bit of sugary decadence that I began to smile as soon as I took the book out of the envelope.

The subtitle brings a chuckle. “Rainbowlicious” is a word author Jackie Alpers invented that indeed accurately describes the intersection of lovely and delicious sugary wonders described in this book that is as much a decorating book as a cookbook. Alpers’ biographical note says she is an award-winning photographer. No doubt about it. The photos in this book make it worth owning. If I were to take them out of the book they would make a wonderful decoration for the kitchen, a party or anywhere foodies gather.

Continue at:
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2013/11/04/3806414/dining-notes-for-the-myrtle-beach.html

One more thing teens hate: Facebook

To escape parents, teenagers seek out alternate corners of the Internet


By Quentin Fottrell
Nov. 3, 2013
 
Teenagers rebel, do things their parents wouldn’t do, and go places their parents never go. In other words, the last thing they want to do these days is log into Facebook.

As Facebook FB -0.34%  acknowledged on the company’s third-quarter conference call on Wednesday, the most popular social network on the planet is losing its luster among the kids in America. “We did see a decrease in daily users, especially younger teens,” Facebook chief financial officer David Ebersman said Wednesday, though he added that teenage use remained stable from the second to the third quarter. Not everyone is convinced, however: “Today’s 13-year-olds were four-years-old when Facebook started,” says Larissa Faw, editor at trade publication Youth Markets Alert. “Like McDonald’s and Nike, they have always lived in a world with that site. They want to discover new places to hang out.”

Continue at:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/one-more-thing-teens-hate-facebook-2013-11-01?reflink=MW_GoogleNews&google_editors_picks=true

 

Financial Immunization Against Poverty in Old Age

By Paul Solman

The key for older people managing money, whether or not their kids are involved, is to make sure they don't outlive their savings. Image courtesy of Flickr user 401(K) 2013.

Paul Solman frequently answers questions from the NewsHour audience on business and economic news on his Making Sen$e page. Friday's come from readers at Next Avenue. The NewsHour has partnered with Next Avenue, a new PBS website that offers articles, blogs and other critical information for adults over 50.

Patricia M. Bellace: Virtually every column that I read regarding money management of (or for) older people (whether it's about estate planning, how the adult child should "talk to" the parent about assets or how the parent is planning to manage their finances in retirement) assumes that the older adult has children.

NextAvenue
I don't. I know other men and women my age who do not have children. What money management, retirement management and estate management issues should a childless older adult consider as part of his or her planning?

(Separately, I know other older adults my age who wouldn't begin to trust their adult children with their finances for very good reasons!)

Paul Solman: If you don't have children or, even if you do and don't care about leaving an inheritance to them (or to anyone else), money management reduces to a simple question: will you have enough to see you through your remaining years?

Continue at:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/businessdesk/2013/11/financial-immunization-against.html