Influencers are required to let consumers clearly know that they’re being paid for their content. After the WHO classified artificial sweeteners such as aspartame as a possible carcinogens, influencers – including some dietitians – began posting content criticizing action. Aspartame is used in products such as diet soda, yogurt, and chewing gum. Read more →

It's amazing that as we’re all suffering from inflation so little is said about corporate price gouging and the role it’s playing in price increases. Fortunately, there’s a watchdog group that keeps researching inflation. Here’s the latest from Accountable.US: The increase in basic prices having risen at the smallest rate since September 2021. Read more →

In many states and cities, Tuesday, Nov. 7 is Election Day. The states with elections include Kentucky, Virginia, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, Arizona, California, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota,... Read more →

It’s a difficult day for me – 9/11. My niece, whose birthday was Sept. 11, died suddenly in 2020 just months before her 60th birthday. Also heartbreaking, remembering the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 on the America I love. So, my thoughts are on our nation today. My grandfather, Peter R. Slingsby, immigrated to the United States from England Read more →

Whether you’re celebrating at a picnic, barbecue, rally, football game, or work, happy Labor Day. Sunday I went to our local Olympia Harbor Days celebration that’s always scheduled for Labor Day weekend. It was cloudy, so my photos aren’t as good as the years where there’s nice blue sky. Thankfully, we had only a sprinkle of rain. Read more →

It was almost comical when – on Dr. Phil’s program trashing cancel culture that included support for antivaxxers – at the end of the program, Dr. Phil and his wife suggested that people “talk to each other” in a divided America. America isn’t divided. It's the far right is trying to take over and make everyone live according to its fundamentalist “values.” Read more →

The Fourth of July is all about red, white, and blue to celebrate the country’s birthday, the 248th this year. What are some ways Americans celebrate? They host or join a family or neighborhood event. Examples include: picnicking or barbecuing or enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, swimming, sports, or camping. Read more →

Spring is my favorite time of year, and on May Day, when I was a kid, we used to make paper baskets, put flowers in them, and hang them on door knobs. Then we’d ring the bell and run away. One time, I took part in a maypole dance. It was magical. Many countries around the world celebrate International Labor Day on May 1. Read more →

It’s important to reduce the amount of pesticides in food that you and your children are exposed to. One way to do that is to be aware of the amount of pesticides that may be on the fruits and vegetables you buy. Thirty years after warnings of the dangers to children from pesticides, 75 percent of U.S. non-organic produce still contain potentially toxic chemicals, Read more →

The theme for International Women’s Day this year is “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality,” because 37 percent of women don’t use the internet and 259 million fewer woman have access to the internet than men. If women aren’t able to access the Internet, they’re unable to develop digital skills, which diminishes their opportunities to pursue STEM careers. Read more →