Table of contents for July - August 2015 in Reader's Digest

A BASKET SITS BY my front door. It’s my daughters’ shoe basket, and it’s spilling over with sneakers, flip-flops, rain boots, snow boots, Crocs for around the house, and Merrells for hikes in the woods. When I look at the photograph on page 68, that basket is all I can see. Some of the girls pictured there couldn’t “bring an extra pair of shoes to the photo shoot in case it rains,” as we’d suggested. In their families, shoes are shared among siblings. What they wore was all they had. The girls are refugees from war-torn countries like Syria, Rwanda, Congo, and Sudan who have legally resettled in Chicago. Twenty-six-year-old Blair Brettschneider started a program to help them with everything from their English to their résumés. Some of the girls…

“EVERYBODY YOU EVER meet knows something you don’t.” A cab driver told me that 30 years ago, and I’m reminded of it every single day. BILL NYE, science educator, in Men’s Journal AMERICA IS AN unfinished masterpiece. America, like no other nation, allows you to participate in its progress, carve a place in its promise, play a role in its possibilities. This is both a privilege for Americans and a necessity for the nation. EBOO PATEL, founder of an interfaith youth organization, in the book Gettysburg Replies Sign up for a daily Points to Ponder e-mail at rd.com/ptp. Everything in life boils down to this riddle: Are you what you think you are? The world will let you know whether you are a keeper or just recreational. BILL WITHERS, musician,…

IN MARCH 2010, Emily Herx and her husband began in vitro fertilization—a process in which an egg and sperm are combined in a lab and then transferred to the uterus— in hopes that she would become pregnant. As part of the procedure, she needed to take a few days off from her job as a language arts teacher at St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic school in Fort Wayne, Indiana. So in February, she e-mailed the school’s principal, Sandra Guffey, who wrote back in support: “You are in my prayers.” Unfortunately, the IVF failed. The following spring, Herx and her husband began a second round of IVF. When Herx requested time off, she was called in to a meeting with Monsignor John Kuzmich, the pastor of St. Vincent de Paul…

Be picky at the market If packages of meat have excessive liquid, they may have been stored at an improper temperature or for too long. The container should be relatively dry. Stop washing meat The rules have changed: Whereas home cooks commonly wash meat before cooking to splash away pathogens, the USDA now says this process doesn’t kill any bacteria. Instead, it spreads germs all over your hands, sink, and kitchen. Clean hands and surfaces often Harmful bacteria can get onto cutting boards and countertops. Sanitize all surfaces with hot, soapy water, and frequently wash kitchen cloths. Avoid pink meat Rule of thumb: You’re never in the clear to eat rare or mediumrare beef, pork, veal, or lamb that is ground. The internal temperature should reach 160° F, about medium…

Buy These PRESCRIPTION DRUGS When Consumer Reports called more than 200 pharmacies nationwide for prices on a month’s supply of commonly prescribed drugs, it found a 450 percent difference in costs between the highest- and lowest-priced stores. Drugs at bigbox-store pharmacies were much cheaper than those at many drugstore chains, especially if you opt for generics. Plus, you don’t need a membership—warehouse pharmacies are required by law to remain open to the public. CEREAL Stock up on the warehouse version that comes in two large bags to a pack. You can save 60 percent on favorites such as Froot Loops and Honey Nut Cheerios by buying in bulk. Even organic cereals can cost 25 percent less at warehouse clubs. PET SUPPLIES Certain brands of dog food can be up to…

Healthiest Bedtime Reading Habits During a two-week study, Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers assigned 12 participants to read either an e-book on an iPad or a printed book before they went to sleep each evening for five nights. Then they switched formats and read for another five nights. When people read on the iPad, they took longer to fall asleep and spent less time in REM sleep than with the traditional books. Researchers say using devices that emit blue light—including cell phones and laptops— before bedtime can have negative long-term health effects. Walk Off a Sugar Craving In an Austrian study, about 50 overweight participants walked for 15 minutes on a treadmill one day and remained sedentary another day. In both cases, they were given a test designed to trigger…

… YOU FALL IN LOVE TOO EASILY A Columbus, Ohio, woman had her purse stolen by three armed men in the parking lot outside her home. Two hours later, there was a knock on her door. It was one of the thieves. He had come by to ask her out. Source: Columbus Dispatch … YOU HAVE YET TO CUT THE APRON STRINGS After unsuccessfully robbing a convenience store, a young man ran across the street to another store, called his mother, and asked her to pick him up. Source: sun-sentinel.com … YOUR FEELINGS ARE EASILY HURT A Good Samaritan noticed an elderly man being robbed, so he jumped in and punched the thief. The thief was so upset, he called the police to complain. Source: utsandiego.com … YOU TRY TOO…

MY GUIDE DOG, Matt, shuffles at my feet. We’re on a crowded train, and I’m trying to build a mental picture of the other riders. I smell a strong, sweet perfume. My fellow passengers probably haven’t noticed it—they’ll be busy chatting on their cell phones or reading the paper. But to me, it’s a clue. Does the lovely scent belong to a girl on her way to meet her boyfriend? Or perhaps she has a first date? I can smell coffee too. I tell myself to be careful in case there’s a hot drink nearby. This is my life as a deaf-blind woman: trapped in a world that is getting darker by the day, a silent world interrupted only by the blurry low-level white noise my hearing aids give me.…

“Social change is better achieved by being for something than against something. HELENE GAYLE, CEO THE SMILE IS THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE. VICTOR BORGE, pianist If you don’t stick to your values when they’re being tested, they’re not values: They’re hobbies. JON STEWART For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love. CARL SAGAN WORK LIKE THERE IS SOMEONE WORKING 24 HOURS A DAY TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU. MARK CUBAN, ent repreneur IN THREE WORDS I CAN SUM UP EVERYTHING I’VE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE: IT GOES ON. ROBERT FROST A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. JOAN WALSH ANGLUND, children’s author…

Laughter, the Best Medicine (Even at the Doctor’s Office!) I read the skeleton-at-thebar joke to my wife. She said it had to be a woman skeleton. A man would have ordered only the beer and forgotten the mop! WILLIAM THOMPSON, Dickson, Tennessee A Lifetime of Humor When I was a kid, my mom would read Reader’s Digest jokes to me. In high school, I would flip through and find each page that had a joke. In college, she would tear out the jokes and send them to me in the mail. When she passed away, I got my very own subscription. Now I know I have truly hit adulthood—I read the entire magazine from cover to cover. KATIE DENSON, Coronado, Cal i fornia Watch the World Wake Up I am…

I REALLY ENJOY my job. I get to wallow in the fascinating world of research science and then pass on my passions to eager young minds. And I pull out all the stops—liquid nitrogen gets sloshed around in abundance, hydrogen balloons are ignited like mini Hindenburgs, and ethanol‑fueled rockets zip around the playgrounds. Chemistry is fun. So why is it the bogeyman of the sciences? Why is everybody scared of chemicals? The very word chemical is often used as a synonym for toxin or poison. We say something is “chock‑full of chemicals” to imply it’s artificial and bad for you. Meaningless slogans like “chemical‑free” pop up on products in health food stores and billboards. And nobody seems to mind, least of all the United Kingdom’s Advertising Standards Authority. I know—I’ve…

“The triable issue is whether Mrs. Herx was nonrenewed because of her sex or because of a belief about the morality of in vitro fertilization,” wrote U.S. district judge Robert Miller in response to the motion from the diocese to throw out the case. And though the diocese tried to claim otherwise, Miller was clear that religious employers are not immune to federal laws that govern sex discrimination. At the trial, which began on December 16, 2014, and lasted for four days, the diocese argued that its decision to terminate Herx was religiously based, since the church considers IVF to be “gravely immoral” for both women and men engaged in the treatment. Throughout the proceedings, Herx’s attorney, Kathleen DeLaney, argued that “the [Civil Rights Act] must protect the rights of…

■ PIZZAIOLA SPREAD: Grate 2 vineripe tomatoes, seeded, using a coarse box grater; strain and press out all excess liquid. Stir in 2 tbs. finely grated Parmesan cheese, 1 to 2 tsp. finely chopped basil, and ¼ tsp. salt. Spread on corn. ■ TOASTED SESAME BUTTER: Stir together 4 tbs. salted butter, softened; 1 tsp. white sesame seeds; ½ tsp. finely chopped cilantro; and ¼ tsp. toasted sesame oil. Spread on corn; sprinkle with more sesame seeds. ■ MEXICAN-STYLE STREET CORN: Spread low-fat mayonnaise on still-warm corn. Roll in ½ cup crumbled Cotija or feta cheese. Sprinkle with chili powder. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing. ■ GARLIC–OLD BAY BUTTER: Stir together 4 tbs. salted butter, softened; 1 small clove garlic, pressed; and ¼ tsp. Old Bay Seasoning. Spread on…

96 full-time employees 250 part-time employees 1 social secretary: acts as a conduit between the first family and the residence staff and supervises seating for state dinners and other formal events 8 ushers: manage the residence budget, house maintenance, and staff scheduling 6 butlers: serve the first family in their private living quarters and guests at formal receptions and dinners 6 florists: create unique arrangements that suit the first family’s style 3 calligraphers: handwrite invitations for all formal White House events 3 valets: act as the president’s personal assistants 13 grounds crew: maintain the 52 acres that include the White House grounds and adjoining park 1 chief curator: oversees the collections of art, furniture, and decorative objects used to furnish the residence *Numbers are approximate.…

THE RAMP, the main tunnel in the San José Mine in Chile’s Atacama Desert, begins about a mile above sea level near the top of a round, rocky mountain. From the 16-by-16-foot entrance, the Ramp corkscrews into the mountain through a series of gradually narrowing switchbacks. Men driving dump trucks, front loaders, and pickup trucks use the winding path to gather minerals collected by the workers who mine small passageways for ore-bearing rock. On the morning of August 5, 2010, some men are working almost 2,500 feet below the surface, loading freshly blasted ore into a dump truck. Another group works about a hundred feet above them, fortifying a passageway, while still others are resting in the Refuge, a room carved out of the rock some 2,300 feet down. The…

WE HUMANS are programmed to grow stronger, faster, and smarter; to climb higher, live longer, and populate every last inch of real estate. We’ve toppled scores of world records over the past few decades, but when will our progress peak? No matter how we enhance our natural capabilities, our potential is bound by certain scientific principles—laws of physics, biomechanics, and thermodynamics—that don’t yield to human ambition. Here, scientists define for us where, exactly, those boundaries lie. Most Weight We Can Lift: 1,000 Pounds The world’s strongest weight lifters can hoist 1,000 pounds—but Todd Schroeder, a biokinesiologist at the University of Southern California, thinks they’re wimping out. Our brains limit the number of muscle fibers activated at any time to keep us from getting hurt. “Turn that safety off, and you…

CALEB MARTIN’S shift as a fastfood cook ended at around 8:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day, and the 18-yearold hopped into his car for the quick drive home through the wooded back roads of Pegram, Tennessee. Shortly after he turned left onto Old Sams Creek Road, an SUV coming toward him made a U-turn, pulling into Caleb’s lane about 15 feet in front of him. Just then, a woman came out of nowhere and staggered toward the SUV in the middle of the road. “I figured the driver would go around her or stop to help,” Caleb says. Instead, the SUV driver slowed down and swerved toward the woman, forced her back to the shoulder, and pinned her against the guardrail. Caleb jammed on the brakes, honked, and lowered his…

Dear Sir/Madam/Dependent/Spouse/Dependent No. 2, This notice is to inform you that the procedure/treatment performed on January 2, 2015, is not covered under your health plan by reason code L0L. Receiving an Explanation of Benefits showing that a service was not covered can be confusing and frustrating. We are here to help. Please refer to the following reason codes explaining why your problem cannot be covered. PRE&PRE: This service requires preauthorization of the preauthorization. PENPAL78: The Plan will not pay for this service until you mail forms back and forth with us seven or eight times. V0CAB: Because we’re not sure what the word maxillofacial means. TOS5UP: If there is a conflict between what is written in the Benefit Handbook and your Health Contract, we will flip a coin. If we…

SS SERENDIPITY In July 1915, Henry and his eight-year-old daughter, Pearl, were excited for the company outing the next day. That evening, Henry had a violent argument with his landlord, ending with the landlord spitting on a painting of the Virgin Mary. Henry was so upset, he fell ill and canceled their trip. He and Pearl missed the cruise on the SS Eastland, which sank with over 800 people on board— but not my future grandfather and mother. Thanks to that miracle argument 100 years ago, 22 descendants are alive today. VERNON MAGNESEN, Elmhurst, Illinois CLEAR EYES, FULL HEARTS Every day, upon picking up my 11-year-old son from school, I would ask, “How was your day?” For years, I got the same response— “Fine, fine”—with no eye contact. His autism,…

LOW RISK Processed Foods Sausage, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets are good bets for avoiding bacteria, according to a 2013 report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest that analyzed 12 years of foodborne-illness outbreak data. “The processing—whether it’s cooking or chemicals—kills pathogens,” explains Caroline Smith DeWaal, director of food safety at the CSPI. “We’re not saying they are great for you, but they are low risk when it comes to acute foodborne pathogens.” For example, outbreaks from chicken nuggets were rare—only 200 illnesses were documented over the 12-year period. MEDIUM RISK Pork Despite its reputation as a petri dish, pork is actually relatively safe. One reason: We now cook the heck out of it. Another is that until around World War II, domestic pigs were fed garbage…

THE WRITER SUSAN SONTAG gave birth to her son, David Rieff, in 1952. After his mother died in 2004, David found this still-relevant list of parenting tips, written when he was seven, in one of her journals. 1. Be consistent. 2. Don’t speak about him to others (e.g., tell funny things) in his presence. 3. Don’t praise him for something I wouldn’t always accept as good. 4. Don’t reprimand him harshly for something he’s been allowed to do. 5. Daily routine: eating, homework, bath, teeth, room, story, bed. 6. Don’t allow him to monopolize me when I am with other people. 7. Always speak well of his pop (no faces, sighs, impatience, etc.). 8. Do not discourage childish fantasies. 9. Make him aware that the grown-up world is none of…

Translate percentages into fractions: If someone says that “25 percent of people clicked on this button,” quickly chime in with “So about one in four,” and make a note. Everyone will nod in agreement, secretly impressed. Ask the presenter to go back a slide: Do this at any point in the presentation, and you’ll look like you’re paying closer attention than anyone else. Nod continuously while pretending to take notes: Always bring a notepad with you. Take notes by writing down one word from every sentence you hear. Nod continuously while doing so. Encourage everyone to “take a step back”: There comes a point in most meetings when everyone is chiming in, except you. This is a great point to say “Guys, guys, can we take a step back here?”…

■ SHOULD I BE BILLED FOR CALLS AND E-MAILS WITH MY DOCTOR? Not usually. When insurance pays for an appointment, follow-up is considered part of the original visit. But if you were to phone months later about something else, you could be charged. Medicare suggests that doctors advise patients of those charges in advance. ■ DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR COPIES OF MY HEALTH RECORDS? Yes. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) lets providers covered by it charge a “reasonable, cost-based fee” for making protected health information available. Charges may include costs for photocopying, supplies, postage, and preparing a summary (rather than a full record). This also applies to forms for camp and school physicals and those for disability, gym releases, and family medical leave. But it’s…

“WE ARE GOOD MOMS,” I said to my friend, as we sat on our very fancy beach chairs, under our very sturdily stabbed-into-the-sand beach umbrella and watched as our girls played in the surf. In fact, I felt like an extraordinarily good mom on that summer morning—I’d woken up early, made a picnic lunch, herded my three- and five-year-old daughters into the car, driven to my friend’s house, packed her and her three- and five-year-old daughters into the car, and driven the hour and a half to the New Jersey Shore, where we unfurled our towels on the beach by 10 a.m. Out of nowhere, the girls took off running. About 50 yards from us, a man—maybe in his late 50s—was fishing with gigantic poles that looked like they could…

We use a really strong sunblock when we go to the beach with the kids. It’s SPF 80: You squeeze the tube, and a sweater comes out. LEW SCHNEIDER The Coney Island Cyclone is one of the oldest roller coasters in the world … built in 1927. Yeah. They should change the name to “1927!” because that fact is way scarier than cyclones. KUMAIL NANJIANI I think my pilot was a little inexperienced. We were sitting on the runway, and he said, “OK, folks, we’re gonna be taking off in a just few—whoa! Here we go.” KEVIN NEALON “I can’t wait until your vacation is over.” —Everyone following you on Instagram @KRISTENCARNEY I walked up to a tourist information booth and asked them to tell me about a couple of…

1. flummox ('fluh-muks) v.—A: laugh out loud. B: confuse. C: ridicule. 2. crudivore ('crew-dih-vor) n.— A: foulmouthed person. B: garbage can. C: eater of raw food. 3. hoosegow ('hoos-gow) n.— A: jail. B: scaredy-cat. C: strong liquor, usually moonshine. 4. mollycoddle ('mah-lee-kah-dl) v.—A: treat with an absurd degree of attention. B: mix unwisely. C: moo or imitate a cow. 5. donnybrook ('dah-nee-bruk) n.—A: rapid stream. B: wild brawl. C: stroke of luck. 6. cantankerous (kan-'tan-keh-res) adj.—A: very sore. B: hard to deal with. C: obnoxiously loud. 7. codswallop ('kahdz-wah-lep) n.—A: sound produced by a hiccup. B: rare rainbow fish. C: nonsense. 8. doozy ('doo-zee) n.—A: extraordinary one of its kind. B: incomprehensible song. C: double feature. 9. discombobulate (dis-kehm-'bahbyoo-layt) v.—A: take apart. B: fail. C: upset or frustrate. 10. hootenanny…