Table of contents for February 2016 in Reader's Digest

I MIGHT BE the most annoying person to live with ever. My poor husband. After almost 30 years in magazines, I always have a way to make things better. You can imagine what a treat that is for him. Once a year, I organize the junk drawer. (Steve: “But it’s a junk drawer. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”) I will not be deterred. For the piles of paper and islands of toys that accumulate on every surface of our home, I bought some lovely soft-sided bins. (“Bins, shmins,” he and the girls laughed. “Can’t find it if it’s buried in a bin!”) I also write diet books (“Stop & Drop a Pound a Day,” page 122), so might I suggest a healthier burger than that one? (“Nope. I’m good.”) Just…

ON A COLD AFTERNOON in January 2015, Yesenia Diosdado, 11, got off a school bus in Lenexa, Kansas, near the apartment building where she lives with her family. When the bus pulled away, Yesenia saw police and emergency workers attending to victims of a three-car accident that had occurred at a busy intersection nearby. Yesenia joined a small crowd of onlookers across the street. She noticed that an injured woman was trying to communicate with an EMS worker using sign language, but he couldn’t understand her. “I heard him ask for an interpreter,” Yesenia says. She ran over to the paramedic to help—her mother, a former sign language interpreter, had taught her and her siblings how to sign (no one in the family is hearing impaired). “She said, ‘I sign.…

DAD HAD a twinkle in his eye. “Wait until you see this trick,” he told me. “This secret. You’re guaranteed to make money. I’ll show you when we sit down at a table.” A blackjack table, he meant. Dad loves blackjack, especially with my three siblings and me, and we’ll circle a casino floor for an hour just to find a dealer with enough empty seats for three or four or all five of us, so that we can have our own little cabal. He inducted us into the game decades ago in Vegas, and we continued to play over the years because it was another excuse and another way to spend time together: our ritual, our refuge. Before last weekend, we hadn’t played in a long while. But for…

MY MASTERPIECE I was four, playing outside in the humid Kentucky air. I saw my grandfather’s truck and thought, Granddad shouldn’t have to drive such an ugly truck. Then I spied a gallon of paint. Idea! I got a brush and painted white polka dots all over the truck. I was on the roof finishing the job when he walked up, looking as if he were in a trance. “Angela, that’s the prettiest truck I’ve ever seen!” Sometimes I think adults don’t stop to see things through a child’s eyes. He could have crushed me. Instead, he lifted my little soul. ANGELA BRADLEY-AUTREY, Deer Park, Washington THE LONG LIFE OF ROOM 1108 A long flight of weathered steps led to a hollow wooden door with rusty numbers beckoning us into…

In Manger Lowly The Worldwide Christmas Nativity in Crèche Art, Carols and Poetry Elizabeth Anne “Betsy” Christensen www.authorhouse.com $49.99 | Available in hardcover only Over 400 pages of full-color images For over sixty-five years, author Elizabeth Anne “Betsy” Christensen has been a passionate Creche (nativity) collector. Her new book displays 205 of her favorite Creche scenes from her extensive collection, depicting nativity interpretations from around the world. The Copenhagen Interpretation Warren R. B. Dixon www.xlibris.com $29.99 hc | $19.99 sc | $3.99 eb This tale of good and evil extremes happened among a few Americans living in Germany during the Reagan years. Terror and hatred aimed at Americans led into adventure and conflict; into death and the Orphic madness between men and women. The Friendly Stranger One Man’s Struggle to…

ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, the psychologist Arthur Aron succeeded in making two strangers fall in love in his laboratory. Two summers ago, I applied his technique in my own life, which is how I found myself standing on a bridge at midnight, staring into a man’s eyes for exactly four minutes. Let me explain. Earlier in the evening, that man and I were hanging out for the first time one-on-one. He was a university acquaintance I occasionally ran into at the climbing gym and had thought, What if? We were nursing our first beers when our conversation took an unexpectedly personal turn, and he said, “I suspect, given a few commonalities, you could fall in love with anyone. If so, how do you choose someone?” I liked learning about myself…

Funny People’s Favorite Jokes The jokes in the November issue are superb! Even the two gems by Mitch Hedberg. I didn’t “get” either one completely, but I laughed like a hyena. S. M., via e-mail Seriously, Listen to Your Voice Mail I never knew my phone saved deleted voice mail until I read this. I lost a dear friend this year. He loved to joke around and would often leave me voice mails. I thought most were gone forever. I retrieved three. They made me laugh and cry. DANIEL SHEFFER, Shelby Township, Michigan Finding and Stopping the Next Mass Shooter This article seems to say that if these murderers had no guns, there would be no mass shootings. Not once does the author address mental health issues, from which it has been…

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? It’s starting in five minutes! I hate having to leave your ticket at the box office. Why can’t you just show up on time like a normal person? You think you’d be able to be here early since you’re not coming from a job, a girlfriend, any kind of rich social life, or a commitment to public service. Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. Give me a kiss. What did you think of that usher? She seems pretty, a little chunky maybe, but nice, right? A nice face. You need to find someone like that. Did you like her? Did you say anything to her, or did you just nod and shut down like you do around any girl who’s not Sarah? OK, it’s starting. Do you…

NEARLY EVERY morning at five o’clock, Dale and Debra Krein woke up to the same racket—the uninterrupted barking of their neighbors’ dogs. The neighbors, Karen Szewz and Jon Updegraff, had moved into their home next door to the Kreins’ near Rogue River, Oregon, in 1997. For two years, Evans Creek Road was a quiet rural lane. Then, in 1999, Szewz and Updegraff bought some Tibetan mastiffs and, in 2002, began breeding them. In 2004, the couple started raising livestock as well, and the dogs were trained to protect their sheep and goats. Typically weighing up to 160 pounds each, with thick black and tan coats, the mastiffs numbered anywhere from four to 11 on the property. When the owners left for work each morning, the dogs, who were kept outside,…

WHEN ANNA Z. moved to Chicago, she joined a group for Arabic speakers. “I love trying new things,” she explains. “I saw this group and thought, Why not?” As luck would have it, the organizer grew up in Fez, Morocco, where Anna had lived when she was learning the language. Today they’re married with a little boy. Some people might say that kismet led Anna to her future husband. But Anna’s openness to life’s quirky possibilities put her in the right place at the right time. Luck isn’t some mysterious force. “To a very large extent, we are responsible for much of the good fortune that we encounter,” says Richard Wiseman, PhD, a professor of psychology and the author of The Luck Factor. Here, some of the traits that separate…

Fried HE TRICK: Mason jar rings For perfectly round fried eggs (handy for breakfast sandwiches), heat a pan and spritz Mason jar rings with cooking spray. Place the rings on the pan, and slowly drop one cracked egg into each of the rings. Cook for about 5 minutes for a medium yolk. Use tongs to remove the Mason jar rings, and serve. Scrambled THE TRICK: Add crème fraîche To cook scrambled eggs that aren’t too runny or too dry, heat a large pan over medium high and add a tablespoon of butter. Crack six eggs directly into the pan. Egg whites and yolks have distinct flavors, and whisking them may cause a loss in depth of flavor. Scramble for 1 minute, and then add a tablespoon of crème fraîche. Its fat makes…

What Your Arm Knows About Skin Cancer British researchers counted moles— an important predictor of skin cancer risk—on nearly 4,000 female Caucasian twins. Those who had more than 11 moles on their right arm were likely to have more than 100 moles throughout their body, which could indicate a significantly increased risk of skin cancer. Visit a doctor for a full checkup if you discover more than 11 moles on your arm or any moles that have changed color or shape in the past few months. Learning Skills Improve With Age In a Psychological Science study, 44 young adults (around age 24) and 45 older adults (around age 74) answered general questions about topics like history and geography. As expected, the older adults answered more questions correctly than young adults—41…

FROM THE BOOK IN ORDER TO LIVE I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR TWO THINGS: that I was born in North Korea and that I escaped from North Korea. Both of these events shaped me, and I would not trade them for an ordinary and peaceful life. But there is more to the story of how I became who I am today. There’s a quote I once read from Joan Didion: “We tell ourselves stories in order to live.” Sometimes, the only way we can survive our own memories is to shape them into a story that makes sense out of events that seem inexplicable. I’ve seen the horrors that humans can inflict, but I’ve also witnessed acts of kindness and sacrifice in the worst circumstances. I know that it is…

“THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE MISPLACE A BAG, AND THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE TIMES” is how a spokesman for Alaska Airlines summed up matters after it was revealed that the airline had lost the luggage of its CEO, Brad Tilden. Source: nbcnews.com “I HAVE TO CUT OUT EATING BREAKFAST AT HOME.” That’s the conclusion a New Jersey schoolteacher reached after he was suspended for being late to work 111 times over the past two years. Source: newser.com “WE’RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT DANIEL WILL BE GETTING THE NEW PHOTO HE REQUESTED.” An Australian on the lam for drug and traffic offenses reacted to his mug shot the police posted on Facebook by responding, “Can you use a better photo? This is a horrible mug shot.” The cops granted Daniel…

I spend three minutes every day choosing a TV channel to leave on for my dog. Then I go to work, and people take me seriously as an adult. @DAMIENFAHEY Why do dogs always race to the door when the doorbell rings? It’s hardly ever for them. HARRY HILL “We’re eating dinner soon. Don’t fill up on homework.” —Dog mom @BAZECRAZE (ALEX BAZE) We’ve begun to long for the pitter-patter of little feet, so we bought a dog. It’s cheaper, and you get more feet. RITA RUDNER Just realized a pregnant dog is a dog full of puppies. That’s the best. @SHUTUPMIKEGINN A Canadian psychologist is selling a video that teaches you how to test your dog’s IQ. Here’s how it works: If you spend $12.99 for the video, your…

“I’M NOT going to say I told you so” is pretty much the same thing as saying “I told you so.” Except worse, because you’re saying “I told you so” and congratulating yourself for your restraint in not saying what you totally just said. JENNY LAWSON, blogger, in her memoir Furiously Happy RARE IS THE person who prefers the beauty found in the layers, the strata that develop over years of persevering through life and all its complications. Why don’t we feel the urge to kiss the stretch marks that formed over the bellies that held our babies? The smile lines. Or the scars that tell part of our story: This happened to me. MOLLY RINGWALD, actress, in Marie Claire THE GREAT THING about social media was how it gave…

I held a camera and took a photo of myself. That is a selfie. I took a photo of myself and two friends. That is a selfie. Also called a groupie. I set the self-timer on a camera and stepped back five feet, and it took my photo. That’s in the selfie family but isn’t a pure selfie. Consider it a self-portrait. I took a photo of a slice of pizza and called it a pizza selfie. Are you in the photo with the pizza? No. It is of just the pizza. Not a selfie. I took a photo of a photo of myself. That is a photo of a photo of yourself. I used a selfie stick to take a photograph of myself. That is a selfie. I used…

ONE SIMPLE STRATEGY— creating and, yes, labeling, zones— significantly reduces meal prep time. Follow this guide for an organized pantry that prepares you for any situation, from busy weeknights to unexpected houseguests. ZONE 1 Home Remedies Avoid rummaging through the entire pantry when a cold or the flu strikes. Prepare one bin with proven comforts: chicken noodle soup, ginger tea, saltine crackers—even meds. ZONE 2 Holiday Fixings Reserve the hard-to-reach corners of your pantry for seasonal goods like pumpkin puree, gravy mix, and cranberry sauce. ZONE 3 Staples Store dry goods like pasta, beans, and rice in clear, airtight canisters to easily gauge when you need to restock. Arrange canned goods on graduated step organizers so each label is visible. Every six months, check expiration dates and donate food you…

IN THEORY, modern smartphones can last hundreds of hours on a single charge. But in practice—that is, when you actually start using them—today’s top phones will squeeze out about 20 hours at best. And even that number can be inflated. Manufacturers love to use pristine laboratory conditions to advertise great numbers, most of which don’t match real-world use. With that in mind, we rounded up research from across the Web and tested both Android (Google) and iOS (Apple) phones to pin down batterysaving tricks that actually work. Delete apps you don’t use On average, smartphone users download about 42 apps but use only ten daily. An easy way to preserve battery life? Get rid of the other 30. • On average, smartphone users download about 42 apps but use only…

In 1975, Englishman Tom Michell was living in South America, where he taught at an English-language boarding school in Argentina. On winter break, he went to Uruguay and on the beach came across an oil-soaked penguin, the lone survivor of a spill. Moved by the bird’s distress, Michell brought him back to the apartment where he was staying, cleaned him, and fed him. The penguin quickly became attached to the young teacher, so he brought the bird—whom he’d named Juan Salvado—back with him to school. He installed him on a terrace adjoining his rooms in one of the dormitories; there the gregarious penguin enjoyed abundant sun and shade and entertained his many visitors. In Michell’s new memoir, The Penguin Lessons, he writes about the joy that Juan Salvado brought to…

I’M LUCKIER THAN MANY WHO HAVE THIS DISORDER. Most days, I live, work, and function just as you do. I’m lucky because my symptoms are relatively mild and well controlled by medication. If you met me on the street and we chatted, you probably wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with me. If you worked with me or saw me every day, you’d probably think I was a little eccentric—but you might not realize I am mentally ill. You’d notice that sometimes I have an odd way of saying things. Sometimes I get quiet. And sometimes I have bad days when it’s better to leave me alone. I told my boss and a few close coworkers that I am bipolar because it affords me a bit of leeway with some…

Before sending a card this Valentine’s Day, be sure you know the language of love. Here are some words perfect for would-be Romeos and Juliets. Don’t know them by heart? See the next page for answers. 1. ardent ('ar-dent) adj.— A: engaged. B: lyrical. C: passionate. 2. paramour ('pa-ruh-mor) n.— A: chaperone. B: lover. C: token of affection. 3. buss ('buhs) v.—A: kiss. B: elope. C: carve initials in a tree. 4. swain ('swayn) n.—A: intense crush. B: male suitor. C: gondola for two. 5. connubial (kuh-'new-bee-uhl) adj.—A: coy. B: of marriage. C: about the heart. 6. troth ('trawth) n.—A: wooden or rustic altar. B: fidelity. C: Celtic wedding ring. 7. coquettish (koh-'ket-ish) adj.— A: flirtatious. B: alluring. C: shy. 8. macushla (muh-'koosh-luh) n.—A: darling. B: fainting spell. C: best…

You can always tell about somebody by the way they put their hands on an animal. BETTY WHITE BE A FOUNTAIN, NOT A DRAIN. REX HUDLER, former MLB player A pat on the back to an artist now could one day result in the song that saves your life. KEVIN SMITH, writer/filmmaker THE DAY THE CHILD REALIZES THAT ALL ADULTS ARE IMPERFECT, HE BECOMES AN ADOLESCENT; THE DAY HE FORGIVES THEM, HE BECOMES AN ADULT. ALDEN NOWLAN, poet ACTIVISM IS THE RENT I PAY FOR LIVING ON THE PLANET. ALICE WALKER, author and activist It’s so hard to forget pain, but it’s even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. CHUCK PALAHNIUK, novelist Horror films don’t create fear. They release it. WES CRAVEN, director…