New Year's Eve | History of the New Year's Eve Ball

Revelers began celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square as early as 1904, but it was in 1907 that the New Year's Eve Ball made its maiden descent from the flagpole atop One Times Square. Seven versions of the Ball have been designed to signal the New Year. The first New Year's Eve Ball, made of iron and wood and adorned with one hundred 25-watt light bulbs, was 5 feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds. It was built by a young immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr, and for most of the twentieth century the company he founded, sign maker Artkraft Strauss, was responsible for lowering the Ball. As part of the 1907-1908 festivities, waiters in the fabled "lobster palaces" and other deluxe eateries in hotels surrounding Times Square were supplied with battery-powered top hats emblazoned with the numbers "1908" fashioned of tiny light bulbs. At the stroke of midnight, they all "flipped their lids" and the year on their foreheads lit up in conjunction with the numbers "1908" on the parapet of the Times Tower lighting up to signal the arrival of the new year. The Ball has been lowered every year since 1907, with the exceptions of 1942 and 1943, when the ceremony was suspended due to the wartime "dimout" of lights in New York City. Nevertheless, the crowds still gathered in Times Square in those years and greeted the New Year with a minute of silence followed by the ringing of chimes from sound trucks parked at the base of the tower—a harkening-back to the earlier celebrations at Trinity Church, where crowds would gather to "ring out the old, ring in the new." Read More.

Exercise and Seniors

Is it safe for me to exercise?

It is safe for most adults older than 65 years of age to exercise. Even patients who have chronic illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis can exercise safely. Many of these conditions are improved with exercise. If you are not sure if exercise is safe for you or if you are currently inactive, ask your doctor.

How do I get started?

It is important to wear loose, comfortable clothing and well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Your shoes should have a good arch support, and an elevated and cushioned heel to absorb shock.

If you are not already active, begin slowly. Start with exercises that you are already comfortable doing. Starting slowly makes it less likely that you will injure yourself. Starting slowly also helps prevent soreness. The saying "no pain, no gain" is not true for older or elderly adults. You do not have to exercise at a high intensity to get most health benefits.

For example, walking is an excellent activity to start with. As you become used to exercising, or if you are already active, you can slowly increase the intensity of your exercise program.

What type of exercise should I do?

There are several types of exercise that you should do. You will want to do some type of aerobic activity for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Examples are walking, swimming and bicycling. You should also do resistance (also called strength training) 2 days per week.

Warm up for 5 minutes before each exercise session. Walking slowly and then stretching are good warm-up activities. You should also cool down with more stretching for 5 minutes when you finish exercising. Cool down longer in warmer weather.

Exercise is only good for you if you are feeling well. Wait to exercise until you feel better if you have a cold, the flu or another illness. If you miss exercise for more than 2 weeks, be sure to start slowly again.

When should I call my doctor?

If your muscles or joints are sore the day after exercising, you may have done too much. Next time, exercise at a lower intensity. If the pain or discomfort persists, you should talk to your doctor. You should also talk to your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms while exercising: Read More

Exodus: Gods and Kings—Movie Review

by Peter J. O'Connell

Exodus: Gods and Kings. Released: Dec. 12, 2014. Running time: 150 mins. Rated: PG 13 for violence, including battle sequences and intense images

Exodus: Gods and Kings, director Ridley Scott's version of the book of the Bible that recounts Moses' leadership of the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt, is a motion picture that has much to offer its viewers. Primarily what it has to offer is, in fact, motion and pictures. There are spectacular scenes of battles and chariot chases and gasp-inducing visualizations of the plagues afflicting Egypt and the events at the Red Sea. All this is rendered with a masterful mixture of both CGI (computer-generated imagery) and traditional “cast of thousands” effects.

When it comes to development of the famous characters and story line, however, wonderment must yield to disappointment and, in fact, at times outright bafflement. The leads, Christian Bale as Moses and Joel Edgerton as the Pharaoh Ramses, are both British (OK, Edgerton is Australian), and both look it here. This is not necessarily a drawback. Acting style can overcome such factors. After all, Charlton Heston as Moses in Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 classic The Ten Commandments did not look particularly Hebraic, but he did have a commanding presence. Neither Bale nor Edgerton has much of such a presence here, though both have done estimable work in other films in the past. However, the choice to cast Bale and Edgerton does reduce the impact of the powerful story as story.

Moreover, Scott and his writers have eliminated many of the most dramatic parts of the traditional account. We do not get to see the rescue of Moses as a baby from the pogrom to which the Hebrews were being subjected. We do not see the early phases of the relationship between Moses and Ramses. We do not see Moses making his repeated pleas to Pharaoh to “let my people go.” We do not see the Passover ritual. And the whole golden calf business is nowhere to be found in the film.

Many religious folks may find that Scott's efforts—he is on record as an anticlerical agnostic—to provide a naturalistic explanation for the plagues and the events at the Red Sea—much as a cable TV channel on history might do—diminish the whole point of the Biblical account. For example, the parting of the Red Sea and the subsequent destruction of Pharaoh's army appear to be caused, not so much by God's “mighty hand,” as Heston iconically exclaimed, but by waterspouts and a sort of tsunami.

The film's most reduced part of the Biblical Exodus narrative, however, and the most egregious miscasting, involves the most important character—God. Scott has chosen to image God as a petulant, 11-year-old, very British-looking boy. Viewers, religious or otherwise, can only say, “Wha . . . ?” at this choice or, maybe, “WHA . . . ?” And the recording of the Ten Commandments themselves, only briefly and undramatically depicted, does not involve—given this image of God, could not involve—carving in stone by a mighty, lightning-like, divine finger but just some work by Moses with a stylus.

So, see Exodus: Gods and Kings for what it has, visual wonders, but be prepared for what it lacks—a soul. 

4 Seniors Proving That The Elderly Have The Most Fun

There's no such thing as "too old".

Whoever thinks that getting old is boring obviously hasn't used their retirement fund to go on a cruise.

1. If there's one thing we all love, it's having fun.

2. And luckily, that craving doesn't seem to diminish with age.

3. In fact, seniors might be having more fun than anyone.

4. Only one person in this photo looks content.

5. Eat your heart out Clark Kent.

6. Your teen think they're a rebel? Grandpa's generation invented rebellion.

7. Grandma will show you what it actually means to be good at video games.

8. Not only will they beat your at games, they'll trash-talk you while they're doing it.

9. New TV? Check. Funny joke at grandchild's expense? Double check.

10. The older generation still likes to mix things up every now and then to keep things interesting.

11. And they're always down to try new things.

12. Nothing makes grandpa happier than a novelty t-shirt.

13. The same goes for grandma.

14. And they're always keeping up with the latest technology.

15. With...varying degrees of success.

16. Usually though, they're pretty spot on.

17. Having fun with technology: You're doing it right.

Seniors Who Are Having Fun Are Living Longer

So many people spend their whole life working hard so that they can enjoy life when they retire. And when they retire, they are usually too tired, too sick or too poor to have any fun. Many drop dead soon after retirement because they do not know what to do with themselves without going to work. Scientists now found the proof that people over 50 who know how to enjoy life are three times more likely to live healthy and long life than the boring types. There is no explanation about what the scientists meant by ‘enjoying life.”

Aging and the art of living

The latest Report of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) by University College London (UCL) shows clearly that enjoying life leads to better health and longevity. This report is part of the eight years long comprehensive study of ageing in England. The study follows more than 10,000 people in England who are 50 years and older. The goal of the study is to understand different concerns of seniors and the effects their ageing has on the social, economic, health and psychological aspects of the society. Read More.

Turn your backyard into a winter wonderland for wild birds with simple, smart, timely tips

(BPT) - You may think warm weather is prime-time to enjoy the rewarding hobby of bird-feeding and bird-watching. Winter, however, is the time of year when birds need you most - and when you have the greatest chance of attracting them to your backyard. Natural food and water sources become scarce, competition for limited resources is fierce and non-migratory birds are looking for a reliable, good quality meal. It's your moment!



The bird-feeding experts at Cole's Wild Bird Products offer some timely tips for drawing wild birds to your backyard this winter:

* Feed without guilt! There is absolutely no research that shows wild birds will become lazy if you feed them. Nor will they forego migrating in favor of hanging around your backyard. Migratory birds will act on instinct and migrate when it's time to do so, regardless of food sources. Hummingbirds, for example, will migrate, but it's often a smart, sensible idea to leave a hummingbird feeder up for a few weeks up for a few weeks after the majority are gone, just in case a straggler needs sustenance.

* No matter how urgent their need for food, birds won't visit your feeder if you fill it with the avian equivalent of junk food. Birdfeed that contains cheap fillers won't attract or satisfy birds, and they will either look elsewhere for food, or - if they're really feeling winter's pinch - eat at your feeder but leave a mess of filler uneaten on the ground. Look for birdfeed that contains quality ingredients and is free of chemicals and other toxins that could harm birds. Cole's Wild Bird products are especially formulated to attract birds and are all-natural, top-of-the crop seeds free of fillers, preservatives, mineral oils or pesticides. Their top quality feed is nitrogen-purge packaged, just like potato chips, to ensure freshness and insect -free feed. Visit www.coleswildbird.com to learn more.

* Seeds are a satisfying, top choice for winter dining among birds, but they also love suet, which gives them much-needed stores of fat. Seeds with a high fat or oil content are best for birds during winter, so look for options like black oil sunflower seed, niger seed, raw peanuts and suet cakes. Cole's offers Nutberry Suet, an energy-packed powerhouse feed that mixes birds' favorite seeds with suet, a variety of no-melt suet cakes, and some suet specialty products like Cole's Suet Pearls and Cole's Suet Nuts, that birds love. These products provide concentrated energy to help birds make it through freezing winter weather.

* While it's always important to keep your birdfeeders clean, cleanliness is even more vital during winter when more birds are likely to visit your feeders. Cleaning minimizes mold, mildew and other unhealthy conditions that could make backyard birds sick. Consider an easy to clean, hassle-free feeder like Cole's Terrific Tube Feeder, that has a quick-clean feature making cleaning a snap. Remember to throw away any seed left over in the feeder when cleaning, and let the feeder dry thoroughly before refilling, so there's less chance of seed becoming encased in ice.

* Finding fresh, unfrozen water can be more challenging for birds than finding food in the winter. Use fountains or spritzers in your birdbath to attract thirsty birds. You can also use a heated birdbath to ensure feathered visitors never have to contend with frozen water.

* Be sure to place birdfeeders with safety in mind. Keep feeders away from structures that could provide a haven for avian predators, like cats or hawks. Be mindful of proximity to your house and the risk that birds might fly into windows if feeders are too close to your home.

Winter is a great time to nurture your love of bird feeding and bird watching. As your backyard fills with wild birds, their plumage and songs can brighten dreary winter days. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you're helping your feathered friends during the season when they need it most.

Holiday Surgery Dangers: What Patients Should Know

Undergoing surgery can result in complications any time of the year, but the likelihood of encountering serious and even deadly problems increases around the holidays, a top expert says.

 

There’s an even worse time than the holidays to schedule surgery – and that’s right afterward, in the first week of January.

 

“It’s very important to take the timing of your surgery into consideration,” Eugene Litvak, Ph.D, a national expert on hospital quality assurance, told Newsmax Health.  “When you choose to be admitted to the hospital can make a huge difference to your outcome.”

 

During the holidays, surgeons, like many other people, like to take time off. This means that if you schedule an operation during the Christmas season you may end up with a different doctor than you expected. 

 

“Everybody is looking for a surgeon who is known for very good outcomes, is experienced, and does a large number of cases, but that type of surgeon is more likely to be on vacation during the holidays,” said Dr. Litvak, president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Optimization and an adjunct professor at the Harvard School of Public Health.

 

The other problem is that hospital errors are more likely to occur during the holidays because the staff may be overstretched because of vacations and increased admissions.

 

“During peak times, such as during the holidays, nurses and physicians are stressed and prone to error,” he said.

 

According to Dr. Litvak, one of the worst times to go into the hospital is the first week of the year. “Surgeons are paid for the number of surgeries they perform, so if they don’t operate during the holidays, they have to make up for it immediately afterwards. Read More.