The “Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act” named after Senator Hubert Humphrey and Representative Augustus Hawkins, was signed into law on October 27, 1978. It charges the Federal Reserve to pursue monetary policy to promote low rates of unemployment and inflation. This is the Federal Reserve’s so-called “dual mandate.”
My mother used to say the reason why healthy humans don’t live past their 80s, 90s or even to 100 years old is because when they get to that age they have experienced so many things and changes in their lives, they can’t wrap their heads around what the future holds – especially in terms of technology. It’s just too overwhelming.
The week of March 6-12 is Celebrate Your Name Week. It has been observed in the first week of March since 1997. It was established by American onomatology hobbyist Jerry Hill, who prescribed the first full week in March as a time for everyone worldwide to embrace and celebrate their name. March 6 is also Namesake Day and according to nationaltoday.com/namesakeday, the day was designated to encourage people to research the history behind their names, what they were named after and what it means.
When most people think of a holiday trip with children, they envision Mickey Mouse and Magic Kingdoms, splash pads, pizza by the slice and the wails of tired babies and cranky parents. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Travel with small children can be so much more … normal. (No ride passes or overpriced stuffed animal souvenirs required.) With a little prior planning, some careful packing and the willingness to engage with kids in a different way, trips with children can be something altogether different.
I have never been a big “Valentine’s chocolate” person. Sometimes, a little something different – like a little lemon and raspberry – can be the secret to sweet romance. And, you can never go wrong with buttercream frosting. This recipe uses a fun ingredient: freeze-dried raspberries in the frosting (you can also use fresh) to give it the pink color. If any holiday calls for a little extravagance, it’s this one!
Before 1960, the National Football League (NFL) was the absolute dominant football league in the United States. So, when a small group of businessmen approached the league with hopes of starting new franchises and were turned away, the only thing they could do was start a league of their own. They launched the American Football League (AFL) in direct competition with the NFL. To the NFL’s surprise, the AFL not only stuck around but began to prosper. Six years later, the two leagues came together and formed an agreement to merge by 1970.
There is a saying, “all things happen for a reason.” I firmly believe this is true. For the past nearly two years, I have had a medical condition that rendered me unable to go out and about without the assistance of a cane or walker. Thankfully, my issue was temporary, and I am well on my way to full mobility. Not everyone is as fortunate, however, and I would like to share what I’ve learned – things most able-bodied people never give a second thought.
I’ve said it before: my favorite time to visit Paris is in the winter. Perhaps it’s because there is something gloomy about it, and Paris is the kind of place that seems like it should be a little bleak. That it, is a place that is beautiful enough to endure a little dusky desolateness, and perhaps is even a little more beautiful because of it.
Labor market shortages do not appear to be improving and in fact, might be getting worse. Labor force participation, defined as the percentage of the population either working or actively looking for work, is at a 44-year low. Only half of the decline in labor force participation experienced during the 2020 shutdown has been recovered. The labor market situation appeared to be deteriorating at the end of 2021, as well as into 2022.
Recently on social media, people have been taking part in the ten-year photo challenge. This got me on a nostalgia kick and made me think of great movies that were released a decade ago. As I dove into the list of movies from 2012, I found a lot of hits. Now, of course there were blockbusters, but I focused on the movies that may have snuck past you while distracted – the ones you may have missed.
I have been collecting cookbooks for many years and I love to read them. My very first cookbook was Betty Crocker’s New and Revised Edition – a wedding gift I received in 1974. It was a good gift for me because when I got married, I did NOT know how to cook! This particular book is now worn and tattered, the pages food-stained and yellowed. I still prepare delicious meals today that I learned how to make from Betty Crocker’s book.
The wave of infections from the COVID Omicron variant that started just before the holiday break has been nothing short of breathtaking. I don’t know about you, but it seems like almost everyone I talk to lately has been infected and or re-infected. Vaccinated, unvaccinated – it seems like Omicron doesn’t play favorites and is out in full force to wreak havoc on our nation. The only good I can make of it is that (at this writing) it seems to be much less lethal than the previous strains.
