On the north coast of Northern Ireland, in the County Atrim, sits the Giant’s Causeway. This wonder of nature is built of almost 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the tops of which are reminiscent of a cobblestone path. Almost 83 miles north on the Scottish Isle of Staffa lies Fingal’s Cave, the opening of which has the same geological formation. The areas are so uniquely similar that it is easy to envision a bridge of basalt connecting one point to another. If a bridge existed, who could have created such an intricate piece of architecture? Giants, of course.
The arrival of spring means it’s time for greens! Traditionally, consuming spring greens helps move fats and toxins out of the body that build up over the winter. It’s a time to eat dandelions, which have greens that are rich in calcium, iron, potassium, manganese and many other trace minerals, as well as vitamins A, C and K. The nutrients in dandelion leaves strengthen and support the liver, a major organ of detoxification, providing benefits that help with sluggish digestion, seasonal and mold allergies, and poor nutrient absorption.
It is widely believed that an additional $2 billion per year is needed to fix Michigan’s roads. Why is there not yet a road-funding package?
Well … we are three years into what we at OLV predicted would be a very business-friendly administration. Inasmuch as we had indicated that we felt President Trump would be a very volatile president, but could also bring about significant economic prosperity. The day Donald Trump was elected, on November 8, 2016, the S&P 500 index* closed at 2,129. As of President’s Day 2019, the same index is sitting at 3,380! That is an astounding 58.7% rate of return in just three years. You don’t have to agree with Donald Trump, how he treats people, or how he is aggressively wielding the power that has been bestowed upon him by the Constitution, to appreciate the economy’s staggering improvement.
Since 1839, when John Carter – a barber – walked down Saginaw Street, Black citizens have been an important and influential piece of Flint’s great history. They have changed the city for the better in the realms of education, commerce, health and Civil Rights, and continue to do so. They fought for much-deserved recognition and fair treatment, changing the entire country in the process. In honor of Black History Month, My City Magazine has compiled a list to recognize the African-Americans who have led the way to become the first of their own in the city.
As most of us were welcoming family and friends to town for the holiday season, on December 19, 2020, Congress strongly passed on a bi-partisan effort: the SECURE Act of 2019. SECURE stands for Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement. There have been some major changes here for people already in retirement and for those planning on passing some of their retirement assets to the next generation. The highlights of this bill include raising the Required Minimum Distribution, eliminating the ability to stretch out an inherited IRA by a non-spouse over the non-spouse’s life expectancy, implementing a ten-year rule for non-spouse inherited IRAs and lifting the contribution limitation age of 70 years old. Many other rules have changed, but for space sake, we will focus on these three.
The other day, I saw a Facebook post about pit bulls that said, “Warning: Do not leave your child unattended with a pit bull.” The post included a photo of one with a child’s drawings all over it!
People say, “it’s the little things.” And, it always is, isn’t it? The small, day-to-day trifles of life end up making the biggest difference in your happiness, your comfort, your feelings of “home.” The things that you barely think about, the situations and items, places and systems that hardly register as part of your life – these little things – well, they’re the big things.
One day, you’re showing an interesting foreign film at an art museum. The very next day, you see that movie get nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award. This actually happened to me a few weeks back when a little bit of Seoul came to Flint.
What’s better than a homemade treat for your Valentine? Surprise your special person with gourmet herbal truffles. The trick is to infuse heavy cream with herbs. You can simply use cinnamon or vanilla or get fancy with matcha, rosemary, lavender or even mushroom powder!
As I discussed in my January column, the U.S. economy was strong in 2019, with solid economic and job growth, and low inflation. Unfortunately, indicators suggest that Michigan’s economy was not as strong.
