Lifestyles

Every Song a Protest: Interview with Ryan Cassata

I discovered the music of Ryan Cassata via YouTube. Ryan is a singer-songwriter and activist. Ryan sings about his life as a transgender man, issues with substance abuse, suicide and hate crimes. He began socially transitioning (living as a young man) at the age of fourteen and his activism for the trans community got him on Larry King Live at fifteen. Now 28, Ryan is also a grad student at the Pacific School of Religion working on a Master’s in Divinity and Social Transformation. I spoke with Ryan recently via Zoom. [Eric George Tauber]

Every Song a Protest: Interview with Ryan Cassata Read More »

Eric George Tauber, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Au Revoir to France, Shalom to Israel

The first thing that hits you as the plane starts the descent towards the airport in Israel is the difference in the colors on the ground. If you have just left one of the countries of Europe, as we did, there is a noticeable difference in the shades of green that you perceive. The brilliant emerald green of the fields of rural France (or Germany or England or wherever), even in the summer of 2022 when temperatures rose to unprecedented heights and there were restrictions on water usage, remained in one’s visual memory, only to be erased (or at least put in the shade) by the greys, browns and dusty dark greens of the Holy Land. And, of course, the ever-present white of the stone buildings. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

Au Revoir to France, Shalom to Israel Read More »

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Travel and Food

The World is Constantly Changing, As Is Everything and Everyone Around Us

By Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — Some people seem to be wired to like variety, novelty, change from routine. Others seem to prefer the status quo, the predictable, the familiar. To some extent, this is genetic, but it is also influenced by the multitude of experiences we have been subjected to in

The World is Constantly Changing, As Is Everything and Everyone Around Us Read More »

Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz

Coping with the Modern Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

to avoid anxiety and depression, I only read the headlines in the newspapers, bypassing the stories. What helps are known health-related behaviors such as exercise, eating right, getting enough sleep, and especially spending time with friends. The latter may be the most important factor in dealing with stress. [nATASHA jOSEFOWITZ, acsw, pH.d]

Coping with the Modern Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Read More »

Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz

30th Annual ‘Take a Swing for Seniors’ Day to Benefit Seacrest Village Retirement Communities

ENCINITAS, California (Press Release) — Seacrest Foundation and Guardians of San Diego will host the 30th Annual “Take a Swing for Seniors” Golf, Tennis and Pickleball Day with presenting sponsor, William Gumpert Foundation, on Monday, October 24, 2022, at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort & Golf Club. All levels of players are welcome, and all

30th Annual ‘Take a Swing for Seniors’ Day to Benefit Seacrest Village Retirement Communities Read More »

Lifestyles, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions

13-Year-Old San Diegan Donates $1,800 of Bar Mitzvah Gifts to Help His Homeless Neighbors

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – The San Diego Rescue Mission received a donation of $1,800 from Leo Fink, a 13-year-old San Diego resident from Carmel Valley who recently had his bar mitzvah and wanted to give part of his gift money to help his neighbors experiencing homelessness. Leo has been volunteering at the San Diego

13-Year-Old San Diegan Donates $1,800 of Bar Mitzvah Gifts to Help His Homeless Neighbors Read More »

Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County

Single Mom Stokes Her Son’s and Her Own Jewish Faith

After her divorce from her cantor husband, author Zark wanted to make certain that the small son whose custody they shared would be brought up Jewishly in both homes.  She wanted to make Shabbats and the full range of Jewish holidays interesting and accessible to her son, and in the process, she reflected upon the meanings of the holidays, Torah passages, and various Jewish customs. [Donald H. Harrison]

Single Mom Stokes Her Son’s and Her Own Jewish Faith Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles

Jacobs’ Bill Would Protect Right to Contraception

“As a young woman, reproductive health care is my health care. And like all reproductive rights, the right to contraception is vital to our wellbeing and our freedom,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. “It’s unconscionable to me that right-wing Supreme Court Justices would once again threaten our ability to make decisions about our own bodies and when to start or grow a family. I will never stop fighting to protect the right to an abortion, the right to contraception, and all reproductive rights – and I’m proud to co-lead the Right to Contraception Act.” [Press Release]

Jacobs’ Bill Would Protect Right to Contraception Read More »

Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Conquering Fears at Zion National Park

I almost chickened out doing a bucket list adventure which was right within reach. No, it wasn’t skydiving or bungee jumping (those will never ever be on my list). It was hiking up a river in sometimes waist-high cold water, on uneven rocks and boulders, in a magnificent gorge in Zion National Park (aka, The Narrows). It was on my must do list for years, long before two knee surgeries and the onset of my knee arthritis. This was not a knee friendly hike. Enter Fear 1:  Would my knees handle the terrain? [Shayna Kaufmann, Ph.D]

Conquering Fears at Zion National Park Read More »

Lifestyles, Shayna Kaufmann, Travel and Food, USA