Here is the AP Lifestyles Digest for the week of Feb. 23.
For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 877-836-9477. For reruns of stories, call Customer Support, customersupport@ap.org, 877-836-9477. For photo reruns, visit the photo archive. For questions, contact Julia Rubin at jrubin@ap.org or Mallika Sen at msen@ap.org.
NATURE/GARDENING
Accessible Birding: Wearing on oxygen pack on her back for her COPD, Marcia OBara leads a group of bird enthusiasts using walking poles over the flat trails of a former ranch that attracts a huge diversity of birds. This Birding for EveryBODY excursion offered by the nonprofit Tucson Bird Alliance with Pima County, Arizona, is part of a movement to help people with physical and other limitations experience birding and nature. By Anita Snow. UPCOMING Thursday, photos.
Gardening-Scarifying Seeds: Many seeds only require soil and water to sprout. Others, however, have a harder coating that makes germination more difficult. That’s because in the wild, they rely on birds and other wildlife that eat them to carry them far before dropping them. For home gardeners, that hard coating is a challenge. The answer is “scarification.” Here's how. By Jessica Damiano. UPCOMING Tuesday, photos.
FOOD
Food Festivals Future: In their decade-long heyday, food festivals were beachfront bacchanals where thousands of attendees came to see celebrities and partake in booze and bites. Then, with social media, a fan might more easily reach out to a favorite chef by email. The South Beach Wine & Food Festival, which just turned 25 this month, is one of the elders of the festival scene even as many smaller festivals have disappeared. Are food festivals still relevant? By J.M. Hirsch. UPCOMING Tuesday, photos.
Voracious-Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps: A recipe for quick and tasty chicken salad wraps. By Lauren Chambers, Voracious. SENT Monday, photos.
BE WELL
Climate Choices Refilling vs Buying New: At Lufka Refillable Zero Waste Store in Tampa, Florida, customers refill bottles of everyday products like soap, shampoo and cleaning supplies, Large beauty retailers such as Ulta Beauty and Sephora address packaging waste differently, partnering with Pact Collective to collect hard-to-recycle packaging. Here's how reuse and collection systems operate across different retail settings. SENT Monday, photos, video.
Climate Choices Shampoo: Shampoos and conditioners can run from a few dollars to more than $100. Elaborate marketing can make pricier products appear as elixirs to all hair woes and might make consumers think they have to pay more for a better product. But dermatologists say that over-the-counter shampoos and conditioners can work just as well as pricier products. UPCOMING Wednesday, photos.
Extra Electrolytes: The increasing popularity of endurance sports like ultramarathons has produced an array of electrolyte powders, drinks and homemade recipes purporting to offset the physical demands of intense training. But who actually needs electrolyte supplementation and why? UPCOMING Saturday, photos.
Women-Heart Attacks: Doctors urge women to learn the symptoms of heart attacks, which can be more subtle for them than for men and go beyond chest pain or pressure. SENT Monday, photos, video.
Returning to School: Millions of adults return to school later in life. There are many benefits to re-enrolling, including career advancement, higher pay and job security. But many are also returning for the love of learning. SENT Sunday, photos, video.
TECH/SCIENCE
Squeaky Shoes: Why do our shoes squeak? A new study employs physics and material science to find the answer. UPCOMING Wednesday, photos.
One Tech Tip-Group Chat Etiquette: Group chats now run much of daily life, and etiquette experts say a few simple habits keep them sane. UPCOMING Thursday, photos.
TOYS AND TRENDS
World Pokemon Anniversary: It’s the 30th anniversary of ‘Pokemon Red’ and ‘Pokemon Green’ being released for Nintendo Game Boy in Japan, marking the debut of the Pokemon franchise. Since the original games were first launched, over 350 million video games have been sold worldwide, along with 30 billion trading game cards. AP offers coverage. UPCOMING Friday.
TRAVEL
Be Well - Stolen Airline Points: Airline miles and hotel loyalty points aren’t safe from online theft. One frequent flyer says nearly 200,000 of his accrued miles were redeemed by someone, somewhere, for two business class tickets from the Qatari capital of Doha to London and back. Cybersecurity experts say that as banks and credit card companies have hardened their security systems, hackers are turning to softer targets like customer loyalty programs. UPCOMING Sunday, photos.
FASHION
Ghana Fugu Day: More Ghanaians are wearing the colorful fugu traditional outfit in a trend triggered by online mockery. Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama in early February visited Zambia wearing a fugu smock, prompting ridicule from some social media users. Tourism Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie then declared Wednesdays as “Fugu Day”. Now, more people are wearing the smock to work on Wednesdays but also on other days. SENT Monday, photos.
—-
In case you missed it:
BE WELL: Working Well-Caregiving; Social Media Addiction; Financial Wellness-Your Rich BFF;
CLIMATE CHOICES: Battery Recycling.
FOOD: Chinese American Fine Dining; Voracious-Sticky Rice; Serbia-Ironed Sausage; Hungary-Ancient Rome Pizza; Hershey-Reese's Changes.
GARDENING: Oddball Tomatoes.
FASHION: Japan-Fashion-Kimono; Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.
RELIGION/CELEBRATIONS: World Ramadan; Lunar New Year; Carnival.
TOYS AND TRENDS: Toy Fair; BKO--The 6-7 Sensation.
MONEY: Estate Planning.
The AP
