I’m going to confess to a murder, acknowledging there probably aren’t any statutes of limitations on this kind of thing. Growing up, my sister and I sprinkled salt on our fair share of slugs. While I’m not proud of my salty slug serial killing spree, exploring under big rocks in the backyard was a great way to learn about the creepy-crawly world around me.




Let’s turn over the next big rock. It’s the one next to the shed. Once you get enough leverage to hoist the rock from its resting place, you see several things scurry around — some squirming worms, a truly terrifying millipede and a host of bugs that roll into little balls.




What are those balled-up bugs called? If...

Many people underestimate the impact that mental illness can have on an individual or family. It can be difficult to admit that you have a mental health problem in your life. Secondly, it can be just as difficult in getting the people you know to understand your situation without making any kinds of judgments.




But here are six reasons why you should make your mental health a priority this year:




Your situation will improve if you get help: Your anxieties and fears can be challenging to manage and more than likely you will need some help. Just as you talk to your doctor about your regular health, you should not be hesitant in seeking help for your mental health. If left untreated...

• On Feb. 5, 1922, DeWitt and Lila Wallace self-published and marketed the first Reader’s Digest magazine, designed to provide abridged articles on a wide variety of subjects for easy reading. It eventually gained a circulation of more than 10 million copies in the U.S. and is still believed to be the best-selling consumer magazine in the country.

• On Feb. 6, 1911, Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois. Reagan spent 30 years as an entertainer in radio, film and television before winning the California governor’s seat in 1966. Elected as America’s 40th president in 1980, he survived an assassination attempt and became the most popular president since Franklin D...

It’s science — hearing bad grammar raises our stress levels. I always knew this implicitly, but a recent study from the University of Birmingham shows this explicitly.

In a small sample of 41 British English-speaking adults, researchers played speech samples to the subjects, half of which featured grammatical errors. The subjects, connected to heart rate monitors, showed a decrease in heart rate variability and an increase in heart rate. These two indicators reveal stress in the nervous system — a fight-or-flight response to egregious grammatical gaffes.

I’ve always maintained that good grammar makes your life better regarding career and relationship success, but now I’m...