Fainting is frightening but seldom serious
One minute you’re feeling a bit woozy; the next thing you know, you’re flat on your back wondering what happened.No matter what you call it — swooning, passing out or fainting — the experience is surprisingly common. About a third of people say they’ve fainted at least once.Although often harmless, fainting can cause injuries, and sometimes signals a problem... READ MORE
Columbia’s candid cameraman
Ron Fedorczak has spent the last 43 years — more than half his life — putting the history of Columbia in focus. He has attended seminal events at various locations, wandered up and down the streets, cruised highways and searched out byways, always clicking away with his trusty Nikon at whatever was happening in the town he says he became enamored with ever since moving here in... READ MORE
‘Tis the season to celebrate in Baltimore
It’s that time of year again. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or simply the fact that a new year is on the horizon, this is when Baltimore sparkles! Time to shop Holidays mean gifts, so why not skip the mall and look for some unique items at these local venues? Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar Underneath the Jones Falls Expressway at Holliday and... READ MORE
The Walters celebrates varied arts of Asia
Stillness, serenity and an air of quiet contemplation are the sentiments evoked by the Walters Art Museum’s long-awaited installation, “Arts of Asia.” The visually stunning display of more than 150 works spanning 2,000 years explores the artistic traditions from diverse cultures and regions across India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia. The... READ MORE
World class scenic winter train travel
If you want to enjoy spectacular snowscapes without the hassle of winter driving, take a train.Except in unusual circumstances, railroads keep their tracks open through snowfall heavy enough to shut down the highways. And many of them travel on routes with better sightseeing than you can find anywhere else.If you want really great snow scenery, you can’t beat Switzerland. Although my... READ MORE
Several good reasons to buy used goods
Bedbugs. Weird smells. The possibility of imminent breakdowns. People have all sorts of excuses for not buying used stuff.Those who deliberately buy used items, though, say such fears are not just overblown — they’re also expensive.Katy Wolk-Stanley, a labor and delivery nurse, has a short list of things she’ll buy new, including personal care items (toothbrushes, makeup,... READ MORE
Probe helps surgeons get all the cancer
Patients emerging from cancer surgery want to know, “Did you get it all?” Now scientists are developing a pen-like probe to help surgeons better tell when it’s safe to stop cutting or if stray tumor cells still lurk.The device is highly experimental, but laboratory tests show it uses molecular fingerprints to distinguish between cancerous cells and healthy ones far faster... READ MORE
Try before you buy from online retailers
Amazon is set to launch a service that lets customers order clothes, try them on at home, and pay only for what they keep. It sounds novel, but Amazon is actually late to the party. Several online startups have offered try-before-you-buy options for items including jewelry, clothing, glasses and more.It makes shoppers less nervous about buying online, the companies say, and also gives... READ MORE
How the world works
When I was six years old, my father took our family to New York City (where he had a business trip) for a vacation. Among many other firsts for me on that eye-opening trip were my first visit to a World’s Fair and my first musical on Broadway: Oliver! I was instantly taken with the idea of the theatre. I already played piano and liked to sing, and there I saw a child about my age... READ MORE
Finding art in Antarctica’s ice
Not everyone’s idea of a summer vacation includes hiking through Antarctica’s frigid expanses for seven weeks, but Helen Glazer was dogged in pursuing the opportunity. She applied five times over a 10-year period for the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program, until she finally got her chance in 2015. Glazer, who is 62 and lives in Owings Mills, is the... READ MORE
