Toys today can spy on kids. What to do
The toys your grandkids received over the holidays could invite hackers into your home. That Grinch-like warning comes from the FBI, which said earlier this year that toys connected to the Internet could be a target for crooks who may listen in on conversations or use them to steal a child’s personal information. The bureau did not name any specific toys or brands, but it said any... READ MORE
Maryland starts selling medical marijuana
Maryland began the sale of medical marijuana to residents in pain in late November, ending years of delays by embarking on a program that features some of the most liberal policies in the nation on who can qualify for the prescribed cannabis. Dozens of people stood outside a licensed dispensary, Potomac Holistics in Rockville, where owners began making sales soon after receiving their... READ MORE
New Orleans: music, museums and meals
Quick quiz: Think swinging jazz and soulful blues played in music clubs and by street musicians outside. Picture sidewalks crowded with people sipping beverages from plastic cups as they stroll along. If you guess that describes New Orleans, you’re right — but there’s more. Now see yourself visiting museums whose focus ranges from food and festivals, to history and mystery.... READ MORE
Plan ahead if caring for a parent from afar
Dave Nickerson’s mother, Catherine, is almost 95, but he said she’s as independent and self-sufficient as ever. A former schoolteacher, Catherine has lived for 65 years in the same house where Dave grew up, near Boston. And she’s made it very clear she intends to stay there. “She’s embedded in the community,” Dave said. Dave helped remodel the house a few years ago, so his... READ MORE
Home improvements for aging in place
In response to demands from baby boomers, improvements that help people stay safely in their homes as they age are more stylish and functional than before. Think of a curved and tiled shower soap dish that also serves as a grab bar. Or a decorative kitchen cabinet pull with a wider loop for arthritic hands. More forward-looking homeowners are including aging-in-place features in home... READ MORE
A new twist on DNA
It’s one of the first lessons in high school biology: All life is made up of four DNA building blocks known by the letters A, T, C and G. Paired together, they form DNA’s ladder-like rungs. Now there’s a new rung on that ladder. Scientists are expanding the genetic code of life, using man-made DNA to create a semi-synthetic strain of bacteria. And new research shows those... READ MORE
Banks inch up depositor interest rates
Slowly, but surely, being a saver is paying off again. For years after the recession, banks paid next to nothing on deposits — much to the detriment of savers everywhere. Now, banks have increased lending and need more deposits, so they’re willing to pay higher interest rates. The big publicly traded banks are paying roughly 0.40 percent on their deposits right now, which is up... READ MORE
New test profiles patients’ cancer genes
U.S. regulators have approved a first-of-a-kind test that looks for mutations in hundreds of cancer genes at once, giving a more complete picture of what’s driving a patient’s tumor and aiding efforts to match treatments to those flaws. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Foundation Medicine’s test for patients with advanced or widely spread cancers, and the Centers for... READ MORE
Crazy about a Gershwin musical revival
Though the end-of-year holidays are over, it’s not too late to experience some of that seasonal spirit at Arlington’s Signature Theater, where the revival of Crazy for You continues through Jan. 14. The musical originally opened in 1992 as a brand-new production largely inspired by George and Ira Gershwin’s 1930 musical Girl Crazy, and featuring other songs by the famous... READ MORE
Reasonable risks
When I was growing up, I remember looking in my parents’ medicine cabinet, or on high garage shelves, and seeing cans and bottles with various warnings printed all over them. Indoors there was rubbing alcohol, something called “witch hazel” (which always piqued my interest), peroxide and other intriguing substances. Some said DANGER/POISON (usually with a skull and crossbones),... READ MORE
