April 14, 2023

Dr. Gulshan Sethi left Los Angeles with his traveling companion Jeremy Wekell on March 20. After a brief stop in Dubai, they arrived in Delhi, India's capital territory on March 23rd. We have been following their travelogue on facebook and are honoring my pinky promise to a dear friend and continuing to track our very special wanderer Dr. Gulhsan Sethi's pilgrimage through India. We plan to cover his adventures in India for at least another six weeks. We have quite a collection of photos to show you, I hope you enjoy them as much as we have.

Where will we see Gulshan next? Perhaps he's headed towards Jammu. 4/5/23

At The Tibet Museum, Dhamshala, India. 3/31/2023

At The Tibet Museum, Dhamshala, India. 3/31/23

The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, the preeminent spiritual site of Sikhism. 4/1/23

The Goldn Temple Complex in Amritsar, India. 4/1/23

Inside The Golden Temple. 4/1/23

On the way to Jammu. 4/3/23

Enjoying a drink in Kashmir. 4/3/23

It can get real cold in India, as low as zero 0° C. 4/3/23

Visiting the city of Jammu, Jammu is the winter capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. 4/4/23

4/6/23

Taking in one of the terraced gardens from the Mughal Empire. The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. 4/11/23

Here we go again, Mr. Congeniality, our Dr. Gulshan Sethi making friends at the Mughal Gardens. 4/11/23

The Stone Mosque in Srinagar, it was built by Mughal Empress Noor Jehan, the wife of emperor Jehangir, in 1623. 4/11/23

4/6/23

This Map shows some of the areas our travelers have passed through.

I'd like to bring back a friend of ours, Keith Murfee DeConcini. We visited him back in our May 27, 2022 issue. Last time we covered his Disability Empowerment Now podcast, a companion to his Disability Empowerment Now website, where in addition to the podcast you can find his blog and a collection of articles and interviews on the topic of Disability Empowerment. Keith is a wonderful human being giving back to society by setting the pace and advocating for gifted, disabled adults. It's been a year, and we thought we'd see what Keith's been up to. We know we've seen this picture before, but it was so good we wanted to show it again.

From: Disability Empowerment Now

"My life’s work is to raise awareness and advocate for disability rights through public speaking and writing."

— Keith Murfee-DeConcini

When I was working on my Master’s degree in Disability Studies, with the intention of becoming an advocate for disability rights and justice as my life’s work, I began searching for resources on the internet that focused on empowerment.

Finding very few, the idea for this site started to form in my mind. There are tons and tons of resources surrounding disabilities on the internet. What sets this site apart is the focus on empowerment and employment as well as reinforcing the message that people with disabilities want to, and do, work extremely hard.

photo: Karyrna Panchenko at Unsplash

From: Nutrition Advance, By: Michael Joseph, November 26, 2021

The human body cannot produce omega-3 fatty acids, which makes these crucial fats an essential part of the diet. Generally speaking, seafood is the best source of omega-3, and there is a wealth of oily fish options

photo: David B. Townsend on Unsplash

From: healthline, By: Nicole Bowling, CPT, February 1, 2023

The healthiest types of fish include those high in omega-3 fatty acids and have lower levels of mercury contamination, like Alaskan salmon.

Fish is a healthy, high-protein food, especially important for its omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential fats that our bodies don’t produce on their own.

photo: Cathal Mac an Bheatha on Unsplash

From: Down to Earth

Contrary to popular belief, eating fish is not the best way to get your essential fats. Most fats can be synthesized by our own bodies and are not necessary to have in our diet. However, there are a few unsaturated fats that we cannot make which we have to get from food called “essential” fats. Humans and animals cannot create double bonds after the third and sixth carbon on the chain, but plants can. Only plants can synthesize omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) and omega-6 fats (linoleic acid) which are therefore referred to as “essential” fatty acids. Fish store the Omega-3 fats from the algae they consume. Fish themselves do not produce omega-3 fatty acids. Your healthiest sources of Essential Fatty Acids can be found in a variety of plant foods.

From: National Institutes of Health

What are omega-3 fatty acids and what do they do?

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods, such as fish and flaxseed, and in dietary supplements, such as fish oil. The three main omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is found mainly in plant oils such as flaxseed, soybean, and canola oils. DHA and EPA are found in fish and other seafood.

From: Stanford Medicine

A large and growing body of literature has suggested that omega-3 fatty acids (a specific type of dietary polyunsaturated fat) may be protective against cardiovascular disease. There are two main sources of omega-3 fatty acids: marine sources (fatty fish) provide EPA and DHA, and plant food sources (flax, walnuts, canola oil) provide ALA. These are also widely available and popular dietary supplements. Whether plant sources or marine sources confer similar benefits is still controversial. In addition, there is no consensus on the optimal doses from different sources.

From: SELF, By: Sara Coughlin, Septermber14, 2021

Coffee fanatics have their Zojirushis, and hydration evangelists have their Hydro Flasks. But many avid smoothie consumers (this writer included) are still on the hunt for the best portable cups for their beverage of choice. And there are actually quite a few features required of a vessel to make it suitable for smoothies and their ilk. 

Ideally, a smoothie or juice cup should fit in most car cup holders or external gym bag pockets. It should also stay securely sealed and leak-proof, to protect said cup holders and gym bags. Finally, it should be able to accommodate not only the consistency of something liquid like a juice, but also that of these thicker drinks as well—dainty straws and narrow mouths have no place here. The longer you think about it, the more Goldilocks-esque this task becomes: You're looking for a cup that isn't too big but isn't too small. It needs to be durable but also portable. It needs to be just right. 

photo: Shayna Douglas on Unsplash

From: Quality Logo Products Blog, By:Alyssa Mertes, March 21, 2023

Protein is a must if you want energy on a long day, and the best way to get your daily fix is with a shaker bottle. You can bring this portable drinkware everywhere, making it easy for you to mix up a delicious protein shake or healthy smoothie when you don’t have time to sit for a meal.

Shaker bottles have been rising in popularity, so now’s a good time to talk about what they are and how you can use one. Here’s everything you need to know about protein shakers!Protein is a must if you want energy on a long day, and the best way to get your daily fix is with a shaker bottle. You can bring this portable drinkware everywhere, making it easy for you to mix up a delicious protein shake or healthy smoothie when you don’t have time to sit for a meal.

From: momables, By: Laura Fuentes, December 29, 2022

Packing a smoothie in yours or your child’s lunch box is a lot easier than you might think!

No more paying for overpriced smoothies, this is the perfect solution whether you want to pack a smoothie in your child’s lunch bag or enjoy it on-the-go!

Well for education and summer camp fun, I've listed some camps here, and I've focused on camps that are outside of The United States, particularly in Europe. So, Here's some selections that I have chosen to put out there for you and you families to check out.

From: Global Leadership Adventures

Travel programs and online internships for teens & young adults, inspired by the Peace Corps. Global Leadership Adventures was co-founded by Andrew Motiwalla, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, and Fred Swaniker, one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2019.

It is Global Leadership Adventures’ founding belief that young people – given the opportunity and privilege to embrace different cultures, confront timely challenges and develop their own unique leadership styles – will make this world the kind of place we can all share and explore together.

From: Lingua Service Worldwide

Summer Language Programs for Children and Teens

A great opportunity to spend an academically fulfilling Summer Camp experience: programs that combine language learning with the fun activities inherent to a Summer Camp. Spanish, French and German Summer Language Programs for children and teenagers are offered at the locations listed below. All programs offer an academic component with at least 15 hours of language training each week, complemented by a supervised activity program that is intended to allow students to enjoy their summer while attaining valuable foreign language skills. Each of these programs has been carefully selected for their quality, experience and respectability and they are inspected on a regular basis by our senior staff members. All Language Summer Camps are operated by recognized private language centers, ensuring the quality of the programs and the safety of the participants. Participants can learn Spanish in Spain or in Latin America, learn French in France or Canada and also learn German in Germany or Austria. Click on each link below for complete information on each program, starting dates and pricing. Please do not hesitate to contact us by phone or e-mail if you have any questions.

Our favorite mezzo-soprano, Linda Collazo will be performing at the Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center as a Soloist in Choirs of America.

From: Masterworks in Lincoln Center

Produced by Harmony Productions, the Masterwork in Lincoln Center series is designed for choirs looking to perform a major, extended masterwork from a well-known, living composer in a massed choir setting. Join Harmony Productions, conductor Craig Hella Johnson, and composer-in-residence Dan Forrest in New York City and Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall for a concert production of Dan Forrest's Jubilate Deo.

Concert performance event includes 3 extensive collaborative massed choir rehearsals with HP's Principal Conductor and performing with a professional chamber orchestra in NYC's iconic Lincoln Center! This event is open to all choral ensembles. Join choirs from across the country in the "Big Apple" for this once in a lifetime experience!

Just in from the Ortega family. We've heard again from the Ortega Family. Who would have thought it? They now have a new baby chick and some kittens.

I've been begging the Rieggers to join our Pet Corner for months, see what I got. The Ortegas may have some competition.

Douglas' girlfriend Kat did this portrait of Vienna and Schatzi (without her hair brushed.) I think she definitely captured them.

In-The Sky.org has an online tool that shows you the position of the stars, planets, constellations and more in the night sky. You can set the Star Wheel to display the night sky over the city you live in and also change many other options.

From: In-The Sky.org, By Domonic Ford

photo: Arnaud Mariat on Unsplash

From: Star Date

Stars beyond counting populate the universe. Most reside in dense groups known as galaxies. These 'island universes' come in many shapes and sizes, and contain anywhere from a few million stars to a trillion or more. Some are still churning out lots of new stars, while others are quietly living out their lives. And some galaxies are merging to form even bigger cities of stars.

I'd like to change seats again and talk about sports. As you know I'm a fan of fitting in as many sports in a day as I absolutely can. I have recently fallen into the path of a tri-coach. Her name is Lisa Becharas and I'm including a link to her website here. She's quite a miraculous young woman who has stood the test of time and athletic injuries. You know athletes heal. She's a half Ironman specialist. I haven’t done one in several years, but I hope within the next year I'll be visiting at least one half Ironman course. She's agreed to help me bring my swimming back. This is her website lisabecharas.com.

From: lisabecharas.com

Hi, I’m Lisa!

I’ve been a professional triathlete since 2018 living and training in Boulder, CO. Prior to moving to Colorado I coached collegiate cross country and track for 5.5 years at Illinois Wesleyan University while I obtained my masters degree in Biomechanics from Illinois State University. 

I first fell in love with endurance sports while I was running cross country and track at DePauw University and pursuing my degree in exercise science. I loved learning about the physiology of the human body and the differences that exist from athlete to athlete. There’s no ‘one plan fits all’ program and I am a firm believer that there is an art and a science to coaching. The art is balancing busy schedules, life stresses, while also maintaining a level of fun and satisfaction. The science is applying physiological principals and tracking data (heart rate, power, etc) to create an appropriate program that yields steady improvement over time.

I’d like to change seats one more time. Many of you know we lost a dear friend to the Tucson community last year. This Passover marked the 1st anniversary of Jill Rosenzweigs passing. The Celebration was last Friday at the JCC. the gardens were enhanced and renamed in her honor. see below to learn more.

She was a traveling girl. She loved traveling and she loved animals, from domestic cats and dogs to wild beasts.

From: Tucson Jewish Community Center

In 2009, the J established the Sculpture Garden with a four-fold purpose in mind: to craft a public space that celebrates the appreciation of sculpture; to create an atmosphere of tranquility; to promote educational opportunities; and to enhance community fellowship. The convergence of art and audience in our Sonoran Desert region encourages visitors to relax, converse, meditate, and contemplate.

I’m looking forward to getting some of your personal stories- oral, written, or otherwise. I’d so love to present them to the flock. Hit a mailbox below to share your story.

Not to be repetitive, but if you haven't started trainng yet, and you want to. Just hit The bike and you can begin your 8- week sprint triathlon training plan. There are many options, this is only one..

Holualoa Ed Fit Wellness & Culture 2

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