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Fitness resolutions that are easy to keep

Lifestyles

Metro Resolutions to get in shape, exercise more and eat healthier foods are popular each January. Optimism reigns when making resolutions, but for many, the difficulty lies in keeping them. Individuals looking to get healthier in the year ahead can try these strategies to stay the course. • Wake up earlier. Waking up a half hour earlier each day can have a substantial impact. That small amount of extra time can be devoted to meditation, deep breathing exercises or even some yoga stretches. • Move around more frequently. Many people with office jobs spend hours sitting in front ...

6 signs you may need a new HVAC system

Lifestyles

Metro There’s no place like home, especially when that home is a comfortable and safe haven. One of the ways residents find comfort in their homes is by maintaining the right indoor temperatures, which fluctuate along with the seasons. While there is much to be said about opening windows and doors to let Mother Nature do her thing, indoor comfort is often maintained with an HVAC system. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. It can include heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioning units. It is an automated system that works by adjusting a thermostat to regulate ...

Historic events from Jan. 1

Lifestyles

Metro January 1 is all about new beginnings. Upon waking up on the first day of a new year, it’s not uncommon for people to turn over a new leaf or look ahead to the months to come. But the first day of the new year also merits a look back, as many historical events have taken place on January 1. • 45 BC: Of the many memorable events to take place on January 1, perhaps none had a more lasting effect than January 1 in 45 BC. That’s the day when the Roman Empire officially adopted the Julian calendar, which established January 1 as the first day of the new year. • 404: ...

Understanding the past

Lifestyles

By CHISATO TANAKA The Associated Press TOKYO — Growing up, Fumina Oka knew little about the mysterious university her Taiwanese grandfather attended in northern China’s Manchuria during Japan’s occupation in the early 20th century. But as the 28-year-old journalist studied the little-known Kenkoku University, she became fascinated about a place that started out as a grand piece of imperial propaganda meant to celebrate Japan’s prewar colonization of large swaths of Asia. In recent years, the dwindling number of surviving students, their families and those who have ...

Turn to tradition for Tex-Mex Taste

Lifestyles

Family Features The next time your loved ones crave a comforting dish that’s warming from the inside-out, turn to an all-time classic with a touch of southern flair. Take inspiration for this Tex-Mex Beef Lasagna from season 3 of “BBQuest: Beyond the Pit,” a video series that dives into the long-held traditions, new flavors and everyday inspiration that make Texas barbecue legendary. Developed from the show by BBQuest co-host and “Hardcore Carnivore” cookbook author Jess Pryles, this tasty take on comfort food can be the perfect solution for a family meal with plenty of ...

Traybakes pack flavor into one-pan meals

Lifestyles

By CHRISTOPHER KIMBALL Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street It’s been a bit since the traybake crossed the Atlantic from Britain, where a host of cooking personalities popularized a technique that combines big flavor and weeknight convenience onto one pan. But for the uninitiated, meat and vegetables are placed on a baking sheet along with some seasonings, then go into the oven together. The chicken is flavored as it cooks, and with the right cut of meat and the right vegetables, they all are done at the same time. Dinner is served! For this recipe from our book ...