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Devoted nap-takers explain the benefits of sleeping on the job

NEW YORK (AP) — They snooze in parking garages, on side streets before the afternoon school run, in nap pods rented by the hour or stretched out in bed while working from home. People who make a habit of sleeping on the job comprise a secret society of sorts within the U.S. labor force. Inspired by famous power nappers Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein, today’s committed nap-takers often sneak in short rest breaks because they think the practice will improve their cognitive performance but still carries a stigma. Multiple studies have extolled the benefits of napping, such as ...

Boy Scouts see a small membership uptick after rebrand to Scouting America

IRVING, Texas (AP) — A historic rebrand of the Boy Scouts of America has been followed by a small uptick in young people joining what will now be called Scouting America, a welcoming sign as the organization tries to move past scandal and bankruptcy. The group will continue leaning into a broad message of inclusivity as it celebrates its 115th birthday Saturday, President and CEO Roger Krone said. He acknowledged some backlash to the rebrand after it was announced last year but described the overall response as a positive one that generated wider interest. “The fact that we were ...

Happenings from the Heisey

A delicious lunch, provided by Jim Berkebile, was served at our annual meeting on Jan. 22. Five board members, Jim Berkebile, Carol Hanna, Janine Bruno, Kathy Arndt and Lou Widmann were re-elected. Larry Ferree will serve the remaining year of Lynda Carey’s term. We introduced the ...

Chris Houser named Penn State Extension associate director for programs

UNIVERSITY PARK — Chris Houser, Penn State Extension assistant director for agronomy and natural resources programs, has been named the organization’s associate director for programs, effective Feb. 1. He has been serving in the associate director role on an interim basis since June 2024. As associate director for programs, Houser will provide leadership for the development and delivery of high-quality, relevant and impactful extension educational programs, products and services through a variety of formats. “Throughout his time in Penn State Extension, Chris Houser has proven ...

Office plants add warmth to the workplace. Only some will thrive

Lush, green plants have the power to transform a space, imparting character, warmth and charm. And there is no space I can think of that could benefit more from a little character, warmth and charm than your average office cubicle. But growing plants in windowless spaces can be challenging, ...

Which style of yoga is right for me? Here’s a primer

To some people, the word “ yoga ” evokes ritualistic chanting, long breaths and slow movement. To others, it means contorting your body into ever more complicated positions until sweat drips onto the mat. In reality, it can be both — with a lot of variation in between. It depends on the teacher, who could be trained in several of numerous yoga styles: hatha, vinyasa, Iyengar, ashtanga, yin and more. Though all styles involve poses (asanas), they differ in significant ways. Even classes within the same style can range from calming to vigorous. So what is the best type of class ...