In just a few weeks, the 2nd annual Fools Paradiseis going down in sunny St. Augustine, FL. From theNorth Florida locals hopping in their cars for a quick drive,to thescores ofpeopleflying in from all over the countryto join the party,excitement is building for what is shaping up to be an unforgettable event! Here area fewof the many reasons to come to Fools Paradise and let your Funk Fool flag fly!

The Music:

Two nights of Lettuce, along with sets from Joe Russos Almost Dead (with Jeff Chimenti), The Floozies, The Motet, The Main Squeeze, Organ Freeman, and a special Manic Science collaboration between Manic Focus and Break Science over two days? Please, and thank you. Add Artist-at-Large spots from Oteil Burbridge and Antwaun Stanley (Vulfpeck collaborator) and were cooking with gas! With all these musicians on deck, you can expect several cross-collaborations.

When the music wraps upat the Amphitheatre, there will be late-night after-shows just across the way featuring the first-ever Infinity Jam hosted by Eric Krasno and Oteil Burbridge, a Fools For Funk performance with members of Lettuce and Dumpstaphunk, and standalone sets from Jaw Gems, Dumpstaphunk, and Eric Krasno Band.Just reading through this lineupis enough to get your adrenaline pumping

The Beach

St. Augustineboasts some of the most scenic and beautiful beachesalong the eastern coast of Florida. They are expansive (42 miles worth of beaches), relaxing, and full of fun things to do during the day before the festival sets get moving. With Fools Paradise taking place at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, you can spend your day in Anastasia State Park, the perfect place to kick it with friends, get some sun, swim in the ocean, lay in a hammock, or hike nature trails. After all, there is a reason the park was voted #6 in a recent ranking of the top 100 State Parksin the United States. But dont limit yourself to just Anastasia State Parkthats just one of the many beaches St. Augustine has to enjoy as you follow the line going South down A1A.

The Town

St. Augustine is known, historically, as the home of the fabled Fountain of Youth, the mythical beacon of immortality sought by Spanish explorer Ponce DeLen.But even beyond this fascinating storyline,St. Augustine has seen more than its fair share of historical moments, from pirate invasions, to attacks on the city, tobattles between Native Americans and the Spanish. The town evenused to act as a safe haven for runaway slaves! St. Augustinewas also a keylocation for Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement where influential protests received national attentionhelping swayPresident Johnsonto signanti-segregationmeasuresinto law.

The old town area on the mainland, where Flagler College is located, has plenty of great restaurants, bars, and places to see, before crossing back over the Bridge of Lions to the beachside to get your music fill. If you want to get your pirate on, stop at the St. Augustine Distillery, where they make their own small batch Rum, Gin, Vodka, and Whiskey.

Artist Excursions

Fools Paradise is one of the very few festivals in which fans get the opportunity interact and kick it with their favorite artists. You want to go on a two-hour nautical adventure with The Shady Horns, as they spin a two-hour DJ set at sea? Come aboard!How about a round of Putt-Putt Golfwith Jesus Coomes (Lettuce), Antwaun Stanley, and Lyle Divinsky (The Motet)? Fools has you covered.Maybe Ping-Pong is your game.well, Lettuces drummer Adam Deitch and guitarist Adam Shmeeans Smirnoff are holding their own tournament at the Elks Lodge, with all proceeds benefittingThe Water Collective. Sign up today!Space is limited for these artist excursions more information can be found here.

The Weather

The weather in St. Augustine this time of year is about as good as it gets. Last years weather was virtually perfect, with temperatures hovering around the low to mid-80s, plenty of sun to enjoy the beach, and a nice beachside breeze to cool things off. As the music started on the second day, everything was smooth sailing for what was one of the best weekends in 2016. Important to note: the St. Augustine Amphitheatre is open air, but fully covered, so you dont have to worry about getting wet inside the venue, in case of inclement weather.For the millions of people doing their best to stay warm amid messy winter conditions, a weekend in the sun probably doesnt sound too bad right about now

With just a couple of short weeks to go untilFools Paradise, tickets and camping/hotel packages are going fast. For additional information, check out festival website for all options available to attendees.

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Why Lettuce's Fool's Paradise Is The Musical Vacation You Need Right Now - Live for Live Music

More Meditation Classes Offered

Cant make it to Susi Walters meditation classes in Clinton Township? Similar sessions are set for 7 p.m. May 5, 10 and 17 at LAnse Creuse Middle School North. Call 586-783-6330 to register.

You also can meditate with Walter Saturday mornings at the Shelby Township Senior Center from 9 to 10 a.m. March 11, 18, and 25. She will offer a special workshop on forgiveness April 22 and 29 and May 6 and 13. Call 586-731-0300 to register.

Have you ever tried to meditate? Its no surprise meditation is good for you, and undoubtedly most people have tried to quiet their minds at least once. But to most untrained meditators, thinking about nothing usually leads to thoughts about everything: Am I doing this right? Is this a waste of time? What else could I be doing?

You can learn how to silent those pesky thoughts and how to properly meditate by attending Susi Walters Tuesday evening meditation sessions at the Clinton Township Senior Center. The classes are set from 7 to 8 p.m., with sessions taking place in March, April, May and June. They are open to the public, and all ages are welcome. The cost is $40 per session.

Anyone might consider attending who is interested in learning how to meditate, improving quality of life, and holding peace within, Walter said. Meditation may help in every aspect of life. It is possible to heal the body, mind and spirit through consistent practice.

Walter, who is certified in mindful meditation through the University of Holistic Theory, begins class by discussing meditation techniques. Shell play relaxing music in the background, and the lights are slightly dimmed. She guides the class by reading meditation scripts. She also explains some fundamentals, like chakras (an energy center in the body), and auras (an electromagnetic field that extends about four or five feet around the body).

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Typically, classes focus on relaxing the body, clearing the mind, releasing physical and emotional pain, and seeing and feeling auric energy. However, Walter does offer specialty sessions emphasizing forgiveness, releasing stress and anxiety, living with illness, grief, goal setting, breaking habits, sparking creativity and more. Shes open to suggestions from participants, she said.

Students have the option to sit or rest lying down on the floor with mats and pillows. Its important to be comfortable while meditating, so participants are welcome to sit in a cushioned chair if theyre uneasy about getting down on the floor.

Meditation is now being used in clinical interventions to help improve health and well-being. Higher levels of mindfulness is related to decreased stress, which leads to better health, and evidence suggests meditation can even improve cognitive abilities such as sustained attention and working memory.

I am thrilled that many scientific and modern medicinal groups have begun to validate meditation as a true healing modality. I have had people come to my classes as a last resort for help, said Walter, who has been teaching meditation for 10 years. It has aided so many of them who were in desperate need of healing. Many hospitals are implementing integrative medicine departments and prescribing holistic remedies, such as meditation and energy healing in order to complement contemporary medicine.

The Clinton Township Senior Center is located at 40730 Romeo Plank Road. To register for the meditation class, call 586-286-9333.

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Learn how to calm the mind, heal the body through meditation - The Macomb Daily

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Cat Food Brands: Grain Free, Organic Cat & Kitten Food ...

Sorry green-market-loving hipsters, but it turns out eating organic isnt always that great for the planet, and may only have a marginal effect on your health.

A new studypublished in the journal Science Advances reports that even though organic farms have the eco-friendly benefit of using fewer pesticides, they also use more land, which is harmful to the planet.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia analyzed organic crop farming across 17 criteria such as yield, impact on climate change, farmer livelihood and consumer health by looking at the existing scientific literature on its results.

For one, they found the environmental benefits of organic farming can be offset by the lower yields of such crops (typically 19 to 25 percent lower than conventional farming).

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While an organic farm may be better for things like biodiversity, farmers will need more land to grow the same amount of food, wrote Verena Seufert, the studys co-author. And land conversion for agriculture is the leading contributor to habitat loss and climate change.

The study also pointed out that reviews disagree on whether organic food offers a significant difference in nutrient content compared to conventional crops.

While one benefit was found to be unequivocal reduced contamination from pesticides the authors point out that this might not matter for consumers in high-income countries, where pesticide contamination on conventionally grown food is far below acceptable daily intake thresholds.

This article originally appeared on The New York Post.

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Organic food isn't all it's cracked up to be, study suggests - Fox News

Organic food is increasingly on the rise because people think it is better for themselves you are, after all, what you eat but also because they think it is better for the environment. A new study, however, has revealed that that may not be the case all of the time.

Published in Science Advances, the studyis the first to systematically review the scientific literature on theenvironmental and socioeconomic performance of organic farming. The researchers, led by the University of British Columbia (UBC), claim organic food is not the immediate fix for environmental agricultural issues and the future of food security.

"Organic is often proposed [as] a holy grail solution to current environmental and food scarcity problems, said Verena Seufert, study co-author and a researcher at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), in a statement. But we found that the costs and benefits will vary heavily depending on the context."

As the study explains, organic farming on the same scale as conventional farming produces a much smaller yield without the use of pesticides. It is approximately 19 to 25 percent less, and so it needs more land to be able to cultivate more crops.

While an organic farm may be better for things like biodiversity, farmers will need more land to grow the same amount of food, said Seufert. And land conversion for agriculture is the leading contributor to habitat loss and climate change.

It can mean that those with good intentions when buying organic food might not be being as environmentally friendly as they would hope.

Organic farming seems to make for some very happy farmers. Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock

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Organic Food Alone Cannot Provide A Sustainable Future - IFLScience

New York Times

So You Think You Can't Meditate? New York Times Left on my own, meditation time turns into nap time, so I knew I needed some organization and supervision. I had heard that meditation studios are the new yoga studios, and I was intrigued. I chose Mndfl, which has locations in Greenwich Village, on ...

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So You Think You Can't Meditate? - New York Times

Deep in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, a prestigious military college in southern Virginia steeped in more than a century of tradition has embraced meditation courses as a way for cadets to become more mentally fit.

Dr. Matt Jarman, a psychology professor who focuses on leadership and mental exercise.htm" id="ramplink_fitness_" target="_blank">fitness, and Dr. Holly Richardson, a physical education professor who specializes in exercise physiology, both teach courses involving meditation at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.

Meditation is not this kind of soft, fluffy thing, Jarman said. Youre facing your fears, youre facing your stresses head-on or leaning into them, and its giving you the tools to do that more effectively and not get swept away by them.

Download and subscribe to the "10% Happier" podcast on iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher and TuneIn.

Jarman has made mindfulness practice a centerpiece of his Modern Warriorship class. Mindfulness is a series of meditation techniques that are designed to slow the mind, focus on the breath and bring attention back from distraction.

From my perspective, a warrior is one who is creating change in a process for the benefit of others, Jarman said. And warriorship, the way Im talking about it, is the mental and physical training, the discipline training, to allow you to be a more effective warrior, to allow you to be more mentally and physically able to, when the time comes, to help others.

Jarman said he has his students practice meditation for 15 minutes every morning and then five minutes before they start homework, as a way to tie the meditation to a habit.

They have to do work, at some point, right? So if they can tie the meditation to that, then hopefully, even when they leave this class, they still have that cue to prompt this behavior, he said. Habits dont require you to exert willpower because you just do it.

Richardson teaches a mindfulness class following the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness curriculum, which focuses on stress reduction. She introduced meditation on campus as a way to help cadets handle stress better, whether its studying for an exam, preparing for a big game or having to go see the commandant of cadets, who oversees the colleges daily military regimen.

We talk about when they have to go see the commandant for a demerit, again they have their breath, have that presence to breathe three-five times before going in and [then] having a more productive conversation, Richardson said.

Many VMI cadets have plans to serve in the military after graduation or some have already served in the military and come to the college as veterans. Jarman acknowledged that there are critics who have raised ethical questions about teaching meditation to soldiers when they may be ordered to kill another person during wartime.

From my perspective the mental training allows you to be better at making decisions [while] acting quickly, he said. So in my mind, it allows you to do your job better which hopefully results in as few casualties as possible. So I would rather, if someone is in a profession that requires that sort of action, that they be as mentally sound as possible.

Richardson added that there is science that shows meditation can help soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because the practice helps them remain present, and reset the channel instead of playing the same tape over and over when they come home from war.

Jarman and Richardson said they have received little pushback from VMI cadets when they have them practice meditation. Richardson said some cadets will say they dont have time. Jarman added that some cadets have told him their roommates will make fun of them for practicing, but he says he turns that around to show the cadets that practicing meditation can help make them tougher.

If you cant do something as simple as meditating and be OK with the fact that others might think that its a little weird, then youre not really getting into the training yet, Jarman said. In modern warriorship, part of being someone who can make change when change is necessary means youre going to be going against a lot of people, so I view that as wonderful practice.

Download and subscribe to the "10% Happier" podcast on iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher and TuneIn.

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Military college professors teach cadets meditation to help them be effective warriors - ABC News

Lam rim Kadampa Buddhist Center is offering a one-hour meditation class from 6 to 7 p.m. March 22 at the Art Center of Burlington, 301 Jefferson St.

The Wednesday session includes an explanation of the benefits of meditation and how to meditate followed by a short, guided breathing meditation to calm the mind. Another guided meditation will follow. Meditation is meant to change attitudes from negative to positive.

This class is designed to be straightforward and great for people new to meditation. The meditations are short and practical. The class will emphasize how we can apply what we have learned immediately in our life in order to solve our daily worries, problems and difficulties in a peaceful, positive and healthy way, said Joe Gauthier, a resident teacher at Lamrim Kadampa Buddhist Center in Davenport. By presenting the timeless wisdom of Buddha in a way that is immediately accessible and practical for modern people, this class can benefit individuals from all walks of life.

Registration is not required. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students.

For more information, call (563) 322-1600, email info@meditateiniowa.org or visit http://www.meditateiniowa.org.

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Meditation classes offered at Art Center - Burlington Hawk Eye

Sylvia Maldonado, whose father founded West Loop wholesaler La Criolla, is opening breathe bar, a meditation studio at 946 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop. View Full Caption

breathe bar

WEST LOOP After stints in Guatemala and New York City,the daughter of a Randolph Streetfood wholesaler is opening a business of her ownback on Randolph Street.

Sylvia Maldonado, whose father foundedWest Loop food wholesalerLa Criollaat 909 W.Randolph St., will open breathe bar, a meditation studio at 946 W. Randolph St., on March 31.The second floor "meditation oasis" will featureteacher-ledmeditationclasses, on-demand meditation booths and other health and wellness services.

Maldonado got her first crash course inbusiness at age 5, following her fatherAvelino "Lilo" Maldonado on sales calls to Hispanic grocers across Chicago. Specializing in spice blends, AvelinoMaldonado founded the La Criolla Foods out of the trunk of his car. After he died in 1992, Sylvia's mother Carmen took over the business.

"I feel like I have this startup mojo from my dad," Sylviasaid.

An Emmy-winning television producer, Sylvia Maldonado launched her own career in TV at Harpo Studios just down the block from her family's business and went on to work as a producer at Towers Productions.She was first introduced to meditationwhile working at Harpo.

"I took the classes and I highly,highly disliked it. I had 'monkey mind,' I couldn't stop my thoughts, and I thought 'I'm not good at this,'" she said.

Fast forward two decades, Maldonado was now living inNew York, and a doctor recommended meditation as a way to cope with stress. The second time around, she was hooked.

"As soon as I tried it, it wastransformative," she said. "Icould feel my heart rate lower, myblood pressure lower. I wasreally able to create that space."

After working in New York City and working for a non-profit in Chicago,Maldonadovolunteered for the Peace Corps in Guatemala before returning home in 2013 to help her mom expand the family business. LeadingLa Criollawas stressful at times, but Maldonado used the challenges to deepen her meditation practice.

While La Criolla was sold at the end of 2016, the business is still at 909 W. Randolph, and Maldonado is proud to continue her dad's legacy six decades later and spread the power of meditation and mindfulness tothe masses on Randolph's restaurant row.

"I created breathe bar to remove preconceived notions aboutmeditationso people can truly see what ameditationpractice can do for their liveswe want to meet you where you are at, whether youve been meditating for years or this is your first time," she said.

The 3,600-square-foot studio above Starbucks will offer 30-60 minute teacher-ledmeditation classes that will reflect on a variety of practices,including insight meditation, mindfulness, mantra, soundand visualization. For busy professionals who can't make a class, breathe bar also offers on-demand meditation. Guests and members can settle into a private booth at breathe bar, put on noise-canceling Bose headphones and use an iPad Mini to experience a 3-7 minute guided meditation byAura Health.

Breathe bar offers two types of monthly memberships: a $75 package featuring four teacher-led classes and unlimited on-demand meditation and a $125 unlimited membership.Drop-in teacher-ledclasses cost $22 and drop-in on-demand classes are $15.

Friends and family can also split a $225 unlimited membership, and breathe bar is offering discounted memberships through the end of May.

Breathe bar officially opens March 31 with a 6 a.m. sunrise meditation. The full schedule is online.

Breathe bar, a new meditation studio at 946 W. Randolph St., will open on March 31. [breathe bar]

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New Meditation Studio In West Loop Urges You To Breathe Deep - DNAinfo

Right in the heart of the University of Vermont, Burlington campus, there's a big dormitory going up, with room enough for 700 students next fall.

The dorm is being set aside for students like Azilee Curl, a first-year studying neuroscience who has taken a pledge of sorts to live out her college career at UVM with her health in mind.

She's part of a growing group on campus who all live together in a clean-living residence hall, have fitness and nutrition coaches at the in-house gym, and can access free violin lessons, yoga and mindfulness training.

There's also zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol use here one infraction and you're out.

Dr. Jim Hudziak, a pediatric neuropsychiatrist at UVM's Medical School, started the program about two years ago. His message is clear: Take good care of your young mind.

"The most critical part of the brain, for paying attention, for regulating your emotions, for making good decisions, has not even been organized yet," he says, talking about the college-age brain.

For the program, he teaches a mandatory course called "Healthy Brains, Healthy Bodies" where students learn that even at 18- and 19-years-old, their brains are still developing, and will keep doing so even after they graduate.

"When I heard about it, it made me really excited to come to UVM. It really, really sparked my interest," says Azilee Curl. Studying neuroscience, she says "It just didn't make sense to read about it and not live it."

Hudziak says UVM, which has a reputation as a party school, is trying to mitigate risk of binge drinking, and other risky behaviors, as soon as students arrive on campus.

"You get accepted to college, and we celebrate the fact that we are putting a wildly unprepared, underdeveloped brain in a high-risk environment."

But grooming health-conscious students might not be the only incentive for UVM. As colleges compete for a smaller pool of students in New England, administrators hope applicants find Hudziak's program a reason to come to the Burlington campus. It's a heavily marketed option for incoming students.

UVM administrators predict Hudziak's program will grow, too. They're expecting more than 1,200 students to enroll next fall, up from 400 total students this year. And maybe the messaging is working. According to reports, drug violations are down on campus.

Still, for every one student in the wellness program, there are about 25 who aren't.

"It was probably gonna be too regimented for my lifestyle," says 19-year-old Emily Bruggeman from Hebron, Conn. "I like to be a little bit more autonomous in terms of my well-being and stuff like that." You hear that a lot on campus.

For those already in the program, Hudziak says, nearly everyone sticks around for a second year.

"I have this prevailing belief that young people, given the opportunity to make good decisions, would choose to make good decisions. But they have to be in an environment where those choices are as easily available as high-risk decisions."

His program is capturing the attention of higher education leaders across the country. He says leaders at more than 20 other schools, including New York University, Tulane and Boston University, have reached out seeking advice.

Lydia Emmanouilidou contributed to the reporting for this story.

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Meditation, Nutrition, Fitness: One 'Party School' Tries To Tame The College Brain - NPR