By SAM MCMANIS, Sacramento Bee

Cancer used to be a big, scary word that people in polite society dared not speak, especially around children. Dreadful as a diagnosis can be, telling the kids the unvarnished truth seemed too horrible to fathom.
But here's how comfortable we've become in familial communication between a parent newly diagnosed with cancer and children:

People concerned with their health are always on the lookout for lower-sugar alternatives in their beverages. Then again, people seeking that ultimate buzz want to know which drink packs the most punch.
Take our multiple-choice quiz and pick the drink that contains the most grams of sugar per ounce.

Economic times are tough, we know. And when the going gets tough, the tough retreat to a fast-food joint and order a "value meal," which ranges anywhere from 70 cents to $1.50.

Crickets chirp inside Tania Dubonnet's head sometimes. Either that, or a distant teakettle whistle whines. Or an electronic tone bleats. Or a hiss of air, like that from a deflating balloon, intrudes.

Ah, the holidays.
Such a joyous occasion. Such a freakin' headache.
As festive as the yuletide season promises to be, it also can be prime time for nagging, throbbing, nausea-inducing headaches for many celebrants.

Life is not easy for a spouse of an adult with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
John Capel, a California psychologist with practices in Sacramento and Davis, would seem better equipped than many to deal with the ADHD of his wife, Cass.
But he says it's still a challenge. He deals with it with patients in his practice and deals with his own issues.

Lunch rush was over, but distractions remained numerous inside the cafe just off a highway in Auburn, Calif. Blenders whirred out smoothies every few minutes, laughter erupted from a nearby group, a young worker noisily cleared tables.

In most states, the woman you ask to take just a little off the top -- yeah, your barber -- is licensed by the Bureau of Barbering and Cosmetology. You can see the certificate hanging right there in the mirror.

This time of year, everyone sings about chestnuts -- you know, roasting on an open fire -- but who really goes to all the trouble to crack them open and munch?
We're here to tell you that chestnuts are one of the healthiest snacks out there. Back off, almonds and walnuts. Take our quiz about the wonders of chestnuts.

Every two weeks, the National Institutes of Health puts together a podcast examining -- demystifying, really -- the federal agency's latest research on everything from pelvic-floor disorders to using MRIs to diagnose breast cancer.