“Living Better, Not Forever” - Reflections on Kara Swisher’s Longevity Journey

“Living Better, Not Forever” - Reflections on Kara Swisher’s Longevity Journey

Over the years, my blog has taken me, and you, my readers across many landscapes: from food and culture to science, public health, and the deeply personal reflections that come with aging. Recently, while watching Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever on CNN, I found myself revisiting a familiar question:

Can we truly extend life or are we simply trying to outsmart time?

A Journalist’s Quest, A Universal Question

Kara Swisher approaches longevity not as a believer, but as a skeptic willing to experiment. That alone makes the series refreshing.

Her journey is not just about science, it is about loss, curiosity, and the very human desire to delay the inevitable. Watching her test cutting-edge therapies reminded me of something I have seen repeatedly throughout my years in public service and regulatory work:

When science meets hope, the marketplace is never far behind.

Red Light Therapy: Between Science and Promise

One segment explored red light therapy, a treatment that has gained popularity in wellness circles.

There is science behind it-particularly in dermatology and inflammation control. But as I have often written in my blog posts on health trends, the journey from validated treatment to marketed cure-all is often a short one.

In my years observing how medical innovations are evaluated, I learned this simple truth:

Evidence accumulates slowly. Enthusiasm spreads quickly. And therein lies the tension.

The Sleep Headband: Technology Meets an Ancient Need

Another fascinating feature was the use of a sleep-enhancing headband-designed to monitor brainwaves and improve deep sleep. Now here, the science is more grounded.

Sleep plays a critical role in:

• cognitive function
• immune health
• cellular repair

If there is one “longevity intervention” I take seriously, it is this: sleep is not optional-it is foundational.

But let me offer a gentle caution, drawn from both professional experience and personal reflection:

A device can measure sleep. It cannot create discipline.

True rest still depends on habits, something no technology can fully automate.

A Personal Reflection on Aging

As many of you know, my perspective on aging has evolved over time.

From my early blogging days in 2009, when I often wrote with curiosity about science and discovery, to today, where experience and reflection carry more weight, I find myself asking different questions.

Not: How long can we live?

But rather: How well can we live?

My work, including my time connected to the regulatory world of the FDA, taught me to respect science, but also to question bold claims.

And now, in this stage of life, I find myself valuing:

• clarity over complexity
• presence over prolongation
• meaning over metrics

The Illusion of “Forever”

What Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever ultimately reveals is not a roadmap to immortality, but something far more important:

There is no shortcut. No red light. No wearable.

No breakthrough therapy, at least not yet-that replaces the fundamentals.

And perhaps that is not a failure of science, but a reminder of our humanity.

Closing Thoughts to My Readers

To those of you who have followed my journey for years: Stay curious. Explore new ideas. Embrace innovation where it is meaningful. But remain grounded.

Because longevity, as I have come to understand it, is not about chasing “forever.”

It is about:

• sleeping well
• living thoughtfully
• connecting deeply
• and accepting, with grace, the passage of time

In the end, the goal is not simply to live longer-but to live better.

 From my desk, with reflection and gratitude, as always, David 

My Reel of the Day: How to Make People Admire You! 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/932071159341832

Finally, here are five of the biggest news stories today, based on major U.S. and international headlines:

1. A shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. prompted a rapid security response and the evacuation of President Trump and the first lady.

2. The Iran conflict is still driving global tension, with major concern over energy supplies, shipping, and broader economic fallout.

3. King Charles III and Queen Camilla are proceeding with their state visit to the United States despite the recent Washington security incident.

4. Germany says Russia may be behind Signal phishing attacks targeting top officials, adding to concerns about cyber-espionage in Europe.

5. A federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration cannot suspend asylum claims at the border in the way it attempted

THD Excursion to the Robert W Crown Memorial State Beach

Six THD Residents enjoyed an Excursion to Crown Beach in Alameda, today, Sunday Afternoon, 1-4PM. It was a windy day, but our trip was fun with Nancy our Capable Driver and Sylvia assisting with our snacks of cookies, chips water or soft drinks. The group decided to forgo the ice cream  since it was a pretty cool day. I took pictures outside as well inside the Doug Siden visitor center as follows:

Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach is operated by the Park District under a cooperative agreement with the State of California and City of Alameda. It is named in memory of State Assemblyman Robert W. Crown, who had campaigned for its preservation as public parkland. Here are some photos from their website: 

The showpiece of the park is its 2.5-mile beach, with sand dunes bordering a bicycle trail. The beach is a great achievement of landscaping and engineering. After wind and water action had eroded the beach dangerously, it was restored in early 1982 with sand from San Francisco Bay, pumped ashore by pipeline from a barge. More sand has been added since then, and groins have been constructed to keep it in place. In 2013, a $5.7 million project pumped 82,600 cubic yards of sand to restore the beach area and the dune system back to its 1987 footprint. Crown Memorial State Beach Sand Project.

Personal Note: Kudos and thanks to Nancy and Sylvia for the fun drive ( through downtown Oakland and China town) passing by Lake Merritt. We saw several churches with unusual architecture, but the Cathedral of Church Light attracted my attention.  

Photos of the Cathedral from their Website:

Dining in the Clouds: A Place I Have Yet to Touch, But Already Feel

There are places in this world that we visit with our feet. And then there are places we arrive at quietly, long before we ever set foot there, through a photograph, a story, or a sudden stirring of the soul.

This week, I came across one such place: BLU Restaurant, nestled within the Nuvole Garden Hotel Lake Como in the hilltop village of Brunate, overlooking the timeless waters of Lake Como, Italy.

Perched high above the lake, it is described as “suspended between sky and water.”
But what struck me was not just its elevation, it was its invitation. An invitation to pause.

At this stage in my life, I have come to understand that destinations are no longer just about movement. They are about meaning. They are about choosing, with intention, where we place our time, our presence, and our reflection.

And this place, this quiet perch above one of the most beautiful lakes in the world feels like a place meant not just for dining, but for remembering.

Remembering how far we have come. Remembering who we have been. And perhaps, gently, making peace with both.

I imagine sitting there one evening, as the sun lowers itself into the horizon, painting the sky in colors no artist could fully capture. Below, the lights of Lake Como begin to flicker, one by one like memories resurfacing in the quiet.

A simple meal becomes something more. A conversation with oneself.

A moment where time loosens its grip, even if only briefly.

In my years at the FDA, and in the long journey that followed, I have learned that life rarely announces its most meaningful moments. They arrive quietly. Unexpectedly. Often disguised as something ordinary, a meal, a view, a pause.

Perhaps that is why this place speaks to me so deeply. Not because of its luxury.

Not even because of its beauty. But because it feels like a place where one could sit, breathe, and simply be.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview: 

BLU Restaurant

 is a contemporary bistro located within the Nuvole Garden Hotel in Brunate, Italy. Perched high above Lake Como, the restaurant is known for its immersive aquatic-themed design and panoramic views of the water and surrounding mountains. 

Atmosphere and Design

• Aquatic Theme: The interior features deep blue velvets, aquamarine tones, and cobblestone floors designed to mimic the lakebed.
• Visual Highlights: A unique "underwater" ambiance is created by water movements projected onto the ceiling and bubble-inspired lighting.
• Terrace Seating: A large outdoor terrace allows for open-air dining with direct views over Lake Como. 

Cuisine and Dining

The restaurant serves refined Italian bistro cuisine curated by Chef Stefano Mattara, focusing on local and seasonal ingredients from the Lario region. 

• Breakfast: A gourmet experience with a buffet and à la carte options, featuring homemade pastries and organic local products.
• Lunch and Dinner: Offers contemporary interpretations of traditional dishes, such as saffron risotto, homemade pasta, and grilled octopus.
• Dietary Options: The menu includes vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices. 

The above restaurant reminded me of our trip to Tagaytay City, dining at -The View-Taal Restaurant in the Philippines a few years ago with a view of Taal volcano and neighboring towns.   

Finally, Here's the Dreamest Restaurant in the World- The Grotta Palazzese 

Grotta Palazzese is located in Polignano a Mare, a charming town in the Apulia region of Southern Italy. Specifically, the restaurant and hotel are situated in a stunning cliffside location with breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea. You can find it at Via Narciso, 59, 70044 Polignano a Mare, Italy. It's known for its unique setting, with the restaurant literally carved into a cave, offering an unforgettable dining experience.

Lastly, here are the top news stories of the day, based on major outlets’ current homepages and headlines.

Top stories

• A shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington is the biggest U.S. headline today, with the suspect arrested and President Trump evacuated safely.

• Trump abruptly canceled peace talks with Iran, and coverage is focused on the rising U.S.-Iran tension and stalled negotiations.

• The White House is also drawing attention for renewed debate over Trump’s proposed ballroom project after the security scare.

• Internationally, Northern Ireland police responded to reports of a car bomb explosion near Belfast.

• AP and Reuters are highlighting continued conflict and diplomacy pressure around Iran, plus other global flashpoints.

Other notable headlines

• The FDA plans an ultra-fast review of three psychedelic drugs under a Trump directive.

• The New York Times is highlighting a major Supreme Court roundup weedkiller case and the end of a large South Carolina measles surge.

• CBS is also reporting on rising energy bills tied to the AI data center boom in the U.S..