Recommendations

Times are tough enough for Californians; they're even tougher for Californians' teeth. "One-quarter of all adults and 28% of children in California have untreated dental caries [cavities]," says Len Finocchio, a senior program officer at the California Healthcare Foundation, a health advocacy group. "Our research tells us that many people in California have been avoiding routine care that might have cost about $100 for a checkup and cleaning, and then find themselves in the emergency room, where they get only an antibiotic, a bill that can average over $600 and instructions to see a dentist."

Dear Liz: Our mother just turned 64, and our father is divorcing her. She hasn't worked in years because of significant physical and mental health issues. My sister and I have been trying to figure out how she's going to survive on $750 a month, which is the equivalent of half his Social Security. She has always had serious issues with money management, which is why there are no retirement savings or a house. We are now about to embark on the maze of social service benefits that an older woman below the poverty line can receive, partly so we can decide whether she's better off staying put where she is in Arkansas, moving to my sister's in Texas, moving to be near me in Maryland, or moving to her childhood home of Chicago, where most of her friends are. For a lot of complicated reasons (mostly related to the mental health issues)

Manny Hamelburg, 68, a retired businessman, had fought prostate cancer for years. First, he tried radiation, then a drug with side effects that nearly killed him, and finally Lupron, a drug that blocks production of testosterone, the hormone that can fuel prostate cancer. The cancer disappeared. But life was miserable. Without normal levels of testosterone, Hamelburg says, he had no energy, and "zero libido for seven years. I was like a eunuch. I was chemically castrated. Sex was just hugs."

If you are traveling in Texas, a great dining stop is in the small town of Shenandoah, just west of Houston. Aldo el Sharif, who for years had a famous restaurant in Houston, semiretired here and opened Aldo's Cucina Italiana. He still has the magic touch and turns out authentic meals at moderate prices. With all the marvelous historic sites in the area, a great way to top off a day is with dinner at Aldo's. Pastas from $13, main dishes from $18. Aldo's Cucina Italiana, 18450 I-45 South, Shenandoah; (936)

The PSA test should be abandoned as a prostate cancer screening tool, a government advisory panel has concluded after determining that the side effects from needless biopsies and treatments hurt many more men than are potentially helped by early detection of cancers. At best, one life will be saved for every 1,000 men screened over a 10-year period, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. But 100 to 120 men will have suspicious results when there is no cancer, triggering biopsies that can carry complications such as pain, fever, bleeding, infection and hospitalization.

Most voters have by now received their sample ballots, and those who plan to vote by mail are sending in their applications. The June 5 election is underway right now. It is noteworthy for several reasons. Los Angeles County voters will be selecting a new district attorney, and this is the first time since 1964 that there is no incumbent trying to hold onto the seat. The field is wide open. To win outright in this nonpartisan race, a candidate must get more than 50% of the vote.

If you go Latitude Eight Thai Grill, 11 W. Boston St., No. 5, Chandler, Ariz.; (480) 722-0560, latitude-eight.com . Chicken yellow curry $11. House of Tricks, 114 E. 7th St., Tempe, Ariz.; (480) 968-1114, http://www.houseoftricks.com . Main courses from $22. Tuck Shop, 2245 N. 12th St., Phoenix; (602) 364-2980, tuckinphx.com . Rito's, 907 N. 14th St., Phoenix; (602) 262-9842. Cibo, 603 N. 5th Ave., Phoenix; (602)

I recommend this Santa Barbara bed-and-breakfast for its customer service, dedication and professionalism. I continue to love the quietness and peaceful atmosphere. The evening wines, pastries, cheeses, crackers, cakes and pies are excellent. Bath Street Inn, 1720 Bath St., Santa Barbara; (800) 549-2284, http://www.bathstreetinn.com . Rooms from $135. Thomas Ashley Carson

A majority of members of the bipartisan deficit commission are expected to endorse the panel's final recommendations Friday morning, though likely fall short of the supermajority required to guarantee a vote in the Congress. The commission, created in February by President Obama to offer a blueprint for austerity measures and reforms with the goal of slashing the deficit in half this decade, released its final report Wednesday after months of deliberations of the 18 members. Of that number, it appeared 11 were set to endorse the plan, while five have publicly committed to rejecting the recommendations and others remained undecided.

Do you have some travel money to spare? Wanderfly.com is a straightforward "dashboard" of recommendations. What's hot: Destination inspiration is not a new concept for the travelsphere. But Wanderfly keeps the process incredibly simple, which makes it more inviting than the competition. Scroll below the flight and hotel recommendations to find great activity tips generated by online sites such as Yelp and Foursquare. I also liked the "Connect With Facebook" feature, which showed me which friends were in a city.

The Red & White Wine Bar is across the street from beautiful Lake Como, with forever views, in Tremezzo, Italy. The chef and his wife are charming, friendly and speak English. The food is outstanding: It was the best pasta e fagioli I have ever had, and my husband had the lasagna three days in a row. Prices are reasonable. Red & White Wine Bar, 18 Via Portico Sampietro, Tremezzo; 011-39-0344-40095. Pizzas and pastas from about $10. Main dishes $20-22. Jade Kemble Rancho Bernardo

Dear Liz: After working all out for 28 years in a small business, I have put away $2.6 million in stocks, bonds and some cash. (I am a reasonably smart investor.) I'm 58 and want to be done at 60. I'm not tired of my business, just tired of working. How much do you think I could draw out and not get myself into trouble? I'm in great health, so I could last 30 more years. Our house is paid off, and my wife gets about $40,000 a year from a nice pension. Any ideas? Answer: Financial planners typically recommend an initial withdrawal rate of 3% to 4% of your portfolio.

The Swiss Health Resort in Desert Hot Springs is a wonderful place to relax with indoor and outdoor pools, a beautiful desert garden with views of the mountains and daily morning hikes with the owner. Swiss Health Resort, 66729 8th St.; (800) 794-7743, http://www.swisshealthresort.com . Midweek rates from $100 a night, weekends from $130. Judith Samuel Santa Monica

In case you missed it, a recommendation came out last month that physicians cut back on using 45 common tests and treatments. In addition, patients were advised to question doctors who recommend such things as antibiotics for mild sinusitis, CT scans for an uncomplicated headache or a repeat colonoscopy within 10 years of a normal exam. The general idea wasn't all that new - my colleagues and I have been questioning many of the same tests and treatments for years. What was different this time was the source of the recommendations.

The cozy Miyazato Inn is conveniently located a short walk from the center of El Calafate in Patagonia, Argentina. The five rooms are clean and comfortable. The owners, Jorge and Elizabeth Miyazato, treat you like family, ensuring that you get the best of your stay in this beautiful region. Miyazato Inn, 150 Egidio Feruglio, Zona de Chacras, El Calafate, Argentina; 011-54-2902-491953 http://www.interpatagonia.com/miyazatoinn/. Doubles from $80 in low season, $90 in the high season.

Can Lonely Planet fans give up their Bible-sized guidebooks for a teeny-tiny app? Name: Lonely Planet Country Guides Available for: iPhone, iPod Touch What it does: Get thousands of recommendations for places to eat, sleep, sight-see and more. Lonely Planet's guides to Italy, Ireland, Australia, France, Spain and Costa Rica are the first to become apps. Cost: $9.99 What's hot: The entire app is available offline, so there's no sweating data or roaming fees.

Federal regulators Monday issued seven safety recommendations ? six of them labeled urgent ? stemming from the explosion of a natural gas pipeline that killed eight people and destroyed 37 homes in the Bay Area community of San Bruno last September. The urgent recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board call on pipeline operators and regulators in California and the rest of the United States to find and correct any record-keeping deficiencies that could result in pipelines being operated at pressures higher than they were designed to bear.

In the next year or so, the market for statins may get a further boost. The National Cholesterol Education Program, the group that drafted the 2001 and 2004 guidelines on statin use, is expected to update its treatment recommendations. In doing so, the group will decide whether to suggest the broad use of statins for healthy patients with high readings of a marker for inflammation called C-reactive protein. If the group does urge statins for these healthy individuals, at least 6.5 million new patients could sign up for long-term statin use. Dr. Sanjay Kaul, a cardiologist at USC and a coauthor of one of the recent studies critical of the large-scale JUPITER trial, on which such a recommendation would likely be based, says such an expansion would be a mistake.

About 30 miles from Udaipur, India, the secluded Jhadol Safari Resort is situated on a reservoir. Every room is spacious and modern and has a view, and the staff is very attentive and friendly. All-included two-night, three-day packages start at about $300. Jhadol Safari Resort, Ravla Bagh, Tehsil Jhadol, Udaipur; http://www.jhadol.com Hemang Desai Diamond Bar

The U.S. government will support publication of two controversial research papers, officials said Thursday. The studies report details of experiments in which the deadly H5N1 influenza virus was engineered to pass between mammals, officials said Thursday. The decision, released via a statement by Dr. Francis Collins , director of the National Institutes of Health, lands three weeks after a U.S. government advisory board that had initially recommended against publication of the two studies changed its position after further consideration.  Members of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity voted unanimously in favor of publishing a manuscript prepared for the journal Nature by Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  On a 12 to 6 vote, the group also approved publication of another paper, by Dutch virologist Ron Fouchier, in the journal Science.