The JPMorgan Beijing office sign in Beijing on Dec. 13, 2010. Jason Lee/ReutersJPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs plan to stay in China despite worsening U.S.-China relations, with both banks adjusting…

A Toronto District School Board sign is shown in front of a high school in Toronto on Jan. 30, 2018. The Canadian Press/Frank GunnAn Ontario court has ruled that the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)…

In a striking revelation from a recent survey, a majority of regular U.S. churchgoers believe the Bible lacks clear guidance on homosexuality and transgenderism, signaling potential gaps in how churches are addressing contemporary social debates. Conducted by the Family Research Council (FRC) and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, the poll—drawing from 1,003 […]

What began as a frustrating wait at the register escalated into a violent parking lot stabbing, leaving one woman hospitalized and another facing serious criminal charges. The bizarre incident unfolded last week at a Marshalls department store in Kearny, New Jersey, where impatience over a slow checkout line allegedly triggered an unprovoked assault. According to […]

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There is a growing trend on social media in which Millennial and Gen X-aged parents (ages 29 to 44) say their Baby Boomer parents aren’t there for their grandkids. In many cases, they begged their kids to have grandchildren, but when the kids arrived, they found better things to do with their time.The fact that their parents don’t seem to care about their own grandchildren comes as a shock to many, especially those whose grandparents were a big part of their lives growing up. Some say that because Baby Boomers are more affluent than previous generations, they spend their time doing activities outside of their family, or that, as members of the “Me Generation,” they’d rather focus on themselves than family.Of course, one shouldn’t paint an entire generation with the same brush. There are plenty of fantastic grandparents from the Baby Boomer generation. But for those whose parents shirked their duties as grandparents, the pain is deep. A stressed mom and her baby.via Canva/PhotosTo uncover why so many Baby Boomer grandparents aren’t around for their grandchildren, a Redditor asked the Absent Grandparents subforum for reasons why: “It makes me wonder: why are so many grandparents today so uninvolved, when they themselves relied heavily on grandparent support in the ’90s and 2000s? The one silver lining is this: IF our kids have children, we’ll show up. We’ll offer help, give them weekends off, and be the kind of grandparents we wish ours were.”5 reasons why Baby Boomer grandparents aren’t around for their grandchildren 1. They relied on their own parents"I think because a lot of them relied so heavily on grandparent support that they have no idea how hard parenting actually is.""Yep. My in-laws sent my husband and his two siblings to the babysitter/school for 12+ hours a day, and then on the weekends, they were at their grandma's house. Since they never got deep in the nitty gritty of caretaking, they simply had no patience for their kids when they did have them.""We were with our grandparents a lot because they didn't want to be parents back then, and they don't want to be grandparents now."2. They didn't want kids in the first place"Boomers had kids to appease their parents and never forgave us for it. I think most of them would freely admit they didn’t want to have kids, but societal obligations pushed them into it. I personally believe my father only had me because having a family was kinda expected to climb the corporate ladder.""My mom admitted that she didn't want kids, but my dad ultimatum-ed her. She was f**king amazing, engaged, involved, supportive. My dad was none of those things. Like, the best you could say is that he wasn't abusive and he liked to brag when we did well (thanks to our mom's support, not his)?" A couple in their 60s. via Canva/Photos3. They only want to show off to their friends"A lot of them only want grandkids so they can take photos and play grandparent for 10 minutes to show off to their friends. The novelty soon wears off, especially when said grandchildren won't perform for them and start having their own opinions."4. They were selfish"For me, my parents are incredibly selfish people. They have a decent amount of money, but since I was 18, they have never paid for anything as trivial as a meal for me when we ate out. When my sister had her first grandchild, she mentioned to my parents that it would be helpful if they had a pack-and-play and a high chair/basically some baby gear for when they came to visit. My parents freaked out and basically told her they would not be buying anything like that. If she wanted it at her house, she would have to buy it for them."5. Emotional immaturity"I think a lot of boomers are, regrettably, at heart selfish and emotionally immature people. The greatest and silent generations were not perfect, but they had a stronger sense of decency, obligation, and expectation than boomers did. Many boomers sadly have very few interpersonal standards. ... Sorry, but you don’t want people who don’t really care in your life. The reason they don’t see their grandbabies 5 minutes away is because they do not care." A couple in their 60s. via Canva/PhotosThere are many reasons why some Baby Boomers have turned their backs on their grandchildren. So how can parents turn this into a positive? Nathaniel Turner, co-founder of the League of Extraordinary Parents, lawyer, and TEDx speaker, says that parents should take this as an opportunity to build their own village.“I find the lament about absent Baby Boomer grandparents understandable. However, we need to stop mourning their absence and thank them for the open seats they left behind,” Turner told Upworthy. He suggests that parents find a fresh way forward rather than hope that their Baby Boomer parents will come around one day. - YouTube www.youtube.com “You must unapologetically accept that if an individual lacks the capacity to contribute to your child's highest outcome, their DNA gives them no special privilege to the Village seat,” Turner continued. He suggests that parents create their own “Starting Five”—like a basketball team—to support their child’s development. “The healthy way to handle absence is to engineer a qualified, superior replacement," he said. "Your job is to honestly and systematically evaluate potential new village members. For us, that was creating the ‘Starting Five’: a collection of five people committed to ensuring your child reaches their full potential and lives a life far better than your own.”It seems the parents in this thread are tired of lamenting that their own parents just won’t be there for their kids as grandparents, and they just want to understand why. But, as Turner notes, that leaves an opportunity open for someone with a bigger heart and greater concern for their child’s well-being to step in and create an even stronger village.

Following long and hot summers, there is nothing more refreshing than welcoming in "spooky season" on September 1. With the cooler fall temperatures, revelers prepare for the highly anticipated day that crowns the season: Halloween.And leading up to October 31, those who love the scary, creepy and supernatural get to settle into all things macabre. Macabre is one of many uncommon words that tend to come out during this time of year.So if you're looking to expand your Halloween vocabulary, there are many obscure words for you to learn. Here are 15 Halloween words and definitions that will take your lexicon to the next level: @jesszafarris Replying to @jesszafarris woohooo! #halloween #wordoftheday #wordorigins #spooky #werewolf #witch #witchcraft #witchtok #booktok #literature #etymology #etymologytok #warlock #magic #wolf #wifwolf PhantasmPhantasm means "a product of fantasy: such as a delusive appearance or illusion; a ghost, specter; or a figment of the imagination."ApparitionApparition mean "ghost; the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people."KrakenKraken means "a gigantic tentacled sea monster of Scandinavian myth."According to Merriam Webster, the kraken is "a legendary sea monster of Scandinavian and Norwegian lore, perhaps imagined from sightings of giant squids and octopi. Sailors have discussed giant sea monsters for thousands of years, and Danish historian Erik Pontoppidan described the kraken (as well as sea serpents and mermaids) in detail in his Natural History of Norway (first published in Danish in 1752), claiming the beast was 'round, flat, and full of arms' and 'the largest and most surprising of all the animal creation.'"EldritchEldritch means "strange or unnatural especially in a way that inspires fear; weird, eerie."MacabreMacabre means "gruesome; extremely disturbing or repellent." @englishwithterry #holloween #holloween2024 #spooky #fear #macabre #englishlesson #speakingenglish #writingenglish #englishasasecondlanguage #eslclass #englishteacher WerewolfWerewolf is "a person transformed into a wolf or capable of assuming a wolf's form."According to Merriam Webster, werewolf traces "all the way back to the Old English werwulf, and before that to a prehistoric predecessor that also left its paw prints on German (Werwolf) and Dutch (weerwolf). Synonyms for werewolf in English include the obscure lycanthrope, which has roots in two Greek words (lykos, meaning 'wolf,' and anthrōpos, meaning 'human being'), and loup-garou, which comes from Old French."WraithWraith means "the exact likeness of a living person seen usually just before death as an apparition, ghost, specter; an insubstantial form or semblance, shadow; a barely visible gaseous or vaporous column."NefariousNefarious means "flagrantly wicked or impious; evil."According to Merriam Webster, nefarious "comes from the Latin adjective nefarius and the Latin noun nefas, which means 'crime.' Nefas is a combination of ne- ('not') and fas, meaning 'right' or 'divine law'."LycanthropyLycanthropy means "a delusion that one has become a wolf; the assumption of the form and characteristics of a wolf held to be possible by witchcraft or magic."MausoleumMausoleum means "a large tomb, a usually stone building with places for entombment of the dead above ground; a large gloomy building or room."ColumbariumColumbarium means "a structure of vaults lined with recesses for cinerary urns." @wired A #mausoleum and a #columbarium - what’s the difference? Let’s dive into the world of enternal resting places with licensed funeral director and #mortician #victormsweeney #morticianlife #morticiansoftiktok #cemetery #cremation #funeraldirector CrepuscularCrepuscular means "of, relating to, or resembling twilight, dim; occurring or active during twilight." EsbatEsbat means "a meeting of a coven of witches."Malevolent Malevolent means "having, showing, or arising from intense often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred; productive of harm or evil."ChthonicChthonic means "of or relating to the underworld; infernal."

All things old are new again—and the same goes for classic recipes. For those who grew up during the 1970s (that's Baby Boomers and Generation Jones), staple dishes that were served at the dinner table are being rediscovered on Reddit by newer generations looking for filling, comforting, and affordable meals.According to JSTOR, actress Liza Minelli first coined "comfort food" back in 1970. Minelli told food columnist Johna Blinn, "Comfort food is anything you just yum, yum, yum." Meals from the 1970s are nostalgic and also budget friendly. Try making one of these comforting recipes from Redditors that will fill you up and not break the bank. - YouTube www.youtube.com Tuna casserole "I LITERALLY made a tuna casserole last night & had the leftovers for lunch today." - Disastrous-Soup-5413, RogerClyneIsAGod2Turkey (or chicken) tetrazzini "Tetrazzini is a creamy pasta dish with turkey (or chicken) chicken, mushrooms, and cheese." - Disastrous-Soup-5413Liver and onions"Liver and onions, mashed potatoes and a green salad made with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes cut in wedges, cucumber slices .. peeled and miracle whip salad dressing." - KaktusbluteQuiche Lorraine"A family favorite quiche recipe from the 1970’s. The secret? Half a cup of mayonnaise and an unreasonable quantity of cheese. My mom uses sweet onion instead of green onion, but otherwise made as written:1/2 c. real mayonnaise1/2 c. milk2 eggs1 Tbsp. corn starch1 1/2 c. cubed cooked ham1 1/2 c. (about 1/2 pound) chopped Swiss cheese1/3 c. sliced green onionDash pepper1 unbaked 9" pastry shellMix together real mayonnaise, milk, eggs and corn starch until smooth. Stir in ham, cheese, onion and pepper. Turn into pastry shell. Bake in 350 degree Fahrenheit oven 35-40 minutes until golden brown on top and knife inserted comes out clean." - banoctopus - YouTube www.youtube.com Cheese fondue"For fondue, you can go in a few different directions. Cubed crusty bread is one of the classic ways to dip into cheese fondue, but you could use fruits, vegetables, chunks of cooked or cured sausages, so long as they will keep their structural integrity." - Bluecat72Meatloaf and baked potatoes"A basic meatloaf is ground beef, minced onions, bread crumbs, an egg and a squirt of ketchup for moisture, salt, pepper, garlic powder.. whatever you like. Get your hands in there and squish it all together until thoroughly mixed. Form into a vague loaf shape on a pan and bake at 350 for an hour. Poke a couple potatoes with a fork and cook them in the microwave for 5-7 minutes. Enjoy a meatloaf sandwich with mustard for lunch the next day ?." - yblamePork chops with rice and cream of mushroom soup"Brown the chops, take them out of the pan, pour in rice, soup and water, stir to combine. Put the pork chops on top. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked. Tossed green salad: iceberg lettuce, chopped scallions, tomatoes, cucumbers, Wishbone Italian Dressing." - hicjacketSalmon croquettes"Salmon croquettes were a staple of my childhood. Canned salmon, saltine crackers, and an egg. We called them croquettes but naw, they were shaped into salmon patties." - DazzlingBullfrog9, throwawaytodaycatMexican casserole"Brown ground beef, stir in a can of tomato sauce and 1 sliced green onion. Mix together a cup of sour cream, a cup of cottage cheese and a can of chopped green chilies. In a 9x13 pan, layer crushed tortilla chips, meat, cream mixture and grated Colby-jack or Colby cheese. Repeat layers. Bake until hot and bubbly." - Open-Gazelle1767Hamburger Stroganoff"One pound ground beef, 1 package Lipton onion soup mix, 1 can cream of mushroom or chicken soup, sour cream. Brown the ground beef, stir in the can of soup and soup mix. Stir in the sour cream until it looks right...I think it's a half pint, but maybe a whole pint. Serve over rice for the 2 kids who eat rice and egg noodles for the one kid who doesn't." - Open-Gazelle1767Shake 'N Bake Chicken"Shake’n Bake chicken or pork chops. 'And I helped!' Preheat oven to 400F. Moisten chicken with water. Place breasts in Shake-n-Bake shaker bag. Shake the bag vigorously to coat the chicken. Bake for 20 minutes if boneless, 45 minutes if it does have bones." - Karin58 @allrecipes Where are all the Shake n Bake girlies? ? Today @nicolesperfectbite is showing you how to make this classic bread coating at home—and dare we say better than the original? ? #instafood #food #foodie #shakenbake #bake #chicken #breadcrumbs #paprika #garlic #onion #powder #meat #breading #bread #easy #easyrecipe #recipe #quickandeasy #weeknightdinner Grilled cheese and tomato soup"Still my favorite thing to eat, but now I make my own tomato bisque, my own bread, and use Gouda or cheddar. Back then Mom made this for Friday lunch: Campbell's tomato soup (made with milk) and the grilled cheese was two slices of five-loaves-for-a-dollar white bread with Velveeta, grilled with Miami Maid margarine in the Revere Ware skillet." - Mindless_Pop_632, mulberryredPork sausage and rice"I grew up in the 70s and my mother made this sausage and rice dish at least once a month. The recipe is from Peg Bracken's I Hate To Cook Book. Crumble 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of pork sausage (hamburger will do, but pork is better) into a skillet and brown it. Pour off the fat. Add:1 green pepper, chopped2 green onions, chopped2 or 3 celery stalks, chopped2 c. chicken consommé or bouillon1 c. raw rice1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce1/2 tsp. saltPut on the lid and let it simmer at lowest possible heat for 1 hour." - officerbirbSloppy Joes"Classic Sloppy Joes. My family had these regularly in the ‘70s." - ThatPtarmiganAgain

Most of us have gotten a whiff of something and instantly felt at ease. Or, we've experienced a surge of serotonin after walking past a bakery, flower garden, or (gasp) gas station. Our sense of smell is deeply ingrained in the memory centers of our brain and just one sniff can alter our mood.The olfactory system is really quite something. There is literally a super short nerve (first cranial 1) that, according to the Cleveland Clinic, "starts in the brain and ends in the upper, inside part of your nose." It gives the ability to process odor, while working with a whole system of olfactory receptors which receive the tiny molecules emitted by substances. (There's a whole system of membranes, bulbs, and neurons which work together to absorb a smell and make sense of it in your brain.)What's extra interesting is that if this nerve is damaged, the long-time effect has been linked to Alzheimer's and other memory-loss diseases. Rather, an early sign of such a disease is anosmia (lack of smell), so whether it's causal or a symptom, it's theorized that smell and memory are intricately neurologically linked.Beyond just memory (which factors into our moods, of course), there are many experts who claim specific scents affect different parts of the brain, and the science behind it is quite fascinating. The power of scent. www.youtube.com, Real Men, Real STyle But why and how different scents have such different effects on aspects of our lives are some remaining questions. Think of it like this. When you're taking medicine, whether it's for a physical ailment or mental health, different neurotransmitters are targeted. Smell is no different, which is why aromatherapy is so popular. From "The Science of Scents": "From the olfactory epithelium, nerve impulses are transmitted to the limbic system, a region in the brain associated with emotions, memories, and behavior. This direct connection explains why scents can evoke powerful emotional responses and trigger memories. Different aromas stimulate specific areas within the limbic system, influencing mood, stress levels, and even cognitive function."Professor Kathy Willis writes in a piece for the BBC's Countryfile section about the importance of plants and their "science-backed" effect on overall wellbeing.LAVENDER Lavender flowers in the evening. Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash Lavender can literally help you sleep better. Willis shares, "Experiments in sleep chambers have shown that during the nights when participants had aromas of lavender puffed into their rooms while sleeping, their brain wave activity indicated that they slept for longer intervals of time and also had more slow-wave deep sleep."Dr. Elizabeth Ko, medical director at the UCLA Health Integrative Medicine Collaborative, adds that lavender oils for older people can greatly improve racing minds. "If you’re experiencing anxiety, try lavender. Inhaling lavender or diffusing it in your space may temporarily relieve feelings of stress and anxiety."ROSEMARYThis scent actually has the opposite effect. Willis claims that many studies have shown that the "scent compounds of rosemary influence the neurotransmitters in our brain that are responsible for wakefulness and alertness."Kate Rockwood backs up this claim, writing on Oprah.com, "Researchers at Northumbria University in England found that participants who sniffed essential oil of this (rosemary) herb performed significantly better on prospective memory tests, meaning they were less likely to forget future tasks." See on Instagram PINEFeeling anxious? The smell of pine can significantly reduce that. In experiments where respondents were exposed to the smell of pine, Willis shares that "even after as little as 90 seconds, participants showed clear evidence of physiological relaxation and reduced anxiety."ROSE A red rose with drops of dew. Photo by Edward Howell on Unsplash This one is super cool. One experiment, described by Willis, had subjects drive a simulated car. During their drive, different scents were pumped into the "car" to assess whether they could reduce anxiety or create alertness. The smell of rose, peppermint, and civet were used, but "it was the smell of roses that indicated the best performance: slower speeds, less crashes, and the participants feeling more relaxed and cautious when behind the wheel."CITRUSThis smell energizes and uplifts. An article on the Maison 21G, a perfumery website, "How Fragrances Affect Your Mood: Understanding the Power of Scents" further explains how deeply rooted smell is to our mental health and adds some more powerful scent connections to the list. Of citrus, they explain, "fragrances (with citrus) can help improve mood, increase alertness, and reduce feelings of fatigue."Ko adds, "Citrus oils like bergamot or lemon tend to be uplifting and promote happiness."EUCALYPTUSWe often think of these plants as having healing qualities (and may notice it in the ingredients of products meant to provide calm to the skin or hair.) There's a reason for that. The perfumery site claims, "Eucalyptus has a fresh, cooling scent that is known for its ability to clear the mind and promote focus. (It) can also help alleviate congestion and promote clear breathing, making it a popular choice for those suffering from colds or allergies. This invigorating scent is perfect for maintaining mental clarity and focus, especially during times of stress."CINNAMON cinnamon sticks and powder sit on a table. Photo by Rens D on Unsplash Want to feel sexy? Who would have thought the spices you sprinkle atop eggnog could do the trick? "Cinnamon boasts a warm, spicy scent that can evoke feelings of comfort and warmth. This fragrance has been linked to increased alertness, focus, and even a mild aphrodisiac effect."Rockwood adds, "Scientists at Wheeling Jesuit University discovered that when people smelled cinnamon, their attention improved and they had a better working memory. That could come in handy when you're trying to remember which party guest wanted your banana bread recipe."PAIN RELIEF Dr. Ko also specifically shares, "When researchers reviewed the results of over 170 trials, the findings suggested that inhaled essential oils may have some benefits for pain. The Arthritis Foundation suggests that certain oils work better than others for pain relief."BERGAMOT blended with LAVENDER (It's common for aromatherapists to blend scents to create a desired response. Again, doctors blend medications all the time until they find the right balance.) GINGER This scent, Ko suggests, is excellent when paired with a massage.GREEN APPLE If you have a headache, try the scent of green apple. Ko mentioned this as having specific properties that target cranial pain. While aromatherapy obviously can't be the end all for serious physical or mental ailments, research continues to show that it can be extremely beneficial. So if all of this feels overwhelming, grab some lavender and take a whiff. You might just feel a tad calmer.