Holiday celebrations often involve alcohol. This can make things difficult for non-drinkers‚ whether they’re sober for life or are pursuing sobriety for health or other reasons. Even if you plan to drink at holiday parties‚ supporting sober friends and family can make everyone feel comfortable and included—which is in line with the spirit of the season. Nick Bodkins‚ co-founder and CEO of alcohol-free drink retailer Boisson‚ thinks the greatest approach to encourage sober friends during the holidays is to treat their decision not to drink as a valid default‚ just as we normalize other people’s decisions to drink. Abstaining from alcohol at a party is no different from abstaining any other day. “At a societal level‚ we’re finally beginning to recognize that alcohol doesn’t have to ‘own’ celebration‚ connection‚ and socializing‚” says Emily Heintz‚ founder of alcohol-free drink retailer Sèchey. Read on for seven tips on how to better support your sober/non-drinking loved ones this holiday season. Offer non-alcoholic alternatives that are comparable to alcoholic ones Alcohol alternatives have flooded the market in recent years. The hemp-infused liquor Aplós and the functional-mushroom elixir Solbrü are available in bottle shops and on drink menus alongside zero-proof versions of gin‚ tequila‚ wine‚ beer‚ and canned drinks. “There are so many amazing zero-proof replacements that can make someone feel like they’re drinking and that maintain the celebratory nature and the ceremony of making or pouring a drink but with no alcohol‚” says Heintz. “Nobody wants to toast with water or coffee‚” adds Heintz‚ so stocking your home bar with a few of these options‚ or buying an alcohol-free sparkling wine for your holiday gathering can make sober friends feel included. Heintz recommends alcohol-free bitters and syrups for alcohol-free cocktails this holiday season‚ while Bodkins advises writing in your invitation that “alcoholic and alcohol-free beverages will be provided” to let sober and sober-curious friends know there will be options for them. Have non-alcoholic drinks that aren’t reminiscent of an alcoholic drink Heintz asserts that someone who doesn’t drink due to a negative relationship with alcohol or who is permanently sober due to addiction concerns may not want to consume anything that resembles an alcoholic beverage‚ so it’s also a good idea to have a few booze-free options that function like alcohol alternatives but taste and smell nothing like alcohol. Hemp- and adaptogen-based drinks and ready-to-drink botanical teas and aperitifs fit the bill. Encourage a sober loved one’s sobriety journey Addiction psychiatrist Smita Das‚ MD‚ Ph.D.‚ senior medical director of psychiatry at workforce mental-health benefits platform Lyra Health‚ says it will be “critical for [sober friends or family members in recovery] to have someone in their corner that they can go to and feel comfortable and safe with around the holidays.” Dr. Das suggests showing you support their journey by creating a strategy with them before a party that will help them find an “out” in a difficult situation. Don’t default to offering an alcoholic beverage Even if you’ll be with sober individuals this Christmas season‚ it’s tempting to offer alcohol as a default. Keep in mind that “saying ‘no’ might be hard for a person who’s not drinking‚ and some people‚ depending on their sober journey‚ may just agree to drink out of politeness‚” explains Bodkins. If so‚ you’re unintentionally making a sober loved one feel like they’re drinking to please you. Heintz advises saying something like: “We have traditional Champagne and an alcohol-removed version—which would you like?” This way‚ you’re giving the other person the power to choose. Don’t ask why someone isn’t drinking There are so many reasons why someone might choose to abstain from booze‚ and none of them are anyone else’s concern—holiday hosts included. Asking a sober individual “why” sets up an unpleasant situation in which they may feel obliged to reveal their poor history with alcohol‚ a specific health condition‚ or even pregnancy—all of which may be things they’d rather not tell‚ especially in the setting of a holiday celebration. Don’t say things like “it’s just one drink” Someone else’s decision not to drink alcohol “can make you question your own decision to drink it‚ which can be uncomfortable‚” says Maeve O’Neill‚ MEd‚ LPC-S‚ executive vice president of addiction and recovery at All Sober‚ an addiction support platform. That uneasiness may then “cause you to make jokes or be unsupportive or even dismissive of their choice not to use alcohol‚ perhaps by encouraging them to ‘just have one drink‚’” she says. In any context‚ it’s vital to realize that someone’s choice not to drink‚ even if it’s at your party‚ is not a reflection of you‚ how they think about you‚ or your own drinking habits; it’s about them. Don’t make assumptions about how sober people will act Reality check: “celebrating with people who don’t drink alcohol is not difficult or boring‚” says O’Neill. It’s unfair to presume your sober guests won’t add anything to the celebration. “Sober guests are much more likely to relax and appreciate the night [and yes‚ be fun] if they don’t feel pressured into drinking‚” says Bodkins.The post 7 ways to support your sober/non-drinking friends this holiday season first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

So‚ here is my question to you‚ my fellow brother and sister in Christ — what do you think Jesus would do? Whether you choose to celebrate Christmas or not‚ I believe these three things are what Jesus wants from us this time of year.

Although life on earth is brief‚ our future is bright because God has a much better life ahead for us.

As we find ourselves in the season of celebrating Jesus’ birth and all He is to us‚ I pray that your heart would be softened to see the great‚ intricate works of our Mighty God. And may you will find yourself in awe and wonder at His works.

Kilmeade's Book on Booker T. Washington and Teddy Roosevelt Is Excellent

Motherhood is a demanding job‚ no matter the species. This rings true for human moms and extends to the animal kingdom‚ including our canine companions. Dogs‚ like their human counterparts‚ face the challenges of parenting‚ especially when it comes to handling energetic little ones. Take‚ for example‚ the German Shepherd in a heartwarming video. She’s... The post German Shepherd mama demonstrates the brilliant way she tires out her hyperactive puppies appeared first on Animal Channel.

Once you understand that the core business model of Spanish-language TV depends on a steady inflow of immigrants‚ legal or otherwise‚ you understand everything else about how these networks cover the news. Hence‚ Estrella TV’s freakout that President Joe Biden might secure the border in exchange for some more Ukraine cash. Watch as anchor and activist “analyst” make that case in the plainest of terms: PALMIRA PEREZ: We begin with the intense negotiations between Republicans and Democrats to pass the financial aid package for Ukraine and Israel. The Biden Administration would be willing to give in on demands to reinforce the southern border and toughen immigration policies. ABEL NUNEZ: President Biden is giving the indication that the need to send funds for a war in Ukraine at this time is much more important than the immigrant community. Mr. Nuñez is the head of a nonprofit organization that advocates for migrants- part of the Immigration Industrial Complex. As Hispanic population continues to grow from live births as opposed to immigration‚ these groups lose power and influence. Spanish-language media lose viewers. So naturally‚ they lash out. As prospects of a border-for-Ukraine deal get hashed out‚ expect more hysterical coverage from these outlets‚ which view any border security as an existential threat. Estrella’s viewers deserve an alternative. Click “expand” to view the full aforementioned report as aired on Estrella TV on Thursday‚ December 7th‚ 2023: PALMIRA PEREZ: We begin with the intense negotiations between Republicans and Democrats to pass the financial aid package for Ukraine and Israel. The Biden Administration would be willing to give in on demands to reinforce the southern border and toughen immigration policies. But who would be hurt the most? From Washington‚ D.C.‚ Alfredo Miranda has the report for us ALFREDO MIRANDA: In a desperate call to Congress. President Biden said he was willing to negotiate terms of immigration policy in exchange for approving financing for Ukraine's war against the Russian invasion. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN:Extreme Republicans are playing chicken with our national security‚ holding Ukraine’s funding hostage to their extreme partisan border policies. But in terms of changes to policy and to provide resources that we need at the border‚ I’m willing to d- — change policy as well.  MIRANDA: Although there was no mention of what changes in immigration policy the president would be willing to negotiate‚ his statement alone caused marked concern. ABEL NUNEZ: President Biden is giving the indication that the need to send funds for a war in Ukraine at this time is much more important than the immigrant community. It is very troubling. The Republicans were attempting very macabre things regarding the political asylum process. MIRANDA: Republicans intend to toughen the political asylum qualification process‚ as well as the elimination of conditional release or parole‚ a power of the president. The decision to negotiate the terms of immigration policy could harm President Biden’s re-election efforts. NUNEZ: It gives the Republican Party the advantage of not only controlling the narrative‚ but also negotiating pieces of legislation that will help them in their re-election campaign. MIRANDA: The Democratic Party has traditionally benefited from the immigrant vote. Perhaps the president's decision could distance the support of Latinos in the 2024 elections. NÚÑEZ: President Biden is assessing‚ and I think his conclusion is that he will take action‚ perhaps a bit harsher. Not only will he not weaken it‚ but he will strengthen it in some sectors of the immigrant community. MIRANDA: These sectors would be those that comprise the so-called historical immigration that arrived decades ago‚ which feels differentiated from recently arrived immigrants. EMANUEL MANCILLA: It's unfair that many countries are coming‚ they are granting permission‚ but we are still in the shadows. NUNEZ: We are seeing divisions between the - the historical communities and the new flows. And it must be recognized that the newer a community‚ the less political power they have. MIRANDA: From Washington‚ Alfredo Miranda‚ Noticias Estrella TV.  

A shocking and graphic security video captured the moment an armed robbery shot a bystander in the face after robbing a restaurant in New York City on Wednesday. The 37-year-old victim is in critical condition‚ and police are seeking to identify a suspect. Surveillance video showed the suspect order food at the Seafood King Fish Market on Broadway in Washington Heights before leaving the restaurant. He returned later to use the bathroom and rob the place. Just before 2 a.m. another person was eating at the counter when the suspect returned and walked up to the counter while pulling out a gun. He ordered the woman behind the counter to put the money from the register in a plastic bag. He also stole her property as well as the customer's property. As he turned to leave‚ he aimed his gun at the customer's head and pulled the trigger once‚ shooting him in the cheek. The customer fell to the ground immediately. "I don't know if the victim saw it coming‚ the victim just had his property taken‚ cell phone and money while he was eating‚ and I'm sure he was watching the encounter with the second victim who was an employee at the location‚" said Lt. John Russo of the Commander Investigative Coordinator Detective Bureau. "And it just seemed as the perpetrator was running out the door‚ he turned around and fired a shot‚ striking the victim‚" he added. The victim was transported to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital where he is in stable condition‚ according to police. Unedited video of the gruesome shooting was circulated on social media. WABC-TV blurred the images of the victims and cut the video before the moment of the shooting. One important clue might be the distinctive blue handgun used by the suspect. "We've recovered one 9-millimeter shell casing at the scene‚" Russo said. "You know‚ we'll forensically process that to see if it matches any of the shell casings on the face and that it doesn't appear to fit any other robberies or patterns that we have going on in the area." The waitress who witnessed the shooting is said to be terrified of returning to work. Police said the suspect was about 5'5" with a medium complexion and wearing all black‚ including a ski mask and a jacket. Here's a news report about the attack: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The studio behind Dead Cells dropped a surprise trailer for an all-new action-packed rougelite game during the 2023 Game Awards‚ and it looks to be an electrifying adventure. Titled Windblown‚ developer Motion Twin calls its forthcoming release "Dead Cells’ hyperactive‚ sugar-rushed 3D sibling." Continue reading Dead Cells team annouces Windblown‚ a flashy‚ action-packed rougelite

Conservation of the 1533 portrait of Derich Born by Hans Holbein has found that Holbein started with a much fuller face before shaving Derich’s cheekbones to their current prominence. Derich Born was a merchant from Cologne who in partnership with his brother sold military equipment to Henry VIII in the 1530s. At the age of 23 when the portrait was painted‚ he was the youngest member of the London Hanseatic League‚ living in the walled Hanseatic community of the London Steelyard. In 1541‚ the Born brothers got into a dispute with the Duke of Suffolk over payment due for a shipment of lead. To ensure the powerful duke did not target the Hanseatic association in revenge‚ Derich and his brother were expelled from the community. Holbein made seven portraits of the most prominent Steelyard members. They are all depicted as wealthy‚ but not in an ostentatious way‚ without the flashy clothes and luxurious surroundings of his other subjects at the Tudor court. Sitting against a backdrop of fig vines‚ Born wears an embroidered silk chemise and a black satin doublet covered with a fur-lined robe. He wears one gold ring on his index finger. The garb is opulent but restrained as was the style among the wealthy merchants of Cologne at that time. His elbow rests on a stone balustrade that is engraved with a Latin inscription that translates to: “If you added a voice‚ this would be Derich his very self. You would be in doubt whether the painter or his father made him. Der Born aged 23‚ the year 1533.” This was Holbein’s response to renown humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam’s eulogy of Albrecht Dürer as the greatest contemporary artist‚ greater even than the Greek master Apelles because Dürer was able to convey extraordinary naturalism without color. Holbein is proclaiming his own skill at conveying the life-like appearance and very character of his sitter. He doesn’t use a lot of colors either. Holbein certainly worked to for the high praise he gives himself. Conservation after the portrait was loaned to the Getty for its Holbein exhibition in 2021 looked under the surface‚ using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and infrared reflectography to reveal changes to the shoulders‚ head and cap‚ but it was the right contour of the face that he returned to repeatedly‚ redrawing it three times to give Born ever-more chiseled cheekbones and turn him from a chubby-cheeked youth into Daniel Day-Lewis. The painting never did go home to Cologne with Bron. It was acquired by Charles I. The Earl of Arundel acquired it after the king‚ either by gift of the king or after the garage sale of the Royal Collection thrown by Oliver Cromwell after the king’s execution. It was acquired again by Charles II from the Arundel collection in 1666 and has been in the Royal Collection ever since. The newly-conserved portrait is now on display in the new exhibition Holbein at the Tudor Court‚ in Buckingham Palace. The exhibition runs through April 14‚ 2024‚