Jacob essler 
Julie Boland, a psychology and linguistics professor at the University of Michigan, has become accustomed to the awkward silences that permeate Zoom calls, a common fixture of modern communication technologies that lead to inelegant conversations. These pauses disrupt the conversational flow that comes naturally to humans and are a source of discomfort. While books, YouTube …
In September 2013, I felt like a brilliant mind as I managed to give birth to two children two years apart, but they fell in adjacent school years. My economic calculations concluded that I had saved two years of childcare expenses, which at the time, exceeded the cost of my mortgage. However, it was not …
During the peak wedding season, it’s not uncommon for the junk drawer of someone with a large family or wide circle of friends to resemble the inside of a swag bag from a newlywed-themed business conference. Items like sunglasses, koozies, matchbooks, bottle openers, and even a golf ball or deck of playing cards bearing cutesy …
As an individual experiencing hearing deterioration, I sought the services of Boots Hearingcare on the referral of a friend. Unfortunately, my efforts were met with issues, including repeated cancelled appointments and difficulty adjusting to the Phonak Virto aids due to staffing problems at my local Hitchin branch, which is presently closed. Fortunately, staff at Boots …
In today’s world, young parents are often concerned about how their personal history will impact their children. The fear of passing down a hereditary illness or condition is very real, especially when it comes to eating disorders. One writer for The Atlantic recently shared her own personal story of dealing with anorexia and her worries …
My partner has a rescue dog who has a history of biting people, especially visitors to his home. Although I am no longer personally afraid of the dog, the thought of being responsible for it in my home while hosting guests is unacceptable to me. This is mainly due to my own stress caused by …
Sociologist Sonia Salari of the University of Utah regularly asks her family studies class a thought-provoking question: “Who here is closest to their maternal grandmother?” The majority of hands shoot up. She then follows up with questions about grandfathers and paternal grandparents, and the number of hands dwindles. This survey segues perfectly into Salari’s lesson …
A panel of interdisciplinary researchers have determined that there is a difference between unhealthy porn and “healthy” porn, and have compiled six criteria to help young people identify the latter. Professor Alan McKee, who led the project, believes that young adults should be taught “porn literacy” to aid in identifying healthy and ethical depictions of …
AL.com’s team of four journalists was recently awarded the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting for their investigation of a local police force in Alabama. The team included a father-son duo, John and Ramsey Archibald. In a piece for The Atlantic, the Archibalds detail their experience working together and how their relationship has evolved in …
In a recent article by Devorah Baum, the idea of marriages free from patriarchal expectations is explored. When couples are allowed to talk about what they truly want out of marriage, without societal pressures, they may find themselves happier in their partnership. This is what humanist celebrants in Scotland aim to provide. Unlike traditional marriages, …