Here's why Boston was just named one of the most beautiful places for a winter getaway by Afar in a recent travel article.

The post Boston named one of the world’s most beautiful places for a winter getaway appeared first on Boston.com.

The post Where is the most beautiful place in Boston in the winter? appeared first on Boston.com.

I am now getting to a point where I want to explore my sexuality. I have a bucket list of things I want to try.

The post Now in my 70s, I want a better sex life appeared first on Boston.com.

How do you approach politics on dating apps? Share your experience with us.

The post Tell us: How has the 2024 election season impacted your dating life? appeared first on Boston.com.

Victoria Barrett, a college student in Wisconsin, aged 18, is suing the Trump administration over climate change.

Plus: we meet one of the first meteorologists to talk about climate change on TV in the US; we learn the history of the design of nuclear fallout shelter signs made during the Cold War; we visit the laboratory of a “wood detective” in Germany; we hear the “voice" of an iceberg and it’s pretty eerie; and we dance to some “ye-ye” music sung by a NASA scientist in California.

(Image: Victoria Barrett is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Credit: Courtesy of Victoria Barrett)

The nearly 25 year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is to be replaced by the US-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA). The name might be very different but US reporter Jason Margolis says the substance seems very familiar.

Also: Roland Paris, Justin Trudeau’s former foreign policy advisor talks about the path to reaching the deal; we hear what the new trade deal could mean for the US auto industry; in cattle country NAFTA is still a point of contention; and we meet soya farmers on the front lines of Mr Trump’s trade war with China.

(President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference to discuss a revised U.S. trade agreement with Mexico and Canada in the Rose Garden of the White House Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The US has been planning for catastrophe on a national scale since the beginning of the Cold War and the advent of the nuclear age. Now, with the new coronavirus, the US and the world face a very different challenge, but the approach is similar. Author Garrett Graff examined this intersection between national security and national emergency in his book Raven Rock, named after one of the major bunkers used by the US government in times of emergency.

Also, more than 300 million students in China are stuck at home and getting their schooling through online classes - how are they coping? As more people across the globe work from home, the team-messaging application Slack is having a big moment. International students in the US, displaced by COVID-19, face new challenges with online classes. In the US, farmworkers are considered essential so they still go out and work, but there are increasing concerns about their safety on the job. And Mr. Motivator wants you to have fun while exercising under quarantine.

Photo: An American flag is seen at sunrise at the Pentagon. Credit: Salwan Georges/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Government officials and health experts are starting to imagine what life will look like when we venture out again. Former US Homeland Security official Juliette Kayyem says that we may emerge into an altered world of nose swabs at airports, face shields for fans at sporting events, airline flights specifically for low or high-risk passengers, and temperature screenings at restaurants.

Also, New York City shop-workers continue going to work risking infection, as they lack proper protective gear; world-renowned chef Massimo Bottura goes virtual during lockdown, broadcasting live cooking classes from his kitchen; a Mexican-American teen worries about prom and graduation; and many gamers are using Animal Crossing, a simulation video game, to live out experiences and routines disrupted by the pandemic.

Image: A United States Postal Service worker delivers mail in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. New York City remains the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States (Credit: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

The post Book Club’s November read is ‘Swift River’ by Essie Chambers appeared first on Boston.com.

What's more, guests who book an overnight stay can score lift tickets for free.

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Jack Teixeira pleaded guilty earlier this year to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act.

The post Mass. National Guardsman Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years for leaking classified information appeared first on Boston.com.

In This thread , lets try to get all results and goal scorer for upcoming Exposure tour before world cup 

FIFA identified India as a possible host of U-17 WC in 2017 or 2019. If India can manage to build minimum seven world class stadiums then FIFA will give their green signal. It will be a great boost for Indian football as we will get a direct entry and also infrastructure will develop rapidly.

News Source - Anandabazar Patrika dated 11/06/2011

If I had to choose one thing that holds me back from accomplishing my purpose, it is that vicious little vixen we like to call “comparison.”

As a woman, I have found upon confession that I am not the only one filling a seat on this struggle bus, so I hope I am not writing this post in vain.

I moved to Nashville over a year ago and, quite honestly, gained the songwriters momentum quickly. I was focused and driven, a picture perfect cliche of the American dream. I developed deep, valuable friendships within the industry, and began what I hoped to be a thriving career.

I came to Nashville believing that one could either be inspired or defeated by the amount of creatives in one city. With the best of intentions, I supported my friends and loved our little songwriting world. And then my friends started succeeding.

They went on world tours, got record deals, and signed to labels that set their writing schedules. They instagrammed shows and facebooked conference photos. They began to pass me in the race, versus run alongside. At least, that was my personal, emotional perspective.

On the outside, I celebrated each friend, went to their shows, promoted their new albums. But on the inside, I sank and sank fast. My faith and focus faltered, slowly stripping my heart of its original intent and filling it with a fear that God skipped over me and had chosen my friends instead.

You see, I struggled with staying in my own lane. I realize that phrase can be highly overused in any self-help arena, but just bear with me as we dissect.

Each of us, upon birth, are given the beautiful gift of a one lane road in the form of a “calling” or “purpose.” God gives us an identity and graces us with dreams and goals to fulfill His ultimate purpose on earth. Our simple task is to stay in our lane and run the race presented before us, to do the best we can with what He’s given.

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:14

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” -1 Corinthians 9:24

I was constantly glancing over at my friends and family, eyeing their race with envy and, ultimately, defeat. If I had simply kept my eyes forward and focused on God’s path versus theirs, who knows what I would’ve accomplished by this time.

Comparison is crippling. Learning to stay in your lane and embrace your personal race isn’t easy, trust me, I’m still a work in progress. But there are a few things I’ve picked up along the way that might be worth a read.

So how do we stay in our lane? How do we keep that focus? Lucky for you, I have a few car analogies to get things rolling. (Get it? Rolling? Like a tire? Yeah I’m awesome.)

"IF YOU WANT TO SURVIVE, DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE”

Remember 5 years ago when Oprah went bat poop cray over texting and driving, creating awareness and a culture shift in her wake? We all know texting and driving is not only idiotic, it can be deadly. Too many statistics solidify that fact. And yet, how many times do we catch ourselves on an empty highway or bored in a traffic jam typing away?

We check our Facebook during lunch hours, we don’t go out unless the plan is Instagram-worthy, and we get all our news updates from Twitter. Our lives revolve around connection, and social media has become the great connector. It can be a beautiful thing, a generational tool to be celebrated! It can also be fatal when viewed at the wrong time.

One of the main contributors to my personal life-lane swerve was social media. I was in a habit of waking up and hitting my newsfeed before I hit snooze. Everyday I began with a solid dose of comparison. With every “like,” I developed a big fat failure feeling, all before my first cup of coffee.

I will say, it took a certain amount of self-awareness to realize that this was an unhealthy habit for me. Some seasons I can celebrate every single human on my newsfeed with adorational abandon. (No, adorational is not a word.)

But I now know there are other seasons when I feel like life is moving a tad slower, or Jesus has me in a waiting period, when I have to monitor my social media intake. If I’m looking over at another’s filtered view of constant success, it’s easy for me to feel like I can never catch up.

If you’re constantly checking on another lane, you will veer off your course entirely, causing a mental collision that’s hard to come back from. Satan loves these little stalls, these tiny hits of negativity. Be honest with yourself and your journey.

Evaluate whether it’s a healthy season for you to be virtually present, and if it’s not, unplug. Trust me, your world will not end. People will still contact you. Your lunch will be just as good without the stand-on-chair crema filtered photo.

“CHECK YOUR BLINDSPOT, BABY”

One of the first things they teach you in driver’s ed is to never change lanes without checking your blindspot. There could be someone else in the way, or a road obstruction outside of your view.

When we swerve and skid into another’s lane, comparing ourselves to what seems like their massive success, we rarely get the whole picture. We believe the grass is greener, however we don’t know what kind of weeds are hiding in their backyard.

It’s so important to check yourself when you begin to compare because you don’t know that person’s complete story. You don’t know what they went through to get to this place in their journey. You don’t know what they are currently battling to stay afloat. You don’t know who they hurt, loved, or lost along the way. You are literally comparing your entirety to their partiality and that makes no sense.

Perspective is everything. Everyone has a blindspot they keep hidden or quieted, so when you compare keep in mind that you are most likely not getting the full picture.

“WE GON’ CELEBRATE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME”

Remember that feeling you got as a kid? You’d be at your best friend’s birthday party and they’d be joyfully opening presents while you were forced to stand around and watch. Part of you was just happy to be in the room, genuinely excited to be celebrating your friend. The other was absolutely downright jealous that they just opened the brand new state of the art Playdough salon you’d been secretly saving for with every lemonade stand.

Can I get a witness?

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that that feeling never really goes away. It just transforms itself into light envy via mountaintop engagement Facebook post, or new homeowners’ keys.

You see your friends moving on and having these amazing adulting wins, and boom, here comes that little comparison virus. I have found that a practical way of mentally battling that moment is to outwardly and sometimes embarrassingly celebrate your tribe.

When someone you love has a moment to celebrate and you find yourself comparing, immediately catch it, acknowledge it, and then defeat it by doing the exact opposite of what your feelings tell you. Take the friend to dinner, freak out on their comment section, lose your mind in their general direction. Celebrate your people, because that’s what we are called to do.

We are called to laugh with those who laugh, and mourn with those who mourn. So laugh, even when you feel like less, even when you feel left out or alone. Let those closest to you know that no matter what is happening in your life, you value their dreams and goals and support them completely. This isn’t easy. Trust me, I know.

There was a moment in a particularly hard season of singleness when a friend of mine announced her pregnancy. I had a choice. I could celebrate alongside her or cower in my defeat. I chose to celebrate her, shower her, and quite honestly over-honor her. I am so glad I did.

God blesses that obedience, and He fills that hurt. He is glorified through your willingness to lay your life down for your friend. So ya’ll, celebrate good times, come on.

“BABY, YOU CAN DRIVE MY CAR”

The main thing that shocks me back into reality when I find myself comparing is one simple truth: THIS IS NOT MY LANE.

Let me explain.

This life, this gift of humanity you’ve been given, this lane is not yours. It belongs to God, first and foremost, no argument. When I focus on me, my failures, my insecurities, I forget the fact that this life and lane is meant to glorify Him.

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” -Galatians 1:10

Yikes. That’s terrifyingly blunt. “I would not be a servant of Christ if I was trying to please man.” We are here to share the gospel and our calling in life is perfectly assigned to reflect that truth.

The fact of the matter is, if you stay in your lane and keep your focus above versus beside, you’ll realize this race, this journey is not about you. It’s about Jesus. And if it’s about Jesus, then there’s nothing that compares. He is all that matters, His heart, His opinion, His work is incomparable.

This life is not about us. Your lane is not really your lane. It belongs to God. When I remember this, it puts everything into perspective. It doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing or accomplishing. My passion and focus is on Jesus, and that alone is the prize. That alone is all I need to fulfill me. That alone is all I desire.

Trust that Jesus sees you and loves you. He celebrates you and covers you. When you look from right to left, don’t compare your story. Jesus doesn’t. Like I said, I am still a work in progress when it comes to comparison. But oh how the pressure releases when I remember that this life is not my own.

I’ve learned that if I keep my focus on Him, He never fails me. Stay in your lane. It might seem small right now, the road may seem windy or difficult, but know that God has gone before you. He sees every lane on that road and has made sure you are in the exact one that will fulfill the desires of your heart and bring others to His kingdom.

Celebrate your tribe, press forward, embrace God’s plan for your life. STAY IN YOUR LANE.

And always honk if you love Jesus, ya’ll.

We are excited for you to meet our guests on the AAW podcast, Clinton Allen & Ryan Williams from River Valley Worship! They both lead worship at their church in Minneapolis, MN.  

In today’s interview, we’re talking with Ryan & Clinton specifically about their story as worship leaders and as songwriters. They talk to us about their current roles in their local church as worship leaders and leading teams. They also have some great insights about how they approach writing new songs for their church - considering the people that will be singing those songs and even their senior pastor - It starts with relationship!  They share experiences from leading REAL people in REAL ministry week to week, so we really believe this will speak to many of you listening that are also leading worship week in & week out.  You have authority as a pastoral musician. 

Last but certainly not least - you can find out more about River Valley Worship's brand new album!  Head on over to rivervalleyworship.org and find ways to listen below:

• Buy it on iTunes
• Listen on Apple Music
• Listen on Spotify
• Download on Amazon Music
• Download on Google Play
• Watch on YouTube

There's plenty of options there for you, there's no excuse!  Be blessed, and be sure to check out their new album —- “MILLION LIFETIMES”! 

It’s a new year. A new you! It’s time for solutions, right? It’s time to kick the old habits and get your life back on track. It’s time to….oh you get the point. Every “New Year” comes with the opportunity to start a brand new year off the right way. Most of us will start some new resolution that will end somewhere in the first week of January. Some of us might even make it into the next week with our resolutions. The point I’m trying to make is everyone wants to start fresh in a new year. Most people won’t be able to stick to them because of what we’ve given ourselves over to and the patterns that dictate our actions.

Some people start off trying to lose weight. Pretty common goal right there. Gym memberships soar in January and start to decline In February. People have these grand ideas of who they want to become, but they fail to do the simple things to help them achieve it. I know people who wanted to hit the gym every morning before work, but when 5:00 am hit they gave into their need for sleep. One way to combat this is to go to bed earlier. That way when 5am hits, it’s not so bad. These are simple steps we can take to give us the best advantage. 

So when it comes to those of us who want to grow closer to God, sometimes people try jumping in and just get overwhelmed. I’ve known people who’ve wanted to pray for 1 hour every single day, but ended up failing at it and not praying at all. My point is, this year, start with something you can do and then begin to stretch yourself. Instead of praying for one hour, start by praying for 1 minute. 15 minutes. Start praying and begin to seek the heart of God in your life. In your family’s life. In your friends’ lives. Start making the simple changes that can grow into the goals you’ve set.

For me, I was that guy wanting to workout. I was the guy who wanted to pray longer. There have been so many resolutions I’ve made that I’ve broken simply because I set myself up to fail. I’ve decided to get my life back. I’ve decided to make the small steps to change the ways I normally do things. I’ve decided to have my mind continually renewed. On a daily basis. Because the Word of God says: 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2

Take back your life by having your mind renewed . . . daily. Watch and see how the things that tripped you up so easily become plain as day and you’re able to overcome them. The way to get your life, dreams, hopes, etc.. back, is to be continually washed, cleaned, and your mind renewed.

Followers of Christ are instructed in Romans 12:1,

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

This is the only time in the Bible that the words living and sacrifice are used together. I’ve been a church-going, Bible-reading Christian for over 30 years now but only recently did these two words jump off the page at me in a way that awakened me to a fresh view of God’s grace and mercy.

What comes to mind when you hear or read the word sacrifice? For me, it’s death. Something must die, usually a pretty gruesome death, for a sacrifice to be complete and effective. When I study the Old Testament and all the sacrificial practices, I am overwhelmed with gratitude that we no longer have to go through the rituals they had to before Jesus. The smells, the sights, the sounds, all of it. I’m sure at a point the Israelites had grown almost numb to the process involved, but I can’t believe for one second that there wasn’t some level of emotional pain felt by those performing and watching the sacrifices take place. If for no other reason than they were keenly aware that this animal was brutally stripped of its life for their sake. That has to leave a mark.

Enter Jesus.

The man who left glory to come put up with humanity for a time – to walk in our shoes, breathe our air, break our bread, experience our joy, and endure our pain, only to be scorned, beaten, and killed. But His death and glorious resurrection turned the tables completely, didn’t it? It didn’t necessarily eradicate the need for sacrifices completely, but it did redefine what sacrifice would look like for the rest of time.

Hear me out.

Now under the New Covenant, the process and end result of sacrifice has been flipped on its head. For the first time in history, the object of sacrifice gets to live on and reap the benefits of the offering made. It’s no longer a barbaric and bloody ceremony, ending in DEATH, for the sole purpose of atonement and right relationship with God. Instead, it’s a relinquishing of, or dying to our own rights, desires, and agendas in exchange for His plans and His leadership, for the sole purpose of abundant LIFE in Him.

Those innocent animals didn’t get to stand up after the sacrifice, wipe their hands off and say, “Alrighty folks! Now that that’s done, let’s go grab some dinner.” No, for them, sacrifice equaled death. But for believers today, sacrifice equals life. We get to choose daily to lay ourselves down before a holy God, and unlike those sheep, bulls, or whatever animal the ritual called for back then, we have the opportunity to get up off that altar and run free in the life afforded us through the sacrifice of Jesus.

What privilege! What grace! What mercy!

Lord God, may we not take lightly the life extended to us because of Jesus. May we not forget what could be. Thank you that we are no longer bound to die on that altar of sacrifice, but that we get to enjoy the reward of being a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You.

It's hard to imagine Japanese ace Roki Sasaki wanting to come to the Red Sox based on their recent track record, writes John Tomase.

The Boston Red Sox offseason is expected to be full of moves. The Red Sox extended a qualifying offer worth a healthy $21.05 million to Nick Pivetta. While surprising, the decision by the Red Sox regarding Pivetta could end up being very shrewd, as The Boston Globe's Julian McWilliams explained alongside Jahmai Webster during Monday's episode of NESN's “310 To Left” podcast.

This week Zorba and Karl discuss new research that shows we age dramatically at two key times in our lives, and they talk about how much water we need to […]

This week Zorba and Karl discuss how melatonin gummies may have a higher dose than what’s on the label, and they examine new research showing sedentary time may significantly enlarge […]

This week Zorba and Karl discuss how children’s food pickiness may be pre-disposed, and they talk about why black women are more likely to undergo unnecessary C-sections. Plus, they share […]

Southern California's Fast-Moving Mountain Fire Out of Control as 800 Firefighters Battle Inferno

After Most Disturbing Anti-Semitism Spike Since WWII, 2,000 Israelis Airlifted from Netherlands

Pro-Choice Republican Marjorie Dannenfelser’s father was in the Army and got his degree in medicine. After years of moving, the family wanted to plant some roots and decided to settle down in Greenville, NC where her father opened a private practice as a dermatologist. Marjorie’s mother went back to college and finished her master’s degree in library science. As Episcopalians, her family loved church liturgy and hymns. They were conservative Republicans in their economic and foreign policy...

Michele and her husband, George, saw their incomes triple and double respectively. Michele learned to trust God instead of her paycheck and the results have led to prosperity, joy, and satisfaction. These positive things can be yours too!

'Brought Me to Tears': Operation Blessing's Gift of Clean Drinking Water a Game-Changer in NC

Double hurricanes bring massive devastation to the U.S.

Chuck Bentley is CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, the largest Christian financial ministry in the world, founded by the late Larry Burkett. He is the host of a daily radio broadcast, My MoneyLife, featured on more than 1,000 Christian Music and Talk stations in the U.S., and author of his most recent book, Money Problems, Marriage Solutions. I recently spoke with Chuck about his advice for managing our money during difficult financial times. Why is it important to follow God's principles for...

Rhonda Bell dreamt of a better financial future. She felt stuck working two jobs with irregular hours. “And I had to do both jobs even to have just enough. I remember one time when I out of work; I just dug around my house for change ended, and I up finding like, in change, $13.76. I was able to buy groceries; I had no food. I just really wanted a career. I wanted the Lord to bless me with something stable.” When friends encouraged Rhonda to go into healthcare, she prayed about it. She believed...

There are old folktales and legends of people who can become animals. Animals who can become people. And there’s a lesson for our own time in those shapeshifting stories — a recognition that the membrane between what's human and more-than-human is razor thin.

Original Air Date: November 20, 2021

Guests: 

Sharon Blackie — David Abram — Chris Gosden — Stephen Graham Jones

Interviews In This Hour: 

Reclaiming the fierce women who are shapeshifters — How a man turned into a raven — Shapeshifters, shamans and the 'New Animism' — Horror author Stephen Graham Jones on what our monsters say about us

Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast.

Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

Whether you know it or not, your closets are filled with personal information. About your identity, your values, your personality. And every day, you wear it all right out the door for the whole world to see.

Do you think about what are you saying with your clothes?

Original Air Date: March 16, 2019

Guests: 

Angelo Bautista — Avery Trufelman — Carolyn Smith — agnès b. — Jo Paoletti

Interviews In This Hour: 

Finding Yourself By Finding Your Style — From High Fashion to Heather Gray T-Shirts, Choosing Your Style Is A Privilege — A Year Of Wearing Clothing Only Made By Hand — How Blue Became 'Boy' And Pink Became 'Girl' — The Fashion Icon Who Despises Fashion

Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast.

Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

“I have autoimmune diabetes, and my blood sugar was high and I couldn't get it down,” says Shanequa. On Sunday November 22, 2020, Shanequa Deas began having problems with comprehension. “I was sending texts to my medical director that I worked with and also a coworker that worked in Dallas asking, 'Why did I have to work on Sunday? And what presentation was I supposed to give?' And both of them were like, 'You don't work on Sunday and there's no presentation,'" said Shanequa. Mary, Shanequa’s...

Having a backing behind lath is a step that should not be taken lightly.

Specification writers should think more about inexperienced installers.

If you are involved in the EIFS business, are you concerned with insurance? The guess is it depends on who and where you are.

EIFS offers an option packed building model that first gained its appeal in Atlanta, and is now used in major cities all across the country. 

The storm that ended the EIFS housing boom.

At one time, 30 percent of the EIFS business was in the residential market.

If you’ve ever purchased ready-to-assemble furniture at IKEA or if you’ve put together toys on Christmas Eve you have been involved with prefabricated products. 

In March 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. This legislation calls for wide-ranging, union-friendly revisions to the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). 

Specified Technologies announced the launch of its new corporate website. The new face of stifirestop.com is designed with customers in mind, increasing discoverability and ease of use while still empowering the core group of power-user customers.

Specified Technologies announced that its SpecSeal LC Endothermic Firestop Sealant is now being offered in three colors: deep red, gray and white. Customers have been asking for both the white and gray for gypsum wallboard and concrete block spaces.

As some of you know, I grew up in a little town in northwestern Nebraska. Chadron was your stereotypical Andy-of-Mayberry town with only one stoplight and still only has one to this day. Frankly, it was a great place for a kid to grow up.

On Sept. 17, JLG introduced new features for its ES electric scissor lifts, E18 vertical lifts and E18 stock picker, including standard AC drive motors, lithium-ion battery options and a range-extending genset charging option.

Diversified Fall Protection has appointed Gabe Galvan as EBM design director. Galvan will play a key role in leveraging the company’s newly acquired California Scaffold Inspection and Testing license. This license permits DFP to offer inspection, testing and design services related to exterior building maintenance and other equipment within California.

It is important to reduce embodied carbon in the built environment.

Improvements are constantly made to gypsum board and innovation still is at the forefront of the industry’s mind.

The American Concrete Institute has released its 2024 collection of concrete codes, specifications and practices.