First Gaza, now Lebanon: How support for Israel’s war is influencing Michigan voting DEARBORN, Mich. — This city, home to one of the largest Arab American communities in the country, is a city in deep mourning over two wars in the Middle East thousands of miles away. The signs of that grief are everywhere. At a funeral for a Lebanese American man killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. At a candlelight vigil where people bowed their heads in prayer. And on the walls of a local...

The Kamala Harris campaign, the Drudge Report and credulous media outlets seized on Donald Trump’s statement Thursday night that ex-GOP Rep. Liz Cheney was “a radical war hawk” to falsely accuse the Republican nominee of calling for the former lawmaker’s “execution” by firing squad. “In case you weren’t up past midnight eastern time,” began a Harris campaign press release Friday morning, “Donald Trump sat down with Tucker Carlson in a late-night town hall where he suggested...

As the presidential race enters the critical final phase before Election Day, the candidates are mobilizing their last blitz of podcast interviews, political ads, and get-out-the vote efforts. The majority of voters, meanwhile, are worried about the election. And 52% of Americans say it’s “difficult to determine what is true and what is not” about the candidates and their campaigns when following news coverage, according to Pew Research Center.

Job growth slowed sharply last month, with workers sidelined by hurricane effects and the continuing Boeing strike. The Labor Department on Friday reported that the economy added a seasonally adjusted 12,000 jobs in October, versus a September gain of 223,000. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal, anticipating storm and strike effects, expected a gain of 100,000. The unemployment rate stayed steady at 4.1%, in line with economists’ expectations.

A person on Reddit recently noticed something funny going on at work. Many of their coworkers would choose to eat lunch in their cars instead of in the breakroom or other communal spaces."As an Asian immigrant, I find it very odd to see my American (mostly white) co-workers eating by themselves in their cars in the parking lot during lunch times," the user wrote. "I asked them to join my lunch group at the picnic tables but they declined with a straight face. Do most Americans not like to socialize during their lunch break?"This is a question that comes up a lot. And I mean, a lot. It seems to be a huge point of cultural confusion for folks who weren't born and raised in America. Curious minds really want to know!I notice it all the time myself, and not just at meal times.When I pull into parking lots, I'll often take a look around and find at least one of the cars next to me is occupied by someone who seems to be just sitting there.So what's the deal: Why do Americans love eating or just sitting in their car alone?People who eat alone in the car aren't being anti-social, and they're not sad and lonely. They just need a chance to recharge.The introverts of Reddit were quick to educate the OP on what's really going on here.The short answer? The modern world is incredibly over-stimulating for many of us, and even something that seems relaxing — like eating and chatting with coworkers — can be even more of a drain.Eating lunch in the car might be the only peace and quiet we get all day. Unsplash"We tend to think of our lunch breaks as personal time to ourselves. Some people will want to eat lunch with coworkers, but others would rather listen to music, talk to family members, or read a book for example. Or just take a nap! People who are more introverted also tend to feel tired by being around people and recharged by being alone." - LarsAlereon"For a lot of us, being social is emotionally draining. We do it as part of our jobs because we have to. When we have the opportunity to not have to be social, we take it." - ElbowDancer"My car seats are a million times more comfortable than any other seating option at any job that doesn't involve sitting in a comfy car seat and I can watch videos in YouTube at a comfortable volume without worry about keeping it low enough to not bother other people and yet loud enough to hear myself." - Empty401K"Introverts need to introvert." - 44035Could people seek solitary time in other places? Sure. If you work in an office, you could eat at your desk, or maybe go to a nearby cafe or restaurant by yourself where you'd be free to put in headphones and tune out for a while.But there's something special about the car. It's incredibly quiet (except for whatever music or podcast or TV show you decide to put on), comfortable, and your chances of being interrupted are extremely low. You have complete privacy (almost) and it feels like your own little bubble, completely isolated from the stresses of the outside world.It's rare to find any other time or place during your day that can offer almost zero stimulation.I do some of my best thinking in the car! Sometimes I'll sit or drive in silence and just think — hashing out problems, generating creative ideas, or planning what's next in the day. My brain seems to focus better in the silence and isolation of the car better than almost anywhere else.Car lunch might be on the rise in a post-pandemic world. More people are recognizing their need to recharge, and that's a good thing.Some people and experts theorize that COVID lockdowns resulted in many of us "becoming more introverted" or having a lower tolerance for and interest in socializing.That could be a part of why we're seeing even more people eating in their cars now as offices continue to open up."During the pandemic, we got used to having more control over our work environments, even if they were at home, so transitioning back into office life might feel overwhelming. The car becomes a kind of 'portable personal space,' a middle ground between total isolation and constant socialization," says psychologist Caitlin Slavens.There are also cultural factors to consider. American culture, for better or worse, prioritizes individuality over community."Culturally, Americans value productivity and individuality, so it makes sense that many prefer a brief personal escape over making small talk on their lunch break. In other cultures, communal eating is seen as a time to connect, but here, the balance often tips towards individual routines and personal comfort—even if that’s alone in a car," says Slavens.A lot of people don't feel the need to get that sense of community and connection from their coworkers. We save that for our friends and family, which seems like a healthy boundary to me.Eating alone, or just sitting by yourself, in the car is a perfectly healthy way to decompress and recharge. If you've never tried it, you might really like it — as funny as it can look! And if you notice other people doing it, just remember that they're probably not sad and waiting for an invite to lunch.In fact, they may be feeling the happiest and most peaceful that they'll feel all day.

Parenting has changed. A lot. So many things our parents did that were considered normal in our childhood—that is, for all us millennials and Gen Xers—would simply never fly today.This is thanks in large part to the digital age, and the countless ways to access information. Radio, magazines, television, books, online blogs, Facebook parent groups, informational podcasts, public studies…thousands of voices helping shape family dynamics and warn of potential dangers.If there’s ever any doubt into how far we’ve come, let technology once again remind you. A trip down memory lane via TikTok might be, as the kids say, a bit cringe, but boy can it help instill a little gratitude.On a mission to share her childhood “one home video at a time,” a woman named Rachel has an entire TikTok account dedicated to short glimpses of her younger years. Her content is an instant nostalgic hit for those of us who grew up in the 80s or 90s. We’re talking Rainbow Brite, roller skates, Sesame Street, backpack purses when they were cool for the first time. All the feel good stuff. And also—maybe some of the not-so-feel-good stuff. Recently, Rachel shared a video of herself as a newborn with her mom…when viewers noticed something strange in her bottle. @nostalgicallyrachel Replying to @B Indeed, it is. ? #wildtimes #wesurvived #taboo #homemovie #homevideo #nostalgia #nostalgic #80s #90s #1990s #1980s #memories #family #throwback #80sbaby #90sbaby #childhood #childhoodmemories #wholesome #oklahoma #takemeback #vlog #mylife #history #vintage #retro #90skid #80skid #80saesthetic #90saesthetic #vhs #smalltown #aesthetic #growingupinthe90s #millennial #millennialtok #1986 #response #react #water #indeed #newborn #baby #mom #breastfed ♬ Roslyn - Bon Iver & St. Vincent “I’m sorry — IS THAT WATER,” one concerned viewer asked. Rachel followed up with , “Indeed, it is”, writing “Sugar Water for Newborns circa 1986” in the video caption. Once upon a time, sugar water was used as a bit of a cure-all for infants, helping fight off common colds, ease bellyaches, and everything in between.And while some studies do show that sugar water can help ease pain, and certain hospitals do use it during painful procedures, professionals still suggest against administering it at home.For one thing, babies don’t need water until they’re six months old. They get all the hydration they need from breastmilk or formula, according to WebMd. Second, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee says that any foods or beverages with added sugar should be avoided “during the first two years of life,” as it is likely to replace more nourishing foods and cause nutrient deficiency, and is “linked with increased risk of overweight or obesity.”But for many parents today, this is not new news. Which made Rachel’s video so horrifying.“As a new mom this genuinely is making me want to cry ? There was so much misinformation back then. Those poor babies,” one person wrote.Of course, it could be worse. As one person shared, “My mom gave me Mountain Dew in my bottle ?.” Yikes.In another video, this one captioned “parenting before the internet” and shared by dad and TikTokker Vaughn Trainor, we see another bane of modern parenting—rice cereal.Specifically, rice cereal being fed to newborns. Experts say that solid foods should not be introduced into a baby’s diet until at least four months old, when they can hold their head and sit upright on their own, start grabbing at things and show interest in food when the parents begin eating.In this video, however, Trainor is one month old, laid back (also a big no no!) and being spoon fed by his mom, who is heard quoting the parenting magazine that suggested heavier things be eaten this way. @mrvaughntrainor Parenting before the internet ? i turned out alright ?? #parenting #parentinghumor #90sparenting #babiesoftiktok #viral #funnyvideos ♬ original sound - Mrvaughntrainor Over 5,000 people commented on this one, many of whom noted how this type of diet might influence common digestive issues many adults face.And while there could be several factors contributing to this that go beyond what we were fed as babies, it is true that millennials seem to suffer the worst when it comes to gut health.But it’s not just problematic food choices. Rachel shared yet another home video, this one titled “Nursery Tour circa 1986,” that showed her baby self lying in a crib surrounded by pillows, stuffed animals, and, for some reason, a mirror. @nostalgicallyrachel Nursery Tour circa 1986 ?? #nursery #baby #babytok #nurserytour #home #hometour #homemovie #homevideo #nostalgia #nostalgic #80s #90s #1990s #1980s #memories #family #throwback #80sbaby #90sbaby #childhood #childhoodmemories #wholesome #oklahoma #takemeback #vlog #mylife #history #vintage #retro #90skid #80skid #80saesthetic #90saesthetic #vhs #smalltown #aesthetic #growingupinthe90s #millennial #crib #cribsafety ♬ A Gentle Sunlight - James Quinn But it’s not just problematic food choices. Rachel shared yet another home video, this one titled “Nursery Tour circa 1986,” that showed her baby self lying in a crib surrounded by pillows, stuffed animals, and, for some reason, a mirror. …All of which can be life threatening and lead to Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), if you ask the American Academy of Pediatrics. Which is why this comment pretty much sums up everyone’s collective feeling: “It’s a miracle any of us survived.”And while we can obviously make the case for “I’m still here, so it couldn't’ have been that bad,” when you look at infant mortality statistics, which is the lowest it’s ever been worldwide, it’s hard to deny that maybe, just maybe, being more savvy about childcare could have something to do with that.So, yes, many parents today might lean towards being more anxious by comparison. But it’s only because death is literally lurking at every corner! Yay vindication! And as mortifying as some of these parenting behaviors might seem to us now, what doesn’t seem to change is parents wanting to raise a healthy kid, to the very best of their ability. We might have gentler, more science-backed ways to go about it, but the love remains the same. This article originally appeared on 9.27.23

A few generations ago, parents had pretty clearly defined roles, with the dad generally being the breadwinner and the mom being the homemaker/stay-at-home mother. Then women's rights movement came along, empowering women in the workplace, ushering in the era of two working parents and producing an entire generation of "latchkey kids."Now those Gen X latchkey kids are parenting Gen Z, with the pendulum of working motherhood having swung somewhat to the middle. We were raised to believe we could be anything we dreamed of being and that we didn't have to choose between being a mom and having a career. Gen X also became mothers during the heyday of parenting self-help books that impressed upon us the importance of attachment and hands-on childrearing, as well as the era of super-scheduled kids, whose activities alone require a full-time manager.As a result, those of us in our 40s have raised our kids straddling two worlds—the one where women can have all of the career success we desire and the one where we can choose to be stay-at-home moms who do all the things. At first, we were told we could have it all, but when the impossibility of that became clear, we were told, "Well, you can have it all, just not at the same time." But as many moms are finding as their kids start leaving the nest, even that isn't the full truth. A Facebook post by Karen Johnson, aka The 21st Century SAHM (short for "stay-at-home mom") nails the reality many stay-at-home moms in their 40s are facing as they find themselves floundering with the glaring gap in their resumes."This is for all the moms in their 40s who put their careers on hold to do the SAHM thing because you knew you couldn't do both—career you loved and motherhood—and do both WELL, so you picked, saying to yourself 'this is just for now and we'll see,'" Johnson wrote. "But now it's 15 years later and so much has changed in your career field that you know you can't go back. So really, when you 'took a break' all those years ago, you gave it up."Johnson explained that yes, moms know they should be grateful for the time they've had with their kids. Most are. That's not the issue. Whether a woman chose to be a stay-at-home mom because she really wanted to or because childcare costs didn't work in the financial equation of the family, the transition out of it feels like completely uncharted waters."Okay, so you're looking for a 'career' with part-time hours and a 100% flexible schedule because you're still Mom-on-duty but you do have *just* enough hours during the day to reflect on the fact that you *do* have a college degree (maybe even 2) and although being a mom is the greatest and most important job in the world, you *might* actually want something more to your life than folding laundry and running hangry children to 900 events and remembering that they're all due for dental cleanings," she wrote. Yup. The "default parent" role is real and weighted heavily toward moms as it is. For stay-at-home moms, it's 100% expected, and that doesn't suddenly end when it's time to start thinking about joining the workforce again. And, of course, moms barely have time to try to figure all of this out. So, as Johnson says, "But for now, you cram yourself into the only pair of jeans you have right now that fit and find a t-shirt on the floor that isn't clean but isn't dirty and will pass for the 4 hours of mom-taxiing you're about to do and you tell yourself, 'I'll figure it out another day. Right now, I gotta get the kids to practice.'" Oof.Johnson's entire post is worth a read, as it resonates with so many women at this stage of life. But just as telling are the comments from women who not only see themselves in Johnson's description but who feel like they were sold a bill of goods early in their motherhood. So many of us were led to believe that the skills and experiences of managing a family would be valued in the workplace simply because they should be and that the gap in their resume wouldn't matter. "This hits hard. I am right there too. And all those volunteer hours & leadership positions people said would look good on my resume when I once again applied for jobs? Those people all lied. It means squat," wrote one person. "Thank you! You spoke my heart. 42 this year, resigned from teaching almost 12 years ago, and never been more confused about my personal future, or exhausted in my present," shared another."I’ve never related to a post more in my life! THANK YOU. Your words perfectly summarize the loneliest, most important job in the world and how that perspective shifts in your 40s. It is confusingly beautiful," wrote another.Some moms have chosen to see their post-stay-at-home era as a fresh start to learn something new, which might lend some inspiration to others.There is hope in the comments, too. "I went back for my master’s degree at 47 years old. I’m now 50 in a new career I love and my husband is doing just fine pulling his weight with after school/carpool/dinner. Happy for the years I stayed home, happy with this new season too," shared one person."Yuuuup. I decided to go back to grad school at 45. It’s insane but every term I complete I’m like - omg I’m doing it! So don’t let sweaty out of shape bodies and carpool fatigue stop you. I take naps and write grad school papers and have meltdowns where I cry from the frustration of it all - but dammit I’m doing it!" wrote another.One mom who is past this stage also offered some words of encouragement:"So incredibly well written. I feel all these things and did throughout my 40s. Now I'm in my early '50s and I'm so glad I was able to stay home with my kids, but the guilt! The guilt of not using my education, the judgment of people who don't understand why someone would stay home with their kids, the social engineering... We just eat each other alive sometimes don't we? I wouldn't trade it for anything, but it is a very lonely road and one you always question. I can tell you that all three of my kids were so grateful to have a full-time parent. I might not have always been the best, but they were glad to always have someone to talk to if they needed it. It's hard to fill other people's buckets when your bucket isn't full, but the rewards do come back when the kids tell you thank you for everything that you've done. " Being a mom is hard, period. Working moms have it hard, stay-at-home moms have it hard, moms who have managed to keep one foot in the career door and one foot in the home have it hard. There's a lot that society could do to support moms more no matter what path they choose (or find themselves on—it's not always a conscious choice), from providing paid maternity leave to greater flexibility with work schedules to retirement plans that account for time away from the workplace. Perhaps that would at least make the many choices moms have today feel more like freedom and less like choosing between a rock and a hard place. This article originally appeared on 9.27.23

Working in the corporate world can be a bit of a drag when it comes to office politics and gossip all while you're trying to climb the corporate ladder. Sometimes sending a professional clapback email just doesn't have the same level of satisfaction as getting revenge for whatever infraction drove you to the brink of quitting on the spot.But let's be realistic, in this economy even if you wanted to walk out it's not financially feasible so getting revenge isn't a wise option for the same reason walking out isn't. That's where a Los Angeles based lawyer who goes by the username whattheish comes in. She shares revenge ideas that won't get you arrested...probably. After some feedback from people in the corporate world hoping for a little less obvious revenge, she delivers a few options that seem hilariously genius–if that's your thing. If it's not your thing, rest assured that these ideas are more like silly pranks than actual revenge and while she advises against trying it, you may still find it fun to imagine. The lawyer starts off with a legal disclaimer, "Before we get started I have to say that this is not legal advice and I strongly recommend against you doing any of the things I'm about to tell you."She shares that these are ideas for those "corporate Barbies" that don't want to get into trouble in the office making the entire thing kind of like stealth revenge. people sitting on chair Photo by Redd F on Unsplash "And because Mama Ish loves you and I am always in your corner, I've cooked up an alternative revenge idea. This one short, sweet, simple, to the point, which we love," the woman says before listing a website where people can purchase never ending greeting cards for all occasions. The greeting card in question quietly makes inappropriate noises then slowly gets louder lasting for several hours without anyway to turn it off except to rip it up. But when they rip the card open glitter spills everywhere. In another video for "legal" revenge ideas, the woman shares a strategy that won't embarrass your coworkers or whoever is on the receiving end, but it will annoy them. April Fools Prank GIF by America's Funniest Home Videos Giphy "That's right we're talking health insurance quotes and car insurance quotes. I love this idea because all you need is your victims name and phone number so you can use this for a remote coworker, an ex, soon to be ex, mother-in-law, father-in-law, any relative, old boss. If you have their name and phone number you're good to go," she says before listing various insurance companies but carefully pointing out not to do this to Healthcare.gov because it might be fraud against the federal government.The woman says the insurance companies will continuously call the person for weeks on end multiple times a day trying to convince you to use their insurance company. Admittedly, the lawyer has fallen victim to this herself and is still getting phone calls. @whattheish Revenge Ideas From A Lawyer That Won’t Get You Arrested… Probably #revenge #petty #thisisnotlegaladvice #justjokesfolks #breakups #breakupadvice #breakuptiktok #dating #datingadvice #relationships #relationshiptiktok #probably If neither of those ideas suit your flavor of reasonably harmless revenge, no worries, the lawyer has an entire video series dedicated to legal-ish revenge ideas. In another post she starts by speaking directly to those that are specifically looking for more corporate safe anonymous revenge."Do you hate your boss? Do you hate your coworkers? Do you wish you could drive them insane every moment of the day, every day until they lose their minds? Then boy do I have an idea for you. It is simple. It is sweet. It is to the point and best of all it requires minimal effort from you. We're talking the annoy-a-tron," she reveals. @whattheish Revenge Ideas From A Lawyer That Won’t Get You Arrested… Probably #revenge #petty #thisisnotlegaladvice #justjokesfolks #corporate #corporatelife #corporatetiktok #amazonfinds #datingadvice The annoy-a-tron is a small device you can purchase online and tape in a space where it's undetectable. But what does this little gadget do? It annoys the people within earshot who cannot find the location of whatever sound preset to go off. The device makes noises from a chirp to a scream which can be set to go off at different intervals. Someone tried this prank saying, "I did this to my manager after he encouraged pranks when we returned to the office. Which I hated. I put it up inside his cubicle walls & it took them 3 days to find it after dismantling the cubical."Some people include their own stories of pranks like one person that shares, "so someone use to leave an egg on our bosses desk every day for a year. Then stopped. Our boss ripped his office apart screaming "where is the egg." Scared April Fools GIF Giphy Another person writes, "My absolute favorite one I've ever heard is signing prenup papers with disappearing ink."Someone else got even more creative than a never ending greeting card, "I got revenge on my ex by sending him a single slice of Kraft cheese every day for two months in an unmarked envelope every day, without a note or return address. it sounds silly but it's the kind of stuff they can't stop thinking about, like where and why am I getting 1 slice of cheese from, and like if [he] called the cops what is he going to say someone is sending me cheese in the mail?"Of course, these ideas may just be fun to think about to get you through a long week at work, they're not suggestions to try and the lawyer suggesting them only says you probably won't be arrested.

A new trend in treasure hunting called magnet fishing has blown up over the past few years, evidenced by an explosion of YouTube channels covering the hobby. Magnet fishing is a pretty simple activity. Hobbyists attach high-powered magnets to strong ropes, drop them into waterways and see what they attract.The hobby has caught the attention of law enforcement and government agencies because urban waterways are a popular place for criminals to drop weapons and stolen items after committing a crime. In 2019, a magnet fisherman in Michigan pulled up an antique World War I mortar grenade and the bomb squad had to be called out to investigate. In 2022, Fifteen-year-old George Tindale and his dad, Kevin, 52, of Grantham, Lincolnshire in the U.K., made an incredible find earlier this month when they used two magnets to pull up a safe that had been submerged in the River Witham.George has a popular magnet fishing YouTube channel called “Magnetic G.”After the father-and-son duo pulled the safe out of the murky depths, they cracked it open with a crowbar and found about $2,500 Australian dollars (US$1,800), a shotgun certificate and credit cards that expired in 2004. The Tindales used the name found on the cards to find the safe’s owner, Rob Everett.Everett’s safe was stolen during an office robbery in 2000 and then dumped into the river. “I remember at the time, they smashed into a cabinet to get to the safe,” Everett said, according to The Daily Mail. “I was just upset that there was a nice pen on my desk, a Montblanc that was never recovered.” The safe was stolen in the year 2000 \n\n#magnetfishinghttps://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/teenager-finds-safe-containing-thousands-of-dollars-9250637/\u00a0\u2026 — Grantham Journal (@Grantham Journal) 1650615191 The robber, who was a teenage boy, was apprehended soon after the crime because he left behind a cap with his name stitched inside.The father and son met up with Everett to return his stolen money and the businessman gave George a small reward for his honesty. He also offered him an internship because of the math skills he displayed in the YouTube video when he counted the Australian dollars. “What’s good about it is, I run a wealth management company and… I’d love him to work for us," Everett said.Although the safe saga began with a robbery 22 years ago, its conclusion has left Everett with more faith in humanity.“I was just amazed that they’d been able to track me down,” he said. “There are some really nice and good people in this world. They could have kept the money, they could have said they attempted to get hold of me.”“There’s a big lesson there. It teaches George that doing good and being honest and giving back is actually more rewarding than taking,” Everett added.Treasure hunting isn’t the only allure of the hobby for George. His mother says the hobby has taught him a lot about water pollution and its effects on local wildlife. “George is very environmentally conscious. He always has been since primary school,” she said. “When he first started to do this, he was after treasure. Everything ends up in the rivers and canals.”This article originally appeared on 04.25.22