Sentinel Lifestyle
‘Divorce-tok’ fills social media as creators find audiences — and support — by sharing heartbreak
On Instagram feeds that are often teeming with curated, contrived content, a recent post from Monette Wagner stood out for her disarming openness. Looking into the camera, Wagner, a 36-year-old mother of three, said in the video: “Divorce can feel like a death.” In what resembles a digital journal, Wagner has posted videos in real […]
A 120-foot burst of genius: Jack Kerouac’s ‘On the Road’ scroll and its wild afterlife
NEW YORK | In the spring of 1951, the muse landed so hard in the caffeinated mind of Jack Kerouac that within three weeks he had hurried out a full-length, single-spaced manuscript — a draft for “On the Road” that he taped together into a scroll some 120 feet long. Published six years later to […]
Nod if you’ve heard this: Bobblehead dolls are an American favorite
NEW YORK | It’s all in the name. Bobble. Head. It’s what the tiny collectible figurines with the spring-laden oversize heads are known for: Give them a tap and watch their tops go, gyrating up and down or side to side. And any head can bobble – entertainers, athletes, politicians, animals, fictional characters, even your […]
Scientists studying cockroach milk and nose-blowing win Ig Nobel prizes for quirky science
Ten research teams were honored Thursday at a satirical science awards ceremony that was hosted outside the U.S. for the first time due to travel concerns. Researchers who studied milk from cockroaches and analyzed soil health using underwear received Ig Nobel prizes celebrating unusual and imaginative contributions to science. The awards organized by a digital […]
As Pell grants expand, students see openings to afford short-term job training
Sydney Webb scrimped and saved to pay for an eight-week certified nursing assistant program at a North Carolina community college. On top of the $255 registration fee, the 26-year-old bartender also had to pay for a background check, scrubs, a stethoscope, special shoes and a state certification exam — all while working half as much […]
The living care for ancestors and wandering spirits at Malaysia’s Hungry Ghost Festival
BUKIT MERTAJAM, Malaysia | It’s that time of year when the living make room for the dead. Malaysia’s Hungry Ghost Festival is held during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which this year began in mid-August. “It is centered around the worship of Da Shi Ye, also known as the Guardian God of […]
At 91, Dale ‘Grey Beard’ Sanders reclaims record as oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail
MILLINOCKET, Maine | More than 14 million older adults fall every year in the U.S., perhaps none so often as 91-year-old Dale Sanders. By his count, Sanders fell 71 times while reclaiming his record as the oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail. Six were what he calls hard falls, including one that led to […]
A guide to choosing mums for the fall garden — beyond the classic cushion
September marks the beginning of the great summer-to-fall garden transition and, although most summer plants still have life left in them, many gardeners are turning their attention to the iconic chrysanthemum. The majority of mums sold in pre-planted containers at the garden center are typical “cushion” mums. I wouldn’t garden without them, but there are […]
Judge says Smucker’s lawsuit against Trader Joe’s over frozen PB&J can proceed
A federal judge has ruled that J.M. Smucker can proceed with a lawsuit against Trader Joe’s over frozen sandwiches that Smucker claims are too similar to its Uncrustables. Smucker sued Trader Joe’s in federal court in Ohio last fall, claiming Trader Joe’s committed a trademark violation when it introduced frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches […]
How international supermarkets can break up a dinner rut without costing a fortune
BOISE, Idaho | When kitchen burnout hits, figuring out what to make for dinner every day can feel like an impossible task. Eating out or relying on convenience foods are increasingly difficult solutions for many American families, who are facing the biggest jump in grocery prices in a half century. It can also be healthier […]