Every month, we Strategist editors tell you about the best things we’ve recently bought for ourselves. But what about the things we wish other people would buy for us? It’s a ritual for us to share our holiday wish lists , but during the rest of the year we’re also having birthdays, housewarming parties, weddings , babies , and more. So now we’re spilling about the gifts we’d like for those milestones, as well. This time: senior editor Margaret Rhodes on anniversary gifts. The only person I know who’s pickier than a Strat editor is the one with whom I’m celebrating a three-year anniversary. The man will drink Yuengling out of a faded wedding koozie, but to shop with him is to analyze details most of us pass over — the way thread loops through a button, or the shade of rubber on the sole of a Vans shoe . I won’t even buy a houseplant without consulting him, so in honor of our anniversary — something that’s a mutual celebration, anyway — any gift-giving we do will be something we (methodically) choose and go in on together. Here’s what I’m considering. Koldfront 18-Bottle Free Standing Dual Zone Wine Cooler $209 $209 I never used to keep wine in the house. Buying just one bottle at a time gave me the illusion of handling money wisely, even if I would return to the same wine shop two days later, for the next bottle. I’ve grown up enough to keep a handful of bottles around the apartment, and it’s much nicer. What would be even better would be to protect them from the fluctuating temperatures of a home without central air. Some slightly more mature friends of ours got a wine cooler, and it’s such a luxury to be at home with wine that’s 62 degrees. We just rounded up the best-reviewed wine refrigerators on Amazon, and looking at them, I think plasticky-looking ones with chrome racks are out. We are a wooden-rack kind of home. This dual-zone model — one zone for reds, another for chilled reds and ...
Drink
Ask Amy: An offer of prayer doesn’t sit well
Dear Amy: My husband had knee replacement surgery at a Catholic hospital last week. The first few weeks of his physical therapy are done at our home. The first session was today. Everything went well and when it was time for her to leave, the therapist asked if my husband wanted to pray with her. She said this was totally up to him. He said yes, she said a short prayer and left. I was stunned. Is this something new? I have been seen by a lot of health care professionals and NO ONE has ever asked me to pray with them. We live in the Bible Belt, so I thought this might have something to do with it. Your thoughts? – I’ll Pray by Myself Dear I’ll Pray: My research into this has led me to read a number of studies regarding the practice of praying between health care workers and patients. Although most seem to reflect attitudes regarding patients asking health care workers to pray with them, one study reflected a situation similar to your husband’s. Quoting a 2018 study published by the National Institutes of Health: “Most Americans pray; many pray about their health. When they are hospitalized, however, do patients want an offer of prayer from a health-care provider? This project allowed for the measurement of hospitalized patient’s responses to massage therapists’ offers of a colloquial prayer after a massage. “After the intervention, 78 patients completed questionnaires that elicited quantitative data … In this sample, 88 percent accepted the offer of prayer, 85 percent found it helpful, and 51 percent wanted prayer daily. Patients may welcome prayer, as long as the clinician shows ‘genuine kindness and respect.’” Even though it might be unusual, I don’t think it is necessarily unethical for a health-care provider to offer to pray with a patient, even in the patient’s own home. Doing so might help to build a connection between the therapist and patient. Prayer might help to relax the patient and “center” his intentions toward his own ...
Key House Democrat urges ‘economywide’ approach to climate change
Rep. Paul Tonko Paul David Tonko Drug overdose crisis worsens in shadow of COVID-19 pandemic Key House Democrat urges 'economywide' approach to climate change Reversing the Trump administration's numerous harmful efforts to censor science MORE (D-N.Y.), a leading Democrat on environmental issues, said Tuesday that he hopes to take an “economywide” approach to combating climate change this session. “We will need to take much bolder action to achieve the economy transformation we need at the scope and scale necessary,” Tonko told reporters. “The climate situation is severe, and the climate situation is urgent.” On a press call Tuesday, the leader of the House Energy and Commerce environment subcommittee laid out his priorities for this session, when Democrats have control of both houses of Congress for the first time in about a decade. However, his party will still have the Senate filibuster to contend with on some legislation. ADVERTISEMENT Tonko said that the economywide action would entail legislation on transportation, such as allowing for more electric vehicle charging stations, as well as solutions coming from the agricultural, forestry and manufacturing sectors, including through the use of retrofitting in manufacturing. “We can do a sectoral approach, which enables us then to piecemeal our way in a very collaborative way to reach the robust goal of 2050,” he said, referring to the goal of reaching carbon neutrality by that year. He also said that one vehicle for some of the changes could be an infrastructure bill that includes charging stations and modernizing the electric grid. Asked whether he would support using budget reconciliation to adopt a clean electricity standard, which would require a certain percentage of electricity to come from clean sources, Tonko said, “We’re going to remain open-minded to all of the elements.” Tonko also outlined other priorities besides tackling climate change, ...
Adopted Coworkers Learn They Are Biological Sisters: ‘We Hit It Off Right Away’
Two women who worked together at a bar in Connecticut recently found out they are actually biological sisters. Thirty-one-year-old Julia Tinetti and 32-year-old Cassandra Madison met while employed at the Russian Lady Bar located in New Haven, according to radio.com. They soon learned they were both adopted from the Dominican Republic once they noticed they had matching tattoos of the country. “After that moment, we were so tight,” Tinetti recalled. “We started hanging out. We would go out for drinks, for dinner. We started dressing alike.” “I thought she was cool,” Madison said, adding, “We just kind of hit it off right away, It was very natural.” Even though they looked so much alike, the women did not believe they were related and even compared adoption papers with information that did not match up. “Papers said we were from two different cities [with] different last names. And, our mothers’ names on our paperwork were different,” Tinetti explained. However, everything changed in 2018 when Madison’s adoptive mother gifted her a 23andMe DNA test kit. The results led Madison to her biological dad in the Dominican Republic. It also helped match her with several distant relatives. In addition, she learned her biological mother passed away in 2015 and they gave up another daughter for adoption. Once Madison convinced Tinetti to take a DNA test, the results showed they shared the same biological parents. She posted a photo of herself and her sister on Facebook on January 28: Julia and I met in 2013 working at Russian Lady in New Haven, CT. Julia notices the Dominican flag on my arm and makes a… Posted by Cassandra Raquel Madison on Thursday, January 28, 2021 “WE ARE SISTERS ! Same mom, same dad ! Just two girls who happen to work together find out they’re sisters. I love you twin !” Madison wrote. Facebook users expressed their joy at the news and one said, “Take this story to the big screen.” “I’m beyond happy you ...
Blood Clots Caused By The Vaccine? Dr. Mallika Marshall Answers COVID Vaccine Questions
BOSTON (CBS) – Dr. Mallika Marshall is answering your coronavirus-related medical questions. If you have a question for Dr. Mallika, email her or message her on Facebook or Twitter . Dr. Mallika is offering her best advice, but as always, consult your personal doctor before making any decisions about your personal health. READ MORE: Thousands Of Boston Elementary School Kids Return To The Classroom “I just heard a woman died from two blood clots after getting the vaccine. I am reconsidering getting the vaccine.” – Robin Just because someone dies after getting a vaccine doesn’t mean that the vaccine caused the death. There is no evidence that the COVID vaccines cause blood clots. This person likely would have developed blood clots whether she had gotten vaccinated or not. I’m saddened by the amount of misinformation there is out there about the COVID vaccines. The CDC recently reinforced the safety of the vaccines. For more information visit their website . “Is it advisable to postpone the COVID-19 vaccine when taking an antibiotic?” – Leslee READ MORE: Cats And Dogs Rescued From Texas Will Soon Be Up For Adoption In Mass. As long as you don’t have a fever and are feeling well, you don’t need to postpone your vaccination. Taking an antibiotic should not interfere with the effectiveness of the vaccine. “Will the vaccine help people that are suffering from side effects months after having the virus?” – Jay from Brewster Scientists aren’t sure. There are anecdotal cases of people’s long-term COVID symptoms improving after they get vaccinated. One possibility is that people with lingering symptoms haven’t completely cleared the virus from their system and that the vaccine helps boost the immune system to get rid of it. But this is being studied further. Judy is worried about nausea. She asks, “Is it okay to take something like Pepto Bismol if the 2nd Moderna shot makes you nauseous?” MORE NEWS: Somerville Mayor ...
