When it was first revealed, Avowed drew a lot of comparisons toSkyrim. Both are fantasy RPGs playable in first or third-person and set in open worlds, so it made some sense to compare the two. However, Obsidian later clarified that Avowed was not an open world in the same sense as an Elder Scrolls, and was more hub-based like The Outer Worlds. This left fans wondering just how long of an RPG this would be. Even though the game will be available on Game Pass, it is important to know how long or short of a time investment is before deciding when you want to start it. Heres how long you can expect to spend exploring the Living Lands in Avowed.Xbox / XboxEven though the world in Avowed isnt anywhere close to as big as Skyrim,each zone is dense with activities, side quests, and secrets. Your playtime will heavily depend on how much optional content you decide to partake in. In our experience, doing most of the primary side content, our playthrough took around 35 hours. Had we focused only on the main story, we predict it could be finished in between 15 and 20 hours depending on the difficulty level and your individual skill. This is roughly the same as The Outer Worlds.Recommended VideosFor those who want to do and see everything Avowed has to offer, there are likely 40 hours worth of content to keep you occupied. This includes finding collectibles, doing side quests, reaching the max level, and more.RelatedThis gives players a lot of room to decide for themselves how much time they want to invest in this game but is still on the shorter side in the realm of RPGs.Editors Recommendations

NBCTable of ContentsTable of ContentsGarrett Morris (1975-1980)Danitra Vance (1985-1986)Eddie Murphy (1980-1984)Maya Rudolph (2000-2007)Tracy Morgan (1996-2003)Leslie Jones (2014-2019)Kenan Thompson (2003-)Jay Pharoah (2010-2016)Tim Meadows (1991-2000)Michael Che (2014-)February is Black History Month, and 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the long-running series Saturday Night Live. Known as SNL, the sketch comedy series has been delighting fans every Saturday evening with hilarious skits and the clever ways it weaves social, economic, and political issues into everything from its cold open to skits, shorts, and monologues.Through the shows 50-year run to date, starting way back in 1975, SNL has had many influential cast members, some of whom have gone on to achieve great success in movies. This includes many Black cast members who left their mark on the show, some of whom completely changed the game.Recommended VideosGarrett Morris (1975-1980)NBCU Photo BankGarrett Morris was the first Black cast member in SNL history, and a member of the original cast. He was known for both singing classical music and notable characters like the Dominican baseball player Chico Escuela who spoke broken English and always repeated the same phrase about how baseballbeen berra berra good to me. Another memorable character was the president of a school for the hard of hearing who would shout the news on Weekend Update in place of sign language on screen.RelatedNot surprisingly for the time, Morris was often typecast in roles specifically written for a Black character. In fact, this is something that displeased him, as noted in the book Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live. His experiences on the show, however, were pivotal for Black cast members who came after, encouraging them to push to portray characters that went beyond their race.Danitra Vance (1985-1986)NBCWhile Danitra Vance was only a member of the cast for a single year, that fateful 11th season known as The Weird Year, she makes the SNL history books as the first Black female to appear on the show as a primary cast member, as well as the first lesbian cast member after Denny Dillon. She was one of the few new cast members with sketch comedy experience who was hired during a transitional year when creator Lorne Michaels returned to shake things up. As fans may recall, and as chronicled in the fourth episode of the Peacock docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, this is the year when the cast was made up of mostly younger movie actors, like Robert Downey Jr., Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall, and Joan Cusack.Vance played characters like That Black Girl, a Black actress trying to make it big, and Cabrini Green Jackson, a professional teenage mother who advises others on teen pregnancy. She also did impressions of celebrities like Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, Leslie Uggams, and Lola Falana. In SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, past and current Black female cast members like Ego Nwodim cite Vance as being an inspiration, and someone who opened the door for them to follow in her footsteps.Eddie Murphy (1980-1984)NBCEddie Murphy is one of the most prolific comedians of this generation and he was integral to the success of Saturday Night Live in the early 80s. He portrayed some of the most iconic characters from that time, which still go down as some of the best characters ever on SNL, overall. These include Buckwheat, Velvet Jones, Mr. Robinson, and Gumby. Mr. Robinson is a stand-out, Murphys take on Mister Rogers Neighborhood except Mr. Robinson lives in a tougher neighborhood and hes often up to no good. The advice he gives to kids isnt exactly proper, but he gives it in such a sweet, soothing voice thats contradictory to what hes actually saying.Murphys impressions of everyone from James Brown to Stevie Wonder were spot on as well. In the documentary Ladies & Gentlemen50 Years of SNL Music, former cast members like Maya Rudolph point out that what was so great about Murphys musical performances is that he can actually sing well, which made them all the more convincing. He remains one of the best cast members ever to be on the show. It comes as no surprise that Murphy went on to become a massive movie star.Maya Rudolph (2000-2007)Dana Edelson / NBCURecently returning to SNL to portray former vice president Kamala Harris, Maya Rudolph proved that women could do fantastic impressions, too. She also brought a musically comedic style to the show, tackling icons like Whitney Houseton and Tina Turner. Whether she was paying homage to Beyonce or pretending to be Oprah, she gave every performance her all through her tenure on the show.Rudolphs impressions transcended race as she portrayed musicians like Christina Aguilera and icons like Donatella Versace as well. Never afraid to go over-the-top with her comedy, Rudolph was also part of one of the most iconic Digital Shorts, D**k in a Box. Her physical comedy, impressions, and wonderful comedic timing was influenced by the Black female cast members who came before her, and has influenced many others who came after.Tracy Morgan (1996-2003)NBCRecalling in SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night how creator Lorne Michaels convinced him to stay when he didnt feel like he fit in, fans are glad that he did. Thats because Tracy Morgans eccentric personality made him a delight to watch on the sketch comedy show. He brought iconic characters into the mix, like Dominican Lou, Astronaut Jones, and Brian Fellow, the enthusiastic host of a show called Safari Planet who ironically didnt know much about animals.Also known for his impressions, including everyone from Bobby Brown to Cuba Gooding Jr. and Busta Rhymes, Morgan had fans in stitches every time he appeared on screen. But he has never shied from discussing his feelings of isolation while on the show, namely pertaining to his race, raising awareness of the issues Black cast members faced.Leslie Jones (2014-2019)NBCLeslie Jones didnt appear in a lot of sketches, initially hired as a writer. But she would frequently appear on the Weekend Update segment, usually discussing a timely issue in her signature loud and abrasive style. She made history as the oldest person to join the cast when she was 47 and her inclusion made it the first time SNL had more than one Black woman in the cast and a record of five Black individuals at the same time in season 40.Earning a Primetime Emmy Award for her work on the show, Jones wasnt afraid to discuss cultural topics and even push the envelope. In one appearance on Weekend Update, for example, she played an image expert who spoke out against Lupita Nyongo being named People Magazines Most Beautiful Person, suggesting they need to put out a most useful list instead. Despite dealing with controversies through her time on the show, she persevered and stood her ground. After personal photos of her were leaked, for example, Jones addressed it on the show, jokingly advising, if you want to see photos of Leslie Jones naked, just ask! She never took herself too seriously and her self-deprecating humor made her relatable and endearing.Kenan Thompson (2003-)NBCKenan Thompson holds the record as not only the longest-running Black cast member but also the longest-running cast member in SNL history, period. Starting way back in 2003, he is still going strong, now in his 22nd. As a member of some of the best SNL casts, he is also the longest-tenured cast member who was born after the show first went on the air. Thompson doesnt just hide among the cast either. Hes often front and center in multiple sketches every episode.Earning six Primetime Emmy nominations for his work on the show and winning one, he also holds the record for the most celebrity impressions ever performed, from Al Roker and Al Sharpton to Charles Barkley and O.J. Simpson. Its in original characters where Thompson truly usually excels, however, like DeAndre Cole, the host of the show Whats Up With That? who constantly interrupts his guests to break into singing the shows theme song again and again. Theres also Elliot Pants, host of the game show Whats Wong With This Picture? where contestants keep giving elaborate and inappropriate answers instead of pointing out the obvious. As the shows most enduring star, Thompson has made SNL his career.Jay Pharoah (2010-2016)NBCJay Pharoah represented a new generation of cast members and remains one of the best at doing impressions of everyone from Barack Obama to Kanye West and Jay-Z. Any time Pharoah was interviewed, hed often be asked to do a series of impressions, leaving people bewildered at just how good he is. Naturally, this translated well to his post on SNL where he could not only play these celebrities, but do so convincingly well.It was after he did an impression of Obama on the show, however, that Pharoah started to get more screen time and his star began to rise as one of the best cast members through his tenure. While Pharoah did appear in a few sketches as fictional characters, he proved that an impressionist could add so much value to sketches, paving for the way for new cast members like James Austin Johnson and Chloe Fineman who excel in this same area.Tim Meadows (1991-2000)NBCBefore Darrell Hammond then Kenan Thompson broke the record for being the longest-tenured cast member, Tim Meadows held that honor. He was on the show for 10 seasons and was one of only five cast members who werent let go during the big purge of 1995, the first since the weird season 11 in 1984. His humor and comedic timing led to a successful TV and movie career after, including reprising his SNL character Leon Phelps, a.k.a. The Ladies Man, for the film of the same name.Along with doing dozens of impressions and portraying The Ladies Man in the hilarious recurring sketch, Meadows also popularized a sketch whereby he played himself doing or saying silly things. He found ways to get screen time even when there werent specific characters for him. Despite being on the show for so long, Meadows is one of the most under-rated former cast members. When you rewatch sketches with him, you gain a greater appreciation for his ability to command the screen, even for just a few minutes on Weekend Update, and leave you in stitches.Michael Che (2014-)NBCThere has arguably been no other cast member so is so authentically themselves as Michael Che. Starting on the show as a writer, he worked his way up to become on-screen co-host of Weekend Update, solidifying its position as one of the most popular, if not the most popular, weekly segments of the show. Fans love his chemistry with co-host Colin Jost and the way they roast one another, Che never shying away from delivering race-based jokes that some might find controversial. A favorite is when they write jokes for one another that the other doesnt see until they read them on the live show.Now holding the record as the second-longest tenured Weekly Update anchor (Jost is the first) and celebrating his 200th milestone episode in 2024, fans are excited to hear Ches commentary on the news every week, including his under-the-breath comments and giggles at the humor. As a writer, both the content and his delivery shine, and Ches braveness in saying jokes others might not be comfortable saying make him a game-changer.Editors Recommendations

The franchise draws on The Manchurian Candidate to produce one of its better recent movies, starring Anthony Mackie as the shield-wielding hero and Harrison Ford as the U.S. president.

The beloved character and his adopted British family head to his native South America and encounter a dastardly boat captain, played by Antonio Banderas, in the third entry in this charming series.

brain worms Burning in womans legs turned out to be slug parasites migrating to her brain After three trips to the ER, woman gets diagnosis of dreaded rat lungworm. Beth Mole Feb 13, 2025 2:06 pm | 71 Angiostrongylus cantonensis third stage (L3), infective larva recovered from a slug. Image captured under differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. Credit: CDC Angiostrongylus cantonensis third stage (L3), infective larva recovered from a slug. Image captured under differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. Credit: CDC Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIt started with a bizarre burning sensation in her feet. Over the next two days, the searing pain crept up her legs. Any light touch made it worse, and over-the-counter pain medicine offered no relief.On the third day, the 30-year-old, otherwise healthy woman from New England went to an emergency department. Her exam was normal. Her blood tests and kidney function were normal. The only thing that stood out was a high number of eosinophilswhite blood cells that become active with certain allergic diseases, parasitic infections, or other medical conditions, such as cancer. The woman was discharged and advised to follow up with her primary care doctor.Over the next few days, the scorching sensation kept advancing, invading her trunk and arms. She developed a headache that was also unfazed by over-the-counter pain medicine. Seven days into the illness, she went to a second emergency department. There, the findings were much the same: Normal exam, normal blood tests, normal kidney function, and high eosinophil countthis time higher. The reference range for this count was 0 to 400; her count was 1,050. She was given intravenous medicine to treat her severe headache, then once again discharged with a plan to see her primary care provider.At home again, with little relief, a family member gave her a prescription sleep aid to help her get some rest. The next day, she awoke confused, saying she needed to pack for a vacation and couldn't be reasoned with to return to bed. After hours in this fog, her partner brought her to an emergency department for a third time, this time the one at Massachusetts General Hospital.Getting warmerIn a case report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, doctors explain how they figured out the source of her fiery symptomsworms burrowing into her brain. By this point, she was alert but disoriented and restless. She couldn't answer questions consistently or follow commands.The doctors at Mass General, including a neurologist specializing in infectious diseases, quickly focused their attention on the fact that the woman had recently traveled. Just four days before her feet began burning, she had returned from a three-week trip that included stops in Bangkok, Thailand; Tokyo, Japan; and Hawaii. They asked what she ate. In Thailand, she ate street foods but nothing raw. In Japan, she ate sushi several times and spent most of her time in a hotel. In Hawaii, she again ate sushi as well as salads.The doctors quickly suspected that an infectionlikely a parasitic onewas behind the confusing condition. Blood smear tests showed no evidence of parasites, and a computed tomography (CT) scan of her head showed no acute intracranial abnormalities. But, the results of a spinal tap showed a clear problem: her cerebrospinal fluid showed a count of 694 white blood cells per microliter. The reference range was 0 to 5.Scanning for data on infections that can arise in the three places she visited and align with her symptoms, they came up with a list of 10 possible infectious causes: eight parasites and two fungal pathogens. They went through them one by one, crossing things off the list that didn't quite fit with everything they knew of her case. They ended with angiostrongyliasis, caused by the nematode (roundworm) Angiostrongylus cantonensis, also known as rat lungworm.Sickening cycleThe parasite gets its name from its complicated life cycle, which relies on slugs and snails as well as rats. In rats, the worms reproduce, and first-stage larvae are released in the rodent's feces. These larvae are picked up by slugs or snails, and in them, the larvae develop into third-stage larvae (L3). Rats are infected with these L3 larvae by eating an infected slug or snail. From the rat's gastrointestinal tract, the larvae migrate to the animal's brain, where the larvae go through L4 and L5 stages and become adults. Adult worms then move to the rat's lungs, where they lay eggshence the name. The rats cough up the eggs from their lungs and then swallow them. The first-stage larvae go on to develop in the rat's gastrointestinal tract and are then excreted, allowing the cycle to begin again.Humans crash this process by accidentally eating the L3 larvae. This can happen if they eat undercooked snails or slugs, or undercooked creatures that eat slugs or snails, such as land crabs, freshwater prawns, or frogs. The more troubling route is eating raw vegetables or fruits that are contaminated by snails or slugs. This is possible because the L3 larvae are present in mollusk slime. For instance, if a slug or snail traverses a leaf of lettuce, leaving a slime trail in its wake, the leaf can be contaminated with the larvae. The authors of the case study note that "the infectious dose of slime is not defined."Once ingested by a human, the worms try resuming their normal cycle before hitting a dead end. The L3 larvae move out of the gastrointestinal tract into muscle, heading for the brain. The worms migrate through the blood or along peripheral nerves to get to the central nervous system. Movement along the peripheral nerves is what causes sensory abnormalities, like the woman's burning feet. In the spinal cord, the migration can also cause bowel or bladder dysfunction.The parasites' arrival in the central nervous system is often marked by a headache. From there, a person can develop confusion, encephalopathy, seizure, cranial neuropathy, or eye problems. While the next step for the worms would be to develop into adults and migrate to the lungs, this doesn't happen. The worms typically die as juveniles in the brain.This nauseating roundworm is a known plague in Hawaii. In fact, it gained attention in recent years after sparking small outbreaks in the state. In 2017, there were 19 confirmed cases, but case totals in each of the years since have remained below 10.Happy endingGiven the alignment of symptoms and the raw seafood and salads eaten in Hawaii, the doctors gave a presumptive diagnosis of central nervous system angiostrongyliasis. The diagnosis was confirmed with a genetic test for the parasite's DNA in the patient's cerebrospinal fluid (nucleic acid amplification testing).There are no clear treatment strategies for angiostrongyliasis, and some can recover fully without treatment after the larvae die off. In this case, the patient and her doctors decided to use a 14-day combination of the immunosuppressive steroid prednisone and the anti-parasitic drug albendazole.Fortunately, the woman's symptoms cleared with the treatment, and she was discharged from the hospital after six days.Beth MoleSenior Health ReporterBeth MoleSenior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technicas Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. 71 Comments

Farm waste could be turned into hydrogen fuelImageryBT/ShutterstockHydrogen could be made using agricultural waste under a new production process that uses less energy than existing methods and emits no greenhouse gases.The novel process turns bioethanol into clean hydrogen and acetic acid, a substance found in vinegar that is also used in the chemicals, food and pharmaceutical industries. AdvertisementMost hydrogen is produced from natural gas; the process is energy-intensive and expensive. Hydrogen can also be produced from water using renewable electricity, but this approach is even more expensive than using natural gas.Graham Hutchings at the University of Cardiff, UK, and his colleagues have developed an alternative method that relies on a catalyst made of platinum and iridium to extract hydrogen from bioethanol and water, without releasing any carbon dioxide. The bioethanol used in the process can be made from waste plant material, Hutchings says.We dont make CO2, and so we are not making something that is an environmental burden, says Hutchings. We are taking a biologically sustainable source of carbon and hydrogen, and we are turning that into renewable hydrogen and renewable acetic acid. Thats quite neat. Unmissable news about our planet delivered straight to your inbox every month.Sign up to newsletterThe team says the process is likely to be scalable and commercially viable, requiring much less energy to run than making hydrogen from natural gas. The next step is to attract commercial investment to set up a demonstration plant, says Hutchings.Clean hydrogen production will need to scale up radically to enable global decarbonisation, with industries such as steel, chemicals and long-haul transportation expected to need hydrogen fuel.But the world uses only around 15 million tonnes of acetic acid a year, limiting the potential role this new process could play in meeting demand for zero-carbon hydrogen.On a molecule basis we make twice as much hydrogen as acetic acid, says Hutchings. But acetic acid is much heavier than hydrogen. That means producing 15 million tonnes of acetic acid the worlds entire annual demand in this way would yield only just over 1 million tonnes of hydrogen, far less than the demand of a net-zero world. In terms of scale, theres a bit of a mismatch, says Klaus Hellgardt at Imperial College London.Rather, the new process could offer a potential path to decarbonising part of the chemicals industry, with clean hydrogen production an attractive byproduct, says Hutchings. Acetic acid at the moment is effectively made from fossil carbon. And here we are, we can make it from sustainable sources of carbon, he says.Journal reference:Science DOI: 10.1126/science.adt0682Topics:

The Los Angeles river, with the downtown LA skyline in the distanceEkaterina Chizhevskaya/Getty ImagesIn 2023, a parade of atmospheric rivers brought months of heavy precipitation to much of California, filling reservoirs and raising snowpack far above average levels. This flood of water was a major relief after nearly two decades of drought. But a seismic study has now revealed that water on the surface did little to restore the states depleted reserves underground.There was very limited recovery, compared to the groundwater lost over the recent droughts, says Shujuan Mao at the University of Texas at Austin.

I started by gathering my ingredients, which included about 2 pounds of skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, heavy cream, chicken broth, cut sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and crushed red-pepper flakes.The ingredients for the "marry me chicken" recipe. Erin McDowell/Business Insider I purchased the chicken thighs, but many of the other ingredients I already had in my kitchen. This made the recipe pretty affordable to make.I preheated my oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the recipe by Craving Home Cooked.First, I seasoned the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.The chicken thighs seasoned with salt and pepper. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The recipe only calls for 2 pounds of chicken thighs, but I ended up adding two bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks in order to have some leftovers for the week, or for my family of three to each have two pieces of chicken if they liked.I then heated a few tablespoons of oil in a 12-inch cast-iron pan, and I added the chicken skin-side down.The chicken thighs browning in a cast-iron pan. Erin McDowell/Business Insider Right away, the chicken began sizzling and filling the kitchen with a truly heavenly scent.I cooked the chicken for about five minutes on each side, until the skin was golden brown and super crispy.The chicken thighs browning in a cast-iron pan. Erin McDowell/Business Insider Searing the chicken adds a delicious crispy texture to the finished dish.After the chicken was fully seared, I removed it from the pan to a plate.The pan-seared chicken thighs on a plate. Erin McDowell/Business Insider I've never fried chicken before, but I was pleased with the final result.Next, I added three cloves of minced garlic, oregano, and red-pepper flakes to the pan.The garlic in the cast-iron pan. Erin McDowell/Business Insider It was important to work fast in order to not burn the garlic you just want it to be fragrant.Then I added in a half-cup of heavy cream, a cup of chicken broth, a half-cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and a quarter-cup of Parmesan cheese.The sauce for the "marry me chicken." Erin McDowell/Business Insider I seasoned the sauce with a touch more salt and pepper and brought it to a simmer, stirring it lightly together to melt the cheese and allow the ingredients to fully combine.I then added the chicken back into the pan.The chicken and sauce together in the cast-iron pan. Erin McDowell/Business Insider Before putting the pan in the oven, I ladled a small amount of the creamy sauce and sun-dried tomatoes over the chicken to allow it to bake with all of the extra flavors.After about 20 minutes, the chicken was fully cooked. I couldn't believe how easy this recipe was.I made "Marry Me Chicken" and thought the creamy, sun-dried-tomato-filled dish was the perfect meal for Valentine's Day. Erin McDowell/Business Insider When I removed the pan from the oven, my kitchen filled with the delicious scent of fried chicken and sun-dried tomatoes.I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to make, given that little to no vegetable prep was needed and the cooking time was so short compared to other roast-chicken recipes I've made.I served the chicken with a few sides: roasted yellow potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and mashed butternut squash.The finished chicken with potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The flavors all came together perfectly, and the sauce from the chicken added some delicious moisture and flavor to my side dishes.The chicken, which was perfectly moist on the inside, truly blew me away.The finished chicken with potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The chicken was so tender that you hardly needed a knife to cut through it, and the skin was crispy and flavorful from the seasonings. The savory sauce clung to everything on the plate and added even more flavor with the cream and sun-dried tomatoes.I understand why so many people love this recipe.The finished chicken. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The combination of flavors created a creamy, Italian-inspired meal that would be perfect for a dinner party or cozy date night in.Overall, I couldn't have been more impressed with this viral recipe, and I could immediately understand why so many people love it and why it might even inspire a marriage proposal.

I learned early on that discipline was ineffective with my children and caused more harm than good.Now I try to put the focus on empathy, letting my children make choices without fear of judgment.Meditation and self-care improved the my parenting and the overall mood in our household.Strolling the aisles of my grocery store, dwelling in the bliss of a mother that gets to shop alone, I heard the piercing cry of a toddler, followed by a caregiver, loudly admonishing, "If you drop that again, I'm not giving it back to you."I didn't just hear that I felt it, because I used to be that caregiver. Half-running behind my cart, wild-eyed, yelling at my children as I struggled to remember everything I needed to make dinner that night. Some days, usually when my plate is too full, I turn into her again.Every mother knows this pattern. On a recent morning, getting the kids ready for school, my husband, sensing I was touched out, said he would take over. On the way out the door, our 10-year-old said to our 7-year-old, "When mom's not happy, no one is."This is, unfortunately, correct. I am, overall, in a good place now, but it was an arduous road, full of missteps and switchbacks.I learned early on that discipline caused more harm than goodBack when our daughter was 2, we tried to give her a time-out. We sat her in a little chair and told her to stay put. She did, bawling uncontrollably, while my husband and I exchanged nervous glances while still trying to look authoritative.I can't even what we were disciplining her for, but I will never forget how I felt, which was ridiculous, for trying to instill a punishment on someone barely able to verbalize that they are sorry for something.That was our first, and last, time-out. It was also the beginning of me realizing that it was awfully coincidental how much my children seemed to misbehave when I was in a terrible mood.I aim for a house where children feel safe to make mistakesIt is difficult to unlearn that mistakes are bad, that it doesn't matter if you spill the milk on the couch, or forget to say thank you. I want to be clear that I am no zen master, drifting around my yard in flowing robes, lifting my hand for a hummingbird to land on it. What I do know is that the yelling, strict rules, and ultimatums didn't work. Instead, they caused fear, and I could sense, if I kept going with it, it would teach my children, a little earlier than I prefer, how to lie.So I let my children be children. My house often looked like it had been robbed. When my kids had tantrums in public, I just waited until they stopped. I try to put the focus on empathy and understanding, letting my children make choices, odd as they might be, without the fear of the judgmental gaze of others, which is often the hardest thing to ignore.When a situation does arise where I have to intervene, I lean heavily on the concepts of distraction and humor. I might say something like, "Hey, which one of your cousins do you think smells the worst?" If things get really bad, there is always tickling. If none of this works, I close my eyes, and imagine an elephant walking through the grasslands. Trust me, this is calming.I had to learn to take care of myselfI taught myself to meditate, and it changed everything. When I am calmer, my children are happier. It sounds so simple, but it took me years to understand that a less stressful household also made my children relax.In all of the preparation I undertook to have children, I didn't come across a syllable of advice that said perhaps, just maybe, consider the weight of motherhood on your mental health, but I sure did buy a ton of stuff. I could fill oil drums with all of the equipment I was told I needed in order to be a mother. Now I know, what I needed most was permission to care for myself. After all, when mom is happy, other people can be happy, too.

The Logoff is a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here.Welcome to The Logoff. Today Im focusing on new Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., wholl now run some of the governments largest agencies and whose policy decisions will affect the health of every American. (Special thanks to Dylan Scott, who helped me wrap my head around this unconventional nominee.)Whats the latest? The Senate voted 52-48 to confirm Kennedy. All Democrats and both independents voted no, as did Republican Mitch McConnell. The other 52 Republicans voted yes.What will he be in charge of? Kennedy will oversee basically any place where the federal government touches health care or public health, including Medicare and Medicaid, the Food and Drug Administration, and the federal hubs for disease research and prevention (the CDC and NIH). The FDA also oversees the approval of new vaccines.What is Kennedys stance on vaccines now? Kennedy has long vociferously spread the lie that vaccines cause autism. He was also publicly skeptical of the Covid vaccines. Since his nomination, Kennedy has downplayed that opposition, instead emphasizing that he wants people to have a choice about vaccinations.What else should I know about RFK Jr.? On some issues, such as food safety and nutrition, Kennedys criticisms of the status quo echo what many experts are saying: that our food system is prone to disease outbreaks and leaves us in poor health. But medical experts have been sounding the alarm about his embrace of conspiracy theories both on vaccines and elsewhere.What dont we know yet? Will Kennedy go after vaccine development and approval, or stick to pushing back on vaccine mandates? Will he have the sway within the administration, which includes many pro-business voices, to go after the food system in the way he has promised? Well get some clues soon, as Trump appoints Kennedys top deputies, but as of today, were headed into the great unknown.And with that, its time to log off More than 50 years after his death, the world has a new Picasso painting. An infrared scan of a 1901 painting Portrait of Mateu Fernndez de Soto revealed a hidden portrait underneath, one of a mysterious woman whose identity remains unknown. I really enjoyed this story, both because its fun, and because its a reminder that the world, troubled though it is, remains full of good surprises.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More: