About five years after Juul became many people’s mental image for the word “vape,” e-cigarettes are in the midst of another face-lift. The understated look associated with Juul has been edged out by the rounded, vivid designs of Elf Bars and other brands, whose color schemes often correspond with their flavors. (Holtermann, The New York Times)
Read MoreNearly 60 percent of those under 34 took on new responsibilities during the pandemic. About half of those also saw their titles change. That took a toll. The younger a pastor was when COVID-19 hit, the study found, the more likely the pastor was to consider quitting. (Gillmore, Christianity Today)
Read MoreAll sorts of so-called universal interventions, in which a big group of teens are subjected to “healthy” messaging from adults, have failed. Last year, a study of thousands of British kids who were put through a mindfulness program found that, in the end, they had the same depression and well-being outcomes as the control group. A cognitive-behavioral-therapy program for teens had similarly disappointing results—it proved no better than regular classwork. (Khazan, The Atlantic)
Read MoreNigeria – a nation the U.S. Department of State has failed to designate as a Country of Particular Concern – is among the worst persecutors of Christians, an international religious freedom watchdog group reported. “Nigeria is arguably the most dangerous place to be a Christian in the world today,” International Christian Concern stated in its 88-page 2023 “Persecutors of the Year” report. (Camp, Baptist Press)
Read More"They're just everywhere," Marcia Mogelonsky, the director of insight, food and drink and market research firm Mintel, told Morning Edition in 2022. "Everything's an Advent calendar now." Here's a look at how we got here. (Treisman, NPR)
Read MoreGroundfloor, a modern-day social club devoted to the purpose of making friends, will officially open its first Los Angeles location in January 2024 in Echo Park, but it’s already hosting events in its work-in-progress space to drum up membership interest. The San Francisco-based startup has three locations in the Bay Area with nearly 1,000 members. (Ding, Los Angeles Times)
Read More