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Business Insider
29-06-2025
- General
- Business Insider
Call it 'The Grateful Divide.' Parents are split on thank-you notes.
Picture throwing a birthday party for your kids. They're excitedly opening presents, and you're keeping track of who gifted what. After the party ends, while your child is napping (or bouncing off the walls from too much sugar — no judgment), you're slowly cleaning the house. Your eye catches that list, and you start to think about the arduous task of thanking everyone for the Lego sets and stuffies. There's a question that's been looming over your head like a cloud, now threatening to rain — do you force your child to write thank-you notes, or not? The practice of expressing written thanks in some way has been around for centuries and, perhaps surprisingly, in an age of ecards, texts, and FaceTime, the greeting card industry is one of growth. And thank-you notes are the third most popular cards after birthday and sympathy, and women buy the bulk of them at around 85%. However, whether they're bought by child-free folks, parents who still believe in handwritten thanks, or parents begrudgingly making the purchase, that's a harder question to answer. Whether you're the type who always has monogrammed notes on hand and covets quality cardstock, or you're a parent who would be most grateful never to have to write a note of thanks again, there's some common ground: thank-you notes have become strangely controversial. The more rebellious gift recipients say the expectation to write notes is outdated and pedantic, while proponents say a handwritten token of gratitude is simply manners 101. Thank-you notes take time and energy, but some still think they're important Emily Genser, 48, says sending a thank you in the mail is an essential practice. Her 13-year-old son has been diligently working his way through about 75 thank-you notes for gifts he received at his bar mitzvah. Gesner, who lives in Connecticut, is OK with him taking his time — her son has been filling out five notes every day — but feels it's essential that he handwrite a formal card. "I think there's something to be said for the time it takes for my kids to do it," said Genser. That time reflects the effort that went into sending a gift and attending the event, said Gesner, who is also a mom to a 15-year-old. She wants her kids to "understand that things don't come to you out of nowhere," she said. "That there's a person behind every gift." As a fellow mom of two — my daughters are 7 and 11 — I agree with Gesner's sentiment (I do, in fact, keep quality cards on hand for just this purpose). Yet, I lack her follow-through. My oldest's birthday was last month. When she received a card with $20 in the mail from a family member, I told her she could only spend the money after sending a thank-you note. The money is still untouched, and I haven't had the energy to push her to send the notes. How to have kids express their thanks has been a hot topic When I contacted experts about thank-you notes, I was relieved to see that those I spoke with also have a nuanced approach to thank-you notes. They said it's important that kids express gratitude, but less important that they do that by writing a note. "Forcing kids to write a formal note when it feels like a chore kind of misses the point," Monika Roots, a child psychiatrist, mom of two, and cofounder at Bend Health, said. "What matters more is helping them say thank you in a way that feels genuine, whether that's a quick video, a simple message, or even a drawing. It's less about the format and more about building a habit of gratitude that they'll carry with them as they grow." Even a quick thanks can build a connection Roots' advice was music to my ears. In addition to the card and cash, my daughter received a birthday package from her uncle. I took a video of her opening the gift (an instant-print camera) and snapping a photo with it, then quickly sent it to my brother. He loved seeing his niece's genuine joy, and neither my daughter nor I had to put the effort into writing a card that he would just toss. Although it was easier than sending a card, this type of thank you can be just as impactful, said etiquette expert Genevieve Dreizen, author of "Simple Scripts to Support Your People: What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say." "Gratitude builds connection," Dreizen said. "It makes people feel seen, and it strengthens relationships over time. The act of saying thank you — whether it's a scribbled note or a phone call — teaches empathy, mindfulness, and reflection, especially for children." Dreizen said etiquette should be rooted in values, not performance. If your kids prefer making a fun video or a colorful drawing to express their thanks, that's OK. In fact, if they're working on something they're excited about, it may be even more appreciated. "What matters is teaching them to acknowledge kindness in ways that feel authentic to them," she said. Prompts and snacks can help get thank-you notes done If you're a parent who feels strongly about traditional thank-you notes, that's also fine. There are ways that you can make the whole process feel less like a chore for both you and your kids, like doing just a few cards at a time, having fun stationery and pens, or working on them while sharing a snack. Offering a prompt or script can also help, according to parenting coach and mom Jenn Brown. She suggests a fill-in-the-blank type note, like this: Dear [Name], Thank you for [the gift or gesture]. It really meant a lot because [personal reason]. I felt [emotion] when I opened/received it. Thanks again! "It's not about getting every word perfect," Brown said. "It's about helping them build the habit of expressing appreciation in a way that feels doable."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Foxboro MBTA commuter rail station work rushing to be ready by FIFA games
The MBTA is asking town officials to fast-track permitting for a significant expansion of the commuter rail station at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough in order to accommodate crowds expected at seven FIFA World Cup soccer games in June 2026. The proposed expansion involves replacing an existing train riser on the stadium side of the railroad tracks with a new 800-foot-long concrete platform, designed to accommodate a locomotive pulling eight passenger coaches. A second, temporary platform would be erected on the opposite side of the tracks, just behind a town-owned water pumping facility at the end of Ashcroft Lane in Foxborough. Read more: Boston's new women's soccer team moves to Gillette Stadium, for now (report) That platform, just 600 feet long, would be removed and vegetation restored following the World Cup matches, according to Tess Paganelli, director of environmental review and permitting with the MBTA. During a hearing Monday night before the town's conservation commission, Paganelli said the new elevated platforms would speed the loading and off-loading process, since passengers could exit onto the platform without climbing down steps off the train to reach ground level. In addition, the recent upgrade to parallel tracks at the station site now allows for two trains to simultaneously offload. Those seeking to depart from or return to trains on the Ashcroft Lane side will be required to cross the tracks at a pedestrian crossing staffed by security personnel during the World Cup matches. Characterizing the proposed timetable as extremely tight, Paganelli admitted the MBTA is still contemplating how to best schedule construction while minimizing impacts on the New England Patriots home games and other stadium events — adding the temporary platform will likely be installed first. 'We have been working very hard trying to come up with a solution that would be as simple as possible to construct,' she said. 'I hope I can ask for understanding in the pressure we are under to deliver this.' Paganelli was accompanied by land development and wetlands experts from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB), a national engineering firm with four offices in the Bay State. Read more: Here's when 2026 FIFA World Cup will come to Gillette Stadium According to Brittany Gesner, a civil engineer with VHB overseeing planning for the project, the existing station was constructed in the mid-1990s and has been used since then for event-day train service, with daily commuter rail service added in 2023. Gesner likewise stressed the need for speed in permitting and constructing the proposed improvements. 'It's getting closer and closer by the day,' she said of the first World Cup match, scheduled for June 13, 2026. Although Gillette Stadium was designed primarily with cars in mind, Gesner said the international fan base expected for World Cup matches would likely favor expanded public transit options. 'In order to have this be a successful event here in Foxborough we really need to increase the amount of people that we can get to and away from the stadium quickly, efficiently and safely using the train station,' she said. The Sun Chronicle is a news partner of To subscribe to The Sun Chronicle, click here. Rock icon's cover band fired from gig at Northeast bar over Trump insults Buy last-minute tickets for women's lacrosse Final Four at Gillette Stadium Over 16K Macy's infant footed pajamas recalled nationwide. How to get refund An 'above-normal' Atlantic hurricane season is coming. Here's what that means Map shows biggest population losers and winners in Mass. from new census data Read the original article on MassLive.
India Today
29-04-2025
- Science
- India Today
Abraham Gesner, the Canadian doctor who invented kerosene and lit up the world
In the early 1840s, whale oil was used to light lamps, but it was expensive, smoky, and pushing whales towards Abraham Gesner -- a Canadian physician and geologist with a curious mind and a knack for experimentation,.At a time when homes were lit by whale fat and cities were powered by coal gas, this man, who died 161 years ago on April 29, 1864, came up with something that changed the world: And let's just say, the people making money from whales and coal were not FLY IN A TINY LABGesner wasn't your typical inventor working out of a bustling lab. In fact, his early experiments were conducted with little more than curiosity and lighting up the world with kerosene, Gesner was busy mapping out the unknown. As a geologist, he conducted surveys, charting the land and its resources. His keen eye for natural deposits helped him uncover the fuel that would eventually transform energy started off trying to extract lamp oil from Trinidad's Pitch Lake, the largest natural deposit of bitumen in the world, a naturally occurring, thick, tar-like substance which can be processed to produce oil or fuel-like Gesner soon switched to a rock called albertite, found in New he distilled this strange, coal-like substance, something magical happened -- out came a clear, flammable oil that burned brighter and cleaner than anything else around. He named it 'kerosene', inspired by the Greek word for wax, 'keros', and oil, 'elaion'.WHEN INVENTION MEETS OPPOSITIONNow, this wasn't just a clever little lab trick. Kerosene was a real threat -- to whalers, coal barons, and gaslight companies. Suddenly, here was a fuel that was cheaper, cleaner, and safer. The energy elite came flying in. The biggest battle was fought over albertite. Gesner had mining rights, but a rival named William Cairns claimed albertite was coal, and he already had a coal court sided with Cairns. It was a crushing blow -- without albertite, how would Gesner produce kerosene at scale?FROM LAWSUITS TO LIGHTBULB MOMENTSBut Gesner didn't give up. He packed his bags and moved to New York City in 1853. There, he teamed up with investors and formed the North American Kerosene Gas Light Company. With funding and a fresh start, he set up a refinery on Long 1859, the plant was churning out around 5,000 gallons of kerosene every day. That's when the world really started to people had access to affordable, clean-burning light. Kerosene lamps spread quickly across North America and Rockefeller built an empire on kerosene, it was Gesner who carved the first brick -- quietly, decades earlier, with nothing but science and stubborn MAN BEHIND THE FLAMEWhile Gesner is best remembered for revolutionising lighting, he also wore many hats -- physician, geologist, teacher, and before he lit up cities, the physician Gesner also saved lives in small Canadian towns during cholera outbreaks. He wasn't fuelled by fame, but a sense of married Harriet Webster in 1824 and had several children. Despite financial troubles and legal hurdles, he remained committed to both his work and his love for science wasn't just professional. He reportedly filled his home with mineral samples and fossils, inspiring curiosity in everyone around when business ventures failed or investors pulled out, Gesner stayed true to his calling: making knowledge useful.A BRIGHT LEGACY, BUT A QUIET ENDDespite transforming home lighting and paving the way for the oil age, Gesner never made a fortune. He returned to Halifax in 1863 and began teaching at Dalhousie year later, in 1864, he died quietly, without much his invention powered empires, Gesner himself died with little to his name. In the great race for oil, he lit the path, but others cashed decades, his grave remained unmarked -- until 1933, when Imperial Oil erected a monument in his memory. Finally, in 2007, Abraham Gesner was inducted into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of he may not be a household name, but Abraham Gesner's quiet brilliance continues to glow in every lamp that ever burned GESNER STILL MATTERSLong before oil became the world's dominant fuel, Abraham Gesner lit the way, quite literally. He wasn't chasing fame or fortune. He was just trying to solve a problem, and ended up changing the global energy in a world again searching for cleaner alternatives, Gesner's story reminds us that innovation doesn't always come from where we expect -- but when it strikes, it can light up the entire planet.
