PHILADELPHIA -- George had a problem, and he had reached out to Yowei Shaw for help.

After a decade-plus relationship, his wife had come out as queer and divorced him. (George is a Midwesterner using a pseudonym.)

Shaw, the Philly-based creator and founder of the new podcast Proxy, listened to his story and began her search for help.

The ...Read more

Dear Kid Whisperer,

I feel like I’m losing my mind, and this question feels like a stupid and embarrassing one that I should have an answer to. I have a 2-and-a-half-year-old who is starting to sort of do whatever he wants. I’m exhausted from telling him to not have a stick that he brought from outside, to not hit his brother with the ruler...Read more

They say birds of a feather flock together and while that may be true most of the time, I have proof it is not true all the time. Our 12-year-old grandson and a jet-black Cayuga duck sitting beside him, with its long neck and head resting on the boy’s shoulder, have been flocking together for weeks.

The boy says it all began because the duck�...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A transplant from Miami, Anallive Calle learned her way around Kansas City from behind the wheel of a big yellow school bus.

The tablet near the dash provides turn-by-turn directions to every stop and checks each kid on and off the bus throughout her route. It’s helped her navigate the narrow roads and one-ways that ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The man stood in the middle of the road in decadent Beverly Hills, gawking at one of those only-in-L.A. streetscapes.

He was looking at a row of palm trees in linear formation, like soldiers awaiting inspection, lining the road as far as the eye could see. Alongside the Spanish colonial homes, the scene is a picturesque look ...Read more

When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, no snooze is bad news. At least it is for my wife, Sue, who claims she is often kept awake by my snoring, which she once said makes me sound — this is a direct quote — “like Mount Vesuvius.”

“This means,” I helpfully pointed out, “that I have been disturbing your sleep for 2,000 ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Daryl Davis, 67, started trying to talk white supremacists out of hating people like him when he was 10.

In his 2024 book, “The Klan Whisperer,” Davis, an R&B and blues pianist and guitarist, describes his encounters with Klan members and other racists during the past five decades. Over the years, more than 200 white ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Lou Lesesne has spent years cultivating a naturalistic garden in his front yard.

He uses only native species of plants and allows them to grow tall, flower and seed without regular mowing. It’s an approach that has gained in popularity as cities adopt friendlier laws recognizing potential environmental benefits of creating ...Read more

Four years ago, an ornamental sweet potato shook up the green industry. It was named after Medusa, a figure from Greek mythology. If you remember from junior high, this lady had snakes for hair.

My take on this is that whenever the green industry names a new plant after Medusa, it turns out to be special. Now four years and 29 awards later, ...Read more

Dear Anna,

I'm in a polyamorous relationship with my girlfriend of two years, and we see each other once a week due to other partners and our demanding work schedules. I completely understand that she's often exhausted when we finally get together, and I'm fine with low-key dates like ordering takeout and watching TV. The problem is that even ...Read more

On Sunday afternoon in downtown Chicago, as couples strolled along sidewalks and kids ran around Maggie Daley Park and diners filled outdoor cafes and the Joffrey Ballet wrapped its final performance of “Carmen” at the Lyric Opera House, U.S. Border Patrol agents wearing tactical gear and carrying long guns patrolled the city’s streets.

...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Though Gabriel Dominic-Dunlap didn't grow up with cassettes, he's now a collector who can be seen sporting a personal tape player.

The 20-year-old Duquesne University student only discovered an enthusiasm for the format, which hit peak popularity in the 1980s, within the past few months. He carries tapes from his small collection...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Western canon of art history is dominated by white men. The canon itself is the product of centuries of scholarship also conducted by white men. But the Getty, and many other art institutions across the country, are determined to change that. They're working to expand the canon to include women and artists of color who have ...Read more

This week, we have three very relatable dating questions:

Question: I really like Gerry and don’t feel like sifting through other profiles. But is that wise? Should I still go through the motions as backup options until my three-month Match subscription ends, in case Gerry and I fizzle? I know he likes me.

-- Jane, 62, Orlando, Florida

...Read more

Q. This is sort of an ethical question. My ex-wife remarried two years ago and even though this sounds a little weird, I find I like him, poor unsuspecting sap. I can tell he cares about my kids and he’s actually a good influence.

Here’s the deal. My ex has always liked her wine, and I suspect it’s causing some problems over there. Her ...Read more

Dear Kid Whisperer,

I feel very alone in my friend group. We are all mothers of young children, and we all send our kids to the same school. The problem is that in social situations, a few of the moms will talk about their very touchy-feely parenting methods, like the mom who goes on and on about how she listens to her son about his feelings ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS -- One young man gave away free menstrual products. One unfurled a banner with a demand to “end period cramps.” Another did a card trick and turned the king of spades into the queen of hearts.

“It turns into a woman, because women can solve all problems!” he shouted to cheers.

That’s how the 38 contestants tried to woo an...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The preschoolers were fascinated, looking at their classroom through the lens of an iPad camera, watching animated images pop up as a cheerful voice told them: Feed apples to a pig behind a haystack. Select the carnival ride located between two sets of balloons.

While the game delighted these 3- and 4-year-olds, they were ...Read more

I am an accidental gardener. If anything I plant grows to maturity, and by some fluke of nature becomes edible, it is sheer accident.

If we had to survive on what I grow, we would both be very, very thin. Spaghetti thin. We are not spaghetti thin; we are more like rigatoni.

Several years ago, I dreamed of growing potatoes. I threw some ...Read more