A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

Society

As your trusted friend, we’re here with the “Reader’s Digest version” of social issues that impact the world around you. From gun violence statistics to the history behind the black power fist, and how to be an LGBTQ ally, our explainers will break it all down.

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The U.S. States Most Prone to Natural Disasters

Driven by climate change, natural disasters across the United States are getting more extreme, more costly, and more deadly.


What Happens to Lost Mail?

The USPS Mail Recovery Center is more sorting center than graveyard. Make an inquiry, and you'll likely get your undelivered...


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What Could Happen if the U.S. Postal Service Stopped Delivering Mail

It would mean more than the end of the Restoration Hardware catalogs...


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Why I Signed Up for Family Camp During the Pandemic

How one writer and her family experienced a life-changing escape from coronavirus reality at summer camp.


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7 Secrets to Avoid Flying on a Crowded Plane

Avoiding the dreaded middle seat carries even more importance in this age of social distancing. Here's how to make sure...


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The Most Scenic Campsite in Every State

Here's how you can get away, marvel at the wonder of nature, sleep under the stars, and keep your distance...


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12 Ways Hotels Are Changing Forever

Your next vacation or business trip will look and feel a little different in the wake of COVID-19—skip the surprises...


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10 Ways We Already Know the Holidays Will Look Different

Although coronavirus may cancel some holiday festivities, it will never cancel holiday cheer!

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8 Things That Will Get More Expensive (and 3 Things That Will Be Cheaper) Post-Pandemic

COVID-19 is affecting the cost of many everyday items from the price of eggs to car insurance.


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15 of the Cutest Baby Animals Born During the Pandemic

This is the type of news the world needs right now.


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12 Things You Won’t Be Seeing in Grocery Stores Anymore

Coronavirus has changed not only the way we shop, but what we'll be able to shop for, as well.


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8 Warning Signs a Reopened Hair Salon Isn’t Safe to Visit

Heading back for your first trim since the pandemic began? Here's how to tell if your salon makes the cut...


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17 Face Masks with a Sense of Humor

These face masks will have you cracking up (even during a pandemic!).


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The Best U.S. Hotels and Resorts for Social Distancing

The ideal way to vacation and social distance at the same time this summer? Book a hotel that offers private...


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12 Things You Shouldn’t Do at Reopened Retail Stores

We know you want to get back to your beloved retail stores, but make sure you take the proper precautions...


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Here’s What to Expect at Reopened Dentist Offices

Have a dentist appointment coming up? You’ll likely encounter these post-pandemic changes during your visit.


The Nicest Place in New Mexico: Bueno Para Todos Farm in Villanueva

When COVID-19 stranded foreign students in America, a local farm made sure they felt like they were home.

The Nicest Place in Alaska: Anchorage

A city known for its cold warms hearts by ensuring its homeless are safe during the pandemic.


The Nicest Place in Montana: Ronan

Teachers in this small village won’t let a little thing like a pandemic get in the way of their offbeat...


The Nicest Place in New Hampshire: Temple

Even COVID-19 couldn't stop this town from celebrating.


The Nicest Place in Louisiana: Red Handed Tattoo in Shreveport

A tattoo-artist turned his shop into a free market for needed supplies during the pandemic.


The Nicest Place in Indiana: The Doorsteps of Central Indiana

Families are coaxed out of quarantine for socially distant portraits that capture this moment in our history.


The Nicest Place in Oklahoma: Colefax Hill Neighborhood in Tulsa

One family turns pandemic lemons into lemonade of kindness.

The Nicest Place in Maine: The Cedars in Portland

The pandemic doesn’t care if you have Alzheimer's or dementia. But these students do.


The Nicest Place in Maryland: Gaithersburg

Young children lead the way in being the "helpers" during the pandemic.


The Nicest Place in Ohio: Clintonville Neighborhood in Columbus

Social distancing couldn't stop the party in this neighborhood.


The Nicest Place in North Carolina: Dirtbag Ales Brewery in Hope Mills

You know what helps quarantine pass quickly for troops coming home? Free, local beer.


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How Much Longer Will We Need to Wear Masks?

You might be donning your face mask well into the rest of the year.


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I Was Isolated for a Year in Antarctica—Here’s What Surprised Me Most When I Came Back

While you may not have been quite this isolated over the last few months, reentry into life after lockdown...