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The article offers the author's insights regarding the novel "The Bostonians" which features the city of Boston, Massachusetts. The author says that he first encountered the novel when he was a graduate student at Brown University in English and American literature, in which he incorporated the novel in his dissertation. He also notes that he is now interested in the late, nineteenth-century culture of uncertainty, which is the background of the novel.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we determined trends in prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual youth from 1995 to 2017 using population-based surveillance data. METHODS: Data were drawn from the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 1995 to 2017 (unweighted N = 41 636). The annual percent change (APC) in prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts was stratified by sexual orientation as indexed by sexual identity and sexual behavior. RESULTS: Among sexual minority youth, prevalence rates declined over the entire study period for suicidal ideation (APCsexual identity = -1.25; APCsexual behavior = -1.83), plans (APCsexual identity = -1.88; APCsexual behavior = -1.95), and attempts (APCsexual identity = -2.64; APCsexual behavior = -2.47). Among heterosexual youth, prevalence rates declined from 1995 to 2007 for suicidal ideation (APCsexual identity = -6.67; APCsexual behavior = -6.77) and plans (APCsexual identity = -5.73; APCsexual behavior = -6.25). These declines in ideation and plans were steeper than those for sexual minority youth. Prevalence of suicide attempts declined across the entire study period among heterosexual youth (APCsexual identity = -3.66; APCsexual behavior = -4.01). Prevalence of all 3 outcomes remained markedly high among sexual minority youth across the 23-year study period. CONCLUSIONS: Although suicidal thoughts and behavior have generally declined among sexual minority and heterosexual youth, disparities in these outcomes persist, and their prevalence among sexual minority youth has remained consistently elevated. Prioritized screening for risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in this vulnerable population is imperative to reduce disparities and prevalence of these outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The future of liberal education in the United States, in its current form, is fraught but full of possibility. Today's institutions are struggling to maintain viability, sustain revenue, and assert value in the face of rising costs. But we should not abandon the model of pragmatic liberal learning that has made America's colleges and universities the envy of the world. Instead, "Redesigning Liberal Education" argues, we owe it to students to reform liberal education in ways that put broad and measurable student learning as the highest priority. Written by experts in higher education, the book is organized into two sections. The first section focuses on innovations at 13 institutions: Brown University, College of the Holy Cross, Connecticut College, Elon University, Florida International University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, Lasell College, Northeastern University, Rollins College, Smith College, Susquehanna University, and the University of Wisconsin--Green Bay. Chapters about these institutions consider the vast spectrum of opportunities and challenges currently faced by students, faculty, staff, and administrators, while also offering "radical visions" of the future of liberal education in the United States. Accompanying vision chapters written by some of the foremost leaders in higher education touch on a wide array of subjects and themes, from artificial intelligence and machines to the role that human dispositions, mindsets, resilience, and time play in how we guide students to ideas for bringing playful concepts of creativity and openness into our work. Ultimately, "Redesigning Liberal Education" reveals how humanizing forces, including critical thinking, collaboration, cross-cultural competencies, resilience, and empathy, can help drive our world. This uplifting collection is a celebration of the innovative work being done to achieve the promise of a valuable, engaging, and practical undergraduate liberal education. [Foreword written by Michael S. Roth.]

The article offers information on Blackstone River and Canal Hike, one of the 60 hikes within 60 miles in Boston, Massachusetts. It says that the hike allows hikers to explore the Blackstone Canal through tangled woods, feral meadows and preserved farmland to Stanley Woolen Mill. It adds that the canal was the brainchild of businessman John Brown in the late 1700s and was continued by general Edward Carrington, who led a campaign to build the canal, which employed thousands of workers.