Self-written obituaries give many the last word

Having done all they can to dictate exactly how their funerals will go, many are now taking control over the story of their lives.

Video | The Back Story

Writing your own obituary

The Globe’s Dina Rudick speaks with reporter Beth Teitell about the recent trend of self-written obituaries.

Exclusive Sunday Preview | Globe Magazine

23 expert tips that can change your life

Improve your smile, love life, savings, and more.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/08/16/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/bats8-3751--90x90.jpg Maine baseball bat maker virtually a one-man operation

Jesse LaCasse cuts down trees and turns them into baseball bats, but can’t get Major League Baseball to accept his product.

Dwight Howard joined the Lakers after a trade from the Magic.

Christopher L. Gasper

NBA stars just say no to Boston

The Lakers and Celtics may be eternal NBA rivals. But they’re not equals in the eyes of today’s superstars, who don’t see the Celtics as a premier destination.

Cab drivers irate as ban against livery app reversed

The mobile car service app Uber is stirring a technology-driven battle between the area’s cabbies and hired drivers of livery sedans.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/08/17/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/150263068--90x90.jpg As battles rage in Afghanistan, focus fades in US

The longest war in American history commands little attention or debate — in the halls of Congress, on the presidential campaign trail, or in the public square.

Chief Petty Officer Select Tracy Walker helped hoist a sail aboard in preparation for Sunday’s commemoration.

USS Constitution to mark anniversary with rare voyage

The world’s oldest commissioned warship will sail on its own Sunday, only the second voyage for Old Ironsides in 131 years.

Latest news

 

New England Aquarium receives $5.5m grant

The National Science Foundation grant will enable the aquarium to educate the public about climate change.

Elizabeth Warren (left) spoke with Howard Gaffney as she toured a sewage treatment project this week.

In new ad, Warren touted as agency’s ‘founding mother’

The ad uses ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer’s words to define Elizabeth Warren as a champion for the consumer.

A supporter of the punk band wore a-shirt with the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin crossed out in red at a protest in Barcelona on Friday.

Russian punk band gets 2 years in jail for stunt against Putin

The three women were arrested after a guerrilla performance in Moscow against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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From the archives | Photo gallery

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/08/15/BostonGlobe.com/Special/Images/Tony%20Conigliaro1A--90x90.jpg Tony Conigliaro, the would-be legend

On Aug. 18, 1967, the young Red Sox star was hit in the head by a pitch, derailing a career many saw headed for stardom.

Globe exclusives

In Vermont, Carolyn and John Wheeler have had to supplement their cattle’s diet with hay, increasing costs.

Drought likely to push up prices

Researchers take a step toward male birth control pill

the podium

Excerpts from the Globe’s “Voices of New England” blog
“I didn’t recall the letters earlier. But they should have been handled differently, and I take responsibility for that,” Paul Ryan said in a statement in response to queries Thursday.

Paul Ryan denied he sought stimulus funds

Comics

The funny pages
Besides lifting the 6.25 percent sales tax, many retailers also offered additional discounts to further attract shoppers.

Tax-free weekend gave sales a boost
Bruce Springsteen performs Tuesday at Fenway Park.

editorial

Jersey boy owns Beantown

Stages

Joe Wong’s comedy crosses language barrier
Host Seth Rudetsky (left) and artistic director Mark Cortale produce the Broadway at the Art House series in Provincetown.

Broadway stars descend on Provincetown
US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrived by bus to speak at a campaign event at the Alliant Energy Amphitheater in Dubuque, Iowa.

Obama’s costly investment not yielding new voters
Hundreds of people flocked to the Roca center in Chelsea on Wednesday, the first day that young people living illegally in the United States could apply for a work permit and a deferral from the threat of deportation.

Young immigrants learning to apply for their dream
A North Atlantic right whale in Cape Cod Bay in February 2012.

Ships’ noise hinders whale communication

Sports

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Analysis

Could trading Josh Beckett be on the Red Sox’ agenda for the offseason?

Four moves to fix the Red Sox

With the 2012 season looking bleak, Peter Abraham offers four moves that could revitalize the starting rotation for 2013.

Metro

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Police investigated the scene of the Harlem Street shootings on Monday.

Triple killing in Dorchester called ‘most likely gang related’

Following five homicides since Sunday, Boston Police Commissioner ­Edward F. Davis called Thursday for increased witness cooperation and said the use of wiretaps could aid author­ities.

Columnists

Carlo Rotella

Advice for the college freshman

Joshua Green

The benefits of a nasty presidential campaign
Dwight Howard joined the Lakers after a trade from the Magic.

Christopher L. Gasper

NBA stars just say no to Boston

Yvonne Abraham

Killings strike fear in parents
Syrian residents inspect houses in Homs destroyed by what they said was heavy shelling from Bashar al-Assad forces.

Juliette Kayyem

US would own the war in Syria

joan vennochi

Should Bulger judge recuse himself?

Tech Lab

New e-mail tools manage the chaos
Bobby Valentine’s first season as Red Sox manager has been marred by an apparent lack of respect from players.

Christopher L. Gasper

It’s time to fire Bobby Valentine

Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates after winning the men's 100m final in London.

Opinion | Jeff Jacoby

After the Olympics: Where’s the humility?

Scot Lehigh

Websites that help sort fact from fiction

Joanna Weiss

Unbaby.me, the hipsters, and the Ryan Plan
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch (L) attend a memorial service for six people killed in an attack the day before on a Wisconsin Sikh temple on August 6, 2012 in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Hundreds of mourners gathered at the Sikh Religious Society of Wisconsin -- a temple just 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the scene of the August 5 bloodshed -- to honor the six people killed and three critically wounded in what police are calling a

Farah Stockman

A culture of hate

Business

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An “ I Will” screen in New York’s Times Square captured attention with submissions for 9/11 Day.

Cambridge tech firm powers Times Square 9/11 project

Employees at local tech outfit Aerva Inc. will collect, screen, and transmit thousands of personal pledges.

Politics

political notebook

New Hampshire is expected to be a focal point for both campaigns.

Romney and Ryan to reunite in N.H.

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will hold a joint town hall meeting today in Manchester.

Nation & World

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Points amiss in Romney’s ads on welfare

Campaign ads attacking President Obama for a plan to “gut welfare reform” have been criticized by fact checkers but are resonating with some swing-state voters.

Arts

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Classical notes

As El Fuego, Teri Kowiak (left), Dan Meyers, and Salomé Sandoval perform 16th- and 17th-century music from Spain and the New World.

Iberica 2012 Early Music Festival

“Iberica 2012” is a series of concerts that will explore music of the Spanish Baroque.

Movies

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Movie Review

Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones costar in “Celeste and Jesse Forever,” a romantic comedy that Jones co-wrote with Will McCormack.

‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’ as smart as it is funny

This mostly charming L.A. comedy-drama, co-written by star Rashida Jones, offers a warm, slightly blinkered insider’s eye to the city and its neighborhoods.

“In Vietnam people had skin in the game. You had angst on campuses and revolts inside of the Congress. You don’t have that here. People don’t feel affected by it.”

Retired Army colonel Joseph J. Collins,  on the war in Afghanistan

Magazine

The cover for the August 12 2012 issue

How Bain Capital is trying — reluctantly — to clean up its name
The cover for the August 5 2012 issue

Can GPS find you a mate?
The cover for the July 29 2012 issue

Connected, powerful 21st-century moms
The cover for the July 22 2012 issue

25 best burgers around Boston

Opinion

“The prospective shame of screwing up badly enough to bring dishonor to my family kept me mostly in line on the way to graduation.”

Carlo Rotella 

Ideas

“The changing ways we’ve seen summer reading — first as an indulgence, then as a vice, and now, somewhat surprisingly, as a source of pride — says a lot about our changing attitudes toward just what leisure should be.”

Craig Fehrman