Living the rest of your life on a cruise ship seems like the dream of the ultra-rich. You wake up every morning and have an all-you-can-eat breakfast. Spend the afternoon hanging out by the pool or touring a fantastic city such as Rome or Dubrovnik. At night, have a drink in the lounge watching a comedian or a jazz band, then hit the sack and do it all over again the next day. Seems too good to be true for the average person, right? Think again.Austin Wells of San Diego told CNBC that he could make it happen at just 28 years old because it’s cheaper than living onshore in Southern California and he gets to see the world. “The thing that most excites me is I don’t have to upend my daily routine, in order to go see the world,” Wells told CNBC.“I’m going from this model where you want to go somewhere, you pack a bag, you get on a flight, you rent a room, to now my condo, my gym, my doctors and dentists, all of my grocery stores travel the world with me,” he added. - YouTube www.youtube.com Wells purchased an apartment on the Storylines MV Narrative, which is being built in Croatia. When he'll actually get to live on it is still a big question, as the build has faced delays and financial hiccups. The ship's sailing date has been pushed out from 2025 to a tentative launch in 2027.What does it cost to live on a cruise ship?The rough math for Wells' dream makes perfect sense on paper, though. He purchased a 12-year lease on the ship for $300,000. That comes to about $2,100 a month if he didn’t have to take out a loan. By comparison, most apartments in San Diego cost more than $2,100 per month in rent. Some people call cruise ships home.Photo credit: Canva The ship charges an additional $2,100 a month for all-inclusive services, which include food, drinks, alcohol, gym membership, routine healthcare check-ups, onboard entertainment, and laundry.So, it could cost Wells as little as $4,200 a month to live an all-expenses-paid life. Plus, there’s no need to pay for a car or waste time shopping for groceries or traveling anywhere. It’s all on the ship. And Wells can work from the ship because his job with Meta is fully remote."What I'm probably most excited about is going to places that ships can only uniquely go,” he told CNBC, adding that cruise ships can travel to “unique ecological parts of the world or beautiful dive spots that are a few miles off land or caves to dive through and the ship will do a number of overnight stays in those areas." Imagine this being your temporary backyard.Photo credit: Canva The MV Narrative encourages its residents to continue their careersRetirees and people who are advanced in their careers are moving onto the ship. One resident, a nurse, will join the staff's medical team. “I always say to people, you can come and drink pina coladas by the pool all day if you like and not lift a finger … But that gets old pretty quickly. So, you want to keep doing [the job] you do, right, so this is a way for people to be able to do that,” the MV Narrative's co-founder and CEO, Alister Punton, said. “That’s a fundamental difference [between] us and a cruise.”Wells isn’t the only person who’s decided to live on a permanent vacation. Upworthy spoke with a couple in their 50s who live on cruise ships because it’s cheaper than their mortgage.Richard Burk and his wife, Angelyn, are living their best life hopping from ship to ship for around $100 a night, depending on the cruise. "Cruise costs vary quite a bit, our goal is to average about $100 per night, for the couple, or less across an entire calendar year," Richard told Upworthy.The Burks keep the costs of cruising down through loyalty memberships. “We love to travel and we were searching for a way to continuously travel in our retirement that made financial sense,” Angelyn told 7 News.People like Wells and the Burks may be outliers in society. They’ve chosen to give up the comforts of home for the comfort of living a life being catered to 24/7. While most of us probably won’t opt to make the big leap and live life out at the sea, their stories are a wonderful reminder that with a little creative thinking, we can create the perfect lives for ourselves whether on land or at sea.This article originally appeared two years ago.

In the 1988 Disney classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit? the titular character is in an unlikely relationship with his voluptuous wife, Jessica. Roger is a frantic, anxious rabbit with a penchant for mischief, while Jessica, a human, is a quintessential ’40s bombshell who stands about a foot and a half taller and isn’t “bad,” she's just “drawn that way.”When private investigator Eddie Valiant asked Jessica what she sees in “that guy?” she replies, “He makes me laugh.” This type of couple may seem like something we only see in the movies, but don’t underestimate the power of humor when it comes to attractiveness. A 2022 study published in Evolutionary Psychology found that being humorous is the most effective way to flirt for both men and women. Roger Rabbit Animation GIF Giphy “People think that humour, or being able to make another person laugh, is most effective for men who are looking for a long-term relationship. It’s least effective for women who are looking for a one-night stand. But laughing or giggling at the other person's jokes is an effective flirtation tactic for both sexes,” says Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Department of Psychology.“It is not only effective to be funny, but for women, it is very important that you show your potential partner that you think they are funny,” Rebecca Burch, a co-author from SUNY Oswego in New York, added. Couple laughing.Canva PhotosFor men, showing off their sense of humor was found to be the most effective way to flirt whether they were looking for a short-term or a long-term relationship. For women, being funny was the most effective tactic when looking for a long-term relationship. For people looking for a short-term fling, appearing available was the most effective tactic. - YouTube youtu.be According to the study, humor is effective regardless of one's attractiveness. “Individual differences in age, religiosity, extroversion, personal attractiveness and preferences for short-term sexual relationships had little or no effect on how effective respondents considered the various flirting tactics to be,” says study co-author Prof. Mons Bendixen.If you see someone you like but don’t think you’re good-looking enough for them, give it a shot. You may still have a chance if you can make ’em laugh.The most effective flirting tactics for those looking for a long-term relationship:For women:1. Makes him laugh2. Shows interest in conversations3. Spends time with him4. Engages in deep conversations5. Kisses on mouth Shoot your shot; you may just land their number.Canva PhotosFor men:1. Makes her laugh2. Spends time with her3. Shows interest in conversations4. Engages in deep conversations5. SmilesThe study is proof that looks aren’t everything and having a good sense of humor isn’t just about making someone laugh. A great sense of humor is evidence that someone is intelligent, wise, perceptive, confident, can see things from new perspectives, and has good intuition. It also helps people quickly build bonds and share experiences, which is a great way to get close to someone in a fast and fun way.So, why wouldn’t Jessica be with Roger? The guy is hilarious.This story originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated.

Ever since American Idol gave us the one-and-only Kelly Clarkson in its first season, modern talent competitions have become a staple of television viewing. We've seen so many incredible performers come through shows like "American Idol," "The Voice," and the "Got Talent" series, but there are still some singers who manage to surprise and delight audiences with their powerful, unique voices.For instance, 14-year-old Reid Thomas Wilson. Reid performed Lesley Gore's 1963 hit "You Don't Own Me" on "America's Got Talent" back in 2024, and it's safe to say no one expected the voice that came out of a boy from Alabama who's still in braces.Gore herself was only 17 when she released "You Don't Own Me," and the song has been covered by artists such as Dusty Springfield, Joan Jett, and Ann Wilson over the decades, but it's never sounded quite like this. It's no wonder Howie Mandel smashed that Golden Buzzer button, rocketing Reid to the live show round of the competition. - YouTube www.youtube.com "Well, Reid, we weren't expecting that," said judge Simon Cowell. "You know, I shut my eyes for a moment when you were singing, just to listen to your voice, and then I opened them again and there's this sweet young kid." Howie Mandel concurred. "I was bowled over because I was surprised…first of all, you're just a 14-year-old kid from Alabama, so I would imagine—I put myself in your position—you were very nervous. And you did come off incredibly nervous, that was a surprise."As the judges and Reid's mother pointed out, Reid was very nervous at the beginning of the audition, but he ultimately knocked it out of the park.When Cowell asked what singer he draws inspiration from, Reid said singing legend Aretha Franklin. "Your parents must have great taste in music," said Cowell, to which Reid simply and hilariously responded, "No." Speaking of Aretha Franklin, Reid has had some experience with virality on social media for some of his at-home singing videos, including one where he sings Franklin's "Aint' No Way."(It looks like Reid's Instagram has since become private, but clicking below will take you to his page and allow you to see the video) See on Instagram Broadway great Lea Salonga commented on the video, "What on earth????? This kid is incredible!!!!!!!!" Another video in which Reid sang part of "The Impossible Dream" prompted a wave of big-name comments as well, such as Kristin Chenoweth telling him he should audition for her Broadway Boot Camp and Boy George commenting, "Write songs. Your voice deserves new songs."People on TikTok, following AGT's coverage of Reid's audition, had nothing but praise for the young singer."The longer he sang, the better he got!""His voice is very transatlantic vintage, and it's AMAZING""Amazing voice control. This kid is going places!""You could see Simon listening closely and I love it when he does that. He’s picturing success I think.""His clarity and control at 14 years old HOLY HECK!! he deserves that golden buzzer ?"Reid apparently comes from a talented family. His brother, Ryley Tate Wilson, was a competitor on "The Voice" in 2023 at age 16, making it to the semi-finals before being eliminated.Reid would go on to perform an equally stunning rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" for the AGT semi-final, which prompted Mandel to praise him for his "pure and beautiful voice.And while Reid didn't move past this round on AGT, his music career has persisted, especially with Ryley. The brothers have debuted a lovely single available on Spotify, and have performed live together in Miami. And here's another original song, titled "Sad About You," below: See on Instagram It's always inspiring to see someone embrace and share their natural gifts, isn't it?

There are a number of ways to determine intelligence beyond traditional IQ tests. Tossing aside standardized testing, academic scores, and verbose vocabulary skills, people may be able to determine if someone is highly intelligent based on certain habits they display. These aren't things like reading more than ten books a month or flexing their high IQ or comprehension skills in casual conversation. It's actually the opposite. Many things very intelligent people do may be seen as weird, or labeled as what an unmotivated or lazy person would do. Some of these behaviors may even come across as antisocial or introverted.Recently, Slightly Smarter, a YouTube channel dedicated to "learning better, thinking sharper, and making progress without the pressure," posted a surprising video on intelligent people. According to their research, intelligent people have some pretty weird habits that don't seem smart at face value, but indicate high intelligence. In no particular order, here are ten things people may consider strange but are actually signs of high intelligence: Young genius tackles equations with confidence and style!Photo credit: Canva1. Organized chaosWhen you walk into someone's office or bedroom, you expect it to be tidy, or at least straightened enough to look presentable. But for those who are smarter than the average bear, their working area may be chaotic–to you. To them, the chaos serves a function. It's a trail of ideas and projects to get back to, and surprisingly, they can locate everything they need on a second's notice. It may appear like clutter and disorganization, but it's functional for them, which is what matters most in their space.2. Alone time is the best timeThis is something that may cause people to think an intelligent person is introverted or antisocial. However, the truth is that they have a limited social battery due to processing more information than the average person in social situations. "Intelligent people need more alone time because their brains constantly process complex information. Social situations require reading expressions, interpreting tone, and following multiple conversations. For active minds, this is exhausting. Solitude allows your brain's default mode network, where your mind wanders, processes experiences, and makes connections," Slightly Smarter says. Lonely The Simpsons GIF Giphy 3. DaydreamingPeople who daydream are not always imagining some fantasy world. Some intelligent people daydream when faced with boring, repetitive tasks or situations they can do on autopilot. This doesn't necessarily mean they're not being productive; in fact, they're often problem-solving for something they feel is more important. 4. Very few close friendsThe Slightly Smarter video reveals, "Intelligent people have smaller social circles but deeper relationships. This isn't an inability to make friends; It's choosing quality over quantity. Higher IQ people report feeling happier with fewer substantial friendships. Maintaining friendships requires emotional and cognitive energy. Intelligent people invest deeply in a few relationships rather than spreading thin across surface connections." Best Friends Dancing GIF by Bells and Wishes Giphy 5. Rabbit hole addictionFinding yourself deep into research on some obscure topic may seem weird to some people, but according to research, it may indicate above-average intelligence. Sure, you may wind up with a hodgepodge of highly specific knowledge, but it's fuel for those deep conversations you love. 6. OverthinkingOverthinking may be a habit that can annoy friends at times, but it's actually a sign of intelligence. "Neuroscience shows overthinkers have more active prefrontal cortices, your complex reasoning center. You're not indecisive, you're thorough," Slightly Smarter notes. The downside to overthinking, however, is decision fatigue. 7. Small talk is not the vibeSmall talk is something people with high IQs may not enjoy. This is because small talk keeps things on the surface. It's something polite to do to pass the time, but it doesn't always foster deeper connections, which is what highly intelligent people crave. 8. Self-amusement"You laugh at your own jokes, even if no one else does. You crack a joke, nobody laughs, but you're chuckling five minutes later. That awkward moment is actually independent thinking and high intelligence," Slightly Smarter states. They also explain that this habit shows a person has high self-confidence.9. Sarcasm as a love languageUsing sarcasm requires the use of several parts of the brain at once, especially when it's well timed. "Harvard and Columbia research shows sarcastic people score higher on creativity tests. Why? Sarcasm forces multi-layer thinking, literal, physical and social. It's intellectual multitasking," the video explains. Always Sunny Reaction GIF Giphy 10. Patterns everywhereIntelligent people are very good at pattern recognition. To others, the patterns may seem coincidental, but to someone with above-average intelligence, they recognize the patterns to assist in decision-making. In short, it shows higher cognitive function. Sometimes others may see you as the guy with red yarn connecting random pictures on a corkboard, but you're picking up on subtle patterns others miss.Watch the full video here: - YouTube youtu.be

It's not every day that a person of any age gets into a car for a trip that has no driver. So when 80-somethings Kenny and Jerry did it, it was extra exciting to see their reactions. And although it's becoming more common to witness or experience for a select few in a handful of cities, many are completely perplexed (and some even terrified) by the idea.Waymo, a self-driving car service, has been in development under Google's parent company, Alphabet, since 2009. According to Forbes, Waymo's driverless car service is expanding quickly. Alan Ohnsman writes, "Currently, the Mountain View, California-based company books more than 1 million rides a month in Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Bay Area communities, Austin, Atlanta and, as of last month, Miami." Waymo has also said it aims to expand into more cities and even other countries, including Japan and the United Kingdom, by next year. See on Instagram On a sunny day in Minnesota, Navy veteran Kenny, accompanied by his friends and neighbors Amanda and Jerry, took a Waymo test ride. Viewers got to witness their amazement in real time, while Jerry's daughter Jenny stayed behind to film. Waiting on the side of the road, Kenny spots the white car approaching and asks, "What's that thing on top?" Jenny answers, "I don't know." He inspects it for a moment and then enthusiastically announces, "A Jaguar!"An automated voice gently greets: "Hello Amanda." As Kenny and Jerry get in the back seat, they're both baffled. "You got a Jaguar!" Noticing there's no driver, Kenny is mystified. "Wha? Where is the guy?"Amanda tells everyone to "buckle up," while the automated voice says, "Headed to Xanadu Coffee Company." Kenny says, "Oh no Amanda. Do you trust this? Amanda!"We see an outside shot of the car as it heads down the street. Both Kenny and Jerry are bewildered, with Jerry (who is deaf) signing, "Where's Jenny?" Kenny is still awestruck. "Oh my God. I cannot believe this!" Amanda asks again, "Are you buckled?" Kenny enthusiastically answers, "Yes, I wanna be buckled!" We then get a shot of the steering wheel moving itself. Kenny yells, "How in the…?" See on Instagram Jerry tries to wrap his arms around the non-existent driver. "Where in the?" Kenny understandably has more questions. "Well how did it get down here?" Amanda explains, "I called it." Kenny can't believe his ears. "You called it. Called who?" Amanda laughs. "The car." Kenny astutely points out, "There's no guy…driver!"Now Kenny and Jerry seem a bit anxious. Kenny asks, "They're selling these?" Both men are worried about Jenny. "Where's Jenny? We've gotta pick her up!"Kenny gets extra riled as he looks at the map. "Amanda! Won't this car…cops will see this!" And now even Amanda gets excited as the Waymo stops and turns. She exclaims, "Here we go, intersection!" Kenny shares, "I'll never forget this!" He later adds, "He did a better job than if someone was driving!"The car seems to slow down, and Amanda asks why. Kenny says, "See Amanda? I told ya? That's technology!" Amanda pushes back, suggesting that perhaps the Waymo is just "being careful." Jerry proposes that maybe they're out of gas, with Kenny worrying out loud, "Well now we're gonna have to walk, probably." See on Instagram The comment section is filled with people who still seem a bit nervous about the technology. One person writes, "I'm 34. We have the same reaction, grandpa." Another shares, "They're brave. No way I'm getting in that."But many were equally touched by the adorable reactions. "Bro touched the driver seat just to make sure there was no invisible man." And many pointed out how incredible it is that they all got to live in a time when an invention like this exists: "They lived long enough to see what people said would be impossible to them in the '40s and '50s."The first video leaves us on a cliffhanger, but there's no need to fret, as there are two more parts. As we head over to part two, Kenny and Jerry are still baffled by the fact that the Waymo is a Jaguar. "Do you know how much these things cost?" Kenny asks excitedly.They pass a semi-truck, and Amanda points it out. "Look at the guy in the semi looking at us!" Jerry happily waves and Kenny requests a photo. Kenny asks, "Are you sure this ain't a cop car?" He then points at the map and declares, "Arrive in three minutes!" He says in earnest, "This made my day, Amanda." Amanda responds, "Me too. Look at the people next to us!" They show us a slow-motion shot of people gawking from a taxi. Jerry signs, "Sorry we're hurting your business."Everyone is impressed by the smooth turns, and finally, they reach their destination. Kenny says to no one in the driver's seat, "Well thank you very much. You did an excellent job. I can't believe this!"After they all exit the Waymo, Kenny marvels at the fact that it takes off again. "He's gone!" Kenny turns to the camera, "If older people could afford it, that would be good for us old fogies once we lose our license! Or even when we don't!" See on Instagram In the much anticipated part three of the series, everyone reflects on their time in the Waymo. Amanda asks, "How would you rate your experience 1-10?" Kenny answers, "Ten." Jerry signs, "One hundred!"Amanda points out another Waymo, which seems to thrill everyone. Kenny admits, "At first when I got in one I was scared. But after I rode in it, we went all over. We went a long ways. Amanda, it's got everything that a person would want. Everything! I mean you got no gas, no traffic, no accidents, you name it! I like it."Now appearing once more with Jerry, Kenny asks, "Are they gonna start doing this now with this car?" Amanda explains, "Only trying it out where there's not bad weather, ya know?" Kenny semi-jokes, "Well then we'll never see it in Minnesota then."After a bit, Amanda asks Kenny, "When you were young, what kind of technology was new and shocking, other than like a computer?" Kenny thinks for a second and replies, "A TV! They progressed as the years went on. Compared to a little black and white one we had. Then they got bigger. Then color came ... color TV came out. Oh yes!" He adds, "The vacuum cleaner they've got that goes all over the house!"Jerry signs, "I hoped we weren't going to get locked in that car!" Kenny says he thought of that too, but adds, "I'll never be able to sleep tonight. I can't get over it, Amanda! Amanda!" See on Instagram This crew of friends is tight-knit. After becoming buddies in 2021, Amanda and Kenny started making TikTok videos together under the name @Patriotickenny. They even raised money for a new scooter when Kenny's broke down. This inspired them to begin raising money for free scooters for veterans in need, ultimately resulting in the creation of the Patriotic Kenny Foundation.Upworthy had a chance to speak with Amanda, who shared, "The Crew is together and going strong! We all serve on the board for the Patriotic Kenny Foundation and participate in all of Kenny's adventures together, especially tackling his bucket list."Kenny is especially thrilled to give back to his veteran community. Since founding the organization, Amanda shares that it makes Kenny "feel like he's able to leave a legacy behind, like he's in a whole new chapter of his life with strong purpose."

Costco is like an amusement park for budget shoppers, but it can also be fairly overwhelming. Plus, while it can save money to buy things in bulk, not every living space has the room to comfortably fit giant bags and boxes. Point being, you sometimes have to walk in with a strategy. Recently on Reddit, someone admitted that their weekly Costco trip left them “wandering the aisles like a confused raccoon.” They asked fellow shoppers on the Costco subreddit to share their “must-buy Costco staples,” and added the additional caveat that these items needed to be good for quick meals, healthy-ish, and “actually worth the space at home.”Welp, folks delivered. Below are some Costco shopper-approved items that will be worth the bulk buy every time. 1. Costco’s $5 Rotisserie chicken - YouTube www.youtube.com This was by far the most mentioned item, perfect for adding protein to ready-made salads, or making broth.“The Taylor Farms bagged salads and a rotisserie chicken. Add chicken to salads. Supplement dressing with an at-home vinaigrette if too dry.”“Rotisserie chicken and kale salad.”“$5 whole chicken. Pick the meat. Use how you want. Freeze the bones. Second $5 chicken. Pick the meat, and as much skin as you want to keep. Make stock. Two chicken bones, and skin. to 3 gal of water. 3-4 celery stalks 3-4 whole carrots. 1 large onion. Rough cut. Whole clove garlic, cut in half length across the cloves. mushrooms if you want. Season as you like. Salt, black pepper, herbs. Add second chicken’s meat to stock. Add stirfry or Normandy veggies. Rice if you want. For about $15 you’ve had 10 or more meals.”“I get a rotisserie chicken every time too, then freeze the bones every time. Once I get 2-3 I make stock, then repeat!”“The rotisserie chicken is the best 4.99 you can spend, hands down, at any store. Night 1 - Legs /thighs with a packet of gravy and mashed potatoes (real or instant) and a veg. Dinner ready in under 10 minutes. Night 2 sliced chicken tossed in a green salad. Quick and easy. Night 3 chicken salad made from the breast and a half you still have. A chicken salad sandwich grilled cheese style or on a cookie sheet open face under the broiler is the yumminess you didn’t know you needed! Little more time but worth it and a fraction of the cost for the amount you can make. Add celery for crunch. Onion if you dare! Day four left over chicken salad for lunch then it’s… Time to make soup! Carrots/onion/celery/garlic/ carcass goes in a pot with chicken broth in a box or knorr chicken bullion and water. Simmer for an hour. Pull out the carcass to cool then pick any remaining meat off the bones and toss in the pot. Add some rice, pasta, noodles, or broken spaghetti for chicken noodle. Add a can of tomatoes for depth and a few shakes of hot sauce for zing. “Of course, other proteins made the list:2. Vacuum-sealed fish "Some type of raw, unseasoned frozen fish where each filet is vacuum sealed. The exact fish depends on what’s available and the prices. I love that it’s versatile for whatever flavors I want to add that day. Plus I only take out the number of filets I need so I don’t waste any or have to eat the same meal four days in a row."3. Kirkland Lightly Breaded Chicken Chunks“The lightly breaded chicken chucks are genuinely my diet most nights those things are amazing.”4. Kirkland Signature Italian Style Beef Meatballs - YouTube www.youtube.com “Their frozen meatballs are great. They are little (makes it easier to warm up). “5. Ready-made frozen meals “The breakfast burritos are so freaking good.”“The Cheese and Green Onion Tamale (in a Salsa Verde). Steam for 11 minutes, open a bottle of wine, and there you are.”6. Frozen fruit and veggie bags“The frozen berry blend. Frozen fruit is pretty expensive at typical grocery stores for very little portions.”“The frozen broccoli! Air fry from frozen and it gets the job done. ““Normandy frozen vegetable mix! When I learned how to make frozen veggies into crispy sheet pan veggies, I pretty much started making them every day. We go through a bag every 1-2 weeks, a great way to get lots of veggies in!”7. Bulk flavor enhancers“Big jars of Better Than Bullion.”“The pesto. I freeze it in big ice cube trays so I can pop one out to go with some pasta on quick dinner nights. Throw in mozzarella balls and a ton of cherry tomatoes and you've got yourself an easy dinner that's healthier than most quick meal options.”“Boursin cheese - it’s so cheap and good. I saute whatever veggies and protein I have, mix in a block of Boursin and broth (or water/better than bouillon) and toss over a grain or pasta.”Okay…these were too funny not to include - YouTube www.youtube.com “I'm all about the Kirkland protein bars. They have a great protein to calorie ratio and such a bad texture that you don't want to eat anything for hours after eating one. It's a win win if you're trying to lose weight lol.”“A pizza and Coke as a 'good job' for not road raging at people parking in the middle of aisles.”

The term “Merry Christmas” is one of the most wholesome phrases known to man. But did you know it was once condemned as sacrilegious? And while we’re at it, why do we only say “Merry Christmas” and not “Merry Easter,” or “Merry Birthday,” and so on? And why do the Brits use “Happy Christmas” instead of “Merry Christmas”? Are the two synonymous? All these questions shall be answered below. First off, it’s important to note that "merry" and "happy" do not have the same etymology, nor do they share the exact same connotations. Merry came about first via the Germanic language around the 12th century, meaning “joyful,” “cheerful,” “pleasant” etc. Happy, on the other hand, didn’t come into the scene until the 14th century, and meant "luck," "chance," or "fortunate."Both “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Christmas” were used interchangeably for Yuletide greetings all throughout history. That is, until we get to the Victorian era. As historian and host of the Who Did What Now? podcast Katie Charlwood explained, up until this point, Christmas was often a much “rowdier” affair. And by this time, merry had evolved to also describe more raucous, debaucherous, alcohol-induced behavior.Many folks didn’t exactly appreciate this association with what was seen as a sacred, holy holiday. The criticism predates Victorian times. As early as 1772, one person called the use of "Merry Christmas" “wicked,” writing, “We celebrate the festivity of our Savior, as if we were ministering the mad orgies of Bacchus.”Then, in 1864, a reverend named Gordon Calthrop called for the exclusive use of “Happy Christmas,” arguing that merriment, essentially, is but a noisy cover-up for internal turmoil. “The boisterous gaiety which many put on, is oftentimes only a mask. It covers a sad—sad face,” he said. “And if a man tries to reassure me, or to persuade himself, by extravagant demonstrations of delight, that he is exceedingly happy, I always feel disposed to take the liberty to doubt the statement. True happiness is not a noisy and boisterous, but a quiet thing.”Nevertheless, “Merry Christmas” took over the era’s pop culture, including the first commercial Christmas card, multiple carols, and, of course, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol…which had around 20 "Merry Christmases," and not one "Happy Christmas." Even the famous last line of The Night Before Christmas was changed from its original “a Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”God Bless GIFfrom God GIFs After that, "Merry Christmas" won the title as the go-to holiday greeting—in America, at least. Across the pond, “Merry Christmas” was often seen as a little too low-brow, especially given its popularity in America. One critic even said it had a “ridiculous amount of sentiment” (most British statement ever). Then, when King George V wished everyone a "Happy Christmas" during a radio broadcast (and George VI after that, then Elizabeth II), it was solidified as the preferred, classier option. - YouTube www.youtube.com Clearly, the conversation about whether or not Christmas should be a somber, contemplative, religious affair or a fun and festive party is not a new one. Nor is the conversation about how to properly send someone our best holiday wishes. But this certainly makes a case for “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” covering all the bases, doesn’t it?

An endless string of solid gold hits... The post What was Elvis Presley’s last number one hit? first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Killer who may have been behind both attacks remains at large!