President Donald Trump said Thursday the administration will begin cutting programs backed by Democrats as the government shutdown stretches into its ninth day. “We’re only cutting Democrat programs, I hate to tell you, but we are cutting Democrat programs,” the president said during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday. “We will be cutting some very popular Democrat programs that aren’t popular with Republicans, frankly.”...

Biking home from school got a lot better for a group of students in Portland, Oregon, thanks to pop singer Benson Boone. Boone joined a fully-packed bike bus on October 3, 2025, during a tour stop in the city after he was asked by Sam Balto, co-founder of Bike Bus World.Before his show, Boone showed up for the kids and the Portland community with the biking collaboration made possible thanks to social media."Two weeks before the ride we posted a video inviting Benson to join our Bike Bus," Balto tells Upworthy. "Thanks to thousands of people tagging him and sharing the video a week later his manager reached out to get more details. Four hours before the school day ended I got a call saying they wanted to ride, so we surprised the kids after school with an amazing Bike Bus ride home." See on Instagram Boone hopped on a bike and rode home with students, who blasted his music from a speaker as they rode. They went absolutely wild and sang along to some of his biggest hits. Families and more kids lined the streets along the route to say hello and join in on the fun."Benson Boone is the kindest, most genuine individual I have ever met. He was chatting with the kids, asking their name, answering questions, taking selfies and singing along with them," says Balto. "At the end of the ride he stayed and signed hundreds of autographs for the kids. He really gave our children and community such an amazing gift." Benson Boone poses with students on Portland bike bus.Image courtesy of David Benhaim/Ready Go Pictures Boone's willingness to join the ride and sacrifice his time and energy meant the world to students and parents, and people around the world shared their praises in the comment section."Did anyone else get emotional? Especially when their little voices started to sing!!" one wrote. Another added, "Core memories in the making ?." One viewer shared, "I love this for all of you!! So awesome that he could join in on the awesomeness of your bike bus!!" And another added, "I'd say Benson's heart grew even more than it already has.....Oohhh boy now I'm crying because those beautiful voices ???????" See on Instagram Balto, also a physical education teacher, started Bike Bus World in 2020 to encourage kids to get active by biking to and from school together. The organization provides "organizers with the tools and guidance to create bike buses, helping them advocate for active transportation infrastructure and policy, as well as securing funding both locally and nationally."The movement has gained massive momentum, and back in January 2025, singer Justin Timberlake also joined Balto and students on a bike bus ride.As one of the parents who rode commented on a video: 'This was so fun! It took a lot to unseat K-pop demon hunters in our house but you did it Benson Boone? Thanks for riding home from school with our kiddos last week!! If your play counts go up in the 97211, this is why!!'"

People can learn most things if they really put their minds to it, but there's no question some humans are born with innate abilities that defy expectations and explanation. We call those people prodigies, and while toddlerhood might be too early to definitively use that label, a tiny tot with a stick, a shovel, and a song in his heart has people tossing around the term. When you see the video of little Remi performing Natasha Bedingfield's "Pocketful of Sunshine," you'll see why.Toddlers often "sing" along to songs, but rarely do they sing with anything close to perfect pitch and even more rarely do they keep perfect time. Not only does Remi do both, but he keeps separate rhythms with each hand—plastic sandbox shovel in one, stick in the other—all while singing gibberish lyrics to the identifiable tune. Watch: @rockinremi can't blame him, it stays in your head once you hear it. ?☀️ also how fitting of a song for someone who is always so happy & a ray of sunshine ? @Natasha Bedingfield #pocketfullofsunshine #toddlerdrummer #toddlersings #musicaltoddler #heartwarrior #chdawareness #sweetboy #toddlermom #fyp #foryoupage #proudmama Not a discernible word uttered, yet so very impressive. People had thoughts:"He’s singing in Simlish lmao so cute ? also more talent than me""The gibberish in perfect melody is killing meeee I love smart babies ?""Mee me may mayyyyy!""Forget about the singing, he’s playing two different rhythms with each hand. Mind blown seriously.""Holding down a beat and singing at that age is insane!!!!!""I am literally astonished. memorizing melody, singing it back with the correct notes on key?! While drumming??? Literal prodigy in the making.""When they say some people are just born with it- this is what that looks like. Absolutely amazing.""Can’t poop in the potty but can perfectly replicate a song ?""It’s actually so hard to sing and drum.""I think he's a prodigy. Very impressive!"Even trained musicians weighed in on this little pocketful of sunshine's talents. "I am a highly trained musician. He is…a natural percussionist. He also sings incredibly well for his age. This kid has music pouring out of him. He can pattern phrases and complicated rhythms.""I’ve been drumming for 26 years. Dude is a natural and has exquisite dynamic control. And he can sing on top? Brilliant! ✨""Vocal coach here—he can even hear vocal dynamics (the volume increases and decreases in his singing) and is able to actively apply them WHILE keeping a complicated rhythm for his age...you guys might have a prodigy. Mozart at 7 years old left Handel's messiah and was able to rewrite it all FROM MEMORY. your son is remembering the beat, Melody and dynamics...you guys might want to get him a coach!!""I'm a music teacher, and his natural ability to figure out the beat and keep it, is something I struggle teaching kids who have been playing for years. little prodigy in the making friends, get him into lessons!!"Many people suggested getting him a drum set and a coach. The drum set is already taken care of—Santa brought him one for Christmas—and he plays it a lot. @rockinremi late night jam sesh before bedtime ?? ? ? #toddlerdrummer #toddlersings #musicaltoddler #heartwarrior #chdawareness #drummer #chdwarrior #proudmama #musickid #toddlermom #heartmom Remi's mom Jessica writes in a comment that Remi started showing signs that he loved drumming and was able to carry a beat at around age 2 1/2. (In the drumset video above, he's 3 years and 4 months.) Jessica also shares that Remi has a special affinity for Elvis Presley. He even told her, "Mama, Remi the real Elvis!" He may very well be. @rockinremi Replying to @Jessica Steinert @Elvis Official has gotten this boy through major things in his life, like his open heart surgery. He literally calls himself Elvis ⚡️❤️‍? #toddlerdrummer #toddlersings #musicaltoddler #heartwarrior #chdawareness #toddlermom #fyp #foryoupage #musickid #proudmom #elvispresley Musical prodigies usually arise from some combination of nature and nurture, possessing an inherent musical capacity and being raised in an environment that feeds that ability. Some have tried to argue that anyone can become a "prodigy" with enough early exposure and systematic practice, but that doesn't really explain kids like Remi. You can't teach the average two or three-year-old to drum with both hands playing different beats while keeping steady time, and while singing in tune with inflections—at least not without a ton of work. When an ability appears without much effort, that sure seems to be an indicator of innate talent. Any talent has to be nurtured and practice is necessary, of course, but there are lots of kids who start music lessons and practice at a young age who don't become Mozarts by age seven.One 2020 study found that what differentiated musical prodigies from other young musicians was a propensity to report "flow" during practice, the intensity of their practice before adolescence, and the source of their motivation when they began to play. Perhaps it's just a matter of all the elements coming together—innate capacity, internal motivation, intense practice, and some intangible thing that makes the musical magic happen. Whatever it is, since the original video went viral, Remi has gotten older, and even better. @rockinremi ? Spooky, scary, Remington ? Like I said, he puts the "jam" in pajamas ?? happy October! Remi has been so excited for Halloween season to be here!! ? #heartwarrior #fyp #foryou #drummer #halloweenmusic Wherever musical prodigy comes from, it's sure fun to see it emerging in such a tiny little human. Can't wait to see what Remi's future holds. You can follow Remi's musical adventures on TikTok. This article originally appeared in June. It has been updated.

Like it or not, the name your parents choose for you can significantly impact your life, whether it’s how you’re treated in school by peers, your professional prospects, or how well you do in the dating arena. A name is nothing to joke about. That’s why an uncle-to-be is mad at his sister. He thinks she isn’t taking naming her unborn daughter seriously and fears it will have dire consequences for the girl in the future.What started as a funny joke between the brother (a biology student) and his sister (a nurse) has become a bone of contention between the siblings. It all started when the brother sent his sister a humorous list of potential names for his niece based on medical terms.“I knew she was struggling, so in addition to the $900 wooden crib on her list that I got for her, I gave her a list of (obviously) joke baby names. We have a really close relationship, and it was in line with both our senses of humor,” the brother wrote on Reddit's AITA forum.“She's a nurse, and I'm a biology student, so all the names were medications, infections, unpleasant animals, etc., that all sound like lovely girls' names out of context,” he continued. “Some of them were a little bit obscure, sure, but I included some obvious ones like ‘Viagra’ and ‘Hernia’ for good measure. A newborn baby sleeping. via Canva/Photos The problem was that the sister liked one of the names and plans on giving it to her daughter. “Malassezia. The baby's name is Malassezia. One of the names on my joke list. Outside of the immediate issues (nearly impossible to pronounce on the first try, the ‘ass’ smack dab it the middle of it, the first syllable being mal-, literally meaning bad or evil), it's also the name of a very common fungal infection,” he wrote. “One that my sister and I are both genetically predisposed to. One that we've both had multiple times throughout our lives. Her daughter will almost certainly catch it at some time!” The brother told his sister that the name is “completely unacceptable.”What is Malassezia?According to the Cleveland Clinic, Malassezia occurs when “yeast that occurs as part of your skin’s natural flora multiplies and infects the hair follicles,” the website reads. “The condition causes itchy pimples to form on your face, scalp and upper body. Healthcare providers treat this fungal infection with topical and systemic antifungal medications.”The mother completely understands the downside of the name but insists that “it's so obscure that no one will ever think twice about it.” She simply likes the sound of the name. Unsure of what to do, the brother posted the story on Reddit to see if he was in the wrong. A doctor taking the baby's footprint. via Canva/Photos The vast majority of the commenters thought he was totally right to demand the baby’s name be changed."I share your frustration, and you're looking out for your niece. While your sis is right that it's her parental right, you're not stepping out of line -- you're family and you're cautioning her,” one commenter wrote. "Tell [the father] so he can veto it,” another commenter added. “Also, how is your sister not thinking about the embarrassment that is going to come with this name? The doctors at every baby appointment will know. I wouldn't be surprised if doctors and nurses giggle when they see her chart. And when she's in school, kids will likely find out what her name means and bully her. Tell your sister to think about her daughter's future. She's thinking too much about her feelings and not thinking about her daughter who would have to live with that name."One commenter broke the name into chunks and found it has multiple meanings. “Mal = bad + ass = bad ass. So we have the nickname. Now Ezia - Hebrew for elegance? e-Zia as in electronic aunt (Italian?) or electric cottage/home/campervan (Pueblo?),” they wrote.The only people who thought the brother was wrong were those who believed his sister was pulling a fast one on him. “You gave a joke name list and seem unable to tell she's joking back,” they wrote. Understand Schitts Creek GIF by CBC Giphy Ultimately, just about everyone agrees that the brother was right to speak up. Names matter, and kids have to live with them their entire lives. Hopefully, his sister takes the hint before her daughter has a name better suited to a microscope slide than a birth certificate.This article originally appeared in May. It has been updated.

Any parent who’s ever spent hours debating potential baby names can tell you the struggle is very, very real. It can be a mental minefield striking a balance between timeless and unique, authentic but not too hard to pronounce, meaningful but not the source of major embarrassment in years to come—no wonder some people pay upwards of $30K to have someone else do it for them. Add to that the added dilemma of choosing a name that could make or break your child’s hireability? No pressure!According to a study from Carleton University in Canada, some names do, in fact, sound more “hireable” than others. Participants in the study were asked to choose between two job candidates using only their first names, with no other credentials. More specifically, they were asked to select which name was more likely to reflect someone with at least one of these hireable personality traits: honesty-humility, emotionality, extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness (i.e., how organized or hard-working a person is), and openness to experience.The results? Smooth, melodic names that were sonorant-heavy—think long, round vowels and softer nasal-y consonants like m’s and l’s—tended to win the job offer. Congrats to all the Joannas, Noels, Laurens, and Liams out there! Personally, I prefer the spikey names. Is that just me? media0.giphy.com Conversely, names containing abrupt voiceless stops (p’s, t’s, and k’s) weren’t so favorable. Sorry, Rita, Eric, Kathy, and Hector. This study reflects principles of the well-studied “Bouba/Kiki effect,” which shows that humans automatically associate specific images with certain words. Round vowel-heavy words (bouba) seem softer, while short vowel-hard consonant words (kiki) seem more aggressive. So it stands to reason that in this experiment—where people are looking for agreeable, peaceful candidates—those with more bouba-leaning names would win. - YouTube www.youtube.com Of course, this doesn’t even take into account how socio-demographic cues, such as race and age, can trigger a bias. But it does show how much impact a name really has on how we are seen in the world. “The sound of a name might be one additional source of bias in hiring decisions,” said researchers David Sidhu and Penny Pexman. “When people don’t have much to go on, there really is a lot in a name.”Without further ado, here are those names…Names more likely to get a job:AnneJoannaJuneLanahLaurelLaurenLoisLunaMaraMarlaMeganMonaMyahNoelleNorahNyaReneeRosanneAbelAllenLewisLinusLorneLouLyleMilesMiloMorrisMosesNathanNoamNoelOwenRoninWarrenWillNames are less likely to get a jobRitaEricaEttaPattyChristieKatieKaseyPetraKathyKatiaKateTristaTracyPippaTessaTiaGretaYvetteEricHectorChrisCurtisKirkTedTitusTuckerTateTerryPierceCarterKippKurtJackVictorGarrettZachThankfully, more information is usually available in actual hiring scenarios. Even within the study itself, researchers found that when participants were shown photos or videos of the candidates, the influence of the name decreased exponentially. So while there might be some benefit to having a soft, melodic name, it isn't the ultimate factor in gauging a person's potential.Every parent wants to give their child the best start possible. So it can be compelling and wise to consider at least how a name might level the playing field for their kid in a world where bias can sneak in from the very first line of a résumé. But perhaps the real takeaway here isn’t to pressure parents even more. Instead, it’s a reminder to employers to look past names entirely. Tracy or Zach can be just as collaborative, ambitious, and hard-working as Will or Mara.Maybe if studies like this keep getting attention, that’s the change we’ll see next—a world where every name carries the same promise of possibility.

Ben Keenan, a travel and culture content creator and podcaster, did a great job of saying out loud what many people feel but can’t put into words. When it comes to age, some people feel younger or older regardless of their chronological age. It’s like we get to a certain point where we feel like aging is accelerating, and then, suddenly, context changes, and we feel younger again. Different eras hit differently. A lot of it has to do with juxtaposing ourselves with our younger or older peers, or whether we are new or experienced in certain phases of life. Like, some people feel like they are an old young person at 39, but suddenly, they hit 40 and feel like a young older person. It’s a beautiful thing knowing that, although you may feel like you’re at an "old age" right now, you may suddenly feel younger on your next birthday.In a viral Instagram video, Keenan laid out the ages that feel young or old. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ben Keenan • “I’ve Ben Traveling” (@benkeenan)Which ages are young and which are old (according to Ben Keenan)21 to 26, YOUNG27 to 32, OLD33 to 36, YOUNG37 to 39, OLD40 to 45, YOUNG46 to 49, OLD50, YOUNG51 to 52, OLD53 to 59, YOUNG60 to 61, OLD62 to 65, YOUNG66 to 68, OLD69 to 74, YOUNG75 and up, OLDThe video received nearly unanimous love in the comments, where many people tried to explain why Keenan makes so much emotional sense, though it’s a little shaky on logic. A man has a brilliant idea.via Canva/Photos"People call 30 'old’ because it’s the first collision with real adulthood—the end of carefree youth. Then 31–36 feels young again as you realize nothing truly changed and you’re still growing, just with more confidence. Around 37–39, life’s weight reappears—aging parents, shifting priorities, subtle reminders of time—so it feels “old” again. But by 40, you’ve accepted it all; you stop comparing, start owning who you are, and that acceptance brings back a sense of youth. Rinse and repeat," Ulises wrote.“Can confirm that when I turned 37, I felt old. I turn 40 this week and feel SO YOUNG. I guess I’ll look forward to following your pattern for the rest of my life,” Heather commented. “When I turned 60 last year, I decided that I’d gone from a very old young person, to a very young old person - the youngest in my cohort. Cheered me right up,” Jane added.Does the aging process speed up?Keenan’s post points out that feeling young or old isn’t necessarily a matter of age, but scientists say there are two significant moments in life when we experience spurts in aging. Researchers at Stanford tracked thousands of different molecules in people aged 25 to 75 and found that people tend to make two big leaps—one around 44 and another around 60.Keenan’s theory of aging and his followers' rapturous support of the idea should make everyone feel a little better about getting older. If you feel old today, wait a few years, and then you may feel young again. It makes the adage, “Age ain’t nothing but a number,” seem true. According to Keenan, age isn’t really a number, but a phase.

It can be depressing to think about your own mortality, but inevitably, everyone will eventually die. Those diagnosed with a terminal illness have the unfortunate task of thinking about the inevitability much sooner than their peers. Still, those like Linda Murphy aren't letting a diagnosis steal their humor. Murphy seemed to be the life of the party, always ready to have a good time with friends and family. But over a decade ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer; after beating that disease, she was diagnosed with Bulbar ALS, which runs in her family. In her self-written obituary, she shares that her father, who passed away shortly before Murphy, lost his own mother to the same disease. Although devastating, the disease allowed her time to write her own obituary, which left her family and others giggling. Glowing tealights in peaceful ambiance.Photo credit: CanvaShe starts by pointing out the obvious, "Well, if you are reading this obituary, it looks like I'm dead." That's when the humor kicks in as she jokes about dying from fear of missing out, "WOW, it actually happened ... I died of FOMO due to complications of Bulbar ALS."Murphy points out that she was just 60 years old and way too young to die, but unfortunately, ALS had other plans. She was loved, as evidenced by her daughter's interview with the local news station. One section of her obituary is all about the yummy food she missed out on due to her no longer being able to swallow. Friends enjoying a delicious meal together.Photo credit: Canva"As far as eating, it totally stinks to sit at the table while people around you are eating juicy burgers hot off the grill, heaping piles of Chinese food, a healthy portion of pasta Alfredo, or Chipotle — and I just have to smile and act like I'm enjoying my bowl of puréed baby mush!" she wrote. Even though she expressed how hard it was to live with her disease, Murphy still made sure to throw in some laughs. While talking about her 42-year marriage to husband David, she teases about the couple becoming a throuple when she had to be put on a respirator. "We both agreed, I was an "A" wife and he was a "B+" husband for a total "A-" which is pretty decent for 42 years together!!!" she wrote. "We became a thruple about 1.5 years ago when, Hosee, (my respirator) moved into our marital bed. From then on, David woke up next to what looked like a fighter pilot with smooshed hair!" Saying goodbye with lilies and love.Photo credit: CanvaMurphy highlights her superpowers before her final plea for kindness. The woman was joyous even after death. Maybe it was her way of easing things for her family members or for herself. Maybe it was simply because that's who she was as a person, and she used her obituary as the final moment to give others a glimpse into her personality. Either way, her reminders about kindness and living life fully are lessons that can extend far beyond her family and friends. "I lived my life with two super powers," she wrote. "My first, of which everyone was jealous, was that I could drink as much as I wanted and never seemed to get a hangover ... the real wonder is why I didn't die of liver failure. My second super power is that I was always genuinely happy and absolutely loved to be with nice people. Please be kind to everyone: the telemarketer, the grocery clerk, the Dunkin's staff, the tailgater, your family, your friends. Speak nicely and positively. Is there really ever a reason to be negative? I don't think so…"

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