It's impossible for many to believe that it has been just over ten years since beloved actor Alan Rickman passed away from pancreatic cancer. Known for his brilliant tapestry of work, from the infamous villain Hans Gruber in Die Hard to the deliciously menacing Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series, he truly made the "bad guy" so fun to watch.And of course, there was so much more to his repertoire than villainy. He could powerfully sing, as he portrayed in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He showed up with conviction in the Jane Austen adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. He could also portray the lovesick but conflicted husband with perfection as seen in Richard Curtis's Love, Actually. He was classically trained and loved by fellow entertainers, friends, and family.But he was most adored for his down-to-earth generosity of spirit. His widow, Rima Horton, has recently been inspiring others to get involved in the non-profit Pancreatic Cancer UK by urging them to spread the word about the disease. She notes that Rickman had "so much more to give" had his life not been tragically cut short. Alan Rickman's widow has kind words for him in tribute. www.youtube.com, E! News Harry Potter co-star Tom Felton (who is currently reprising his role of Draco Malfoy on the Broadway stage in Harry Potter and The Cursed Child) shared beautiful words about Rickman in a piece for The Guardian. "He was nothing but kind, genuine, seemingly unfazed by anything happening around us, and always had time for everyone. I learned just as much—if not more—from Alan off-camera as I did when we were filming."Felton also notes that Rickman refused special treatment. "He could have had his food delivered to his trailer, like the rest of the cast (including me). Instead, he queued up for his own breakfast and lunch, head to toe in his Snape costume and wig, holding a plastic tray and waiting his turn in the usually long line behind a carpenter, set director, burly cameraman, and Gringotts goblin—an image I will never forget. I didn't realize it then, but I think now Alan's silent message was: 'We're all in this together.'" See on Instagram There was an especially wonderful aspect of Rickman that Felton recalls. "He taught me a great deal about charity. He would often have half a dozen people visit the studio each day, and would claim they were his cousins or friends. Really, he was offering terminally ill children and their families a chance to see behind the curtains. He also taught me that children don't want to meet actors, but the characters they play."Brian Cox, another actor who worked with Rickman in the 1980 mini TV series, Thérèse Raquin, shared with The Guardian how much he respected him as an artist. "His standards were very high. Alan might have appeared laid back, but he was endlessly driven, very firm, totally reliable. There was nothing flaky about him. No nonsense. No rubbish."He added that his friendship was also extraordinary. "Everybody knew he was an extraordinary actor, but as we became friends, I realized what an extraordinary person he was too. I had so much respect for Alan. So many people relied on him. He was so kind and supportive to those who were struggling. He'd seek them out and sort them out, listen to the problems without presumption, and gently came up with solutions."In Daniel Radcliffe's glowing tribute to Rickman shortly after his death, he praises him as an actor and a man. "Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with. He is also, one of the loyalest (sic) and most supportive people I've ever met in the film industry. He was so encouraging of me both on set and in the years post-Potter. I'm pretty sure he came and saw everything I ever did on stage both in London and New York. He didn't have to do that." See on Instagram

In December 2025, Katherine Van Dyck, a senior legal fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce's Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education about the growing takeover of youth sports by private equity firms. This new profit-driven system is replacing once-affordable community sports organizations with pricey programs that exclude many families.At the center of this new youth sports paradigm is the bargain these leagues offer parents: If you pay thousands upon thousands of dollars, your child will have the opportunity to earn a college scholarship and possibly make it to the pros. During her testimony, Van Dyck noted that many parents have bought into the promise.Parents overestimate the chances their children will receive athletic scholarshipsVan Dyck shared a poll showing that 49% of parents whose children participate in youth sports (ages 7-18) are "confident" their child will receive an athletic scholarship. Unfortunately, only about 7% of high school athletes go on to play college sports, and just 2% receive an athletic scholarship. "Families are going into debt, and it's based on a lie," she said in her testimony. "Forty-nine percent of parents believe their children will get an athletic scholarship. In fact, only two percent of college applicants actually do." @bobbyleebaseball What was once recreational neighborhood fun has become mandatory travel sports. Families are being convinced that it is the only way for children to be competitive in the sport, and that if they aren’t giving in to the pressure then they are failing their children. It is not true. Families are spending thousands a year, and hurting their children’s health and development along the way, because they don’t realize they are being manipulated into spending. It’s a marketing scheme meant to keep registration numbers and tournament participation high, to extract as much as they can from families. And parents have been convinced that if they aren’t doing it, then their children’s are missing out. Everyone is sounding the alarm, and it has now made its way to the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education. #congress #baseball #youthsports #youthbaseball #children If 49% seems like an anomaly, a 2024 study found similarly inflated expectations: 34% of parents with children ages 6 to 17 believe their kids will play college sports, and 27% think they are likely to receive a college scholarship.Youth leagues often dangle the scholarship carrot in front of parents who face either heavy debt or foregoing college altogether. They also appear to brandish the stick, suggesting that parents who don't pay up aren't doing everything possible to help their kids succeed. Parents posing with their young kids on a basketball court. via Canva/Photos"The industry has learned that the easiest way to get parents to ignore their instincts is to convince them that their instincts are selfish," said Dr. Jennifer Fraser, who studies youth sports psychology, according to Beyond the Drill. "Parents will endure almost anything if they believe it's what their child needs to succeed."Melissa Panzer, a TikToker who focuses on the challenges of being a working mom, recently went viral with a video responding to Van Dyck's testimony and unpacking why so many parents are hedging their bets on a college scholarship. She also outlined a new way forward for parents who don't buy the story the youth leagues are selling. @seriouslymakeitmakesense This clip isn’t about sports. It’s about how families are being squeezed. For context: • There are roughly 8 million high school athletes in the U.S. each year • About 160,000 will receive any athletic scholarship money • Most scholarships are partial, not full rides • Meanwhile, youth sports has grown into a $30+ billion industry — almost entirely funded by families That mismatch isn’t an accident. It’s the business model. In the meantime, while the system remains broken, here are a few things that can help soften the blow: • Ask what your child actually enjoys — not what feels strategic • Set a clear family budget before the season starts • Remember that most college pathways do not run through elite youth sports • Know that opting out is not “falling behind” Parents aren’t the problem. They’re the product.

Picture yourself at eighty-five. You live alone in a fourth-floor apartment in a busy city. You loved the theater in your youth, savoring the thrill as the lights dimmed and the crowd fell to a hush. Now, money is tight, sitting for hours is hard on your body, and perhaps most heartbreaking of all, you have no one to go with.For millions of older adults around the world, this scenario is more than hypothetical; it's everyday life. Loneliness has become an increasingly widespread issue, affecting physical health as much as smoking or obesity. But in Hamburg, Germany, a remarkable social initiative is offering a different kind of remedy for loneliness among the elderly. A high school volunteer with her senior "tandem." Photo credit: Kulturisten Hoch ZweiThis approach, often referred to as "social medicine," drives KULTURISTENHOCH2 (Culture to the Power of Two), a non-profit redefining aging, youth, and the transformative power of human connection.Unpacking KULTURISTENHOCH2 At its heart, KULTURISTENHOCH2 (also known as KH2) is a "culture buddies" program with a simple, beautiful mission. The project pairs high school students with older neighbors living on low incomes to forge meaningful intergenerational connections.The project was founded in 2016 by Christine Worth, a former marketing executive inspired by her family history. She remembers watching her father's world grow smaller due to dementia, aging, and isolation, and realized that getting older is an unaddressed social problem. Worth found that for many seniors, not having someone to share the day with was the biggest barrier to leaving the house. KH2 makes leaving the house more accessible to senior citizens. Photo credit: Kulturisten Hoch ZweiThrough KH2, seniors are given a "VIP pass" to an unbelievable, culturally rich city. Paired with a local teenager, these elders enjoy free tickets to concerts, plays, and art exhibits, proving that a shared cultural experience can bridge even the largest age gaps.How the program works KH2 is designed to remove every barrier that might keep an older person at home, creating a safe, comfortable, and dignified experience from start to finish.The pairing processThe initiative starts in local schools, where students sixteen and older volunteer to join KH2. These "young buddies" are paired with seniors ages 63 and older—many of whom are living on low incomes or with physical disabilities—within their district, allowing them to attend a wide range of cultural events free of charge.Seniors are identified and registered as participants if they meet age and income requirements and express an interest in cultural participation. Many "culture buddies" stay in contact after the program ends. Photo credit: Kulturisten Hoch ZweiAfter matching, the student will contact the senior, coordinate logistics, and accompany them to selected events. Over time, many connections evolve into lasting relationships, with approximately 20% of "generational tandems" reportedly maintaining regular contact beyond the official program.Door-to-door companionshipTickets are provided free of charge by KultureLebe Hamburg e.V., a partner program that champions the belief that "culture is not a luxury, culture is food" and arranges free cultural experiences for people on low incomes.The student arranges a meeting time and place, often picking the senior up from their home and, if requested, accompanying them door-to-door. Travel typically takes place via public transportation, with the student offering practical assistance along the way, such as navigating stairs, reading signage, and more.Students commit to at least three cultural outings per school year, though many choose to volunteer more often.Walking in their shoesOne of the most impactful aspects of KH2 is how it prepares the students. Before meeting their senior partners, teens receive specialized training designed to ensure the needs of older adults are met.Beyond discussing aging and how to navigate communication with seniors, students wear a 77-pound "aging simulation suit," which restricts movement and vision. They are given "ear defenders" to simulate hearing loss and practice using wheelchairs and walkers to experience the physical challenges of older age and its practical challenges.Cultural experiences for allEvents include a broad range of programs, including the theater, opera, orchestral events, cinema, gallery openings, and festivals. Here, culture serves as a natural "conversation starter" between generations, as shared performances and exhibitions open the door to exchanging perspectives and life stories.While student participants receive certificates for their volunteer work, the real reward lies in personal growth. Through engaging with seniors from a different generation, they gain a deeper understanding of history, empathy, and human connection.Sustaining and expanding KH2 The program started with three pilot schools and 37 seniors, and expanded quickly. By the end of 2019, around 165 students and 175 seniors were active in KH2, with more than 850 pairings activated across Hamburg. KH2 provides students with excellent life skills and lasting connections. Photo credit: Kulturisten Hoch ZweiKeeping KH2 running requires significant support. Around 25% of its funding comes from government agencies, with the remainder provided by private foundations, corporate sponsors, and grassroots fundraising efforts.The science behind the magic of connection Public health experts are increasingly recognizing that health extends beyond diet and exercise. A groundbreaking 2023 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) linked participation in arts and culture to tangible health benefits, including reduced depression, improved cognitive function, and even increased life expectancy."For too long we have seen Science and the Arts as separate endeavors," said Sir Jeremy Farrar, chief scientist at the WHO. "But these silos were not always so. Through much of human history, the creative interface of different disciplines has been a catalyst for both innovation and healing."In this sense, KH2 functions as more than a community program; it serves as a preventative health strategy.Creating lasting partnerships In a society increasingly shadowed by loneliness and isolation, KH2 is grounded in the belief that real change happens through encounter and exchange. Through its life-changing cultural tandems, older adults regain mobility, confidence, and a renewed sense of belonging as active members of society.By connecting two groups who might otherwise never meet—teenagers just beginning their lives and seniors reflecting on theirs—KH2 creates moments in which age quietly falls away, leaving two souls moved by art.

Cher had accomplished a laundry list of amazing feats by the time the 1980s rolled around. She'd hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, had international number-one hits, starred on television and on Broadway, and established herself as an acclaimed actress. In 1988, she even won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Moonstruck.But as of 1986, there was still one major thing she hadn't done: appear on Late Night with David Letterman.It wasn't for lack of trying on Letterman's part. He'd been trying to get Cher on his show for years and, with the help of a hefty appearance fee, sealed the deal in 1986. The audience was excited. Letterman was excited. But when Cher finally walked out onstage, things didn't get off to the smoothest start. Cher was the biggest phenomenon on the planet for the better part of the '70s and '80s.Casblanca Records/Wikimedia CommonsAfter Letterman complimented how she smelled, Cher crossed her arms and deadpanned, "Is this as good as it gets?"Letterman and the audience laughed it off, but the vibe was clearly tense from the get-go."I know you didn't want to come on here, so why, finally... did you decide to come on?" he askedCher laughed and joked that she only came on so she could pay an expensive hotel bill. "No, I don't know, because I thought that I would never want to do this show with you," she added."Why?" Letterman asked. "Because you thought I was a...""An a**hole," Cher bluntly said. After Letterman riffed briefly on the audience reaction, Cher elaborated: "It was frightening because I see how you deal with your guests and sometimes it's really great and you seem to like them, but if you don't like them, you might as well take a picnic lunch."From there, Letterman pivoted: "You look great... How many tattoos do you have?"The interaction has since become an iconic moment, rewatched again and again over the past several decades. The official YouTube clip of the interview currently has more than three million views. - YouTube www.youtube.com Though beloved by his male fans, Letterman hasn't always had the greatest reputation for his treatment of guests, women in particular. This was a pattern that played out for years. Letterman was known to tease, and at times outright bully, certain guests more than others. In a 1988 interview, he mocked Shirley MacLaine for her belief in past lives. During a 1986 sit-down with Farrah Fawcett, who appeared nervous and a bit loopy, Letterman had little trouble getting laughs at her expense. Even years later, interviews with Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and Jennifer Aniston were widely criticized as mean-spirited or gross. And in 1994, an interview with Madonna turned openly contentious, with both sides trading barbs.But it wasn't just Letterman. The cruelty of late-night television reached something of a peak in the early 2000s, when hosts routinely mocked female stars like Britney Spears, who was struggling through a highly public mental health crisis. One notable exception was host Craig Ferguson, whose 2007 monologue stood out for its striking empathy in sharp contrast to many of his peers: - YouTube www.youtube.com Even today, women who appear on late-night shows often find themselves either the butt of the joke or an object of desire.Research published in The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies asserts, "Female guests often appear as spectacles for male hosts' humor rather than as authoritative contributors to public discourse. ... The quick-witted, often satirical male hosts discuss political and public affairs in ways that pose hegemonic challenges for female participants, limiting their discursive power."It’s no wonder that Cher didn't exactly see the Letterman set as a safe space to let her guard down. And in typical Cher fashion, she made her feelings about Letterman clear right from the start. The exchange is an unforgettable moment that works as both a public call-out and an icebreaker. That night in 1986, Cher and Letterman ultimately went on to have a nice (if playfully combative) interview.For his part, Letterman has since expressed regret about many aspects of his time hosting Late Night, including what he has described as a "toxic work environment" marked by "sexual favoritism" and scandals. It's hard not to wonder whether Cher picked up on those bad vibes at the time and chose to call them out in the only way she knew how, which is exactly why people still love her.

Eagles’ debut single, the twangy 1972 anthem "Take It Easy," is a staple of classic rock radio—the perfect soundtrack to hand-cranking the windows down in your old car, feeling that summer air hit your face, and cruising a back road at sunset, all while tapping along on your steering wheel. But in that moment, you may have found yourself somewhat disoriented: When the drums kick in, it might sound like the breezy rhythm has done a backflip. Why is this happening? Thanks to some helpful musicians on the Internet, we now have answers. Rest assured: If you ever find yourself singing "Take It Easy" karaoke or trying to clap along to an Eagles cover band, you won’t find yourself embarrassed and messing up the downbeat. - YouTube www.youtube.com Take it easy—it's not hard to re-train your earDesi Serna, a guitar instructor and music theory expert, addressed the "Take It Easy" confusion in a YouTube video, explaining this rhythmic confusion with plenty of technical detail. But let’s keep it simple: When you hear the song’s first prominent guitar strum, your brain might naturally interpret that as the downbeat (in this case, the "1" of the "1, 2, 3, 4"), but that’s not really what’s happening. If you try to clap along that way, you’ll be totally thrown off around the 14-second mark, as the full band crashes in. But there’s an easy way to re-train your ear, even if you’re not trying to play the song on an instrument. As Serna shows in the clip, you just have to feel that first strum as a "pickup note"—in other words, those big chords are the beat just before the "1" (so something like this: "strum—1—and—2—and—3—and—4—strum—1…"). It makes total sense once you try it out.This "Take It Easy" confusion has led to multiple explainer videos, including another from a drummer who describes the song as having a "deceptive drum intro." Their clip is short and to the point—perfect for anyone who wants to skip the music theory and get straight to the nitty gritty. - YouTube www.youtube.com "Thanks to you, I now see the light"Lots of people reacted to Serna’s breakdown with a mixture of relief and elation. Here are some of the best comments: "The remedy for the age old problem. Lol""Although I know what it should be, because I've always done it the other way, it still trips me up sometimes…""Been playing it wrong for 30 years""I’ve noticed this for years but was never able to figure out why the beat changed when the drums came in, thank you!!! Great video!"THANK YOU for clearing this up!""One of my favorite songs man thank you""Thank you for breaking that down! That intro always sounded off to me but I never took the time to analyze it.""That apparent rhythm change had always bothered me. Thank for making sense of it""I always sensed something to be rhythmically 'wrong' in this intro. Thanks to you I now see the light."Of course, "Take It Easy" isn’t the only classic song with a puzzling intro rhythm. As guitarist Paul Davids shows in a YouTube video, you might also find yourself confused by The Beatles’ "Drive My Car" and James Taylor’s "Secret of Life," among others. - YouTube www.youtube.com

Ever get into a conversation and either lose your place, have trouble expressing your thoughts, or end up meandering around your point? This could happen during a work meeting, an interview, or when you and your friends are trying to decide on restaurant for dinner. If this sounds like you, there’s a conversation framework that could help.Communication expert and speech coach Vinh Giang shared a conversation framework to help you be clear and confident in your points without waffling or beating around the bush with extra verbiage. He presents the acronym "P.R.E.P.": point, reason, example, and point. - YouTube youtu.be P.R.E.P. helps you declare your idea, express why it’s important, provide an example of how it can or has already worked, and then reiterate your point to hammer it home. This is a great way to help you distill what you want to communicate while filtering out all the other noise buffering in your brain.Here’s an example of how it could work in a conversation with your friends about where to meet for dinner:Point: “We should get tacos again from that place by Christine’s apartment.”Reason: “We spend so much time choosing a restaurant that we lose time hanging out, but when we got tacos it was delicious, quick, and convenient.”Example: “Last time, we debated for over an hour where to eat and it took 30 minutes to drive there and find parking, but when we got tacos it was a short drive and Christine only had to walk from her apartment to get there.”Point: “I really think that taco spot can be our go-to place to eat and hang out.”In that example, the person clearly laid out their idea so others could fully understand and either 1) agree or 2) provide clear counterpoints to the idea. As you can see, P.R.E.P. can be an effective and clean conversation framework. @ko.communication Replying to @wlove1967 What the PREP framework can sound like. #communication #communicationcoach #corporatelife Communication experts offer their take on P.R.E.P.Speech and communication professionals reached out to Upworthy to offer their thoughts on the P.R.E.P. framework.“I find the P.R.E.P. framework helpful when answering questions or sharing perspectives, especially in large group settings, because it helps ensure your point comes across clearly and concisely,” said public relations expert and Vice President of SKDK, Vishakha Mathur. “The structured approach also leaves little room for miscommunication, as long as the audience is actively listening.”“Something that Vinh Giang brings up in the video that is a good point is that most people just go out and try to ‘wing it’ in conversations or when they're trying to communicate an idea,” said communication coach Jeff Callahan. “One huge positive that Giang doesn't touch on is that giving someone a reason after making a point gives them a reason to go along with the idea. This prevents defensiveness and allows the other person an easy on-ramp to get on board with your idea.” @gordonwilliams.co Understanding the PREP framework when answering questions #fyp #publicspeaking #publicspeakingtips “A core of confident public speaking is filtering information so your brain doesn't go haywire in the uncertainty. This is even more true for ADHDers,” said public speaking trainer and ADHD coach Sammie Walker Herrera. “P.R.E.P. is a simple, solid framework for organizing one's spoken answer on the spot.”“We literally use P.R.E.P. daily with clients that we coach for public speaking one-on-one and in workshops,” said LaQuita Cleare, founder of Clear Communication Academy.The one primary critique that experts have for the P.R.E.P. is when speakers follow the framing too strictly. If P.R.E.P. is clung to tightly, it could stifle natural conversation.“One problem that I see with clients is that they can become too robotic if they take P.R.E.P. too literally,” said Cleare. “So it's important that it feels natural and fluid.”The next time you’re having trouble expressing yourself or explaining a point, try P.R.E.P. out. It could make conversations clearer and quicker, making you feel more understood.

Nikola Tesla was one of the most brilliant people who ever lived. He invented alternating current (AC), which still powers most homes around the world today. A true maverick, Tesla also experimented with radio waves, robotics, and wireless energy. He was also famously eccentric, known for his preference for solitude, fear of germs, and obsession with the number three.Julian de Medeiros, a TikToker and Substack writer who shares his thoughts on philosophy, recently explained how Tesla believed he could tell if someone was highly intelligent—an observation that sheds light on how the exceptionally gifted often see the world very differently from the rest of us.Signs someone is highly intelligent"Here's a simple sign that somebody is highly intelligent, and this is a rule that was formulated by the inventor Nikola Tesla, who once said: 'The more intelligent somebody is, the fewer friends they have,'" de Medeiros said. While, at first glance, that may seem tragic, de Medeiros went on to explain why it wasn't as bad as it seemed: "He meant that intelligent people don't need to be liked by everybody; instead, they have a small group of trusted friends, confidants, people they can rely upon no matter what." @julianphilosophy Tesla on intelligence #friends #intelligence #work #power Tesla believed that, by definition, intelligence attracted fewer people, de Medeiros explained, adding: "He said that to be intelligent was to speak and think independently in a world of conformists. This meant you couldn't appeal to everybody. Instead, an intelligent person selected their friends carefully. They wanted friends who brought out the best in them to have intellectual discussions and debates with." According to modern research, highly intelligent people often flip the script when it comes to socializing and happiness. For most people, frequent social interaction with close friends is linked to greater happiness. However, for those with abnormally high IQs, the opposite tends to be true: they report being happier in solitude than when spending time with friends.Why do highly intelligent people prefer solitude?"The findings in here suggest (and it is no surprise) that those with more intelligence and the capacity to use it ... are less likely to spend so much time socializing because they are focused on some other longer-term objective," Carol Graham, a Brookings Institution researcher who studies the economics of happiness, told The Independent. Nikola Tesla with his equipment. via Wikimedia CommonsThis perspective makes sense when considering someone like Tesla. He was known for being an incredibly introspective and deeply introverted person, performing complex experiments in his mind rather than drafting, writing, or drawing them on paper. He also shut out distractions, including other people, so he could focus on discovering new things.Tesla's passion for his work was so intense that it kept him from having intimate relationships. "[An] inventor's nature is so forceful, so wild and passionate, that by giving himself to a woman, he would give everything and nothing would be left for his chosen field," he once said. Tesla's remarks suggest that, for some people, having a small circle of friends and a robust inner world are enough to get them through life, and research seems to bear that out. For most people, having only a few friends would likely feel like a curse. But when you're Tesla, and your ideas occupy your time and passion as fully as other people's friendships do, you don't need many.Follow Julian de Medeiros on Substack.

In 2025, so many conversations revolved around saving money. And while we’re only a fraction of the way into 2026, it seems that we’ll still be having those conversations for the foreseeable future.Thankfully, we can take some lessons learned from the previous year and put them into practice today, knowing that they will actually help in the long run. Recently, someone on Reddit asked, "What frugal practice has saved you the most money in 2025?" They mentioned that their most impactful “frugal practices” included stocking up on meats that were on sale and doing at-home repairs on household items (apparently, a little “gluing and sewing can go a long way.) Pretty soon, other folks were sharing their own DIY fixes, grocery hacks, and other innovative strategies that quite literally gave them more bang for their buck. Check out some of our favorites below: 1. Shopping every 3 days A man at a grocery store in the produce aisle.Photo credit: Canva"I discovered that buying food for only three days at a time saves me money. If I buy a week's worth of FRESH food, I end up tossing at least half of it. By the time the fourth day comes around, I'm so tired of looking at what's still left. I call it visual fatigue, for lack of a better explanation. So, I buy only three days of fresh food. If needed, I restock the staples, canned goods, or freezer meats."2. No new health or beauty products"Last year, I didn't buy any health or beauty products until I was 100% sure I was completely out of it. I went from January to mid-November before I had to buy deodorant because I had so many partially used sticks stashed in my cabinets. I still haven't had to buy shampoo, conditioner, or makeup because of the sheer quantity I had that I would then decide to try the newest product out there. It's been a game-changer!"3. Forgoing unhealthy habits "I quit vaping. That saved $30-$60 per week.""I quit drinking alcohol. Since I bought most of it at gas stations, I didn't realize how much I would save on the other stuff I would grab while I was in there for beer. The chips, jerky, and other nonsense.""Reduced snacking. I didn't realize how much I snacked. Somehow it's easy not to snack when you don't buy any! Eventually, I found healthier alternatives like some fresh fruit, some toasted nuts (no salt), and making my own granola bars."4. Opting for at-home eats and treats A close-up of hands prepping baking ingredients. Photo credit: Canva"Only drinking water and making my own tea/coffee at home.""Baking from scratch. I started making all baked goods instead of buying them. Have saved a ton of money by not having to buy bread, hamburger/hot-dog buns, tortillas, pizza dough, bread crumbs, pie crust, etc. I didn't realize just how easy it is to make these things and so much better for you without all the added crap! And the taste difference is incredible! There's also a great sense of satisfaction in making it yourself! An added bonus is way fewer quick trips to the store because we're out of bread or we're having burgers and need buns!""Never go out to eat...ever...overpriced garbage should be free.""I eat before going out."5. Library > subscriptions"I read 60+ books last year and borrowed most of them from the library — it saved me hundreds of dollars. Because I was reading, I didn't have much time to watch streaming services, so I saved a bit of money there as well. I only ever had one subscription at a time."6. Grocery pick-up instead of shopping "Ordering my groceries for pickup. Started it when my toddler was in her feral stage, and it just eliminated the meltdowns while on long shopping trips. Now she's older, but I still use it. I only buy what's on sale/have coupons for, and it stopped all my impulse shopping. I plan the meals each week around the circular for our store or what we've already have in the freezer/cupboards.""Ordering for grocery pick up costs $4.99 at my favourite supermarket. Like you, I buy what is on sale and a few essentials I may need. I figured spending the $5 ends up saving me more in the long run because I'm not impulse buying and looking for those unadvertised 'manager specials.'"7. No more Amazon A warehouse full of stacked boxes. Photo credit: Canva"Cold turkey stopped using Amazon.""Whenever I think I need something from Amazon, I put it in my cart and leave it for a while. If I come into a little money, I go to my cart and buy the thing that makes the most sense."8. Cutting back on driving"I biked 144 times last year. Worked out to around $2,300 saved on cab fares.""We're retired and went to one car. I pay for a few annual delivery services; our senior center offers subsidized ride shares; Walmart Plus offers free shipping and return pickup; our area has discounted public transportation passes for seniors; and charities come around regularly for donations and e-waste pickup. Using all those, we only need one car, and even with that one car, our maintenance costs decreased from driving less."9. Creating—and sticking to— a meal plan"Setting up a meal plan for each day and sticking to it. Saturday: homemade pizza, Sunday: a stew, etc. It has brought my food bill for four people down from $650 a month to $320. We're also eating healthier, homemade food. Prior to this, we were eating processed frozen crap and always struggling to decide what to eat each evening. Now if I could just come up with a breakfast and lunch plan, I'd be set."10. Learning how to take care of what you already own A yellow shirt with a stain, lemon, and baking powderPhoto credit: Canva"Learned how to properly remove stains from clothes"11. At-home beauty treatments"Stopped getting my highlights redone every six to eight weeks and embraced my natural brown. I still get color treatments to match my natural color, but only every three or four months. I also stopped getting gel manicures every two weeks. Saves an insane amount of money."12. Alternative protein sources "Beans. I replaced meat as the main protein source in meal planning with beans."13. No spending Monday-Friday"I try to avoid spending money on the weekdays."14. Not using the dryer"Hang drying my clothing. It has cut my electric bill by 60%."And lastly…15. Vacuum sealing"I bought a vacuum sealer and Souper Cubes, and both have changed our grocery game. I love to cook, so I cook big (buying what's on sale) and then portion and freeze in Souper Cubes. Once frozen, I pop them out and vacuum-seal them. We have a chest freezer full of portioned homemade meals that we can either reheat in the oven or pop into the microwave."Here’s to a fruitful 2026, everyone.

Choosing a baby name is both fulfilling and precarious. With more and more parents are experimenting with unique baby names and "old people" baby names, parents can feel pressure to to come up with the perfect moniker. Obviously, it's no easy feat picking a baby name. And when it comes to choosing a beautiful-sounding baby name, parents can actually rely on a scientific strategy called the Bouba-Kiki effect.As author Bill Sullivan, Ph.D., explained in an article for Psychology Today, the Bouba-Kiki effect can help ensure that a name remains appealing throughout a child’s life, simply because it will always be pleasant sounding. - YouTube www.youtube.com The term “Bouba-Kiki effect” emerged from a set of experiments in which people were presented with both a round and spikey shape, and asked to link the shapes to either the word “bouba,” or “kiki.” People consistently agreed that the rounded shape was “bouba” and the spiky shape was "kiki." This experiment showed that people inherently make image associations for certain words. Collective synesthesia, if you will.This concept applies to names as well. Sullivan cited a 2015 study that noted that "bouba," or round, smooth sounding names, like “Bob or Molly,” tend to get associated with "easy-going" personalities. Whereas "kiki" names, like “Kirk and Kate,” tend to sound more abrupt and could be more likely to be seen as “rude.”In 2022, Bodo Winter, an associate professor in cognitive linguistics at the University of Birmingham, and his team somewhat cemented this theory after asking hundreds of participants to listen to a list of the 100 most popular names in the U.K. and the U.S., and then analyzing emotional reactions. Choosing a beautiful baby name is easy with the Bouba-Kiki effect.Photo credit: CanvaThere was a clear winner: "Sophia," originating in Greece and meaning "wisdom." While one could argue that the list was somewhat limiting, the name spans many cultures, becoming "Sophie" in France and Germany, and even "Safiya" in Muslim communities.History and symbolism aside, what really makes Sophia pop comes down to the “soft start of ‘s,’ a roundness offered by the ‘o,’ and a smooth ending with the ‘ia,’” Winter said. This combination results in universal pleasantness.If you’re curious as to whether or not your name is audibly pleasing, below are the 50 most beautiful-sounding names for both boys and girls in the U.S., courtesy of My1stYears. - YouTube www.youtube.com 50 most beautiful baby names1. Matthew, Sophia2. Julian, Zoe3. William, Everly4. Isiah, Sophia5. Leo, Riley6. Levi, Ivy7. Joseph, Paisley8. Theo, Willow9. Isaac, Ellie10. Samuel, Emily11. Miles, Evelyn12. James, Eva13. Elijah, Elena14. Luke, Chloe,15. Noah, Nova Choosing a baby name for a newborn.Photo credit: Canva16. Santiago, Penelope17. Owen, Lucy18. Logan, Lily19. Liam, Olivia20. Roman, Naomi21. Ryan, Emma22. Cooper, Natalie23. Jack, Sofia24. Maverick, Eleanor25. Anthony, Violet26. Ezekiel, Bella27. Carter, Luna28. Benjamin, Ella29. Lucas, Victoria30. Henry, Isabella Choose a beautiful baby boy name based on the Bouba-Kiki effect.Photo credit: Canva31. Jacob, Maya32. Lincoln, Natalia33. Mason, Amelia34. Nathan, Savannah35. Asher, Charlotte36. Jackson, Stela37. Andrew, Hazel38. Cameron, Athena39. Alexander, Maria40. Theodore, Autumn41. Adam, Kennedy42. Gabriel, Aurora43. Kingston, Alice44. Daniel, Aria45. David, Harper46. Hunter, Serenity47. Dylan, Nora48. Muhammed, Grace49. Sebastian, Elizabeth50. Adrian, HannahIt probably goes without saying that our own personal preferences, among many other factors, might still influence what sounds appeal to us more (I for one prefer spiky names with a little gusto). But using the simple rules of linguistics could be an interesting, and perhaps less daunting, way for parents to choose a name that’s truly timeless.This article originally appeared last year.

Generation X, made up of those born between 1965 and 1980, has many claims to fame in the younger years game. Gen X brought the world Prince and Kurt Cobain. We were The Goonies and The Breakfast Club. We took down the Berlin Wall while watching MTV.But perhaps the most iconic thing about Gen X is our semi-feral childhoods of benign neglect. The standards of parenting and child-rearing have shifted significantly over the past 40 to 50 years, as has the technological landscape kids grow up in, so naturally, today's kids won't have the same childhoods as previous generations. But there's something particularly nostalgic about being a child of the '80s for those who lived it.Gen X had a very different childhoodIn fact, kids in the '80s were the products of the divorce boom and were raised by an increasing number of working parents. This has led them to be referred to as the least parented generation in American history. Gen X was raised in stark contrast to many in the Baby Boomer generation, many of whom had had a parent at home when they got home from school, and Millennials, who were raised by highly involved parents. So let me ask you Gen X… Would you want your kid being raised as Gen X was? Latch key. No notifications. No trackers to where your kids are? A tv commercial reminding you that you have kids and where TF are they?I LOVED and SURVIVED my childhood. Where do you stand? https://t.co/Vq5spSbOmf— Silver (@SilversMemez) April 2, 2025 One mom nailed the experience with a video reenactment of what it was like to come home from school in the 80s.Elizabeth Stevens (@BennettPeach on YouTube) arrives at the front door in her backpack, then pulls out a house key on a string around her neck. (Ah, the "latchkey kid" era when children were expected to come home to an empty house and let themselves in.)Then she goes into the kitchen in her Care Bears t-shirt and finds a handwritten note—in cursive, of course—on the back of an envelope. "Working late—make your own dinner, watch your brother and the dishes better be done when I get home from bowling. – Mom" - YouTube www.youtube.com That's right. Mom wasn't just working late, she was also going bowling while her kids were home caring for themselves.Then we see her washing the dishes despite barely being able to reach the faucet, even with a stool, and then her making a Gen X staple—the cinnamon-sugar and butter sandwich. On white bread, of course.In just one minute, Stevens managed to capture the essence of so many Gen X memories, as commenters shared:"The mom notes on an unopened bill is memories.""Nailed it! The best thing about growing up in the '70s/'80's was being ALLOWED to grow up.""Why this video made me almost cry?? How quiet it is inside the home. Lovely." A young girl doing dishes.via Canva Photos "Facts!!! No babysitter, go in the house, read the note, do the chores n not let anybody in!!!! I remember the homemade the 'cinnamon bun.'""70s and 80s … latch key kid here elementary, junior high and high school. we turned out self sufficient, independent and successful.""Just so frickin on point!!! All of it from the clothes to the key on the necklace to the note. Even what you chose to do for a snack. Too good!!! The windbreaker that's memories. It's all coming back to me now lol thank you for this. You have brought a huge grin to both me and my inner child." A young girl walking home form school.via Canva Photos"I was met with a note everyday, too. On the back of an envelope, my daily chores would be listed. If I was in trouble, I would cry as soon as I saw the note....lolol Love you momma. How I wished I could have saved those notes! They were historical treasures."Gen Xers loved being raised in such a free timeTons of people gushed about the nostalgia of the "good old days" when they were given both freedom and responsibility, many saying kids today have no idea. One thing that might surprise the younger generations was how young the theoretical kid in this video could have been. We're not talking about young teens here—kids as young as 5 or 6 could be latchkey kids, and kids any older than that were often given responsibility for looking after younger siblings. Even official babysitting jobs could start around age 11, or sometimes even younger.Gen X kids had learned to take care of themselves early on, which has its pros and cons. The rose-colored glasses many Gen X adults view their childhoods through can sometimes cloud the parts that were not so great about growing up in the 70s and 80s. Sure, that benign neglect resulted in resilience and independence, but for some that came at the cost of parental relationships and a sense of safety and security. We have more knowledge now about things like mental health support, parent-child attachment, and healthy relationship dynamics, and some of that learning is reflected in shifting parenting practices.As often happens, the pendulum may have swung too far from the absent parents of the 70s and 80s to the helicopter parents of the 90s and 2000s, of course, and the "right" approach (if there is one) probably lies somewhere in the middle. But it is still fun to look back on those iconic childhood experiences with joy and humor and appreciate that they helped us become who we are today.This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated.