In my 22 years as a Harvard professor, I have not been afraid to bite the hand that feeds me. My 2014 essay “The Trouble With Harvard” called for a transparent, meritocratic admissions policy to replace the current “eye-of-newt-wing-of-bat mysticism” which “conceals unknown mischief.”

TikTok dances are totally mesmerizing. Who hasn't gotten sucked into watching stunning choreography to your favorite songs? While most of us struggle to nail those dance moves, special education teacher Kati Jo Christensen does not. As any great teacher does, she is using her love of rhythm and talent for dancing for a good cause. Christensen decided to join the social media platform in January 2025 to raise money to pay off school lunch debts at her school, West Haven Elementary, and more in her local Weber County, Utah.Christensen began with the goal of raising $4,000 to cover her school's lunch deficit, a number she has exceedingly surpassed. She has raised nearly $20,000 in five months. @mrscactusvibes Our new lunch deficit for school ##4##utah##lunchdeficit##feedthekids##creatorfund##teachersoftiktok##loveandpositivity##payoffschoollunches##dancingteachersoftiktok##dancingteachers##spedteachersoftiktok##school##classroom##govspencercox “I had seen another creator doing this for her own school on TikTok,” Christensen told the Standard-Examiner. “And I knew that my school, West Haven Elementary, had a bit of a lunch deficit. … I thought I could probably do the same thing. So, I figured out how much my lunch deficit was going to be and then I started making videos and working on getting 10,000 followers on TikTok. And then it just kind of grew into what it is now.”Christensen has more than 47,000 followers on TikTok who watch her creative dance moves to artists like Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, and more. @mrscactusvibes Working to cover a new school lunch deficit! $343.50 #creatorfund #teachersoftiktok #roadto10k #spedteachersoftiktok #school #loveandpositivity #payoffschoollunches #700 #coldplay Since she reached her goal of covering the school lunch deficit for her elementary school, she has also been able to contribute to the school lunch debts at five additional schools in her area. She explains that while students are never denied a meal, the debts accrue over time and can ultimately effect graduation.“No child is denied a lunch. So, they will always be fed,” Christensen explained. “But then that school lunch debt or deficit will follow the student all the way until they graduate high school. And, in some cases, if they haven’t paid for that, they don’t get their high school diploma. So, it kind of stands in the way of them actually getting to their future goals. … I feel like we, as a state, can definitely help fix that. Just because the students are required to be in school every single day, we should be able to pick up that bill for their food.” @mrscactusvibes Please stay 1 minute to help pay off student lunch deficit ?? #creatorfund #teachersoftiktok #spedteachersoftiktok #school #loveandpositivity #payoffschoollunches #dancingteacher If viewers watch her videos for one minute, she earns revenue. "If you have a TikTok account and you go onto your TikTok and if one of my videos comes up on your 'For You Page,' if you watch for a minute, then that gives me income so that I can take that money and then donate it to school lunches," she explained to Studio 5.She has big goals to expand her reach. Christensen is currently in the process of starting a nonprofit. “I want it to be not just school lunch stuff, but I wanted to also help teachers and students with school supplies,” Christensen told the publication. Ultimately, she wants to bring awareness to others through her dance moves and encourage people to pay off debts in school districts close to home. @mrscactusvibes Happy Friday everyone!!! #may #teachersoftiktok #statetesting2025 #tiktok #utah #lunchdeficit #feedthekids #loveandpositivity #payoffschoollunches #dancingteachersoftiktok #spedteachersoftiktok #school #classroom #helpthekids #tiredteacher "They can donate to their local schools; it doesn’t have to be through like me or any kind of organization," Christensen added. "They can just call their local school or a school that they know is struggling and they can donate to school lunch deficit."Christensen's viewers love her passion for her moves and students. "'School lunch debt' should never be a phrase anywhere! Sending love ?," one commented. Another added, "Came for the lunch fund, stayed for the dancing ??." And another viewer wrote, "Those babies and their families are so lucky to have someone who cares about them as much as you do! I pray when my son starts school there is someone like you!❤️"

For 18 years, Pocket helped the Internet’s voracious readers—and biggest procrastinators—collect their favorite stories online. Stored neatly in one, easy to access location, as a digital hoarder, Pocket was an indispensable asset. That Forbes article on the “secretive, pay-for-play world of movie trailers?” Pocketed with a single click, thanks to cross-platform integration. Or, a deep-dive on “the unstoppable rise of digital detox retreats?” Intriguing, but not for right now. Pocketed. These articles, along with hundreds of others, that ranged from “Why America has so few carpenters” to “The amazing psychology of Japanese train stations” were kept safe, just for me, in my digital magpie nest.That time has ended.While dutifully logging onto the app one day, a pop-up appeared, reading “Pocket is shutting down.” The parent company, Mozilla, went on to explain: “After careful consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to phase out Pocket—our read-it-later and content discovery app. This includes the Pocket Web, Android, iOS, and macOS apps, as well as the Pocket browser extensions.” Pocket says goodbye to the internet. Credit: Screenshot, Kat HongThey also added,“Pocket has helped millions save articles and discover stories worth reading. But the way people save and consume content on the web has evolved, so we’re channeling our resources into projects that better match browsing habits today. Discovery also continues to evolve; Pocket helped shape the curated content recommendations you already see in Firefox, and that experience will keep getting better. Meanwhile, new features like Tab Groups and enhanced bookmarks now provide built-in ways to manage reading lists easily.”So, as of July 8th, 2025, after nearly two decades of faithful pocketing, Pocket is saying farewell. I don’t often feel sentimental about app closures or websites shutting down, but scrolling through my saves, it felt akin to a baby bird being pushed out of its nest before it learns how to fly. It felt like the end of an era.Pocket and me Pocket’s clean, simple interface (which, could be enhanced or further customized with Pocket Premium, the web-clipper’s paid model) was unique. Not overly fussy, like other websites or apps I tried to use, but functional. Genuinely nice to look at, in an age where aesthetics rules over all else.via GIPHYIt was also downright reliable, a function that’s increasingly becoming harder to find and thus exponentially more valuable. With a single click, eye-catching articles, deep-dives, or fleeting curiosities were safely secured, saved for a quiet moment to be unfurled. Often, that moment never came. That’s not the point. I had a digital treasure trove, collected and curated by me, that I could return to at times when scrolling on whatever social media app I was currently obsessed with could no longer hold my attention.Pocket’s demise resounds through the InternetBut Pocket always felt too good to be true. While the Internet rushed toward instant gratification, overconsumption, and unlimited algorithmic feeds, Pocket cultivated patience and intentionality. With their daily collection of “Saves,” seemingly handpicked from the Internet, Pocket was more than a web-clipper—it felt like a genuine part Internet that could almost pass as community. Contributing writer Samantha Cole from 404 Media provides some context noting, “The Mozilla-owned Pocket, formerly known as ‘Read It Later,’ launched in August 2007 as a Firefox browser extension that let users save articles to… well, read later. Mozilla acquired Pocket in 2017.”She continues,“As I said, I’m upset! I use the Pocket Chrome extension almost daily, and it’s become a habitual click for articles I want to save to read later even though I fully know I never will. Before the subway had Wi-Fi, back when I commuted to work 45 minutes each way every day, I used Pocket to save articles offline and read outside of internet access. Anecdotally speaking, Pocket was a big traffic driver for bloggers: At all of the websites I’ve worked at, getting an article on Pocket’s curated homepage was a reliable boost in viewers.”On Reddit, Pocket users are similarly mourning its dissolution, with one person writing, “I’m grieving. I used this feature nearly every day and loved the Kobo integration that allowed me to read saved articles distraction-free on a my Kobo e-ink devices. It’s the end of an era.”Another wrote, “I’m gutted. I love Pocket…”User @ThunderDaniel lamented, "Kind of bittersweet. I loved Pocket when I was a broke student that only had access to wifi speeds in the max of kilobytes per second. I’d download long form articles and cool listicles and read that stuff on my phone for hours. Surprised it took this long for Pocket to be shut down, but RIP nonetheless." What's next, now that Pocket is through?Photo credit: CanvaNow what?The official Mozilla blog post says that Pocket will shut down on July 8th, 2025, but users will be able to export their saves at any time until October 8th, 2025. On that day, all user data will be deleted.Premium monthly subscriptions will be automatically canceled before the next billing cycle and annual subscriptions will be canceled on July 8th with users receiving a prorated refund.Finally, the Pocket email newsletter, Pocket Hits, (which offers readers "daily and weekly curation of engaging content from trustworthy sources") will be renamed to “Ten Tabs,” curated by the same editorial team. Instapaper? Maybe that's the new frontier? Credit: Screenshot, Kat HongWhat platform will fill the Pocket-shaped hole in my digital existence? Well, I’ve been experimenting with Instapaper. People on Reddit seem to enjoy Raindrop.io.Or, as 404 Media puts it, “404 Media contributing writer Matthew Gault suggests copy-pasting links to articles into a giant document to read later. Now that Pocket is no longer with us, I might have to start doing that.”

The phrase “Money can’t buy you happiness” started as a way to remind folks that there’s more to life than meaningless material possessions. But as we all get a little older and wiser, we realize that money absolutely does contribute to a more comfortable and secure life, and while those things aren’t the sole determinant of happiness, they are undeniably huge factors. Furthermore, experiences, relationships, personal fulfillment, and a sense of purpose—all major indicators of true happiness—can be enhanced by having financial resources. In other words, as happiness expert Jessica Weiss wrote in her CNBC piece, “Money can absolutely buy happiness.” The problem is “we’ve just been spending it all wrong.”In the article, Weiss cited the rather well known 2010 study which found that day-to-day happiness rose as annual income increased, up to $75,000 (though perhaps that number has increased to match inflation). Point being: up to a certain extent, larger incomes do, in fact, increase happiness. And yet, it can be hard to feel like we are never ever making enough to truly feel happy. Or, we feel guilty about the seemingly frivolous purchases we do make. This is where Weiss’ list comes in. According to her, investing in these eight categories below “actually trigger that lasting and sustainable kind of happiness,” and “benefit your well-being in the long run.”1. Live Music People enjoying a concert.Photo credit: CanvaNo one who's been to a concert would argue this one. But as Weiss noted, it’s not just about watching performers take the stage. It’s equally about the physical act of singing with one another, which triggers a mood boosting, stress relieving phenomenon known as “collective effervescence.” Using this logic, a cheap night of karaoke or joining a choir group could also do the trick if you can’t necessarily justify concert tickets. 2. Novel Experiences A woman sipping coffee. Photo credit: CanvaTime and time again, experts agree that money is well spent on activities that create positive memories. This could range from a camping trip to, as Weiss writes, simply “painting your nails an unexpected color.” In her book The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron similarly writes about “artist dates,” which are carved out moments each week dedicated to nourishing your inner creative being. They can be as lavish or as bare bones as you want. However, unlike Cameron, who urges folks to participate in artist dates alone, Weiss notes that engaging in novel experiences with friends or loved ones “supercharges the happiness effect.” 3. Purchases That Literally Buy You Back Some Time Three happy cleaners. Photo credit: CanvaStudies show that people with higher incomes experience more “time stress” than others, because they have a limited amount of time to achieve not only their work, but mundane chores and keep up with some semblance of a social life. But some purchases literally buy you some time back, whether that’s an Instant Pot for faster meals or a monthly house cleaning to finally dust off the shelves. But it’s not just time-saving products which give you back some sanity. From a really good mattress to a well fitting bra (iykyk), certain splurges add so much ease and comfort to our lives that they are well worth the money. 4. Relationship-Boosters Friends enjoying a meal together. Photo credit: CanvaWe are, after all, social creatures. No amount of capitalism is going to change that. In fact, as Weiss noted, our close relationships trump genetics, wealth, and even fame in terms of predicting our overall satisfaction. And the great thing is, a simple potluck movie night or family hike can do the trick. 5. Acts of Generosity Happy volunteers at a charity event. Photo credit: CanvaA 2010 study reported by Utah State University found that people experienced happier moods when they gave more money away (as long as they had the choice of how much to give). Two years prior, a 2008 study in the journal Science found that those who engaged in “higher prosocial spending,” i.e., spending on others versus themselves, reported “significantly greater happiness.” You can trust the science, or you can test the theory yourself. Donate to a cause that you’re passionate about, or treat your friend to dinner (a relationship booster and an act of generosity…win-win!), and see how you feel. Odds are you’ll feel pretty good. 6. Small Pleasures Happiness doesn’t always need to come from big-ticket items. Rather than a lavish two week vacation, opt for a weekend getaway. Or, for the love of god, go ahead and buy a fancy latte without thinking this is the reason you can’t afford a home. As Weiss writes, these simple joys write the brain for "cumulative joy.” Plus, they’re certainly less stressful than expensive splurges. 7. Character building challenges A woman participating in a marathon.Photo credit: CanvaNovel experiences are great, but Weiss argues that physically or mentally challenging experiences (think cold plunges, hikes, competing in a marathon, learning new skills) offer a delayed, yet ever-so-satisfying “earned pleasure” of having overcome an obstacle, which increases confidence. 8. Big Plans A man making vacation plans. Photo credit: CanvaThe great thing about committing to booking those vacation tickets is the joy of anticipating the upcoming reward, Weiss notes. “ Your vacation starts delivering happiness the moment you book it, months before you pack your bags,” she writes. This is a great reminder for those of us that procrastinate on actually committing to the trip due to sticker shock. Bottom line, retail therapy tends to get a bad rap—and not without good reason, as we do live in a society that normalizes constant, mindless spending. But often, the material and experiential value of a purchase harmoniously meet in the middle, and thus impact our happiness in positive ways. Think of a fun clothing item you bought on vacation, that you then wear out to a friend’s dinner and share stories of procuring it, versus something trendy you bought and never wore. Of course, many companies have long caught onto this idea and sell the promise of an experience with the purchase of their product. Hence why discernment is crucial. But if you’ve been chastising yourself over an event ticket here or a fancy new gadget there, remember that maybe you really are investing in yourself…which is always a worthy investment.

Halloween has come a long way since the 70s and 80s, when Gen X kids donned the worst mass-produced costumes known to man to go out and ask strangers for candy that we were sure was laced with poison or razor blades. Those sure were good times, though, weren't they? Social media creator Kelly Manno shared a video describing what Halloween was like for kids who grew up in "the forgotten generation," and holy moly is it accurate.First, Manno showed a photo of someone dressed in an "80s costume" for Halloween, with neon colors and legwarmers and big hair, and said, "Absolutely nobody looked like that in the 80s, especially on Halloween. We looked like this."Then she showed a grainy photo of kids in the plastic masks and poorly printed costumes that were the hallmark of the age. See on Instagram "Every single member of Gen X can smell this photo," she said. "It's like a vinyl, like plasticky paint smell."Manno explained that our parents only took a few photos of us per year, and Halloween was always one of them."You knew, before you went out trick-or-treating, that you had to line up with your cousins in front of the fireplace, in your highly flammable costumes, with your mom chain-smoking Virginia Slims.'"Oh, those masks were the worst inventions ever. The eyeholes never lined up properly, so you were constantly trying to adjust them to be able to see even a little bit. media4.giphy.com "We would push our tongue through the slit in the mask. It would cut our tongue, but then we'd keep doing it again because we were eaten up with OCD and ADD and nobody cared."Then Manno described the "garbage bag costumes" we had, which were basically trash bags printed with whatever character it was supposed to be. So janky. So sweaty. So crinkly when we walked. But somehow still socially preferable to your mom making your costume from scratch."Look at us, we were terrifying," Manno concludes. "No wonder people tried to poison us." media1.giphy.com Her descriptions of what it felt like to trick-or-treat in those costumes and haul our own bodyweight in candy are spot on, and people who lived it are feeling the nostalgia."So much truth in one video! ? I just saw, heard, and smelled my childhood.""You are literally making me laugh so damn hard, cause you described it exactly as it was, but my mom smoked Winston's!""It was always freezing on Halloween that the vinyl/plastic suit would crack and tear halfway through the night.""Or the rubber band breaking at the second house and you had to hold it up on your face at the door the rest of the night. ? Good times.""The tongue thing is on point. I can still feel it. ?""I can totally smell that picture lol. I remember the steam from inside the mask would have your lashes and eyebrows covered in dew then after a couple streets of running house to house the crotch would tear out. We would stay out until everybody turned their lights off and the pillow case was full.""Yes!!!! And we used a pillow case for our candy. And no adult supervision.""My mom made me really nice homemade costumes, but I remember begging for the plastic Strawberry Shortcake garbage bag one. So, she bought it for me one year. That was a terrible, sweaty experience. ?""Let’s not forget having to inspect every piece of candy for razor blades. I swear I lost half my haul to my father in that clean up. ? ? ?"Kids these days have no idea, with their official city trick-or-treat hours and their parents walking around with them and their costumes that actually look like the thing they're trying to be. The 70s and 80s were a wild time, and as funny as it is to reminisce about those Halloweens of old, most of us would agree that the experience has been much improved for our own kids. media.giphy.com Pillowcases still make the best trick-or-treat bags, though. Some things do not change.This article originally appeared last year.

"The most beautiful voice."

Two pioneering guitarists.

The actor, 65, has several new shows in the works.