There’s more to it than chocolate-filled calendars.

Chocolate is chocolate, isn’t it? If so, then why does the chocolate you find in many Advent calendars taste so weird?

Ugly Ally - Jay Jurden

When elementary school teacher @mommy_n_zachy went on TikTok to talk about the skills her students struggle with, it wasn’t to shame anyone. It was an honest cry for help. Her short video, which has now been viewed nearly five million times, has sparked a wide conversation about what children are, and are not, prepared for when they walk into a classroom.In the clip, she listed 10 basic skills many of her 3rd graders couldn’t do. Some forgotten skills, like reading an analog clock, counting physical money, or writing in cursive, aren’t entirely surprising given how technology has shifted daily habits for all of us. Many adults rarely use cash, handwritten letters, or wall clocks themselves.But more troubling is the fact that many kids cannot memorize their parents' phone numbers or their home address. Even more concerning, students often don’t know how to use a dictionary, follow multi-step directions, tie their shoes, remember their parents' names, know where their family is from, or recall the year they were born. These are practical safety skills and developmental milestones that help children navigate the world with more independence. @mommy_n_zachy What’s happening to our kids? I need answers!! #teachertok #elementaryteacher #teacherproblemsboredteachers #teacher ♬ original sound - mommy_n_zachy What makes the situation even harder, she shared, is that many students don’t seem very interested in learning these basics. For teachers, starting from scratch on so many foundational tasks makes an already demanding job even more difficult, especially when large classrooms and limited time already stretch their capacity.“We are going to do our part as teachers, but we just need a little help at home, please,” she said. “We are a community. We work together. So let’s set our kids up for success. ... If y'all can help us out, we need to go back to basics."Her words touched a nerve. While some commenters placed blame on schools, the broader conversation that emerged was about how essential it is for parents and teachers to work together. Many adults pointed out that families juggling financial pressures, work schedules, limited childcare, or lack of support may not always have the time or energy to reinforce these skills. Others noted that teachers, too, face resource shortages and systemic challenges. The consensus was that partnership, not blame, is what helps children most.Fortunately, the skills @mommy_n_zachy highlighted are very teachable at home with simple routines. Parents can practice phone numbers as a little song or rhyme. Reading clocks can become a daily guessing game. Counting coins while unloading groceries can turn into a mini challenge. Tying shoes can be practiced for a few minutes before leaving the house. Writing letters to grandparents, labeling drawings, or even copying short messages can build comfort with script. Asking children to complete two-step or three-step directions can strengthen their working memory and confidence. None of these activities require extra money or special materials. What they need most is repetition, patience, and a supportive adult by their side. Dad helps daughter with homework at table; mom reads in background.Photo credit: CanvaIf anything, her viral video reminded many people that children thrive when all the adults in their world take part in their learning. Small efforts made consistently can make a meaningful difference, both in the classroom and beyond.

Nearly all of us can recall a cinematic moment that gave us “the chills.” Sometimes it's the scene that scares the bejesus out of you. Other times it's a moment so moving or beautifully crafted that you feel something shift inside you. These reactions aren’t accidental. They come from a blend of elements working together—a perfectly timed score that builds tension or wonder, performances that pull us in instantly, camera work that heightens emotion, and even the way our own mirror neurons fire when we watch someone else experience something intense.All of this reminds us that films are often much more than passive entertainment. They can be full-body experiences that linger long after the credits roll.Recently, u/ryleymyers asked the r/AskReddit subreddit: “What movie scene still gives you chills no matter how many times you watch it?” The answers came pouring in, spanning decades, genres, and emotional tones.Here are some of the most unforgettable moments that Reddit users say still give them chills:1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes“Caesar shouting "NO!!" in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I thought of it and watched it again earlier today. Yep. Still chills.” - YouTube www.youtube.com 2. Inglorious Basterds“The entire opening of Inglorious Basterds.” - YouTube www.youtube.com 3. Interstellar“‘Those aren’t mountains, they’re waves,’ from Interstellar, Miller’s planet scene.”“when Cooper walks into the room and Murph is a very old lady. She tells him he can go, “No parent should have watch their own child die”. Gets me every time”“For me it’s “I knew you’d come back…because my dad promised me.” She’s been through all the phases of grieving her dad, hating her dad, and at some point in her adulthood, she accepted his choices. As an adult who has been through a lot in my relationship with my dad, it was very meaningful to me.” - YouTube www.youtube.com 4. Jurassic Park“When the paleontologists first saw the live dinosaurs in Jurassic Park.” - YouTube www.youtube.com 5. Saving Private Ryan“Saving Private Ryan beach landing scene. Saw in theater loud sound system. Real life is much louder. ?” - YouTube www.youtube.com 6. Lord of the Rings Trilogy“Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered! A sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!” “Best horse charge in all of cinema history Hands. Down. Still gives me chills and makes my eyes water. Epic barely describes it.”Another contender: When Aragorn tells the hobbits “"My friends, you bow to no one." - YouTube www.youtube.com 7. Casablanca“Singing ‘La Marseillaise’ in Casablanca.” - YouTube www.youtube.com 8. The Terminator“The police station in The Terminator (1984).” - YouTube www.youtube.com 9. Platoon“Sgt. Elias’s death in Platoon.”10. Independence Day“The President’s speech in Independence Day always gets me.” - YouTube www.youtube.com 11. Annihilation“The alien replication / mimic scene from Annihilation. That whole sequence, combined with the very subtle Moderat track, is top-notch.” - YouTube www.youtube.com 12. Gattaca“Gattaca. ‘I never saved anything for the swim back.’” - YouTube www.youtube.com 13. The Princess Bride“Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya…” “Mandy Patinkin’s rage at the cancer that killed his father irl really comes through.” - YouTube www.youtube.com 14. Gladiator“That ‘I shall have my vengeance’ speech in Gladiator.” - YouTube www.youtube.com 15. Schindler’s List“Oskar Schindler at the end of the movie. Lamenting the fact that had he not wasted money, he could have saved more people. Always chokes me up. (I was a teacher and showed Schindler’s List once I finished WWII.)” - YouTube www.youtube.com 16. The Shining“The way the camera focuses on the head of Jack Nicholson’s axe as he’s slamming into the door. That whole sequence from Redrum is just fantastic cinema.” - YouTube www.youtube.com 18. Pan's Labyrinth"You get chills when you see the table with the Pale Man sat at the end of the decadent dinner feast." - YouTube www.youtube.com 19. Avengers: Endgame"Portals scene from Avengers: Endgame.I just talk about it with my friends and I still get chills up my spine thinking about it.""Even more so now when Chadwick Boseman comes walking out and nods to Cap." - YouTube www.youtube.com 20. Jaws“Jaws. The head that rolls out of the boat. I know it’s coming, but that just makes it worse.”“Quint’s monologue in Jaws. Really, one of the best moments in modern cinema.” - YouTube www.youtube.com

I've always insisted I wasn't "a cruise person." I love the ocean, but not boats. I love people, but not crowds. I love to travel, but floating out in the middle of the sea never sounded like travel to me. I have concerns about sea sickness, illness outbreaks, and being stranded out in open water, so if I was going to spend money to travel, a cruise was never among my top choices. My philosophy was, "I'll only go on a cruise if one drops in my lap." So when an invitation hit my inbox to attend the christening of the Disney Destiny along with a complimentary three-night preview sail, I said, "Welp, there it is. Disney's calling my bluff." The Disney Destiny sailed from Port Everglades, Florida.Courtesy of DisneyThe invite included three guests, so I along with my husband, 21-year-old daughter, and 16-year-old son (all professed "not cruise people") embarked on Disney's new ship with a whole lot of gratitude and a healthy dose of skepticism. I've been to Disney parks before and witnessed the "Disney magic" in action. But I wasn't sure if that would be enough to convert us. I should know by now that doubting Disney is a losing bet. Here are my family's impressions as first-time cruisers on the Disney Destiny, along with some newbie tips that might help others who've never experienced it:The ship itself is a work of art The Grand Hall of the Disney Destiny was simply stunning. Courtesy of DisneyThe beauty of the ship is downright awe-inspiring. It's like a floating art gallery with over 900 pieces of art on display in addition to the overall design gorgeousness in every space. I could talk about the artistic aspect of the Destiny all day, it impressed me that much. From concept art to colorful paintings to gorgeous mosaics, you could spend hours just wandering the ship gawking at the artwork. Tip: Take the stairs. We rarely used the elevators (though they're gorgeous in their own right), partially for the exercise and partially because the stairwells have artwork hanging on each floor. I believe that's true for other Disney ships as well, but as the theme of the Destiny is "Heroes and Villains," the aft stairwells all have artwork of heroes, while in the forward stairwells it's all villains. The Dr. Facilier magic encounter was one of our favorite events on the ship.Courtesy of DisneyThere was almost too much to doHaving never been on a cruise, I always wondered what people did all day on the ship besides eat and sunbathe. But there's so much to do on the Destiny there wasn't time to even see it all—much less do it all. There are things happening all day long throughout the ship, from character encounters to trivia to arts and crafts to movie theaters to Broadway-style shows. The weather was unusually cold on our sail in the Caribbean, so we didn't even make use of the pools or movies on the top deck. (There's also a "water coaster" called Aqua Mouse, which our kids tried and said was fun. I was too cold to try it.)If you want to pay for something extra like spa treatments or salon visits, there's even more to do, but we stuck with the free things and there was still more than we could possibly squeeze in. My son said it felt like "a fancy, luxurious summer camp." Tip: The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app is a must-have for seeing what activities are happening. But don't think you'll even come close to doing it all. There's a real risk of overwhelm, so pick the things you really want to do, but leave some room for just relaxing as well. The pool area at the back of the ship is adults-onlyCourtesy of DisneyThere was a lot more for adults than I would've thoughtI assumed that a Disney ship would be primarily geared toward children, but it didn't feel like that at all. There was plenty for kids, of course, but it never felt like we were needing to escape to adult spaces. The main areas of the ship are very classy, and the specifically kid-oriented areas were places you had to purposefully go to. As a family with no little kids anymore, we were all perfectly happy.Actually, that's not quite true. My 16-year-old complained because there were too many adult-only places he wanted to go to and couldn't. There's a peaceful adult-only (18+) pool area on the rear of the pool deck, and some of the coolest themed areas of the ship are actually the adult lounges—De Vil's (themed for Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmations), Cask & Cannon (Pirates of the Caribbean theme), and the Haunted Mansion lounge. Tip: The adult lounges are super cool but smaller than I thought they'd be and were usually crowded during the times we popped our heads in. We never actually hung out in any of them, but we didn't feel like we missed out on anything. Like I said, there's so much to do and no way to do it all. The musical shows on the Destiny blew me away. These were actually puppets, this large. Courtesy of DisneyThe musical shows were seriously incredibleWhen they said they had Broadway-style shows on the ship, I imagined they'd be good, but I didn't know they would blow me away like they did. We saw Hercules, which is new to to the Disney Cruise Line lineup, and Frozen: A Musical Spectacular. Both were jaw-droppingly good. The caliber of performers, the singing, the sets, the lighting effects, the costumes—it's the kind of thing you pay out the nose to see in the city. Especially for the seats you can get in the Walt Disney Theater if you show up early. Tip: Show up early. Get there at least 30 minutes before the show to have your pick of seats. And if you want to experience the full effect of both of those shows, get seats that aren't under the balcony overhang. (Trust me.) We were so happy with the monitored hand washing sinks going into the buffet. Photo credit: Annie ReneauThe hand-washing game was on pointMy family is a little bit norovirus-phobic and thus religious about hand-washing before eating. Buffets always freak us out a little because not everyone is conscientious about that, which was one of our big cruise concerns. However, we were delighted that Disney was on top of it. Upon entering Marcelline Market (the buffet eating area), you walk through a row of hand-washing sinks with Disney crew monitoring to make sure people use them. And as you go into the sit-down restaurants, you are handed a sanitizing hand wipe to use as well. That eased our concerns about viral outbreaks a lot. Tip: Wash your hands. It really does help keep viruses from spreading. African drumming at Pride Lands restaurant.Courtesy of DisneyThe international cast and crew was so much funEvery server we had was from a different country, and they all introduced themselves by name and country: "Hi, I'm Carlos. I'm from Mexico." It was wonderful meeting so many people from all over—it felt like a real-life "It's a Small World" in the best way. The crew is delightful for the most part and will go out of their way to make sure you're having a good experience. Tip: Spend time chatting with the crew. By the end of our three days, we felt a bit sad to say goodbye to the servers we'd had repeatedly. I imagine on a longer cruise you'd really feel attached by the end of it. The staterooms felt more spacious than photos make them look. Courtesy of DisneyThe staterooms were better equipped than I expectedSince we'd never been on a cruise before, I gathered tips before we went. Most people recommended bringing lots of magnetic hooks to hang things on the stateroom walls (which are metal), a battery-operated night light, and a hanging toiletry bag. I lamented that I only had two hooks to bring, but it turned out we didn't even need those two. Didn't need the other things, either. The closets have plenty of space, there are hooks in the bathroom and outside of it, there was plenty of shelf space in the bathrooms, and we were able to find places to put things around the room without issue. Our room had a verandah, which was lovely, but even looking at the lowest-priced staterooms (interior of the ship, so no windows) there seems to be plenty of space. It's a cruise ship, so no one should expect huge rooms (other than the super fancy suites), but we were pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the space was. (Our teen and young adult kids did say the single beds weren't terribly comfortable. Our queen bed was great.)Tip: Don't stress over what kind of room you get. You likely won't spend that much time in your room anyway. Food at Worlds of Marvel and dessert at Pride Lands, two of the three rotational restaurants on the ship. Photo credit: Annie ReneauThe food was both better and worse than we anticipatedWe're foodies with a love of cuisines from around the world, and my husband is an excellent cook, so our food standard is quite high. Our absolute favorite food on the ship (even after trying the much-touted Palo restaurant) was at Pride Lands, the Lion King-themed sit-down restaurant. We ordered the first four entrees on the menu, all inspired by African flavors, and they were all delicious. The desserts at Pride Lands were also our favorite on the ship. I wish we'd eaten there more than once. The other two sit-down restaurants included are Worlds of Marvel and 1923. (They call them rotational restaurants, as you're assigned a different one for dinner each night with some kind of special show included.) The food in those ranged from just okay to pretty good, depending on what we ordered. But we actually preferred the buffet food in Marcelline Market, which has a ton of choices. My husband had some excellent lamb and I had some decent chicken tikka masala in Marcelline. My daughter said the sugar-free chocolate mousse dessert was "the bomb." And it's quite a charming space. Tip: Room service is also included, so if you need a break from people you can always order in and watch a movie—they have the entire Disney and Marvel filmography available, of course. A Hercules hallway (left) even has Hercules-themed lights (top right). Below that is a light from a Brave floor. Photo credit: Annie ReneauThe attention to detail was delightfulI should have expected that Disney would do it up right in the detail department, and they did. One small example is the theming in the stateroom hallways. We were on a Big Hero Six floor, and the carpet in the hall and art in the rooms reflected that. But it wasn't until the third day that I looked up and noticed the lights in the hallway were also Big Hero Six themed. That got us going to the Brave and Hercules floors to see the how the carpets and lights reflected those themes. There are details everywhere that give you a feeling of being immersed in another world, so my whole "being out on the sea isn't really travel" thing fell apart in a weird way while on the ship. Disney takes your imagination so many places, it's almost like a different kind of travel in and of itself. Tip: Slow down and look around at the details. That's a big part of what makes Disney's theming and "magic" so effective. Castaway Cay is Disney's private island in the Bahamas, where we disembarked for part of a day. Photo credit: Annie ReneauCastaway Cay was a perfect stopFirst of all, Cay is pronounced "key," for those unfamiliar with the term like I was. Castaway Cay is Disney's small private island in the Bahamas. It's lovely. It was nice to get off the ship after a couple of days (though the movement wasn't bothersome, I was pleased to find) and the island is a nice size for a day of tropical relaxation and recreation. My animal-loving daughter got to feed and swim with rays, which was a huge treat. My husband got to snorkel, which he loves to do. I got to float on a tube in the turquoise water (which was pleasant despite the temps only being in the low 70s that day). Tip: There are self-serve soda machines on the island that are included, but if someone comes up to your beach chair and offers to bring you drinks, those ones cost money. There's also free unlimited soft-serve ice cream. View of the ship from Castaway Cay (left) and my happy squad back on the ship (right) Photo credit: Annie ReneauSo did Disney manage to convert us into 'cruise people'?I'm not sure if I'm ready to officially make that change in my identity, but we got pretty close. As my daughter said, "Everything here is so well done. I can totally see how people like cruises now." My gauge was always going to be whether or not I felt it would be worth paying for it. As our family's travel planner, I definitely see the appeal of having everything you need—and a whole lot extra—all covered under one upfront cost. A cruise removes so much of the planning, decision-making, and budget negotiations that accompany other travel. You don't have to think about finding a place to eat. You don't have to think about the cost of activities or entertainment. A cruise eliminates a lot of the stressors that accompany "normal" travel planning, and adding the Disney magic element on top of that just ups the ante. I was also happy to have most of my assumptions proved wrong. I thought I would feel trapped on the ship, but I found there was actually something freeing about being out in the open ocean away from the normal world. I assumed cruises were kind of cheesy, but Disney provided far more class than cheese. I assumed the cruise might be overstimulating for my introvert self, and sometimes it was, but I could easily remove myself to a quiet space if I needed to. So yes, I do think it would be worth paying for. As for the rest of the family's "cruise people" status? They're already angling to take the Disney cruise to Alaska. So you win, Disney. Well played. Check out the Disney Destiny website to learn more. (I've barely scratched the surface here, honestly.)

When it comes to LGBTQ issues, looking back in time usually means finding cultural artifacts that are steeped in negative stereotypes. Just a few decades ago, LGBTQ people were often portrayed as predatory villains. Gay men are shown as overtly feminine and used as a sissy punchline. Lesbians were seen as aggressive man-haters. Trans people were often depicted as deceptive people who were dishonest about their gender.However, a 1982 episode of The Love Boat is refreshing to watch because a transgender character on the show, Rachel Johnson, portrayed by MacKenzie Phillips (One Day at a Time, American Graffiti), is a sympathetic character who exposes the prejudices of others, while helping them understand what it means to transition. @lexithemess78 #duet with @profgb222 #theloveboat #transrightsarehumanrights #trans #lgbtq #strandsfortrans In the episode, “I Don't Play Anymore/Gopher's Roommate/Crazy for You,” Gopher Smith, the ship’s purser, runs into a passenger whom he thinks he knows from somewhere and just can’t place her. He eventually believes that Rachel is his former college roommate Ray’s sister. But after being prodded by Gopher all night, Rachel admits she is his college roommate, Ray, who transitioned. Given this was 1982, the out-of-date term “sex change” was used to describe the procedure.After Gopher learns Rachel's truth, he becomes incredibly uneasy and goes to bed. The next morning, the pair meet, and Gopher is still extremely uncomfortable, moving his head back and forth to make sure no one can hear their conversation. Rachel wants to tell Gopher everything she’s been through: "It was two years of therapy, tests, meetings with specialists,” but Gopher didn’t want to listen. "I really thought I could hang on to some of my old friends. You proved me wrong, though. It's a new life, and I guess I have to wipe the slate clean. It's funny, though, you're one of the few I would have guessed who could handle it,” Rachel admits.The turning point in the story comes when Gopher visits Captain Stubing (Gavin MacLeod) for advice on handling the situation, but the captain is of little help. He refers to Rachel with deep skepticism, saying he doesn’t know much about “these kinds of people” who are “different.” This clarifies the situation for Gopher, prompting him to passionately defend his old friend.“She probably has more guts than both you and I combined. Would you have any idea what she probably had to go through before she even reached the decision she did? The strings of doctors and the tests that you have to take, and who knows what else,” Gopher says. “Not to mention the pure physical and emotional pain of the whole thing. This takes courage.”Finally, Gopher meets up with Rachel and tells her that he wants their friendship to continue. “Are you crazy? Just give up on a friendship that has taken years to build? I take that as a personal insult. I liked you as a man,” Gopher says.This poignant episode of The Love Boat is a fantastic example of a TV show sensitively dealing with trans issues, which is surprising, given that it was broadcast 43 years ago. It was a learning moment for Gopher and the millions of people watching on TV when Rachel explained the feelings she had that led to her transition and the brave course of action she took to complete the gender affirmation. We also get to see Gopher go from discomfort to admiration after he understands what Rachel has gone through and sees her for who she really is.Ultimately, it’s nice to look back on pop culture and see that, at a time when being transgender wasn’t a hot-button political issue, and a relatively milquetoast TV show aimed at mainstream America could discuss the issue with sensitivity and understanding. For some in the audience, it may have been the first time they’ve considered what a trans person must go through to transition. For others who watched the show while suffering the pains of gender dysphoria, the sympathetic look at someone in the same shoes could have been life-saving.

I don’t think anyone scoffs at The Beach Boys’ brilliant, ornately layered vocal harmonies, thinking, "So what? I could do that!" But after hearing "Wouldn’t It Be Nice" or "God Only Knows" on the radio for several decades, it’s possible we’ve all become a bit numb to their musicality. These are not easy songs to sing so precisely, with such character and emotion, and these guys were doing it (mostly) in the all-analog era—pre-dating the lucrative studio cheat code of digital pitch correction. When you open up the hood of a song like "California Girls," studying the beloved vocal blend at its core, it makes you appreciate the song even more. And Chris Cron, a member of the Beach Boys tribute band Pet Sounds Live, has taken it one step further on his social media accounts—recreating many of the band’s classic harmonies layer by layer, one part at a time, and looping them into semi-live-in-the-studio performances. It’s incredible stuff. See on Instagram Breaking down The Beach Boys' signature harmoniesHis first such video was for The Beach Boys’ 1963 surf-rock/doo-wop staple "In My Room," with Cron working his way through each part (bass, baritone, tenor two, and tenor one) of the song’s swoon-worthy first verse and chorus. It’s an eye-opening education on the architecture of harmony. When you hear the bass vocal in isolation, it almost feels empty—because it technically is without the other parts! But if you were to strip away that foundation, the house would crumble. "Performed live in my room," Cron wrote in the Instagram caption. 'No edits, or tweaks." (That’s his M.O. for almost all of these videos—he appears to highlight the very rare occasion when he uses software.) "This is just plain among the best clips I’ve ever seen on Instagram," one viewer wrote in the comments. "This is so f**king awesome. Thank you for posting this. I have been singing along and played this So many damn times." Another added, "The fact that you didn't auto tune this makes me so freaking happy. Amazing job!"Elsewhere on his page, Cron ventures way beyond The Beach Boys, nailing songs by The Beatles, Steely Dan (can’t recommend enough his breakdown of "Peg"), The Eagles, Queen, Coldplay, even Monty Python and Muse. But naturally, given his work in Pet Sounds Live, there are plenty more Beach Boys videos, including his versions of "Please Let Me Wonder," "Don’t Worry Baby," "Surfer Girl," "California Girls," "God Only Knows," "Good Vibrations," and "Wouldn’t It Be Nice." See on Instagram Joining the actual Beach Boys on stageThere’s also another notable video connected to the pop mavericks: On October 26, Cron broke from his typical format to announce, "I get to sing with the actual Beach Boys! This is not a joke!" The musician noted he "got a phone call" from Jackie Love, wife of Beach Boys singer Mike Love, "asking if I would mind filling in for a few dates for them." He added, "I get to sing lead on 'God Only Knows' and 'Good Vibrations' and 'Help Me, Rhonda.' What is happening?" In a later post, he mentioned preparing to head out for gigs with the band, Love, and occasional live member John Stamos, admitting, "There’s a sentence I never thought I’d say."This technically wasn’t his first time gracing the stage with The Beach Boys. As he explained in 2024 to WDHA 105.5, he originally met Stamos through "all this Instagram stuff" and was introduced to the band’s "music director," Brian Eichenberger. He wound up attending a Beach Boys show in Kentucky and was asked to sing on their 1988 hit "Kokomo." For the fall run, Cron said he’d join the stage for four shows in Florida: November 14 at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, followed by a trio of gigs (Nov. 15-17) at EPCOT in Orlando. In response to one comment, he wrote, "I am equal parts excited and terrified haha." But based on the immaculate performances in his room, I’m sure it was nothing but good vibrations up there. See on Instagram

Even though Americans and British people technically speak the same language, there are some major differences in our English vernacular. For instance, if you were to give someone from the United States and someone from England this prompt:Draw a kid in a jumper eating chips, biscuits, and flapjacks while watching football.You would end up with two very different drawings. The words jumper, chips, biscuits, flapjacks, and football all have completely different meanings in American English vs. British English. Most of us know the football vs. soccer difference, but the others may be unfamiliar. Football is soccer, except when it's football. Giphy Words in the same language having different meanings based on geography can be confusing for English language learners, especially when they're learning how to order food in a restaurant. Here are some differences just with foods alone: ChipsIn the U.S., chips means potato chips. As in Lay's, Ruffles, etc. In the U.K., those are called "crisps," while chips means french fries. Hence fish and chips meaning fish and fries, not fish and Ruffles. BiscuitsWhen Americans talk about biscuits, we're talking about fluffy, flaky baked balls of dough smothered in butter and served with either soups or meat and mashed potatoes, generally. Buttermilk biscuits are an American staple. Not so in the U.K. where a biscuit simply means "cookie." What we call a biscuit, they call a scone. We have scones in the U.S., too, but our definition is generally more limited to the triangular, sweet kind. British scones also cover what we think of as biscuits. Biscuits in the U.S. vs. biscuits in the U.K.Photo credit: CanvaFlapjacksA flapjack in the U.S. is synonymous with pancake—the breakfast staple. A flapjack in the U.K. is a baked oat bar, almost like a granola bar. PuddingIf you order a sticky toffee pudding in the U.K. and expect to get a custard-like substance, you'd be disappointed. Pudding is a general term for a dessert in the U.K., whereas it specifically means a custard dessert in the U.S. Pudding in the U.K. vs. pudding in the U.S. Photo credit: CanvaThere's also the opposite issue, where we use different words for the same foods as opposed to the same words for different foods. In the U.K., a zucchini is a courgette, an eggplant is an aubergine, cilantro is coriander, a grilled cheese sandwich is a toastie, and Jell-O is jelly.Clothing also can be confusing for folks learning English from an American vs. a Brit. Here are some words:Jumper vs. SweaterIn the U.K., a jumper is what we call a sweater. In the U.S. a jumper is kind of like a mix between overalls and a dress—a sleeveless garment generally worn over something else. Pants vs. Underpants vs. TrousersWhat Americans call pants, folks in the U.K. call trousers. (Americans know the word trousers, but we don't use it much.) Pants in the U.K. vs. pants in the U.S. Photo credit: CanvaVest vs. Waistcoat vs. Undershirt This one is super counterintuitive for Americans. A "vest" in the U.K. is an undershirt, like a thin t-shirt or tank top. What Americans think of as a vest, the Brits call a waistcoat. Braces vs. SuspendersThis one is also counterintuitive for Americans. For us, braces are either the orthodontia that straightens our teeth or a supportive apparatus that stabilizes a body part (a leg brace, wrist brace, etc.). But braces in the U.K. has another meaning, which is what we call suspenders. In the U.K., suspenders don't hold up pants—those are braces—but they do hold up stockings, which isn't the way we use that word. Bonnet and BootA bonnet is a head covering in both the U.S. and the U.K., but the Brits also use the word for the hood of a car. Boots are shoes that go above the ankle in both countries, but a boot is also the trunk of a car in the U.K. That's not the end of the list of words that differ between American English and British English, but it's a good start. For folks learning English as a second language, it's at least good to know that some things you learn will really depend on where your teacher is from so you don't end up disappointed when you order pudding or biscuits at a restaurant and get something totally different.

The London four-piece are proven to release dopamine. The post The Led Zeppelin song guaranteed to give you chills, according to science first appeared on Far Out Magazine.