Edited From original article in CU Boulder Today by Lisa Marshall At the peak of the pandemic in 2021, teenagers from Sackets Harbor, New York, got certified as ambulance drivers and took over running the local emergency medical service when the usual, much older, volunteers had to step away due to COVID-19 concerns. In Los […] The post The Pandemic May Have Changed Young People for the Better: A Positive Take on The ‘COVID Generation  appeared first on Good News Network.

Did you grow up feeling like everyone had the same name as you? You might have been one of those kids in class who had to go by their first name and their last initial because there were several of you in the same homeroom. According to the Social Security Administration, Michael has been the most popular boys’ name in the United States 44 times since 1949. On May 6, 2026, the name’s popularity will pay off. To help roll out the new Steak & Cheese Melt, Firehouse Subs will give every person named Mike a free sub. No catch, and there are a lot more free sandwiches than you may think. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Firehouse Subs (@firehousesubs) Firehouse Subs Will Treat Every Mike, Michael, and Other Derivatives to a Free Sub According to a release, Firehouse Subs will offer a free sub to anyone named Mike, Michael, Mikey, Miguel, Michelle, Michele, or Michaela. Yep, that’s a lot of free subs. The new Seak & Cheese Melt is made with flame-seared USDA Choice prime rib, melted provolone, brown-sugar-caramelized onions, and bell peppers on the special Firehouse Subs top-cut roll. The sandwich packs an impressive 42 grams of protein. Firehouse Subs CEO Mike Hancock loves his name and his subs, so why not let all the other Michaels out there give it a shot? “We’re proud of this sub – the prime rib, the caramelized onions, the top-cut roll. Once people try it, we think it earns its place among the best steak subs out there,” he said in a news release. “Sharing it with every Mike in America felt like a great way to kick things off.” This offer is good only on May 6, 2026. You must have a valid ID with the qualifying name at the time of redemption. Firehouse Subs is more than just a sandwich shop; it’s backed by a good cause. “A portion of every purchase at Firehouse Subs benefits the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation®, which provides lifesaving equipment and resources to first responders and public safety organizations across the country. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $107 million to local first responders across North America,” per the news release. This story’s featured image is by Laura Kalcheff Getty Images

In American culture, which still carries a hint of Puritanism from its early years, excessive partying can be seen as hedonistic, immature, and unhealthy. Party people are often criticized for being undisciplined, directionless, and irresponsible with their money. Dan Buettner, a National Geographic fellow and expert on Blue Zones, says that going out and dancing until the crack of dawn is good for us and can even help us live longer. He learned the power of partying through his research on Blue Zones, five regions of the world where people live longer and have the greatest chance of reaching 100. The five Blue Zones are: Ikaria, Greece Loma Linda, California  Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica Okinawa, Japan Sardinia, Italy View this post on Instagram “So in America, we tend to associate partying with decadence. But in the Blue Zones, partying is actually a longevity hack,” Buettner said in an Instagram video. “Why? Because when people get together for celebrations in the Blue Zone, they’re dancing. It can be an all-night dance party where they’re getting great physical activity. They’re remaking social bonds that exist throughout the village, and they last for years.” Buettner adds that in many Blue Zones, people don’t just party to hang out with their friends; they also help their communities. “In Icaria, for example, people donate all the food and the wine. The partygoers pay for that food and wine, but the proceeds all go to a school or to build a bridge the village needs or to a family that’s down on its luck,” he said. “So it’s this beautiful, virtuous circle. People get physical activity, build their connections, and help others. That’s what builds a Blue Zone, and that is the foundation to longevity.” People enjoying a dance party. Photo credit: Canva What are the “Power 9”? According to Buettner, there are nine common denominators across the five Blue Zones, and their party habits satisfy four of them: Move Naturally Dancing and milling about socializing is practical exercise. “The world’s longest-lived people don’t pump iron, run marathons, or join gyms. Instead, they live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it.” Downshift A party is a great way to de-stress after a hard week. “What the world’s longest-lived people have that we don’t are routines to shed that stress.” Wine At 5 There’s nothing wrong with having a drink or two; in fact, it may help with longevity. “People in all Blue Zones (except Adventists) drink alcohol moderately and regularly.” Purpose Having a party that supports the community gives people a sense of purpose. “Knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to seven years of extra life expectancy.” People in the club. Photo credit: Canva The remaining “Power 9” The remaining “Power 9” includes: 80% Rule (eating smaller meals) Plant Slant (eating a lot of vegetables and beans) Belong (having a faith-based community) Loved Ones First (centenarians in the Blue Zones put their families first) Right Tribe (strong social networks) Buettner’s video asks us to rethink what’s really going on when people go out to party. On the one hand, it can look decadent, but on the other, we’re building stronger social connections, getting some exercise, and enjoying a few drinks—which may help us live longer. The post Blue Zone expert shares why partying all night isn’t decadent, it’s a key to longevity appeared first on Upworthy.

Some explainer videos fill you with a newfound sense of appreciation for little things you took for granted. This is not one of those times.  “Make hotel scrambled eggs with me,” Elizabeth Emmert, a hotel kitchen worker, began in a now mega-viral clip on TikTok.  However, before delving into the process, she warned, “You might never want them again.” What followed was a breakfast routine that seemed better suited for a spaceship—or maybe a horror movie Nary an egg was to be seen as Emmert grabbed a plastic bag full of sunny yellow goop (yum) and tossed it into a microwave. After the egg sack cooked for a few minutes, its yolk-like contents coagulated into a squishy, solid substance. She then cut the bag open, dumped the contents into a tray, and mashed them into small chunks. And voilà: hotel eggs. @elizabeth.emmert ♬ TY FOR USING MY SOUND – ໒꒰ྀི ๑ ´ ˘ ` ू ꒱ྀིაᰔᩚ܀∘˚ “Whelp, that’s ruined my appetite,” one viewer lamented “[Hotel eggs] taste like they’re made exactly like that,” quipped another.  Why hotels use pre-mixed eggs There are a few benefits hotels and other buffet-style establishments get from using pre-scrambled batches for their breakfast rushes. The first and most obvious is efficiency. Pre-mixed eggs allow for large-batch cooking in advance, without the need to crack hundreds of shells or do as much cleanup. Not to mention, you get a consistent batch virtually every time. Eggs cooking in a skillet. Photo credit: Canva Then there’s cost. Premixed eggs are significantly cheaper, at around 19 cents per ounce (according to one restaurant food supplier, at least). Compare that to anywhere from $2.50 to over $6.00 for a carton of eggs. However, this method does come with health concerns View this post on Instagram Apart from the fact that these “eggs” may not taste as good as the real thing, there are a few other issues to consider. For one thing, the longer this dish sits out, the greater the risk of salmonella and other bacteria—especially if the tray remains open and the heat source goes out. Plus, depending on the brand of liquid or powdered eggs the hotel is using, there may be preservatives in the mix to improve shelf life. And then, as many mentioned, there’s the potential consumption of what one viewer calls the “secret ingredient” of hotel eggs: microplastics. And yet, for some commenters, there simply isn’t a deterrent strong enough to decline a free breakfast  “I mean if it’s free with stay, I ain’t complaining.” “Girl move, I DON’T CARE. Give me my free hotel breakfast.” “Lil pepper and hot sauce and some of that nasty cheap bread toasted and I’m all set babe.” To each their own. But suddenly, the yogurt-and-banana option looks way more appetizing. The post Hotel employee shares how to make hotel eggs, and warns ‘you might never want them again’ appeared first on Upworthy.

When we think back to what we might deem the best of times, at least in terms of age, the answers are multilayered and, of course, subjective. For some, it’s age five, when even the smallest dandelion seemed whimsical. For others, it’s freshman year of college, when we perhaps felt truly autonomous and ready for reinvention. At the Carrington Court Assisted Living and Memory Care facility in Utah, elderly residents were asked the simple question: “What was your favorite age of life?” While The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” underscores the video, a handful of people give their unique answers. Many of them are downright surprising. View this post on Instagram In one clip shared on Instagram, we see senior citizens tackling the question. The caption reads, “You can still hit milestones at 93!” The first woman in the clip answers quickly. “25,” she says. She’s asked why, and she laughs while explaining, “My dad had bought me a new convertible car for my birthday. And I just drove it and drove it and drove it!” We cut to the next resident, who answers, “About 63. Not too long ago, because I was looking forward to retiring.” The next woman has a harder time making a choice. “I have so many,” she shares, “because my children have been very busy in their life and I’ve been busy in mine, and enjoyed what we were doing.” View this post on Instagram A man is asked, and he doesn’t have to think about it long. “Last year!” This is followed by the obvious question: “Last year? How old were you?” He vulnerably shares, “Oh my goodness. I don’t remember.” But when his memory is prompted, he remembers he’s now 94. He continues, “Last year. Because I had no interest in life until this wonderful woman here brought it back to me.” The camera then pans over to the woman who had answered 63. She chuckles lovingly while absorbing the compliment. Another man who is asked the same question says, “My favorite year of life would have to be probably when I was 17 or 18, because I was able to win a contest on a project I had made on my own lathe or a project on my dad’s lathe. And it took first place.” Other videos shared on their social media pages show residents being asked the same question, with various answers: “Hopscotch, true love, babies, childhood farms.” Whatever it was for each, it was tied to moments embedded in their memories that brought them pure bliss. The comment section seems moved by their answers, with plenty of opinions of their own. Some share how they would have answered: “I’m gonna vote 63, although I’m not there yet.” This person can’t decide: “Who can pick just one… first true loves, seeing bands and just livin’… then the kids come along, and is anything better? Then they’re gone, but you’ve got money and time, and still can party and have fun… and I’m supposed to pick one, no can do.” A few offer success stories from people in their lives: “My widowed aunt got remarried at 94. She’s now 99.” Another had a similar experience with a family member: “My Mom met the love of her life at 80 in her Assisted Living home. They loved life together for the rest of their lives.” The truth is that well-being researchers have studied the topic of happiness for quite some time. The consensus, at least for a handful of people, seems to be that we’re happiest in our twenties, take a big dip in middle age, and rediscover happiness again in older age. View this post on Instagram This is known as the U-shaped happiness curve. While some dispute its accuracy and are quick to point out biases (as is often the case with studies), many take solace in the idea that there is always hope. And instead of thinking of “40” as “over the hill,” as it used to be so popular to claim, the idea that it’s actually uphill after—or at least could be—is promising. Even just from the tiny sample received from the senior living home, it seems pretty clear: it’s not over till it’s over. The post Elderly people are asked their ‘favorite age of life,’ and their answers are truly beautiful appeared first on Upworthy.