Karen and Richard Carpenter were the king and queen of AM soft rock in the 1970s. They were billed as clean-cut, all-American kids, and their sound matched the vibe, with Karen’s beautiful voice and Richard’s lush arrangements. The duo had three number-one hits, and 12 top-ten singles in America, including “Top of the World,” “We’ve Only Just Begun,” and “(They Long to Be) Close to You.” The group was unique because Karen both played drums and sang. It was rare for a woman to play the drums back in the 1960s and ’70s, and even rarer for a band to have its drummer as the lead singer. As we’ll see in a moment, Karen was exceptional as both a singer and a drummer. Karen started drumming in 1965 at Downey High School near Los Angeles, initially to get out of class, but she soon fell in love with playing the drums. “That is such an overused line, but I started anyway,” she said. “I picked up a pair of sticks, and it was the most natural-feeling thing I’ve ever done.” The Carpenters’ 1973 performance on The Tonight Show In 1973, at the height of their career, the Carpenters appeared on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, where they performed a medley of hits, including “Superstar,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” and “Goodbye to Love,” with Karen standing and singing while a session drummer played behind the kit. After the performance, the duo sat down with Carson to discuss the perils of touring before teeing up their final song, “Mr. Guder,” a tune about a Disneyland manager who fired the siblings in 1967. Karen Carpenter was an incredible drummer What’s incredible is that, on top of singing the song, she also takes intricate jazz solos and makes them look effortless. From this performance, it’s easy to see why the band initially began as a jazz ensemble. When the Carpenters became big in 1969, Karen played drums during their entire live set, but audiences and critics complained that they had a hard time seeing her on stage. In 1971, management pushed her to front the band standing up, like a traditional lead singer. “Well, they finally got the message across to me; they want me to get up,” she told Carson. But it started even earlier than that In 1968, billed as the Richard Carpenter Trio, Karen showed off her skills behind the kit in a performance of “Dancing in the Street” with her brother and his Cal State Long Beach schoolmate, bassist Wes Jacobs. At 2:43, Karen pulls off an incredible solo: KAREN CARPENTER wasn't just a Drummer, she was a really good one. None other than Buddy Rich seriously rated her.Here she is with a little solo in 1968 aged just 18. pic.twitter.com/FGHTmAEi3b— Michael Warburton (@For_Film_Fans) June 28, 2026 The Carpenters continued to have success through the ’70s, but as the decade drew to a close, Richard struggled with substance abuse, and Karen began to suffer the effects of a long-term eating disorder. Karen died on February 4, 1983, due to complications from anorexia nervosa. This article originally appeared in January. It has been updated. The post In 1973, Karen Carpenter left Johnny Carson’s audience in awe with a virtuoso singing and drumming medley appeared first on Upworthy.

Poet Robert Frost created inspiring poems that are beloved around the world. Frost was known for his simple yet deep style of poetry, and, although he didn’t publish his first book until he was 40, he went on to earn four Pulitzer Prizes. He created a body of work that continues to touch people. Yet, like many great artists, Frost struggled with his mental health throughout his life. (Frost was born in 1874 and died in 1963.) William & Mary English Professor and Frost biographer Henry Hart found that many of Frost’s relatives struggled with schizophrenia as well as depression. “Throughout his life, he struggled to fit in. His education was irregular, routinely disrupted when Frost dropped out after suffering attacks of anxiety and depression that expressed themselves in various physical ailments,” notes the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). A life filled with loss and hardship Frost experienced many hardships during his life, beginning at a young age. His father William Prescott Frost, Jr., died when he was just 11 years old. His sister Jeanie would later suffer from mental illness, and died in a mental hospital. Frost would go on to marry his high school girlfriend, Elinor White, in 1895. The couple had six children, a blessing that came with loads of tragedy. “Four of Frost’s six children died before he did, including Carol, the son who committed suicide. Frost’s daughter Irma suffered mental problems that required hospitalization, and Elinor battled anxiety, too. She died of heart failure in 1938,” according to the NEH. “Frost’s own bouts of depression brought physical and mental anguish. ‘Cast your eye back over my family luck, and perhaps you will wonder if I haven’t had pretty near enough,’ he lamented at one point.” His wife Elinor was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1937, and died in 1938 from heart disease. “She had been the unspoken half of everything I ever wrote,” Frost said. He would go on to live 26 more years without her. Where his most famous quote came from Through these challenges, Frost developed resilience and perseverance. One of his most famous quotes describes his advice on how he pushed through: “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” “In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.”— Robert Frost pic.twitter.com/KEH6sZ6xjU— Philosophy Quotes (@philosophors) June 27, 2026 The quote is reported to come from a September 1954 interview with journalist Ray Josephs for This Week Magazine. During the interview, Josephs asks Frost, “In all your years and all your travels, what do you think is the most important thing you’ve learned about life?” From there, Frost shared his wise insights. “He paused a moment, then with the twinkle sparkling under those brambly eyebrows he replied: ‘In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on. In all the confusions of today, with all our troubles . . . with politicians and people slinging the word fear around, all of us become discouraged . . . tempted to say this is the end, the finish. But life, it goes on. It always has. It always will. Don’t forget that.'” How he’s remembered today Frost died at age 88 in 1963 and was buried in Bennington, Vermont, next to his wife Elinor. Honest about life’s struggles to the end, Frost’s gravestone reads: “I had a lover’s quarrel with the world.” This article originally appeared in January. It has been updated. The post 3 simple words that helped Robert Frost stay resilient through a lifetime of anxiety and depression appeared first on Upworthy.

Being good at making eye contact is a key factor in a successful social and professional life. It’s a make-or-break skill because good eye contact can make you seem likable, while poor eye contact can make you appear shifty. “Eye contact produces a powerful, subconscious sense of connection that extends even to drawn or photographed eyes,” according to Forbes. Studies show that maintaining good eye contact conveys trust, empathy, and social connection. Difficulty maintaining eye contact can create discomfort, distrust, and disconnection. However, maintaining eye contact with others can be uncomfortable, especially for neurologically atypical people. What is the Triangle Method for making eye contact? That’s where the “Triangle Method” comes in; it’s a relaxed way to create the illusion of eye contact while gazing at a more comfortable spot on the other person’s face. There are two versions of the Triangle Method: one for more formal, professional interactions and another for more relaxed, social conversations. The Triangle Method for professional and personal interactions. via Canva/Photos Here’s how the Triangle Method works: 1. Make eye contact with the person you’re speaking to by looking them in the eyes. 2. If this is a professional conversation, slightly lift your gaze to look at their brows. In a social setting, lower your gaze to look at their nose. 3. Return your gaze to their eyes. 4. Repeat this process throughout the conversation. In other variations of the professional Triangle Method, you can look at the center of the forehead instead of the brows. “When you’re in a business situation, the area that you look at is the triangle that connects the forehead and the eyes,” international etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore tells American Express. “That’s what they call the business gaze.” Be sure to move your eyes slowly so they don’t dart back and forth in a way that looks suspicious. The slight shift in your gaze as you move from the eyes to the brow line or nose tip probably won’t be noticed by the person you’re speaking to. It should look as if you’re maintaining perfect eye contact, while giving yourself a break from holding an intense gaze. How often should you make eye contact during a conversation? People often wonder whether they’re maintaining eye contact for too long or too short a time during a conversation. According to Magnet ABA Therapy, the best approach is the 50/70 rule. While speaking with someone, maintain eye contact 50% of the time. While listening to someone speak, hold eye contact for 70% of the time. Maintain eye contact for four to five seconds before slowly glancing away. Why this shifts the whole dynamic When in conversation, it’s essential to focus on what the other person is saying and how you can contribute, rather than worrying about whether you’re making appropriate eye contact. The Triangle Method is a great way to help people who are uncomfortable with eye contact focus on what’s most important: the other person, not just their eyes. This article originally appeared in January. It has been updated. The post Stop struggling with awkward eye contact by using the ‘Triangle Method’ appeared first on Upworthy.

Norway is known for the distinct folk art designs of its knitted sweaters, with geometric snowflakes and nature motifs, but did you know that the reason they look the way they do isn’t purely aesthetic? The clothing expert behind The Iron Snail clothing brand shares all kinds of fascinating facts about textiles on the company’s social media site, and his video about Norwegian sweaters is particularly fascinating. Anyone who has owned a traditional, authentic Norwegian sweater knows that they are warm. Not like normal sweater warm, but warmer than a full-on coat warm. But why? Here’s the secret behind the warmth As the video explains, Norwegians perfected the art of stranded knitting to create a sweater that’s warmer than a fur coat or a wool coat, and without all the bulk. Instead of knitting with one strand of yarn, this method uses two strands, essentially creating a double layer of wool that insulates heat incredibly well. The designs serve as a way to anchor the two different yarn strands together, in addition to looking beautiful. Being able to wear a sweater outside instead of a hefty coat makes it easier to do work in the cold, snowy mountains. And people had a lot to say about it With over seven million views and over 2,000 comments, it’s clear people are intrigued: “I’m a big fan of stranded colorwork, but I had only thought of the visuals. It hadn’t occurred to me that all the floats would in fact make wearables warmer! And one thing about it is that the strands would add an insulation layer of yarn, and a second layer with the air between the floats and the knitting (which if you’ve got a comforter or duvet, you know how warm that air can keep you), but it takes way less yarn than a full knit layer, so it definitely saves on material!” “I get it from a materials perspective. It’s an insulating layer with its own bulit-in mesh liner. More negative space near the skin, better breathability/moisture control and less heat loss.” “I always figured that elaborate patterns like this serve a purpose beyond looks, most likely ease of making or strengthening the knitting, but it’s nice to get confirmation.” “I was lucky enough to receive a Dale sweater as a gift when I was 15. At the time I didn’t realize the story behind these sweaters, and I had no idea how expensive they are. Believe me when I say that these things truly last a lifetime – 20 years later, I still have and use the same sweater, and it’s still in almost perfect condition. It’s one of the only cherished items in my wardrobe and I also think it’s one of the ugliest things I own.” “I thrifted a Norway sweater years ago without really fully knowing how awesome they were (I knit and liked it for that) it is literally the BEST thing I have ever thrifted by a long shot. So warm! So comfy! I also get a lot of compliments on it and people recognize the knit style which makes my fibre art loving heart happy.” “AND as you wear it, if the sweater is 100% wool, the yarns will felt together a little bit, making those floats on the inside super sturdy and even less likely to catch your fingers.” So what does one of these actually cost? Norwegian sweaters are functional works of art, and the price reflects that fact. A traditional Norwegian sweater will easily run in the $200–$300 range. The official sweater of the Norwegian Olympic team, made by Dale of Norway (a company that has been making sweaters for nearly 150 years), costs $350. But this style of sweater isn’t only found in Norway. Often referred to as Nordic sweaters, they can be found all over Scandinavia and Iceland. They may set you back some dough, but they’re worth the investment if you’re looking for a high-quality, heirloom textile that keeps you as warm as a wool coat without the bulk. You can follow The Iron Snail on YouTube for more cool clothing history and facts. This article originally appeared in January. It has been updated. The post Clothing expert explains how Norwegian sweater designs make them warmer than a wool coat appeared first on Upworthy.

A team of materials scientists in China have developed a solar-powered device that can produce freshwater from seawater with better economics than bottled water. By creating a weave of nanomaterials and organic polymers which were both durable and highly reflective, they created a device that could absorb 90.2% of incoming sunlight and use it to […] The post New Solar Tech Makes Desalinating Seawater Cheaper Than Producing Bottled Water appeared first on Good News Network.