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5 Things We Miss About The Glory Days Of The Early Internet

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The internet was introduced at the end of the 1960s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that a large portion of the world really had access to it. These days, almost everyone in developed countries has internet access, and it has changed a lot since those early days of the 1990s and early 2000s. Let’s take a look at internet history, get a little bit nostalgic, and talk about five things that we miss about those glory days of the world wide web.

Anonymity 

In today’s world, online anonymity is a luxury. It’s difficult to keep all of your personal information out of view. While there are still forums like Reddit where you can remain anonymous, there are plenty of others that require you to sign up using your Google or Facebook accounts that have your real name. Because of this, anonymity has been taken away for a lot of people, and that doesn’t even count the number of people being ‘doxxed’ online.

Let’s say you’re a content creator that rubs one viewer the wrong way. That person is likely to attempt to track down your personal information, including your full name and address. It’s scary to think about what people can do with that info, and it wasn’t really something that we saw in the early days of the internet.

Simplicity of Emotes

On every Android and Apple device, you’ll find a variety of emotes to accompany any and all of your messages, comments, and posts. Typically when you’re chatting on the phone, or in person, you can easily read each other’s emotions, sarcasm, and mannerisms. Emojis add a personal touch that you can’t really achieve through plain text. 

Back in the glory days of the internet, you had to get creative and make use of the buttons on your keyboard to form simple, yet effective, emotes. Though that era has come and gone, we will never forget the fun we had coming up with the OG emotes. 

Social Media Not Being Weaponized

Just about everyone on Earth uses some form of social media. With easily accessible apps, like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and various dating apps, there’s an array of alternative forms of communication. Compared to the few select methods of communication available back in the day, like calling someone’s landline, talking in person, posting in online forums, or sending emails. 

The problem with social media today is that the more popular it becomes, the higher the chances of coming across internet trolls with bad intentions. Of course, there are always going to be some bad eggs in the bunch, but today’s social media has given more of them a platform to go about their bullying and abuse. 

Safe From Being Turned Into a Meme

Memes have officially taken over internet culture. There’s a meme for just about every occasion, that’s happy, sad, funny, or dark. In most instances, memes are harmless fun and provide the masses with laughter. Though, that’s not always the case. Memes have often been weaponized for abuse and bullying toward unknowing targets. 

Memes are seemingly harmless, but when an abusive meme gains traction and attention, it can ruin lives. That’s why we miss the good ol’ days of the internet when your misfortune wouldn’t become a meme. Part of that was how few people had cameras rolling 24 hours a day and the amount of time it took to upload a video or make a gif. Now, just about anyone can do it within seconds.

Lack of Advertising/Subscriptions

In the early days of the Internet, almost everything was confined to message boards and instant messaging services. Even when you went to major websites, you didn’t see a whole lot of advertising outside of some affiliate links. While those major websites still have affiliate links that aren’t pervasive, almost everything else is sponsored content. This is especially true when it comes to video and streaming services.

These days, it’s impossible to watch a YouTube video without getting an advertisement, and even the best adblockers can’t stop ads on streaming websites. Plus, almost every big website and streaming service has a subscription service, leading to users getting nickeled and dimed each month on top of paying for the internet.

Texting Etiquette: 5 Tips For When You Are Starting To Date Someone

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Texting was introduced at the end of 1992, but it wouldn’t be until around a decade later that it became something that just about everybody was doing on their phones. Now, without the restraints of texting limits and the introduction of messaging apps, people are spending most of their days responding to texts or starting new conversations. This includes texting their significant others or potential love interests.

Texting has become an integral part of dating, and you want to make sure that you don’t mess it up when you start dating someone. There are a few unwritten rules that you should follow if you want to find success while dating. Here are five of those tips that will keep you looking good in the eyes of your new partner.

Don’t Bombard Them With Messages

After you first start seeing someone, it’s easy to get carried away trying to keep the conversation and chemistry alive. You might find yourself wanting to send your newfound love interest message after message, even before they’ve responded to your previous messages. It’s okay to feel excited and chatty, but remember to be considerate of the other person and keep your messages more condensed. Your new flame will love hearing their phone go off, knowing it’s you messaging them, but they likely don’t want notifications constantly going off and interrupting their day. 

Be Respectful and Patient

We all lead relatively busy lives, but there’s always time for love. With that said, we all deserve patience and understanding when we have personal priorities to tend to. Set and respect each others’ time and privacy, even when you’re texting. Nobody likes an anxious texter who relentlessly sends messages wondering what they’re up to and vying for attention. It’s normal to want attention and if you feel you’re not getting enough, bring it up to your new partner. Otherwise, understand that patience is key and they’ll respect you more when you respect their time. 

Don’t Be Clingy  

When you’re in love, you’ll feel enchanted by someone else’s presence and want to be around them all the time. If you’re not careful, your new love may lose interest and think you’re overly clingy. It’s important to set boundaries and maintain each others’ individuality to keep things fresh and comfortable. Set time to spend together and time to focus on your separate interests. Give them a heads-up when you’re doing your own thing, so they don’t think you’re ignoring them. Respect each other’s free time and learn to feel comfortable with each other at a distance. 

Initiate Conversation 

We’ve all been through the dilemma of how soon to text back and debating on whether to make the first move. Being unsure can result in a communication standoff, where neither of you take initiative to begin a conversation and take too long to reply. It’s the new age of dating and playing “follow the leader” is a pretty big turn-off for most. Rather than sit and wait for your new love interest to text you, start the conversation yourself and include topics that interest the both of you to keep things flowing. 

Keep it PG-13

This is probably the most crucial tip when you start texting your new love interest. Don’t get ahead of yourself and jump right into adult conversation. Save that for later when you’re both more comfortable and acquainted with one another. Unless you’re both purely interested in keeping it R-rated, of course. Stick to light flirting and getting to know each other better to start. Moving too quickly could scare away your new love interest and end in disaster. Being on the same page about your intentions and confirming your partner’s consent is so important, even through a text exchange. 

KFC Menus Across The Globe: 7 Key Differences Between The USA and France

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Back in the day, Kentucky Fried Chicken was a regional treat that only a small portion of the United States knew about. It didn’t take long for that restaurant to grow, though, and it became a staple around the world. Eventually, the name was simply abbreviated to KFC and almost every major country on Earth got at least one.

The start of the 1970s saw most of the big European countries land a KFC, but it took until 1991 for France to join the fray with seven locations. The following year, though, all of them closed. Thankfully for KFC fans in France, the restaurant got back into the market in 2001, this time with a much more polished plan. Now, there are around 250 KFC locations in France, and their menu looks a lot different than the United States one. Here are seven key differences between the French and American KFC menus.

Variety of Sides

KFC France changes up the usual mac and cheese, mashed potatoes gravy, and coleslaw sides that are seen in American KFCs. In France, you get choices like corn on the cob, crispy onion rings, melty-fried cheese balls, tomatoes, and side salads. It’s surprising they don’t include most of the standard sides, but we’re kind of jealous of KFC France for their variety of sides. 

Salads

Fresh salads became a staple of fast food in the United States after the documentary “Supersize Me” led to more health-conscious menus. Sadly, most of those fast-food salads have gone by the wayside. KFC France has some of the more desirable salads in the fast food world, though. They offer a chicken Caesar Parmesan salad and a chicken tomato mozzarella salad. Both of which can come with a vegetarian meat substitute as well. 

Hot Beverages  

Something you’ll likely never see at KFCs across America are the hot beverages found at KFC France. They offer cappuccinos, lattes, espressos, hot chocolate, mochaccinos, and tea. The tasty beverages are served in cups that look pretty similar to the chicken buckets, an interesting choice on their behalf. It makes sense that a place like France would include that café touch, even in their KFCs.

Chicken Dogs 

A new menu item that has recently been added to KFC France is one that you’ll be rather surprised to see. The chicken hotdog is all the rage at the locations in France, but it’s not an actual hotdog. Instead, it’s a crispy chicken tender formed to fit comfortably in a poppy and sesame seed-covered hotdog bun. The fun treat comes topped with a touch of mustard, a drizzle of cheese sauce, and bacon is optional. 

Dessert 

One of the biggest differences you’ll see in KFCs across France versus American KFCs is their wider selection of desserts. KFC France features menu items like a Nutella muffin, brookies, chocolate chunk cookies, and sweetly topped sundaes like the cookie and peanut butter sundae, brownie sundae, Nutella sundae, and Snickers sundae, to name a few. American KFCs really only offer a chocolate chip cookie for dessert, so your choices are pretty limited compared to KFC France. 

Boxmaster

So far, KFC France gets points for creativity, especially with this next menu item. It’s called “Boxmaster”. We’re not quite sure why, but we’re too intrigued to care. This tasty treat is made up of a crispy breaded chicken filet, lettuce, tomato, sliced American cheese, and a fried potato patty, all bundled together in a wheat wrap. It’s great for people on the go and a bit lighter than heavier items like chicken sandwiches. 

Chicken Sandwiches 

Speaking of chicken sandwiches, there’s a big difference in those between the US and France. American KFC’s typically top their chicken sandwiches with heaps of mayonnaise and pickles. In France, their chicken sandwiches are topped with lettuce, tomato, an American cheese slice, a variety of yummy sauces, and even crispy onion straws. It makes for more unique flavor combinations and a refreshing take on the classic chicken sandwich. 

Essential Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Car Running Smoothly

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Simply owning a car can be a lot of work, and it can also be very expensive. However, the maintenance of a car is nothing compared to the cost of an emergency breakdown that results from a lack of maintenance. If you’re new to car ownership or just want to be more on top of your maintenance, we’ll break down exactly what you should be doing, and how often. Here are some essential maintenance tips to keep your car running smoothly.

Oil

The one thing that most car owners know first and foremost is the oil change. After all, there’s a little sticker that sits in the corner of your windshield showing you when you should get an oil change. The recommendation is that you change the oil and filter after 3,000 miles or every three months, but it’s not the same for every car. Newer cars can go for longer without an oil change, but make sure to read the owner’s manual to find the exact recommendation.

Air Filters

One of the cheapest car maintenance procedures that people often overlook is changing the air filter. At most, this will cost around $80 but usually isn’t more than $30 or $40. The biggest question for most people is how often the air filter should be changed. Oftentimes, the mechanics who change your oil will push for a new air filter, but it can typically be done every 15,000 miles instead of 3,000. It really depends on how much you drive and the environment around you. Those who live in dustier areas with more traffic will want to change their air filters more frequently.

Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers are things that we don’t really think about until we need them. Have you ever been caught in a torrential downpour just to realize that your wipers are out of date, then forget to replace them after the storm? It happens all the time, but wipers should really be thought about. It’s recommended that you replace the wipers every six months and that it should be even less for those that live in areas with more precipitation whether it be snow or rain.

Tires

Tires require a lot of regular maintenance, and it isn’t just one thing that you should be doing. Whenever you can, check the air pressure on your tires to make sure that they’re in a safe zone. Too much or too little air can be extremely dangerous, so a quick check will let you know if danger is brewing. There’s also the matter of rotating your tires, which should be done around every 6,000 miles, or whenever the owner’s manual suggests.

Then there’s the matter of replacing your tires completely. Of course, it depends on the weather in your area and how many miles you’re putting on your tires, but the rule of thumb is that you should be going no more than six years on the same tires. If you want to go by mileage, it should be between 50,000 to 60,000, but never more than 80,000.

Lights

If you’re someone that works on your own car without going to the mechanic, you should be checking all of the lights on your car about twice per year. Thankfully, lights are easy to check for any mechanic, especially with the equipment that they have on hand. Because of this, most lights (brake lights, turn signals, etc.) are all checked every time that someone brings their car in. If any fix is needed, they tend to be on the cheaper side of things and don’t often pose any immediate threat if not taken care of.

Fluids

Outside of motor oil, there are a few other vital fluids that your car depends on to run at its best. The first one of these is transmission fluid, which should be changed every three years or 30,000 miles. Your transmission going out is going to be one of the most expensive fixes, so it’s important to make sure that the fluids are up to speed.

Power steering fluid is another big one that needs attention, and the same 30,000 mile/3-year rule should follow. Brake fluid also needs to be changed, coming every three years. Coolant should be about every three years (though some vehicles can be up to 10 years) while differential oil is up to five years for synthetics.

Other Considerations

There are a handful of other maintenance considerations to make for your car. Your shocks and struts should be changed every 50,000 to 100,000 miles depending on usage. Spark plugs have a similar time window, though they tend to not be changed until around 100,000 miles. The final piece of the puzzle is the serpentine belt, which, again, should be around 50,000 to 100,000 miles.

5 Examples Of Celebrities Pushing The Limit With Career Choices

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There are a lot of actors who get typecast into a certain role that they can’t break out of. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing when it pays the bills, most actors strive for a lot more with their careers. Today, we’ll take a look at some actors who were able to step outside of the typecasting (and perhaps their comfort zones) with fantastic results. These five examples stand out as some of the best instances of celebs pushing the limit with their career choices.

Charlize Theron

South African actress Charlize Theron has been noted as a blonde bombshell since the start of her career thanks to roles in films including “That Thing You Do!”, “The Devil’s Advocate”, and “The Italian Job”. While that has continued to be her standard role for the most part afterward, Theron took on a much different look for the 2003 film “Monster” when she played real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos.

Theron had to undergo a transformation that made her look unrecognizable. Interestingly enough, Theron didn’t know the story of Wuornos when she took on the role. “The guys always get to play those great gay characters, and somehow women always tend to be black and white,” Theron said. “So I knew this was also something very unusual and might never come my way again.” The role earned Tehron an Oscar win for Best Actress in 2004.

Robin Williams

Robin Williams got his career kicked off as a standup comedian, and his slapstick humor translated well onto the small screen as Mork in both “Happy Days” and “Mork & Mindy”. In the 1980s, Williams continued his comedy career with films including “Popeye” and “The World According to Garp” while also adding some more serious roles. After the 1990s when he had a nice mix of comedy and light drama, Williams took on a much more sinister role in 2002’s “One Hour Photo”.

Williams took on the role of Sy Parrish, a retail store photo tech who becomes obsessed with a family. Things turn dark over the course of this 96-minute small-studio film which also stars Connie Nielsen and Michael Vartan. Williams was nominated for a slew of awards, including winning the Saturn Award for Best Actor. The risk ended up paying off for Fox Searchlight as the film earned $52 million against a small budget.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Austrian native Arnold Schwarzenegger has been pushing the limit with his career choices since the very beginning. Schwarzenegger started off as a bodybuilder and received so much notoriety that he began an acting career. Schwarzenegger starred almost exclusively in action movies throughout the early part of his career. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that he branched into comedy, showing off his great timing.

Arnie then made a career jumping back and forth between the two genres before pushing his career even further. Schwarzenegger began a career in politics, running for Governor of California during the 2003 election when Gray Davis was recalled. He ended up winning the position and served as the leader of the state until the start of 2011.

Hilary Swank

Hilary Swank was a gifted child who was a star athlete and actor, performing on stage before she was even 10 years old. Her family had moved around quite a bit before they made their way to Hollywood during her teenage years where she look to begin her professional acting career. When she was 17, Swank made her screen debut on the television series “Evening Shade” while also landing a main role in the short-lived “Camp Wilder”.

As for her film career, Swank starred in several movies including “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and, of course, “The Next Karate Kid”. Things really took an upward trajectory for Swank’s career when she went outside of her comfort zone to star in the 1999 film “Boys Don’t Cry”. Swank starred a transgendered man looking for love, and the role earned Swank the Oscar win for Best Actress.

Matthew McConaughey

When you think of Matthew McConaughey, you tend to think that almost all of his roles are him playing a stoner, surfer, or some other man who’s simply coasting through life in either a romantic comedy or just straight-up comedy. While McConaughey had dabbled into drama just a little bit by 2013, he went fully into it when he took on the role of Ron Woodroof in “Dallas Buyer’s Club”.

Not many thought McConaughey could have pulled off a performance like that, but he ended up earning himself the Oscar win for Best Actor. It also helped McConaughey land more serious roles, including films like “The Wolf of Wall Street”, “Interstellar”, and “Free State of Jones” in the subsequent years. The speech that he gave after winning the Oscar was an all-timer, too.

The Inspirational Stories of Olympic Athletes: Overcoming Adversity

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The Olympic Games are when the best athletes in the world have the opportunity to showcase their talents to see who the most elite really is. Not only that, but they do it in front of an audience of hundreds of millions of people. Throughout the history of the Olympics, there have been some athletes who have had to overcome a lot of obstacles to get to the top.

Let’s take a look at five stories of inspirational Olympic athletes who had adversity thrown at them, only to come out on the other side with a gold medal.

Betty Robinson

A native of Riverdale, Illinois, Betty Robinson found out that she was fast when a teacher saw her trying to catch a train home from school. During her teenage years, Robinson started competing against the best in the world and it was clear that she had what it took to be the fastest. After winning gold at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Robinson suffered a major setback after being involved in a plane crash.

Thankfully, Robinson survived, but it was going to be a long road back. Robinson couldn’t get into the right position for a 100-meter race due to injuries but was able to train for relay races. After missing the 1932 Olympics, Robinson returned for the 1936 games in Berlin, Germany. Along with the rest of her team, Robinson was able to claim the gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay. Robinson returned to normal life afterward, living until the end of the 1990s.

Kerri Strug

The 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia ended up having a ton of memorable moments, especially in the gymnastics competition. The host Americans sent the team known as the Magnificient Seven, which included Tucson, Arizona native Kerri Strug. Strug had competed at the previous Olympics and was part of the bronze medal-winning team in Barcelona. Anything less than gold in 1996, though, would be seen as a failure.

Strug started training in gymnastics when she was just three years old and had struggled with a stomach injury and weight loss that almost knocked her out of competition. Thankfully, Strug was able to get back into form, but she suffered a serious ankle injury during the 1996 games. Still, Strug landed perfectly during her performance and held firm, being carried off by coach Bela Karolyi after sealing the gold.

Max Parrot

It took a long time for snowboarding to be included in the Winter Olympics, and there were many elite athletes ready to make their mark when the sport was introduced. Among them was Max Parrot, who started training in the sport before his 10th birthday. Parrot then went on to become one of the greatest snowboarders in the world, winning medals at the X Games. However, in 2019, Parrot received some hard news.

Parrot was diagnosed with cancer in early 2019, just months after winning a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics. He had to undergo chemotherapy, and despite feeling physically overwhelmed, Parrot continued training for the 2022 games. With the crowd in Beijing looking on, Parrot was able to win his first gold medal in the slopestyle competition. “You have no cardio, you have no energy, you have no muscles,” Parrot said of his recovery, adding that being on the podium “feels amazing.”

Gail Devers

Gail Devers is perhaps the ultimate testament to peak athleticism shining through despite a myriad of health problems. The Seattle, Washington native was a standout athlete in her hometown and earned herself a scholarship to UCLA where she began training for the 1988 Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, Devers began suffering from health problems.

Devers had migraine headaches and lost some of her vision, leading to a Graves disease diagnosis. She had to undergo hormone therapy and radiation treatment while also developing foot ailments that set her back even further. Still, Devers was able to continue training for the Olympics and qualified for the 1992 Barcelona Games. While there, she claimed the gold medal in the 100 meter sprint.

Abebe Bikila

When you think of runners these days, you probably picture them wearing the most state-of-the-art sneakers. Even in the 1960s, shoe technology had come a long way and the best athletes were wearing the best shoes. That wasn’t the case for Abebe Bikila from Ethiopia, however. Instead, he ran barefoot all the way to Olympic gold.

For his second Olympic run, though, Bikila did wear shoes, which may have explained why his time improve so much. Not only that, but Bikila set the new world marathon record in both of his Olympic runs. Bikila went on to become an icon, helping to boost interest in distance running throughout all of Africa.

McDonald’s Menus Across The Globe: 5 Key Differences Between The USA and France

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McDonald’s has more locations than any fast food chain around the world, and that includes around 1,500 of them in France. The fast food giant first entered the French market in the early 1970s and quickly caught on thanks to the standard fare like hamburgers, milkshakes, and of course, French fries.

However, there are some striking differences between the McDonald’s menus in France compared to the United States. France has been one of the key markets where McDonald’s often experiments with menu items, and while not many have transferred over to the US, they became staples of the French menu. Let’s take a look at five key differences between the menu for the two countries.

Vegetarian Options  

In the USA, McDonald’s is known for their greasy, meaty, cheesy fast food burgers. It’s been a McDonald’s staple since it was founded in 1955. Well, did you know that McDonald’s in France offers vegetarian options? 

That will come as a huge shock to the American patrons who have all grown to love the relatively unchanged and standard fast food fare served at their local McDonald’s. McDonald’s in France offers 100% vegetarian options such as the Veggie Paprika, the McVeggie, the Spicy McVeggie, the Homestyle Chargrill Veggie, the Homestyle Honey Mustard Veggie, and the Caesar Salad Veggie. All with a grilled, or fried patty of meat substitute. 

Gluten-free Options 

Another wonderful addition to the McDonald’s France menu is the option to go gluten-free. As you know, American McDonald’s menus don’t offer gluten-free options, besides the products that are naturally gluten-free. 

With the significant increase of customers with dietary restrictions due to allergies, or lifestyle, it’s a real treat for a fast food joint to include gluten-free choices. There are gluten-free cheeseburgers, salads, dressing, sauces, french fries, carrots, and their delicious ice cream-based desserts. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the less than health-conscious options found in Mcdonald’s throughout the US.  

Chicken Wings 

There was once a time when McDonald’s had this customer-favorite item on menus throughout the US. Americans called them Mighty Wings and they were great. They made their debut in 1990, disappearing off the menu in 2004. McDonald’s took another stab at the chicken wing scene once more, briefly reintroducing them in America from 2013 to 2014. 

The reason is simple. Customers couldn’t afford the pricey item and Mcdonald’s is known for having inexpensive food. So it just didn’t work out. These days, you can only get the crunchy snack, newly marketed as McWings, at international locations, such as France.  

Salads

Believe it or not, McDonald’s sells salad. Their salads were sadly taken off the menus in the US as a result of the Covid pandemic, due to lack of funds. Using a variety of ingredients to make their salads, likely a less-than-popular dish at the fast food joint, clearly took a toll on the restaurant’s finances. 

If you’ve been hurting since salads were taken off the menu, you can always make your way to France, where McDonald’s still offers scrumptious salads. They offer mostly Caesar salads and side salads, with a vegetarian chicken substitute option available. 

Desserts

It’s common knowledge that France produces some of the absolute best baked goods on earth. Pristine and delicious baked goods are a way of life in France. So, it makes sense that Mcdonald’s in France offers items like croissants and the beloved pain au chocolat in place of things like bagels, cookies, and cinnamon rolls that you’d find at the US franchises. 

Their McFlurry flavors are unique as well, showcasing chocolate candy flavors like Daim and Toblerone. If that wasn’t enough, McDonald’s France offers our old friend, the fried apple pie that Americans miss dearly.

5 Songs That Changed Politics

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Politics and music seem to go hand-in-hand, with music being the easiest medium of art to voice your opinions on politics while getting a massive amount of people to hear the message. Over the years, there have been plenty of politically charged songs with some of them having a lasting impression that would resonate for decades. Here are our picks for five songs that changed political discourse the most upon their release.

“Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

To this day, whenever we see someone that was able to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War, we assume that they had rich connections. Even eventual President Donald Trump was subject to this criticism as he avoided the war due to bone spurs. That didn’t stop Trump from using it as a campaign song, much to the chagrin of Creedence Clearwater Revival, issuing a cease and desist order.

“Kids did not support the Vietnam War,” CCR lead singer John Fogerty said. “Also, there was a draft, which meant that many of the young men were going to be conscripted into the military. Perhaps against their will.” Fogerty added that “People like me who didn’t support the war and thought it was kind of a stupid foreign policy…but I was drafted, and at some point, you stop kicking and screaming and do your duty.”

“Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen

Another one of those songs that’s played by certain politicians who apparently never listened to the lyrics is “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen. Released in 1984, “Born in the U.S.A.” is an upbeat rock-pop tune, but the lyrics tell a sad story. That story is of a Vietnam veteran who returns to America without purpose and is left unwanted by his government and family. It’s heartbreaking when you hear a more broken-down version of the song that has a patriotic feeling in its album form.

“When you think about all the young men and women that died in Vietnam, and how many died since they’ve been back – surviving the war and coming back and not surviving – you have to think that, at the time, the country took advantage of their selflessness,” Springsteen said. “There was a moment when they were just really generous with their lives.”

“Fight the Power” by Public Enemy

While the first two songs were wrapped up in a nice pop-y package, “Fight the Power” was an angry-sounding tune from front to back. Released as part of the soundtrack for Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing”, “Fight the Power” was an anthem against the abuse of said power that’s used by law enforcement and the government. In 1989, the song was released and made it to the top of the rap charts in the United States.

“There was a lot of civil and racial unrest in New York because certain areas where people lived were being taken care of and other areas were neglected,” Chuck D said. “And the areas that were neglected, for years, had no representation, enforcement, or education.”

“American Idiot” by Green Day

Green Day had made just a handful of political statements throughout their heyday in the 1990s, but in the mid-2000s, the band went full-on political with the release of their album “American Idiot”. The title track of the album was released in 2004 and became a massive statement against the state of American politics. George W. Bush was up for re-election, and “American Idiot” seemed like a lengthy letter to get him out of office.

“It was very important to me when I was writing the lyrics for this album that the things I’m singing about are personal,” lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong said. “So even the things that are political have to have a personal element to them.” 

“This is America” by Childish Gambino

In the late 2010s, America seemed to be more divided than it had been in decades, and the country needed a song to encapsulate the feelings that were happening. Under his stage name Childish Gambino, Donald Glover released the track “This is America” in May 2018 and it instantly drew attention. The song itself made plenty of statements, but the video is what really had people talking for months.

Glover remained fairly silent on the meaning of each scene from the video. “I just wanted to make a good song,” he said. “Like something that people could play on Fourth of Julys.” It wasn’t until five years later that Glover said the song “started as a joke.” He added that it started as a diss track toward Drake, but the beat was “kind of hard” and transformed into what we all heard in 2018.

Unrealistic Aspirations? 5 Ways Movies Make Us Want To Be Billionaires

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More than half of people in the United States have said that they would want to become a billionaire. For many, it’s the ultimate benchmark of top-level success, and Hollywood has only made becoming a billionaire more appealing. Here are five movies that have set some expectations as to what it’s like to be mega-rich.

The Batman Series

When you think of fictional billionaires, the first one that comes to mind for most people is Bruce Wayne, who moonlights as the famous superhero Batman. The character has a long history in comic books and television shows, with Batman getting his first significant film release in the late 1980s when Michael Keaton portrayed the Dark Knight. Ever since then, people have wondered what they could do as a superhero if only they had the money.

Naturally, anyone that has the resources to fight crime wouldn’t have to have superpowers. Bruce Wayne isn’t an ordinary billionaire, though, as he’s incredibly gifted in hand-to-hand combat and is the world’s greatest detective. Batman had many of us thinking about what billionaires do with their free time, but unfortunately, they aren’t out in the streets of major cities at night making sure that criminals are locked up. There was one very realistic part about Batman, though, and it’s that he’s seemingly above the law like most billionaires. 

Iron Man

Bruce Wayne isn’t the only superhero who doesn’t really have powers, but instead access to resources thanks to a massive amount of wealth. Iron Man is Marvel’s version of Batman, with Tony Stark being a billionaire playboy who expanded his father’s business empire until realizing that he could do more good with his vast wealth. Iron Man had been around for a long time, but it wasn’t until the Marvel Cinematic Universe that he became an A-list hero.

Many billionaires started comparing themselves to Tony Stark. Guys like Elon Musk, who even appeared briefly in one of the Iron Man films, have had this vision in his head of being the real-life Tony Stark with all of his gadgets and innovations. However, the Iron Man suit technology isn’t all that realistic, which is why it’s kept to the big screen despite how much money billionaires have thrown at recreating the armor.

Citizen Kane

We now go from billionaires who have access to technology that makes them superheroes to one that’s much more rooted in realism. “Citizen Kane” was released in 1941 with director Orson Welles also starring in the film. Welles took on the role of Charles Foster Kane, who was based on the real-life William Randolph Hearst. It wasn’t subtle, either, with Hearst being upset about the film and barring it from being mentioned in his newspapers.

The film showed people how much power they could have with access to billions of dollars, even if it wasn’t the most glamorous life. A lot of the film was realistic, though many scenes were dramatized for cinematic effect. In the end, we learn that billionaires are humans too, with Rosebud being the sled that Kane loved when he was a child. Even all these years after its release, “Citizen Kane” remains a favorite of critics due to its realistic portrayal of billionaires compared to the other films on the list.

The Wolf of Wall Street

If you want to take the extravagance of the superhero movies we mentioned while also telling a real-life story like “Citizen Kane”, then “The Wolf of Wall Street” is the movie for you. Directed by Martin Scorcese, the film follows Leonardo DiCaprio taking on the role of Jordan Belfort, the former stockbroker who ran into massive legal trouble thanks to his Wall Street schemes.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” shows both the high-roller side of making it big in stocks while also showing the massive downfall that can happen. People who saw it instantly wanted to become billionaires so that they could hang out with the likes of Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey while having a love interest like Margot Robbie. While it may have been close to the real life of Belfort, it was obviously hammed up a bit for the big screen.

Mr. Deeds

“Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” was released in 1936, but the version that gets more attention is the 2002 Adam Sandler comedy “Mr. Deeds”. The film had a lot of heart and showed what a lot of us would do if we were to become billionaires. Longfellow Deeds is a character who writes greeting cards and unexpectedly became a billionaire after the passing of his late uncle.

Instead of letting the money go to his head, Deeds spends most of his time giving back to the community, especially his friends and family. We all feel like we would be Mr. Deeds if we were to become billionaires, but money has a way of corrupting people.

The Most Memorable Moments in Olympic History: Celebrating Legendary Athletic Performances

Posted on by scatty

The Olympics are the showcase for the best athletes in the world at the time to prove their skills in a wide range of sports. While there are some competitions that are often ignored by most people, there are some that have made amateur athletes into superstars thanks to their memorable performances. Let’s take a look at the history of the Olympics, highlighting the most memorable moments from individuals and teams who ended up capturing gold.

Jesse Owens Stuns Berlin

The world was coming to a boiling point during the mid-1930s, especially with the rise of Nazi Germany and its leader Adolf Hitler. Berlin was set to host the 1936 Olympics, with Hitler using the games as a way of promoting his ideals. His plan would backfire during the track and field events, especially when it came to the track competition and Jesse Owens dominating the competition.

Owens won a gold medal in the long jump and 4x100m relay, but the most talked about moments came from the 200m and 100m sprints. Owens would win both events, and the image of him at the top of the podium saluting the American flag remains one of the most iconic photos in sports history. Hitler even went as far as to try and ban people of African descent from the Olympics, but fortunately failed in his efforts.

Miracle On Ice

There’s only one entrant on the list from the Winter Olympics and it’s still the most memorable moment in the games’ history. In the 1980 edition of the Winter Olympics, the Soviet Union was the heavy favorite in the ice hockey tournament. After all, the Soviets were sending professional players that were considered world-class while most other countries were sending amateur players.

The United States, which hosted the tournament, was among the countries sending amateurs. In the medal round, the two countries would face off. After the first period, the teams had each scored a pair of goals. The Soviets netted the only goal of the second period, but the Americans rebounded with two goals late in the game to give them the massive 4-3 upset victory. The United States went on to win the gold to defeat Finland in its final game.

Flo-Jo Makes Headlines

Florence Griffith Joyner was one of the most celebrated Olympians ever thanks to her fantastic performance at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Known affectionately as Flo-Jo to her fans around the world, Griffith Joyner smashed records on her way to the Olympics. She claimed gold in the 4x100m relay while also winning the 200m and 100m sprints like Jesse Owens did in 1936.

Flo-Jo was on the cover of every magazine and Wheaties box throughout the United States, becoming an ambassador for sports in the United States. In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Griffith Joyner as the Co-chair of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Unfortunately, Griffith Joyner passed away in 1998 at just 38 years old after suffering an epileptic seizure.

Usain Bolt Steals The Show

People are fascinated by the fastest things in the world, whether they be cars, planes, animals, or humans. We’ve already pointed out just how much the world was captivated by the blinding speed of Jesse Owens and Florence Griffith Joyner, but Usain Bolt may have surpassed both of them in terms of popularity. The Jamaican sprinter burst onto the scene at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Bolt claimed the gold medal in both the 100m and 200m races, setting expectations just as high for the subsequent Olympics. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Bolt tied the individual record for gold medals in running-only events with his eighth. Bolt won his third-consecutive golds in the 100m and 200m races while also winning his second 4x100m relay gold medal. Every medal that Bolt won in his Olympic career was gold.

Michael Phelps Sets New Record

The amount of gold medals that Bolt has is nothing compared to the amount of American swimmer Michael Phelps. The previous record for most gold medals by an Olympian was nine, with Larisa Latynina, Paavo Nurmi, Mark Spitz, and Carl Lewis all holding that record. However, Phelps smashed the record and finished his Olympic career with twenty-three gold medals.

Phelps won gold medals in four consecutive Olympics, but the 2008 Summer Games was when Phelps was at his best. In front of the Beijing crowd, Phelps won a whopping eight gold medals to give him the career record, including three in freestyle, three in medley, and two in butterfly. Phelps continued his dominance after the 2008 games, winning four golds in London and five in Rio de Janeiro.