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The Kelly Clarkson Home collection is a fantastic option for those looking to make their space a little more welcoming, blending Southern hospitality with French country elegance and offering a designer look at a more accessible price. 

One standout shoppers are loving right now is the Kelly Clarkson Home Oriental Area Rug. Right now, this rectangle 6-foot-7-inch by 9-foot rug is $108, down from $415 — that’s 74% off. This vintage-inspired rug brings character to any space with its softly faded pattern and classic design. Reviewers said it’s “gorgeous” and “very soft,” and praised how it added warmth and personality to their homes. 

Kelly Clarkson Home Oriental Area Rug, $108 (was $415) at Wayfair

Courtesy of Wayfair

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Inspired by traditional Turkish rug patterns, the design pairs an intricate geometric design with delicate botanical details, giving it the look of a one-of-a-kind vintage find. It’s made from durable polypropylene with a low 0.35-inch pile, which holds up well in high-traffic areas and slides easily under furniture. Since the pile runs on the thinner side, Wayfair suggests pairing it with a rug pad, which adds some cushioning and helps keep the rug from shifting. 

Caring for this rug is easy, thanks to stain-resistant fibers that let you tackle spills quickly before they set. For everyday upkeep, a regular vacuuming is all it really needs to stay looking fresh. 

The rug comes in a variety of rectangular sizes, from a compact 2-by-3-foot option up to a spacious 7-foot-10-inch-by-10-foot-3-inch, so there’s a fit for just about any room. Prices start at $32 for the smallest size and go up to $137 for the largest option in stock.

With so many size options, the rug can easily be incorporated into nearly any space. Style a smaller rug in an entryway or bedroom for a cozy feel, or buy a larger one to anchor a living room or dining area. “This rug is so well made and just beautiful. It is my inspiration piece for decorating the room,” one reviewer wrote. Another Wayfair shopper said, “The rug really livened up my space!” 

Related: Martha Stewart’s 100% Cotton Percale Scalloped Quilt Set Adds Vintage-Style Charm to Any Bedroom

With this 6-foot-7-inch by 9-foot Kelly Clarkson Home Oriental Area Rug on sale for just $108, now’s a great time to give your space a designer-inspired refresh for less. Whether you’re updating an entryway, bedroom, or living room, this vintage-style rug is worth adding to your cart before the sale ends or your favorite size sells out!

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In 1945, a future hitmaker was born in Staten Island, N.Y., decades before his voice would become famous as the sound of a band that didn’t actually exist.

Ron Dante, the real-life lead singer behind fictional cartoon group The Archies, turns 81 on Aug. 22.

Related: Last Surviving Member of Fictional ’60s Band That Became a Phenomenon Opens Up About His 3 Late Bandmates: ‘It’s Like They’re Still There’

Dante supplied the lead vocals for The Archies’ 1969 smash “Sugar, Sugar,” which became the No. 1-selling single of the year in the United States. But his unusual career didn’t end when the cartoon band’s heyday did. He went on to become a successful producer, working closely with both Barry Manilow and Cher.

Ron Dante Was the Real Voice Behind The Archies

Born Carmine John Granito on Aug. 22, 1945, Dante grew up in a large Italian-American family on Staten Island. Although no one in his family worked professionally in music, he recalled that “everybody sang” when he was growing up.

Elvis Presley became one of Dante’s earliest inspirations, prompting him to pick up the guitar. He was also influenced by The Platters, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino and especially The Everly Brothers, he told New Jersey Stage in 2020.

Related: ’60s Hit, Called a ‘Virtual Cathedral’ by Rock Critic Dave Marsh, Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts

Dante eventually became a staff singer and songwriter for music impresario Don Kirshner, who would give him the opportunity that changed his life.

After hearing Kirshner was developing an animated TV project based on the Archie Comics characters, Dante called and asked to audition as the group’s lead singer.

“I went and auditioned and got the part,” Dante told New Jersey Stage.

The result was an unusual kind of stardom. Audiences knew The Archies, but they didn’t necessarily know the man whose voice they were hearing.

Dante told Culture Sonar in 2021 that he initially worried too much attention from the project might limit his career, so when The Archies’ records began climbing the charts, “I just hid.”

Then came “Sugar, Sugar.”

Related: Soft Rock Icon, ‘Creamed By the Critics,’ Turns 83 Today

Written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim, the irresistible confection spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and finished 1969 as the year’s No. 1 single.

Dante told Goldmine Magazine that he deliberately approached the lead vocal with a softer style inspired by Donovan’s delivery on songs such as “Mellow Yellow.” He also shot down a long-running story that “Sugar, Sugar” had first been offered to The Monkees, saying he had confirmed with Barry that the rumor wasn’t true.

Ron Dante Had 2 Top 10 Hits at the Same Time

Even while “Sugar, Sugar” was dominating the airwaves, Dante was essentially competing against himself.

In 1969, he recorded “Tracy” under another fabricated group name, The Cuff Links. Dante created the sound of an entire vocal group by repeatedly overdubbing his own voice.

“I did, maybe, two dozen voices that night,” he recalled, explaining that his background in doo-wop helped him imagine the different vocal parts and harmonies.

Related: 1957 Ballad, the Only No. 1 by a Female Singer in More Than 2 Years, Dethroned Elvis 69 Years Ago Today

For three weeks that October, Dante had two songs simultaneously in the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10: “Tracy” and “Sugar, Sugar.” Remarkably, neither record credited Dante by name as its singer.

His voice was also hiding in plain sight elsewhere. Dante became a prolific commercial singer, recording jingles for brands including Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper, Coppertone and McDonald’s. One of his biggest was McDonald’s “You Deserve a Break Today.”

And one commercial session would help lead Dante into the next major phase of his career.

Ron Dante Helped Launch Barry Manilow’s Career

During a Coca-Cola jingle session, Dante found himself singing alongside Valerie Simpson, Melissa Manchester and a then-aspiring Barry Manilow. Dante and Manilow struck up a friendship that eventually became a hugely successful producing partnership.

Dante later recalled that he helped Manilow secure a record deal as a solo artist and co-produced his recordings during the singer’s breakthrough years. After an initial album failed to take off, they got another opportunity.

That second chance produced “Mandy.”

Related: 1965 Hit, Sung by a 19-Year-Old Cher in Response to Bob Dylan, Began Its 3-Week Run at No. 1 61 Years Ago Today

“Mandy” became Manilow’s first No. 1 hit, and Dante wasn’t only behind the control board. He also sang backup on the record.

“In my heart, it’s got to be ‘Mandy,'” Dante told New Jersey Stage when asked to choose his favorite Manilow hit, calling it the “breakthrough career-making record” for the singer.

Dante continued producing Manilow through a string of successful albums and sang backup on his records, even joking that when female voices can be heard on “Copacabana,” “I’m in the girl group singing with them!”

Ron Dante Went on to Produce Cher

Dante’s production career also brought him into the studio with another superstar: Cher.

He worked on Cher’s 1979 album Take Me Home, which returned the singer to the Top 10 with its disco title track.

Dante later described Cher as his favorite memory of working with the many major artists who crossed his path, remembering her as both extraordinarily famous and remarkably easy to work with.

“Working with Cher was like working with the most famous woman in the world,” he told New Jersey Stage. “She was just the nicest person.”

One particular phone call stuck with him.

Related: The Woman Bob Dylan Called ‘Deep & Mysterious’ and Asked Her to Marry Him Turns 87 Today

Dante recalled Cher calling him at 3 a.m. to play him “Too Far Gone,” a deeply personal song she had written about her ex-husband Gregg Allman. Cher asked whether they could record it, and Dante immediately agreed. The song ultimately appeared on Take Me Home.

Speaking with Goldmine, Dante also remembered Cher as a consummate professional who arrived on time and stayed in the studio for as long as the sessions required. Even visits from Sonny Bono or her then-boyfriend Gene Simmons didn’t distract her for long before she returned to work.

Ron Dante’s Career Came Full Circle

Dante’s résumé continued to grow well beyond The Archies, Manilow and Cher. His production work included other major artists, and in 1978 he produced the Tony Award-winning Broadway revue Ain’t Misbehavin’.

Decades later, he returned to performing the songs that had made his voice famous.

After appearing on the Happy Together Tour, Dante was asked in 2018 to step in for Howard Kaylan as lead singer of The Turtles.

“I almost dropped the phone when they asked me,” Dante recalled. The move allowed him to go from opening concerts with his Archies songs to closing them by singing The Turtles’ catalog.

It’s a fitting late-career chapter for a singer whose name was once deliberately kept out of sight.

More than five decades after millions of listeners heard Ron Dante’s voice without necessarily knowing who he was, the man behind one of the most famous fictional bands in pop history has built a very real legacy.

Related: 1971 Hit, Which Took Neil Diamond 4 Months to Write, Remains His Favorite Song 55 Years Later

If your idea of the ultimate vacation involves long, uninterrupted stretches of sea days, crossing major ocean channels, and visiting ports that standard week-long itineraries never touch, repositioning cruises remain the industry’s best-kept secret.

As cruise lines transition their fleets from European summer waters and Alaska routes into winter homeports across the Caribbean and Florida, these one-way seasonal journeys offer a completely different rhythm than traditional loop cruises. Recent survey data from Cruiseline.com and Shipmate shows that booking intent for transatlantic sailings is surging this year as travelers actively seek out longer, slower-paced voyages.

Beyond the romance of open-ocean crossings, repositioning cruises pack a major financial perk: travelers within driving distance of a U.S. homeport only need to purchase a single one-way international flight, disembarking right back on American soil without paying roundtrip transatlantic airfare.

For MSC Cruises, these sailings also come with a unique behind-the-scenes twist. As ships make their way toward the States, onboard hospitality and culinary teams use the crossing to transition operations—tailoring dining menus, training service staff on U.S. hospitality preferences, and fine-tuning programming so the ship seamlessly blends European flair with American comforts before arriving in its new homeport.

If you are looking to trade everyday rush for unhurried days on the water, here are three standout fall repositioning itineraries worth checking out:

Related: Why Repositioning Cruises Are the Low-Cost, Slow-Travel Trend to Watch Right Now

View this post on Instagram 1. The Transatlantic Grand Voyage: MSC Meraviglia (26 Nights) MSC Meraviglia, Horizon Bar

MSC Cruises

• Dates: October 16 – November 11
• Route: Palermo, Sicily to Miami, Florida
• The Route Highlights: This epic month-long journey starts in Southern Italy and winds through the Western Mediterranean—hitting Naples, Livorno (Florence), Marseille, and Barcelona—before making stunning island stops in Funchal (Madeira) and Ponta Delgada (Azores). From there, the ship makes a rare coastal sweep into Boston and New York City before dropping anchor in Miami to begin its winter Caribbean season.

Related: Why Everyone Is Swapping the Mediterranean for a ‘Coolcation’ Cruise This Summer

2. The Mediterranean-to-Florida Sunshine Run: MSC Grandiosa (20 Nights) Kolor stitching | 9 pictures | Size: 8256 x 5504 | Lens: Standard | RMS: -1.00 | FOV: 96.73 x 73.73 ~ 0.00 | Projection: Planar | Color: LDR |

MSC Cruises

• Dates: October 25 – November 14
• Route: Marseille, France to Port Canaveral, Florida
• The Route Highlights: Perfect for travelers who want a rich blend of iconic European cities and relaxed Atlantic sea days, this sailing departs Southern France to call on Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Palma de Mallorca, and Barcelona. After a scenic stop in the botanical paradise of Madeira, the ship crosses the Atlantic, stops in Miami, and finishes at Port Canaveral just in time for the Florida winter season.

3. The Coast-to-Coast Panama Canal Transit: MSC Poesia (19 Nights) MSC Poesia

MSC Cruises

• Dates: September 28 – October 17
• Route: Seattle, Washington to Miami, Florida
• The Route Highlights: If an ocean crossing isn’t on your radar but a modern engineering marvel is, this West-to-East Coast repositioning is a bucket-list classic. Departing Seattle, the ship sails down the Pacific Coast with stops in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Cabo San Lucas, before heading south to Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Guests then experience a full daytime transit of the Panama Canal, followed by stops in Colón and the colorful walled city of Cartagena, Colombia, before concluding in Miami.

Related: MSC Cruises Is Opening a Brand-New Caribbean Beach Destination This Fall

Rico Rodriguez rose to stardom on Modern Family, but the beloved star is almost unrecognizable with long, curly hair.

Rodriguez, 28, was just a kid when he scored the role of Manny Delgado on Family alongside Ed O’Neill and Sofia Vergara. Playing the precocious Manny, who was the son of Vergara’s character, Gloria, Rodriguez grew up in the role. He starred on the series from 2009 to 2020, when his character started attending college. But in 2026, Rodriguez looks quite a bit different than he did in the role of Manny.

On his Instagram page, Rodriguez shares hilarious videos that show he’s gone for a different look these days. Instead of Manny’s clean-cut hairstyle, Rodriguez has longer, curly locks and glasses, with a beard. He might be unrecognizable to some people who are less familiar with his roles over the years.

Check out some of Rodriguez’s funny videos below:

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Looking Back on Modern Family

When Modern Family finally went off the air in 2020, Rodriguez had nothing but love for his colleagues on the hit series.

“Coming to work every day with my cast and crew never actually felt like work, it felt more like hanging out with my extended family,” Rodriguez wrote in an Instagram post. “Words cannot even begin to describe the life-changing experience I have had on this show. I have, quite literally, grown up right before everyone’s eyes.”

Rodriguez also thanks his family and friends for sticking by him through the years as he navigated acting as a young man. But he made it clear that out of everyone, he wanted to thank the show’s legions of fans the most.

“Thank you to my parents, my siblings, & all of my family & friends for always being by my side throughout my acting journey. But especially thank you to our fans, who have continued to watch our show for the past 11 seasons. I hope you all tune in tonight at 8/7c on ABC & celebrate with us one final time. ❤,” he wrote.

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Related: Beloved ‘Modern Family’ Episode, That Put Claire and Phil in a Compromising Position, Named the Series’ Best Ever

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One of the easiest ways to keep wearing your summer clothes into fall is to change what you wear with them instead of packing everything away. The Adidas Essentials Small Logo Cotton Lifestyle Tank Top is a perfect example, and the black and dark blue versions are currently marked down to $14 from $20. The white version is also on sale for $17.

The tank has a slim fit, a small Adidas logo on the chest, and is available in sizes 2XS through 2XL. Adidas says it runs true to size, which is great since it takes some of the guesswork out of ordering. The close fit also makes it easy to wear with high-rise jeans or joggers now, then layer under a hoodie, button-down, or jacket when temps cool down.

Essentials Small Logo Cotton Lifestyle Tank Top, From $14 (was $20) at Adidas

Courtesy of Adidas

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If you’re already thinking of ways to wear this top while it’s still summer, you could pair it with loose jeans and sneakers, tuck it into wide-leg pants, or wear it with a skirt for a sporty look. And once mornings start getting cooler, you could throw on an open button-down, zip-up hoodie, or light jacket.

One reviewer called the tank “so soft and comfortable,” while another said it’s “very flattering.” Someone else described it as “breathable,” and others mentioned its seasonality, calling it a “great transitional piece from summer to fall.” Others mentioned wearing it with wide-leg Adidas pants, jeans, track pants, leggings, skirts, and skorts.

Related: Adidas’ ‘Perfect’ Quilted Tote Has ‘Ample Space to Hold Everything,’ and It’s 25% Off at Macy’s

At $14, the price is also on the lower end for similar cropped cotton tanks, which can easily land around the $20 to $30 range at other retailers. That makes the markdown even more worth jumping on if you want a basic you can wear now and keep styling into fall, especially since shoppers are using this one for everything from workouts to everyday outfits.

Shop More Deals

• Gazelle Bold Shoes, $60 (were $120) at Adidas
• Essentials 3-Stripes Cotton Leggings, $23 (were $35) at Adidas
• Extra Large Team Wheel Bag, $75 (was $150) at Adidas

The Adidas Essentials Small Logo Cotton Lifestyle Tank Top is a great pick for anyone trying to get a little more use out of the clothes they buy right now. The black and dark blue versions are currently $14, which knocks $6 off the original price, so be sure to grab your size while the markdown is still available.

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U2’s 1987 hit “With or Without You” has landed at No. 8 on 10 Best Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 Songs of All Time.

The song was the lead single from U2’s fifth studio album, The Joshua Tree, and became a major turning point for the Irish rock band in the U.S. “With or Without You” became U2’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, where it spent three weeks at the top and 18 weeks on the chart overall.

Collider placed the song at No. 8 and noted that U2 had two Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits, both from The Joshua Tree. The band’s other chart-topper, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” also came from the 1987 album.

Vocalist Bono of Irish rock band U2 performs on stage on their ‘Unforgettable Fire’ tour, at Brixton Academy on November 3, 1984 in London, U.K.

Photo by Pete Still/Redferns

The ranking also pointed to the strength of The Joshua Tree‘s opening songs. “With or Without You,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “Where the Streets Have No Name” are the album’s first three tracks, with the latter reaching No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

For U2, “With or Without You” was more than another successful single. It marked the group’s breakthrough with American audiences after years of building success in Ireland and the U.K.

Before the song, U2’s biggest U.S. hit had been 1984’s “Pride (In the Name of Love),” which reached No. 33. But “With or Without You” changed that. After reaching No. 1, U2 followed it with another chart-topper when “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” also reached the summit.

“With or Without You” was written around feelings of conflict and a relationship that the singer could not easily escape. Bono wanted to write a love song that dealt with real issues, and the lyrics allowed listeners to find different meanings in the story.

Bono explained that the song was also connected to his own inner conflict. At the time, he was balancing his life as a husband with the demands of being an artist and a member of one of the world’s biggest rock bands.

In the book U2 by U2, per American Songwriter, Bono described that struggle in his own words: “I was at least two people: the person who is so responsible, protective and loyal and the vagrant and idler in me who just wants to run from responsibility.”

“I thought these tensions were going to destroy me but actually, in truth, it is me. That tension, it turns out, is what makes me as an artist,” he continued.”

Another important line in the song was “and you give yourself away.” In 1987, Bono said everybody in the group knew what it meant, adding, “It’s about how I feel in U2 at times, exposed.”

According to Songfacts, in 2005, Bono called it the song’s most important part because it represented a release of mental tension, “which is when the ‘Aah-aah’ comes out. That is what giving yourself away is, musically.”

The song’s popularity has continued well beyond its original release. On March 15, 2024, “With or Without You” became the first U2 song to reach one billion streams on Spotify.

Related: ’90s Rock Band From Seattle Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 32 Years After Beginning Career

In 1981, 38 Special had their first top 40 hit with “Hold on Loosely.”

The Southern rock band, formed in Jacksonville, Florida, by Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes, was often associated with Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the connection went beyond their shared Jacksonville roots. Founding member Donnie Van Zant was the brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd frontmen Ronnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant.

38 Special reached No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1981 with “Hold on Loosely” from their album Wild-Eyed Southern Boys. Forty-five years later, it’s known as one of the band’s signature songs.

Written by Barnes, Jeff Carlisi, and Jim Peterik, “Hold On Loosely” features electric guitar riffs and soaring vocals about love, trust, and loosening the reins on a relationship.

During an August 2026 appearance on the Professor of Rock podcast, Barnes, 73, shared the backstory on the hit song, revealing that he came up with the title after watching a popular TV talk show.

“So I had this title, and I’d written it down from Dinah Shore,” he shared. “She, somebody had come out and, it was a guy, said, ‘Yeah, my wife takes care of me. She lets me have a little bit of room and freedom.’ And she said, ‘Yeah, she kind of holds on loosely, right?’ You know, she said that and I thought, ‘Hey, write it  down.’ Among a hundred other titles, you know. So, I said to [Peterik]. ‘What do you think about this title? Hold On Loosely.’ And he said, ‘Oh, yeah, but don’t let go.’”

“And that was the first thing that came out of his mouth,” Barnes continued. “So, it was like this couplet that bookended perfectly. And it was a good piece of advice. And we were off to the races.”

The song, which was also inspired by Barnes’ failing marriage, has gotten plenty of feedback from fans.

“I’ve had a lot of people come up and say that meant so much to our relationship,” Barnes shared in the new interview. “You know, don’t want to be so bold as to say it saved anybody’s marriage, but these people were saying it really meant a lot to them.”

“Hold On Loosely” remains one of 38 Special’s most enduring hits more than four decades later, a crowd favorite at concerts.

“It’s an anthemic song,” Barnes told Decades TV. “It’s been, we save it to the very end, like the cherry on top and everybody goes wild.”

Related: 1974 Classic Rock Anthem Suddenly Climbed the Charts to No. 1 This Week

When it comes to movies about kids and the hours of time spent together during the carefree months of summer, many of us would name Stand by Me (1986) as an all-time favorite characterization of what a few friends with time on their hands can get up to with nothing but their imaginations to guide them.

This cherished film, based on a Stephen King novella and directed by the late Rob Reiner, is celebrating a 40-year anniversary of when it first appeared on the screen and it still resonates with generations of moviegoers because of the way it portrays young characters with creativity and smarts rather than cuteness and punchlines.

Interviews through the years by the actors appearing in Stand by Me include stories of how Reiner created a kid-friendly environment to help the young actors bond and find their most authentic performances by using the weeks before filming began to allow the actors to get to know one another. Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell played theater games and improvised together to build a genuine camaraderie that would round out their on-screen relationships.

Reiner made a real effort to treat his young actors with respect and interacted with them as artists. It was also a keen director choice to use the authentic late-1950s rock and roll, doo-wop, and pop oldies songs for the soundtrack and create an atmosphere on set to capture the mood for telling the story of a summer of adventure through the eyes of a group of 12-year-old boys.

Imagine the sound of the instantly recognizable series of bass notes that start the song, “Stand by Me” and picture an adult Gordie Lachance parked in a car on a country road reading a newspaper at the start of the film.

Four decades later, the movie still resonates with generations of viewers for its honest portrayal of childhood friendship, grief and the painful transition from adolescence to adulthood. Here’s where the cast of Stand by Me is now—and how the film’s surviving stars continue to honor Phoenix and Reiner.

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Wil Wheaton as Gordie Lachance LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 09: Wil Wheaton attends the “Picard” season 3 premiere on February 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Paramount+)

Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Paramount+

Wheaton launched a 10-episode board game television series in August titled Conludo with creative partner, Felicia Day. After making a retirement announcement from on-camera acting, the actor surprised fans with a return to television in the Max sci-fi comedy spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, in July with a fictionalized, wizard-like version of his “delightfully evil” The Big Bang Theory persona.

A weekly audio podcast called It’s Storytime with Wil Wheaton, has him narrating sci-fi and fantasy short stories from celebrated publications like Lightspeed Magazine and Clarkesworld. He recently confirmed a 40-episode renewal kicking off in late October and continues to write regular personal updates and essays on his long-running blog, Wil Wheaton Dot Net.

“When I watch Stand by Me now, I cannot ignore the unbelievable sadness in my eyes. And I cannot ignore the reality that it was that sadness, that isolation, that I think gave me what Gordie needed to come to life and I think Rob Reiner saw that,” Wheaton has said.

He added, “I guess I want to be a writer so that makes me Gordie. I never realized until I was in my 40s that I was Gordie because I was Gordie.”

Related: 1986 Film Classic, Starring Future Hollywood Icons, Ranked Among ‘Best Summer Movies of All Time’

Jerry O’Connell as Vern Tessio Jerry O’Connell

Photo by Gilbert Flores on Getty Images

Jerry O’Connell is currently hosting the CBS companion series Big Brother: Unlocked with past winners Taylor Hale and Derrick Levasseur in addition to co-hosting Fox 5’s Good Day New York as a trial run for a possible daily talk show. He also appears in the Tubi movie Summer’s Last Resort and continues his regular media appearances on sports and pop-culture podcasts.

O’Connell was part of a CBS special about Rob Reiner that aired Dec. 21 and delivered his thoughts on what the late filmmaker meant to him. Stand by Me was O’Connell’s first movie and he spoke about Reiner’s kindness.

“Rob Reiner heard I was in LA, and he took me out to lunch, man,” he said. “He didn’t have to do that, you know what I’m saying? It was months after the movie came out, and he was a busy man. He took a 12-year-old me out to lunch, just to be like, ‘Thanks so much.'”

He added, “That lunch meant so much to me. It’s just stuff that kids need to hear.”

Corey Feldman as Teddy Duchamp Corey Feldman

Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty Images

Corey Feldman is currently touring with his live music and multi-media fan events, releasing new independent music, and making appearances at fan conventions. Live performances include his band performing original tracks with nods to nostalgic throwbacks. Recent releases include independent singles like “What Am I Here 4?” and “Jump Back Black Cat.” He also hosts interactive Q&As as part of retrospective events celebrating milestone anniversaries for classic films like Stand by Me and The Goonies.

“I think the fact that it resonates with today’s kids is kind of a mindblower,” Feldman says in an interview. “You’d think a movie set in the 1950s wouldn’t connect anymore. But somehow every generation sits through it, feels it, and sees themselves in it. That’s the hallmark of a truly great film.”

Kiefer Sutherland as Ace Merrill

Photo by Emma McIntyre on Getty Images

Kiefer Sutherland is focusing on his music career these days and touring as he promotes his studio album Grey featuring thoughtful, storytelling songs in the country and rock roots. He has been performing with his Love Will Bring You Home tour, playing intimate shows and venues across the UK, Europe, and North America. Recent acting credits include starring in the comedy film Tinsel Town and the legal thriller Juror #2.

Sutherland addressed the rumors about him being a bully while he was in character on the set of Stand by Me when he reunited with his castmate Jerry O’Connell as a host of The Talk.

“Absolutely not true,” Sutherland responded. “First of all, I’m not that kind of actor and I wouldn’t want to be that kind of person. I spent a lot of time with River Phoenix because we both played guitar, and so that was kind of an in to him. Even though I was seven years older, we were both beginning, right? And so there was a lot of discussion about ‘How do you develop a character?’, ‘What is your process?'”

“Actually, it’s very funny that at the age of 17, which I was in Stand By Me, I had probably a more in-depth process than I even do now. But we didn’t get to work together,” the 24 star said of O’Connell, who also co-hosts The Talk.

Remembering River Phoenix as Chris Chambers LOS ANGELES, CA – 1988: Actor River Phoenix, star of “Stand By Me,” poses during a 1988 Los Angeles, California, photo portrait session. Phoenix, a rising young film star, tragically died in 1993 outside a Sunset Strip nightclub of a drug overdose. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

George Rose/Getty Images

Movie fans got to know River Phoenix when he became a well-known star at age 16 playing the scrappy Chris Chambers in Rob Reiner’s classic youth film Stand by Me in 1986 with his raw and emotional performance. The role began a celebrated career defined by other critically acclaimed turns in Running on Empty (1988) and My Own Private Idaho (1991) before his tragic death at 23 in 1993.

The remaining cast has spoken about the film, their feelings 40 years later, and how Reiner came up with a way to honor Phoenix.

“When we all got together, gosh, I guess 10 years ago for the 30th anniversary, we all looked around, and Rob Reiner said, ‘I feel like there should be a chair here for him,’” explained Wheaton to People.

“So when we go on this tour, it’s one of the first things we talked about. There’s a chair for River on that stage. And I thought it was really great that the three of us brought that up independently of discussing it with each other, that we just wanted to remember him and put a place for him there while we’re all remembering all of this.”

Remembering Director Rob Reiner Rob Reiner attends the “This Is Spinal Tap” 35th Anniversary during the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival at the Beacon Theatre on April 27, 2019 in New York City.

Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Director Rob Reiner spoke about parallels to real life and the characters in his beloved film, Stand by Me and why audiences connected with the story. Reiner connected the character of Gordie’s feelings about living in an older brother’s shadow to his own life as the son of the famous comic actor, Carl Reiner. In a November 2017 interview with The Rich Eisen Show, Reiner said while he had a difficult time naming which one of his many films was his favorite, Stand by Me had an impact on him emotionally.

“The one that means the most is Stand by Me,” he said. He explained that the film was “the first time [he] made a movie that [he] felt reflected [his] personality.” Reiner shared that he appreciated both the humor and “melancholy” in the film.

The movie about a group of boys growing up and sharing a summer together became an instant classic, praised for the sensitive blending of raw humor with deep feelings of grief and nostalgia.

Next, ‘Stand by Me’ Cast Recalls How Rob Reiner Planned Tribute to River Phoenix Before His Own Death

In 1994, Soundgarden climbed the Billboard charts with “Spoonman.”

Written by Chris Cornell, the song was the first single from the album Superunknown, and its title was inspired by Seattle street performer Artis the Spoonman. But Cornell didn’t come up with the name of the song—and he didn’t even know the street performer who played percussion with spoons when he penned it.

Instead, the song’s title came from Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament, who was doing graphic design work for the Cameron Crowe film Singles. Ament created a mixtape for one of the movie’s characters, Cliff Poncier (Matt Dillon), and he included fake song titles on it—one of which was “Spoonman.”

Cornell’s song featured a hard-driving blend of Seattle grunge and heavy rock built around an urgent, thumping guitar riff and gritty vocals. The real-life Spoonman also contributed to the track and appeared in the music video.

“Spoonman” reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in May 1994, and won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1995.

Cornell, who died in 2017,  once spoke about the inspiration for the song in a video interview.

“Jeff had done some graphic design for the [Singles] film set,” he recalled. “The cassette packaging that Jeff did… said ‘Poncier’ on the front and then there were song titles, and Jeff just made up the titles. And one of those titles was ‘Spoonman.’ One of those titles was ‘Seasons,’ there was one called ‘Flutter Girl.’ They were all really inspiring to me, and I remember seeing it and thinking… wouldn’t it be great to take that home and actually write those songs based on those titles?”

“So I did that, and I spent a couple of hours on each song. It wasn’t long, I kind of rushed through it,” Cornell continued. “And it was really a fun experience because I learned that writing songs just for the fun of it, for no particular destination, can have songs that can have a life that lives on and on and on.”

Cornell also explained writing the song without even knowing who the real Spoonman was.

“The lyrics aren’t specifically about Artis the Spoonman,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2014. “I didn’t know Artis yet… I had known there was this guy Spoonman… but it was an ode to an imaginary person in my head, because I didn’t know him yet. And the song was based entirely on the title, so what’s happening musically is the attitude of supporting this guy who stands on a street corner and plays the s— out of some spoons. Then the song became a reality, and we got Artis to actually play spoons on the song.”

RELATED: 1991 Rock Anthem Ranked Among Most Iconic Guitar Riffs Remains Band’s Definitive Hit 35 Years Later

Crowe later spoke out about how “Spoonman” evolved from a fake track list.

“Obviously the music really holds up,” the filmmaker told Rolling Stone. “He went and recorded ‘Spoonman’ with Soundgarden and it was a big hit. It’s a statement about how when you’re not worried about somebody judging you or looking over your shoulder sometimes you do great stuff.”

More than  30 years later, “Spoonman” remains one of the most well-known Soundgarden songs, an inspired classic that Cornell played up until his last show in May 2017.

Related: 1990 Grunge Track Featured in ‘Singles’ Had an Iconic Guitar Riff That Started Out as a Joke

If your ideal fall vacation involves butterbeer, crisp evening breezes, and a touch of sinister sorcery, it’s time to grab your robes.

Universal Orlando Resort has announced that “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle” will officially return to Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure for the first time since 2022.

The seasonal nighttime projection spectacle will run on select evenings from September 5 through November 1, 2026, cloaking Hogwarts Castle in sinister lights, dramatic special effects, and John Williams’ iconic film score as Dementors, Death Eaters, and creatures of the dark attempt to claim the wizarding school.

Related: Universal’s Wizarding World Kicks Off a Special ‘Back-to-School’ Event for Harry Potter Fans

View this post on Instagram Death Eaters Lurk in Diagon Alley

The shadowy magic is not confined to Islands of Adventure. Across the resort at Universal Studios Florida, the dark side of magic spills into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, where Death Eaters will roam the cobblestone passageways and the shadows of Knockturn Alley on select dates between August 27 and November 1, 2026.

To mark the occasion, Universal is dropping exclusive Dark Arts merchandise, including sinister apparel and gear at Borgin and Burkes, as well as a brand-new Second Generation Interactive Wand modeled directly after the bone-white wand wielded by Lord Voldemort himself.

Related: Regal Announces It’s Bringing Back the Popular Butterbeer-Inspired Icee

An Unprecedented Season for Wizarding World Fans

This year’s spooky rollout comes at an extraordinary time for Harry Potter fans visiting Central Florida.

Guests can easily hop between Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida aboard the Hogwarts Express—the classic inter-park train that requires a Park-to-Park ticket and offers unique, immersive storytelling journeys in both directions.

The seasonal return also complements the massive buzz surrounding the resort’s newest expansion, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, one of the headlining immersive portals at the brand-new Universal Epic Universe theme park. That world transports visitors to 1920s wizarding Paris from Fantastic Beasts and the 1990s British Ministry of Magic via the groundbreaking dark ride Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.

Related: Universal Teases Major Theme Park Expansion in Years Ahead

What Else Is Happening at Universal This Fall and Winter

If you’re mapping out an autumn or holiday getaway, the return of Dark Arts kicks off a packed seasonal calendar across the resort:

• Halloween Horror Nights 35: Running select nights from late August through early November, bringing world-class haunted houses and scare zones to Universal Studios Florida (separate event ticket required).
• Universal’s Holiday Celebration: Kicking off in mid-November, the festive transformation brings The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle, giant balloons and floats in the Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, and Grinchmas over in Seuss Landing.

Whether you’re looking to confront Voldemort’s forces under the glow of the castle or sip hot butterbeer through the holiday season, Universal Orlando is delivering peak autumn magic.

Related: The Ultimate ’90s Cult Classic Horror Franchise Is Getting Its Own Terrifying Haunted House at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights This Fall

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A rug this big usually isn’t the kind of home upgrade that lands under $200. The Safavieh Martha Stewart Stacy Tulip Medallion Indoor-Outdoor Area Rug is currently on sale for just $182 at Walmart in the 9-by-12-foot grey/navy option, down from $401. It’s also available in black/beige, which gives you a cooler or warmer palette to choose from.

The rug is power-loomed in Turkey from 100% polypropylene and has a low 0.30-inch pile. It’s also water-resistant, so it works in a living room or dining area just as easily as it does on a patio or covered porch. Walmart also recommends using a rug pad underneath since there’s no backing, along with regular vacuuming and spot cleaning to keep it looking its best.

Safavieh Martha Stewart Stacy Tulip Medallion Area Rug, $182 (was $401) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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At 9 by 12 feet, there’s enough rug to easily sit beneath a full seating setup or dining table without leaving furniture around the edges. The oversized medallion pattern also adds plenty of visual interest, which can effortlessly make a room look more decorated without crowding it with extra accents.

One shopper called it “beautiful,” while another said it’s “really pretty in person,” adding that it was “nicer quality for the money than I thought.” Another reviewer described it as a “super cute durable outdoor rug,” and shared that it “brightens any space,” noting that theirs still looked great after two months on the porch without any snags.

Related: Martha Stewart’s Hand-Loomed Jute Rug Delivers Vintage Style Without the Antique Store Price

Similar 9-by-12-foot area rugs can easily cost several hundred dollars, so getting one for $182 puts this well below what you can often expect to pay for the size. It’s also 54% off the original $401 price, which means you’re saving $219 without settling for a smaller rug. The indoor-outdoor design gives you more freedom to move it around if your setup changes too.

Shop More Deals

• Safavieh Courtyard Eustacia Geometric Indoor-Outdoor Area Rug, $53 (was $133) at Walmart
• Smiry Plastic Straw Geometric Indoor-Outdoor Rug, $20 (was $40) at Walmart
• Pentantan Shag Area Rug, $30 (was $58) at Walmart

If your space feels like it’s been missing something, the answer might be right under your feet. And at under $200, scooping up this gem while it’s on sale is a no-brainer. With just one size left, be sure to add the Safavieh Martha Stewart Stacy Tulip Medallion Indoor-Outdoor Area Rug to your cart while it’s still on rollback at Walmart.

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Tuesday is almost here, and that means new books coming out. Whether you want a thriller or a witchy romance, there is something perfect for everyone. The downside is that your sleep is very much going to be ruined.

As we get closer to the end of the summer, the list of new releases is slowing down. We’re all getting ready for the uptick in fall, especially as it comes to cozy romances and spooky vibes. For now, it’s time to enjoy everything we can, and here are the six books you need to put on your list for Aug. 25, 2026.

Courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark ‘Wicked Wanted Widows’ by Kimberly Belle, Vanessa Lillie, and Cate Holahan

The Widows are back. If you haven’t read the first two books in the franchise, they’re more than worth it, but don’t worry too much. You can get into Wicked Wanted Widows by Kimberly Belle, Vanessa Lillie,  and Cate Holahan on its own. This one is packed with an adventure that opens up as it means to go on.

We’re back in Provident, and this time, the Widows are completely on the wrong side of the law, trying to rescue one of their own. With plenty of twists and turns, this is a fun ride. Does it break the mold of thrillers? Not quite, but it offers the perfect way to end the summer months, as these Widows put their friendship to the test.

Courtesy of Simon & Schuster ‘A Taste of Magic’ by Tricia O’Malley

The second book in The Scottish Charms series, A Taste of Magic by Tricia O’Malley, is the romance release you’ve been waiting for. Think of it as a bit like Practical Magic meets The Great British Baking Show. There’s a bit of Hallmark romance thrown in, and there are plenty of Scottish words and phrases to get used to. No, you definitely don’t need to read Love’s a Witch, but it’s a great introduction to O’Malley’s writing if you haven’t checked it out before.

In this story, another MacGregor witch takes the spotlight. It’s all about Lyra, who has been hexed, and now she has to face her ex in a baking competition that will go out to the nation. How can she possibly do that when her magic is going haywire? There’s plenty of humor mixed with the romance, and it’s a book you won’t be able to put down.

Courtesy of Penguin Random House ‘The Devil Knows Her Name’ by C.N. Vair

How about a novel that is a mixture of horror, thriller, and fantasy? The Devil Knows Her Name by C.N. Vair is set in an isolated Appalachian town, where Tess Wynne lives quietly. She made a deal a century earlier, and now she ensures that the land and its people remain safe.

Of course, that’s not so easy, as humans have their own plans. When Zeke Abdee comes to the town as the new pastor, something sinister starts to happen. We’re taken on a twisty and thrilling ride as Tess tries to protect her world and keep her end of the deal. But is a deal always worth keeping? It’s the perfect read as fall starts up and we get into spooky season — or if you’re making the last week of August all about Summerween.

Courtesy of HarperCollins ‘Last Day of a Prior Life’ by Andrés Barba

Another horror that is described as a “ghost story without a ghost” is Last Day of a Prior Life by Andrés Barba, translated by Lisa Dillman. It’s a contemplative story about how the past holds onto us and sometimes holds us in place.

It all starts with a woman getting a house ready for prospective buyers when a seven-year-old boy shows up with an otherworldly stare. As she realizes this boy wants something from her, she decides to leave her life behind and step through the looking glass. No, it’s not an Alice in Wonderland retelling, but it is a beautiful piece of literary fiction that will stick with you for some time.

Courtesy of Penguin Random House ‘Wolftamer’ by Maggie Rapier

We can’t not include a romantasy on the list, can we? Wolftamer by Maggie Rapier is the second in The Magpie and the Wolf duology, so make sure you catch up on the first one in the series before diving into this one. All Saoirse and Faolan want is freedom and to be together, but that battle puts the fate of their world at risk.

Faolan wants to leave the Isle of Lost Souls. The pirate in him begs him to pack up and go, but there are a few things keeping him stuck. One is the lack of ship. The other is that his wife is still tethered to the land, and he won’t leave her behind. Can he gain both while also protecting their world from the sinister King Maccus? It’s about time to find out in this epic conclusion.

Courtesy of AWA Studios ‘Ultimate OZ Universe: Into the Outerlands’ by Fred Van Lente and Larry King

Are you ready to head back to the world of Oz? Yes, the same one from L. Frank Baum’s stories. AWA delivered the spectacular graphic novel The Lost Lands, and now it’s time for the second volume in the story. 

It’s time to go past the yellow brick road and the Emerald City. With beautiful illustrations by Mike Deodato and colorist Ive Scorcina, Ultimate OZ Universe: Into the Outerlands by Fred Van Lente and Larry King takes us on an adventure that we never thought possible. Dorothy Gale is now on the wild coasts of Outer Oz, and along the way, she’s pulled into a high-stakes conflict at Castle Ev. Can she change the fate of the kingdom, or will the kingdom change her?

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Your fall wardrobe is calling, and it’s asking you to curate the perfect seasonal jacket collection. Thankfully, retailers like Walmart are offering a slew of clothing options that will easily spruce up your closet this autumn, including outwear that we’re running to add to our carts. The latest trendy piece that you should shop immediately is the No Boundaries Cotton Twill Barn Jacket for just $20. That’s a fantastic price for an ultra popular fall jacket style that’s popping up at a plethora of brands and retailers ahead of autumn.

The jacket is a new arrival at Walmart, so it’s bound to gain popularity as the chiller months get closer. Therefore, we advise shopping for it while most colors and sizes are in stock. The piece is being sold in three colors and patterns: tan, dark brown, and camouflage. Each hue is perfect for everyday wear because they’ll easily match with any seasonal outfit, spanning from dresses to jeans and a T-shirt. 

No Boundaries Cotton Twill Barn Jacket, $20 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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The sizes range from XXS to XXL in the camouflage style, while the tan option is available in sizes XXS to 4X. Meanwhile, the dark brown hue is only available in plus sizes. The jacket runs true to size and offers a relaxed fit with drop shoulders. If you size up, the piece can provide that popular oversized look that’s often seen in cool street style outfits.  

No Boundaries Cotton Twill Barn Jacket, $20 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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The jacket design further features a faux leather point collar, classic zipper front, one welt chest pocket, two front pockets, and an elastic hem that has an adjustable drawstring you can alter to your comfort. It’s made entirely from cotton twill, so the outerwear is machine washable in cold water with similar colors. You can also place it in the dryer on a low heat. 

The trucker-style jacket is a medium weight, which will keep you warm during chillier fall days. The beauty of this piece, especially if you order a size up, is that you can use it to layer (even throughout the winter if you wear a large puffy coat on top). 

The jacket falls right around the waist. That actually makes layering easier because you can wear tops and dresses underneath that are longer, shorter, or the same length, and the coat will still look chic. 

Shop More Deals 

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This classic barn jacket is the style that you’ll be wearing all season long. It’s fashionable, comfortable, and easy to throw on when you’re running out the door. Add this new arrival to your Walmart cart for just $20, before other shoppers beat you to it! 

Related: Shoppers ‘Walked All Day’ in Clarks’ Fall-Ready Leather Loafers That Let You Skip the Break-In Period

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Dorothy Parker had a way with words that could make people laugh, wince and think all at the same time. The writer, poet and critic, who was born August 22, 1893, became famous for her razor-sharp wit. But there was much more to Parker than her great one-liners. She wrote poetry, short stories, essays, criticism and screenplays, creating work that could be funny, romantic and brutally honest.

In an interview with the Paris Review Parker talked about the craft of wit. “Wit has truth in it,” she said. “Wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.” This distinction mattered to her. She understood that a clever line might get a laugh. But the best humor had something deeper underneath it.

Parker began writing captions for Vogue in 1914 and later became a drama critic at Vanity Fair, where she met Robert Benchley and Robert E. Sherwood. The three became close friends and were among those who attended the first luncheon that became the famous Algonquin Round Table.

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The Round Table would help make Parker famous. The informal gathering of writers, editors, actors and wits met for lunch at New York’s Algonquin Hotel, and Parker became one of its luminaries. Her reputation for her sharp observations grew quickly, helped in part by Franklin P. Adams, who printed some of her remarks in his Conning Tower column. As her New York Times obituary later noted, “fame was quickly rapping on her door.”

But Parker was never simply the woman who sat around a hotel table delivering great lines. She was a serious and prolific writer. Her work appeared in The New Yorker from its second issue in February, 1925, through December, 1957. The magazine’s longtime editor William Shawn later described Parker, along with Robert Benchley, E.B. White, James Thurber, Frank Sullivan, Ogden Nash and Peter Arno, as part of the original group of contributors who helped establish the magazine’s early tone and direction.

Parker’s writing also revealed a much more vulnerable side. Her wit often had disappointment, loneliness and romantic disillusionment. She could make a joke about heartbreak while also share how much heartbreak hurts. In “Anecdote,” she captures the experience in just four lines: “So silent I when Love was by / He yawned, and turned away; / But Sorrow clings to my apron-strings, / I have so much to say.”

Quote of the Day by Dorothy Parker

“But now I know the things I know,
And do the things I do;
And if you do not like me so,
To hell, my love, with you!”

Parker wrote those lines in a poem published in her 1926 collection, Enough Rope.

After spending her younger years trying to please others and changing herself to suit their expectations, the speaker finds self-knowledge. She knows who she is, knows what she wants and is no longer interested in reshaping herself for someone else’s approval.

It is quintessential Parker. The language is playful, but underneath the punch line is something surprisingly serious. Here is the freedom that comes with finally knowing yourself.

Related: Quote of the Day: Martina McBride on Why Being Your Best Doesn’t Mean Being Perfect

Deeper Meaning of Dorothy Parker’s Quote

Parker’s poem begins with a confession about people-pleasing. The speaker remembers trying to please others and changing herself according to the opinions of others. That opening makes the final words more powerful. She isn’t claiming that she has always been completely confident. She’s describing what happens after years of trying to become what other people wanted.

The turning point is simple: “Now I know.” Those words suggest experience. Self-knowledge doesn’t necessarily arrive all at once. Sometimes it comes from making mistakes, trying to fit into relationships that don’t fit us and eventually realizing that constantly adjusting ourselves for someone else comes at a cost.

The final line is deliberately funny and blunt. Parker doesn’t soften the message or ask permission to be herself. If someone doesn’t like her as she is, she is willing to let that person go. The humor makes the sentiment memorable, but the underlying message is one of self-respect.

That idea remains remarkably relevant. It says stop compromising your identity for the approval of others. True peace comes from accepting your choices and confidently letting go of people who require you to diminish yourself.

More Quotes From Dorothy Parker

“I don’t care what is written about me, so long as it isn’t true.”

“I like to have a martini. Two at the very most,” says Parker. “After three I’m under the table. After four I’m under the host.”

“The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.”

“I hate writing, I love having written.”

“She was pleased to have him come and never sorry to see him go.”

“It’s not the tragedies that kill us, it’s the messes.”

Next: Quote of the Day: Audra McDonald on Why the Scariest Choices Often Lead to the Greatest Growth

Collin Raye is celebrating another milestone.

The country star, best known for hits including “Love, Me,” “In This Life” and “That’s My Story,” turns 66 on Aug. 22.

Born Floyd Collin Wray in De Queen, Arkansas, in 1960, Raye began making his mark on country music in the early 1990s. His major-label debut album, All I Can Be, arrived in 1991 and quickly established him as one of the genre’s rising stars.

“Love, Me,” the album’s lead single, became Raye’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The emotional ballad helped define the singer’s early career and remains one of his best-known recordings.

Collin Raye Became One of Country Music’s Biggest Stars in the ’90s

Raye followed his debut with a string of successful albums and singles throughout the decade.

His 1992 album, In This Life, produced the title track, which reached No. 1 on the country chart. The song became another signature recording for Raye, whose powerful vocals and emotionally direct material helped him stand out during a particularly competitive period in country music.

Other major hits included “I Can Still Feel You,” “My Kind of Girl,” “That’s My Story,” “Little Rock” and “If I Were You.”

Raye earned multiple nominations from the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association during his career, including CMA nominations for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Raye has continued releasing music and performing for fans decades after his breakthrough.

His career has included more than a dozen studio albums, with songs that helped make him one of the recognizable voices of ’90s country.

Now 66, Raye can look back on a career that began with a No. 1 hit and produced some of the era’s most memorable country ballads.

RELATED: Reba McEntire Admits She Missed Out on ‘Fun’ During Her Early Career

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The summer days are flying by, and before you know it, fall will be at your doorstep. With fall comes Halloween, and if you’re a fan of this spooky season, you know that it’s never too early to start decorating. From giant skeletons to bat decals, there are a plethora of decor pieces to choose from. If you’re looking to ring in Halloween in a chic yet festive way, this Dazonge 6-Piece Ceramic Pumpkins Set at Amazon is a fabulous option. 

This decorative pumpkin set is tasteful enough to leave out all fall while still adding festive flair for Halloween. Right now is the best time to snag it because it’s currently on sale for less than $20.  Normally retailing for $23, this six-piece pumpkin set is marked down to just $19, which means that you’re getting each pumpkin for a little more than $3. This is a deal you won’t want to miss — designer brands carry styles that look very similar, and a single pumpkin from these designers goes for 13 times the price of this set. 

@jennmorgesesama

MacKenzie-Childs Mini Pumpkins 🎃🖤 The Courtly Check pattern + those gold stems = fall décor that looks spooky, classy AND expensive. These are the kind of pieces you pull out every fall and instantly make the whole room look styled. #MacKenzieChilds #FallDecor #HalloweenDecor #CourtlyCheck #fallhomedecor

♬ original sound – Jenn FT Auditor/brand manager

You can also snag a three-piece ghost set that feels just as chic and elegant, adorned with gold star, moon, and bat motifs. It normally retails for $18, but it’s now on sale for just $15. 

Dazonge 6-Piece Ceramic Pumpkins Set, $19 (was $23) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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Featuring black, white, and gold hues, these pieces are subtle enough for year-round use, while their classic pumpkin silhouette gives them seasonal charm. They come in assorted patterns, and no two are the same, making each piece stand out. 

Trendy and chic, two of the pumpkins have a polka-dot pattern — one boasts black dots with a white background, and the other has white dots against a black background. Another pair of pumpkins are adorned with a similar pattern, but one has a square checkered design while the other features diagonal checkers that give them a retro feel. Completing the set, the last two pumpkins are plastered with stripes, adding some whimsy. One showcases horizontal zig-zags and the other sports wide vertical strips. 

Several Amazon shoppers noted that these pumpkins are “giving MacKenzie-Child vibes,” and multiple reviewers actually said that they have the designer version and these match and look like the real deal. “These pumpkins are a perfect mix of festive and classy,” one reviewer said, adding that “they feel elegant and elevated, but fun.” Another customer stated that they’re “super cute and look high -end.” A third reviewer described them as “so chic.” 

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• Miuelee 2-Pack of Ghost Throw Pillow Covers, From $9 (was $28) at Amazon
• Your Heart’s Content 5-Pack of Mini Knit Pumpkins, From $12 (was $17) at Amazon
• Tondiamo 4-Pack Ghost Pumpkin Candles, From $14 (was $17) at Amazon

Every pumpkin has a gold stem, radiating elegance and bringing a touch of luxury to your space. Three of the pumpkins are engraved with a large gold letter. They spell out ‘BOO’ when they’re lined up in a row, giving them a playfully spooky feel. The backside of these three pumpkins doesn’t have letters, so you can flip them around if you want to keep them out post-Halloween. 

Made of ceramic with a glossy finish, these pieces are waterproof and fade-resistant, so they should last for years to come. Shoppers raved about the set’s top-notch quality and said that the pumpkins have a nice weight to them. Many customers also mentioned that the colors are rich and vibrant.  

Each pumpkin measures around 2.8 inches tall and 2.5 inches wide, which means they shouldn’t overwhelm your space. They’ll look fabulous wherever you place them, whether they’re on your mantle, console, entryway table, or kitchen counter. You can also use them as a centerpiece on your dining table. Alternatively, you could separate them and scatter them around your house to spread holiday cheer throughout your living space. 

Related: Shoppers Say This ‘Adorable’ Retro-Style Checkered Utensil Crock Gives Major Designer Vibes for Less Than $30

Whether you’re a Halloween fanatic or just love all things fall, don’t hesitate to snag the Dazonge 6-Piece Ceramic Pumpkins Set at Amazon while it’s still on sale for just $19! 

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To solve today’s New York Times Connections Sports Edition puzzle, you’ll need to use key information to identify West Coast soccer orgs, essential tools for the game monitor, and names of NCAA games.

Get excited—there’s another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who already play Wordle, Connections, Strands and the Mini Crossword now have Connections Sports Edition to add to the mix.

So, if you’re looking for some hints and answers for today’s Connections Sports Edition on Saturday, August 22, 2026, you’ve come to the right place.

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Today’s NYT Connections Sports Puzzle for Saturday, August 22, 2026 / New York Times

The New York Times

What Is Connections Sports Edition?

Connections Sports Edition is just like the regular Connections word puzzle, in that it’s a game that resets at 12 a.m. EST each day and has 16 different words listed. It’s up to you to figure out each group of four words that belong to a certain category, with four categories in total.

This new version is sports-specific, however, as a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic.

As the NYT site instructs, for Connections Sports Edition, you “group sports terms that share a common thread.”

Related: The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You’ll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle

Hints for Today’s Connections Sports Edition Categories on August 22, 2026

Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings.

• Yellow: A necessity.
• Green: Flag on the play!
• Blue: Golden State soccer orgs.
• Purple: NCAA games, minus a letter.

Here Are Today’s Connections Sports Edition Categories

OK, time for a second hint…we’ll give you the actual categories now. Spoilers below!

• Yellow: IMPORTANT
• Green: ACCESSORIES FOR A FOOTBALL REFEREE
• Blue: CALIFORNIA SOCCER TEAMS
• Purple: COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL GAMES, WITH THE FIRST LETTER CHANGED

If you’re looking for the answers, no worries—we’ve got them below. So, don’t scroll any further if you don’t want to see the solutions!

The answers to today’s Connections Sports Edition #698 are coming up next.

Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

What Are the Answers to Connections Sports Edition Today?

• IMPORTANT: INDISPENSABLE, KEY, PIVOTAL, VITAL
• ACCESSORIES FOR A FOOTBALL REFEREE: BEAN BAG, COIN, FLAG, WHISTLE
• CALIFORNIA SOCCER TEAMS: BAY, EARTHQUAKES, GALAXY, WAVE
• COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL GAMES, WITH THE FIRST LETTER CHANGED: BEACH, GRANGE, HOSE, SIESTA

Don’t worry if you didn’t get them this time—we’ve all been there.

Up next, catch up on the answers to recent Wordle puzzles.

Related: I Made Dolly Parton’s Corn Pone Recipe—and Now I Finally Understand the Hype

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Between her warm, welcoming furniture, charming kitchen finds, gorgeous outdoor accents, and decor that manages to feel both polished and approachable, Drew Barrymore’s home collection has made a pretty convincing case that she’s a full-fledged hosting guru. She clearly understands that the things we use every day don’t have to be boring — and her latest drop takes that same idea to the dinner table, proving that even everyday plates can bring a little personality to the meal.

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This time, though, Drew is looking to the past for inspiration. Her brand-new Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Embossed Flower 12-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Set at Walmart has raised, sculptural detailing that immediately brings vintage cabbageware to mind, giving the table that collected look without requiring a weekend spent digging through antique stores. And since rare vintage sets can climb well past $1,000, with individual pieces often ranging from roughly $20 to $500 depending on the maker, age, and rarity, Drew’s version offers a much more affordable alternative. At $70 for a complete four-person service, this set can bring some of that old-school charm to everything from a weeknight meal to a dinner party or holiday gathering.

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Embossed Flower 12-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Set, $70 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

These plates look less like standard dinnerware and more like flowers you can actually eat off of. Each piece is shaped like an open bloom, with softly scalloped edges forming broad petals and fine embossed ridges radiating from the center like the veining on a real flower. Because the floral detail is molded directly into the stoneware, it has actual dimension rather than looking like a pattern simply stamped onto the surface. The glaze catches on those raised ridges, making the texture especially noticeable. The set comes in baby blue, blush pink, and creamy white, three soft shades that let the sculptural shapes take center stage.

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Embossed Flower 12-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Set, $70 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The 12-piece set serves four people and includes four dinner plates, four salad plates, and four all-purpose bowls. The dinner plates have the largest flower shape for entrees and sides, while the smaller salad plates work just as well for appetizers, desserts, sandwiches, or pastries. The bowls take the petal shape into a deeper silhouette, with curved sides that flare outward from the center and enough room for cereal, soup, pasta, grain bowls, or ice cream, each holding up to 12.5 ounces.

You can round out the table with a two-piece set of curved-handle mugs for $15, with a rounded shape that’s well suited to coffee, tea, cocoa, or other warm drinks. For bigger meals, the four-piece pasta bowl set is $50, offering wider, deeper dishes with enough room for pasta, salads, grain bowls, and saucier dinners. Both bring the same floral detailing to different parts of the table, making them useful additions to your collection.

Shop More Deals

• Vesteel 16-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Set, from $53 (was $93) at Walmart
• Thyme & Table 12-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Black and White Medallion Set, $53 at Walmart
• Paris Hilton Heiress Collection 12-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Set, $55 at Walmart

This collection’s decorative shape also gives you plenty of ways to mix and match the pieces. Keep the full set together for a tablescape that leans into the garden-inspired look, or swap in individual pieces with simpler dishes so the embossed flowers become the standout detail. Salad plates can double as little serving dishes for hors d’oeuvres and sweets, while the bowls are handy for putting out nuts, dips, candy, or other snacks when you’re entertaining.

Despite the delicate-looking petals and raised detailing, the stoneware is made for regular use. Every piece is microwave-safe and dishwasher-safe, so reheating leftovers and cleaning up after dinner don’t require any special handling. These features make the set a little more practical than its vintage-inspired appearance suggests: You get the look of fine china without having to hand-wash the dishes.

Related: Drew Barrymore’s ‘Stylish’ Fluted Storage Cabinet Is the ‘Functional’ Storage Upgrade Every Home Needs

Give your place settings a little old-school charm without hunting through antique shops. Shop the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Embossed Flower 12-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Set at Walmart now!

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To solve today’s Strands puzzle, you might need to climb a little higher to get a bird’s-eye view.

Move over, Wordle, Connections, Connections Sports Edition, and Mini Crossword—there’s a new NYT word game in town! The New York Times‘ recent game, “Strands,” is becoming increasingly popular as another daily activity fans can find on the NYT website and app.

With daily themes and “spangrams” to discover, this is the latest addictive game to cross off your to-do list before a new one pops up 24 hours later.

We’ll cover exactly how to play Strands, hints for today’s Spangram, and all of the answers for Strands #902 on Saturday, August 22.

How to Play Strands

The New York Times

According to the New York Times, here’s exactly how to play Strands:

Find theme words to fill the board.

• Theme words stay highlighted in blue when found.
• Drag or tap letters to create words. If tapping, double-tap the last letter to submit.
• Theme words fill the board entirely. No theme words overlap.

Find the “spangram.”

• The spangram describes the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. It may be two words.
• The spangram highlights in yellow when found.
• An example spangram with corresponding theme words: PEAR, FRUIT, BANANA, APPLE, etc.

Need a hint?

• Find non-theme words to get hints.
• For every three non-theme words you find, you earn a hint.
• Hints show the letters of a theme word. If there is already an active hint on the board, a hint will show that word’s letter order.

What Is Today’s Strands Hint for the Theme: “Peak Americana”

If that doesn’t help, here’s a hint for today’s Strands game: High altitude.

What Are Today’s NYT Strands Hints?

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

In today’s puzzle, there are seven theme words to find (including the spangram). Here are the first two letters for each word:

• SA
• GR
• CA
• WH
• RO
• SM
• MO (SPANGRAM)

NYT Strands Spangram Hint: Is It Vertical or Horizontal?

Today’s Spangram is a mix of vertical and diagonal.

NYT Strands Spangram Answer for August 22

Today’s Spangram answer on Today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram and Answers for Saturday, August 22, 2026, is MOUNTAINRANGE.

What Are Today’s NYT Strands Answers, Word List for Saturday, August 22?

• SAWTOOTH
• GREEN
• CASCADE
• WHITE
• ROCKY
• SMOKY
• SPANGRAM: MOUNTAINRANGE

Related: I Made Dolly Parton’s Corn Pone Recipe—and Now I Finally Understand the Hype

A classic Foo Fighters song is climbing the charts again nearly three decades after its release.

“Everlong,” the band’s 1997 hit from The Colour and the Shape, has re-entered the Billboard Global 200 at No. 186. The return marks another chart moment for the song, which first appeared on the global ranking in 2022 and reached a previous peak of No. 123.

The renewed interest comes 32 years after Foo Fighters began their career in Seattle in 1994. The band was first started by Dave Grohl as a one-man project after Nirvana ended. Over the years, Foo Fighters grew into one of the biggest rock bands of their generation.

Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl performs on stage in 1995.

Photo by Goedefroit Music/Getty Images

Released as the second single from The Colour and the Shape in August 1997, “Everlong” became a major rock radio hit. It reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart and No. 4 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

It is not the first time the song has experienced a major comeback.

Following the death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022, “Everlong” saw a rise in listening and entered the Billboard Global 200 at No. 123. The song also reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart that year.

Recently an audio clip of Foo Fighters performing “Everlong” during their Tiny Desk Concert went viral on TikTok and Instagram in June, helping bring the nearly 30-year-old song bcack into online conversation.

The song has continued to reach new listeners through different formats. Dave Grohl’s acoustic version became popular after an impromptu performance on The Howard Stern Show in 1998. The band has continued to perform acoustic versions over the years, including one featured on their 2006 live release Skin and Bones.

“Everlong” has also appeared in video games, television shows, films and other pop culture spaces. It has been featured in games including Rock Band, Guitar Hero World Tour, and Rocksmith 2014, while a string arrangement was used during Monica and Chandler’s wedding in Friends.

The song passed one billion streams on Spotify in December 2023, showing that its audience has continued to grow long after its original release.

Grohl wrote “Everlong” during a difficult and emotional time in his life.

According to American Songwriter, the song began with a guitar riff he found while working on “Monkey Wrench.” Grohl described the riff as a “Sonic Youth rip off.” He continued working on the idea after leaving the studio.

Around Christmas 1996, Grohl was staying at a friend’s home in Virginia and sleeping on the floor. During that period, he wrote “Everlong” as a complete song in about 45 minutes.

The lyrics were inspired by his relationship with Louise Post of Veruca Salt.

Grohl first recorded a rough demo by himself, playing all the instruments. He later brought the song back to the West Coast, where he worked with producer Gil Norton and Foo Fighters members Nate Mendel and Pat Smear to record the finished version.

The song’s music video, directed by Michel Gondry, became another important part of its story. It featured Grohl and Hawkins in a surreal dream-like world, with Smear and Mendel also appearing in different roles.

“Everlong” was nominated for Best Rock Video at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.

Foo Fighters also brought the song’s television history full circle in May when the band returned to The Late Show. During the appearance, they performed a medley connecting “This Is a Call,” their first song performed on the program under Letterman in 1995, with “Everlong,” the song tied to some of their most important appearances on the show.

@colbertlateshow

@Foo Fighters perform a medley of “This Is A Call” and “Everlong,” the first and last songs they played on Letterman. #Colbert #FooFighters @David Letterman #DaveGrohl

♬ original sound – colbertlateshow

The chart re-entry comes during another busy year for Foo Fighters. The band released Your Favorite Toy in April and has continued petforming as part of its 2026 schedule.

Related: 1991 Hit Song, Reimagined by Japanese Singer in Music Festival, Grabs Metallica’s Attention