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Rock music legend Tommy Aldridge is celebrating a milestone birthday.

The hard-hitting drummer, whose career has included stints with Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Black Oak Arkansas and Thin Lizzy, turns 76 on Aug. 15.

Born in 1950, Aldridge has spent more than five decades behind the drum kit, earning a reputation as one of hard rock and heavy metal’s most influential drummers.

Aldridge was largely self-taught and drew inspiration from rock pioneers including Cream, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. He began making his mark in the early 1970s with Southern rock band Black Oak Arkansas, recording nine albums with the group between 1972 and 1976.

During that period, Aldridge developed the powerful double-bass drumming style that would become one of his trademarks.

His approach helped make him a particularly influential figure among later hard rock and metal drummers. The National Association of Music Merchants describes him as a pioneer of double-bass drumming in rock.

After Black Oak Arkansas, Aldridge joined the Pat Travers Band, appearing on several albums before making one of the biggest moves of his career.

Aldridge joined Osbourne’s solo band in the early 1980s, putting him alongside legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads.

He appeared on Osbourne’s Bark at the Moon and the live albums Speak of the Devil and Tribute. Aldridge was part of a particularly celebrated era of Osbourne’s solo career, although he eventually left the band following Rhoads’ death in 1982.

Aldridge’s career hardly slowed down from there.

In 1987, he joined Whitesnake as part of the band’s revamped lineup. He toured with the group during the massive success surrounding its self-titled album and later played on 1989’s Slip of the Tongue.

His résumé would continue to include work with artists and bands such as Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy and Ted Nugent. In 1988, he was even voted Best Rock Drummer in the Modern Drummer readers’ poll.

More than 50 years after he first made his mark, Aldridge’s thunderous playing remains an important part of rock history. At 76, his legacy is still going strong.

RELATED: 1988 Journey Album Has Spent More Than 900 Weeks on the Billboard 200

While psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud became very popular in the early 1900s, and still is today, his theories are controversial, to say the least. And fellow psychoanalyst Karen Horney was one of the leading professional voices who disagreed with main points in his psychology. Per VeryWellMind, she followed a lot of Freud’s ideas, but she differed greatly when it came to female psychology; she would go on to create feminist psychology. 

But outside of that, Horney was a big player in the psychology field. According to the American Institute for Psychoanalysis (AIP), she was a “preeminent analyst and psychoanalytic writer” who “devoted her life to teaching and practicing psychoanalysis.” She also had “innovative and bold ideas” that helped shape modern psychoanalysis. Our quote of the day comes from one of her books, where she sort of introduced the concept of self-help, in a way, and touches on the ideas of inner strength and finding your own path forward in life.

As the Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis (AAP) reported, Horney was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1885, and was the youngest of two kids (her brother, Berndt). Horney had dreams of becoming a doctor, and even though that wasn’t really a thing in 19th-century Germany, her mother and brother supported her dreams and she ended up being one of the first women to go to a German university in 1906.

Horney ultimately left “outdated metapsychology” behind in her work, per the AAP, and made her mark on the practice of psychoanalysis we know today. And in today’s quote, Horney shares her thoughts on walking to the beat of your own drum and gaining confidence through self-actualization. 

Related: Quote of the Day: Philosopher René Descartes on Why Brilliance Requires Action

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“To find a mountain path all by oneself gives a greater feeling of strength than to take a path that is shown.”

This quote comes from Horney’s 1942 book, Self-Analysis. As the book’s description reads, it “is one of the founding texts in the self-analysis movement” and still offers “much practical advice to… today’s audience.” As one American Journal of Psychoanalysis article reported, Horney’s book “was innovative in introducing a path of self-help that largely remained unexplored” at the time.

At the end of Chapter 1, “Feasibility and Desirability of Self-Analysis,” Horney writes about how self-analysis is a good route for people who can’t do a full psychological treatment or who can’t do it regularly, as well as shorten the “procedure” time for people who are in treatment. She then writes that the obvious benefits of self-analysis are “spiritual in character,” and include “an increase of inner strength, and therefore of self-confidence.” 

Horney then writes the line:

“To find a mountain path all by oneself gives a greater feeling of strength than to take a path that is shown, through the work put in is the same and the result is the same. Such achievement gives rise not only to a justifiable pride but also to a well-founded feeling of confidence in one’s capacity to meet predicaments and not feel lost without guidance.” 

Related: Quote of the Day: Stoic Philosopher Cato the Younger on When To Use Discretion and Self-Restraint

Self-analysis, in terms of what Horney is talking about, is a sort of self-reflection and self-awareness. Her whole book is about finding ways to understand yourself psychologically and find ways to conquer your own “neuroses,” which is a now-outdated word for mental health issues, typically of the anxiety variety, per Healthgrades. As stated above, this book and Horney’s theories were ahead of their time and are very much in line with the “self-improvement” sector of books that are very popular nowadays. 

While Horney does note that some people who are capable of doing self-analysis and who can’t commit to proper treatment, for time or financial reasons, would benefit from it, she does note that it’s also great alongside professional treatment. She does note that it’s also not a replacement for proper medical care. 

Regardless, Horney’s quote is saying that, while trail markers are important and helpful, it can be a really satisfying victory to discover your own path through the woods or mountains of your mind, so to speak. When you do something or figure something out for yourself, without help, you gain a sense of confidence and independence that you didn’t have before. While you don’t want to get a big head or go off the beaten path for every problem, taking a unique route every once in a while or for specific things can be really beneficial. 

Kind of like when children start to learn independence and figure out problems for themselves without the aid of their parents, adults can find great strength and validation in creating their own paths, too. If you carefully and intelligently create your own route to success, you might come out on the other side with not only an accomplishment, but one that is all your own.

Related: Quote of the Day: Albert Einstein’s Words on Imagination Being ‘More Important Than Knowledge’ Is an Inspiring Way To Look at the World

• “To search for truth about self is as valuable as to search for truth in other areas of life.”
• “It would not be going too far to assert that… conflict confronts every woman who ventures upon a career of her own and who is… unwilling to pay for her daring with the renunciation of her femininity.”
• “The conception of what is normal varies not only with the culture but also within the same culture, in the course of time.”
• “Let me say to begin with: It is not neurotic to have conflict… Conflicts within ourselves are an integral part of human life.”
• “Rationalization may be defined as self-deception by reasoning.”
• “Because it corresponds to a vital need, love is overvalued in our culture. It becomes a phantom — like success — carrying with it the illusion that it is a solution for all problems.”

Up Next:

Related: Quote of the Day: John Green Perfectly Captures the Absurdity of Toxic Positivity

Some Christmas songs feel like they’ve always been part of the holiday season. Bobby Helms‘ “Jingle Bell Rock” is one of them.

Helms was born Aug. 15, 1933, in Bloomington, Indiana, and went on to become one of the most recognizable country and rockabilly singers of the 1950s. He died in 1997 at age 63, but his best-known recording has continued to return to radio stations, holiday playlists and Christmas movies year after year.

“Jingle Bell Rock” was released in 1957 and quickly became a holiday hit. The song combined traditional Christmas imagery with the rock-and-roll sound that was taking over popular music at the time, giving the holiday classic a distinctly different feel from many of the season’s more traditional songs.

The recording was a major success for Helms, reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became a signature recording that would follow him for the rest of his career.

But “Jingle Bell Rock” wasn’t Helms’ only hit.

Before his Christmas classic, he had already found success on the country charts with songs including “Fraulein” and “My Special Angel.” Both became major hits in 1957, with “Fraulein” reaching No. 1 on the country chart.

Helms’ career was closely tied to the rise of rockabilly, a style that blended country music with early rock and roll. His smooth voice and country roots made him a natural fit for the sound that was emerging in the 1950s.

Still, it was the Christmas song that ultimately became his enduring legacy.

“Jingle Bell Rock” has been recorded and performed by numerous artists over the decades, but Helms’ original remains the version many listeners recognize immediately. The song has also continued to find new audiences through holiday movies, television specials and seasonal playlists.

And every year, as soon as the Christmas music starts playing, Helms’ familiar recording comes along with it.

More than six decades after he first recorded it, “Jingle Bell Rock” has become much bigger than a hit from the 1950s. It’s a holiday tradition, and one that keeps Helms’ voice alive every Christmas.

RELATED: Guitarist William Reed Makes a Brutal Claim About Eddie Van Halen

All the abstract artists out there will be saddened to know that one of their own has passed on.

The New York Times reports that Mary Heilmann, who was 67 years old when her first museum retrospective opened to rave reviews in 2007, died on Friday, August 14. She was 86.

The saying goes, “better late than never,” and Heilmann didn’t gain wide acclaim until her late 60s with her mastery of the “wobbly line,” as the Times puts it.

Her studio took to social media on Friday to announce the painter’s death, which was caused by “complications from a fall.”

“She is survived by her nieces, Ann Jaime and Chris Heilmann, and her nephew, John Heilmann Jr., and their families,” the caption of the studio’s recent Instagram post reads. “She was predeceased by her brother John and his wife Linda.”

The caption continues, in part, “Mary’s life was marked by dedication to her artistic practice, gratitude for her four decades of fellowship in AA/NA, devotion to legions of former art students and her delight in the natural world. She had a knack for forging an art of connection – communal, intimate, and local. Now she has embarked on the final journey that, in her words, truly has no linear time’.”

Fans have since flooded the post’s comments section to show their love for Heilmann. “Heartbreaking. She was an inspiration, as an Artist and as a shining light of a human being. Thank you Mary for the joy, and, colour and light that you brought to the world. ❤️✨💚💙✨🌈✨💙💚✨❤️” wrote one Insatgram user, while another person commented, “An incalculably huge loss for the community. Godspeed Mary ❤️❤️❤️.”

The Times also noted on Friday that Heilmann was an emblem of the professional obstacles faced by women artists of her generation. “I was such an underdog for so long,” she told the newspaper in 2008.

To solve today’s New York Times Connections Sports Edition puzzle, you’ll need to give things a second look and maybe rearrange things a bit. You’ll also want to tap into your knowledge of baseball teams lacking a particular accolade as well as teams in Travis Kelce’s hometown.

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 15, 2026, you’ve come to the right place.

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The New York Times

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

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

• Yellow:
• Green: Employment on the green.
• Blue: Cowtown orgs.
• Purple: Not exactly as it seems

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

• Yellow: TEAMS TO NEVER WIN A WORLD SERIES
• Green: JOBS AT A GOLF COURSE
• Blue: KANSAS CITY TEAMS
• Purple: ANAGRAMS OF WNBA TEAMS

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 #691 are coming up next.

Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

• TEAMS TO NEVER WIN A WORLD SERIES: BREWERS, MARINERS, PADRES, ROCKIES
• JOBS AT A GOLF COURSE: CADDIE, GREENSKEEPER, STARTER, SUPERINTENDENT
• KANSAS CITY TEAMS: CHIEFS, CURRENT, ROYALS, SPORTING KC
• ANAGRAMS OF WNBA TEAMS: CASE, MADRE, RIFE, SWING

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: 6 Store-Bought Ice Cream Treats That Will Transport You Back to the ’90s

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A pair of uncomfortable shoes can turn your day upside down. Whether you’re running errands, roaming around town, or sightseeing on vacation, the last thing you want to deal with is foot pain — that’s why it’s essential to own versatile and supportive shoes you can wear for any occasion without wanting to immediately kick them off. If you prioritize comfort and style equally, Dr. Scholl’s shoes are definitely worth checking out. 

A TikTok favorite for traveling, Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Lace-Up Sneakers are ready for all your outings. Several people who own these shoes commented that TikTok made them buy a pair and confirmed that they’re actually worth the hype. 

My Dr. Scholls Time Off Sneakers got me through 20,000+ steps a day over almost 3 weeks in Europe! They are my most comfortable walking shoes and as a bonus I finally found the best no show socks and ankle crew socks too! #creatorsearchinsights #drschollstimeoff #drscholls #comfyshoes #comfortableshoes #packingtips #packingforeurope #walkingshoes #comfywhitesneaker

If you want to experience them for yourself, you can score the sneakers on sale at Walmart right now for $15 off! Normally retailing for $60, they’re marked down to just $45 in white and black styles. Sizes range from 6 to 11 in white and 5.5 to 12 in black, and shoppers noted that they fit true to size. 

Courtesy of Walmart

Crafted with double-layered cushioning, these sneakers make walking a breeze. They’ll cushion and cradle your feet, ensuring comfort with every step. The anatomic insoles have an ergonomic design, contoured to support the natural shape of your feet. Boasting raised arches and heel cups, they’ll keep the pressure even across your feet and help reduce fatigue. While these insoles are already comfortable and supportive, you can also remove them and insert your own if you prefer. 

Attesting to the sneakers’ comfort, multiple shoppers noted that they walked over 10 miles and more than 20,000 steps a day in them without experiencing any foot or back pain. Reviewers with plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis also commented that the “amazing support” of these shoes helped to alleviate their pain. 

These sneakers have a 2-inch platform, giving you a lift without sacrificing comfort or stability. The platforms give them a chunky appearance, but they’re lightweight and easy to walk in. Adorned with grooves, the soles are flexible, so they’ll bend with your feet as you move to prevent you from feeling restricted.

“These sneakers are so cushioned that they’re like walking on air with good support,” one reviewer raved. “They’re stylish, comfortable, and lightweight.” Another shopper said that these are “the perfect shoes for everyday or travel,” adding that “they match with everything.”

Courtesy of Walmart

Featuring sleek faux-leather fabric and rounded toes, these sneakers are simple yet classy. They have a low collar and a retro-inspired toe cap, delivering a timeless look that’s the definition of versatility. They’ll complement any outfit, whether you’re dressed up in a sundress or office wear, or wearing something casual like athleisure or streetwear.

Combining form and function, these sneakers are equipped with laces that give them a classic look while ensuring that your feet stay securely in place. The heels are padded, keeping your feet from slipping out and cushioning your ankles.

The outsoles are treated with a topical spray, which is water-repellent and helps block dirt to keep the sneakers in pristine condition for a longer period of time. The insoles have anti-odor technology to help ward off unwanted smells from sweat. These sneakers are sustainable, as the upper is partially made of recycled materials and 15% of the insole is made of algae-based foam. 

• Dr. Scholl’s All Support Casual Sneaker, $35 (was $40) at Walmart
• Dr. Scholl’s Originalist Sandals, $35 (were $50) at Walmart
• Dr. Scholl’s Kava Sandals, $35 (were $50) at Walmart

Related: Dr. Scholl’s Teacher-Approved Slip-on Sneakers Deliver ‘Optimal Support for Plantar Fasciitis’

Comfortable enough to sustain a day packed with activities and versatile enough to match any outfit, the Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Lace-Up Sneakers are a must-have for your everyday shoe collection. Don’t hesitate to snag them at Walmart while they’re on sale for just $45! 

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

To solve today’s Strands puzzle, you’ll need to approach it with great reverence.

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 #895 on Saturday, August 15.

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.

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

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

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

• PE
• HY
• BI
• LE
• AL
• PU
• CA
• IN (SPANGRAM)

Today’s Spangram is mix of horizontal and diagonal.

Today’s Spangram answer on Today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram and Answers for Saturday, August 15, 2026, is FIREBRAND.

• PEWS
• HYMNAL
• BIBLE
• LECTERN
• ALTAR
• PULPIT
• CANDLES
• SPANGRAM: INCHURCH

Related: 6 Store-Bought Ice Cream Treats That Will Transport You Back to the ’90s

Today’s New York Times Connections puzzle isn’t exhausting, but if you can make it through the entire stretch then you’ll surely be rewarded. It might even help if go undercover and double check your measurements.

There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as the feeling of completing the daily New York Times Wordle, Strands, Mini Crossword and Connections Sports Edition word games in one fell swoop. But sometimes that can be easier said than done. If you need help with today’s Connections puzzle, keep reading.

Spoilers ahead! We’ve warned you. We mean it. Read no further until you really want some clues or you’ve completely given up and want the answers ASAP. Get ready for all of today’s NYT ‘Connections’ hints and answers for #1161 on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

The New York Times

If you’ve been having trouble with any of the connections or words in Saturday’s puzzle, you’re not alone, and these hints should definitely help you out. Plus, I’ll reveal the answers further down.

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

1. I’m pooped.
2. A small piece.
3. Measure twice.
4. Don’t blow your cover.

Related: 300 Trivia Questions and Answers to Jumpstart Your Fun Game Night

Ready for the answers? Scroll below this image (the image that represents your very appreciated patience!).

iStock

1. EXHAUSTED: BEAT, FRIED, SPENT, WORN OUT
2. SEGMENT: LEG, PHASE, STAGE, STRETCH
3. ENDING IN UNITS OF LENGTH: CHAMOMILE, GRINCH, HOTFOOT, LANYARD
4. ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR FOLLOW SECRETLY: BEANSTALK, EYESHADOW, HIGHTAIL, SOUNDTRACK

How’d you do?

Up Next:

– 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day
– Hints, Clues and Answers to the NYT’s ‘Mini Crossword’ Puzzle

Did You Miss a Few Days? Let’s Catch You Up With Recent Connections Answers

Related: 6 Store-Bought Ice Cream Treats That Will Transport You Back to the ’90s

Today’s NYT Wordle answer can reference a variety of things including baggy clothing, a careless attitude, and even your scheduling style.

But the day just isn’t complete until I’ve solved all of the free word games from the New York Times, including Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Strands, and Mini Crossword. If you’re stuck on today’s Wordle answer, we’re here to help—but beware of spoilers for Wordle #1883 ahead.

Let’s start with a few hints.

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There are three vowels in today’s five-letter word.

Today’s Wordle begins with a consonant.

There are double letters in today’s Wordle.

A hint for today’s Wordle is: Like clothing that doesn’t fit.

OK, that’s it for hints—I don’t want to totally give it away before revealing the answer!

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

We’ll have the answer below this friendly reminder of how to play the game.

SPOILERS BELOW—do not scroll any further if you don’t want the answer revealed.

The New York Times

Today’s Wordle answer on Saturday, August 15, 2026, is LOOSE.

-If you missed it, catch up with the answer to yesterday’s Wordle.

Related: Every 5 Letter Word Wordle Hasn’t Used Yet (Updated Daily)

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If your bedroom could use a boost of color, switching up your bedding is one of the easiest ways to do it. The Levtex Home Rhapsody Quilt Set with Shams is currently 60% off at Kohl’s with the promo code TAKE20, bringing the full/queen size down to $108 from $270. It’s also available in twin for $84, down from $210, and king for $124, down from $310. The paisley print mixes turquoise, orange, red, green, and other bright shades for a cheerful look that works year-round.

The full/queen three-piece set includes an 88-by-92-inch quilt and two 20-by-26-inch shams. The king comes with a 106-by-92-inch quilt and two 20-by-36-inch shams, while the twin includes a 68-by-86-inch quilt and one 20-by-26-inch sham. The quilt is made of cotton, reversible, and machine washable, making it easy to switch between looks and clean when needed.

Courtesy of Kohl's

The paisley pattern makes this set a fun choice if your current bedding is on the plainer side. With so many shades worked into the print, it can pair with a variety of sheets, pillows, and other bedroom accents you may already own. It’s also lightweight, so you can use it on its own during warmer months or layer it with blankets when temperatures drop.

Shoppers especially love the look and feel of the set. One called it “so beautiful” and “bright and cheerful,” while another said it was “gorgeous,” “comfy,” and “well made.” Someone else praised it as a “vibrant, colorful, and lightweight quilt” that worked well for summer.

Related: Amazon’s ‘Gorgeous’ Budget-Friendly Quilt Set Brings ‘Shabby-Chic’ Farmhouse Charm to Your Space

At 60% off, the full/queen set is $162 less than its original $270 price. That means for just $108, you’re getting the quilt plus two matching shams, so you can refresh the entire bed in one single purchase instead of shopping for coordinating pieces separately. The discount works out to just $36 per piece, making it an unbeatable deal.

• Levtex Home Diella Quilt Set, $108 (was $270) at Kohl’s
• Levtex Home Serendipity Reversible Quilt Set, $108 (was $270) at Kohl’s
• Levtex Home Alyssa Quilt Set, $108 ($270) at Kohl’s

The Levtex Home Rhapsody Quilt Set with Shams is a great pick if you want your bed to look more finished without buying a bunch of separate pieces. You get the quilt and coordinating shams in one set, plus a reversible design that gives you another way to change up the look. Now is an especially good time to grab it at Kohl’s while the extra TAKE20 promo code is still live.

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales twice a week.

To solve today’s NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, you’ll need to know a little bit about typography, soccer dos and don’ts, and maybe even a little reality TV trivia.

Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!

Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.

So, if you’re working on today’s Mini Crossword on Saturday, August 15, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!

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Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.

1 Across: Stores owned and run by their workers — HINT: Ends with the letter “S”

6 Across: “Huh, wasn’t expecting that!” — HINT: Ends with the letter “W”

7 Across: Run under a faucet — HINT: Starts with the letter “R”

8 Across: Metal identifiers in the military — HINT: Ends with the letter “S”

11 Across: Bit of music that plays as a podcast ends — HINT: Starts with the letter “O”

12 Across: Font similar to Helvetica — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”

13 Across: Leave alone — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

1 Down: Cut the ___ (cancel cable) — HINT: Starts with the letter “C”

2 Down: Dayton’s state — HINT: Starts with the letter “O”

3 Down: Game-changing mistake for a World Cup defender — HINT: Ends with the letter “L”

4 Down: Slouching is a bad form of this — HINT: Starts with the letter “P”

5 Down: Worry about the small stuff — HINT: Ends with the letter “T”

9 Down: Snatch — HINT: Ends with the letter “B”

10 Down: ___ Survivor, title for each winner of “Survivor” — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”

Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.

1 Across: Stores owned and run by their workers — COOPS

6 Across: “Huh, wasn’t expecting that!” — OHWOW

7 Across: Run under a faucet — RINSE

8 Across: Metal identifiers in the military — DOGTAGS

11 Across: Bit of music that plays as a podcast ends — OUTRO

12 Across: Font similar to Helvetica — ARIAL

13 Across: Leave alone — LETBE

1 Down: Cut the ___ (cancel cable) — CORD

2 Down: Dayton’s state — OHIO

3 Down: Game-changing mistake for a World Cup defender — OWNGOAL

4 Down: Slouching is a bad form of this — POSTURE

5 Down: Worry about the small stuff — SWEATIT

9 Down: Snatch — GRAB

10 Down: ___ Survivor, title for each winner of “Survivor” — SOLE

Related: 6 Store-Bought Ice Cream Treats That Will Transport You Back to the ’90s

The 2000 movie Dancer in the Dark is more than just a critically acclaimed film; it is a masterpiece that continues to be remembered in cinematic history.

More than two decades after its release, Dancer in the Dark was ranked No. 1 on Collider’s list of the “saddest movie endings” of all time.

Based on the list, it secured the top spot, followed by Frank Darabont’s The Mist, while Titanic and City Lights took third and fourth place.

The publication highlighted the movie as the obvious choice for its powerful and devastating story that gradually builds toward an emotionally shattering ending.

Apart from Collider, Rotten Tomatoes also listed Dancer in the Dark among the top 10 “Saddest Movies for a Good Cry,” with the film landing at No. 7.

Ronald Siemoneit/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images

Directed by Lars von Trier, Dancer in the Dark stars Björk, who plays Selma, a poor Czech immigrant and single mother raising her son in the U.S.

As the years pass, the two struggle to survive as Selma realizes that she is slowly losing her sight to a genetic disease.

Fearing that her son might also inherit the same condition, she works long hours at the factory to save enough money for an operation that could prevent him from eventually going blind.

Unfortunately, she is betrayed by a person she trusted and ends up killing the man, an act that ultimately leads to her arrest and conviction.

Rather than spend her savings on a legal defense, she chooses to preserve the money for her son’s operation and is ultimately sentenced to death.

Dancer in the Dark’s tragedy reaches its heartbreaking point after Selma’s devotion secures her son’s future and protects him from the same fate, but she faces a devastating end of her own.

At the time of its release, Dancer in the Dark was considered a commercial success, grossing over $40 million worldwide against an estimated budget of $12.8 million.

The musical drama also propelled Björk’s acting career after she won the Best Actress award at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival, one of the festival’s highest honors.

The film also received the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top overall prize, which was presented to director Lars von Trier.

Adding to the film’s achievements was its Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for the track “I’ve Seen It All,” composed by Björk along with director Lars von Trier, with Icelandic poet Sjón co-writing the lyrics.

With the overall achievement of the movie, Björk talked about how “very proud” she was to star in Dancer in the Dark.

“I know I gave everything I got and a lot more, so I feel very good, very proud about the film,” she told Hollywood.com, adding, “If I close my eyes I know all my heart’s in there. … I’m not controlling like that at all about my acting or my image or visual stuff. I wish I was more ambitious — well I don’t really — because I just don’t care.”

Related: 1973 Hit Horror Film, Whose Production Nearly Killed a ’70s Icon, Ranked Among Best Movies of All Time

Everybody knows Paul McCartney either wrote or co-wrote some of the biggest hits in rock history, but even die-hard fans might be surprised to learn just how many: The former Beatle actually holds the Guinness World Record for songwriter with the most No. 1 singles in the U.S., with 32 songs topping the Billboard Hot 100 over the course of his career.

While 20 of those No. 1 hits were with the Beatles, the rest came later…and the very first No. 1 song of McCartney’s solo career was actually a medley of unfinished tunes: “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” from the 1971 album Ram.

McCartney trusted engineer Eirik Wangberg with the task of stitching those musical fragments together in the studio. Wangberg also added the pioneering thunderstorm sound effect to the track.

“For this sound, I used a mono track which I got from a film studio, recorded it over twice and made an artificial stereo out of it,” Wangberg said in a 2005 interview. “Then, in the mix, I panned the thunder over…I am particularly proud of this bit! It’s not often mentioned, but if you check the song out it was one of the first recordings where the synthesizers were used on the vocals. Listen to it carefully: it sounds like the choir was done beneath the water!”

The recording of “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” marked Linda McCartney‘s first time singing in a professional studio.

“What I liked about Linda’s singing was the tone of her voice,” McCartney told Classic Rock in 2021. “I’d never worked singing with a woman before, all my harmonies to that date had been with males, so I liked this idea of her range. But she wasn’t a professional singer by any means.” 

As for the lyrical inspiration behind the track, “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” was inspired by McCartney’s real-life uncle, as he explained in the book Wingspan: Paul McCartney’s Band on the Run.

Related: 1969 Timeless Love Anthem Recorded 57 Years Ago Today Was Banned Before Becoming a Classic

“I had an uncle — Albert Kendall — who was a lot of fun, and when I came to write ‘Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey’ it was loosely about addressing that older generation, half thinking ‘What would they think of the way my generation does things?'” McCartney recalled.

“That’s why I wrote the line ‘We’re so sorry, Uncle Albert,'” he continued. “There’s an imaginary element in many of my songs — to me, Admiral Halsey is symbolic of authority and therefore not to be taken too seriously. We recorded it in New York and George Martin helped me with the orchestral arrangement. I was surprised when it became a big hit.”

A big hit, indeed: “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Sept. 4, 1971, and stayed there for one week.

Related: 1968 Rock Song, ‘Openly and Vocally Detested’ by John Lennon, Took 42 Hours to Record

Three metal heavyweights are paying tribute to Accept by resurrecting a song that even the band’s own guitarist had nearly forgotten about.

Anthrax bassist Frank Bello, Ghost frontman Tobias Forge, and Korn drummer Ray Luzier have teamed up with Accept for a new version of “Save Us,” a 1980 deep cut that Forge crowned as his favorite song by the German metal outfit.

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Originally written by Accept’s Udo Dirkschneider, Wolf Hoffmann, Peter Baltes, Jörg Fischer, and Stefan Kaufmann, the song appears on the band’s second studio album, I’m a Rebel.

According to Brave Words, Accept’s core architect, Hoffmann, spearheaded the production, with support from legendary producer Zeuss. The idea to give the ’80s deep cut a facelift came from Forge, who is a massive fan of the track. Connecting with Hoffmann at a show in Stockholm, the two agreed that the cinematic structure of the song perfectly complemented Forge’s vocal style.

“‘Save Us’? I don’t even remember that song,” Hoffmann joked, per Louder. “Nobody has even mentioned that song! I had to go back and listen to it. After I saw a Ghost show, it all made sense to me. It really fits his style, and I could really imagine him doing that song really well. He’s right; it’s a fun song!”

The track, part of Accept’s 50th anniversary tribute album, Teutonic Titans 1976-2026, breathes new life into the deep cut, elevating a fast-paced classic into a modern heavy metal masterpiece. The song is available to stream now (see below), but its 19-track parent album is slated for release next month, Sept. 4, via Napalm Records.

“Save Us” was a defining track for Accept. Transitioning from the traditional rock-and-roll sound of their hits “Balls to the Wall” and “Fast as a Shark,” the song laid the groundwork for the foundational speed and power metal sound they would later blaze. It basically captured the raw, unpolished version of Accept before they became global stars.

The newly re-recorded version of “Save Us” preserves the classic ’80s metal groove but adds a modern, stadium-rock edge. Forge commands the track, with his theatrical vocals lending the song a distinct vibe, while Luzier leans heavily “in the pocket,” driving the track forward with Bello’s pulsing bass providing the core backbone.

The tribute album was announced earlier this year. Featuring guest appearances from 50 rock and heavy metal musicians, including Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, ex-Motörhead drummer Mikkey Dee, and The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, the record is jacked, with “Save Us” serving as the third single released thus far.

Currently, Accept is celebrating its 50th on tour. Making their way through Europe, they’ll wrap up with a headliner in November and December in their native Germany. And no doubt accept the unlikely resurrection of a song that was totally of their radar.

Related: ’90s Rock Legends Behind ‘Voodoo,’ Who Just Played for 700,000, Head Back Stateside With New Fall Dates

If fans’ reaction to leaked footage from 2027’s Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is any indication, the wait for the next installment is going to be agonizing.

Despite co-writer and producer Chris Miller showing his disappointment with the X comment: “Not a fan of leaks of unfinished, not fully rendered footage,” Spider-Man aficionados are thrilled with what they’re seeing.

“HOLY S**T WE’RE NOT JUST BACK WHEN NEVER EVEN LEFT WATCHED THIS WHOLE THING WITH THE BIGGEST GRIN RAAHHHH,” wrote one excited fan.

“IM SO GEEKED LET’S GOOOOOOO,” wrote another.

At April’s CinemaCon, Miller was joined by his co-writer and fellow producer Phil Lord, along with directors Justin K. Thompson and Bob Persichetti. Part of the footage seems to be taken partly from what was shown, along with splices of other scenes. Miller called the film (via The Hollywood Reporter) “the most emotional Spider-Verse film we have ever made.” 

Unfortunately, many have also complained about the long wait between Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and the third film. Miller defended the delay, explaining that the “detour” to direct Project Hail Mary partly caused it, but they wanted to make sure it was a worthy successor to the first two films. Then, they decided there was too much story to tell, and they split Beyond the Spider-Verse into two films.

Having to take it apart to put it back together again was really, really [the] real thing that made it take longer,” Miller admitted to Gizmodo.

Now that they’ve been given a look at the new film, many are feeling a new sense of calm, confident that Beyond the Spider-Verse will be worth the wait.

“This movie is going to change my life, and this trilogy is going to be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed,” commented another on the four and a half minutes of footage. “What they’ve done and are going to do with Miles’ Spider-Man in this sequel is PERFECT.”

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Summer isn’t over just yet. If you’re making the most of the final weeks of the season with some last-minute camping trips or visits from out-of-town guests, it might be worth picking up a foldable cot. It can add some handy seating and sleeping space to your home without breaking the bank, and it has a foldable design that allows for effortless storage. 

Walmart’s bestselling Pnkkodw Folding Cot Bed is a top-rated option to have on hand while hosting or planning some outdoor adventures, and it’s on sale for up to 52% off for a limited time. Right now, both the pink and green colors are available for just $53, down from $110, and you can also shop the gray, black, and blue styles for $69 to $90.  

Courtesy of Walmart

Featuring an extra-large 25-milimeter steel frame with 10 X-shaped legs, the versatile cot is sturdy, rust-resistant, and designed for long-lasting use. It measures 15 inches long, 28 inches wide, and 75 inches high, offering plenty of room to comfortably stretch out when unfolded. The two-sided 3.5-inch mattress cushion is soft, breathable, and made with cotton, allowing for optimal comfort while resting or sleeping. There’s also a built-in side pocket to keep books, phones, flashlights, and other small essentials within easy reach. 

Thanks to its conveniently collapsible design, the cot can be used in multiple ways to serve your specific needs. You can unfold it whenever you need an extra lounging spot, some additional seating, or a comfy place to lay in your backyard and stargaze. It can also work as an extra bed in a bedroom or living area. At 18.5 pounds, it’s easy to transport, folds flat in just seconds, and comes with its own carrying bag for hassle-free storage.  

Related: Walmart’s ‘Bright’ $35 Solar Light 6-Pack ‘Looks So Elegant’ in Yards and Gardens

The Pnkkodw folding cot has earned over 100 five-star ratings from Walmart shoppers, who called it “very sturdy” and “comfy.” Multiple people highlighted the painless assembly process, noting that it requires minimal effort to fold and unfold. “Perfect for adults or kids,” one reviewer wrote, adding, “It’s easy to fold and set up. I’ll never buy another air mattress.”

• Gvdv Folding XXL Camping Cot, $80 (was $140) at Walmart
• Ebello Convertible Sofa with Pull-Out Bed, $230 (was $400) at Walmart
• Bybyme Folding Sofa Bed, $89 (was $160) at Walmart

If you’re planning a camping trip or hosting guests this season, this foldable cot bed is a smart solution that can help you carve out some extra sleep space in your home without breaking the bank. Grab one for as low as $55 before this limited-time flash deal ends at Walmart. 

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Emilie Kiser is addressing critics head-on amid continued scrutiny of her and her husband, Brady Kiser, over their approach to water safety.

Last month, the influencer and her husband faced backlash after their 17-month-old son, Teddy, was pictured without a life jacket while on a boat. The couple’s older son, Trigg, died last year after drowning in the family’s backyard pool in Arizona.

Emilie was not home at the time of Trigg’s drowning, and he was being cared for by Brady. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office later declined to file charges against Brady.

In a TikTok posted on Friday, Aug. 14, Emilie took responsibility for the couple’s mistake and reaffirmed their commitment to water safety.

“I know that I have made mistakes, and I know that I am an imperfect human, and that sometimes I say or I do things that can be confusing,” Emilie began her video. “Over the course of the last year, our family has been no stranger to tragedy and how quickly life can change.”

She acknowledged that Trigg’s drowning was “preventable” and said she will “forever and always take accountability for the ways that we went wrong and the things that we didn’t do, and we have so much hindsight now of things that we wish we did differently.”

Emilie went on to explain that, although it was not an excuse, Teddy was without a life jacket for “moments” while on the boat because he was fussy and she and Brady were trying to calm him down.

“All I can say is that I’m sorry, and that I know we made a mistake, and that I will do nothing but my best to be the best parent I can be moving forward,” Emilie said. “And I know how much I love my children and care about them and their safety, and it is never something that is compromised for me by aesthetics or anything else, it was simply a mistake.”

“There is no reason a child should be out of a life jacket,” she added.

RELATED: Emilie Kiser Breaks Silence After Son Teddy Is Pictured Without a Life Jacket

The mom-of-two then explained that the recent incident reopened social media conversations surrounding Trigg’s death. She also addressed several misconceptions she has seen online, including claims that Teddy is not enrolled in Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) classes and that there is still no fence surrounding the family’s swimming pool. Emilie said both claims are untrue.

She then addressed what she described as the most concerning rumor about her family.

“Something I don’t even want to address because it is really hard for me to even fathom that people believe this,” Emilie said. “But I think it is important to hear from me because it also has to do with our pool and water safety, and our children, who I am very protective of. We have not, we will not, and we do not swim in our swimming pool where our child drowned.”

The internet personality said she’s “extremely angry,” “sad,” and “hurt” that people would even believe the claim, noting that it is difficult for the family to even step foot in their backyard, let alone enter the swimming pool. However, she acknowledged that sharing her life online comes with people criticizing her or spreading false information.

“It is impossible to prove to people who want to see nothing but the worst in you that you have good intentions or that you are telling the truth or that those things are not true, and there is too long of a list of things for me to even go down and start addressing those things,” Emilie said.

“And I just want to say to my audience, thank you. I love you guys. I am always grateful that this is my job. I will never take it for granted,” she continued. “I know how huge of a privilege it is to call this my job, and I am literally grateful for it every day.”

Emilie concluded, “Even though things might look differently, I might not always share the same things that I used to, or talk like I used to about things, or be as open. I really, once again, am always coming from a place of good intentions and just doing my best. And I hope that slowly, slowly but surely, I can get to a place of being able to be more open with you guys again.”

In July, Emilie announced that she and Brady are expecting their third child.

“We are so grateful and excited to share that we will be welcoming another baby into our family 🤍🪿. This news feels very surreal and has already been such a bright light to us during some of our darkest days,” Emilie wrote via Instagram on July 3.

“What a drag it is getting old,” Mick Jagger famously sang on the Rolling Stones’ classic 1966 track, “Mother’s Little Helper.” Ironically, Jagger was a mere lad of 22 when he wrote those iconic lyrics, but of course, he wasn’t singing about himself.

“Mother’s Little Helper” was written while the Stones were on tour in 1965, as were quite a few tunes, as Jagger explained: A whopping twelve songs in two weeks.

“You get back from a show, have something to eat, a few beers, and just go to your room and write,” Mick said, according to The Rolling Stones: The Biography by Bob Spitz. The Stones went on to record ten of those new songs in three days at RCA, including “Mother’s Little Helper” (which Jagger described as a “very strange record, like a music-hall number”).

The lyrics, as fans are well aware, are about what was perceived as a sort of epidemic in the ’60s: Miserable suburban housewives getting hooked on sedatives.

‘Kids are different today,’ I hear every mother say
Mother needs something today to calm her down
And though she’s not really ill, there’s a little yellow pill
She goes running for the shelter of her mother’s little helper
And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day

Though the BBC banned the song over drug references, “Mother’s Little Helper” was a hit anyway, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. And as Jagger pointed out later, it was never meant to be taken all that seriously.

“It’s about drug dependence, but in a sort of like spoofy way,” he said, per Songfacts. “As a songwriter, I didn’t really think about addressing things like that. It was just everyday stuff that you I’d observe and write about. It’s what writing is for really. There is a sort of naivety, but there’s also a lot of humor in those songs. They’re a lot based on humor. It was almost like a different band, a different world, a different view when we wrote them.”

“I get inspiration from things that are happening around me — everyday life as I see it,” Jagger continued. “People say I’m always singing about pills and breakdowns, therefore I must be an addict — this is ridiculous. Some people are so narrow-minded they won’t admit to themselves that this really does happen to other people beside pop stars.”

Related: 1969 No. 1 Hit, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Songs of All Time,’ Was Saved by an Off-Beat Cowbell

According to Keith Richards, the “strange guitar sound” on “Mother’s Little Helper” is a 12-string with a slide on it.

“The track just needed something to make it twang,” Richards explained, adding, “Otherwise, the song was quite vaudeville in a way. I wanted to add some nice bite to it. And it was just one of those things where someone walked in and, Look, it’s an electric 12-string. It was some gashed-up job. No name on it. God knows where it came from. Or where it went. But I put it together with a bottleneck. Then we had a riff that tied the whole thing together. And I think we overdubbed onto that. Because I played an acoustic guitar as well.”

While the band managed to achieve the perfect sound in the studio, they apparently were never able to recreate that magic live.

“We’ve often tried to perform ‘Mother’s Little Helper’ and it’s never been any good, never gelled for some reason — it’s either me not playing it right or Keith not wanting to do it like that,” Charlie Watts said in the 2003 book According to the Rolling Stones.

“It’s never worked,” Watts added. “It’s just one of those songs. We used to try it live but it’s a bloody hard record to play.”

Despite the fact that “Mother’s Little Helper” was never a concert staple, it remains one of the Stones’ most beloved tracks. At the time of this writing, the song has over 45 million streams on Spotify alone.

Related: 1968 Banned Rock Classic, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Songs of All Time,’ Was Recorded With a Toy Drum Set

Disney fans who couldn’t make it to D23 2026 will soon have another chance to shop some of the event’s most coveted merchandise.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 17, at 8 a.m. PT, select products featured at this year’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be available at Disney Store online, while supplies last. The assortment includes merchandise from the D23 show floor, Disney Store booth and D23 Marketplace.

One of the biggest draws is Fanniversary Frenzy, a collection celebrating 10 beloved Disney stories reaching major milestones in 2026.

The anniversary lineup includes The Princess Diaries and Atlantis: The Lost Empire, both celebrating 25 years; The Hunchback of Notre Dame at 30; and Beauty and the Beast and Darkwing Duck, both marking 35 years.

Fans can also shop merchandise celebrating the 45th anniversary of The Fox and the Hound, the 50th anniversary of The Muppet Show, the 65th anniversary of 101 Dalmatians, the 75th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland and the 85th anniversary of Dumbo.

The collections span apparel, accessories, dolls, plush and collectibles, making the anniversary merchandise especially appealing to Disney fans looking to revisit some of the movies and shows they grew up with.

There are also several D23 exclusives and collectibles beyond the anniversary collections. Among them is a limited number of autographed copies of Joe Rohde’s Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible, as well as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey long-sleeve shirt inspired by Fantasia, in collaboration with Bobby Kim. The shirt will be available for one day only, while supplies last.

Other highlights include new Disney Store-exclusive “color-drenched” plush, collectible plush flowers from Blooms by Disney Store and a limited-time Disney x Formula 1 jacket collection featuring Mickey and Friends.

Shop exclusive merchandise from D23 2026 beginning Monday, Aug. 17, at 8 a.m. PT.

RELATED: Disney’s New Mickey Family Halloween Collection Is Made for Summerween

The sound of modern funk would be difficult to imagine without him.

Larry Graham, the bassist whose influential career has included Sly and the Family Stone, Graham Central Station and years of collaboration with Prince, turns 80 on Aug. 14.

Born in Beaumont, Texas, in 1946 and raised in Oakland, California, Graham began preparing for a life in music at an early age. He learned piano, drums and guitar before beginning his professional career as a child. By 15, he was performing with his mother in the Dell Graham Trio.

That group unexpectedly helped Graham develop the playing style that would change the bass guitar. After the trio’s organ broke and the group became a duo, he began striking the bass strings with his thumb to replace the bass drum and plucking them to imitate a snare. Graham calls the technique “thumpin’ and pluckin’,” though it became widely known as slap bass.

Graham brought that sound to Sly and the Family Stone, where his playing became an essential part of songs including “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).” The band’s combination of rock, soul and funk made it one of the most influential groups of its era.

After leaving the group in the early ’70s, Graham formed Graham Central Station. The band released its self-titled debut in 1974 and became known for songs including “Can You Handle It” and “Your Love.” Graham later found success as a solo singer with the ballad “One in a Million You,” which earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

His work with Sly and the Family Stone was formally recognized in 1993 when the group entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Graham’s career took another turn through his close relationship with Prince. The two became friends and collaborators, with Graham playing bass during Prince’s concerts and touring alongside him in the late ’90s. Prince also encouraged Graham to revive Graham Central Station and co-produced the band’s 1998 album GCS 2000, released through NPG Records.

Prince’s respect for the bassist extended far beyond their work together. “Larry Graham is my teacher,” he said in a 1999 interview cited by Prince’s official discography.

At 80, Graham’s influence remains present across funk, rock, R&B and countless bass performances that followed his. His career connects two of music’s most innovative artists, but the technique and unmistakable sound he created belong entirely to him.

Related: Founding Member of Legendary ’60s Rock Band, Who Co-Wrote ‘American Woman,’ Turns 83