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Today’s NYT Connections Sports Edition puzzle covers everything from protecting your team at all costs and players from the 713 to people with the same last name and team leaders.

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 Sunday, September 6, 2026, you’ve come to the right place.

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Today’s NYT Connections Sports Puzzle for Sunday, September 6, 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 September 6, 2026

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

• Yellow: Protect your team.
• Green: Keeping up with them.
• Blue: H-Town.
• Purple: Signal callers 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: DEFEND
• Green: JONESES
• Blue: HOUSTON TEXANS
• Purple: NFL QBS, 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 #713 are coming up next.

Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

What Are the Answers to Connections Sports Edition Today?

• DEFEND: BLANKET, COVER, GUARD, SHIELD
• JONESES: DANIEL, DEACON, JONQUEL, MAC
• HOUSTON TEXANS: DELL, MARKS, STINGLEY, STROUD
• NFL QBS, WITH THE FIRST LETTER CHANGED: CART, COVE, DODGERS, THOUGH

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 Recreated the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars Every ’90s Kid Loved

Could Tony-winning music and an Oscar-winning song be in store for Bad Bunny’s future?

If so, the 32-year-old rapper would be what showbiz calls an “EGOT,” given that he just won Emmy gold for that historic Super Bowl Halftime Show earlier this year.

The early wins announced on Saturday, September 5 already secured Apple’s annual event as a big winner — but fans were undoubtedly wondering if Bad Bunny himself would receive an Emmy Award.

Then, it happened. His show-stopping mini-concert held on Sunday, Feb. 8 won in the outstanding variety special (live) category, meaning the Puerto Rican superstar was among the winners handed a trophy.

During Night 1 of this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards — formerly known as the Creative Arts Emmys — the Super Bowl Halftime show also won in a whopping six other categories:

• directing
• lighting design
• music direction
• sound mixing
• choreography
• technical direction

As fans might recall, high-profile guests of the halftime show included Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, while an actual wedding and real-life business owners were also amongst the crowd.

“The performance is celebrating normal people, and what it is to be human and love and have joy, and really appreciate one another,” the show’s creative director Harriet Cuddeford previously told Variety. “This was to show how much he values his community, to celebrate normal people on the world’s biggest stage, especially people who are of importance in Latino culture. He’s a very authentic person, Benito, and it’s about just being authentic and very real and very human.”

Bad Bunny Continues to Outdo Himself

Earlier this summer, the chart-topper hit yet another new career milestone with his latest Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour. And his continued dominance means he has now extended his own record, earning another No. 1 on Billboard’s monthly Top Tours chart.

As the outlet reported, the feat marks the second time this year that the “NUEVAYoL” singer topped the chart, a third time while on this specific tour, and a “record-extending 10th time since the ranking launched in 2019.” Find out more here.

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Fall is fast approaching! If you’re looking to build your fall capsule wardrobe, start with pieces you can layer with and pair with anything as you navigate unpredictable autumn temperatures. A classic, versatile long-sleeve is a foundation piece anyone would love to have around this time of year, and this Walmart bestseller is a fan-favorite with over 5,600 five-star reviews. Don’t wait too long to add it to your cart, though, because this deal won’t last long! 

The Fantaslook Long Sleeve Shirt is on sale now for as low as $13, with 20 cute colors to choose from. Prices vary slightly by size and color, but you won’t pay more than $15 for any option. For a shirt that originally retailed for $23, that’s a solid deal.

Fantaslook Long Sleeve Shirt, From $13 (was $23) at Walmart 

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The lovely long-sleeve shirt comes in sizes small to 3XL. It’s made from 60% polyester, 35% rayon, and 5% spandex, so it’s super soft and stretchy. The top is a bit flowy, giving it a “flattering” fit, according to shoppers. It has a subtle ribbed design, and elastic crewneck, and a curved hem. All of these trendy details result in a shirt that’s just a little more elevated than your everyday long-sleeve shirt. 

With colors like brown, maroon, gray, and cream on sale, this top just screams fall. It’s “perfect” for layering, according to shoppers, but also lightweight and enough to wear now in the late summer weather. 

Fantaslook Long Sleeve Shirt, From $13 (was $23) at Walmart 

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Pair the long-sleeve shirt with leggings and boots for the ultimate sweater weather outfit on milder fall days, then you can wear it with jeans and a vest when it gets colder. As the seasons change to winter, you can layer even more, adding scarves, jackets, and whatever else you need to stay cozy and warm while still looking stylish. 

Whether you’re baking pumpkin pie or running out to get your daily PSL, this top has what it takes to quickly become an essential part of your everyday attire. 

Related: Walmart’s $31 Portable Closet With Drawers Is a Dream for Organizing Dorms, Apartments, and Bedrooms

Grab the Fantaslook Long Sleeve Shirt for $13 at Walmart before this limited-time deal is over! At this price, you could even stock up on multiple hues to wear throughout fall and winter without breaking the bank.

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.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is nothing to get excited about.

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 #917 on Sunday, September 6.

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: “I’ve seen better”

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

What Are Today’s NYT Strands Hints?

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

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

• AV
• ME
• AL
• OK
• AD
• NO (SPANGRAM)

NYT Strands Spangram Hint: Is It Vertical or Horizontal?

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

NYT Strands Spangram Answer for September 6

Today’s Spangram answer for today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram, and Answers for Sunday, September 6, 2026, is NOTHINGSPECIAL.

What Are Today’s NYT Strands Answers, Word List for Sunday, September 6?

• AVERAGE
• MEDIOCRE
• ALRIGHT
• OKAY
• ADEQUATE
• SPANGRAM: NOTHINGSPECIAL

Related: I Recreated the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars Every ’90s Kid Loved

Today’s New York Times Connections puzzle covers everything from abbreviations on repeat to ways to mark your territory.

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 #1185 on Sunday, September 6, 2026.

Today’s NYT Connections Puzzle for Sunday, September 6, 2026 / New York Times

The New York Times

If you’ve been having trouble with any of the connections or words in Sunday’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

Hints About Today’s NYT Connections Categories on Sunday, September 6

1. No limit.
2. Necessary adaptors.
3. So nice, we had to say it twice.
4. Like on the side of a tree or on a park bench.

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

Today’s Connections Game Answers for Sunday, September 6:

1. UNRESTRICTED PERMISSION: BLANK CHECK, CARTE BLANCHE, FREE REIGN, FULL AUTHORITY
2. PLACES TO INSERT SOMETHING INTO ON A COMPUTER: CARD SLOT, HEADPHONE JACK, OPTICAL DRIVE, USB PORT
3. ABBREVIATIONS FOLLOWED BY REDUNDANT WORD: ATM MACHINE, LCD DISPLAY, PIN NUMBER, UPC CODE
4. ENDING WITH WAYS TO CARVE A SURFACE: COURT SCRIBE, DIRECTOR’S CUT, PIZZA SLICE, SAT SCORE

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: I Recreated the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars Every ’90s Kid Loved

A beloved British rock band could be making its way to Las Vegas.

Oasis is reportedly planning a string of shows at Allegiant Stadium as part of a massive 2027 tour, according to The US Sun. The concerts are expected to be formally announced in the coming days, alongside additional dates across North America and Europe.

The potential Las Vegas shows would mark another major chapter in the band’s long-awaited comeback. Noel and Liam Gallagher reunited for Oasis Live ’25 last year, their first tour together since the band split in 2009.

According to The Sun, Oasis is also expected to perform at Boston’s Gillette Stadium, while its European plans reportedly include shows at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Stadium and Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium. The band is also set to return to several major venues in the U.K., including Manchester’s Etihad Stadium and Knebworth House, where Oasis famously performed in 1996.

And now, Noel himself has seemingly added fuel to speculation that Oasis could return to the stage next summer. During a recent appearance on talkSPORT Drive, the singer was asked about rumors of another Oasis tour in 2027. While he initially appeared to brush off the idea, his response quickly became more intriguing.

After noting that Liam had recently stepped away from social media, Noel said, “Well, then there must be something happening,” before adding, “Let’s just say there’s no football tournament on next year, so we’ve got to do something in the summer, right?”

For now, fans will have to wait for an official announcement.

Today’s NYT Wordle answer can be used to describes a person’s personality or the color of your walls.

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 #1905 ahead.

Let’s start with a few hints.

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How many vowels are in today’s Wordle?

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

What kind of letter does today’s Wordle start with?

Today’s Wordle begins with a consonant.

Are there any double letters?

There are double letters in today’s Wordle.

Can you give another hint about today’s Wordle?

A hint for today’s Wordle is: A highly favored neutral that can also mean bland.

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 for #1904 on Sunday, September 6, 2026.

Today’s Wordle answer on Sunday, September 6, 2026, is BEIGE.

-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)

Some movies simply entertain us. Others manage to expose something so unsettling about the world that they remain powerful decades after the credits roll.

Such is the case with Michael Mann’s riveting 1999 drama The Insider, starring Al Pacino and Russell Crowe, which is based on the true story of one man’s decision to take on Big Tobacco, and the heavy personal price he paid for telling the truth.

Crowe stars as Jeffrey Wigand, a former executive and research scientist at tobacco company Brown & Williamson, who possessed potentially explosive information about the tobacco industry. Pacino plays Lowell Bergman, the veteran 60 Minutes producer who recognizes the importance of what Wigand knows and works to persuade him to tell his story.

What follows is a tense battle involving corporate power, journalism, and one increasingly frightened whistleblower whose decision threatens his career, family, and personal safety.

Directed by Mann, who co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth, The Insider was based in part on journalist Marie Brenner’s 1996 Vanity Fair article about Wigand, “The Man Who Knew Too Much.” Christopher Plummer rounds out the principal cast as legendary 60 Minutes correspondent Mike Wallace.

But this is hardly a movie confined to conference rooms and television studios. Mann somehow turned the complicated mechanics of investigative journalism into a genuine thriller. And a human one at that.

At its center is Crowe’s anguished performance as a man forced to decide how much he is willing to sacrifice to reveal what he knows, alongside Pacino’s relentless Bergman, who becomes equally determined to get the story before the public.

“The real appeal to me of the film was to involve audiences as intensely as I could into characters who were very real,” said Mann in an interview with Charlie Rose. “In the kind of awkwardness of Jeffrey Wigand I was stunned by the humanity of it, just the raw humanity of it…And both men who are as polarized from each other as possible, both struggling against very large size adversaries. That’s the real emotional, and dramatic, intellectual appeal of the material.”

Not lost on anyone is that The Insider co-stars two of the most accomplished and revered actors of our time. It turns out that not only were the characters polarized, but that the actors themselves worked very differently.

“It was very interesting,” said Crowe in an interview with Larry King. “And we have a totally separate process, you know. I’m not looking for it. I’ve done my homework. I’ve done it since I’ve been at the set that morning in terms of specifically thinking what do I need to get out of this thing to push the story forward…Whereas Al will begin to discover it in that moment, which is very fascinating to watch, you know, but it’s just different from me.”

Released on Nov. 5, 1999, The Insider wasn’t considered a major box-office success, earning approximately $60 million worldwide. Critical acclaim, however, was another story. The film received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Mann, Best Actor for Crowe and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also nominated for five Golden Globe Awards and won numerous and varied prestigious awards worldwide.

More than a quarter-century later, its reputation has only grown. The Insider currently boasts an impressive 96% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, which ranks the film among its 300 Best Movies of All Time. Decades after it was released, the acclaimed thriller continues to be celebrated, both for its artistry and its enduring relevance.

Perhaps that’s because the questions at the heart of the movie have never gone away: What does it cost to tell the truth when powerful people don’t want it told? And who is willing to pay the price?

Related: 1968 Pop Song, With 17-Year-Old Singer From ‘The Birthplace of Rock and Roll,’ Is Still a Generational Hit 58 Years Later

For decades now, Lou Reed‘s “Walk on the Wild Side” has been used as a sort of pop culture shorthand to conjure up the vibe of New York City in the early ’70s. It’s been featured in the soundtracks of countless movies and TV shows and sampled by musical acts as diverse as A Tribe Called Quest and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked “Walk on the Wild Side” at #223 on a list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” In short, it’s about as iconic as a song can get. But as it turns out, the track almost had a very different focus.

Released on Reed’s classic 1972 album Transformer, “Walk on the Wild Side” was the legendary singer-songwriter’s biggest commercial hit, peaking at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in April 1973. The song was pretty revolutionary at the time, as it told the stories of a cast of real-life counterculture characters from Andy Warhol‘s Factory scene. Initially, though, it was about a different cast of characters…literally.

According to the renowned author Salman Rushdie, who was a friend of Reed, the late musician wrote the song for a musical version of another writer’s novel.

“Originally, it [“Walk on the Wild Side”] was written to go as the title track of this Nelson Algren musical, based on Nelson Algren’s novel, Walk on the Wild Side,” Rushdie explained on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in 2025.

“And then the musical fell apart, never happened, and so…the music is the same, but he rewrote the lyrics, dropping the characters from the novel, and replacing them with characters from the Warhol Factory,” he continued.

“I always thought it would be kinda fun to introduce people to characters they maybe hadn’t met before, or hadn’t wanted to meet,” Reed himself explained of his lyrical inspiration in Transformer: The Lou Reed Story.

Each verse of “Walk on the Wild Side” is about a different person from Warhol’s entourage: Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, Joe Dallesandro, Joe Campbell (Sugar Plum Fairy) and Jackie Curtis.

As Woodlawn later told The Guardian, the part about her (including the line “plucked her eyebrows on the way”) was indeed accurate.

Jack Mitchell / Getty Images

“My father got a job at a hotel, so we moved from New York to Miami Beach,” Woodlawn recalled.

“I was going to school, getting stones thrown at me and being beaten up by homophobic rednecks,” she continued. “I felt I deserved better, and I hated football and baseball. So, aged 15, I decided to get the hell out of there and ran away from home. I had $27, so hitchhiked across the USA. I did pluck my eyebrows in Georgia. It hurt! My friend Georgette was plucking them and I was screaming, but all of a sudden I had these gorgeous eyebrows and she put mascara on my eyes.”

Dallesandro felt differently, telling The New York Times that Reed hadn’t even met him yet when he wrote the song and based his verse on the character he played in Flesh.

Photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, however, who documented the Factory scene, made a strong point when he said, “If Lou hadn’t written that song, none of these characters would be remembered.”

Related: 1972 Rock Hit, Recorded in a Single Day, Is Making a Sudden Resurgence

Discovering a versatile food you can integrate into a wide range of meals that instantly ups the nutritional value can feel like a goldmine. Maybe for you, that food is cottage cheese. You can eat it on its own, or you can integrate it into dishes like scrambled eggs, dips, pancake mix and pasta sauce as a way to add more protein to your meal.

Registered dietitian Maggie Michalczyk, RD, says that cottage cheese can absolutely be part of a healthy diet. “It’s a convenient source of high-quality protein and also provides nutrients like calcium, potassium, phosphorus and vitamin B12,” she explains. But she adds that some cottage cheese can be high in saturated fat and sodium, so it’s important to read the nutritional label when shopping for it.

If you’re doing your best to follow a heart-healthy diet and eat cottage cheese regularly, it’s important to know how it can impact your cardiovascular health. After all, as Michalczyk pointed out, some cottage cheeses can be high in sodium or saturated fat, neither of which is good for your heart when consumed in excess.

Parade talked to three registered dietitians about how eating this popular dairy product regularly impacts heart health. Here’s what you need to know.

Related: This Is the Worst ‘Healthy’ Food for Heart Health, Cardiologists Say

How Cottage Cheese Impacts Heart Health

“As with most foods outside of fruits and vegetables, there are pros and cons to cottage cheese’s nutritional composition,” says Parkview Health registered dietitian Sarah Mohrman, RDN. For example, she explains that the calcium in cottage cheese is beneficial for heart health, but it’s also important to be mindful of the saturated fat content. 

Tara Spisak, RD, another registered dietitian at Parkview Health, agrees that cottage cheese contains both nutrients that support heart health as well as ones it’s important to be mindful of. “As with most foods, be mindful of serving sizes to prevent excess fat and sodium consumption in your heart-healthy diet,” she says.

Michalczyk notes that cottage cheese is especially a great heart-healthy food to integrate into your diet when it’s used in place of other foods that are higher in sodium, saturated fat and refined carbohydrates. For example, cottage cheese is typically lower in saturated fat than sour cream, mayonnaise and ricotta cheese. Even when you use cottage cheese to cut down on the portion of these foods instead of replacing them completely, it can be beneficial to heart health.

Related: 25 Foods That Are Good For Your Heart, From Fruits and Veggies to Heart-Healthy Nuts and Seeds

Saturated Fat vs. Protein: Understanding Cottage Cheese Nutritional Content

One of the reasons why cottage cheese can make a meal more satiating is its protein and saturated fat content. But a diet high in saturated fat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. If you have cardiovascular disease, are at high risk for it, have high cholesterol or are simply trying to cut back on the saturated fat in your diet, Michalczyk recommends choosing low-fat cottage cheese. That way, you’re still getting the protein, calcium and other nutrients it contains while keeping your saturated fat intake low.

As for cottage cheese’s protein content, this is a definite benefit of the food. “While protein itself isn’t necessarily ‘heart protective,’ choosing protein-rich foods like cottage cheese can help people build balanced meals and can replace foods that are higher in saturated fat or refined carbohydrates, which are not as good for heart health,” Michalczyk says.

Spisak agrees, explaining, “Cottage cheese contains a good source of protein, with about 13 grams per half-cup serving, which is equivalent to about two ounces of meat.”

Related: 7 Foods Cardiologists Always Eat for Heart Health 

Does the Sodium in Cottage Cheese Raise Blood Pressure?

If you are among the 48% of US adults who have high blood pressure, you likely know that it’s important to watch your sodium intake. The American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, with an ideal limit of less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day.  

“Cottage cheese can raise your blood pressure, due to its high sodium content,” Spisak says, adding that a half-cup serving of cottage cheese typically has about 350 milligrams of sodium, so it’s considered a high-sodium food. 

All three dietitians say that cottage cheese’s sodium content doesn’t mean it’s bad for heart health. What’s most important, they say, is being mindful of your overall sodium content and staying within the AHA’s guidelines.

Key Heart Health Benefits: Potassium, Calcium and Cholesterol 

Two nutrients in cottage cheese that directly benefit cardiovascular health are potassium and calcium. Spisak explains that potassium supports blood pressure because it helps to process sodium out of the body. “Potassium also relaxes blood vessel walls, which can help lower blood pressure,” she adds. 

While Michalczyk says that a serving of cottage cheese only has roughly 3% of the daily recommended amount of potassium, it still counts towards maintaining normal blood pressure and healthy blood vessel function. It just shouldn’t be your main source of potassium. 

As for the calcium in cottage cheese, Michalczyk explains that calcium plays a role in the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels as well as heart and muscle function, all of which contribute to overall cardiovascular health. 

When reading the nutritional panel for cottage cheese, you may notice that it contains cholesterol. While it is important to be mindful of your cholesterol intake if you want to lower your risk for cardiovascular disease, the amount of cholesterol in cottage cheese is generally low and not something to worry too much about. In fact, the cholesterol in cottage cheese is lower than the cholesterol in most cheeses, making it a great way to reduce the amount of cheese used in recipes, which in turn will lower the overall cholesterol content of the meal.  

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How To Eat Cottage Cheese for a Heart-Healthy Diet

As all three registered dietitians have shared, cottage cheese can certainly be part of a heart-healthy diet. Since it is high in sodium, all three recommend pairing it with other foods that are low in sodium. 

“Alone, cottage cheese can serve as an excellent protein source for breakfast or as a snack. However, you can ramp up the nutrition content of this dish by adding healthy fruit or serving it over a fresh sliced tomato,” Mohrman says.

Michalczyk adds that this dairy product on its own can be a nutritious snack, especially when it’s topped with berries, walnuts, chia seeds and cinnamon, which are all beneficial for heart health.

Spisak says that having half a cup of cottage cheese with fruit paired with a slice of whole-grain avocado toast can make a nutritious breakfast or snack. “You could also replace ricotta cheese with cottage cheese in lasagna to help cut down on fat and calories,” she adds.

On a similar note, Michalczyk says you can blend it into a tomato-based sauce for a creamy, protein pasta sauce. These are just a few ways you can get creative with cottage cheese in the kitchen. 

Mohrman emphasizes that it’s important to remember that heart health isn’t just about one singular food; it’s your overall diet that matters the most. But if you’re looking for a way to get more protein, potassium and calcium into your diet, cottage cheese is a great way to do it. 

Up Next:

Related: This Is the Worst Dairy Food for Heart Health, Experts Warn

Sources 

• Maggie Michalczyk, RD, registered dietitian and creator of Once Upon a Pumpkin.
• Sarah Mohrman, RDN, registered dietitian at Parkview Health. 
• Tara Spisak, RD, registered dietitian at Parkview Health.
• Maki, K. C, Dicklin, M. R. and Kirkpatrick, C. F. (2021) Saturated fats and cardiovascular health: Current evidence and controversies. Journal of Clinical Lipidology. 15(6):765-772.
• High Blood Pressure Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• How Much Sodium Should I Eat Per Day? American Heart Association.

In 1973, the Allman Brothers Band reached a commercial height that would never be duplicated.

Brothers and Sisters, the band’s fourth studio album, hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in September 1973 and remained there for five weeks. It knocked Chicago’s Chicago VI out of the top spot before eventually giving way to the Rolling Stones’ Goats Head Soup.

The achievement was remarkable not only because Brothers and Sisters became the Allman Brothers Band’s biggest album, but because of everything the group had endured before making it.

Rolling Stone would later describe the Allmans as the “first great jam band,” praising the way they combined traditional blues with their own strain of rock ‘n’ roll and pushed improvisational music into previously unexplored territory.

But by the time Brothers and Sisters arrived, the band responsible for that groundbreaking sound had been profoundly changed.

The Allman Brothers Band Rebuilt After Two Devastating Losses

Founding guitarist and bandleader Duane Allman died in a motorcycle crash in October 1971. The band continued without him, releasing Eat a Peach in 1972, but another tragedy followed just over a year after Duane’s death.

Bassist Berry Oakley died following a motorcycle accident in November 1972. Oakley had already participated in the early Brothers and Sisters sessions, playing bass on “Wasted Words” and “Ramblin’ Man.”

Rather than attempt to replace Duane with another lead guitarist, the Allmans changed their musical architecture. Lamar Williams joined on bass, while Chuck Leavell’s piano became increasingly important to the group’s sound. Dickey Betts also emerged as the band’s de facto leader and took on a larger songwriting role.

That evolution helped push Brothers and Sisters toward the country-influenced sound that would produce the band’s biggest single.

Related: Last Surviving Original Member of Legendary ’70s Rock Band Turns 82

‘Ramblin’ Man’ Almost Didn’t Sound Enough Like the Allman Brothers

Betts wrote and sang “Ramblin’ Man,” but its country flavor initially made the band hesitant to record it.

“We knew it was a good song but it didn’t sound like us,” drummer Butch Trucks recalled, according to Alan Paul’s book “One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band.”

Luckily, they recorded it anyway.

“Ramblin’ Man” became the Allman Brothers Band’s first and only Top 10 hit, climbing all the way to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Rock critic Dave Marsh called it “the closest real blues slide guitar has come to topping the chart” in his book “The Heart of Rock & Soul.”

And there was another future rock-radio staple waiting on the album.

Betts conceived the instrumental “Jessica” as an experiment inspired by Django Reinhardt, attempting to create a melody that could be played using only two fingers. When his young daughter Jessica entered the room and began bouncing to the music, Betts used her energy as inspiration and named the piece after her.

‘Brothers and Sisters’ Became the Allmans’ Commercial Peak

Released Aug. 6, 1973, Brothers and Sisters took off immediately.

The record went gold in retail sales within 48 hours of shipping and sold approximately 760,000 copies in its first three weeks. Billboard reportedly dubbed it the “success story of the summer.”

It ultimately spent five weeks at No. 1 and has sold more than 7 million copies worldwide.

For a band that had lost two foundational members in barely a year, Brothers and Sisters could easily have been the sound of something ending.

Instead, it became the biggest album of their career.

Related: ’70s ‘Guitar Legend,’ Who Powered the Allman Brothers’ Biggest Hit, Turns 74

It was 45 years ago on Sept. 5, 1981, that Hank Williams Jr. released “All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down),” a timeless ode to aging outlaws everywhere.

Written solely by Williams Jr. and produced by Jimmy Bowen, the rollicking, fiddle-filled tune finds the singer, affectionately known as Bocephus, feeling nostalgic as he reflects on the wild, rebellious party days he once shared with his buddies, who have now settled down. 

RELATED: 1994 No. 1 Country Classic, Written by Alan Jackson, Is Still a Powerful Generational Hit 32 Years Later

An anthem to getting older, Williams Jr. acknowledges that his friends have moved on from the loud and buzzy lifestyle they once knew to a quieter stage. Yet he seems both wistful and amused by the idea of slowing down, admitting, “The hangovers hurt more than they used to.” 

In the song, Williams Jr. also name-checks fellow outlaws including Kris Kristofferson, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash, pointing out how they, too, have moved away from their rowdy ways. Jones is getting straight, Jennings is spending more time at home with Jessi Colter, Cash isn’t living as he did in the ‘60s, and Kristofferson has moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. 

“All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)” served as the lead-off single from the Country Music Hall of Fame member’s 1981 album, The Pressure Is On. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on Nov. 21, 1981, and remained for one week. 

RELATED: 2009 No. 1 Hit, Ranked Among ‘Best Country Songs of All Time,’ Reimagined as a Duet With Megan Moroney

“All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)” was the country icon’s fifth No. 1 hit, following previous chart-toppers,“All for the Love of Sunshine,” “Eleven Roses,” “Texas Woman,” and “Dixie on My Mind.”

The song also established “all my rowdy friends” as a recurring phrase in Williams Jr.’s music. In 1984, he released “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight,” which he later reworked as  “All My Rowdy Friends Are Here On Monday Night” for the opening of Monday Night Football. The Williams Jr. theme debuted in 1989 and became synonymous with the football broadcast for decades.

Related: 1987 No. 1 Hit, Ranked Among ‘Best Country Songs of All Time,’ Reimagined by Garth Brooks at Secret Pop-Up Concert

Fifty-six years ago, rock pioneers Deep Purple released “Child in Time,” an epic 10-minute track that inspired a young Metallica star long before his legendary career began.

Released on June 3, 1970, as a key track on their fourth studio album, Deep Purple in Rock, “Child in Time” was quickly recognized by rock fans as a monumental work. Although it was never issued as a commercial single, the track found success among an underground audience, earning significant critical acclaim from rock fanatics.

“Child in Time” was co-written by all five members of Deep Purple’s iconic Mark II lineup, including Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice. Spanning a staggering 10 minutes and 18 seconds, it stands as one of the longest and most ambitious compositions in their discography.

Glenn Hughes, Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice, Jon Lord and David Coverdale of Deep Purple pose for a portrait in 1973.

Chris Walter/WireImage

The song utilizes a unique blend of hard rock, blues and psychedelic elements, building from a quiet, organ-led atmosphere into an explosive vocal climax. The stunning track stands as a quintessential hard-rock masterpiece, pairing a haunting melody with dramatic, high-intensity moments that leave listeners entranced—even inspiring some of the world’s rock icons.

In an interview on the Music And We podcast, Metallica drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich revealed that “Child in Time” was one of the most transformative tracks he heard growing up. At just nine years old, Ulrich was captivated by how the song conveyed a story through its dramatic instrumentals:

“And so when I think back to those very formative years, the Deep Purple song ‘Child in Time’, which I first heard on the Made in Japan album… it sort of had an epic feel and a different kind of feel than some of the other songs, and had these dynamics and felt more like a journey,” Ulrich recalled. “And so that felt like a journey, like a story. When you were listening to that song, that was a sort of an experience that kept evolving as you were listening to it.”

After seeing the band live with his dad in Denmark, Ulrich realized the song evolved with every performance, molding to whatever mood the players were in. The life the band brought to the track during each show caused him to fall even harder for the genre: “Deep Purple’s ‘Child In Time’ was the first time I was exposed to music that lived and breathed depending on what mood the players were in. And that has left a mark on me.”

Nearly six decades since its release, “Child in Time” continues to leave a lasting mark on music history. In the digital era, the track has maintained a strong presence among younger rock fans, accumulating over 119 million streams on Spotify.

Related: 1970 Country Song, Written in 25 Minutes at a Canadian Beach, Is Still a Powerful Hit 56 Years Later

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If your home could use more hidden storage without adding an oversized piece of furniture, Wayfair has the Bayou Breeze Hence 31.5-Inch Wide Sideboard Set marked down to just $160, compared with its regular $500 price. The set includes two matching cabinets with a natural finish that combines a light wood look with woven rattan doors and black metal legs. 

Each cabinet measures 31.5 inches high by 31.5 inches wide by 15.75 inches deep, with an interior measuring 22 inches high by 30.5 inches wide by 15.5 inches deep. They’re made with manufactured wood, steel, and natural rattan, with two doors per cabinet and shelving inside. The set can hold up to 100 pounds and is both water- and scratch-resistant.

Bayou Breeze Hence 31.5-Inch Wide Sideboard Set, $160 (was $500) at Wayfair

Courtesy of Wayfair

Shop at Wayfair

What’s especially unique about this gem is that you get two matching pieces instead of one long sideboard, which gives you a lot more flexibility. You could place them together under a TV for a setup that’s about 63 inches wide, use the pair as a buffet in the dining room, or separate them to add storage in different areas of your home.

One reviewer wrote, “These were super easy to put together and are so spacious,” while another called the cabinets “very sturdy and well made.” Others have used them beyond a traditional sideboard, including as TV stands, bedroom storage, and even a basement bar setup. One shopper described the piece as “gorgeous,” while another said it was “beautiful” and praised its extra storage.

Related: Walmart’s ‘Beautiful’ Farmhouse Sideboard Offers ‘Spacious Storage’ and ‘Makes a Perfect Coffee Bar’

The curved rattan panels give this sideboard a very boho look, so it would fit well in spaces with neutral tones, greenery, woven accents, and other natural materials. The black metal legs also add a slightly more modern touch, making it a good fit for rooms that blend both styles.

Shop More Deals

• Winston Porter Kitchen Storage Island, From $105 (was $196) at Wayfair
• George Oliver Sideboard with Pantry Doors, From $195 (was $889) at Wayfair
• Charlton Home Scarlett 2-Drawer Buffet Table, From $255 (was $700) at Wayfair

If you’re already thinking about a fall home refresh, the Bayou Breeze Hence 31.5-Inch Wide Sideboard Set is an easy way to make a change without paying full furniture prices. And with the set nearly 70% off, now is a great time to check Wayfair before the deal changes or the last finish sells out.

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To solve today’s NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, you’ll need to be a bit of a film buff, know a thing or two about physics, have an affinity for sweets, and possess a green thumb.

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 Sunday, September 6, 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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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Sunday, September 6, 2026

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

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: Like sashimi and steak tartare — HINT: Ends with the letter “W”

4 Across: Unit of energy symbolized by a “J” — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

6 Across: Debate back and forth — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”

7 Across: Online source for health diagnoses — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”

8 Across: Yo ___ (Spanish “I am”) — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”

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

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: National sport of New Zealand — HINT: Starts with the letter “R”

2 Down: Graduate, for short — HINT: Ends with the letter “M”

3 Down: Garden intruder — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”

4 Down: Hit 1975 film shot largely on location in Martha’s Vineyard — HINT: Starts with the letter “J”

5 Down: Black-and-white cookie — HINT: Ends with the letter “O”

Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Sunday, September 6, 2026

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

NYT Mini Across Answers

1 Across: Like sashimi and steak tartare — RAW

4 Across: Unit of energy symbolized by a “J” — JOULE

6 Across: Debate back and forth — ARGUE

7 Across: Online source for health diagnoses — WEBMD

8 Across: Yo ___ (Spanish “I am”) — SOY

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: National sport of New Zealand — RUGBY

2 Down: Graduate, for short — ALUM

3 Down: Garden intruder — WEED

4 Down: Hit 1975 film shot largely on location in Martha’s Vineyard — JAWS

5 Down: Black-and-white cookie — OREO

Related: I Recreated the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars Every ’90s Kid Loved

In 1975, ABC introduced the comedy sitcom Barney Miller, which continues to be recognized as a timeless classic in television history.

After eight seasons and 44 years since its series finale, the Hal Linden-led show, which brought life inside a New York City police precinct to viewers, was named by Rolling Stone among the 100 Best Sitcoms of All Time.

Based on the ranking released by the publication, Barney Miller secured the No. 49 spot, highlighting how the “proudly shaggy office sitcom” delivered “one of TV’s most realistic depictions of police work, as well as one of the funniest.”

Marking Linden’s mainstream breakthrough role, he took on the character of Barney Miller, the level-headed and witty captain of the fictional 12th Precinct in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village.

While the setting featured a police workforce, the ABC show focused on the humorous and mundane realities of working in a precinct instead of shout-outs and action-packed car chases.

“Barney Miller” cast Maxwell Gail (Det. Stanley “Wojo” Wojohowicz), Gregory Sierra (Det. Sgt. Chano Amenguale), Jack Soo (Det. Nick Yemana), Ron Glass (Det. Ron Glass), Abe Vigoda (Det. Phil Fish), Barbara Barrie (Elizabeth Miller), Hal Linden (Capt. Barney Miller)

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Barney Miller also captivated viewers with the diverse and eccentric detectives and staff of the 12th Precinct, as well as the steady stream of bizarre criminals and unusual civilian complaints that became a defining part of the sitcom’s enduring appeal.

The sitcom’s popularity led it to win three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series in 1979, Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series in 1980 and Outstanding Comedy Series in 1982.

Adding to the list were two Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical in 1976 and 1977.

As for the ratings, Barney Miller grew into a strong performer after a slow start and eventually becoming among the 10 highest-rated television programs in the Nielsen ratings, according to Awards Daily.

Unfortunately, after 170 episodes, the beloved sitcom bid goodbye to viewers when its final episode aired on May 20, 1982.

Linden and co-star Max Gail once set the record straight that the show wasn’t cancelled, but the sitcom co-creator Danny Arnold opted to end the series himself after failing to find new writers to continue the sitcom.

“The last year, Danny called us all together and said, ‘Listen, we’re having writing problems, finding new writers [good writers did not want to join for the ninth year … there’s hardly any way up.]” Linden recalled, as cited by Remind Magazine, adding, “ So, he said, ‘I’m going to solicit scripts from everywhere — colleges, anywhere, anybody who thinks they’re a writer.’ And he went away for a month and that’s what he did. He solicited scripts from any writing source to see if he could find writers. And a month later he came back and said, ‘Guys, there’s no reason to do this show unless we can do it right. And I cannot find writers.’”

Despite the decision, viewers continued to enjoy the years of watching Barney Miller, and the ABC series ultimately became a television legacy.

Related: 1972 Hit Drama Film Named Among ‘Best Movies of the ’70s’ Still Holds a Perfect Rating

A songwriting retreat in the Great Smoky Mountains produced one of Tennessee’s most recognizable songs, and according to its writers, the whole thing took only about 15 minutes.

Husband-and-wife songwriting team Boudleaux and Felice Bryant wrote “Rocky Top” while staying at the Gatlinburg Inn in Tennessee in 1967. The Osborne Brothers recorded the song that same year, turning the quickly written tune into an enduring bluegrass favorite that would eventually become an official state song.

The Bryants already had an extraordinary catalog behind them.

They had written a string of hits for The Everly Brothers, including “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake Up Little Susie” and “All I Have to Do Is Dream.” In 1967, the couple traveled to Gatlinburg to work on a collection of slower songs for an album by Archie Campbell.

They needed a change of pace.

As the story goes, Boudleaux suggested writing something faster to break up the session. Within roughly 10 minutes, the couple had created “Rocky Top,” an upbeat ode to an imagined place tucked away in the Tennessee hills.

Its cheerful chorus disguised a more complicated message.

The narrator longs for a simpler life on Rocky Top while contrasting it with the pressures of the city. Along the way, the Bryants also worked in references to moonshine, disappearing federal agents, and environmental changes, giving the song considerably more character than a straightforward celebration of mountain life.

The Osborne Brothers recorded it in November 1967.

Released as a single in December, “Rocky Top” reached No. 33 on Billboard’s country chart in 1968. It wasn’t an enormous chart hit, but the song proved far more durable than its initial peak suggested.

“Rocky Top” soon became deeply connected to Tennessee.

The University of Tennessee’s Pride of the Southland Band began performing it at sporting events in the 1970s, helping turn the song into an unofficial anthem for the school. In 1982, Tennessee designated “Rocky Top” one of its official state songs.

“It’s the nostalgic plea for simple times that really resonates with everybody,” said Del Bryant, the son of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, in an interview. “There’s a longing there that is not quite sad, still a happy tempo, but that is what resonates with people and what the core of the song is about.”

Other country stars embraced it as well, with Lynn Anderson taking her version into the Top 20 on the country chart in 1970.

“People ask me now, ‘When you gonna quit?'” Bobby Osborne told NPR in 2017. “Why, they ask the wrong guy. I don’t intend to quit as long as I can do what I’m doing now. Now, if I get to where I can’t sing or can’t play or can’t think good or whatever, then I might have to. But I ain’t gonna quit ’til then.”

Fifty-nine years after the Bryants sat down to write it at the Gatlinburg Inn, “Rocky Top” has long since outgrown its modest chart beginnings. What started as a 15-minute break from writing ballads became a song inseparable from Tennessee itself.

The whole purpose of cleaning the house is to maintain a safe environment for you and your family. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains, wiping down surfaces—especially in the bathroom and kitchen—removes bacteria and viruses, which helps prevent common illnesses such as colds and the flu. Dusting and vacuuming are important too. Otherwise, dirt and dander can accumulate, which can lead to breathing issues or triggering allergies.  

But it’s not just the act of cleaning that’s important; the products you choose to clean with matter too. Certain cleaning products contain active ingredients that can irritate or burn the skin. Some ingredients also release harmful fumes into the air. According to the American Lung Foundation, even cleaning products labeled “green” or “natural” can be harmful to health.

How can you choose cleaning products for your home that are safe? We took this very question to a toxicologist. Here, he shares what he keeps in mind when buying cleaning products. Plus, see which active ingredients it’s best to avoid. 

Related: Oncologists Are Begging People To Stop Using This Common Cleaning Product

How a Toxicologist Shops for Cleaning Products

Dr. Alex LeBeau, PhD, MPH, CIH, is an exposure scientist, toxicologist and environmental health expert at Exposure Consulting. It’s literally his job to educate the public about what type of products are safe, and which ones aren’t. 

Dr. LeBeau shares that when he’s shopping for cleaning products, he pays careful attention to the label to see if the product aligns with guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has a mission to protect human health and the environment. 

“The EPA has specific definitions for what is a cleaning product and what is a disinfectant,” Dr. LeBeau tells Parade, explaining that the EPA defines a cleaner as a soap or detergent to remove surface dirt and defines a disinfectant as a chemical that kills bacteria and viruses. “While a product can be both a cleaner and disinfectant, only disinfectants are EPA-registered antimicrobial pesticidal products.”

Related: You’re Probably Cleaning This One Kitchen Item Wrong—and It’s a Germ Magnet

To know if a cleaning product has been approved by the EPA, look on the back or bottom of the product for a number labeled “EPA Reg. No.” Usually, this number contains two or three parts, separated by dashes. Having this number ensures that a cleaning product matches the definitions of either a cleaner or disinfectant that Dr. LeBeau previously explained. 

He explains that when he’s shopping for cleaning products, he considers what he wants to use them for and then decides accordingly, based on the EPA-approved definitions. For example, if he’s going to clean the kitchen (somewhere bacteria from raw meat can be found), he uses a disinfectant. The same goes for when he’s choosing a product for cleaning the toilet, another place where bacteria can lurk. But a regular cleaner is typically enough for wiping down everyday surfaces, such as coffee tables, desks and bookshelves. 

Want to go the extra mile in terms of safety? Look for an EPA Safer Choice Label, which is a separate certification that ensures every ingredient has been reviewed for human health and environmental safety.  

Related: Most People Are Cleaning This Body Part Wrong, Doctors Warn

Ingredients To Avoid

Dr. LeBeau explains there isn’t a hard line between ingredients in cleaning products that are safe versus unsafe. “Safe is a relative term in the eyes of the user,” he says. For general safety, he recommends following the directions on the label. “This may include keeping away from children or using with the appropriate surface contact time,” he adds.

If you or anyone in your household has any underlying respiratory health conditions, the American Lung Association says to be cautious of products with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that can vaporize at room temperature and can contribute to chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions and headaches. 

Common VOCs found in cleaning products include acetone, ethanol, isopropanol, xylene and toluene. These ingredients can be found in cleaning products such as air fresheners, chlorine bleach, dishwashing detergent, dishwashing liquid, rug and upholstery cleaners, furniture or floor polish and oven cleaners. 

According to HouseFresh, an independent company dedicated to educating people about air quality, not all VOCs are harmful. But if using a cleaning product is causing you to experience itchy eyes, shortness of breath, painful sinuses, headaches, nausea or confusion, that’s a sign that it’s impacting you negatively and it’s best to find an alternative.    

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Other Safety Precautions To Take While Cleaning

In addition to reading product labels when shopping for cleaning products, Dr. LeBeau says that, sometimes, it’s important to wear protective gear such as rubber gloves or eye protection when cleaning. This, he explains, will be indicated on the product’s label with its instructions. 

For example, if you’re cleaning with products that contain any harsh chemicals or scrubbing areas known to have lots of germs (like the bathroom), slapping on a pair of gloves before you start scrubbing is a good idea. 

If you know that certain chemicals make your eyes sting, that’s a sign to wear protective goggles (or to swap the cleaning product out for one that’s not as harsh). For many people, this means wearing goggles when using bleach, ammonia or oven cleaner. 

N95 face masks can also come in handy when you’re cleaning confined spaces and don’t want to breathe in strong fumes, like bleach and ammonia. 

Dr. LeBeau’s biggest piece of advice is to check that the cleaning product you’re considering buying has an EPA number and use it according to how it’s defined. Beyond that, deciding what specific active ingredients to avoid will vary from person to person, based on how sensitive they are, any underlying health conditions they may have or simply what ingredients they want to avoid. But if a cleaning product is negatively impacting you in any way, that’s a sure sign to stop using it and switch it out for something gentler. 

Up Next:

Related: ‘I’m a Cardiologist—This Is the One Frozen Food I Never Keep in My House’

Sources

• When and How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Cleaning Products and Household Chemicals. American Lung Association.
• Dr. Alex LeBeau, PhD, MPH, CIH, an exposure scientist, toxicologist and environmental health expert at Exposure Consulting.
• Selected EPA-Registered Disinfectants. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 
• Learn About the Safer Choice Label. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 
• 100 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and where they are found in the home. HouseFresh.

Alex Van Halen doesn’t seem interested in making amends with Sammy Hagar.

The legendary Van Halen drummer, 73, made his feelings about the band’s former frontman crystal clear during a September 3 interview with Brazilian music journalist Marcelo Vieira, who translated Alex’s memoir, Brothers, into Portuguese.

While discussing books written by other members of Van Halen, Alex had relatively positive things to say about original frontman David Lee Roth’s 1997 autobiography, Crazy From the Heat. But when the conversation turned to Hagar’s 2011 memoir, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock, his response was harsh.

“I don’t know what he wrote, and I don’t wanna know,” Alex said, according to a translation from Portuguese published by Roadie Crew. “In my opinion, Sammy Hagar is a complete idiot.”

The blunt remark comes amid continued tension surrounding the band and its legacy.

READ MORE: ’80s Classic Rock Icon Reacts to Being Snubbed From Reunion Plans

Hagar, 78, fronted the band after Roth’s departure, joining Alex, Eddie Van Halen, and Michael Anthony for a hugely successful run that began with 1986’s 5150. However, Hagar recently revealed that he and Anthony haven’t been asked to participate in an archival project Alex is developing from unfinished Van Halen recordings.

“No. We haven’t been asked, number one,” Hagar said during a February appearance on Rock of Nations. Hagar claimed there could be an enormous amount of unreleased material featuring that lineup because the band recorded lengthy jam sessions while creating albums.

He didn’t hide his frustration over potentially being excluded, either. “I’m disappointed that Mike and I wouldn’t be invited. It’s, like, what? Are you kidding me? We’re still alive. We’re out here doing it. We’re playing those songs. We can still do it, you know?” Hagar said.

While Hagar acknowledged that the archival project is ultimately Alex’s to control, the drummer’s new comments make it clear no reunion is on the table, at least anytime soon.

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For more than five decades, Mel Collins has been the musician rock stars call when a song needs the unmistakable punch of a saxophone.

The veteran British musician turned 79 on Sept. 5, marking another milestone in a remarkable career that has included King Crimson, Camel, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, The Rolling Stones and countless others. Among those credits is Bob Dylan, whose sprawling 1975 sessions for Desire brought Collins into the studio for the cinematic “Romance in Durango.”

Born Melvyn Desmond Collins on Sept. 5, 1947, he emerged as a musician in the late 1960s and first worked with King Crimson as a session player in 1970 before joining the band permanently.

He made his first appearance with the progressive rock pioneers on In the Wake of Poseidon and became an important part of the band’s early-’70s sound. His saxophone and flute could be heard across albums including Lizard and Islands, giving Collins a prominent place in one of progressive rock’s most adventurous groups.

His versatility soon made him a sought-after session musician.

That reputation brought Collins to New York City in 1975 during the famously crowded early sessions for Dylan’s Desire. Collins was then associated with the British group Kokomo, several of whose musicians participated as Dylan experimented with different combinations of players.

“We got asked to go in one by one,” Collins told Rolling Stone. “He wanted some singers, so the Kokomo singers went in. He wanted a keyboard player, so the keyboardist went in. I was the last one. I was thinking, ‘He won’t want a saxophone.’ As it happened, there was a trumpet player [Michael Lawrence]. And I got called in at the last minute after drinking a glass of brandy and thinking, ‘I’m going to be going home soon.’ And bang! I’m in the studio with this very nice guy, the trumpet player. Bob Dylan just sort of walked around the studio playing the song and we had to get a rough idea of it. Then we had to go for a take.”

Collins played tenor saxophone on “Romance in Durango,” Dylan and Jacques Levy’s tale of an outlaw fleeing across Mexico with his lover. The recording assembled an unusually large cast that also included Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris and violinist Scarlet Rivera.

His involvement with the Desire sessions extended further. Session records also place Collins on takes of songs including “Isis” and “Mozambique” as Dylan worked through the material that would ultimately form the 1976 album. “Romance in Durango,” however, is where his tenor saxophone can be heard on the finished record.

Collins’ résumé only grew from there. He contributed to albums by Bryan Ferry, Bad Company, Tears for Fears, Dire Straits, and The Rolling Stones.

“The Stones wanted a sax player, and at that time, Bobby Keys was banned,” Collins revealed years later. “The whole story is in Keith Richards’ book. He was their usual guy. He did ‘Brown Sugar’ and all those old songs. And Mick booked me to do this session. I had been in the South of France, and they were doing it in Paris. It was a bit uncomfortable since Keith obviously wanted Bobby Keys, and Mick wouldn’t have it. So I’m there in the studio. I knew Ronnie quite well. He came in and went, ‘Hey man, how are you doing?’ And he walked to the other side of the studio. It’s a very big studio, EMI. Then Keith came in. I was there with Mick and trying to play the solo of my life.”

He also eventually returned to King Crimson, joining the band’s later incarnation and performing with the group through its final years of touring.

“Robert [Fripp] called me asking if I wanted to go on this new spree with the new version of King Crimson, and I said ‘of course, yes please,'” Collins said in a 2023 interview. “And that just followed on, very fortunately at that time. I was back with Robert, and it was great. I suppose we were on the road for about seven years since 2014, until a couple of years ago. It was a great band.

At 79, Collins’ career offers an extraordinary tour through decades of rock history. He rarely needed to be the name on the album cover; one blast of that saxophone was often enough to make his presence known.

Related: 1971 Rock Song by Genesis, Lasting Over 10 Minutes, Is Still a Powerful Hit 55 Years Later