Month: February 2023

A startling number of professional athletes face financial hardships after they retire. The big reason is that even though they make a lot of money, the average sports career is relatively short: 3.3 years in the NFL; 4.6 years in the NBA; and 5.6 years in MLB. During that time, athletes often dole out money to friends and family members who helped them along the way and can fall victim to living lavish, unsustainable lifestyles.

After the athlete retires they are likely to earn a lot less money, and if they don’t adjust their spending, they’re in for some serious trouble.

In a candid interview with NFL Hall of Famer and TV personality Shannon Sharpe, Chad Ochocinco (legally Chad Johnson) revealed that he saved 80 to 83% of the $48 million he made in the NFL by faking his lavish lifestyle because it made no sense to him.

The former Cincinnati Bengal, New England Patriot and Miami Dolphin was known for being a diva on the field but was financially conservative when he took off his jersey. He wore fake jewelry from Claire’s and prefers to fly coach instead of private.

u201c.@ochocinco saved 83% of his salary by flying Spirit & wearing fake jewelryu201d

— shannon sharpe (@shannon sharpe)
1675126258

“I ain’t flying private. Put me on Spirit,” Ochocinco told Sharpe. “Exit row, window seat, that’s all I need. As long as I get from point A to point B. I don’t need private.”

Ochocinco didn’t need to project an image because his reputation spoke for itself. “If you can get to a point in your career where your name becomes bigger than anything you can purchase, there’s your value,” he said. “My name itself, Ochocinco, at one point, was bigger. We talk about watches and jewelry and chains—never bought real anything while I was playing. What was the point? I went to Claire’s.”

The former NFL wide receiver doesn’t need a fancy watch when it’s free to ask someone the time.

“Why am I buying a $50,000 watch? An $80,000 watch? What time is it real quick?” Ochocinco asked Sharpe. “How much that cost me? Time is free,” Ochocinco said.

He admitted that spending all your time and money trying to impress people is a losing game that doesn’t get anyone anywhere. “People aren’t going to listen because we are caught up in looking a certain way, living a certain way, trying to appease others who don’t really care nothing about you, just to say ‘Oh, I got it.'”

He admitted that he gives his kids whatever they need and lets them splurge some but wants them to understand the importance of living within their means.

“I allow the kids to enjoy, but I need them to understand there’s gonna come a time you’re gonna have to get off that payroll, but for right now, I will always be there for them,” he told Sharpe. “No matter what they want. Long as you don’t try to live a lifestyle that you know you can’t afford.”

Even though Ochocinco was a multimillion-dollar athlete and one of the biggest names in sports, his message pertains to just about everyone. People should spend their time, energy and money creating a reputation for themselves rather than wasting their resources trying to impress people.

Fancy cars, jewelry and friends who like you for your money won’t be around for long. But your name lasts forever.

Having a baby is not an easy feat no matter which way they come out. The pregnant person is either laboring for hours and then pushing for what feels like even more hours, or they’re getting cut from hip to hip to bring about their bundle of joy. (Unless you’re one of those lucky—or rather not-so-lucky—folks who get to labor for hours only to still end up in surgery.)

Giving birth is hard and healing afterward can feel dang near impossible, especially given that most states in the U.S. only offer six weeks of maternity leave and it’s typically unpaid. But did you know that not everyone has that experience?

A mom who had her first child in the U.S. before meeting her current husband and relocating to Germany is shedding light on postpartum care in her new country. The stark contrast is beyond shocking to women living in the U.S. and she’s got a few considering crossing the ocean for a better quality of life.

Aly, whose TikTok username is @usa.mom.in.germany, took to the platform to explain the resources provided to postpartum moms provided completely free. “Daily in-home visits with a nurse-midwife to check on me and the baby, up to three years parental leave while my job is protected, mental health therapy appointments every other week,” Aly recounted.

Wow. Just those few things are beyond impressive, especially given that they’re free, but she wasn’t done. The list seemed neverending and people who live in the U.S. had some feelings about it.

“Every video you make gets me closer to actually moving to Germany,” one woman said.

Another wrote, “Why did this make me sob. It feels like I was robbed of the early years living with my babies in the US.”

“Sobbing as I’m currently pregnant with my second, and I need a break to love my kids the way they deserve,” one mom shared.

Honestly, I relate. My third child spent the first six months of his life in an airplane hangar because I had to return to work, still swollen from my c-section, and my husband was out of paternity leave. We had to work opposite shifts to make it work and the hour overlap meant my son got to watch F-15s take off wearing noise-canceling earphones much too big for his tiny baby head. Not the ideal situation, but who knew there was another way?

Germany, apparently. They seem to have some things figured out over there. See for yourself below:

@usa.mom.in.germany

Postpartum Resources as a U.S. American 🇺🇸 in Germany 🇩🇪 In the wake of the news of Lindsay Clancy, it becomes overwhelmingly obvious how many of these resources are unavailable in the USA. We need so much more for postpartum mothers. #livingingermany #germanyvsusa #postpartum #lindsayclansy

Tipping culture is rapidly changing in America, so understandably a lot of people aren’t sure what to do when they buy a coffee and the debit card reader asks for a tip. It used to be that people only tipped bartenders, drivers, servers and hairdressers.

Now people are being asked to tip just about any time they encounter a point-of-sale system. There is a big difference between tipping a server who lugged around hot plates of food for an hour-long meal and someone who simply handed you an ice cream cone.

“We’re living in an era of inflation, but on top of that, we’ve got tipping everywhere—tipflation. I take it a step further and call it a tipping invasion. Because that’s really what I think it is,” etiquette expert Thomas Farley (aka Mister Manners) told CBS 8.

A lot of people are tipping just because they are uncomfortable saying no to the person hovering over them at the counter.

“What is happening is what I like to call the ‘guilt tip.’ So we know about a guilt trip. This is the guilt tip. Where because you know you’ve got to flip that screen around ultimately at the person waiting and who’s going to see how much you tipped,” Farley added. “Not to mention the three people standing in line behind you are going to see what you tipped.”

Things have really come to a head now that Starbucks has gone from a place with a tip jar to adding a gratuity option to its point-of-sale system.

Fitness influencer Meghan Elinor, a former server, went viral on TikTok for posting a video where she emphatically said we shouldn’t be tipping for a cup of coffee. The video has racked up over 1.3 million views and fanned the flames of the debate about tipping culture.

WARNING: Video contains strong language.

@meghanelinor

“No ma’am, we are not tipping at the Starbucks drive-thru,” Elinor says in the video. “That s*** is hard—being a server, being a busser, being a runner—like, that s*** is real difficult, so yes, I will 100% tip you 20, 30, 40 percent every single day of the week,” she claims. “But Starbucks workers, listen, I love y’all, I do, but I’m not going to f***ing tip you when all you’re doing is taking a cup and handing it to somebody outside the window.”

Elinor’s aggressive tipping refusal struck some people on TikTok as being anti-worker.

“U do u but imma keep tipping them bc i know they deal with some of the WORST customers and they deserve their tips,” Caprist wrote.

“You tip a bartender to make a drink what’s the difference with coffee?” Jessica Downie added.

“It’s so cute that you think all we do is pick up a cup and hand it to you,” Laura wrote.

Many current and former Starbucks workers added that the tip isn’t just for the person who hands you the coffee. “You don’t have to tip but to inform you the tip goes out to everyone that worked that day not solely the person at the window,” Lyssa wrote.

The tip request is also a double-edged sword because some people tip because they believe the staff is underpaid. But the tip jar also lets management off the hook for lower wages. “I used to work at Starbucks, all the tips are added up then divided among all the workers, they use the tips so they can pay the workers less,” user3391398860792 wrote.

The tipping debate is difficult, especially for well-meaning people who want those with service jobs to be well taken care of but also don’t want to be overcharged for a cup of coffee.

In the end, people should make economic decisions without feeling coerced, so the decision to tip or not should be a simple one. In situations where tips aren’t essential to the workers, such as getting a cup of coffee, give them one if you feel it’s deserved but never because you feel guilty.

While a catchy hook might make a song go viral, very few songs create such a unifying impact that they achieve timeless resonance. Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” is one of those songs.

So much courage and raw honesty is packed into the lyrics, only to be elevated by Chapman’s signature androgynous and soulful voice. Imagine being in the crowd and seeing her as a relatively unknown talent and hearing that song for the first time. Would you instantly recognize that you were witnessing a pivotal moment in musical history?

For concert goers at Wembley Stadium in the late 80s, this was the scenario.

The year was 1988. Seventy-two thousand people gathered—along with 600 million more watching along on their televisions—to see headliner Stevie Wonder as part of Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday tribute concert.

However, technical difficulties (or perhaps some divine timing) rendered Wonder unable to perform his act. Chapman had already played a three-song set earlier in the afternoon, and yet she agreed to step up to the microphone.

Armed with nothing but herself and a guitar, the shy and stoic Chapman captivated everyone to silence. And the rest is history.

Watch:

Using just a simple story, “Fast Car” conveyed a million different themes—the challenges of class and poverty, seeking escape from a small town and yearning for freedom and new opportunity. It’s easy to see why some find the song heartbreaking, while others find it hopeful.

After the Mandela gig, the song became a worldwide hit, earning Chapman Grammy awards and shooting her to stardom. What’s more, she introduced a new wave of socially-conscious music filled with gentle, yet brutally truthful introspection. Since that fateful day, her name is forever synonymous with a quiet revolution. We are quite lucky to get to experience it so many years later.

Life is full of precious and magical moments, from watching a baby take its first steps, to saying “I do,” to witnessing an artist transcend in a way we’ve never experienced. These moments touch something deep inside us and etch themselves in our memories, enabling us to draw on their joy for years to come.

That’s one of the coolest things about joy. Some might think of it as a fleeting feeling, but it’s always there within us, ready to rise to the surface when it gets tickled.

Bringing out people’s joy is one of the things we love doing at Upworthy, which is why we curate these collections of smile-worthy finds each week.

In this week’s roundup, we’ve got some adorable kids and inspiring grown-ups, some delightful dancers and sassy public servants, and even a cute quokka thrown in for funsies. Enjoy!

1. Wee one discovers his ability to walk and his reaction is priceless.

@alissa_and_b

It’s the #pterodactyl noises for me! 😍😍😍 #babytok #babysfirststeps #lgbtqfam

His little roar, followed by that precious smile? It doesn’t get any cuter.

2. Iraqi-Irish wedding musical mashup has everyone dancing with joy.

See on Instagram

Cultures coming together, especially in the context of love and family, is such a beautiful thing. Read the full story here.

3. Oliver James has taught himself to read in his 30s with the help of BookTok and he’s an inspiration.

@oliverspeaks1

Learning and reading books has literally saved my life. How do you feel about books what has reading done for you.? #books #bookshelf #readingbooks📚 #booktok

In this video, James explains how much anxiety it used to give him to go shopping, not being able to read. Now he has a goal to read 100 books this year, and book lovers on TikTok are helping him out. Read more about James’ journey to literacy here.

4. A couple asked their grandmothers to be flower girls at their wedding and look how gorgeous they were.

What a wonderful idea. Let’s make this a thing.

5. 13-year-old ventriloquist wows with her impressive and hilarious rendition of ‘You Don’t Own Me.”

Ana-Maria Mărgean was the winner of “Romania’s Got Talent” and is now competing in “America’s Got Talent: All-Stars.” What’s amazing is that she just started learning ventriloquism during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Read the full story here.

6. Whoever runs the National Park Service Twitter account deserves a raise.

See on Instagram

Swipe through to see the follow-up tweets. The whole account is full of delightful silliness, and we are here for it.

7. Dad gets emotional while singing to his NICU baby who raises his tiny little hand.

@fritojohnson89

Remington Hayze Johnson. Proof that God is faithful. Born 4 months early and given a 21% chance of survival. Today we are 2 1/2 months old giving God all the praise He deserves. #worship #nicu #nicubaby #dadsinging #elevationworship

Having a baby in the NICU can be exhausting and worrisome. What a special moment for this family. Read the full story here.

8. Little girl hears a sax in the subway and feels the music in her soul.

See on Instagram

Children are so pure and the way they react to music is always fun to see. What a wonderful exchange and testament to the power of live musicians.

9. She brushed her bald dad’s ‘hair’ and her cackle is too adorable.

See on Instagram

Gotta love it when a kid goes all in on their own joke. She’s just cracking herself up.

10. May we all be as happy and content as this quokka enjoying a beet.

u201cQuokka eating beetroot.. ud83dude0au201d

— Buitengebieden (@Buitengebieden)
1675022909

Quokkas always look like they’re smiling anyway, but there’s no mistaking the joy in this one’s snack time. (Also, I want a quokka. Does anyone know where I can get a quokka?)

Hope that gave you a little serotonin boost! Come back next week for another collection of delights. (And if you’d like to have posts like these delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our free newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.)

The most-watched movie trailer to premiere during last year’s Super Bowl was Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This year, Marvel will hope to replicate the success of the Doctor Strange sequel with multiple spots for upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe features. New trailers for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (February 17) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 5) have been confirmed by Deadline to premiere during the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles game, while there’s rumblings of a teaser for The Marvels (July 28), as well. Disney also ponied up expensive ($7 million for 30 seconds!) teasers for The Little Mermaid (May 26), Pixar’s Elemental (June 16), and “possibly” Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (June 30).

If a Marvel movie ends up not being the biggest trailer to premiere during Super Bowl LVII, that’s because Fast X — starring Vin Diesel and Jesus Momoa — will have the honor. Another Universal film, the Elizabeth Banks-directed Cocaine Bear (February 24), is also anticipated to have “a 15-second pre-game spot,” while Warner Bros. is bringing “one of the greatest superhero movies ever made,” The Flash (June 16).

Paramount is expected to have a big night, with teasers for Scream VI (March 10), Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (March 31) and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (June 9), but sadly no Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (July 14). Deadline also notes “it wouldn’t be a surprise” if Creed III (March 3) or John Wick: Chapter 4 (March 24) had a presence during the game, although neither is confirmed. Kick anyone who talks or even coughs during the John Wick trailer out of the party.

Could we get a Barbie trailer? Maybe — but that would overshadow the game itself.

(Via Deadline)

Emily Ratajkowski made a lot of headlines in November 2021 with her theory on why Pete Davidson dates so many gorgeous ladies. Fast forward about a year, and Emily filed from divorce from Sebastian Bear-McClard and whaddya know, the stunning model started dating Pete Davidson. This was the kind of news that felt like it should be exciting, but then the above image surfaced, and the pair looked awkward at best. A Knicks game is not the best place to get to know each other, perhaps? Emily didn’t seem too into it (nor was Ben Stiller looking particularly blown over ^^^ about the pairing), and Emily and Pete went their separate ways a few month later.

No one knew why this was the case, although it was speculated that her subsequent public reference to strong women could provide fodder. From there, Emily went on to date Eric Andre, which also seemed like something to get excited about, but in TMZ’s coverage of the event, their public debut also showed Emily looking less than thrilled. What gives? Emily delivered some insight on her High Low with EmRata podcast while chatting with guest Tommy Dorfman. As she hints, she wants to date casually, but she also knows that other dudes that she happens to be seeing are, well, seeing paparazzi photos of her out with other dudes. It makes her feel uncomfortable, via PEOPLE:

“It’s been really hard because basically, any time I go on another date, everybody knows, so the other guys I’m dating see it, and it has been kind of difficult because of course they’re like, ‘Oh, didn’t talk to her last night,’ and then you know, there’s pictures of me out to dinner with someone else.”

“They know exactly where I’m at even with things that I don’t necessarily want to share, and they don’t necessarily want to know,” she continued. “So, that’s been a whole other aspect of just trying to keep things casual and also be cognizant of people’s feelings, and that’s been kind of tricky to navigate.”

That makes sense, although it must be noted that Eric Andre at least appeared to enjoy his date with Emily, even if she can’t get comfy being so public with dates these days. Emily also revealed, however, that she has no regrets about getting divorced. As she told Dorfman, she doesn’t see divorce as a “a sad thing” because “I know a lot of people who are unhappily married for a very long time because they’re so afraid of divorce and I don’t think that’s a good way to live.” So when she hears that people are getting divorced, she thinks, “Good for you.” She needs to bottle that advice and sell it.

(Via PEOPLE)

On Wednesday, PlayStation owners were abruptly told in an email that the PlayStation Plus Collection exclusive to PlayStation 5 owners would no longer be available starting on May 9. While many of the other features of PlayStation Plus such as its monthly games would still be available, anyone who is interested in the 19 free games better log on and claim them before they run out of time.

Unfortunately, while having a free collection of incredible games as soon as you turn on your PlayStation 5 was a really nice perk, it is really unlikely PlayStation decides to walk this decision back. Thankfully, claiming the games is incredibly easy and doesn’t even take up too much time. You simply go to the collection under the PlayStation Plus tab and select each game you want to claim. Once the game is claimed you have it in your library to download and play whenever you want. There is no downside whatsoever to going into the collection and claiming every single game even if you have no plans of ever playing it.

So with that in mind, once you have finished claiming all 19 games you should definitely think about downloading and playing these five. It’s a good variety that should hit most preferences.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Uncharted has always been a franchise that is best known for its large action setpieces rather than its story. That changes in Uncharted 4 which is without a doubt the best plot of the entire franchise, and if recent rumors that the series is finished are true then it’s one heck of a note to go out on. Even now its settings are just as gorgeous as they were when it first released on the PlayStation 4 back in 2016. It is a masterpiece of a game and if there is a single game on the entire PlayStation Plus collection that you should play then this is the one. As a personal note, this is the first Uncharted game I ever played and I loved it so much I went back and played through the entire franchise after missing it the first go around.

Batman: Arkham Knight

Batman: Arkham Knight is the final game in the Arkham trilogy and it is a really spectacular close to the franchise. Everything about this game is full of references, stories, and characters that fans of Batman will adore. While some do consider it the weakest of the trilogy, largely because of the Batmobile segments, it is still a really spectacular game with standout performances from the entire voice cast. It doesn’t do too much new, but it never needed to. It’s more of the same fun that Arkham Asylum and Arkham City previously provided and that is perfectly okay! It is also unfortunately one of the final Batman performances we got from Kevin Conroy before his passing.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

Who doesn’t love a good ole fashion platformer? Why not get three for the price of one, or in this case none, with the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy? It’s a remake of the first three Crash Bandicoot games, all classics, and is sure to challenge even the most veteran of platforming fans. It’s a very faithful remake with all of the classic levels expertly remade from the ground up, but with a few qualify of life choices here and there to make all three games meet modern standards. It even added in two new levels, Storm Ascent and Future Tense. Both are full of challenges for newcomers and longtime fans of the franchise. If you play this and enjoy all three games then a sequel, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time was released back in 2020 and is still readily available.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was a return to form that fans of the franchise had long been demanding. Resident Evil has never been a stranger to campy dialogue or leaning in on the action, but many fans were thrilled to see Biohazard return the franchise to its routes as a horror game. Set in a first-person perspective, it will frighten just about anyone but it doesn’t stray too far from what makes Resident Evil unique. It still has its ridiculous moments, but they feel less like a hooking point and more like a breather between the game’s more scary setpieces.

The Last of Us Remastered

The Last of Us is not a zombie game, but instead a story about people set in a world that happens to have zombie-like creatures. It’s not a game about saving the world or finding out a way to get society back on track; it’s a character driven story surrounding Joel and Ellie as they go through and experience that is going to change their life forever. It’s a masterpiece of a game, but can be extremely difficult to get through on an emotional level. If you have not played through it yet and are interested in giving it a shot, maybe thanks to the TV show, then there is no better chance for PS5 owners than right now.

Here is the full list of 19 games available until May 9:

• Batman: Arkham Knight
• Battlefield 1
• Bloodborne
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (Zombie Chronicles Edition)
• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
• Days Gone
• Detroit: Become Human
• Fallout 4
• Final Fantasy 15
• God of War
• Infamous Second Son
• Monster Hunter World
• Mortal Kombat X
• Ratchet and Clank
• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
• The Last Guardian
• The Last of Us Remastered
• Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
• Until Dawn

A recent report from the January 6 committee contained an interesting little item about Donald Trump‘s activities after losing the November 2020 election to Joe Biden. In the lead-up to his “Stop The Steal” rally, which ultimately ended in an insurrectionist attack on the U.S. Capitol building, Trump reportedly tried to trademark the phrase “Rigged Election!” Ever the faithful sidekick, Jared Kushner apparently tried to fast track this effort.

Trump’s blatant attempt to cash in on his “Big Lie” was first flagged by Los Angeles Times columnist Nicholas Goldberg:

The email, written just days after the 2020 election and titled “POTUS requests,” was addressed to Trump son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner. It said: “Hey Jared! POTUS wants to trademark/own rights to below, I don’t know who to see — or ask.”

Below, the phrase “Rigged Election!” is highlighted in the email. Kushner forwarded the request on to various aides, saying, “Guys — Can we do ASAP please?”

According to Goldberg, had Trump been successful in locking down the trademark, “the goal presumably would’ve been to sell merchandise using the phrase, raising money for himself or his campaign or his legal defense or whatever.”

Obviously, Trump’s effort to claim ownership of “Rigged Election!” went nowhere and there’s no indication whether he actually filed a trademark and/or was talked out of it by his lawyers who no doubt used such dense legal arguments as “Are you crazy?” or the always effective “Dude, I’m not going to jail for this.”

(Via Los Angeles Times)

Harrison Ford isn’t a Freaks and Geeks fan. It’s not that he dislikes the show; he just hasn’t seem it. The man’s busy playing Han Solo and Indiana Jones for the 12th time, y’know?

Ahead of the premiere of the Apple TV+ series Shrinking, which stars the two actors, creator Bill Lawrence revealed that Ford was unaware of Jason Segel’s filmography — or even who he is. “Hey, this is a really good script. Will I be in the second one more?” Ford asked Lawrence, who replied, “You can be in it as much as you want.” Ford wondered who else is in the cast. “I’ll have Jason Segel call you,” Lawrence said. Ford’s response: “Who’s Jason Segel?” Lawrence: “Uh, I’ll send you some movies first.”

I hope he started with the Dracula musical scene.

Anyway, Ford appeared on Wednesday’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he was asked about his lack of Jason Segel knowledge. “Not true,” he said. He’s seen the David Foster Wallace biopic The End of the Tour, he claims, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. And what did Ford think of it? “Nice penis.” What a compliment!

You can watch Ford’s interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert above.