Year: 2024

There are so many fantastic (and mediocre) tequilas on the market right now that it can create some mild anxiety while you’re scanning the store shelves. As always, there are two key elements when shopping: flavor and price.

While it isn’t necessarily true that you have to spend more money for better tequila it certainly helps. Having said that, there are plenty of bottles out there that aren’t quite worth their hefty price tags. Plus some cheaper bottles that punch way above their weight.

To help ease your shopping experience, we decided to see how well bottles $50 and under would perform against bottles $100 and over in the only fair way we know how. That’s right, we’re talking about a blind taste test!

Methodology

I’ll admit this isn’t a perfect test. There are plenty of bottles that are above $50 but don’t reach that triple-digit price point which would’ve been good candidates to go against the more expensive bottles, but I think this will be an interesting way to see how well more budget-minded bottles perform against the luxurious stuff.

For this blind taste test, I sectioned off my collection of tequila into two groups: below $50 and above $100. I didn’t separate the bottles by expression and instead had my girlfriend choose four bottles from each group at random. This ended up giving me a selection of blanco, reposado, and añejo tequilas.

It was a wild ride for my palate, but I love a challenge. Here is our tasting class, along with the prices from low to high.

• Espolòn Reposado — $24.99
• Teremana Blanco — $23.99
• Hijole! Silver — $36.99
• Tres Agaves Añejo — $37.99
• Cierto Private Collection Reposado — $119.99
• El Tesoro Knob Creek Añejo Mundial 2023 — $169.99
• Casa Noble Marques De Case Noble Añejo — $164.99
• Patron El Alto Reposado — $154.99

Once the bottles were shuffled, I had my girlfriend pass me one pour at a time (again, at random). Here are my tasting notes and first impressions.

• We Put The 10 Best Selling Tequilas On The Market To A Blind Test
• Tequilas Under $100 That Are Perfect For Sipping Straight
• The Absolute Best Bottles Of Tequila For Taking Shots, Ranked
• Additive Vs. Additive-Free Reposado Tequilas, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• The Best Tequilas For Whiskey Drinkers, Power Ranked By A Whiskey Pro

Part 1: The Tequila Blind Taste Test

Taste 1:

Nose: Heavy on the vanilla, almost overwhelmingly so with a warm and inviting kiss of oak to balance it out.

Palate: There is a corner store chocolate bar quality to this. Makes me think of Hershey with a bit of vanilla. I’m not tasting any agave here, unfortunately.

Finish: Incredibly smooth. Almost no burn here.

Taste 2:

Nose: Very mellow and warm and completely dominated by caramelized agave.

Palate: More roasted agave on the palate with a mix of rich caramel and zesty citrus.

Finish: A nice buttery finish with a bit of a burn and a lingering oak flavor.

Taste 3:

Nose: Raw agave on the nose, a bit of cracked black pepper, and a wet grassy earthiness. There is a juiciness to the nose that I’m loving.

Palate: All of that interest on the nose is missing from the palate. I get some gentle agave flavor, but what I’m tasting here is mostly neutral with a bit of an alcohol burn.

Finish: That grassiness returns on the finish, but I’m not tasting a whole lot here. So far this is our bottom.

Taste 4:

Nose: Warm and lush roasted agave on the nose, rich oak, and a tiny bit of smoke. The aroma is truly delightful, it has a level of complexity none of the bottles have given us so far.

Palate: Despite its oak and smoke aroma, there is a surprising fruity juiciness to this tequila. In addition to some pear, I’m tasting citrus peel, black pepper, and cinnamon with a kiss of floral honey.

Finish: Slight minerality with a soft oak finish and some spicy cinnamon.

Taste 5:

Nose: Completely dominated by chocolate and vanilla. I know this is an añejo but I’m not getting any oak here.

Palate: Warm and spicy with more vanilla and chocolate.

Finish: Smooth and neutral. There is an unfocused quality about this tequila. I wouldn’t call it bad, but it’s not doing much for me.

Taste 6:

Nose: A nice balance of caramel and agave. I’m getting a sense of cinnamon. Overall there is a soft inviting quality to this one.

Palate: Rich roasted agave, a touch of vanilla, some chili and black pepper, and bright and juicy mango.

Finish: Spicy cinnamon and bitter coffee with a light oakiness.

Taste 7:

Nose: Roasted agave and sweet delicate floral honey offset by some spicy cinnamon sticks.

Palate: A gentle black pepper flavor balanced with juicy tangerines. There is a nice sense of balance here.

Finish: More citrus on the finish, but the zest rather than the juice with a strong wet oak flavor.

Taste 8:

Nose: Finally something that is nice and vegetal. There is a sharp brightness here. It’s warm and sings the nostrils in the best way.

Palate: Some agave and a bit of funk. The nose kind of misled me here. I was expecting something that would bloom on the palate, but this is kind of one note.

Finish: There just isn’t a lot here. It may work as a neutral base for a cocktail but there isn’t much of a flavor to latch onto.

Part 2: The Tequila Ranking

8. Hijole! Silver (Taste 3)

ABV: 40%
Price: $36.99

The Tequila:

I always feel bad for whatever bottle snags the last-place spot, but it is what it is. The reason this bottle fell short was because it lacked character. Compared to the other bottles we tasted, this just didn’t have anything that memorable.

Hijole! Silver is produced at NOM 1614, Tequilera Tap, using agave harvested at six years maturity and cooked in an autoclave for 24 hours before being roller mill extracted, and fermented in a stainless steel pot.

The Bottom Line:

It does not have a strong enough character to really compete with the other bottles in this tasting.

7. Patron El Alto (Taste 1)

ABV: 40%
Price: $154.99

The Tequila:

This was the biggest surprise of the tasting. Patron El Alto is not cheap, it’s a luxurious blend of extra añejo, añejo, and reposado tequilas, but the flavor is so stamped out that it couldn’t cut it in a blind taste test. It’s smooth to the point of being characterless.

The tequila is produced at Patrón’s distillery, NOM 1462, using agave cooked in stone brick ovens that is then tahona extracted and rested in American white oak barrels.

The Bottom Line:

Smooth and luxurious, but lacking any agave bite.

6. Teremana Blanco (Taste 8)

ABV: $40%
Price: $23.99

The Tequila:

Teremana, aka The Rock’s tequila, is made from agave sourced from the highlands of Jalisco. The pinas are roasted in brick ovens and distilled in copper pot stills. I’m not that familiar with this expression and I was delighted by the bright juiciness of its aroma. Unfortunately what I got on the nose didn’t translate to the flavor, which tasted a bit too neutral to me.

The Bottom Line:

For the price it’s impressive, it has a delicate and natural quality to it but it’s missing a big flavor to have it stand out against the competition.

5. Marques de Casa Noble Añejo (Taste 5)

ABV: 40%
Price: $164.99

The Tequila:

Another big surprise here, Casa Noble’s top-of-the-line expression didn’t quite stand out the way I would’ve expected. This bottle delivered a lot of luxurious smoothness but had an unfocused flavor that didn’t resonate with me.

The tequila features a blend of añejo and extra añejo tequilas that were aged between one and five years in French oak barrels.

The Bottom Line:

Very smooth and a delightful sipper, but compared to the other bottles the flavors just aren’t strong enough here.

4. Espolón — Reposado (Taste 2)

ABV: 40%
Price: $24.99

The Tequila:

By far, this was the biggest surprise of the tasting. For the price, there is a lot of interesting nuance to the flavor. It’s mellow, rich, and smooth, but not so smooth that the bright agave flavors have been rubbed out.

Espolón is produced at NOM 1440, Campari, using agave that is aged for three months in American White oak barrels.

The Bottom Line:

For the money, you’re not going to find another tequila this nuanced and interesting. I’ll take Espolón over several expensive bottles any day.

3. Tres Agaves Añejo (Taste 7)

ABV: 40%
Price: $37.99

The Tequila:

Tres Agaves Añejo is pretty solid. This bottle performed incredibly well. Like the Espolón, I think you’re getting a lot of value out of this bottle, which offers the complexity of aged tequila without the high price that comes with spending more time in the barrel.

Produced at NOM 1614, Tequilera Tap, Tres Agaves is made using agave cooked in a high-pressure autoclave that is roller mill extracted and rested for 18 months in repurposed Kentucky Bourbon and Tennesse Whiskey barrels.

The Bottom Line:

A fantastic aged tequila that gives you a lot of deep flavor and character without the high price tag.

2. Cierto — Private Collection Reposado (Taste 6)

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $119.99

The Tequila:

Cierto has had a strong presence at the International Spirits Competition NYC, Craft Distillers Spirits Competition, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Sip Awards. It’s a competition darling and one taste is all it takes to see why. In our little blind taste test, this bottle performed incredibly well, it doesn’t have the depth and complexity of our number one pick, but it came damn close and was clearly ahead of everything ranked before it.

The tequila is produced at NOM 1146, Tequileña, and is aged for 11 months in French Limousin oak barrels.

Bottom Line:

A premium tequila that lives up to its hype and price tag.

1. El Tesoro — Mundial Knob Creek Edition Añejo (Taste 4)

ABV: 40%
Price: $169.99

The Tequila:

This was one of our favorite tequilas of 2023 and being that it is made by El Tesoro, one of the best tequila brands right now, we’re not surprised this took the top spot. What makes this aged limited edition tequila special is that it is aged for 12 months in charred oak barrels that once housed Knob Creek bourbon, giving it a sort of savory whiskey quality. It’s a real pleasure to sip.

It has all the smooth and luxurious qualities you’d expect from an aged tequila but doesn’t come across as artificial, giving the agave room to translate through. This was far and above the best tequila we tasted today.

I wanted to come away from this tasting with a sub $100 bottle taking the top spot, but it’s just too hard for those cheaper bottles to compete with the complexity here.

The Bottom Line:

A wonderful depth of flavor and character. A true joy to sip and easily the best bottle in this blind taste test. Price isn’t always everything, but with this bottle, it truly feels worth every penny. It’s the type of bottle you bring out for specific moments.

If you’ve ever taken a sewing class then you’ve probably had the pleasure of some older woman telling you to stick the loose end of the thread in your mouth as an easy way to thread it through the eye of a needle. Even with the soggy thread mending together the fibers at the end, you hands still shake and your eyes go crossed while you try to get it through the tiny hole.

But it turns out that there’s a much easier way to thread a needle and it doesn’t involve licking it. In fact there’s more than one way to thread a needle that will save you a headache from trying to see where the thread is going. There’s one particular technique that has people thinking there may be witchcraft involved, but it’s just science.

---

In the method blowing everyone’s minds, you simply lay the thread across your palm and rub the eye of the needle back and forth until a loop pops through the eye of the needle.

Then there’s there’s the toothbrush method. Yeah, that sounds weird and it probably wouldn’t be advisable to use your daily toothbrush for this. This method appears to be super easy and you can visibly see how this works. To get this to work, get a clean toothbrush and lay it flat on its back with the bristles up, lay the strand of thread on top and then push the eye of the needle down over the thread. The tiny bristles simply push the thread through the eye.

@metdaan.official

The easiest way to thread a needle! 💯 #thread #needle #hack #fyp #learnontiktok

Apparently, you can also use a paper airplane to get the thread into the needle. It seems a little more time consuming than the other methods but also gets the job done. But there’s also the tried and true method of simply using a needle threader which can be found near the thread and needles in craft and fabric stores.

Rescuing a pet is an amazing and heroic undertaking.

7.6 million pets go into shelters each year, according to the ASPCA. And of those pets, about 2.7 million pets are rescued by humans who give them forever homes.

Moscow-based comic artist Bird Born experienced firsthand the power of welcoming a pet into your family when he adopted a dog.

---

Then his journey to understand his newest animal friend inspired an adorable and incredibly moving comic, too.

Follow this artist’s journey to help his new friend feel welcome in his home:

Rescuing animals is a big commitment, and of course it doesn’t come without challenges.

When adopting any animal, there’s fear and uncertainty about their past life. Were they abused? Were they malnourished? How will they respond to humans?

Despite this, Born persevered with his new dog. “It took a lot of love and care to prove this animal that she was loved and needed,” he writes in his comic.

Today, he can rest easy knowing one less dog is in need. And that’s proof enough that adopting a dog can make the world a better place.

This article originally appeared on 08.23.16.

In 2013, I found out I was pregnant with triplets.

Image via iStock.

My husband and I were in shock but thrilled at the news after dealing with infertility for years. And it didn’t take long for the comments to begin. When people found out, the usual remarks followed: “Triplets?! What are you going to do? Three kids at once?! Glad it’s not me!”

After mastering my response (and an evil look reserved for the rudest comments), I figured that was the worst of it. But little did I know I would be facing far worse comments after two of my triplets passed away.

On June 23, 2013, I gave birth to my triplets, more than four months premature.

My daughter, Abigail, passed away that same day; my son, Parker, died just shy of 2 months old. Before then, I didn’t know much about child loss; it was uncharted territory. Like most people, I wouldn’t know how to respond or what to say if a friend’s child passed away.

Image via iStock.

But two years later, I have found that some things are better left unsaid. These comments come from a good place, and I know people mean well, but they sure do sting.

Here are my top five things not to say to a grieving parent — and the thing I love to hear instead.

---

1. “Everything happens for a reason.”

It’s a cringeworthy comment for those of us who have lost a child. Sometimes, there is no rhyme or reason for why things happen in life. A parent should not outlive their child. I don’t know why my body couldn’t handle my pregnancy or why I went into labor at 22 weeks.

This phrase goes along with another I often hear: “God only gives us what we can handle.” I remember talking with my childhood rabbi the night before my son passed away, and I asked her, “Why me?” Her response is something I now live by every single day. She said, “God doesn’t give us only what we can handle. He helps us handle what we’ve been given.”

2. “They are in a better place.”

Instead of comforting, this is a phrase that makes me feel down in the dumps. I longed to be a parent for so many years. And children are meant to be in the loving arms of their parents.

I think I speak for every grieving mother and father when I say, we would give anything to hold our babies again.

3. “At least you have one survivor. Count your blessings.”

I like to think of myself as a positive person. But even two years later, my heart still aches for Parker and Abby. And on the most difficult, dark days of grief, it’s hard to “count my blessings.”

Yes, I am blessed. I have a gorgeous miracle child who is the light of my life. But Peyton should be playing with her brother and sister in our home, not just waving to their pictures and blowing kisses to heaven.

4. “You are still young. You can have more children.”

It doesn’t matter whether or not our biological clock is ticking. Many people have no idea what couples go through to have a child: Some can’t have children of their own; others may face years of infertility or miscarriages. And for people like me, trying for more children may be something too scary to even think about. I came close to death after delivering my children — that’s enough to scar me for life.

5. “I don’t know how you do it. I couldn’t imagine losing two children.”

Some days I don’t know how I do it either. But we learn how to live with it. We learn a “new normal,” and in those tough moments, we celebrate that we survived the day. This comment is a difficult reminder of our grief and the children who were sent to heaven.

So, what should you say to a grieving parent?

There are no words to take the pain away, of course, but simply letting that person know you are there for them is more than enough.

For me, the best thing someone can do is to talk about my angels. Say Parker and Abby by name, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about them.

While they were only here for a short time, they left a huge imprint on this world. I love talking about my angels, and simply hearing someone else mention them by name is enough to wipe away the grief and warm my heart for days.

This article was written by Stacey Skrysak and originally appeared on 7.15.16

When I saw these incredible photos Angelo Merendino took of his wife, Jennifer, as she battled breast cancer, I felt that I shouldn’t be seeing this snapshot of their intimate, private lives.

The photos humanize the face of cancer and capture the difficulty, fear, and pain that they experienced during the difficult time.

---

But as Angelo commented: “These photographs do not define us, but they are us.“

This article originally appeared on 11.5.13

Remember Brendan Fraser? 10 years ago, he was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Then, he suddenly disappeared.

If you were a kid in the late ’90s and early ’00s, chances are you saw a Brendan Fraser movie. The comedy and action star catapulted to fame behind blockbusters like “The Mummy” franchise, “George of the Jungle,” “Looney Tunes: Back in Action,” and the Oscar-winning film “Crash.”

But after 2008, he largely disappeared from major starring roles. His absence wasn’t due to drugs, a sex-scandal, or illness — despite memes and even reported articles speculating about his career arc, with many blaming it on poor career choices.

---

Fraser revealed in a recent interview that an incident of sexual harassment led him to withdraw from his high-profile lifestyle.

Lately, the actor has gradually returned to more high-profile roles, and in an interview with GQ, he explained that the real reason he stepped back from the spotlight was because of being physically groped by Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

In his own book, Berk admitted to “pinching” Fraser in the buttocks after an event, but Fraser says the incident was much worse. “His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. And he starts moving it around.”

“I felt ill. I felt like a little kid,” he told GQ. “I felt like there was a ball in my throat. I thought I was going to cry.”

He said it’s time to speak out, and other male victims of harassment are supporting him.

Berk has called the allegation a “total fabrication” but acknowledges he sent Fraser an apology letter after the incident when the actor complained to the HFPA. Fraser said he tried to bury his feelings about the incident, but he was moved into action after seeing actresses and actors speaking up at this year’s Golden Globes.

“Am I still frightened? Absolutely. Do I feel like I need to say something? Absolutely. Have I wanted to many, many times? Absolutely. Have I stopped myself? Absolutely.”

Despite his reservations, people seem to believe, and be genuinely moved by, Fraser’s claim. Once the target of jokes, Fraser has become a catalyst for moving praise across social media.

All these years and we discover that Brendan Fraser really is the guy you think he is, which means he’s too pure for this world and the world put some scars on him. I love him more than ever now.https://t.co/XGXV8FG5GK

— Geek Girl Diva (@geekgirldiva) February 22, 2018

I love Brendan Fraser and I am so proud of him for speaking his truth. https://t.co/Ev3seJavsf

— Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) February 22, 2018

The Brendan Fraser story is a good reminder to always side-eye established, assumed narratives. So many people have been beaten up and spit out by our major institutions, forgotten until we cycle back around to empathy.

— A.B. (@AlannaBennett) February 22, 2018

He’s also earned some public support from actor Terry Crews, who has publicly discussed experiencing a similar incident years ago.

“Brendan is amazingly courageous in telling this,” Crews wrote on Twitter. “His assault experience is extremely similar to mine — ending with the assailant explaining away his actions. One man’s ‘horseplay’ is another man’s humiliation.”

Brendan is amazingly courageous in telling this. His assault experience is extremely similar to mine— ending with the assailant explaining away his actions.

One mans “horseplay” is another man’s humiliation. https://t.co/nNjtmKq5D7

— terry crews (@terrycrews) February 22, 2018

Victims of sexual harassment and assault often face deep shame and fear in speaking out. Speaking out takes courage.

Speaking out after experiencing harassment or assault can be an incredible challenge, often full of personal and professional risk. Though the majority of assaults are against women, men face their own similar challenges in overcoming shame, doubt, and repercussions for coming forward and speaking out. When men like Fraser and Crews speak out, they help clear the path for other men to come forward with their own stories.

This story originally appeared on 08.06.19

Freddie Mercury had a voice and a stage presence unlike any other in rock music history. His unique talents helped propel the band Queen to the top of music charts and created a loyal fan base around the world.

Sadly, the world lost that voice when Mercury died of AIDS at age 45. For decades, most of us have assumed we’d heard all the music we were going to hear from him.

However, according to Yahoo! Entertainment, remaining Queen members Roger Taylor and Brian May announced this summer that they had found a never-released song they’d recorded with Mercury in 1988 as they were working on the album “The Miracle.”

---

“We did find a little gem from Freddie, that we’d kind of forgotten about,” Taylor said in June, according to the BBC. “It’s wonderful, a real discovery. It’s a very passionate piece.”

That “little gem” is a four-minute ballad called “Face It Alone.” Queen released a lyric video of the song on its YouTube channel, and it’s bringing fans to tears.

The lyrics are particularly heart-wrenching, considering the timing of the song’s recording. Mercury was reportedly diagnosed with HIV in 1987, though kept it a secret from the public and even from many who worked closely with him until shortly before his death.

Comments have poured in from around the world in multiple languages, and the sentiment is universal—people are deeply moved.

“Over 3 million views in one day. To hear Freddie’s voice again is so special. You live forever, darling. The song is heart breaking but then again, Queen’s songs are from the heart and that can never go wrong. Thank you to all who made it happen.” – sweet pea

“One day Freddie said: ‘I won’t be a star, I will be a Legend’ And yes we all agree, he STILL REMAINS A LEGEND even after 31 years after his death. AMAZING.” – Gloria Sousa

“Freddie’s vocal is killing me same today as 20 years ago. Thank You Queen for this amazing gift after so many years. We love You.” – Adrian Kufel

“What to say?? A great magnificent surprise. All I know is that I cried the moment I heard this voice, these words…. Only Freddie. Love this man for eternity.. It seems as if he returned briefly to us!! To send us a message… What a beautiful present for all his fans, for this generation that has had the impact of the pandemic, this strange war, these strange times. So happy and touched to hear this now. Thank you Queen… Thank you Freddie forever !!!” – Fern 19671

“So great to see all the Freddie and Queen fans here today celebrating this song and Freddie’s amazing voice. I love how much Freddie is still treasured. I remember the day he passed away, how I cried. It’s like a gift to get this new song and have his song playing loud throughout the house today. We all love you dear Freddie.” – Sarah-Louise ASMR

Mercury was truly a legend in his own time, and hearing his voice anew almost makes it feel like he’s time-traveled to the here and now. What a lovely gift for Queen fans everywhere.

This article originally appeared on 10.14.22

My family recently spent a week exploring Vienna, Austria, getting a first-hand look at why it’s been named “the world’s most livable city” for 8 out of the past 10 years. As we enjoyed the efficient public transportation system and meandered the picturesque streets filled with gorgeous architecture, we did find ourselves thinking, “Yeah, we could live here.”

Part of that feeling was prompted by the beauty of the place, but as we spent hours walking through the historic heart of the city, something else struck me. Unlike every other big city I’ve visited in recent years, I didn’t see anyone sleeping on the sidewalk. No tents as makeshift homes set up anywhere. It was so striking, I kept wondering, “Where were all the homeless people?”

Vienna is home to 1.9 million people—more than twice the population of Seattle or Boston, where you can’t walk for 5 minutes through downtown without seeing multiple people experiencing homelessness. I began to wonder if perhaps Vienna was a case of homelessness being shoved out of view into slums or something. But after digging a bit, I learned that Vienna does have some homeless population. It just doesn’t have the numbers or the homelessnessproblem that most modern large cities do, thanks to its 100-year-old approach to affordable housing.

---

In the late 19th century, Vienna faced a huge housing and economic crisis. It was bad, even contributing to a tragically young life expectancy in 1900.

To address the problem, from 1919 to 1934, the city poured tax revenue into public housing—but not like any public housing most of us have ever seen. Known as as Volkswohnungspaläste, or “people’s apartment palaces,” the homes that were built were multi-story apartment blocks built with quality materials and beautified architectural details. They included green spaces and playgrounds and were built with easy access to medical facilities, schools, libraries, post offices and theater spaces.

The ideas was that government housing should be conducive to a good quality of life for all. And this novel concept has been at the heart of the approach to housing in Vienna ever since. Today, more than 60% of the Viennese population lives in government-subsidized housing and nearly nearly half of the housing market is city-owned flats or cooperative apartments. There is no stigma attached to public housing, which is interspersed throughout the city.

While other European cities began to privatize and commodify housing in the 1980s and 90s, Vienna held the course, viewing housing as a human right. And now it’s being named the “world’s most livable city” almost every year. Go figure.

In the fall of 2022, a delegation of 50 American tenant and homeless leaders, organizers, researchers, and elected officials visited Vienna to learn more about their social housing programs. Here were a few of their impressions they shared with “The Nation”:

“The attitude there is so different than what we have in the United States. We have it ingrained that public things are supposed to be nasty, supposed to be the lowest of the low. But to see what we saw in Vienna, it was like, wow, it is achievable to have housing that is government-owned, for the people, and beautiful.” – Julie Cohon, lead housing organizer at Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition

“I work hard. And, I still don’t have a safe place to live. In Vienna, we saw regular people who had not only safe but beautiful spaces. [When we were touring Sonnwendviertel, a 5,500 apartment social housing development not far from the city’s main train station], I kept noticing a lot of kids. And we saw how space was really designed for them: lots of day care centers and beautiful, car-free streets. What we saw is when the profit motive is taken out of housing, it’s a game changer.” – Dorca Reynoso, board member of the Met Council Action

“My main reflections from Vienna was how long the culture of housing for all has been in existence. The quality of social housing was also interesting: the Viennese government chose maintaining well-constructed buildings, rather than demolishing and rebuilding every 30 to 50 years. The very first municipal complex was built in 1924 and is still fully occupied today.” – India Walton, senior adviser at the Working Families Party

Is it possible to apply what has been learned in Vienna over the past century to other places? Why not? Considering the unaffordability of housing in so many cities, it seems worth a try. Housing isn’t the only thing that makes Vienna a highly livable city, but it definitely plays a huge role. When housing is reasonably desirable at every price point and people aren’t worried about affording a nice roof over their heads, it’s easier to address the other things that make life good. It at least seems like a good place to start.

This article originally appeared on 12.9.23

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.

This article originally appeared on 2.2.23

Would you believe Elmo is somehow dominating social media again? This time around, the beloved Sesame Street puppet isn’t getting bombarded by everyone’s feelings or being strangled by Larry David. Instead, he’s giving everyone the worst nightmares of their lives by transforming into a frog.

To celebrate Leap Day, the official Elmo Twitter account posted an absolutely horrifying image of the little guy with the caption, “Happy Leap Day, everybody! Ribbit ribbit ha ha ha! Elmo Frog loves you.”

Terrifying, right? Of course, it is. Within minutes of Elmo Frog going live on Twitter, the reactions started pouring in as everyone reacted in horror and started to consider that maybe Larry David was onto something.

You can see some of the reactions below:

Again, this puts David’s infamous TODAY show attack in a different light. Clearly, the Curb Your Enthusiasm saw something in this empty puppet eyes that demanded action. No wonder David was unrepentant when he told Seth Meyers that he’d do it again.

“Yeah. Yeah, I did it. Yeah,” David told Meyers. “Elmo was talking. Okay? I was waiting to be interviewed. And Elmo was going on… [impersonates Elmo talking] … he was going on about mental health. And I had to listen to every word. And I was going, ‘Oh my god, oh my god. I don’t think I can take another second of this.’ And so I got off my chair.”

Forgive us, Larry. Your aim was righteous and true.

(Via Elmo on Twitter)