Category: News

There’s a lot you can tell about a person by their search history (unless they’re a murder-mystery writer, in which case no one should jump to conclusions). And our search habits on the whole can tell us a lot about ourselves as a collective as well.

For better or for worse, what we look up on the internet is an indicator of what we care about, and Google’s Year in Search report gives us some insight into what we cared about this past year.

There are reports for different countries as well as a global report. Let’s start with what my fellow Americans looked up, shall we?

To be clear, these search terms were not the “top searches” or “most searched terms” on Google, but rather the top trending searches—the search terms that had a high spike in traffic over a sustained period of time as compared to the year before.

The top 10 trending searches for 2022 overall:

1. Wordle
2. Election results
3. Betty White
4. Queen Elizabeth
5. Bob Saget
6. Ukraine
7. Mega Millions
8. Powerball numbers
9. Anne Heche
10. Jeffrey Dahmer

For people, we had:

1. Johnny Depp
2. Will Smith
3. Amber Heard
4. Antonio Brown
5. Kari Lake
6. Anna Sorokin (Delvey)
7. Chris Rock
8. Andrew Tate
9. Adam Levine
10. Serena Williams

I just don’t think there’s even a need to comment about most of these. Yikes.

Movies are fun though!

1. “Encanto”
2. “Thor: Love and Thunder”
3. “Top Gun: Maverick”
4. “The Batman”
5. “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
6. “Black Adam”
7. “Jurassic World Dominion”
8. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
9. “Morbius”
10. “Turning Red”

Aw, remember the “Turning Red” controversies, the “Encanto” obsessions and “Top Gun: Maverick” being surprisingly amazing?

And oof, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” What a beautifully done film.

Musicians and bands is an interesting mix:

1. Adam Levine
2. Mary J. Blige
3. Lil Tjay
4. Kendrick Lamar
5. Migos
6. Tommy Lee
7. Kate Bush
8. Ricky Martin
9. Young Thug
10. Foo Fighters

Let’s move away from entertainment and head to food.

Here are the top recipe trends in the U.S. for 2022:

1. Sugo
2. Cincinnati chili
3. Marry me chicken
4. Quick pancake
5. Mango pie
6. Green goddess salad
7. Jennifer Aniston salad
8. Grinder sandwich
9. Bella Hadid sandwich
10. The Bear spaghetti

Marry me chicken? I might have to Google that myself. (Don’t tell anyone, but I’m also going to Google “sugo” because I’m embarrassed to admit I have no idea what that is.)

Speaking of Googling things you don’t know—want to see what definition searches trended in 2022?

1. Rupee
2. Oligarch
3. Cacao
4. Homer
5. Recession
6. Canny
7. Foray
8. Trove
9. Saute
10. Tacit

So curious about what prompted most of these trends.

All of the above can be found on the published Year in Search lists, but Google also sent us some trends that didn’t make it into the list, such as:

Is it true that …

1. Is it true that TikTok is posting drafts?
2. Is it true that the pinky is the middle finger in China?
3. Is it true that Putin has cancer?
4. Is it true that coffee stunts your growth?
5. Is it true that cats have nine lives?
6. Is it true that Fortnite is ending?
7. Is it true that Queen Elizabeth died?
8. Is it true that Chuck Norris died?
9. Is it true that if you dream about someone they went to sleep thinking about you?
10. Is it true that Yahoo is shutting down?

What is …

1. What is NATO?
2. What is monkeypox?
3. What is rsv?
4. What is Wordle?
5. What is aphasia?
6. What is a NFT?
7. What is a recession?
8. What is vabbing?
9. What is Roe v. Wade?
10. What is the Wordle today?

How to be …

1. How to be a good mother?
2. How to be a better lover?
3. How to be perfect?
4. How to be an adult in relationships?
5. How to be a verified fan on Ticketmaster?
6. How to be a nun in BitLife?
7. How to be emo?
8. How to be that girl?
9. How to be enough for someone?
10. How to be a fashion designer in BitLife?

OK, wait. I am perpetually online and I have three teen/young adult kids. How have I never heard of BitLife when it’s in two of these “How to be” trending searches?

I kind of love “How to be an adult in relationships?” Kudos to those trying.

Interestingly, many of the global trends were similar to the U.S. searches, showing how interconnected we all are. However, the global recipes trends are very different:

1. पनीर पसंदा (paneer pasanda)
2. Bolo caseiro (homemade cake)
3. Tuzlu kurabiye (salt cookie)
4. Overnight oats
5. zimtschnecken (cinnamon rolls)
6. Irmik helvası (semolina halva)
7. панкейки (pancakes)
8. Baba ganoush
9. Bulgur pilavı (bulgur rice)
10. Pasta salad

How fun is that?

It’s been quite a year and it’s good to take a moment to remember and reflect on all that’s happened in 2022. There were a lot of big things—the war in Ukraine, the passing of Queen Elizabeth and Betty White, our collective obsession with Wordle, and more. It’s also telling what’s not in these trends—notably, most references to the COVID-19 pandemic (which we are still in, despite most people being over it at this point).

Kind of makes you wonder what trending searches 2023 will bring, doesn’t it? Let’s make “street tacos” and “world peace” happen, please.

Love stories can take many twists and turns. But for one couple, one such detour lasted more than 40 years. In 1972, Jeanne Gustavson met Steve Watts at the German club at Loyola University and was instantly attracted. Their love story should’ve continued from this day forward, but sadly it was cut short when Gustavason abruptly broke up with the man she loved.

Gustavason explained to CBS News that her mother did not approve of her interracial relationship and wasn’t shy about expressing her disdain for the couple. This disapproval of the courtship is what led to the breakup. Eventually, Gustavason and Watts married and divorced other people, but they never forgot about the love that ended too soon.

You’d think after four decades apart and all the life lived in between that the pair would have fully moved on. But it seems that true love really doesn’t die because Gustavason went looking for Watts in 2021, and she found him.

However, Watts had experienced several major setbacks in life, including two strokes that had left him bedridden. Nevertheless, that didn’t stop the couple’s love and determination to be together. The soon-to-be-bride arranged for her long lost love to be moved from the nursing home into her home in Portland, Oregon, where she took on caregiving duties.

Though things may look different, these two love birds are getting their happily ever after. The pair recently got married surrounded by friends and family, and now they can live out the rest of their days making up for the time spent apart.

Watch the sweet love story below:

Celine Dion has shared the devastating news that she has been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called stiff person syndrome.

In an emotional video to her fans, the 54-year-old French-Canadian singer apologized for taking so long to reach out and explained that her health struggles have been difficult to talk about.

“As you know, I have always been an open book, and I wasn’t ready to say anything before. But I’m ready now.”

While she has been dealing with health problems for a long time, doctors have only recently figured out why, and the diagnosis means she has to cancel her upcoming shows and reschedule her European tour.

“I have been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called stiff person syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people,” Dion said. “While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having. Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”

Dion expresses hope, but stiff person syndrome is a tough diagnosis, especially for a professional singer. The condition is marked by stiffening muscles in the trunk and abdomen, progressively moving to the legs and other extremities. Other symptoms include painful muscle spasms that can occur randomly or be triggered by noise, emotional stress or physical touch. These spasms can last minutes or hours and can be severe enough to dislocate limbs or break bones.

The severity of symptoms and speed of decline vary from person to person. Treatments and therapies can help manage symptoms, but much about the disorder remains a mystery. There is no known cause and no cure at this time.

The pain of processing this news is apparent in Dion’s video message to her fans. “All I know is singing,” she said. “It’s what I’ve done all my life. And it’s what I love to do the most.”

“I miss you so much,” she added. “I miss seeing all of you. Being on the stage, performing for you. I always give 100% when I do my shows, but my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now. For me to reach you again, I have no choice but to concentrate on my health at this moment. And I have hope that I am on the road to recovery.”

Celine Dion is consistently ranked as one of the top female vocalists of all time and has performed live in front of millions in countless sold-out shows. She is known not only for her unique vocal quality and wide range, but for her passion and dedication to her craft, as well as to her fans.

No one wants to get a diagnosis like this, but for someone who loves performing above all else, it’s particularly heartbreaking. Thankfully, Dion is surrounded by love and support from family, friends and fans who will lift her up and help her through whatever the future brings. Wishing her all the best as she faces this daunting challenge.

You might be surprised to hear this, but cask strength doesn’t mean higher proof (than your average whiskey). Sure, you’ll find many bourbons, single malt Scotch whiskies, and other whisk(e)ys in the 60% range and beyond that are also labeled as cask strength or barrel proof, but the designation is not a guarantee of ABVs. The term cask strength is specifically used by whiskey (and to a lesser degree rum) distillers and blenders to designate an expression that wasn’t diluted after its maturation (though a lot of whiskeys are cut with water before they go into the cask/barrel).

Regardless of the alcohol content, the term is fairly eye-catching and has grown extremely popular with whiskey fans. This means that there are a ton of cask-strength and barrel-strength whiskeys on the market today. To find the best, we went to the source, asking a handful of well-known whisky distillers and experts to tell us the best cask-strength American-made whiskeys to drink right now. Keep scrolling to see all of their picks!

Booker’s Bourbon

Andy Nelson, co-founder and head distiller of Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in Nashville

ABV: 60-67%

Average Price: $99

The Whiskey:

The best cask-strength bourbon (that I don’t make) has to be Booker’s. The first time I tried it, the bottle was in the 130 proof-wise, maybe even 140. You can’t tell me something made that well at that high a proof isn’t exciting. But the crazy thing is, it’s also delicious.

Tasting Notes:

At first, the aroma comes across like walking into a leather shop. It’s a very specific sense memory, but that’s my experience. Then the palate shows these deep, rich flavors of brown sugar, tobacco, and cherry and it hardly gets more comforting when it comes to whiskey.

Still Austin Cask Strength Bourbon

Heather Greene, CEO of Milam & Greene Whiskey in Blanco, Texas

ABV: 59%

Average Price: $67.99

The Whiskey:

If I am drinking a whiskey at cask strength, more often than not it is something very old or exclusive where I know the maker wanted me to taste it completely unadulterated, and those will be the more delicate refined side rather than a bang-your-head with alcohol kind of thing.

I tried Still Austin’s new Cask Strength recently and was super impressed. I’d sip that one again for sure.

Tasting Notes:

A nose of dried cherries and oak greets you before you’re immersed in candied pecans, brown sugar, and toasted vanilla beans.

Four Roses Private Selection Barrel Strength Bourbon

Jeremy Kasler, CEO of CaskX, a bourbon cask investment firm in Los Angeles

ABV: 60-65%

Average Price: $99.99

The Whiskey:

You can’t go wrong with a Four Roses Private Selection Barrel Strength if you can find one. While the proof and the recipes can vary, I’ve never had one I didn’t like. If you’re a Four Roses fan, just imagine the bourbon served straight from the barrel (minus the flecks of char).

Tasting Notes:

The flavors here are bold and extreme, but also quite delightful with a bouquet of baked fruit and citrus, followed by layers of caramel, dark chocolate, toasted almonds, and black pepper. If you find one, grab it. You won’t be disappointed.

Balcones Brujeria Single Malt Whiskey

Colin Keegan, founder of Santa Fe Spirits in Santa Fe, New Mexico

ABV: 62.9%

Average Price: $125

The Whiskey:

Balcones Brujeria, a Single Malt – 125.8 proof – As with all Balcones whiskies this is a really bold, tasty whiskey. This is the best Sherry cask-finished whiskey I have had.

Tasting Notes:

Spiced nuts, figs, melons, and honey. Holiday pie baking notes, black tea, and mushrooms on the taste. A long rich finish, with seemingly no end.

Lost Lantern Boulder Spirits Peated Colorado Single Malt

Murphy Quint, head distiller at Cedar Ridge Distillery in Swisher, Iowa

ABV: 61.5%

Average Price: $130

The Whiskey:

I enjoy Stagg Jr. and Weller Full Proof just as much as the next guy or gal, but there are plenty of quality cask-strength bottles that are readily available. I’m a big fan of anything from Lost Lantern. They visit distilleries from all over the country and buy single barrels to release under their own label at cask strength. Everything they release is of quality, so it’s always a safe bet.

One of their best is Lost Lantern Boulder Spirits Peated Colorado Single Malt. It’s a heavily peated single malt that was matured for five years.

Tasting Notes:

This single malt starts with dried fruits, chocolate, candied orange peels, and vanilla. It’s all enveloped with smoky, robust peat.

Frey Ranch Single Barrel Bourbon

Phil Morgan, distiller at Arcane American Whiskey in Brooklyn, New York

ABV: 60-67%

Average Price: $84.99

The Whiskey:

Frey Ranch Single Barrel Bourbon. This whiskey’s grain is grown by the distiller’s farm making it a real field to bottle straight bourbon barrel-strength whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

Many notable flavors make this an iconic whiskey. The most prevalent are oak, corn, bitter cocoa, and a pine spice finish.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon

LC May, grandson of Clyde May and brand ambassador at Clyde May’s Whiskey in Troy, Alabama

ABV: 60.5%

Average Price: $88.99

The Whiskey:

While there are a ton of excellent cask strength offerings out there, I have always been a fan of the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof offering. It’s big, bold, high-proof, complex, and surprisingly well-priced.

Tasting Notes:

The profile is full of a pepper spice that doesn’t overwhelm despite the proof, while surprisingly managing to have a nose of dried orchard fruits.

Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel Bourbon

Rebecca Running, CEO of Darco Spirits in Philadelphia

ABV: 60-66%

Average Price: $399

The Whiskey:

Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel is one of my favorites. It has a huge taste profile with amazing flavors. This is the treat at the end of a long day or to finish off a great dinner. It’s the perfect nightcap.

Tasting Notes:

Honey, butterscotch, raisins, vanilla beans, and rich oak are the main flavors. Adding water only heightens these flavors.

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon

Brad Jennings, whiskey expert at North of Bourbon in Louisville

ABV: 54-60%

Average Price: $52

The Whiskey:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is one of the best cask-strength bourbons on the market. It has a vanilla and burnt caramel flavor that makes it great. I also enjoy Maker’s Mark Cask Strength. If I had to pick one of the two, it would be Maker’s Mark Cask Strength. It’s complex and well-balanced.

Tasting Notes:

Candied almonds, dried fruits, oak, vanilla, and buttery caramel round out the key flavors that make it such a memorable bourbon.

George T. Stagg Bourbon

Alex Munch, founder of Stauning Danish Whisky in Demark

ABV: 65-69%

Average Price: $599

The Whiskey:

My favorite cask-strength bourbon is the same as my favorite beginner bourbon. George T. Stagg is hard to beat when it comes to higher-proof bourbons. It’s so good, it changed my perception of what a bourbon could be.

Tasting Notes:

The main flavors that make this whiskey so great are notes of vanilla beans, pipe tobacco, dried cherries, dark chocolate, and buttery toffee.

When Microsoft announced its intentions to purchase software development company, Activision Blizzard, it made massive waves across the video game industry. It made sense why, because how can the potential purchase of the producer of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush not be seen as a big deal? Especially for a number that was close to $70 billion. If this deal goes through, it would not only be the largest purchase in the history of video games but one of the largest company mergers we have ever seen.

Unsurprisingly, with a purchase this big it was going to get a pretty deep look from the Federal Trade Commission to make sure it wasn’t considered a monopoly or require an antitrust suit. Microsoft has been adamant since the announced purchase that not only should this not be considered a monopoly, but that it would make efforts to ensure that it was being fair to competitors. They’ve already made moves to try and prove that by saying Activision franchises like Call of Duty would remain on PlayStation. For the FTC those assurances have not been enough, because on Thursday the FTC sued Microsoft in an attempt to block the purchase, via The Washington Post.

In a sourced report from the Washington Post, it was explained that the reasons behind the FTC’s lawsuit are not only because of the fairness for current console competitors to Microsoft such as Sony and Nintendo but also in regards to the future of gaming. With Microsoft spending the last few years investing so heavily into non-traditional areas such as the cloud and subscription services, the FTC reportedly sees the purchase of Activision Blizzard as a way to give Microsoft an advantage in those two areas in particular. Both Microsoft and the FTC released statements in response to the lawsuit.

Microsoft President Brad Smith signaled that the company would fight the lawsuit, saying in a statement that the company has “been committed since Day One to addressing competition concerns.” “While we believed in giving peace a chance, we have complete confidence in our case and welcome the opportunity to present our case in court,” Smith said.

…

“Microsoft has already shown that it can and will withhold content from its gaming rivals,” said Holly Vedova, the FTC’s Bureau of Competition director, said in a news release. “Today we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets.”

What’s important to note here is this lawsuit does not ensure the deal is off. All it means is that Microsoft is going to have to come up with a pretty good defense for why their purchase should go through. How well they do that will determine if Activision remains independent or is eventually purchased.

Sasha Banks left WWE earlier this year with no clear path for the next steps in her career. Some assumed she’d return to WWE, especially following Vince McMahon’s departure, while others pointed to just about every other path she could take, from walking the red carpet in Hollywood to wrestling for another promotion.

On Thursday, the first inkling of what’s next came from a PW Insider report, detailing that Banks — real name Mercedes Varnado — is slated to be at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 event next month. It’s unclear if this would be an appearance or if she would have a match against someone.

WWE, under Triple H’s guidance, is very much operating differently than how it did in the past. That includes partnerships and crossover opportunities, beginning with Mickie James walking to the ring as part of the Royal Rumble wearing the IMPACT Knockouts Championship, something that would have been hard to believe during McMahon’s time in charge of the company.

It’s continued in recent months, with WWE acknowledging NJPW and the Bullet Club after re-signing current NEVER Openweight Champion, Karl Anderson. Shinsuke Nakamura is slated to work a match for the Japanese promotion NOAH against The Great Muta and Anderson is in line to face off against Hikuleo sometime next year, likely at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in the Tokyo Dome.

This could simply be another step in WWE broadening its partnerships, with one of its biggest stars — someone who, as of this writing, still appears on the promotion’s active roster — stepping onto another massive stage. Or it could be the first sign that Varnado has begun making her first post-WWE appearances in the squared circle.

Following Herschel Walker’s defeat in the Georgia runoff election, Republicans have turned even more on Donald Trump, who they already blamed for a lackluster performance in the midterm elections that failed to deliver a “red wave.” The former president’s once God-like control of the party is clearly crumbling, and he’s reportedly well aware of his growing persona non-grata standing.

According to a new report, Trump has been holed up in Mar-a-Lago and refusing to leave except to visit his other golf course at nearby Lake Worth Lagoon. While he has hosted a few events and appeared on teleconference calls, Trump’s hunkering down has not gone unnoticed by the GOP, which is growing weary of being shackled to his growing scandals. Specifically, his recent dinner with Kanye West and Nick Fuentes, which also happened at Mar-a-Lago. There’s also blood in the water over his lackluster 2024 announcement.

Via The Washington Post:

“The former president presents our biggest risk of losing for 2024, and conservatives are tired of losing,” said Bob Vander Plaats, head of the Family Leader, an Iowa-based social conservative group. “Even the former president’s announcement is being greeted like it never happened. There’s no buzz amongst my network at all.”

Despite Trump hunkering down at his golf club, his campaign told the Post that the former president will start holding rallies and events in the new year. In fact, Trump meant to keep things quiet after his announcement, and instead, focus on “staffing up.” Yeah, that’s the ticket…

(Via Washington Post)

At this point, it’s a shorter list to name every character who hasn’t had sex during season two of TV’s thirstiest show, The White Lotus. There’s Harper and Ethan, poor Bert, and… that’s about it. In the most recent episode alone, there were sex scenes with Lucia and Albie, Tanya and Niccoló, and Mia and Valentina. Also, an old, extremely Italian woman threatens to throw an artichoke at Christopher Moltisanti, which doesn’t have anything to do with sex, but it was a good scene and I don’t want people to forget about it.

Anyway, Beatrice Grannò, who plays aspiring musician Mia, spoke to Variety about what it’s like filming one of the show’s many sex scenes. “The environment was really safe. Having an intimacy coordinator there was very helpful because it’s a difficult thing to do. We rehearsed it before, and I talked with Sabrina [Impacciatore, who plays Valentina] and we found a way to do it and feel comfortable,” she said. Grannò felt “embarrassed” shooting the scene, but “that embarrassment helped the energy of the scene.”

“Because I have to be the one in control, it wasn’t easy to play that. I kind of went the opposite direction — instead of playing the sexy girl who uses her body to get what she wants, I wanted to go to a much deeper level. Like, ‘It’s your birthday, you should be out having fun. This is what you deserve, and I’m here and I think you’re beautiful. Why don’t we go for it?’ I think Mia likes Valentina a little bit.”

Grannò also referred to Mia as “very chaotic,” which is an accurate description for someone who has sex with a piano player in a hotel church because she thinks he has connections in the music industry and nearly kills the schmuck after giving him molly instead of Viagra. And yet, I want nothing but the best for her. And Lucia.

(Via Variety)

There are people who exist out there solely to own properties from movies or TV shows that, admittedly, are culturally significant and cool. Sure, who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to live in the house from Practical Magic or go treasure hunting outside the Goonies’ property? It is a no-brainer. But your brain quickly enters the conversation when money is involved!

The latest iconic house to be up on the market is the beautiful mustard-yellow Cleveland house from A Christmas Story. But not just anyone can buy this house: you have to be willing and able to sell your soul to the trajectory of the house and its legacy. Brian Jones, the current owner of the house, says that it’s not an easy feat. “You can’t even change the paint scheme. You can’t add anything to the porches. You can’t do anything without the city’s OK. Being such a valuable asset to the city, they’re not going to allow anybody else to do that.” So what can you do? Run the gift shop!

So let’s say you’re on board with the whole thing, you want to own this iconic house and run the little gift shop with various knickknacks in the shape of leg lamps. Are you willing to pay $4 million for it? Yes? Great!

Well, that doesn’t matter, because you’d have to pay a lot more, according to Jones. “Not even close,” Jones said at a hypothetical $4M offer from Variety. “You don’t even have the money to operate this place annually. Go fish.” Jones first bought the house for nearly $100,000 in 2004, but he poured hundreds of thousands into renovations and restoration. And now that legacy has to be passed onto someone else who somehow has money, a bunch of free time, and a burning passion for Christmas legacies…if those people exist?

The final question here is this: is it really worth it to own a house from a sub-par (sorry) holiday movie? Do you want to be feverously stocking Christmas shot glasses in the middle of the night, only to look up and see a group of Ohio residents wearing bunny suits outside your front door? If you have the means, go for it! The market is bad anyway.

(Via Variety)

GloRilla has had one hell of a year and even now, with the holidays right around the corner, she’s still racking up accomplishments. Her latest is an assertive debut on the popular YouTube channel A COLORS Show. Pulling up to a crimson set in a striking black-and-white athleisure combo (including a platinum wig) the Memphis rapper performs “Out Loud Thinking,” the introspective closing track from her major-label debut EP, Anyways, Life’s Great…

The performance caps a year in which she went from a buzzing underground rapper and part-time food service employee to a breakout sensation following the viral popularity of her hit anthem, “F.N.F. (Let’s Go).” After the track earned her a record deal with Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group and a remix with Latto and City Girls, it seemed the hits just kept coming for Glo.

She soon found herself collaborating with Cardi B on the rambunctious “Tomorrow 2,” hyping up her hometown Grizzlies’ upcoming NBA season, winning Breakthrough Artist at the BET Hip-Hop Awards, getting a shout-out from rap hero Nas, and receiving a Grammy nomination. Most recently, she performed alongside Cardi at the American Music Awards, spit some bars for Funk Flex, and remixed a hometown classic alongside Latto and Memphis legend Gangsta Boo.

That’s not a bad rookie season at all — and 2023 is just weeks away, giving her a fresh start to build on all that momentum. Watch GloRilla’s COLORS performance above.