Stars shine the brightest in the biggest moments. For Ricochet, that’s been the case throughout his career in the world of professional wrestling, whether it’s on the independent scene, Japan, NXT, or most recently in WWE.
“Any match Ricochet is in is going to be arguably the best match of the night. So now the pressure is on Logan (Paul),” Ricochet told Uproxx Sports ahead of his SummerSlam matchup. “When a team’s in the playoffs or the Finals or the Super Bowl, they like that pressure. That’s where they thrive. That’s where Ricochet thrives is the big moments, the big matches.”
As a lifelong fan of the product, a marquee matchup at SummerSlam is something he’s always dreamed of. When he heads to SummerSlam on Saturday at 8 p.m. in Detroit, Ricochet is ready to embrace the adrenaline rush and electricity that an event of this magnitude brings.
He also understands he’s in a unique position with a crossover star backed by the following Paul has. It was only a few months ago that Bad Bunny and Damian Priest showed what can happen when you blend a star whose fame goes far beyond the WWE universe, someone who knows their way around the ring, and an electric live audience.
“I know the extent of Logan’s social media reach, how insanely wide his audience is. At the same time, I see that as a huge audience that’s going to love Ricochet,” Ricochet says. “This match obviously is a big marquee match for me not just with Logan’s reach, but also being on SummerSlam, one of the biggest premier live events of the year. I get the stakes at hand. It has to be one of the biggest matches I’ve ever had.”
While it’s their first one-on-one match against each other, both competitors have stepped in the ring in the past. Ricochet and Paul crossed paths at a pair of live events earlier this year, with Ricochet responding to a question about working with Paul by simply saying “It’s great that I get to smack and kick Logan in the mouth every week. I love that. Who wouldn’t love that?”
This weekend, Ricochet believes the pressure is on Paul to perform. He’s stepping into a world that Ricochet knows well, as he boasts a catalog of matches that support his claim as a top-tier star on WWE’s roster.
“I think Ricochet has already set that tone, this is just a bigger stage for him to do it on,” he says. “If he wants to (go on SummerSlam) first, I’ll make sure that he can leave first with a loss and go watch his brother. Going out there and letting everybody see Ricochet, whether that’s casual fans, new fans, old fans. Once they see, they’re going to be hooked.”
As for how exactly the pair will hook the audience, Ricochet wasn’t willing to spoil anything after his memorable Royal Rumble spot against Paul followed by an attempted Spanish Fly through a table at Money in the Bank.
“Ricochet never has anything planned,” he says. “Ricochet is an instinct environmentalist. He uses his environment, he uses his instincts. He goes out there, and he just does what he knows he’s capable of doing. So, that’s what you can expect.”
Obviously, that’s something that needed to be remedied ASAP. And this spring, I did exactly that — visiting three ME by Meliá properties across Spain. As Spain’s largest hotel company, Meliá stands for all things luxury. I know that’s easy to say and can easily sound like marketing lingo, but I truly felt like the properties I visited were operating at a high level and catering to my needs. Each property had a department dedicated to guest service — an “Aura team” — that works directly with guests to help connect them to their individual interests and tastes.
Not a bad way to level up your stay. If you feel like you want to explore the best clubbing scenes in Ibiza, there’s a person for that who will make sure you do it right. Or they can help you find a yoga instructor or massage therapist. It’s a pretty handy service to have.
While each of the six global ME locations creates its own features and offerings – including Cabo’s elevated adults-only spring break atmosphere – all of them highlight a connection to their natural settings. The three properties I stayed at were built with their surroundings in mind from the ground up, whether it be on the quieter cliffs of Ibiza, within the city center of Barcelona, or just steps away from the seaside in the smaller town of Sitges. Once inside, cutting-edge (and dare I say provocative) art and décor lit up the various shared spaces — giving each location a unique cultural/creative energy.
As you can see, I couldn’t pick just one “Hotel We Love” — because I truly loved all three properties in their own way. Next time you’re planning a getaway in Spain, don’t sleep on these hotels. Sleep in them.
ME IBIZA
WHY IT’S AWESOME:
MIKALA LUGEN
Aside from literally having the most breathtaking 360-degree rooftop views of Spain’s “White Island,” ME Ibiza truly lets you feel like you’re the most important person in the room. As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted with a relaxing vibe and overall sense of peacefulness while overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Bohemian decor fills the space, with colorful flares of Spanish contemporary art.
A constant salty breeze emanates through the wide-open, well-lit downstairs area. When I say this property was strategically placed among its settings — it really was. Everything seemed to tie into the environment, which made it feel more natural. I was surprised to hear this wasn’t a fully adults-only hotel. I was fooled — considering each person I saw on the grounds was young, hot, and wore only the most stylish clothing. No one would want to see anyone under the age of 18 hanging around this place, so I was happy to see there actually weren’t many families.
The hotel is located in Santa Eulalia del Río, less than three miles from Ibiza’s city center. While Ibiza is known for its globally recognized nightlife and clubs, ME Ibiza allows you to still get some much-needed R&R during your stay. Several private beach nooks prove perfect for relaxation — then take a quick car arranged by the hotel to bring you downtown to some of the world’s best nightclubs. Located right on the property, the famous Nikki Beach offers a lush paradise tucked away for adults only with a lavish beach club flare alongside international, Spanish cuisine.
I managed to chill here for some time on Sunday and it was a full-blown, spring-break beach party loaded with beautiful people. There’s also a more quiet, adults-only rooftop pool and an outdoor Thai Pool to hang in if you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing space.
IN-HOUSE FOOD & DRINK:
ME IBIZA
ME Ibiza is home to six restaurants and bars. It was hard for me to tell which was better though – the food or the views. While I had preconceived notions that Ibiza was only a nightclub and party destination, I was wrong. Ibiza is definitely a whole freaking food destination.
Listen, I know hotel breakfast buffets can get really questionable sometimes, but I can’t say enough good things about ME Ibiza’s breakfast. The morning buffet in Bianco Mare features a fresh juice bar (think all-you-can-drink fresh papaya and pineapple juice), an array of meats, cheeses, and breads, bottles of Moet and Chandon, pastry desserts, fresh fruit, and just-enough-caffeinated cappuccinos. It truly sets you up for success for your day ahead and it really exhibits the slower and more chill morning approach that is practiced all throughout Spain.
Origens was the most impressive of the hotel’s dining options. I went here for lunch on the second day and tried at least half of what was on the menu. What stood out was that I could literally taste the local touch in each dish. The chefs here really surrender to the flavors of the island and incorporate an amazing array of fresh, local, and organic ingredients like olives, almonds, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and more. Some key highlights:
“Cecina de Léon” Smoked Dried Beef with Cheese in Oil: If you weren’t eating smoked/dried beef or ham while in Spain, you were doing it wrong. I had this at almost every meal but this was the best rendition I tried — the light smoky flavors really came alive here in the oil.
Santa Cristina “Mojama” Dried Salted Tuna with Almonds: Fresh fish on the beach! The crunchiness of the almonds with the tuna was perfectly paired here.
Anchovies Accompanied by Toast and Tomato: I wouldn’t say I’m a fan of anchovies or would ever seek them out. I was a little hesitant to try these, but it turned out to be pretty damn delicious. The tomatoes used here were from a local farm on the island and the anchovies were fresh as well and weren’t overly salty like you might immediately think if you’ve only eaten the canned version from the U.S.
Roasted Black Monkfish with Bacon: This was divine. The crispy and fatty bacon wrapped around the fish was a match made in Heaven. The fish was perfectly cooked and moist, which went along nicely with the cripsy bacon.
Ibizan “Pork” Porcella with Pink Grapefruit: The grapefruit flavor was just acidic enough to balance the fattiness of the pork. At this point, I was getting quite full so I was only able to take a couple of bites but I wished I could have had more.
AMENITIES:
ME IBIZA
Direct beach access
Thai room spa
Infinity Pool
Rooftop bar with 360-degree panoramic views
24-hour gym
Local music & DJs
Kids club
Valet parking
Electric car charging station
Sun terrace
Pet-friendly hotel
ME+ VIP service add-ons
Complimentary yoga sessions
ROOM TYPES:
ME IBIZA
ME Ibiza offers 13 different rooms and suites. You can choose from the Always ME (first or second floor), Always ME Levelled Up, and then a variety of Superior rooms and suites, including some with private terraces and pools.
Entry-level rooms start at 625€ per night ($685 US right now) and suites start at 1325€ ($1455). Learn more about the different room types and book your stay here.
THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 10-MINUTE WALK:
SUP YOGA
The best thing to do within a 10-minute walk is… walk. The hotel actually sits right on a half-mile “hiking” path right on the coast. Right off of Nikki Beach, you can turn right and walk as you please on a semi-shaded coastal path. It was very serene and quiet and really typified the calm and peaceful energy of the property as a whole.
Tranquility is the perfect balance to partying, if you ask me.
If a walk isn’t for you, the hotel also offers newly incorporated SUP paddleboard yoga sessions right onsite. I was definitely a little wary of this whole activity fusion at first — it happens in the morning and it was kind of chilly — but you dock your paddleboard to an anchor for more stability. It turned out to be an incredible way to get my body moving in the morning and was an interesting offering from the hotel.
If you want to stay in party mode, let me re-shout out Nikki Beach. This is literally Ibiza’s most incredible daytime house music party beach club. Get yourself a Bali bed for the day and revel in the sunshine while savoring tropical house music and fresh seafood.
THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 20-MINUTE DRIVE:
MIKALA LUGEN
Ibiza is a fairly small island; you can drive from the North end to the South end in around 45 minutes. With that being said, ME Ibiza is located in a quieter area of the island in Santa Eulalia del Río, offering a more secluded stay on the island but still relatively close to the lit-up downtown area. Of course, you can’t go to Ibiza without hitting up one of its world-famous night clubs. I went to Pacha and as someone who regularly tours the global house music scene, it did not disappoint. The only thing that caught me off guard was that the doors to the party opened at midnight and the high peak of the crowd was at around 3 am.
Those Europeans love to party late. Be prepared.
During the day, exploring Ibiza’s historic heart, the Old Town, is a must. It truly was a scene out of a movie walking through the idyllic streets full of restaurants and shops. If you want to get a wider perspective on the island as a whole, you can also go out on the Mediterranean Sea for a boat tour. I went out with Say Yacht where I spent the afternoon lounging on the pool deck near the coast of Tagomago Island. All of this was arranged by the “Aura” team on-site, who did a great job at knowing that I wanted to party late but also get a sense of the underrated history of the island and relax in luxury.
BED GAME:
ME IBIZA
In my Superior ME Sea View, the bed was of course facing the sea. And who doesn’t like to lay in bed with a view? The king-sized bed was definitely comfortable and also had several smaller pillows which I always appreciate since I sleep with a pillow in-between my legs.
Rating: 9/10
SEXINESS RATING:
MIKALA LUGEN
I feel like everyone who stayed at ME Ibiza was very naturally attractive and overall displayed a sultry and sexy attitude. As soon as you walk in, you’re ensconced in an upscale, white-and-cream-hued bohemian beach aesthetic, full of pretty-looking people in sophisticated beach attire. The relaxing and calm corners of the hotel mixed with Nikki Beach’s full-fledged tropical house day parties would turn anyone on.
They technically allow kids (though again, kids aren’t present at all), so the highest we can go here is 9.
Rating: 9/10
THE VIEWS AND PHOTO SPOTS:
ME IBIZA
Oh, the views. With my room on the fourth floor, I could’ve easily gawked out of my floor-to-ceiling window all day. But then I remembered the rooftop bar and restaurant with even better 360-degree views of the island. You can have many breathtaking moments on that rooftop just by looking out and centering yourself.
Rating: 9/10
BEST SEASON TO VISIT:
MIKALA LUGEN
Anytime from May to October. I was here in mid-May, which is right before the busy season fully starts. All of the music residencies start-up in June, so many people flock to the island to party throughout the summer and enjoy a warmer swim in the Mediterranean Sea.
IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING:
MIKALA LUGEN
I was a little confused as to why there was a television in my room. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t assume anyone would be watching TV while in Ibiza. It was also placed in the middle of the floor-to-ceiling seaview window in front of the bed, which messed up my cool photos gazing into the middle distance.
BOOK HERE:
If you want to stay at one of the Leading Hotels of the World in a prime, luxurious location in Ibiza, ME Ibiza is the place to be. Book your stay at ME Ibiza here.
MORE INSTAGRAM IMAGES FROM ME IBIZA:
ME BARCELONA
WHY IT’S AWESOME:
ME BARCELONA
When you’re visiting Barcelona, being in the heart of the city makes all the difference for the ease of your trip. Plus, it’s ideal to be situated amidst all that breathtaking historical architecture. Opened in November 2021, ME Barcelona is basically brand new (“pandemic new”). The hotel truly caters to the upscale and sophisticated style of Spain, which is easy since it’s located on Passeig de Gràcia in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of Barcelona.
If this hotel was a cologne, it would be Baccarat Rouge 540 with all the sexy appeal lasting all day and definitely lingering into the evening. I felt like I was staying in the mansion of a fashion designer and found myself at odds between wanting to fully relax and play while also being a boss b*tch, dressed for success. Everyone seemed to embody a “work hard, play hard” mentality here and it oozed sexy-meets-urban-meets-Europeans-are-cooler-than-Americans appeal.
The urban vegetable garden on the patio terrace was a great contrasting touch. It seemed a little out of character for the ultra-stylized aesthetic of the hotel but if the message is that gardening and eating local is cool, I’m all for it. Greenery also dripped from the ceilings in the 2nd-floor dining and lounging spaces, which I loved.
IN-HOUSE FOOD & DRINK:
ME BARCELONA
In a city known for its worldly tapas, ME Barcelona did not disappoint. While being in the heart of the city may have made space tighter, the hotel strategically used all available spaces wisely. Three different cuisine concepts are hosted in the hotel — all of which use fresh ingredients from the property’s urban vegetable garden. Huge brownie points for this sustainability initiative.
The restaurant’s flagship restaurant – BELBO Terrenal – offered a serene Mediterranean-style garden for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late-night cocktails with bohemian and lush decorations. It was so calming that I felt I needed a little pick-me-up, so I may or may not have had a couple of late-night absinthe shots that led to a blurry, adventure-filled evening in the historical old neighborhood of El Born.
And yet, it was the dinner experience at the hotel’s Belbo Fasto restaurant that had me hooked. A few highlights for dinner:
Puglia Burrata With Three Seasonal Tomatoes: I had a lot of burrata salads while in Spain. I loved that this one incorporated on-site-grown tomatoes to really take it up a notch.
Spaghetti Carbonara in Pecorino Cheese: Superrrr rich and creamy in all the best ways.
Chocolate Sphere, Ricotta, Pistachios, Passion Fruit, and Currant Sorbet: Chocolate on top of chocolate inside more chocolate. You have to love chocolate to love this dish, which is why I did indeed love it. I giggled with glee when one of the chefs came out and poured dripping hot chocolate on top of this chocolate shell and saw it open up to more chocolate.
AMENITIES:
ME BARCELONA
Located in the heart of the Passeig de Gràcia, the Barcelona Golden Mile
Stunning rooftop with views of Sagrada Familia, Plaza Catalunya
Heated pool
Spa
24-hour gym
Sophisticated event space
Valet parking
ME+ experience program
ROOM TYPES:
ME BARCELONA
ME Barcelona offers 19 different rooms and suites. You can choose from the Standard ME, Standard ME City View, Standard ME Patio View, and then a variety of Superior rooms and suites.
Standard ME City View rooms start at 400€ per night and Extra ME Junior Suites Sea View start at 700€ ($770). Learn more about the different room types and book your stay here.
THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 10-MINUTE WALK:
MIKALA LUGEN
What can’t you do within a 10-minute walk of ME Barcelona? Due to its location, you’re placed in the heart of the city, with endless options to do whatever your little heart desires. During my stay, I walked over 10 miles through the city streets and alleyways.
One of my personal highlights was a walk through the beautiful El Born neighborhood, gawking at the impressive historical architecture before visiting one of the many nearby museums. I spent a couple of hours at Moco Museum for a day of modern, contemporary art. There’s also the famous Museu Picasso, dedicated to the life and work of Pablo Picasso, just a short walk from the hotel.
I spent nearly a whole day just walking around appreciating the impressive architecture of the city. A short walk from ME Barcelona is the magnificence of Sagrada Familia. This one-of-a-kind temple was built by Antoni Gaudí and has continued to evolve over five generations. A radiant light blesses all who walk in to see for themselves the remarkable architecture and design. You can also walk over to Sant Pau, which was formerly known as Barcelona’s most important hospital. The structure and color palettes used throughout this mini city within the city are striking.
MIKALA LUGEN
There’s also Casa Batlló, another architectural masterpiece by Gaudí. I highly recommend going here for an evening and exploring this little castle in downtown Barcelona that the architect once lived in. The only thing I found weird here was that it was heavily emphasized to use a supplied iPad and go through the rooms with an A.I.-driven visual tour that I found far less interesting than the property itself.
Don’t forget to visit some parks while in Barcelona. Close by is Parc de la Ciutadella which is connected to Arc de Triomphe, the city’s landmark.
If you feel like basking in the Spanish essence, the hotel’s rooftop pool provided a great setting to lay out and relax. I could’ve gazed out over the city view all day while swimming in the clear-framed heated pool.
THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 10-MINUTE DRIVE:
An exact 10-minute drive from ME Barcelona, you can get to Barceloneta Beach. This is the city’s most famous beach and offers stunning views of the city skyline while being right on the coast.
BED GAME:
ME BARCELONA
The beds were strategically placed close to the windows overlooking the amazing city views, which I enjoyed. Comfortable but not overly done up. Unlike ME Ibiza, the beds here did not have any smaller pillows for additional neck or body support, so I used a smaller pillow sitting on the couch.
Rating: 8/10
SEXINESS RATING:
ME BARCELONA
This hotel is loaded with a high sexiness factor. The warm and fashion-forward art and design fully sets ME Barcelona up to be an overall avant-garde, sexy accommodation. During my stay, I was naturally inspired to dress for success among the five-star, attractive clientele.
Rating: 8/10
THE VIEWS AND PHOTO SPOTS:
ME BARCELONA
The eighth-floor rooftop terrace set up such a beautiful view. Since the hotel sits in the heart of the city, you can look in every direction overseeing the Barcelona skyline and far out in the distance into more hilly landscapes. You can also point out several of the city’s most important architectural landmarks, including Sagrada Familia. Nothing wrong with taking endless Instagram photos in the clear-sided heated pool either.
Rating: 9/10
BEST SEASON TO VISIT:
While southern Spain can definitely get humid during its busy summer months, I found that mid-May was a perfect time to explore the city. It’s right before the city ignites with its tourism crowds and you get to avoid the hot and humid days, which makes walking much more enjoyable.
IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING:
MIKALA LUGEN
This was actually kind of a no-brainer for me. I wasn’t a fan of having to take two elevators to access my room. You enter the hotel through the lobby and then you can either take the stairs or elevator one floor up to access the restaurants and terraces. You have to get off the elevator and walk down the hall to a different elevator to then go up to your room. It took me my whole stay to figure this out and I got lost multiple times.
BOOK HERE:
Bridging art, design, and fashion in a sleek, luxury stay, ME Barcelona is one of the city’s newly built hotels. Book your stay at ME Barcelona here.
INSTAGRAM IMAGES FROM ME BARCELONA:
ME SITGES TERRAMAR
WHY IT’S AWESOME:
ME SITGES
Sitges deserves a spot on your Spain must-visit list. This little 50,000-person town is just 45 minutes south of Barcelona and absolutely stole my heart. What makes ME Sitges awesome is that it sits directly across the beach…less than 50 steps away. You can smell and feel the sea breeze and briney salt through the front doors. And while most hotels make you pay extra to secure a room with a view, there isn’t a bad view (or room) in this whole property. In fact, almost every room has a balcony or a larger terrace, with most of them overlooking the city of Sitges and the Mediterranean Sea.
I was surprised that although Sitges is in a small little beach town, it had the most risqué art. I’m talking modern, warped photos of splattered painted nude models – some kissing or in sexual positions. It wasn’t a prim and proper small-town “five-star hotel” that caters to conservative mindsets. It’s the opposite. The clientele who come and stay here come to get some quieter beach time outside of Ibiza or Barcelona aren’t prudes. The property is proof that modernity and serenity can be experienced together in a small town.
IN-HOUSE FOOD & DRINK:
ME SITGES
ME Sitges Terramar is home to five restaurants and bars, all dialed in on Mediterranean flavors and creative cuisines. I was most impressed with the hotel’s beachfront restaurant La Bermutería. Just across the street from the hotel, I enjoyed tapas and cava in a shaded boho-beach environment. I thought the overall structural design of this restaurant was well thought out because the day I arrived it was quite windy but I was spared from the wind without feeling like I was constrained inside a room while on the beach.
I waited the whole trip for the moment when I was served a huge dish of homemade paella on the beach. It was everything I could have asked more when it came to experiencing the authentic Spanish dish and had perfect-sized pieces of fresh seafood and prawns mixed into the rice.
MIKALA LUGEN
Beso Sitges – the hotel’s main restaurant – I thought was more beautiful than appetizing. I loved the layout of the large dining space, almost feeling like you were in a tropical greenhouse. However, the breakfast buffet lacked hot food options compared to its Ibiza and Barcelona counterparts. Some food highlights from both the breakfast and dinner menus:
Honeycomb: As someone who drinks tea with honey every morning (no coffee for me), this was insane. I’ve never seen a honeycomb this size that was available to directly dish out to eat raw. It was love at first sight.
Burrata With Tomato Tartare, Arugula & Andavocado Cream: The best burrata I had in Spain. It was huge (basically a whole meal) and the cheese was to die for. I loved the addition of arugula for some peppery -vegetal flavors.
Beso Style Rock Mussels: I wouldn’t call myself a mussel fan. Yet, I found myself eating most of the table’s serving of mussels. The butter-to-seafood ratio here was superb.
Chocolate Ganache With EVOO & Salt Crystals: The best dessert out of all the ME hotels in Spain. Think rich and thick mousse topped with a light layer of oil and sea salt. While I’m always down to share desserts, I didn’t share this one. It was all mine, and I ordered another to-go to eat in my room later that night.
MIKALA LUGEN
AMENITIES:
ME SITGES
Located right on Mediterranean shore
Rooftop bar
Pool with Bali beds
Wellness center
24-hour gym with personal trainers (extra)
Nearby golf course
Yoga classes
Electric car charging station
Valet parking
Bike rental
Live music and local DJs
ME+ VIP service add-ons
ROOM TYPES:
ME SITGES
ME Sitges offers 11 different rooms and suites. You can choose from Always ME Garden View, Always ME Partial Sea View, Extra ME Sea View, Studio ME Suite Sea View, and then a variety of Superior rooms and suites.
Standard ME Garden View rooms start at 280€ per night and Extra ME Junior Suite Sea View start at 580€ ($637). Learn more about the different room types and book your stay here.
THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 15-MINUTE WALK:
MIKALA LUGEN
The beach is literally right across the street, so you have no excuse to not put your toes in the sand at least once while staying here. There’s also a really cool rock jetty that you walk on to overlook the whole hotel and the coastline of Sitges.
MIKALA LUGEN
The hotel is appropriately located just outside the city limits, which means you can easily walk a paved beachside path directly into the town center of Sitges. The town’s architecture is classic Spain, with a beachside twist — plenty of colorful alleys and streets full of boutique shops, bars, and even some nightclubs. Right in the old town, you can visit Cau Ferrat Museum, a home workshop-turned-museum founded by artist Santiago Rusiñol in 1893. The house is beautifully adorned with artistic tchotchkes and and was beautiful to walk through.
MIKALA LUGEN
There’s also Palau de Maricel, which was one of – if not the most – stunning buildings I’ve been in. It truly looked like a palace out of a storybook sitting on the Mediterranean coast. The palace was originally owned by Doctor Jesús Pérez-Rosales in the late 1800s who adorned it with fine art collections, Renaissance carvings and altarpieces, precious metal, ceramics, and porcelain for an overall “Noucentista” style castle.
Each room takes you back in time to a place of fanciful living with the rooftop terrace being the most beautiful.
THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 30-MINUTE DRIVE:
MIKALA LUGEN
Being 45 minutes outside of Barcelona, Sitges not only sits right on the water but is located among Spain’s rolling rural hills. Making it the perfect town for someone wanting to tour the country landscape and visit a winery. An easy 30-minute drive from the hotel is Torres Vineyard, which blends tradition and innovation. The vineyard was beautiful and I appreciated the holistic and sustainable approach they were taking in response to drier seasons due to global warming.
The wine was also delicious, which is always a perk.
BED GAME:
ME SITGES
The bed was appropriately placed adjacent to the sliding glass doors that lead to the terrace, greeting you with incredible views. As someone who also doesn’t like to sleep with the air conditioning on, leaving the terrace door open to breathe in fresh air as I sleep was wonderful. I woke up refreshed and well-rested each night, although there weren’t any small pillows to be found in the room to use for body support.
Rating: 8/10
SEXINESS RATING:
ME SITGES
The Bali beds overlooking the pool and sea, the taboo, sensual modern photographs lining the walls, and the incredible views that are attached to nearly every room in the hotel would turn anyone on. It’s a perfect escape for a romantic getaway in a coastal Spanish town with amazing amenities and plenty to do.
Rating: 8/10
THE VIEWS AND PHOTO SPOTS:
ME SITGES
The views at ME Sitges Terramar were the best of all three hotels. The other hotels boasted incredible views but really only from the rooftop. At ME Sitges, you’re treated to incredible views of the Mediterranean Sea and the historical town of Sitges right from your room. Plus, when you got to the rooftop, you could see far out into the hills and mountains of Spain, offering a new perspective that most don’t see.
Rating: 10/10
BEST SEASON TO VISIT:
MIKALA LUGEN
It’s best to come here in June through August. Being here in mid-May was absolutely beautiful, but it was still a little too cold to jump into the water and I always had a little shawl with me. To fully enjoy staying at ME Sitges, come during the warmest months of the year and fully enjoy the beach and rooftop views.
IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING:
The one complaint I would have is that my room didn’t have any small pillows and I did have to request washcloths in my room because there weren’t any automatically provided. Also, I thought the shower was overly complicated and I literally had to get help to figure out how to turn on the hot water.
BOOK HERE:
A true hidden jewel on the Mediterranean coast, ME Sitges Terramar offered a sweet escape. Book your stay at ME Sitges here.
Governor Ron DeSantis — a guy whose mannerisms make robotic Mitt Romney circa 2012 appear normal — is struggling to convince voters (and his own campaign team), that he’s the kind of guy they spend one dollar to drink a beer with. In fact, after a recent string of disastrous public meet-and-greets, some are wondering if DeSantis can even stand his own kind. (By “kind” we simply mean living, breathing human beings.)
Democratic pollster Fernand Amandi and podcast host Christina Greer joined MSNBC’s Joy Reid on her show to dissect the seemingly lifeless corpse that is DeSantis’ 2024 presidential campaign. To date, he’s made headlines for eating pudding with his fingers, sugar-shaming children, and going on weird pizza dates with Fox News contributors. According to the trio, the GOP dud is so socially awkward and politically incompetent that even his own staffers hope his campaign chokes.
“I know Florida Republican legislators who are on his campaign committee that hate him like poison privately,” Amandi said. “They can’t wait to see him go down.”
The women also poked fun at the governor’s inability to connect with voters. Greer claimed, “Ron DeSantis doesn’t seem as though he likes people,” when talk turned to how vital it is for the Florida Republican to make a personal impression on voters in Iowa.
“Why would you be inspired to vote for someone or to continue to give money to someone who doesn’t even seem as though he likes you,” she asked, “let alone wants to fight for you?”
Amandi labeled DeSantis as “the kind of guy you need 10 beers just to put up with,” clocking him as a candidate with “no charm, no charisma.” And Reid simply wondered aloud how DeSantis had made it this far in politics to begin with. All while a compilation of bad headlines proving DeSantis can’t even run his own state runs in the background.
Euphoria fans are still reeling from the gut punch of hearing that Angus Cloud passed away at age 25. Tributes swiftly began pouring out, including from the hip hop world and the Euphoria team at large. The Emmy-winning Sam Levinson series surely cannot fill the void left by the actor who portrayed Fezco “Fez” O’Neill in what was actually his first acting credit.
Two of Angus’ co-stars, Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, have now stepped up to pay tribute to their good friend and “brother,” who will be dearly missed by so many. From Zendaya’s Instagram:
“Words are not enough to describe the infinite beauty that is Angus (Conor). I’m so grateful I got the chance to know him in this life, to call him a brother, to see his warm kind eyes and bright smile, or hear his infectious cackle of a laugh (I’m smiling now just thinking of it) I know people use this expression often when talking about folks they love…’they could light up any room they entered’ but boy let me tell you, he was the best at it. I’d like to remember him that way. For all of the boundless light, love and joy he always managed to give us. I’ll cherish every moment.”
Sweeney added her voice to the chorus on Instagram as well:
“Angus you were an open soul, with the kindest heart, and you filled every room with laughter. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to post, and I’m struggling to find all the words. You will be missed more than you know, but I’m so blessed to have known you in this lifetime, and I’m sure everyone who has ever met you feels the same. This heartache is real and I wish we could’ve had one more hug and 7-11 run. All my love is with you.”
An official cause of death has yet to be released, although TMZ reports that a 911 call was made for “possible overdose” and that Angus had been struggling to cope with his father’s recent death. Additionally, word in Hollywood is that Angus completed two upcoming films prior to his passing, although he should have made so many more.
Parenting is a hard gig regardless of whether you planned to have children or they were a happy surprise. As many parenting books as there are out there, none of them have the perfect equation to get it right and most parents do the best with what they learned, or unlearned, from their own parents.
Samantha, a parenting content creator on TikTok under the name Raising Self, has been working hard to overcome generational trauma and parent her children differently. Recently she was doing a live video to interact with her followers when one of her children made a stunning revelation: he was scared of her.
You could tell by her expression that his confession was a surprise, and though her son barely took his eyes off the video game he was playing, the two had a very meaningful dialogue. Instead of being upset or even happy that her child was fearful, she responded with curiosity.
Some people believe that children should be fearful of their parents in order to respect them, but the exchange Samantha had with her son turned that thought process on its head. He started off the conversation by saying, “I know this might be a little shocking but I do sometimes actually find you a little scary.” When Samantha probed him a little she found that what’s causing him to be fearful is when her “grandma instincts come out,” referring to a generational pattern that his mother has been trying hard not to repeat.
Samantha didn’t hesitate with her response: “Yeah, I did not know that. I’m sorry that you’re experiencing that.” She continued, “When it’s happening, please call it out. Cause that allows me to understand what behaviors I’m not doing a good job mitigating.” Even though she was shocked, the conversation didn’t end there. It’s a beautiful exchange that can guide other parents on how to navigate these types of conversations.
Sixty-one years ago, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to make it into space and probably the first to experience what scientists now call the “overview effect.” This change occurs when people see the world from far above and notice that it’s a place where “borders are invisible, where racial, religious and economic strife are nowhere to be seen.”
The overview effect makes man’s squabbles with one another seem incredibly petty and presents the planet as it truly is, one interconnected organism.
In a compelling interview with Big Think, astronaut, author and humanitarian Ron Garan explains how if more of us developed this planetary perspective we could fix much of what ails humanity and the planet.
Garan has spent 178 days in space and traveled more than 71 million miles in 2,842 orbits. From high above, he realized that the planet is a lot more fragile than he thought.
“When I looked out the window of the International Space Station, I saw the paparazzi-like flashes of lightning storms, I saw dancing curtains of auroras that seemed so close it was as if we could reach out and touch them. And I saw the unbelievable thinness of our planet’s atmosphere. In that moment, I was hit with the sobering realization that that paper-thin layer keeps every living thing on our planet alive,” Garan said in the video.
“I saw an iridescent biosphere teeming with life,” he continues. “I didn’t see the economy. But since our human-made systems treat everything, including the very life-support systems of our planet, as the wholly owned subsidiary of the global economy, it’s obvious from the vantage point of space that we’re living a lie.”
It was at that moment he realized that humanity needs to reevaluate its priorities.
“We need to move from thinking economy, society, planet to planet, society, economy. That’s when we’re going to continue our evolutionary process,” he added.
Garan says that we are paying a very “high price” as a civilization for our inability to develop a more planetary perspective and that it’s a big reason why we’re failing to solve many of our problems. Even though our economic activity may improve quality of life on one end, it’s also disasterous for the planet that sustains our lives.
It’s like cutting off our nose to spite our face.
Actor William Shatner had a similar experience to Garan’s when he traveled into space.
“It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered,” Shatner wrote. “The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness. Every day, we are confronted with the knowledge of further destruction of Earth at our hands: the extinction of animal species, of flora and fauna … things that took five billion years to evolve, and suddenly we will never see them again because of the interference of mankind.”
“We’re not going to have peace on Earth until we recognize the basic fact of the interrelated structure of all reality,” Garan said.
However dire the situation looks from the surface of Earth, the astronaut has hope that we can collectively evolve in consciousness and wake up and embrace a larger reality. “And when we can evolve beyond a two-dimensional us versus them mindset, and embrace the true multi-dimensional reality of the universe that we live in, that’s when we’re going to no longer be floating in darkness … and it’s a future that we would all want to be a part of. That’s our true calling.”
This article was previously published on 3.20.2023.
Novelist Jason K. Pargin has inspired an online food fight after his video about lobster received over 500,000 views on Tiktok and nearly 6 million on Twitter. Pargin believes that we’ve all been tricked into liking lobster and that people only like it because it’s considered high class.
Pargin is the author of the “John Dies at the End” and “Zoey Ashe” series and the former editor of Cracked.com.
“I don’t think anyone actually enjoys eating lobster. I think they’ve just been convinced that it’s a high-class food for a really specific reason,” Pargin says in his controversial video. He then describes how just a few centuries ago lobster was once used as prisoners’ food and ground into fertilizer.
But after the food developed a reputation for being hard to transport from the coastal areas inland and that it spoils quickly after being cooked, it began to be seen as a delicacy.
None
— (@)
“So because it was difficult to mess with and because it had to be shipped live inside the country, away from the coast, it became known that lobster was difficult to obtain,” Pargin says in his video. “And because it’s difficult to obtain, it had to be expensive, and because it was expensive, we decided it was good.”
“You were eating lobster not because you enjoyed it but because you wanted it to be known to all who were watching you that you could afford lobster,” Pargin continues.
His final point was a real blow to those who only eat lobster if it’s drowned in butter. “You know what also tastes good when you dump it into a bucket of butter? Anything,” Pargin says.
The viral video sparked a hot debate on Twitter, where it appears that most people disagreed with Pargin—especially those who live in the northeast and enjoy lobster no matter how it’s prepared. Many had a problem with Pargin framing the argument from the limited American perspective.
Lobster is eaten worldwide and has been enjoyed by countless cultures since the prehistoric era. People enjoy lobster in places where it’s affordable and where it’s considered a delicacy. So that kills his argument that we’ve been duped into enjoying lobster simply because it’s expensive.
But Pargin is entirely correct when he claims that we value things more when they are scarce. In psychology, the concept is known as the scarcity effect.
“Scarcity is a pervasive condition of human existence,” Shahram Heshmat, Ph.D., writes in Psychology Today. “Everyday circumstances of limited resources (money and time) can make individuals experience a sense of scarcity. Scarcity functions like an obstacle to goal pursuit, which intensify the value of goal.”
Here’s what people are saying about Pargin’s videos on Twitter.
Sorry, Jason, history goes way past the 1800s.
You should go back and tell the Roman Empire your theory of why they were tricked into thinking it was a luxury dish due to America in the 1800’s .
I love when americans talk like history started in the 1800s. Lobster is good and always has been. pic.twitter.com/nlAUFXQMgG
— Rafael Graça Martins (@rafaelgcmartins) March 17, 2023
Interesting take, which really only works in an isolated US context and not considering how Europe historically saw lobster (and we don’t dunk everything in butter)
This is absolutely nonsense. I have literally eaten lobster meat plain by the fistful, dunking in all that butter is gross. Lobster is just like a super shrimp. I also regularly buy a pound of bay shrimp and eat them with a spoon out of a bowl.
Pargin’s argument makes sense. We value things harder to get, and anything dunked in butter tastes fantastic. But that doesn’t cover the fact that people enjoy lobster around the globe, regardless of its perceived scarcity. In the end, the real winners of this debate are those who don’t like lobster. Right now, a pound of Maine lobster goes for up to $80 a pound. That’s an expensive night out at the local fish joint.
Pediatrician Alastair McAlpine gave some of his terminal patients an assignment. What they told him can inspire us all.
“Kids can be so wise, y’know,” the Cape Town doctor and ultra-marathon enthusiast posted to his Twitter account. He asked the young patients, short on time, about the things that really mattered to them.
What followed was a string of life advice that’ll make you want to be a better person, no matter how old you are.
u201cFor an assignment, I asked some of my terminal paediatric palliative care patients what they had enjoyed in life, and what gave it meaning. Kids can be so wise, y’know. Here are some of the responses (Thread).u201d
First, it’s worth looking at what wasn’t important to these kids.
“NONE said they wished they’d watched more TV. NONE said they should’ve spent more time on Facebook. NONE said they enjoyed fighting with others. NONE enjoyed [the] hospital,” tweeted McAlpine.
u201cFirst: nNONE said they wished they’d watched more TV nNONE said they should’ve spent more time on Face BooknNONE said they enjoyed fighting with othersnNONE enjoyed hospital n/1u201d
Many talked about the people and animals who would miss them when they were gone.
“I love Rufus,” one child told McAlpine about their dog. “His funny bark makes me laugh.” Others worried about whether their parents would be OK.
u201cMANY mentioned their parents, often expressing worry or concern:n’Hope mum will be ok. She seems sad.’n’Dad mustn’t worry. He’ll see me again soon.’n’God will take care of my mum and dad when I’m gone’n/3u201d
They all loved stories, and many wish they’d spent less time and energy worrying about what others thought about them.
“ALL of them loved books or being told stories, especially by their parents,” wrote McAlpine, who then shared a couple short anecdotes about Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, and literary adventures in space.
They also understood that people who treat you differently for superficial reasons, like your hair or a surgery scar, aren’t worth worrying about.
u201cMANY wished they had spent less time worrying about what others thought of them, and valued people who just treated them ‘normally’.n’My real friends didn’t care when my hair fell out.’n’Jane came to visit after the surgery and didn’t even notice the scar!’ /6u201d
What was important was having fun, being kind, and holding on to their sense of humor.
These kids loved swimming and playing on the beach, and they valued others who extended kindness to them along the way. “I like it when that kind nurse is here,” one patient told McAlpine. “She’s gentle. And it hurts less.”
u201cAlmost ALL of them valued kindness above most other virtues:n’My granny is so kind to me. She always makes me smile.’n’Jonny gave me half his sandwich when I didn’t eat mine. That was nice.’n’I like it when that kind nurse is here. She’s gentle. And it hurts less’ /8u201d
u201cAlmost ALL of them loved people who made them laugh:n’That magician is so silly! His pants fell down and I couldn’t stop laughing!’n’My daddy pulls funny faces which I just love!’n’The boy in the next bed farted! Hahaha!’nnLaughter relieves pain. /9u201d
Above all, they cherished their families (and favorite toys).
“They ALL valued time with their family,” said McAlpine. “Nothing was more important.”
u201cFinally, they ALL valued time with their family. Nothing was more important. n’Mum and dad are the best!’n’My sister always hugs me tight’n’No one loves me like mummy loves me!’ /11u201d
There’s a lot we can learn from these kids — and it’s incredibly easy to incorporate their lessons into our lives.
There are seven simple takeaways (well, eight if you count “eat ice cream”):
“Be kind. Read more books. Spend time with your family. Crack jokes. Go to the beach. Hug your dog. Tell that special person you love them.”
Easy enough, right?
u201cTake home message:nBe kind. Read more books. Spend time with your family. Crack jokes. Go to the beach. Hug your dog. Tell that special person you love them.nnThese are the things these kids wished they could’ve done more. The rest is details.nnOh… and eat ice-cream. /Endu201d
The Girl Scouts’ guide to help parents talk to their daughters about weight and body image is kind of amazing.
The guide, titled “Yes, Your Daughter Just Called Herself Fat,” written by Girl Scouts’ developmental psychologist, Andrea Bastiani Archibald, includes a step-by-step look at responding to your child should they come home one day from school saying, “I’m fat.”
u201cHow to Deal When Your Daughter Calls Herself Fat: https://t.co/tSydjTX5C4u201d
First of all, it breaks down just how prevalent fat-shaming is in our culture:
“According to studies, a whopping 80 percent of 10-year-olds are afraid of being fat. Why? Because they’re constantly surrounded by both subtle and direct messages that curvier or heavier girls aren’t as well liked, aren’t as likely to succeed in business, and in general, aren’t going to have as much fun or happiness in their lives.”
Second of all, it explains why the knee-jerk response “You’re not fat. You’re beautiful!” that so many of us have actually isn’t helpful.
Honestly, this part is so good that I’m just going to include the whole thing (which in its own awesome way, features the only reference to “The Dress” that won’t make you want to scream):
“[I]f she really sees her body in a certain way, simply telling her to stop seeing it that way isn’t going to help much. Remember that infamous dress on social media a few years back that some people thought was blue and some thought was gold—and how frustrating it was when those who saw it differently insisted that you were seeing it wrong and tried to get you to see it their way? That’s kind of how your girl is going to feel when you tell her that her body simply isn’t the way she thinks it is. …by essentially telling her that she’s not fat, she’s pretty, you’re reinforcing the idea that fatter, rounder, curvier or heavier bodies aren’t beautiful — which simply isn’t true. There are endless ways to be beautiful, and your daughter will grow up with a much healthier relationship to her body if you teach her that in a genuine way from a young age.”
This is such an important message that we don’t hear often enough. Calling someone fat isn’t bad because being fat is inherently bad, but it is bad to call someone fat as an insult because it implies that there’s something wrong with larger bodies.
Fat is just another type of body, andall types of bodies are OK.
The guide also features some great steps parents can take if their daughters feel negatively about their body fat.
1. Don’t assume you know where she’s coming from.
“A better approach is to pause for a moment and ask your daughter why she thinks she’s fat,” the guide advises. “Is it because her clothes are fitting differently than they used to or that a size she used to wear doesn’t feel comfortable anymore?”
Maybe her discomfort has to do more with the bodies of her classmates or what she’s seeing in the media. Or maybe she is fat, and really just needs you to tell her that’s OK too. Getting to the root of what’s causing body image issues is an important first step.
Again, the guide warns against those knee-jerk reactions: “If she says she thinks her legs are bigger or her tummy is rounder than those of her friends, those may actually be correct observations — and there’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that.”
2. Set a good example for her!
Kids pick things up from their parents all the time and internalize those messages even if parents aren’t trying to pass them on. This is just as much about setting a good example as anything else.
“Another reason your girl might call herself fat is because she’s heard you do the same to yourself,” reads the guide. “Your daughter listens to everything you say — and if you’re picking yourself apart in front of the mirror or complaining about your weight, there’s a good chance that she’ll follow in your self-disparaging footsteps.”
u201cModel Positive Self-Esteem and Body Image for Improved Self-Confidence http://t.co/RT48qvSzzMu201d
That means giving yourself a bit of a break too. Just as you don’t want her to have to try to live up to unrealistic beauty standards, remind yourself that you don’t have to either.
“Identify parts of your body that serve you well and make note of the things you really do love about the way you look,” says the guide. “Healthy habits like eating right and exercise are good for everyone and should be a daily part of your routine, but fixating on your body and how it could or should be different isn’t healthy for anyone.”
3. Pay attention to the kind of media she’s consuming and make sure she’s seeing a variety of body types being celebrated.
TV, movies, and advertising are chock-full of messages meant to instill shame around body appearance, especially in girls and women. A bit of emotional counterprograming can go a long way. For example, check out the upcoming children’s book “Glitter Stripes“; and for older girls, Hulu’s “My Mad Fat Diary,” Melissa McCarthy’s performance in “Ghostbusters,” and Chrissie Metz in “This Is Us,” and Lynn Champlin on “My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” are great body-positive/fat-positive representations in the media.
Video of plus-size blogger posted on Girl Scouts Twitter page below:
The guide advises parents to “go the extra mile to compensate for some of the less-healthy messages your daughter may be getting from other sources” by exposing them to accomplished women of all shapes and sizes.
“She needs to know you don’t have to be a certain size or shape to make it big in life.”
Other topics include how to raise your children to be leaders, how to stand up to bullying, and how to be the best they can be in school. They’re all great in their own ways, but the body image article stands out especially.
Thanks to the Girl Scouts, parents can now feel equipped to handle this potentially difficult conversation.
The Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, the Star-Spangled Banner — whatever you call it, the United States flag is one of the most recognizable symbols on Earth.
As famous as it is, there’s still a lot you might not know about our shining symbol of freedom. For instance, did you know that on some flags, the stars used to point in different directions? Or that there used to be more than 13 stripes? How about a gut-check on all those star-spangled swimsuits you see popping up in stores around the Fourth of July?
We’ll explore these topics and more in this fun list of 12 facts about the U.S. flag that you might not know about.
1. Betsy Ross, the woman often credited with sewing the first American flag, probably didn’t — or at the very least, there’s no proof that she did.
Legend has it that in 1776, a seamstress named Betsy Ross was approached in her shop by George Washington himself and was asked to help develop a flag for this soon-to-be-nation. Supposedly, she rejected the designs Washington presented to her and made a number of suggestions that would end up in the final version of the first American flag.
It’s a great story that humanizes Washington as a man humble enough to take feedback and gives Ross a boost as being uncharacteristically assertive for a woman in 18th-century America.
But the bad news is that this probably never happened. It was nearly 100 years before anybody spoke of Betsy Ross or her role in designing the flag. Most of what we know of this story came from her grandson, William Canby.
Unfortunately, though historians have long tried to verify any of the facts involved in Canby’s story, there’s nothing to suggest that Washington set out to commission a flag in 1776. In fact, it wasn’t until 1777 that Congress even passed a resolution ordering a flag to be made. Sure, it’s possible that Camby’s account of his grandmother’s story happened, but it’s more likely that this is simply an unverifiable piece of American lore.
2. It wasn’t until 1912 that the government standardized the proportions of the flag and the arrangement of its stars.
While most countries’s flags are rectangular, there are a few exceptions. In 1912, President Taft issued an executive order creating a uniform look for the flag — as prior to that, there were some interesting designs, with multiple flags sometimes in use simultaneously.
The executive order mandated that stars on the flag point upward, all in the same direction, and be placed in six horizontal rows of eight.
3. We all know the flag has 13 stripes, but for 23 years, it had 15.
Up until 1795, the flag had one stripe and one star for each of the 13 states. After Vermont and Kentucky were added to the union in 1791 and 1792, respectively, the flag was due for its first major redesign in the country’s history. Not only were two stars added to the blue field to represent the new states (a tradition that continues to this day), but designers also added two stripes.
The 15-star, 15-stripe flag existed from 1795 until 1818, when five more states were added. Designers realized that adding more stripes would quickly become unwieldy, so they dropped the stripe count back to 13.
4. We still honor the 15-star, 15-stripe flag today, as it’s the specific flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The outcast of all American flags lives on through the power of song. Key wrote “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” a poem about his experience watching from the Baltimore harbor as an American fort took fire from British troops during the War of 1812. In 1916, more than 100 years after its first publication, Key’s poem became our national anthem.
5. Yes, the Flag Code is the law. No, there’s no penalty for breaking it.
The U.S. Flag Code was signed into law by President Roosevelt on June 22, 1942. While it’s filed under Title 18 of the U.S. Code (“Crimes and Criminal Procedure”), the Flag Code exists as more of an etiquette guide than anything else.
So if you leave your flag up past sundown, that’s technically illegal — but no one’s going to arrest you for it.
6. When it comes to showing respect for the flag, there are 11 specific instructions to follow.
There’s a whole section of the U.S. Flag Code on how to show respect for the flag. Since this is a topic that gets discussed quite a bit lately, it’s worth a quick review of some of the highlights:
Unless you’re trying to signal distress “in instances of extreme danger to life or property,” you shouldn’t display it with the union (the field of blue with white stars) facing downward.
The flag should never touch the floor and should never be carried horizontally or flat, but “always aloft and free.”
You’re not supposed to wear the flag nor print its image on “anything that is designed for temporary use” (napkins, for example). Don’t use it in advertisements, either.
“No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.”
7. You’re supposed to fly the flag on Christmas.
The Code says that “the flag should be displayed on all days,” but puts special emphasis on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Inauguration Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Easter, Mother’s Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day (the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon), Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Constitution Day, Columbus Day, Navy Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
The Code adds that states should display the U.S. flag on the anniversary of their admission to the union, on state holidays, and on any day observed by presidential proclamation.
8. If the U.S. ever adds a 51st state, the flag won’t be updated until the following Independence Day.
The flag won’t be getting any major redesigns in the near future, save for the addition of a star here and there. The Code reads:
“On the admission of a new State into the Union one star shall be added to the union of the flag; and such addition shall take effect on the fourth day of July then next succeeding such admission.”
9. Flag Day dates back to the 1880s but wasn’t made an official U.S. holiday until 1949.
It’s thought that schoolteacher Bernard J. Cigrand was the first person to celebrate Flag Day, commemorating the 108th anniversary of the 1777 Flag Resolution (which outlined the flag’s basic design) on June 14, 1885. The tradition caught on among schools and, eventually, states.
10. The design for the current 50-star flag came from a high school student’s U.S. history project — which initially got a B-.
In 1958, Bob Heft was a junior in high school. In a 2009 interview with StoryCorps, Heft recounted what happened when he turned in a history project featuring a 50-star flag. Heft’s teacher gave him a B-, noting that he had the wrong number of stars on the flag (at the time, there were only 48 states).
When Heft expressed disappointment, his teacher said, “If you don’t like the grade, get it accepted in Washington, then come back and see me.”
After Alaska and Hawaii became states, the U.S. adopted Heft’s flag. He got a call from President Eisenhower and, more importantly, an updated grade on his project.
11. The Pledge of Allegiance was, in part, created as a gimmick to sell U.S. flags to schools.
The pledge’s history is fascinating and filled with controversy. Many know that it wasn’t until 1954 that the words “under God” were added to the pledge in response to the Red Scare, but what’s less discussed is the origin and purpose of the pledge itself.
Socialist minister Francis Bellamy penned the original pledge for an 1892 issue of The Youth’s Companion as a way to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ journey. The magazine offered U.S. flags to subscribers, and Bellamy and the magazine lobbied public schools to adopt his pledge as a show of patriotism. It was successful, too, selling tens of thousands of new subscriptions and flags. In hindsight, it’s a bit ironic that this lasting ode to America began as a socialist’s capitalist experiment.
12. No one is sure why we chose red, white, and blue as the color of our flag, but an explanation was made retroactively.
In 1782, Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson explained the significance of the colors red, white, and blue during the design of the official seal of the U.S.:
“The colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness and valour, and Blue, the colour of the Chief signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.”
Ever since, we’ve just gone with that.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
