GoneTrending

Of course we’re leaving some things as a surprise, but one thing my husband and I each got for each other this year happened to be a pair of shoes. What can we say, we saw a sale at Macy’s and couldn’t say no—him to a pair of tan Nike’s that will go with everything, and me to a bedazzled pair of Betsy Johnson boots that will go with exactly nothing, but are just so beautiful.

But had we known of the “shoe theory” currently taking over the internet, we might have chosen otherwise if we wanted our marriage to last, apparently.

Countless folks can be found in the #Shoetheory section of TikTok, sharing their own fears (and horror stories around this trending topic.

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As the superstition goes: if you give a significant other a pair of shoes, they will “eventually walk out on you,” leading to an inevitable breakup.

As Angela Chan, aka @angela.chaan, explains it, this theory stems from Chinese culture, since the word for “shoe” in Mandarin sounds similar to “bad luck” or “evil.”

While this old wive’s tale might have been around for a long time, many people are only just now hearing it…after having already bought a pair (or two) for their beau.

@bu99zie Nope. #fyp #christmas #bf #shoetheory ♬ original sound – &lt3

Needless to say, people are concerned.

@hannahgtown

Merry Christmas, we had a good run x

♬ original sound – angela chan

@kate61143 we’ve been through long distance and praying THE SHOE THEORY isnt the thing that breaks us up #shoetheory #fyp #fypシ゚viral ♬ original sound – &lt3

And to make matters worse, many do have anecdotes of post-shoe breakups, indicating there might be something to the theory after all.

“I left my ex a week after he gifted me a show for my Birthday.. He even took the shoes back,” one person shared.

In a different TikTok, a woman wrote “I didn’t even get to give them to him” in the caption as she’s seen throwing a pair of sneakers in frustration.

Another said, “”Every boyfriend I’ve had I bought them shoes, and every single one of them has walked straight out my life.”

@fayemart Have I lost it or is this shoe theory thing the real deal?! #shoetheory #boyfriend #christmaspresents #shoetheoryexplained #viral #trending #fyp ♬ original sound – faye

Even former skeptic @ok.kati.2 admitted that she thought the theory was “dumb” at first, but then had a “lightbulb moment” when she realized “I had gifted an ex of mine a pair of shoes … and they definitely walked out of my life.”

This all has spooked shoppers second guessing their gift choices. But for many, it’s too late.

“I don’t know what to do about these shoes now. I bought the shoes for him a while ago, so I can’t return them now,”@jessicageary1 lamented. “Now, do I need to burn the shoes I got my boyfriend for Christmas? They were expensive though. What do I do?”

But fret not, there is a possible solution: have your SO pay you a dollar for the shoes.

@izzle.b explains in their comment to @angela.chaan’s shoe theory video”

“My mom told me this when my bf first gifted me shoes lol I had to technically ‘buy’ the shoes off my bf for $1 and that’s what we’ve been doing since.”

Smart plan. And the least expensive investment ever!

@brookejamesxx

And if your not then why u buying him shoes anyways💀 if he leaves hes simply✨not the one for you✨

♬ original sound – speakerbleed225

If a relationship ends, odds are there’s more to its demise than an ill-fated gift. But still, this theory is such an interesting example of the deep connection humans have with symbols. So many people feel as though the universe is constantly communicating through signs.

If you do fall into this camp, it can be easy to see how offering up shoes—those vehicles in which we roam and wander the world—might be an intuitive invitation to our partners to go on their own path.

But regardless of whether you believe in omens or not, it feels safe to say that all of us want a relationship that can withstand something as innocuous as shoes.

All I can say is: I hope my Betsy Johnson boots aren’t made for walking.

Images via GooBingDetroit.

Yup. These images were taken only two years apart. And what you’re seeing was not an accident.

When the economy crashed in 2008, it was because of shady financial practices like predatory lending and speculative investing, which is basically gambling, only the entire economy was at stake.

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When the recession hit, it literally hit home for millions of people. And Detroit was right in the middle of it.

I spoke with Alex Alsup, who works with a Detroit-based tech company that’s mapping the city’s foreclosed homes to help city officials see the bigger picture and find solutions. He also runs the Tumblr GooBingDetroit, where he uses Google Street View’s time machine to document the transformation of Detroit’s neighborhoods over the last few years.

“There’s a common sentiment that Detroit’s looked the way it does for decades, but it’s just not true,” Alsup said.

It’s astonishing to see how quickly so many homes went from seemingly delightful to wholly unlivable.

When the recession went into full force, home values took a nosedive. But the city expected homeowners to pay property taxes as if they hadn’t.

Not only does the situation defy logic, but it’s like a brass-knuckled face punch to the people the city is supposed to be looking out for. Alsup explains:

“You had houses — tens of thousands of them — that were worth only $20,000 or so, yet owed $4,000 a year in taxes, for which very few city services were delivered (e.g. police, fire, roads, schools). Who would pay that?”

Indeed.

A local group calls what happened to Detroit a “hurricane without water.”

And like a real hurricane, homeowners aren’t the ones to blame. They’re even calling for what is essentially a federal disaster response.

Here are the three strategies they want to see in action — and they can work for basically anywhere in the country that’s struggling with a housing crisis.

1. Stop kicking people out of their homes.

They want the city to end foreclosures and evictions from owner-occupied homes. Many people aren’t just losing their homes — they’ve lost jobs, pensions, and services because of budget cuts. Putting them on the street is like a kick in the teeth when they’re down.

2. If a home is worth less on the market than what the homeowner owes on their loan, reduce what they owe.

Those are called underwater mortgages. Banks caused this mess, and governments ignored it. It’s only fair that people’s mortgages be adjusted based the current value of their home.

3. Sell repossessed homes at fair prices to people who actually want to live in them.

Selling to banks and investors only encourages what led to the financial crisis in the first place. Wouldn’t it make more sense to sell to people who are going to live in them and have a genuine interest in rebuilding the community?

Housing is a human right. And an economy based on financial markets doesn’t care about human rights. Maybe it’s time for a new economy?

Click play below for a silent cruise down a once lovely residential block in Detroit.

This article originally appeared on 12.15.14

TikTokker Brielle Asero, 21, a recent college graduate, went viral on TikTok in October for her emotional reaction to the first day at a 9-to-5 job. The video, which received 3.4 million views, captured the public’s attention because it was like a cultural Rorschach test.

Some who saw the video thought that Asero came off as entitled and exemplified the younger generation’s lack of work ethic. In contrast, others sympathized with the young woman who is just beginning to understand how hard it is to find work-life balance in modern-day America.

“I’m so upset,” she says in the video. “I get on the train at 7:30 a.m., and I don’t get home until 6:15 p.m. [at the] earliest. I don’t have time to do anything!” Asero said in a video.

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“I don’t have the time to do anything,” she continued. “I want to shower, eat my dinner, and go to sleep. I don’t have the time or energy to cook my dinner either. I don’t have energy to work out, like, that’s out of the window. I’m so upset, oh my god.”

@brielleybelly123

im also getting sick leave me alone im emotional ok i feel 12 and im scared of not having time to live

On December 16, Asero gave an update on her professional life, and sadly, things aren’t going too well. After just 2 months on the job, she was laid off. It had taken her 5 months to find the job and she had recently relocated to New York City to be near the office.

“I worked for a startup, and they didn’t have the workload or the bandwidth they needed to train me and to give me work to do,” she said. Being laid off during the holidays makes Asero’s situation even more difficult because most employers are closed for business in late December and early January.

Asero had some stern words for those who would blame her for losing her job.

“I know that I’m a hard worker, and my boss literally said that I’m one of the smartest people he’s ever had working under him, and he knows that I’m going to land on my feet, and he will give me a great referral to anybody, so don’t start,” she warned.

@brielleybelly123

can someone tell me im going to be okay !!!! feels like the world is ending i need a job immediatley i am feeling so lost rn like i moved for this…!?

“I have done everything I possibly could have, and it’s still not enough,” she said. To supplement her income while looking for her next big break, Asero says she will look for work as a server or nanny.

Even though Asero took a lot of criticism for crying after her first day at work, the comments on the new video were overwhelmingly positive and supportive. There were also a lot of people who shared how they had recently been laid off, too.

“Just want to note that there’s no shame in taking a service job while you’re still looking. You’re going to be okay, you got this,” Baby bel wrote. “It happened to me, seems like ur life is ending, but I promise it’s just getting started. You’ll laugh about it at some point,” Rachie added.

Confession: I love planners. All planners. Can’t get enough of them. Sometimes I’ll go through the planner section of the store just to put my hands on all the potential held in those perfectly organized pages. Part of me believes, deep down, that if I just find the perfect planner that includes everything I need and nothing I don’t and I utilize it to perfection, I will get to live the orderly and organized life of my dreams. It’s a problem.

Fellow planner junkies, I know you feel me. One of the things we love about planners is that they hold a promise few other tools do, giving us an ideal structure to daydream about a beautifully organized life we aren’t yet living. For those of us who are more Type A, using a planner is a satisfying way to keep all of those life ducks in a row. For the Type B folks, using a planner helps rein in the inevitable ball-dropping that comes with having a laid back personality.

(At least that’s what we Type B folks tell ourselves, right?)

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It doesn’t help that there are more kinds of planners than there have ever been before. We’re no longer talking about a simple calendar system or appointment book anymore—now we’ve got goal setting, task prioritizing, routine recording, habit tracking, bullet journaling, menu planning, self-care managing, home decluttering, vision creating, dream manifesting, and a hundred other ways to organize our inner and outer lives on paper. Not only that, but we also have stickers and washi tape and stencils hand lettering and other embellishments that may or may not add to the planning fun.

It can be overwhelming to have so many choices, so if you’re like me and get tempted by every planner you see, it’s important to narrow down the field a bit. For that, we gotta get real about what our “planning personality” really is.

Here are five questions to ask and answer for yourself before clicking “purchase” on any planner.

Am I looking to organize time and tasks, or do I want a planner that tracks everything in my life?

Both of these options are available in spades, but knowing which thing you’re looking for will automatically cut the options in half for you.

If you’re just looking to organize time and tasks, find a planner that has daily, weekly and monthly calendar pages and little else. Maybe a place to make to-do lists. But keep it simple.

If you want it all, think through what would be most helpful to you to help you reach your goals. What are you prioritizing in your life right now, or what do you want to prioritize? Productivity? Family organization? Self-care? Focus on planners that center those things.

Do I want a digital planner, a paper planner or something in between?

With extra large phone screens and ever-better tablet devices, some people have switched to full digital organizing. High tech planning certainly has its advantages, but some people truly prefer pen and paper planning, so you do you.

The good news about digital planners is that a lot of them now function basically like paper planners, so if don’t want to give up the doodle drawing and handwriting part of planning, you don’t have to.

There are also more paper planners than ever, so the fears that computers were going to eliminate the need for paper certainly hasn’t panned out

And yes, there is such thing as an in-between here. The Rocketbook planner lets you write on paper but then digitally upload to your devices so you can kind of have the best (and worst) of both worlds. Perhaps a good option if you want to ease the transition from paper to digital.

How does my gut feel when I’m looking at the specific elements of a planner? Am I inspired or anxious?

If you’re a time/tasks person, does having time slots labeled feel comforting or too confining? Does having a space to prioritize tasks make you feel like you have more control or does it stress you out? Do you want a dated or undated planner? We all react differently to different levels of structure, and you want to strike the right balance for you.

We also all respond to visuals differently. You might like things crisp and streamlined, while someone else might thrive with ornate design flourishes. You might find lots of color appealing while someone else might find it overwhelming. If a planner doesn’t inspire you to use it, you probably won’t, but what inspires one person will turn another person away, so don’t compare your reactions to anyone else’s.

How much time do I realistically want to spend on this each day/week/month?

Some people love utitlizing their planner to the fullest and incorporating it into their entire life aesthetic, some people aspire to that level of commitment but don’t have the personality for it, and some people just want to keep things as simple as possible for themselves. It’s vital that you know which category you fall into.

I am totally drawn to the colorful, beautifully designed and hand-lettered-on-every-page bullet journal idea, but I have also learned that my brain isn’t about that life. It’s simply not going to happen, no matter how lovely I think the idea is, so I have to resist the temptation.

How long do I want this single planner to last?

Planners really do come in all kinds of formats these days, including different lengths of time. Some planners run for well over a year, while some are designed to be used for six months or 90 days. And then there are undated planners and bullet journaling systems that don’t have any specific starting or ending dates.

How far out do you like to plan, realistically? How often do you feel the need to restart/reboot your planning system? Some of us like the reliability of using a long-term planner, and some of us need to change things up frequently. There’s no right or wrong or best or worst, but it’s good to know which you prefer. If you tend to be planner commitment-phobic or someone who likes to try new planners frequently, maybe go for one of the shorter time frames and see how it goes.

Planner junkie, know thyself

The main key to choosing a planner is getting real about how you really function. Sometimes that takes some experimentation, especially if you don’t have years of failed planner usage under your belt already. But the more you can narrow down your choices and avoid being tempted by the million new and shiny options, the better chance you have of finding the planner that really will work for you.

(Final tip: You can go to this page on Amazon and click on your preferred options on the left side of the page, and that will narrow down the choices significantly.)

Happy planning, everyone!

There is certainly no shortage of stories from women highlighting the glaring disparity between society’s expected responsibilities of husbands vs. wives. Some are a bit more lighthearted, poking fun at the absurdity. Others reflect utter frustration and had-it-up-to-here-edness with partners not doing their share of the work.

However, self-proclaimed “Clueless Husband” J Fisher’s honest, thoughtful retrospection on the subject shows that it’s not just female partners noticing that things need to change.

In a now-viral TikTok video, Fisher describes how he used to consider himself the “main character” of his relationship.

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What exactly did that look like? Early on in his marriage, it looked something like this:

“Say we’d be going on a trip. My partner at that point in time would be doing the laundry, vacuuming the house, making sure the dishes were done. I would think, I would literally think like, ‘Well, yeah, we don’t have to do that. That’s you wanting to do that. It’s not what I want to do,’” he explained in the clip.

@jfisher62 What NOT to do as a husband #fyp #husbandsoftiktok #wivesoftiktok #fairplay #parenting #feminism #dismantlethepatriarchy #relationship #marriage #support #partnering ♬ original sound – J Fisher

Fisher later shared how his wife would then get everything ready for said trip, while he would simply pack for himself. This continued even after they had kids. It became worse, actually.

“My partner would do all the work to get all of them ready to make sure they were bathed, snacks packed, and I would get myself ready.”

Looking back, Fisher can plainly see how this behavior was “not okay.” But how did he think this was acceptable in the first place? After some reflection, he realized that it was simply the standard being modeled to him from an early age.

“I saw my own father do this quite a bit where he would take care of his own needs. So, I know I didn’t learn it from nowhere,” he said. “But I also had to unlearn it because it never was okay. I thought that my role was to do all these things outside of the home and that the home was women’s domain. I saw that modeled and even taught as the way it should be, but, oh my gosh, is that not partnership? And that sucks.”

After coming to this revelation, Fisher’s opinion is that if you approve of this division of labor, that you “shouldn’t be in a relationship.”

Hard to argue with that.

Hoping that he can further illustrate a better partnering mindset in a way that “may help it click for some guys,” Fisher has all kinds of insightful TikToks focused on taking accountability and expanding emotional intelligence. In them, he often names therapy, setting boundaries, finding community and accessing personal joy (rather than relying on a partner to fulfill all emotional needs) as major tools for creating a more equal relationship.

@jfisher62 Good intention ≠ Truly loving 💔😔 “I’m Sorry” doesn’t begin to do it justice. #fyp #foryoupage #marriage #longtermrelationship #partner #husbandsoftiktok #wivesoftiktok #accountability #healingjourney #grief #stagesofgrief #dabda #acceptance ♬ original sound – J Fisher

And perhaps the best part—there doesn’t seem to be so much shame around the subject. Fisher acknowledges his own goodwill while still admitting to displaying less-than-healthy behavior. It’s hard not to feel like if maybe this kind of honest, yet compassionate reexamination of gender stereotypes were more commonplace, we’d all collectively be a lot farther ahead.

This article originally appeared on 5.4.23

Almost 100 years ago, nine newspapers joined forces to create a national spelling bee to help promote literacy. Now the Scripps National Spelling Bee has become so popular that was televised for 27 years on ESPN before moving to its own network in 2022.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is a serious competition with students who have studied arduously to memorize root words, phonetic rules and unusual spellings in the hopes of being crowned the nation’s spelling champion. The honor also comes with a $50,000 cash prize, so the competition is fierce.

But that didn’t stop one competitor from bursting into giggles at being asked to spell the word “sardoodledom.”

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During the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee, 11-year-old Kennyi Aouad approached the microphone with serious concentration when it was his turn to spell. But when the judges told him the word he was to spell and he repeated it, he burst out laughing.

“Sardoodledom” isn’t a word most of us have ever even heard, much less recognize. (It means “mechanically contrived plot structure and stereotyped or unrealistic characterization in drama”—basically “melodrama”—according to Merriam-Webster.) It does sound a bit funny saying it out loud, and even one of the judges started giggling at the young contestant’s reaction to it.

Watch Kennyi lose it repeatedly as he tries to make it through his turn:

Despite how serious the competition is, these kids are still just kids and people loved seeing his joyful reaction to a silly-sounding word.

“His laugh!! I love that in the seriousness of spelling bees, he was able to be himself. This made me smile!” wrote one person.

“So cute. Smart with a touch of sense of humour,” wrote another.

“Talk about breaking the tension!!” shared another. “I love it and he got it right!”

If you’re curious, Kennyi placed 34th in that year’s spelling bee. He would go on to compete again, however, and tied for 5th place in the 2009 bee.

This article originally appeared on 9.28.23

It’s Christmas Eve and you’re hungry. Maybe you don’t have plans this year, maybe you don’t celebrate on Christmas Eve, maybe you’re spending today doing all that holiday shopping you were supposed to do weeks ago… hell, maybe you just don’t like the food your family is going to be serving tonight.

It’s safe to assume that no matter what your situation is, you’re reading this you’re pressed for time and you want to eat. Well, we’re here to help.

We get that at this time of year every minute counts and you don’t want to be wasting your time hunting for an open drive-thru. Restaurant and fast food chain hours are all over the place right now, so we’re here to filter down your search by letting you know which eateries are open and which are operating on reduced hours (there are a lot of these).

If you don’t find your favorite chain restaurant or fast food spot on this list, it’s safe to assume that they’re closed. Sound good? Let’s eat!

Applebee’s — Applebee’s is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but be warned. Applebee’s being open on the holiday is well known — expect a crowd.

Arby’s — Arby’s will be open on Christmas Eve but may be operating at reduced hours. If you’re going to hit Arby’s, hit ’em early.

Benihana — Benihana will be open regular hours on Christmas Eve.

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Bonefish Grill — Bonefish Grill will be open on Christmas Eve, though hours may be reduced.

Boston Market — Boston Market is open on Christmas Eve, so if you’re feeling some rotisserie chicken and mashed potatoes, this is your spot.

Buca Di Beppo — Bucca Di Beppo will be open for big family-style dinners on Christmas Eve.

Buffalo Wild Wings — Buffalo Wild Wings will be open for limited hours on Christmas Eve, so if you’re feeling a craving for wings, early nice and early.

Burger King — Burger King will be open on Christmas Eve but certain locations may have reduced hours. So if you want to have it your way, do it early.

Chipotle — Chipotle will be open until 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Chili’s — Chilis will be open until 6 pm on Christmas Eve.

Cracker Barrel — Cracker Barrel will be open on Christmas Eve until 2 pm.

Del Taco — Del Taco will be open on Christmas Eve but check hours as they may be reduced.

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Denny’s — Denny’s will be open on Christmas Eve with reduced hours. Be sure to call ahead of time to make sure your local Denny’s is open.

Domino’s — Domino’s is open at regular operating hours on Christmas Eve, but expect them to be busy. Might be better to carry this one out rather than wait on delivery.

Dunkin — Dunkin will be open on Christmas Eve with reduced hours. Call your local Dunkin’ for specifics.

Fogo de Chão — Grab a Brazilian steak on Christmas Eve as most Fogo de Chão restaurants will be open.

Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. — Carl’s Jr will be open on Christmas Eve though hours may be reduced at some locations.

Hooters — Hooters will be open on Christmas Eve until 7 pm. Perfect for an early dinner.

IHOP — Most IHOP locations will be open on Christmas Eve. Go hard on those pancakes.

Jimmy John’s — Jimmy John’s is open on Christmas Eve though may have reduced hours.

KFC — KFC will be open and operating at regular hours.

Krispy Kreme — Krispy Kreme will be closing at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Just enough time to grab a dozen of those Elf-themed donuts.

McDonald’s — Hours will vary but expect McDonald’s to be open on Christmas Eve.

Morton’s Steakhouse — Morton’s will be open on Christmas Eve operating at normal hours.

Olive Garden — Some locations will be open on Christmas Eve but may be operating with reduced hours.

Outback Steakhouse — Outback Steakhouse is open during regular hours on Christmas Eve.

Panda Express — Panda Express is open and operating at normal hours!

PF Changs — PF Changs is open for regular hours on Christmas Eve.

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Popeyes — Popeyes will be open for limited hours on Christmas Eve.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill Romano’s Macaroni Grill will be open on Christmas Eve with reduced hours. Call your favorite Macaroni Grill ahead of time to check hours.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House — Ruth’s Chris will be open during regular hours on Christmas Eve.

Starbucks — Starbucks is a real toss up. Some locations will be open, some will be closed. Be sure and call your favorite Starbucks ahead of time. Or just take a look at the drive-thru, if its poppin, you know it’s open.

Taco Bell — Most Taco Bell locations will be open on Christmas Eve but may be operating at reduced hours.

Waffle House — Waffle House will be open though some locations will be closing early.

Wendy’s — Wendy’s will be open and operating at regular hours on Christmas Eve.

Whataburger — Whataburger will be open until 6 pm on Christmas Eve.

White Castle — White Castle will be closed between 5-8 pm on Christmas Eve. Nothing says “holidays” like small bite-sized burgers.

Zaxby’s — Zaxby’s will be closed at 2 pm on Christmas Eve.

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From the launch of her seemingly multiple-reality world Gag City, to the plethora of sound effects in her arsenal, Nicki Minaj is a wealth of insider secrets that only true Barbz understand. However, if you plan on attending any of the 37 Pink Friday 2 World Tour dates, you should become hip to the lingo.

Nicki’s record-setting album, Pink Friday 2, for the most part, isn’t a difficult concept to understand, but there’s one track that might have some confused: Users online want to know what Nicki Minaj’s “FTCU” means.

What Does Nicki Minaj’s “FTCU” Mean?

In short, the ATL Jacob-produced single gets its name from an African American Vernacular English (AAVE) saying. “F*ck the club up,” or the acronym FTCU, is a common expression used to detail just how wild a person is going to party or let loose during a social gathering. (Minaj’s song, though, says “f*ck this club up.”)

This concept isn’t new by any means. Last year, Latto, GloRilla, and the late Gangsta Boo dropped a track by the same name. However, Nicki put her own spin on it. Instead of sampling Three 6 Mafia’s 1995 song “Tear Da Club Up,” Nicki pulls from Waka Flocka’s 2010 track “F*ck The Club Up.”

While Latto focuses on nightlife on her respective track, for Nicki, the rap game is where she wants to cause havoc. “Yo, I tell ’em that I’m the Sleeze, they tellin’ me, ‘Okay, prove it’ / I leave these b*tches on read, so now they know that they blew it / I tell ’em I’m movin’ units, my videos, they gon’ view it / Spotify ain’t gotta lie, they really streamin’ my music / I give b*tches the crown, thеy f*ck around and lose it, nah / I am the wave, I only wavе when I’m tellin’ ’em bye / B*tch, we ain’t twinnin’, ain’t fraternal or identical / When I’m around, b*tch, you know you become invisible.”

Nicki Minaj’s “FTCU” is a cleverly positioned jab at the cliques formed by other women in rap.

Pink Friday 2 is out now via Republic. Find more information here.

(WARNING: Spoilers for the most recent Power Book III: Raising Kanan episode will be found below.)

The suspense is building in Power Book III: Raising Kanan season three, and we’re just a week away from the midpoint in the season. In episode four, “In Sheep’s Clothing,” Kanan continues to thrive with his weed delivery business, but it’s all at risk of coming to a halt thanks to Raq. She took matters into her own hands to bring Kanan back home by placing a gun in his school backpack and he was apprehended at school when a security officer found it in the backpack. Thanks to help from Detective Howard, Kanan steers clear of an arrest but is told that a social worker will make random visits to Raq’s house for the next six months, which means until that ends, Kanan will have to move back in with Raq.

In this episode, we also learn that Jukebox made it into the girl group. She quickly starts rehearsals for a performance in front of label executives in a few weeks. She’s excited, but it appears that another girl in the group will be more problematic than fun. Raq pauses her and Unique’s relationship ahead of Kanan’s return home, and all is not well in Unique’s home. His girlfriend suspects he is cheating and his brother Ronnie is growing impatient with Unique’s lack of activity in the streets. Ronnie takes matters into his own hands and secretly visits people from Unique’s past for help. It leads to Ronnie killing one of them when they tell Unique what he’s been up to.

Lastly, Marvin and Lou-Lou are in great spirits this week. Marvin is excited about the future of Jukebox’s singing career and thankful for Lou-Lou’s help in preparing her for the audition. Lou-Lou is excited about a Manhattan bar that he will take over, and now the experience will be better as he convinces Marvin to team up with him to improve the bar. For the most part, outside of poor Dean, all is well in Power Book III: Raising Kanan episode four, but we know it won’t stay that way for long.

Here are some of the major points and questions we had after the fourth episode of season three:

Kanan’s First Big Test Is Here

Kanan isn’t struggling to make money and provide for himself so far in season three of Power Book III: Raising Kanan. In episode three, Kanan launched a weed delivery service that made him and Famous a lot of money. Unsurprisingly, despite Kanan not living with her, Raq found out about his business. So in episode four, Raq forces Kanan to pause business as federal investigators are lurking around Queens.

She places a gun in Kanan’s backpack where an officer finds it when he goes to school the next day. Kanan avoids an arrest for it, and instead, he must stay in Raq’s house for the next six months as a social worker will make random visits to check on his well-being. The future of Kanan’s new business is at risk, and maintaining the operation, if he so chooses to, is now his first big challenge. With Raq out of the game, one might think that Kanan has no choice but to follow suit, but we also know he won’t give in that easily.

Raq Isn’t The Best With Relationships

Raq will only let her guard down to a certain point for the vulnerable relationships in her life. We saw it with Symphony in the first couple of seasons, we see it now with Unique, and we even see it with Kanan. Putting her decision to lie to Kanan about his father aside for a second, Raq’s decision to place a gun in Kanan’s bag so that he would get in trouble for it at school, which forces him to move back home, is a drastic measure to take as opposed to, I don’t know, just sitting with Kanan for an honest conversation.

Yes, Raq did what she did because federal investigators are lurking in Queens, and the last thing she wants is for Kanan to get arrested. Simultaneously, she killed two birds with one stone by ensuring Kanan is home where she can corner him into repairing their relationship. It’s not the best approach and I’d be surprised if Kanan responded well to it (especially if Famous tells him that Raq planted the gun in his bag). Pair this with Raq’s cold delivery to Unique about pausing their fling, and you see how Raq isn’t the best with the emotional side of relationships. Hopefully, things go Raq’s way and things go back to normal between her and Kanan.

Lou-Lou And Marvin Need Brotherhood

This week grants a great look into Lou-Lou and Marvin’s relationship. They’re together days after Jukebox’s audition and Lou-Lou’s visit to a bar owned by a woman who knew his father. Surprisingly enough, Marvin isn’t upset that Lou-Lou missed the audition, but rather, he’s thankful for his brother’s help leading up to the audition. It’s one of the many moments that show the improvement in how Marvin handles his anger. It also shows the importance of brotherhood to the duo.

In this episode, we see Marvin reconnect with his friend Gerald, whom he met during his anger management meetings in season two. In episode three, Marvin rescues Gerald after he seemingly relapses and nears an overdose. This week, Marvin meets Gerald at his job after his recovery and they agree to hold weekly meetings to keep each other in check about their anger and Gerald’s drug use. Scenes later, Lou-Lou convinces Marvin to help him invest in the Manhattan bar. Marvin is happy about the opportunity, as is Lou-Lou. Marvin later learns that Lou-Lou doesn’t want to sell drugs within the bar, to which Marvin reluctantly agrees. For Marvin and Lou-Lou, these scenes show the importance of brotherhood to them.

Will We Ever See Ronnie Smile?

Ronnie may be the most menacing person we’ve seen in the Power Universe, and that includes Lamar from BMF. His silence pierces the void like no other. His slow and seemingly methodical mannerisms signal the worst is about to come, even if nothing will happen. It’s the slow head turns to face people like Dean and his brother Unique or the lack of fear when guns are pointed at him that proves this. There hasn’t even been a smile on Ronnie’s face at any point since he’s returned home from prison. He’s only struck fear into Kanan, Famous, and Unique’s girlfriend while plotting against Unique and stepping up to big players in Queens. If there’s nothing for Ronnie to smile about, things will get bad for people in Queens, and with Dean out of the way, it seems like Unique could be up next.

New episodes of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ are available on the STARZ app on Fridays at 12:00 am ET/PT and on the STARZ TV channel at 8:00 pm ET/PT.

Everyone is playing Lethal Company right now. Call it a trend, or maybe it’s the next big game franchise, but take a look around any social media platform and you’ll find someone talking about how fun it is. A large part of why it’s so fun is how simple the game’s premise of collecting junk for money is, but that isn’t the only reason why so many people are playing it right now. Lethal Company currently has one of the most active mod scenes of any PC game right now, and the creator seems more than happy to let people add their own spin to the game.

Mods do enhance the experience of Lethal Company, taking an already fun game and making it even better, so if you’re interested in playing it with mods then here’s a handful that make the experience even better. If you’re unsure how to add mods, there’s a lot of guides out there you can use and it’s fairly simple — I personally used this one from The Gamer when installing mine.

(A quick note: There are a lot of mods out there that enhance how the game plays functionally or looks. While these are nice to have, this list is going to focus primarily on ones that improve the overall experience of the game.)

More Company

The More Company mod is maybe the most important mod to get for anyone who has a group larger than four people. Right now, the base game maxes the player out at four players, but with More Company, you will be able to play with up to 32 people. It’s better to cap yourself at eight because that’s the number the modder has designed any UI changes for, and it’s probably the most amount of players you can stick into a lobby without it feeling like too much. Lethal Company is best played with friends and this mod makes it so you don’t have to worry about someone missing out on the chance to play. It’s a must-get.

Reserved Walkie/Flashlight Spot

This one might be a little divisive among certain parts of the player base. Right now, when players order in walkie talkies or flashlights, they have to take up one of their four inventory spaces to carry them. This forces players to decide if they’d rather have those two items or focus on inventory space to bring back more scrap. What this mod does is make it so you have a slot exclusively for walkies or flashlights so they don’t take up your inventory space. For some players, that’s turning the game over to easy mode, but for others, it’s there for convenience.

It’s hard to argue against the convenience of the mod, because not only does this free up inventory space, but an even more valuable trait is it lets players use the flashlight and walkie without having to switch to them first. It’s cumbersome and kind of annoying to have to switch to either item anytime you want to use them and this mod makes it so they’re always at the ready. It, of course, is entirely up to the player if that’s what they want.

Skinwalkers

This mod is an absolute must. Skinwalkers give monsters the ability to repeat the voices of players throughout a session. This means that you could be in a dark hallway all by yourself and suddenly you will hear your friend calling out for help, only to discover that it’s not your friend, but a monster waiting for you. This adds an extra level of horror, along with some comedy to the game, because what the monsters choose to say is completely at random. It’s also for the entire session and not just a single round. So, hours ago, you may have said to nobody in particular “wow, it’s dark” only for your friends to hear “wow, it’s dark” multiple rounds later. It will even use the voices of players who have left the session, creating an extra level of creepiness to it.

This mod is just fun. It’s a feature that, whenever the creator of the game chooses to leave early access, will hopefully be a part of the normal game in the future. The only downside is that it requires using the in-game proximity chat to work, but honestly, that’s the way the large majority of people are playing Lethal Company anyway.

Mimics and MaskedEnemyOverhaul

Sometimes you just want a game to make you unable to trust anything you see. That’s what these two mods, Mimics and MaskedEnemyOverhaul, accomplish. As of right now, Mimics will create fake Fire Exit doors throughout the facility that you explore on each map. If you try to enter one of these fake exits, you will be immediately devoured by a monster. If that’s not scary enough for you, MaskedEnemyOverhaul makes it so random versions of your friends have the potential to spawn in on the map. If these fake versions of your friends capture you, then you are dead. Just a reminder: If you have Skinwalker on, then they can sound just like your friends, too.

These two mods work really well together because they create a constant sense of unease among players. Is the fire exit real? Where’s your friend? Wait, you see them walking toward you, but they’re being really quiet. Is that actually them? Sure, you have ways to defend yourself like a shovel, but that doesn’t mean you’re safe and a horror game is at its best when you never feel safe.

Brutal Company

Are you someone who truly loves Lethal Company and has already put tons of time into it? If so, then you might suddenly discover that you’re growing tired of the grind. You may even feel that it’s too easy. That is when you turn to mods to enhance the experience and there may be no better mod for someone like you than Brutal Company. To put it simply, Brutal Company makes the game considerably harder. Monsters can spawn outside the facility, they’re far more aggressive, and there can be a lot more of them.

In some ways this can be very not fun, because this also means that things like turrets will sometimes spawn inside your ship, or you will be killed by a flurry of monsters the second you step outside the ship because of bad luck. However, that’s the experience that Brutal Company is selling you on. If you want a more challenging experience, one where death is almost a guarantee, then this is the mod for you.