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For more than 120 years, Army and Navy have been battling on the football field and the head-to-head series has become a December staple in the college football universe. On Saturday, the service academies met in Foxboro and, as often, produced high drama. Army was in control for most of the game, never trailing during the afternoon, and the Black Knights took a 17-3 lead with a touchdown at the 4:49 mark of the fourth quarter.

Considering the pace and style of both teams, that felt like an insurmountable lead, but Navy stormed back with a quick 59-yard drive to draw within a 17-9 margin. That began what was an utterly tremendous sweat around the over/under point total for the day, which closed somewhere between 27.5 and 28.5 points. When the Midshipmen scored the touchdown to climb within eight points, Navy went for a two-point conversion and, if converted, would have pushed over the total. The attempt was unsuccessful, but that was just the start.

Army failed to put the game away on offense and, after a controversial decision to punt on 4th-and-3 in plus territory, the Black Knights uncorked a poor punt that allowed Navy to take over with reasonable field position. Then, Army deployed the world’s most conservative defense, paving the way for the Midshipmen to drive the field, but the fireworks didn’t stop there. Navy attempted a quarterback sneak from the two-yard line on 4th and goal, ultimately falling short to the delight of anyone who had an Under on the game.

However, there was more to come, because there was time remaining on the clock. From a game management perspective, it made sense for Army to play things safely and simply take a safety to ensure a victory. However, anyone with an Under at 27.5 or 28 did not like that idea, while those with Over bets on either of those numbers simply rejoiced when Army ran out of the back of the end zone.

The 2022 edition of Army-Navy actually went Over the total, but it needed overtime to do so. Prior to that, the Under hit in 16 straight meetings, making it a favorite of some handicappers. While this year’s total plummeted into the 20’s, making things more difficult for the Under side, those managed to nab it earlier in the week at 28.5 or higher were successful, while those who grabbed 28 at least emerged with a push. Still, there was wild drama on this one, and it was also a memorable, close-fought football game between long-time rivals.

Many musicians are coming to understand that when Jay-Z rapped, “I ain’t got a billion streams, but I got a billion dollars,” it wasn’t so much a flex but rather a dig at new-age music tech. As Spotify Wrapped continues to hold users’ timelines in a chokehold, fans are blown away by the sheer amount of listening time they racked up.

The platform’s year-end report revealed that the most streamed artists on the service were Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and The Weeknd. Although Swift is no surprise, her alleged $100 million streaming revenue for the year shocked users. “Weird Al” Yankovic joked about bringing in $12 for his 80 million streams. Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg revealed he brought in $45,000 from 1 billion streams.

The mathematical sorcery of the payouts has folks questioning how much Spotify pays for one million streams. According to the late Nipsey Hussle, as an independent artist owning all his masters, for one million streams on Spotify in 2018, he would bring about $4,370, which a new royalties calculator developed by the legal and consulting firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips somewhat corroborates with a minor tweak.

According to the calculator, with one million streams on Spotify, the payout is estimated at $4,830. A total of $3,719 is awarded to the sound recording owners, whereas $598 is given to the mechanical rights holder, and the performance rights holder gets $513.

The streaming giant doesn’t list the momentary amount per stream on its royalties page. Instead, the company gives its overall calculation method. “We calculate streamshare by tallying the total number of streams in a given month and determining what proportion of those streams were people listening to music owned or controlled by a particular rightsholder,” reads the website.

Years ago, Megan Burnside saw a mother physically struggling with her son. The boy was screaming … so she called the cops.

The mother, it seemed, was trying to get her 10-year-old son back in the car, and it looked like things were getting physical. Concerned for the kid, Burnside decided to call the police. Then she and her husband left.

When the police called her later to update her on the situation, she was horrified: The boy had autism, they told her, and was known to sometimes lash out physically. The mother was just doing her best to calm him down, as she had many times before.

Sadly, stories like this aren’t rare. Well-meaning strangers are frequently quick to intervene by calling authorities, which can cause undue stress and trauma for both the child and parent when that person has read the situation wrong. It can even be extraordinarily dangerous for people with disabilities and families of color.

When she realized the situation hadn’t been at all what it had seemed, Burnside was racked with guilt. In fact, she still is.

When a similar thing happened to a friend of hers, Burnside decided to share her shameful story on Facebook — and explain how she’d do it all over differently, given the chance.

“This has come up for me today because someone called DCFS (Department of Child and Family Services) on my dear friend,” she wrote.

I have something weighing on my heart this morning. A few years ago I was in Tennessee with my husband at a training…
Posted by Megan Orr Burnside on Thursday, December 7, 2017

Burnside’s friend, whom she called “the kind of mother I want to be like,” was bedridden with a respiratory infection, when a person who probably thought they were “helping” called the authorities.

“I don’t know what this person observed that they thought was a problem,” she wrote. “Maybe her kids were running around without parental supervision? Maybe a parent wasn’t feeding them so they were foraging for themselves?”

But there’s a better way of doing things, Burnside says: actually offering to assist the struggling parent.

“I am sad that the person who called her in didn’t ask how they could HELP HER,” she wrote.

The post went viral and touched thousands and thousands of people who agree with her message.

Concern for the well-being of others is a good thing. But concern without empathy hurts everyone.

She wants to encourage people to reach out and help each other whenever possible, and not to assume the worst of our fellow parents and human beings.

“I really believe that the root of all judgement comes from self-judgement,” she says in a Facebook message, noting that she developed more compassion for others by learning to have more compassion for herself and stop worrying about “messing up parenting.”

“I think people want to live in a world where we help more and judge less, and all it takes is compassion,” she says. “A lot of people have shared how this post will change the way they respond to struggling moms in the future, and I am really encouraged by that.”

To be sure, at some point, you may actually witness abuse or neglect, and in those situations it’s smart to get the right authorities involved. Burnside just wants to encourage all of us to think — and feel — before we act.

This article originally appeared on 12.14.17

Meet Mason Brian Barclay, a teen and self-described “very homosexual male.” He recently wanted to attend a sleepover at his “new best friend” Houston’s house, because teens are gonna teen. But he’s a boy, and everyone knows boys aren’t allowed to attend girls’ sleepovers, because of cooties/patriarchal norms.

So he behaved more maturely than most adults, and crafted a long text message to Houston’s mom, Mrs. Shelton, in which he politely asked for permission to attend Houston’s sleepover.

“I think the common meaning behind only allowing the same sex to share sleepovers is due to the typical interest in the opposite sex, when, in this case, I do not like the opposite sex,” he explained in the text.

u201cShe hates this picture but idc. I’m in love with your soul. You pretty cute too.u201d

— May (Tayloru2019s Version) (@May (Tayloru2019s Version))
1500425804

Mrs. Shelton’s response was so good that Mason tweeted it out and it went viral:

I TEXTED HOUSTONS MOM TO ASK IF I CAN STAY THE NIGHT FRIDAY HAHAHAHAHApic.twitter.com/Ovr74V869W

— May (Tayloru2019s Version) (@May (Tayloru2019s Version))
1505775519

“Hmm. Well my husband is hot. Should I worry?” she responded.

via GIPHY

Evidently Mason found Mrs. Shelton’s text hilarious. So does Twitter.

That took guts, and this mom acknowledged it *fabulously*! I wish you a fun night with your friends! Stay away from Houston’s dad, now. 🤣💖

— Julie Martineau (@JulieBonjour) September 22, 2017

And others are just wondering if the sleepover is on, or not??

Wait. Did we ever learn the answer??? Lol

— Zachary Zane (@Zachary Zane)
1505927113

Others need to know if Houston’s dad lives up to the hype:

Wait, so how hot is her dad?

— Milton Knowles (@TheGreatMiltini) September 21, 2017

This article originally appeared on 11.26.18

These are called “anti-homeless spikes.” They’re about as friendly as they sound.

As you may have guessed, they’re intended to deter people who are homeless from sitting or sleeping on that concrete step. And yeah, they’re pretty awful.

The spikes are a prime example of how cities design spaces to keep homeless people away.

Not all concrete steps have spikes on them, but outdoor seating in cities like Montreal and Tokyo have been sneakily designed to prevent people from resting too comfortably for too long.

This guy sawing through a bench was part of a 2006 protest in Toulouse, France, where public seating intentionally included armrests to prevent people from lying down.

Of course, these designs do nothing to fight the cause or problem of homelessness. They’re just a way of saying to homeless people, “Go somewhere else. We don’t want to look at you,” basically.

One particular set of spikes was outside a former night club in London. And a local group got sick of staring at them.

Leah Borromeo is part of the art collective “Space, Not Spikes” — a group that’s fed up with what she describes as “hostile architecture.“

“Spikes do nothing more than shoo the realities of poverty and inequality away from your backyard — so you don’t have to see it or confront what you can do to make things more equal,” Borromeo told Upworthy. “And that is really selfish.”

“Our moral compass is skewed if we think things like this are acceptable.”

The move by Space, Not Spikes has caused quite a stir in London and around the world. The simple but impactful idea even garnered support from music artist Ellie Goulding.

“That was amazing, wasn’t it?” Borromeo said of Goulding’s shout-out on Instagram.

“[The project has] definitely touched a nerve and I think it is because, as a whole, humans will still look out for each other,” Borromeo told Upworthy. “Capitalism and greed conditions us to look out for ourselves and negate the welfare of others, but ultimately, I think we’re actually really kind.”

“We need to call out injustice and hypocrisy when we see it.”

These spikes may be in London, but the U.S. definitely has its fair share of anti-homeless sentiment, too.

Spikes are pretty obvious — they’re a visual reminder of a problem many cities are trying to ignore. But what we can’t see on the street is the rise of anti-homeless laws that have cropped up from sea to shining sea.

Legislation that targets homeless people — like bans on panhandling and prohibiting people from sleeping in cars — has increased significantly in recent years.

For instance, a report by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty that analyzed 187 American cities found that there’s been a 43% hike in citywide bans on sitting or lying down in certain spaces since 2011.

Thankfully, groups like “Space, Not Spikes” are out there changing hearts and minds. But they need our help.

The group created a video to complement its work and Borromeo’s hoping its positive underlying message will motivate people to do better.

“[The world] won’t always be happy-clappy because positive social change needs constructive conflict and debate,” she explained. “But we need to call out injustice and hypocrisy when we see it.”

Check out their video below:

This article originally appeared on 07.24.15

Some former presidents go on to get nearly 100 criminal indictments. Others settle for starting entertainment companies. That’s what Barack Obama’s done. Back in 2018 he and his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama, formed Higher Ground, dedicated to not only film and TV but also podcasts. So far they’ve made four films, the most recently being the apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind. It arrived Friday, but where can one watch it?

The answer is: Netflix. It’s the latest star-studded film from the streamer, with Julia Roberts heading a cast also comprised of Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la, and Kevin Bacon. There’s also an apparent dig at Elon Musk’s self-driving Teslas, which Netflix posted on Elon Musk’s Twitter/X.

Here’s the film’s plot, per its IMDb page:

Amanda and Clay’s aspirational vacation with their teenage children is interrupted by the arrival of a middle aged couple who own the holiday home and who have fled an unprecedented blackout in the city. When the internet, television and radio stop working, as does the landline, they have no way of finding out what is happening. As strange sonic booms shatter the peace of the countryside, and animals start to migrate in strange ways, the physical and mental health of the families begins to disintegrate. The renters are upscale and White; the owners are upscale and Black. The issues of race clash and become distractions to the more alarming things are happening all around them.

If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, then mosey on over to Netflix.

Last week Taylor Swift‘s banner year got even better. Last week the pop star — who’s already had hit records and a money-gobbling concert movie — was named Time‘s Person of the Year. Organizations have been quick to profit off her success. The NFL is definitely happy that she’s dating Kansas City Chief’s Travis Kelce, despite his disapproval. TV shows are getting in on her, too.

Dancing With The Stars recently rolled out a night of original choreography influenced by Swift’s The Eras Tour.
Celebrity Jeopardy dedicated an entire category to Swift during a recent episode. Now The Voice is following suit.

On Monday, December 11, the remaining contestants will perform covers of Swift’s chart-topping songs. Swift has appeared on the show in the past, including in Season 7 as an advisor and again in Season 17 as a mentor.

So far, the remaining contestants include Huntley, Nini Iris, and Mara Justine on coach Niall Horan’s team. From Reba McEntire’s team, Jordan Rainer, Jacquie Roar, and Ruby Leigh remain. On Gwen Stefani’s team, Bias is the lone wolf. While John Legend’s team consists of Mac Royals and Lila Forde. Given the talent already displayed in past episodes, next week should be a piece of cake.

The Voice‘s episode centered around Taylor Swift’s music is set to air on Monday, December 11 at 8 pm central time. Find more information here.

What’s going on with Donald Trump’s brain? The last several months have found the former president making bizarre gaffes: mixing up Joe Biden and Barack Obama, claiming the former will start “World War II,” accidentally telling the truth. Trump has tried unconvincingly to explain these slip-ups, but among the people not buying that is one of his rightwing adversaries: Megyn Kelly.

“There’s no question Trump has lost a step or multiple steps,” the former Fox News host told Glenn Beck Friday. “He is confusing Joe Biden for [Barack] Obama … I know he’s now saying he intentionally did that — go back and look at the clips, it wasn’t intentional.”

Much has been made of Biden’s age, but Trump isn’t much younger.

“This is what happens when you’re 77 years old. Trump seems inhuman, but he’s not inhuman. He’s a human. He’s a man,” she said. “DeSantis’ line about ‘Father Time spares no one,’ was a good one. So, look, if it’s between Trump and Biden, I don’t think there’s any question who’s more fit and more capable. But are we really going to pretend that Donald Trump is just as vibrant and mentally sharp as he was in ’16?”

Trump and Kelly don’t exactly get along. Back in 2015, she moderated his first Republican primary debate, and he did not appreciate some of her “nasty” questions. If you think he’d gotten over it eight years later, you’d don’t know much about Donald Trump.

(Via The New York Post)

Most people imagine depression equals “really sad,” and unless you’ve experienced depression yourself, you might not know it goes so much deeper than that. Depression expresses itself in many different ways, some more obvious than others. While some people have a hard time getting out of bed, others might get to work just fine — it’s different for everyone.

To find out how depression shows itself in ways other people can’t see, we asked The Mighty mental health community to share one thing people don’t realize they’re doing because they have depression.

Here’s what they had to say:

1. “In social situations, some people don’t realize I withdraw or don’t speak much because of depression. Instead, they think I’m being rude or purposefully antisocial.” — Laura B.

2. “I struggle to get out of bed, sometimes for hours. Then just the thought of taking a shower is exhausting. If I manage to do that, I am ready for a nap. People don’t understand, but anxiety and depression is exhausting, much like an actual physical fight with a professional boxer.” — Juli J.

3. “Agreeing to social plans but canceling last minute. Using an excuse but really you just chickened out. It makes you think your friends don’t actually want to see you, they just feel bad. Obligation.” — Brynne L.

4. “Hiding in my phone. Yes, I am addicted to it, but not like other people. I don’t socialize, I play games or browse online stores to distract myself from my negative thoughts. It’s my safe bubble.” — Eveline L.

5. “Going to bed at 9 p.m. and sleeping throughout the night until 10 or 11 a.m.” — Karissa D.

6. “Isolating myself, not living up to my potential at work due to lack of interest in anything, making self-deprecating jokes. I’ve said many times before, ‘I laugh, so that I don’t cry.’ Unfortunately, it’s all too true.” — Kelly K.

7. “When I reach out when I’m depressed it’s ’cause I am wanting to have someone to tell me I’m not alone. Not because I want attention.” — Tina B.

8. “I don’t like talking on the phone. I prefer to text. Less pressure there. Also being anti-social. Not because I don’t like being around people, but because I’m pretty sure everyone can’t stand me.” — Meghan B.

9. “I overcompensate in my work environment… and I work front line at a Fitness Centre, so I feel the need to portray an ‘extra happy, bubbly personality.’ As soon as I walk out the doors at the end of the day, I feel myself ‘fall.’ It’s exhausting… I am a professional at hiding it.” — Lynda H.

10. “The excessive drinking. Most people assume I’m trying to be the ‘life of the party’ or just like drinking in general. I often get praised for it. But my issues are much deeper than that.” — Teresa A.

11. “Hiding out in my room for hours at a time watching Netflix or Hulu to distract my mind or taking frequent trips to the bathroom or into another room at social gatherings because social situations sometimes get to me.” — Kelci F.

12. “Saying I’m tired or don’t feel good… they don’t realize how much depression can affect you physically as well as emotionally.” — Lauren G.

13. “Answering slowly. It makes my brain run slower, and I can’t think of the answers to the questions as quickly. Especially when someone is asking what I want to do — I don’t really want anything. I isolate myself so I don’t have to be forced into a situation where I have to respond because it’s exhausting.” — Erin W.

14. “Sometimes I’ll forget to eat all day. I can feel my stomach growling but don’t have the willpower to get up and make something to eat.” — Kenzi I.

15. “I don’t talk much in large groups of people, especially when I first meet them. I withdraw because of my anxiety and depression. People think I’m ‘stuck up.’ I’m actually scared out of my mind worrying they don’t like me, or that they think I’m ‘crazy’ by just looking at me…” — Hanni W.

16. “Not keeping in touch with anyone, bad personal hygiene and extremely bad reactions to seemingly trivial things.” — Jenny B.

17. “Being angry, mean or rude to people I love without realizing it in the moment. I realize my actions and words later and feel awful I had taken out my anger on people who don’t deserve it.” — Christie C.

18. “Purposely working on the holidays so I can avoid spending time with family. It’s overwhelming to be around them and to talk about the future and life so I avoid it.” — Aislinn G.

19. “My house is a huge mess.” — Cynthia H.

20. “I volunteer for everything, from going to PTO meetings to babysitting to cleaning someone else’s house for them. I surround myself with situations and obligations that force me to get out of bed and get out of the house because if I’m not needed, I won’t be wanted.” — Carleigh W.

This story was originally published on The Mighty and originally appeared here on 07.21.17

Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign’s joint album is progressing quickly. Although their previously announced listening events have been postponed, that hasn’t stopped them from promoting the forthcoming release.

On Friday, December 8, Ty Dolla Sign took to his official Instagram page to share the tracklist of the album’s 18 songs. One of them caught the attention of Nicki Minaj fans: Near the middle of the document, “New Body” was listed, a Minaj collaboration that was originally expected to appear on West’s 2021 album, Donda.

The Barbz were thrilled at the possibility.

Snippets of the unreleased track between the trio gained traction across social media when it became a trending sound on TikTok. Weeks ago, teaser clips from the rumored music video hit social media, which led fans to flood Minaj’s mentions, begging for the entire track.

West and Minaj have collaborated in the past. Their most notable song is the 2010 single “Monster,” which appeared on West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album. According to West’s ex-girlfriend Amber Rose, the collaboration resulted from her relationship with Minaj. Minaj’s bars on the record have been dubbed one of the greatest verses of her career. Even West acknowledges her stellar performance.

View Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign’s tracklist below.

1. “Everybody”
2. “Back To Me”
3. “Fuk Sumn”
4. “Time Moving Slow”
5. “Beg Forgiveness”
6. “So Good”
7. “Paid”
8. “Timbo Freestyle”
9. “Slide”
10. “New Body”
11. “Promotion”
12. “Vultures”
13. “Lifestyle”
14. “Drunk”
15. “Worship”
16. “River”
17. “Gun To My Head”
18. “Unlock”