Category: Life Style

Read time : 3 mins

Level : Intermediate

By Michael Dinich | Wealth of Geeks undefined

The average American whips out their phone to take a photo six times each day.

A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults revealed that camera rolls are flooded with group photos with friends (66%) and family (69%), as well as photos of friends (63%) and family (58%) without them in it.

Selfies (58%), pet pics (52%), and scenery (43%) also topped the list of frequent photos.

Events to Remember

Respondents are likely to take photos at events such as graduations (45%), weddings (44%), on vacation (40%), and at sporting events (37%) — with the average person taking nearly 23 pics per event.

Following the event, respondents will look back on those photos a little more than once per month, or 13 times per year. Continue reading

Read time : 2 mins

Level : Advanced

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — On the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, rare originals are being displayed and publishers are offering collectors editions of Shakespeare’s plays, including one that sells for $1,500.

Scholars believe that between 200-300 copies still survive from the late 1623 release of “Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies.” Presided over by two friends and former colleagues of Shakespeare, who had died in 1616, the Folio ensured that lasting texts existed for “Macbeth,” “Twelfth Night” and other cornerstones of Western literature. In Shakespeare’s lifetime, many of his works were unpublished or available only in cheap paperback editions. Continue reading

Read time : 4 mins

Level : Intermediate

By Franklin Schneider | Wealth of Geeks undefined

In a polarized society, it’s no surprise Americans are divided on the best places to live in the United States. Many top destinations have just as many detractors as fans.

A new study by real estate company Home Bay, in partnership with Allied Van Lines, asked 1,000 respondents where they do and do not want to live, as well as places they consider over and underrated. As expected, the results revealed many split opinions.

San Francisco, for example, was the sixth-most desirable place to live but the seventh most undesirable place to live. New York City was considered the fourth most desirable city, the fifth most undesirable city, and the most overrated city.

However, there were some clear winners and losers. Continue reading

Read time : 4 mins

Level : Advanced

By AARON MORRISON AP Race and Ethnicity News Editor

As ambassadors of the country where breakdancing originated 50 years ago, members of Team USA have something to prove — and potentially to lose — when the hip-hop dance form makes its official debut at the Paris Games in 2024.

That’s because for U.S. breakers like Carmarry Hall, Victor Montalvo and Jeffrey Mike Louis, it’s more than just nailing the right moves; it’s about preserving breaking’s soul.

“When I started breaking, it wasn’t about competition; it was about culture, it was about Black dance,” said Hall, an African American Team USA member. “The Olympic platform is not going to appreciate the understanding. It’s structured in a certain way, and in that structure, you lose a little bit of the heart.”

But it is precisely that structure that international competitors to the U.S. have zoned in on while battling for a shot at Olympic gold in head-to-head contests over the past year. And at the moment, Team USA’s squad of b-boys and b-girls, the term for male and female breakers, is trailing in rankings tabulated by the World DanceSport Federation, the International Olympic Committee-approved body that administers breaking battles. Continue reading

Read time : 3 mins

Level : Intermediate

By Jake Valentine | Wealth of Geeks

Nearly 5,000 new board games were released in 2022 alone. The hobby has exploded in popularity over the years. Despite the emergence of new games, a timeless classic remains America’s most popular board game: Chess.

A recent study reveals the top 20 board games in the United States. The list is filled with classics like Monopoly, Clue, and Sorry! But Chess tops them all.

“Chess is a cultural touchstone, with terms such as checkmate being a staple of the English language,” said a spokesperson for World of Card Games, who performed the study. “It has been studied for centuries, and skill at the game is considered shorthand for a person’s intelligence. It has even seen a new wave of popularity in recent years as more people learn of its intricacies. It is fitting, then, that Chess is America’s most popular board game.

“It will be interesting to see if chess continues to grow in popularity in the coming years and how that might impact how people play the game online and offline, both professionally and at the amateur level.” Continue reading

Read time : 3 mins

Level : Advanced

By Jessica Bishop | Wealth of Geeks undefined

Wedding bells may be ringing less frequently as 73% of young adults find it too expensive to get married in the current economy. A new study highlights shifting attitudes towards marriage from Millennials and Gen Z, with 2 in 5 viewing it as an outdated tradition. These changing perspectives and rising wedding costs have prompted many to rethink their approach to marriage.

Survey Shows a Shift in Marital Mindset

Recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau in 2022 revealed that more than 1 in 3 (34%) individuals aged 15 years or older had never been married, marking a significant increase from approximately 1 in 4 (23%) in 1950.

This shift prompted the Thriving Center of Psychology to investigate why fewer individuals are walking down the aisle. They surveyed Millennials and Gen Zers who are currently in a relationship but unmarried. The findings shed light on their perspectives and insight into the factors influencing their choices. Continue reading

Read time : 4 mins

Level : Intermediate

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

“Barbie” didn’t just break the opening weekend record for 2023; It also shattered the first weekend record for a film directed by a woman.

With $162 million in ticket sales from North American theaters, according to studio totals Monday, “Barbie” catapulted past both “Captain Marvel,” which was co-directed by Anna Boden and opened to $153.4 million in 2019, and “Wonder Woman,” Patty Jenkins ‘ 2017 film that debuted to $103.3 million. Boasting a reported price tag of $145 million, “Barbie” also cost less to produce than “Captain Marvel” ($152 million) and “Wonder Woman” ($200 million).

Globally, it far surpassed “Wonder Woman’s” debut with over $337 million versus $228.3 million, though “Captain Marvel’s” global launch was higher at $455 million. Continue reading

Read time : 3 mins

Level : Advanced

By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — Teens have long been vital to filling out the summertime staffs of restaurants, ice cream stands, amusement parks and camps.

Now, thanks to one of the tightest labor markets in decades, they have even more sway, with an array of jobs to choose from at ever higher wages.

To ease the labor crunch, some states are moving to roll back restrictions to let teens work more hours and, in some cases, more hazardous jobs — much to the chagrin of labor rights groups, who see it as a troubling trend.

Economists say there are other ways to expand the workforce without putting more of a burden on kids, including by allowing more legal immigration. Continue reading