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Articles by Elle Tharp
Snapshots of daily life in Pyongyang
Snapshots of daily life in Pyongyang If you've ever wondered what life in North Korea looks like, the following pictures from the country's capital, Pyongyang, provide actual snapshots into the lives of urban North Koreans. Though the age of smartphones usually allows for maximum documentation, Pyongyang photos remain difficult to find given the country's self-imposed isolation and a citizen population largely unaware of the outside world.
The Cutest Celebrity Couples Of 2026
Celebrities get attention and, when two celebrities are together, the frenzy more than doubles. Celebrity couples make headlines, sometimes for a cute moment they share but also for some of the inevitable drama that comes along with any relationship. That said, there are some celebrities that people simply can't get enough of because they're so dang cute. The love they share for each other is practically palpable and onlookers can't help but root for them to thrive.
The Most Lopsided Duos In Music History
Members: Sonny Bono, Cher The Star: Cher was just 16 when she met future husband Sonny Bono, 27, in a coffee shop. The relationship started platonically; Bono later agreed to let Cher move into his apartment in exchange for doing household chores. It was Bono who already had a songwriting career and industry connections (he worked for Phil Spector) and got Cher work singing back up vocals.
The Dumbest Presidents In US History
There are many attributes that may come in handy in landing oneself the top dog position of POTUS. The gift of gab, charisma, an impressive resume, and, of course, intelligence, can all help win an election. But if we simplify down to its nuts and bolts, a political race is essentially a popularity contest (albeit, a biased, electoral-college popularity contest). The smartest candidate doesn't always (often?) win - nor do they necessarily make the best presidents.
Uncomfortable Interviews With Teen Stars That Totally Crossed The Line
Niehe: In the video we just saw, “Baby One More Time,” you’re the naughtiest of schoolgirls aren’t you?… But in reality you’re not? Spears: Well of course my school’s not like that, I wish it was, I wish we could be dancing in the hallways and stuff like that… Niehe: There’s one subject we didn’t discuss. What was that? Everyone’s talking about it. Spears: What? Niehe: Well, your breasts. Spears: [awkward laughing] My breasts?
Which Famous Parent Do These Celebrity Kids Look Like Most?
Nepo babies describe the child of a celebrity who (to a debatable degree) might get a leg up in the entertainment industry due to their famous parent, name, and connections. This collection of Hollywood offspring, though, truly won the genetic lottery - with not one but two famous folks, essentially making them “double nepo babies.” But we're not here to argue about talents or generational wealth or opportunity.
What's The Most Overrated Era Of Music?
The Sound: Teen pop and dance pop; continued popularity of urban genres including hip-hop, rap, reggae, and contemporary R&B; grunge and alternative rock; rise of house and techno; rise of contemporary country Notable Artists: Nirvana, Celine Dion, Dr. Dre, Mariah Carey, No Doubt, Green Day, Alanis Morissette, 2Pac, Beck, Spice Girls, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Shania Twain, The Cranberries, Creed, Hootie and the Blowfish, Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Garth Brooks, Boys II Men,...
What Was The Greatest Era Of Music?
Fondly remembering the music of their youth, many people will wax on about why the decade(s) of music they grew up with are better than whatever trash is playing now. But doing our best to separate ourselves from nostalgia, what was truly the best decade for music? The answer may vary, of course, according to what musical genres you love and which ones you loathe. Do a couple of stand-out musical phenomenons like The Beatles and Bob Dylan do enough to prop up an entire decade like the 1960s?
Which Major Chain Has The Worst Employee Dress Code?
Despite many of these major chains being pretty casual venues, some of these companies have surprisingly strict rules and regulations about what their employees wear to work.
Book Sex Scenes That Were Cut From The Movie Adaptation
Condensing hundreds to thousands of pages of writing down to a 120-page screenplay is no easy feat, so of course book readers are often treated to more intimate details than movie viewers. It doesn't come as a major shock, then, that these filmmakers deleted some of the dirtier details from their adaptations, particularly when they have things like studio approvals, ratings, and actor contracts to consider.
All The Celebrities Mentioned In Diddy's Trial, And Why
The trial of rapper and Bad Boy Records founder Sean “Diddy” Combs began on May 5, 2025. He has pled not guilty to charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. A prominent figure in the entertainment industry since the ‘90s, the much-buzzed about Diddy trial includes references to a slew of other famous people, though in most cases the mentions are peripheral.
What Famous People Who Went To School Together Had To Say About Each Other
Every school has that one alumnus whom they brag about with pictures on the wall, someone who grew up to be at least mildly famous. But from elementary school to university, these institutions housed multiple big names in their student body - at the same time. While some peers, like Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson, found lifelong friends in each other as well as fame, others, like Natalie Portman or Alan Ritchson, don't quite have the fondest recollections of their former classmates.
The Funniest Memes Of 2025 (So Far)
From the jump, 2025 has been one for the books, in some actually pretty alarming ways. Major headlines arose around the Los Angeles wildfires and Trump's second term as president, mixed with continued buzz around technology and the rise of AI. Meanwhile in pop culture, Severancefinally returned for its much anticipated second season, while celeb drama like Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni continued into the new year. It's, well, a lot. But we'll always have memes.
The Inspiring 'Leap into Freedom' Cold War Photo Ended In Tragedy For Its Subject
As WWII ended and the Cold War began, denazification in Germany had left the country divided. In the west, Allied occupation zones became “West Germany,” and money poured in from Allied powers like the United States, who knew economic prosperity would be key in their fight against communism. In “East Germany,” or the German Democratic Republic (GDR), Soviet control signified a communist state.
All 23 Films To Receive An 'F' Grade From Cinemascore
Since it was founded by casual cinephile Edward Mintz in 1978, Cinemascore has conducted exit polls of moviegoers on recent releases in an attempt to get the general public's opinion on a film, apart from critic reviews or box office numbers. As Mintz recalled, “Back in the late '70s, I saw a Neil Simon movie that I absolutely hated, even though the critics were raving about it. And I started thinking, 'Who cares what the critics have to say?
This 'Blink And You Miss It' Moment In 'Saving Private Ryan' Makes It All The More Devastating
Steven Spielberg's 1998 WWII epic, Saving Private Ryan, has been lauded for its brutal depiction of the devastation of war. The film, which won five Academy Awards, follows a group of Allied soldiers in 1944 Normandy, France, who are trying to locate Private Ryan (Matt Damon) to send him home after both his brothers are killed in action.
All The Behind The Scenes 'One Tree Hill' Drama That Could Affect The Reboot
Back in 2021, the three main female cast members of One Tree Hill - Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley), Hilarie Burton Morgan (Peyton), and Sophia Bush (Brooke) - started the Drama Queens podcast, much to fan delight, discussing episodes of their hit CW series. While there's plenty of fun to the catching up, some of the behind-the-scenes intel shows a darker side to the teen drama. The women have spoken of an at-times toxic work environment, spurred on by show creator Mark Schwahn.
What It Was Really Like To Work With David Bowie According To Celebrities
You'd think a man with so many alter egos would have, well, a pretty big ego. But when he wasn't Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, or the Thin White Duke, he was David Bowie - a man who by all accounts was gracious, kind, and generous, even when he didn't have to be. Of course, it's hard to separate the man from the myth, especially a myth of Bowie proportions.
Actors Defend Their Most Controversial Films
The Controversy: Those who didn't appreciate the satire of Natural Born Killers took offense to its stylized violence. The film was also accused of inspiring copycat crimes. Their Defense: Lewis: "It was wild. As actors, when we were selling the film, I never had experienced the level of animosity and aggression or disdain from journalists.
The Most Disturbing, Messed Up TV Shows Of The 21st Century
From mind-bending shows that eerily (and sometimes accurately) predict a dark future, like Black Mirror, to violently gruesome crime shows like Narcos and its gorier sibling, Narcos: Mexico, these TV shows are fifty shades of messed up. Watching them makes us wonder about what dark crevices the creators pulled from within their brains to invent them. Then again, are we the screwed up ones if we binged all the series on this list?
13 Historical Terms You Probably Don't Want To Google
What It Is: A form of live entombment where a person is placed in a confined space with the wall then sealed off, often resulting in death. Historical Context: The practice was used as a form of punishment in ancient Rome for Vestal Virgins (a class of priestesses) who broke their vows of celibacy. As it was prohibited to spill their blood, the Romans came up with immurement as a cruel solution to kill them.
Bill Burr Shut Down Reporters Who Asked Him About Current Events: 'Get Your Balls Back'
In lengthier forums, Burr has taken the time to broach hot-button subjects like wealth inequality. On his Monday Morning podcast, Burr said: The amount of people who are struggling out there because of these f*cking billionaires… There is so much f*cking money in this country and there is so much work being done, you know. And if you work a full f*cking week at a job, you should be able to pay your f*cking rent. You shouldn’t have to go out and get another f*cking job and still be struggling.
Jack Black Surprised A Fan From 'Love on the Spectrum' And It's The Best Thing You'll See All Year
Tanner Smith made his reality TV debut on Season 2 of Netflix's dating show, Love on the Spectrum. According to the official Netflix synopsis, the “romantic documentary series” follows “people on the autism spectrum look for love and navigate the changing world of dating and relationships.” The series, which has been praised for spreading autism awareness and understanding, has developed a large fan base for its wholesome, heartwarming, and funny moments.
18 Songs Nobody Actually Knows The Lyrics To
We've all been there. You choose a song for karaoke and the next thing you know, a string of words completely different than the ones you were prepared to belt appears on the screen. Or, a speedy word vomit bridge trips you up so much that the best you can manage is to mumble “dun nuh nuh nuh” and hope no one notices. You're not alone, and if you listen closely, you'll probably notice no one actually sings the right words to these hit songs.
The Brutal Slaying Of Karen Snider Got A Major Update - Six Decades Later
With so many past cases, new cases, and police spread thin, it seems unlikely for a homicide without any new leads in the past six decades to finally be solved. But, with the help of new forensic technology, and people who continue to push for answers, the 2020s have seen huge breaks in cases that were cold as ice. One such unique case is that of Karen Snider, who was killed in her Illinois home in 1966, while her two-month-old daughter lay in the bassinet downstairs.
What Happened To Mary Ann Johnson After She Left Work Three Decades Ago?
By June of 1994, investigators believed that Mary Ann was likely the victim of a crime, rather than someone who went missing of her own volition. Detective Robert Cosley of the LAPD stated: We now believe she may have met with foul play… We’re real interested in talking to anyone who may have seen anyone parking the Corvette on Jan. 26 or anyone who may have information about the three men.
People Who Worked With David Bowie Share What The Icon Was Really Like
In 1978 I did my first tour of Europe as "stunt" guitarist and singer for Frank Zappa's band. The night we played in Cologne, Germany, unbeknownst to me Brian Eno was in the audience. Brian knew David Bowie was looking for a new guitarist for his upcoming tour. He… told David he should come see the guitarist for Frank's band. The next night we performed in Berlin.
The 'Hunger Games' Reaping Has A Major Plot Hole You Can't Unsee
Since it's established that one can add more entries for reaping day to get more food, it begs the question - why doesn't everyone from a poor district like 12 agree to add their names as many times as possible? As Redditor u/timisplump points out: …Imagine everyone doubled their name count, or tripled it (or multiplied it by 100). The probability of being chosen would stay the same for everyone and in the process, everyone would be getting 100 times the amount of food. Never made sense to me.
Sharon Kinne Was On The Run For 50 Years - And Investigators Finally Uncovered Her Fate
Despite an extensive manhunt and the fact that she was wanted in multiple countries, it wasn't until the anonymous tip after her passing that Sharon Kinne was finally found. It's unclear how she managed to escape prison, though some have theorized she bribed the guards or had an in with them. While imprisoned, Sharon told a reporter: You know, one of the reasons why I can do just about anything I please is they're a little bit afraid of me… They're afraid of all the women convicted of murder.
Viral Moments That Went Down In Airplanes And Airports
An airplane can act as something of a microcosm of humanity's best - and worst - sides. There are heroic tales of bravery and fated meet-cutes on planes. And of course, the odd sense of community that arises between passengers randomly squeezed together in a confined space (often against a common enemy: the airline). Yet travel can test anyone's patience, and sometimes people seemingly forget all norms and rules of society while focused on getting where they need to go.
'One Tree Hill' Drama From Behind The Scenes That Could Affect The Reboot
Back in 2021, the three main female cast members of One Tree Hill - Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley), Hilarie Burton Morgan (Peyton), and Sophia Bush (Brooke) - started the Drama Queens podcast, much to fan delight, discussing episodes of their hit CW series. While there's plenty of fun to the catching up, some of the behind-the-scenes intel shows a darker side to the teen drama. The women have spoken of an at-times toxic work environment, spurred on by show creator Mark Schwahn.
The 10 Steamiest Movies To Ever Win The Oscar For Best Picture
2025 Academy Award Best Picture winner Anora broke ground in more ways than one. Something of a dark horse, the modern day romance casts a new light on sex work and stands out against a collection of prior winners that, in hindsight, is near puritanical. While more explicit films like Poor Things and The Reader have nabbed a Best Picture nomination, the Academy has tended to award its biggest prize to more chaste, demure films that shy away from bumping uglies.
'Gossip Girl' Fans Think A Resurfaced Interview Shows Blake Lively Insulting Leighton Meester
By the time the adaptation of the popular Colleen Hoover novel It Ends With Us made its way to the big screen in 2024, rumors and reports of tension between co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (also the film's producer and director) were already swirling. But what started as murmurs snowballed into a full-blown celebrity showdown playing out in the public eye, each side weaponizing media against the other and hurling accusations via legal complaints and lawsuits.
The 'Hunger Games' Reaping System Is Riddled With Plot Holes
Since it's established that one can add more entries for reaping day to get more food, it begs the question - why doesn't everyone from a poor district like 12 agree to add their names as many times as possible? As Redditor u/timisplump points out: …Imagine everyone doubled their name count, or tripled it (or multiplied it by 100). The probability of being chosen would stay the same for everyone and in the process, everyone would be getting 100 times the amount of food. Never made sense to me.
Romantic Dramas On Hulu That'll Make You Realize Your Love Life Isn't THAT Complicated
Love hurts. Whether you're making your way in the chaotic web of the dating world or fresh off a complicated break-up, relationships are a messy business. But no matter what kind of convoluted entanglement you find yourself in, we've got the spicy romantic Hulu drama recs to provide a much-needed distraction while reminding you that it could be worse - much, much worse.
25 Inappropriate Early 2000s Lyrics We Had No Business Singing Along To As Kids
Compared to the ‘90s, the early aughts escalated the lyrical filth in mainstream music. Gone were the subtler acronyms like “O.P.P.”, enter the barely concealed metaphors of “magic sticks” and "milky coco puffs." From Christina Aguilera to Ludacris, these 2000s lyrics were certainly not afraid to get freaky with it.
The 'Smile Of Victory' Is The Most Famous Photo You've Never Heard Of
The woman pictured, “Ms. Vo,” is Võ Thị Thắng, who was born in 1945 and grew up in a family with communist revolutionary ties. At age 16, she joined the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam.
How Pop Culture Vampires Got Sexy: A Complete History
Following “The Vampyre,” a slew of creative works expanded upon lusty vamp fiction, including serials Varney the Vampire (1845) and Carmilla (1872).
There May Be A 'One Tree Hill' Reboot Coming, But The Behind-The-Scenes Drama Never Stopped
Back in 2021, the three main female cast members of One Tree Hill - Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley), Hilarie Burton Morgan (Peyton), and Sophia Bush (Brooke) - started the Drama Queens podcast, much to fan delight, discussing episodes of their hit CW series. While there's plenty of fun to the catching up, some of the behind-the-scenes intel shows a darker side to the teen drama. The women have spoken of an at-times toxic work environment, spurred on by show creator Mark Schwahn.
30 Academy Award Record Holders That Made Oscars History
Whether you're a huge film buff or just consider yourself an expert in Oscar trivia, we've collected some of the most interesting films, actors, and filmmakers that are Academy Awards record holders. From the youngest person to win an Oscar (at age 6) to the movie with the most Oscars, to the films (and people) who have the somewhat backhanded honor of most nominations without a single win, here are the groundbreaking Oscar superlatives you might not have known about.
Every job has its up and downs, acting more so than most. Even though these 2025 Oscar nominated actors are up for the most prestigious honor the film industry has to offer, they still have some movie skeletons in their closet. Perhaps they went by the philosophy “a job is a job” and starred in whatever bad horror movie or over-budget, over SFX-ed action flick they were offered, for a paycheck and/or a part. Or maybe, like Demi Moore in Striptease, the world just wasn't ready.
16 Controversial Stories About Alcohol That Had The Internet Weighing In
From Redditor u/YouGottaStopThat: I have waited tables for the last three years. During my shift last night, a group of four women in their late 20s came in. They were a pleasure to have as customers. They ordered four of our house cocktails to start with and then went over the menu for their entrees. When I was on my way back to their booth with the drinks on a tray, I walked by the back side and overheard one of them talking about how she was 14 weeks along.
In childhood, your generation might have had its own indications of what signified wealth. Perhaps it was the friend with all the good TV channels, or who had their own phone line. Nowadays, however, it's not so different. They probably have every streaming service or premium service, regardless of how much television they watch, and there's a good chance they have the latest iPhone model, despite the fact that they don't even know what its features are.
15 Controversial Stories About Childcare And Babysitting That Split The Crowd
From Redditor u/HENNYDEFN: I'm a software engineer, with a full time job and a side hustle of doing freelance coding work in my own time. I've always been the type to have a side hustle I put a lot of my free time into; I get really bored sitting idle. My freelance hourly rates are $60 an hour, and at my full time job, my hourly pay works out to about $40 an hour. So that's how I value my time. Anyway, over Christmas vacation, I was staying at my parents' house.
12 Internet Tales About Cooking & Food That Made Us Say 'Let's Do Takeout Instead'
From Redditor u/doingthemdishes: I've always cleaned as I cook so that when it gets to the end of the meal, there's minimal mess. My husband is the opposite. When he cooks, it's like a bomb went off. I've encouraged him to clean as he cooks, and if we're doing a big meal/holiday meal together I often make sure to assign him that role. Like most people, one of us cooks, the other one cleans up. I am the better cook, so I cook like 80% of the time. He gets an easy cleanup.
This Soap-Opera Worthy Reddit Saga Might Be Fake, But People Are Invested
In September of 2024, a Redditor under the username u/PsychFactor posted a lengthy story to the subreddit r/OffMyChest titled, “I think my husband fathered his best friend's children, and now one of them is attracted to my daughter.” What follows is an update-laden epic, the likes of which haven't been seen the ‘60s soap heyday. For anyone who doesn't have five hours to spare, we've summed up the key points of the story, as well as the internet's general feedback and consensus.
16 Dramatic Reddit Updates From 2024 That Had Us On The Edge Of Our Seats
From Redditor u/milchickenpox: I can hardly type this out because thinking about it makes me so angry. Earlier this year my husband [31M] and I decided to spend Christmas with his family for the first time since my daughter was born last September. Since they live 12 hours away, we decided to stay for a few weeks before Christmas so they could spend loads of time with Annie [13 months].
14 Controversial Stories About Coworkers That Divided The Internet
From Redditor u/CourageClassic6141: This whole saga started because my husband took my last name. A couple weeks ago he got his workplace to change it, and his coworkers found out. About half of them think this is the funniest thing ever and about half are deeply offended. Brenda is in the offended half, and has made that clear. He and I are in a group chat with his coworkers where we organize carpooling during the pandemic. It is very helpful to us, so we can't leave the chat.
The Wildest 'Ask A Manager' Stories That Spill Major Office Tea
Question:I’ve worked at my current company for six years. In that time, I befriended a coworker (Rebecca) who, to be honest, seemed very lonely but was sweet. We had some things in common and she sat with me at lunch sometimes. We’re completely remote now, but the two of us would still occasionally get together to go on shopping trips, ren faires, etc. Eventually she became kind of pushy about wanting to be included in every outing I ever mentioned.
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