Not to brag, but I think I could make a killing on Wheel of Fortune (ok it’s a brag). I’m sitting on a 100% win rate on Wordle, plus I also play Quordle and Duotrigordle everyday. And when I have a spare moment (ha!) I dip into one of my crossword puzzle volumes for The Washington Post, LA Times, or Boston Globe. (I swear I am an adult and taking care of adult business daily, as well.) So I was thrilled when I got a callback to do a first round audition last fall. Now I’m in the contestant pool for one year!! If/when I make it onto America’s Game, I will be sure to pay extra attention to my volume and diction. A recent contestant who made it to the bonus round has caused a minor brouhaha online over whether or not she gave the right answer. Host Pat Sajak didn’t hear it, but the interwebs disagree.

Are there better ways you could spend your time than getting mad at Wheel of Fortune clips? Yes. But also, I don’t blame people for thinking it’s bullsh*t how one contestant was “robbed” of winning $40,000 during a recent episode of the game show.

Contestant Megan Carvale made it all the way to the bonus round where the category was Living Things. After getting the customary “RSTLNE” letters and guessing a few of her own, she was left with P_N__RC__D. Megan wasted no time in trying to solve the puzzle. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to. “You might have been overthinking a type of orchid. I’m sorry that didn’t work out for you,” host Pat Sajak said as the board revealed the correct answer: Pink Orchid.

But as noted by Decider, “Viewers at home were convinced that Carvale had guessed ‘Pink Orchid’ right as the countdown began. Because the countdown music was playing at the same time, her first guess is a bit difficult to understand.” It’s hard to tell: it could be “pink orchid,” but it also might be “something orchid.” The Wheel of Fortune community has weighed in, though, and they’re convinced Carvale should have won.

[From Uproxx]

I have watched this video over and over again, and it’s just the final consonant of the first word that I cannot make out. Megan’s answer (the first guess, by the way) sure sounds like “Pink Orchid” except for the definitive K sound trailing off. She either said “Pink Orchid” or “Ping Orchid.” Or maybe Pat thought he heard her say “Pinq” and dismissed the answer due to the Q spelling. The thing is, once the answer is revealed Megan deflates and acts like she knows she just lost. Why would she do that if she had said the right answer? Nerves? And there are a lot of people in that studio, so I’m kind of inclined to believe that someone from production is tasked with listening closely. That’s it — we need the sound tech to weigh in! Hold on, after watching the video one extra umpteenth time I am cautiously confident that she says “someTHING orchid,” with the first syllable very softly spoken. Meanwhile, since I now have “Pink Orchid” stuck on a loop in my head, all I can think of is how it sounds like a perfume. Pink Orchid by Wheel of Fortune… always the right answer.

photos are shreenshots from YouTube/Wheel of Fortune

Queen Camilla was pretty much the only senior royal out and about in the month of January. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh also did a handful of events (Edward was even abroad), but ever since King Charles and the Princess of Wales’s dual medical issues were revealed, it’s been all about Camilla. Camilla out and about, doing events. Camilla making sure to be seen visiting her husband repeatedly in the hospital. Camilla holding down the fort and giving updates about Charles’s condition, while mysteriously never being asked about Kate’s condition. Everything’s coming up Camilla! Which is the point of this latest Telegraph piece – it’s mostly a summary of previously reported, positive PR for Cam, but the framing of it is very “Camilla is the last one standing.” Some highlights:

Last woman standing: The King is recovering from hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate, the Princess of Wales is convalescing at home, and the Prince of Wales is focused on supporting his wife and taking care of their three children. That leaves just one woman standing: Queen Camilla, holding the fort… This means the 76-year-old Queen – who has been out and about every day this week – is practically ruling solo, with support from the other “women of Windsor,” the Princess Royal and the Duchess of Edinburgh.

A busy schedule?? The ever-capable Camilla has ploughed on with a busy schedule of public engagements, too. On Wednesday, she opened a new Maggie’s cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London. She promised to pass on well wishes for the King, who she said is “getting on” and “doing his best”.

Camilla’s shoes: The secret to smiling in the face of a never-ending list of engagements? Comfortable shoes. “Camillla has found a way to dress elegantly for royal engagements without sacrificing on comfort. You’d never see her in a spindly stiletto – all her shoes tend to have the same sensible low block heel which the late Queen Elizabeth relied on into her 90s,” says Bethan Holt, Telegraph Fashion Director and author of The Queen: 70 years of Majestic Style. “She favours British brands like Sole Bliss, Eliot Zed and Russell and Bromley whose shoes and boots are crafted to withstand long periods of standing while looking good, too,” Holt adds. “The Queen’s longtime dresser Jacqui Meakin works with a small circle of designers including Anna Valentine and Fiona Clare to source outfits which will make Camilla feel effortlessly good.

Stoicism & good humor: A double Royal health blow presents unprecedented circumstances. But the Queen’s approach is nothing different to her usual attitude of stoicism and hard work coupled with good humour. “She has a great twinkle, and it comes out very readily… it puts people at their ease very quickly,” said Lady Lansdowne, a close friend of the Queen’s, in a recent BBC documentary about the Coronation year.

A stiff drink: Indeed, as a voracious reader and the patron of several literary charities, relaxing with a good book (with or without a gin and tonic, said to be her favourite tipple) is one of the ways the Queen takes care of her own wellbeing when faced with a busy and demanding schedule. Another is riding or walking, either at Clarence House or the private Wiltshire residence she has owned since the mid-1990s – although it is doubtful there is much time for a countryside retreat at the moment.

Running the show: Not long ago, it would have seemed impossible that the Queen would be running the show solo. And yet she has proved she is a very safe pair of hands.

[From The Telegraph]

What’s also sort of funny about the whole “Camilla is holding down the fort/she’s the last woman standing” thing is that before January, it felt like Camilla was being slowly downgraded in importance. She didn’t do well during the Kenya trip, and the trip to France wasn’t a galloping success either. There were more and more stories about how she didn’t want to travel, how she and Charles were spending more time apart, and she was “overwhelmed” by the workload and expectations of being queen. I got the feeling that she missed having more downtime to day-drink at Ray Mill. But something about Charles and Kate’s medical issues has given Camilla a spring in her step. She’s always happiest when she’s playing some kind of angle and screwing over one of her enemies. Something to keep in mind.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images.

It’s been more than a week since the Oscar nominations were announced and we learned that Oscar voters didn’t think Greta Gerwig deserved an Oscar nomination for directing Barbie, nor did the voters think Margot Robbie’s performance as Barbie was worthy of a Best Actress nom. Those same voters absolutely thought America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling were worthy of Oscar noms though, and Barbie is nominated for Best Picture, which means Margot is nominated as a producer. Greta is nominated in adapted screenplay – because her original screenplay was “adapted” from… dolls. Again, the whole thing is still shocking, ridiculous, sexist and asinine. AMPAS continues to look so foolish. Margot didn’t issue any statements about the snubs last week, but she took part in a SAG-AFTRA screening on Tuesday, and she ended up addressing the situation:

“There’s no way to feel sad when you know you’re this blessed,” Margot Robbie said during a panel at a special SAG screening on Tuesday night.

“Obviously I think Greta should be nominated as a director, because what she did is a once-in-a-career, once-in-a-lifetime thing, what she pulled off, it really is,” Robbie said. “But it’s been an incredible year for all the films.”

Barbie is the only billion-dollar film solely directed by a woman, and it outstripped all other films at the box office last year, bringing home $1.4 billion worldwide. As Robbie said, the reaction to the film has become a kind of cultural phenomenon: “I just suspect it’s bigger than us. It’s bigger than this movie, it’s bigger than our industry.”

Robbie also clearly pointed out that she is “beyond ecstatic that we’ve got eight Academy Award nominations, it’s so wild.” Those nominations include Best Picture, Supporting Actress for America Ferrera; Supporting Actor for Ryan Gosling, Costume Design, Production Design and Best Adapted Screenplay for Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. “Everyone getting the nods that they’ve had is just incredible, and the Best Picture nod,” Robbie said.

“We set out to do something that would shift culture, affect culture, just make some sort of impact. And it’s already done that, and some, way more than we ever dreamed it would. And that is truly the biggest reward that could come out of all of this.”

Robbie had the SAG screening audience laughing as she described listening in movie theater bathrooms for audience reactions and then being in a pub in Scotland overhearing a group of men on a bachelor party trip discussing the film. “It was just truly fascinating,” she said. “There were people at the table who refused to see the Barbie movie. One guy was like, ‘Dude, it is a cultural moment, don’t you want to be a part of culture?’ And the other guy was like, ‘I’ll never see it,’ and by the end he did want to see it. It was a whole thing.” Robbie recalled she couldn’t resist approaching the group to say hello. “It took a full minute for them to realize, and I was practically out the door. And then they were like, ‘Ohhhh!’ It was very funny.”

“People’s reactions to the movie have been the biggest reward of this entire experience, whether it’s having a moment like that, or whether it’s listening in the bathrooms, or whether it’s seeing what people are writing online, or even just seeing how much pink I can see in this room right now. I’ve never been a part of something like this. Not like this. I’ve done comic book stuff and that gets a big reaction, but this felt very different. It still feels very different. And I can’t think of a time when a movie’s had this effect on culture. And it’s amazing to be in the eye of the storm.”

[From Deadline]

A completely mature and measured response from a woman who executive produced and starred in a film about how women are diminished, marginalized and dismissed. What else can she say, really? “Those f–king misogynistic douchebags!” Of course not. She’s still got to play the game to some degree. I hate that she has to eat those snubs and she’s still expected to show up with a smile on her face, to be grateful for those eight nominations. If only there was a well-written speech about just that in Barbie!! But I also agree with her that Barbie’s cultural impact is huge, and the film’s impact on the industry is huge. Which makes it all the more egregious that she and Greta were snubbed.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

This week, the British media has been extremely focused on Archewell’s manager stepping down and taking another job. They’re desperately trying to make “the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s business is in trouble” into a thing. Meanwhile, nary a peep about a huge expansion for Clevr Blends, the oat-milk latte company. In late 2020, the Duchess of Sussex invested in the small, California-based company and over the course of three years, Clevr Blends has grown and grown. To the point where Clevr Blends is now in 500 Target brick-and-mortar stores across America AND Target is now carrying the latte blends online. Here’s more about how the deal came together:

After months of tweaking the look and cost of their products, two better-for-you coffee brands are ready for their first major U.S. retail launches. Clevr, which makes instant-drink mixes of plant-based lattes, is bringing four of its most popular flavors (Matcha, Chai, Coffee and Sleeptime) to 500 Target locations across the U.S. this week. Blume, a Canadian brand, is entering 90 Targets in the U.S. this week with four plant-based latte powders (Blue Lavender, Salted Caramel, Matcha Coconut and Reishi Hot Cacao). Both will sell their products — which customers make by mixing in water — on Target.com, as well.

Clevr and Blume are part of the emerging better-for-you coffee movement, which emphasizes vegan, organic drinks as an alternative to sugary, over-caffeinated drinks. So-called “superlattes” are a large part of this market and tend to contain probiotics, inflammatories or adaptogens (herbs, roots and other plant products like mushrooms that help the body respond to stress). Not all contain caffeine, although three of Clevr’s new Target blends do.

Several years ago, products such as these were considered highly-niche and needed to be purchased in health food stores. Now, more major big-box retailers are putting coffee alternatives on shelves. In the U.S., Target is seemingly leading the way, giving the category an extra boost with its newly-announced focus on wellness products.

Clevr, which was founded in 2019, began as a direct-to-consumer brand but now also sells through Amazon and 10 Erewhon supermarkets. Today, some 90% of Clevr’s business comes from DTC, although the brand is now focused on expanding to more retail partners, CEO and co-founder Hannah Mendoza told Modern Retail.

To help with this, Clevr spent the past 12 months making its packaging more straightforward. Clevr’s Target products will be the first to include this updated look, which Clevr will then roll out to all of its products. Whereas previous packaging did not list the ingredients on the front, the new packaging does. It also includes a picture of the finished latte, lists the amount of sugar and explains that the drinks can be made hot or iced. Clevr tested this branding with seven rounds of Target customers, making changes in between.

“It was amazing how much wasn’t clear that we thought it was clear,” Mendoza said. “You can’t assume anything in terms of what people are getting from your product.”

The Target products are different from the rest of Clevr’s new lineup in a key way. Clevr’s versions for Target have a smaller pack size (eight lattes instead of 14) and a cheaper price point ($17.99 instead of $28). Clevr made these changes, Mendoza said, to better fit in with coffee competitors sitting in the $16 to $19 price range in Target’s coffee aisle. “It was really important to us to have something that was sub-$20,” she said. As a result, the new packaging is approximately 6.8 ounces by weight, instead of 12 ounces.

Target approached Clevr about the expansion last January when working to build its wellness portfolio, Mendoza said. Clevr will sit in the coffee aisle at Target, alongside others that include more sugars or preservatives. It’s those brands, not other wellness ones, that Clevr sees as competition.

“What we’re asking people to do is disrupt a centuries-old ritual and routine with coffee… look at our rising stress and anxiety levels as a nation and try something new,” Mendoza said. “It’s a really big task. And so, to have one of the biggest retailers in the nation [Target] behind us and that mission is really helpful.”

[From Modern Retail]

It really is huge for the company! It’s amazing that Target reached out to Clevr Blends one year ago and Clevr redesigned their packaging and developed a smaller bag to fit in with the under-$20 range. That’s so smart, not only for the price point, but people will simply be more willing to try a product if they can get a smaller bag, not knowing if they’ll like it. Meghan’s investment in Clevr is looking smarter and smarter. And what’s even more wild is that Meghan boosted the company’s profile and product’s profile without being online – she’s never done an Instagram post about Clevr (she doesn’t have an IG account) and she’s never really given an interview specifically to support the company.

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Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instagram.

From CB: I bought the Elf sunscreen dupe, Suntouchable. It doubles as a makeup primer and I got the invisible version. It also comes slightly tinted, in three versions that give a light glow. (I have the Supergoop Glow Screen and I don’t like it so I didn’t want to get that dupe.) It is slightly more hydrating than SuperGoop but at under half the price that’s not bad. I will keep using it and will likely replace it. Here are some more things I’m looking at on Amazon! Oh and here’s a link to Valentine’s Day gift ideas. Rosie is on vacation this week!

A grout pen to make your tile look like new

From CB: I have some spring cleaning projects I’m planning, including refreshing my bathroom tile. This grout pen from Rainbow Chalk is just $9 for the narrow version or $12 for a wide tip. (Reviewers overwhelmingly prefer the smaller tip so I would start with that one.) This is eco-friendly, water based and low odor. I also think it’s renter-friendly. You just reline your tile grout to quickly restore it to white. It also comes in a beige version. This listing has over 37,000 ratings, 4 stars and an A on Fakespot. People say these pens are easy to use, that they’re easy to correct if you draw outside the line and that they make a huge difference right away. “The grout in the home we purchased wasn’t sealed properly, if at all. I scrubbed, steamed, and bleached it and nothing was working. I applied two coats of these pens and a shower grout sealer, and this shower looks good as new!” “This basically allows you to paint your grout. I had retiled my bathroom,using white grout, but the tiler “forgot” to seal the grout. As a result, the white grout turned orange in less than 6 months. No amount of grout cleaner worked. After buying this baby, I cleaned the floor very well, then basically painted over the grout. I applied the paint a couple of times just to make sure I had full coverage (especially given the fact that my grout is white), let it dry, then sealed the whole thing. My floor looks brand new.“

A set of pasta bowls you’ll want to use for every meal

From CB: Years ago I bought a set of plastic pasta bowls that aren’t dishwasher or microwave safe and I still use them about four times a week. I would love to get a pretty set like this that you can put in the dishwasher. This set of four six colorful pasta bowls comes in color gradients of blue, multicolor and neutral. They’re so nice you can serve them at a dinner party yet they’re durable and affordable enough to use every day. These have 477 ratings, 4.9 stars and the same score on ReviewMeta. People say that they’re pretty, that they hold up over time and that they’re the perfect size for a meal or salad. “We love these bowls! They are very pretty and feel very high quality. Love that they are microwavable, dishwasher and refrigerator safe, and stackable for easy storage. Every time we cook for someone they comment on how nice these bowls are!” “These plate bowls are perfect. They are the perfect size, not too big that your meal is lost inside it, and not so small where you can’t have a big meal. The colors are great and fun.”

A leave in conditioner that will transform your hair

From CB: Daily Provision conditioner by trusted brand Kenra is more affordable than other salon brands but is said to work just as well. This leave in conditioner detangles and conditions all hair types to leave hair soft and easy to comb without weighing it down. This listing has almost 7,000 ratings, 4.4 stars and a B on Fakespot. People say it has a nice smell that isn’t too perfumey and that it leaves their hair silky and tangle free. “Couldn’t live without it – seriously. My hair is baby, baby fine, and thin. When it’s wet, it is impossibly tangled, and there’s no way to run even a shower comb through it. This does the job, makes it smooth, and does not weigh it down at all.” “I love it. I have curly hair that tends to frizz and this really helps. I’ve tried several other products and this is the best for me.”

An affordable blush palette to experiment with your looks

From CB: I typically use one shade of blush and stick with it because I’m not that experimental. This blush palette by e.l.f. has four pretty shades in both shimmer and matte finishes and is just $7! This listing has 4,400 ratings, 4.5 stars and the same score on ReviewMeta. Reviewers say that it goes on smoothly, lasts all day and that the colors are nice. “Great weight blush, combo of matte looking and shimmery colors to mix and match! Perfect selection! I am very fair and combine my blush with a bronzing kit!” “The colour payoff is so good and versatile. I can use all of them depending on the mood and they are all flattering. Would recommend.”

A cozy fleece robe you’ll want to wear all day

From CB: I have a decent robe but I’d like a plusher version. This bestselling fleece robe by Pavilia comes in 13 colors and in three sizes up to 3x, all priced under $34. It has over 8,000 ratings, 4.6 stars and a B on Fakespot. Reviewers say that it’s warm, comfortable and lightweight and that it does not shed when you wash it. “This robe is incredibly soft and I wear it every day in the morning. Long enough to feel like you’re wrapped in a blanket but not too long where you’re tripping on it.” “I bought this robe for my daughter for Christmas and she loved it! The whole time she was home for the holidays she put this on every evening and just couldn’t thank me enough for how warm and comfortable and soft it was. She did not have room in her suitcase for everything to take back with her, but she made room for this robe!” “I absolutely love this bathrobe! It’s super soft, wraps around me comfortably, and is super warm. Definitely go for this one if you want to feel like you’re wearing a soft blanket!”

A foldable laundry hamper that’s nice enough to leave out

From CB: My old plastic hamper is falling apart. This canvas foldable hamper comes in three colors and sizes, all with a removable mesh insert. The hampers range in price from $33 to $42 dollars. This listing has 4.3 stars, over 3,800 reviews and a B on Fakespot. People say that these hampers hold a lot, that they’re easy to put together and that they’re convenient. “Love the hamper. It was easy to assemble and setup. I especially love the mesh bag inside that can be removed to take care of dirty laundry.” “Moved into a new apartment a few months ago and my GF and I were sick with how quickly our original hamper would fill up. Researched many hampers and found this one to be the perfect fit. Love that there is a lid and it holds at least 3 loads of laundry worth. Recommend!”

A satin midi skirt you can dress up or down

From CB: Duchess Meghan wore a gorgeous long skirt to the One Love premiere in Jamaica. It was a little too voluminous for my style but it got me thinking about long skirts for spring. These satin midi skirts come in sizes small to x-large and in 20 different colors, all under $35. The listing has 313 ratings, 4.3 stars and an A on Fakespot. Reviewers say these skirts are flattering, comfortable and that they get compliments when they wear them. You do need to steam or iron them, but they’re said to stay somewhat smooth while wearing. “It was flattering on made [me] feel sexy, flirty and fun without being uncomfortable and overexposed. Wore to my Christmas party and got lots of compliments. Love it.” ” I have a small pouch in my lower stomach area and usually this style of skirts are not flattering. However, the wide band and material falls beautifully. The material is great quality and feels very luxurious. Planning to get more colors.”

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Well, it looks like Kensington Palace is still in damage-control mode following their complete mishandling of the “Kate had abdominal surgery” story. After the first KP statement, announcing that Kate had “planned abdominal surgery,” I kept waiting for someone to come out and at least give a reasonable cover story for what was happening and why everyone was being so squirrelly. Two weeks later, we’re left with more questions than answers. Why was William only seen once at the London Clinic? Why didn’t the Middletons visit the hospital? Why hasn’t William been seen at all since that one photo-op outside the hospital? Did King Charles actually see Kate when he checked into the London Clinic? We still don’t know. The only question which has any kind of reasonable or logical explanation is “why didn’t Kate’s children visit her?” So of course, that’s the question People Mag is tackling.

Kate Middleton thoughtfully chose not to have her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, visit her at the hospital while she recovered from abdominal surgery. While Prince William visited his wife during her 13-day stay at the private London Clinic following the surgery on Jan. 16, their three children didn’t make the trip to see their mom.

“I don’t think she wanted to make more of a big thing of it than it already was. They’ll be rallying ’round in their own way and helping to look after her,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward exclusively tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. Instead, Kate stayed connected to her children via FaceTime, which she and William regularly do when they are away from the children on royal tours.

Children are generally not allowed to visit the London Clinic without permission from the hospital for the safety of the patients and to keep infections at bay. A patient who had abdominal surgery at the London Clinic last summer told PEOPLE he felt regret around having his son visit him as he found the experience “really scary.”

Upon quietly returning to Adelaide Cottage, the family’s private residence near Windsor Castle after being discharged from the hospital on Monday, Princess Kate reunited with her three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.

“I’m sure she’s utterly exhausted, but she’ll recover well,” Seward says of the Princess of Wales, 42.

[From People]

As I said, this is the one question with a reasonable explanation – the kids didn’t visit because they’re too young, because of hospital regulations, because they are in school, because whatever Kate was going through, it wasn’t serious enough that the kids’ schedule should be interrupted. Take your pick. But this still glosses over all of the other questions. Anyway, I hope the kids are okay and that they get to spend some time with Kate as she recuperates. I hope all of this isn’t falling on Nanny Maria as well.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Kensington Palace.

I totally forgot that Kim Kardashian used to be – and still is – obsessed with Elizabeth Taylor. I mean, same – Elizabeth Taylor was an amazing woman who lived a huge life full of drama, marriages, affairs, Oscars, diamonds, perfume, activism and more. Kim wishes! Kim actually got to meet Elizabeth Taylor in 2011 when she was sent to Taylor’s home to interview her. That was actually Elizabeth Taylor’s final interview. In any case, Kim is now executive producing a BBC docuseries on the life and times of Liz Taylor. Kim will appear in it too.

BBC Arts has commissioned Academy Award-winning production firm Passion Pictures (Searching for Sugar Man, Wham!) to make a three-part documentary series on Elizabeth Taylor, executive produced by and featuring Kim Kardashian. The BBC unveiled the project with the working title Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar on Monday, noting that Taylor is “one of Hollywood’s most famous names.”

Executive produced by Kari Lia, Hamish Fergusson and Kardashian, the series promises to feature “privileged access to those who knew her best, including members of Elizabeth Taylor’s family, friends, and colleagues from throughout her stellar career.” And it vows to shine the spotlight on “a superstar who transformed not just Hollywood but fame itself, as she went from child star to highest-paid actress in the world.”

A show description also highlights: “For too long the story of Elizabeth Taylor has been told as a soap opera. The eight marriages, the diamonds, the addictions. This series gives Elizabeth Taylor the significance she richly deserves, in all her incarnations: as an actor, rebel, business mogul, and activist — to reveal how Taylor created the blueprint for modern celebrity.”

The series will take a deep dive into the legendary star’s craft and technique as an actor and “how she reinvented the nature of fame, even as she smashed the glass ceiling in Hollywood, before going on to become a billion-dollar businesswoman, activist and advocate.”

The series promises to “draw on never-before-heard audio tapes, interviews, and unseen TV footage, alongside rich archive of her movies.” It will also feature interviews with a range of stars who knew Taylor personally, including Kardashian, “who conducted the last interview with her before she died, Dame Joan Collins, a friend and Hollywood contemporary who competed with Elizabeth for the role of Cleopatra, Margaret O’Brien, who went to school with her on the MGM backlot, close friend Carole Bayer Sager, leading scientist Dr. Anthony Fauci who worked alongside Elizabeth in the fight against AIDS, and others.”

Said Kardashian: “Elizabeth Taylor was unapologetically herself, a fighter. She is proof that you can keep evolving and changing and have different chapters in your life — and she paved the way for all of us who came after her with that blueprint.”

[From THR]

I wonder if they’ll interview Colin Farrell, who was a dear friend to Elizabeth in her final years – she absolutely adored him and said that she saw a lot of Richard Burton in him. As for the docuseries… I know I should yell about this and I guess we should be disgusted at Kim or something… but I don’t hate it? The summary is correct – Elizabeth Taylor did it first, she broke through so many glass ceilings, she was a huge AIDS activist, she used her fame to create wildly popular side-gigs like her perfume lines, and she did love to get married. I actually hope Kim helps introduce Generation TikTok to Elizabeth Taylor because they will be gagged.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, STARSTOCK/Photoshot / Avalon, Photoshot/Avalon, WENN/Avalon, Band Photo / uppa.co.uk / Avalon.

Experts are recommending that you reduce coffee consumption for one week each month, so that receptors in the brain can recalibrate. The experts cite studies that show the body needs a minimum of seven days where intake is reduced (it doesn’t have to be complete abstention) to reset caffeine tolerance. So, one week out of the month where I’m likely to be extra irritable, edgy, unhinged, and headache-prone. Pray tell, what would that be like? And speaking of getting your period, would it be better to overlap that with a week of being coffee-lite (intense but condensed), or to keep these weeks separated? But I’m getting ahead of myself. Here’s what the experts say:

Percolating perks: Coffee can reduce your risk of cancer up to 20 percent, your risk of type 2 diabetes by 30 percent, and your risk of Parkinson’s disease by 30 percent. A study published in Circulation found that coffee can reduce the risk of stroke by 20 percent. A study of over 260,000 people conducted by the NIH found that people who drank four or more cups of coffee a day were nearly 10 percent less likely to become depressed than those who drank none. Coffee can also make you smarter. While research has found little to no effect from ingesting caffeine prior to creating new memories, one study determined ingesting caffeine after a learning task improved memory recall up to 24 hours later. Drinking a little coffee to kick-start your day? Makes sense. So does drinking a little coffee later in the day to better retain what you’ve learned during the day.

A little chemistry: Caffeine blocks adenosine — a nucleoside that modulates physiological processes — from binding to receptors in your brain. When adenosine can’t bind, you feel (or keep feeling) alert and awake. That’s one reason why drinking a lot of coffee makes you feel really awake. Yet not indefinitely. When your body recognizes that adenosine isn’t binding, your body responds by creating more receptors. A 2012 study found that within three days of consistent caffeine ingestion, the number of adenosine, nicotinic, and muscarinic (a chemical that modulates neuronal excitability) receptors is significantly increased.

More receptors, more problems: That’s why you need an extra cup of coffee to kick-start your day. That’s why you need a couple of cups after lunch. In simple terms, your body builds up its tolerance, and the effect diminishes. And that’s why the inevitable caffeine crash — and headache — is so dramatic and even painful; more receptors means your body is even hungrier for caffeine. As with most things, your constantly caffeinated state becomes your new normal. A 2019 study found that participants in a 20-day study increased their peak cycling power (a proxy for feeling alert and energetic) for the first 15 days of ingesting caffeine. The biggest boost came on the first day. After that, adenosine receptors started sprouting like wildflowers. Then the effect steadily diminished, until it reached pre-study levels.

Time for a coffee break: So while coffee will still provide a number of health benefits … the energy and memory boost provided is basically gone. Unless you periodically hit the reset button. The same study found changes in adenosine receptor levels typically reverse after a 7-day caffeine break. Taking a week off reduces your tolerance and increases the boost you will feel when you start drinking coffee again.

It takes a full week to be effective: Keep in mind you don’t have to go cold turkey. While some people take the first week of every month off, others use the week to strategically reduce their intake. Instead of two cups of coffee in the morning, just one. Instead of two cups in the afternoon, just one. The key is to reduce your intake for seven days to allow your adenosine receptor levels to reverse. How great of a reduction you seek depends on how willing you are to cut your consumption. Just make sure you follow that approach for a whole week; one or two days will make relatively little impact on adenosine receptor levels, and therefore on the benefits when you resume your normal coffee routine.

[From Inc.]

By the end of last year I actually had reduced my overall coffee drinking. The impetus was pocket driven, as I like to pick up an iced coffee (all year round, baby!) particularly on days I have to go into the office. When a medium iced coffee at my local Dunkin’ passed $4, I went into revolt… by paying too much for a small iced coffee but still less than the medium. I showed them! But then I found I was fully satisfied with the smaller amount, anyway. Now my routine has been upended again because Dunkin’ is doing a special of $2 medium iced coffees (for members) through the end of February. And I physically can’t pay more money for less drink, so I’m back up to 24 ounces. I guess in conclusion, I’m on board with what this research suggests, and will work on cutting back once a month — as long as it doesn’t get in the way of a good deal.

True story: my great-grandfather ran a chocolate candy store in the Boston area. One day a man who made donuts approached him and proposed going into business together. My great-grandfather haughtily brushed him off with, “No thank you. Donuts have no class.” That man became Dunkin’ Donuts. And that tale pretty neatly sums up the business savvy of that part of my family. And the fact I regularly give money to the company I could’ve been an heiress to, well that just shows you the trait is being passed down the generations.

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One of the coolest stories in country music in 2023 was that Luke Combs covered Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” and the cover became the biggest country-crossover hits of the year. Luke’s version was everywhere, not just country radio – pop stations played it endlessly, and his cover sparked a renewed interest in Chapman’s music. While there was some drama, Chapman actually made a rare public statement in support of Combs, congratulating him on his success and his cover. Chapman got paid in a big way because of Combs’ cover – she is the sole author of “Fast Car,” which means that she got (easily) $500K in royalties just from Combs’ cover alone. Well, now it looks like Luke Combs managed to do the impossible: he’s getting Tracy Chapman to leave her house and perform on stage with him at the Grammys.

Tracy Chapman, who has not performed in public in years, will return into the spotlight to perform a duet of “Fast Car” with Luke Combs at the Grammys on Sunday night, sources tell Variety.

Combs, who had a massive hit with his cover version of “Fast Car” last year, was already announced as a performer on the show. Chapman’s appearance comes as a significant surprise, as she has only performed for the cameras three times since wrapping up her last tour in 2009, and the singer had thus far resisted the popular demand to take advantage of the resurgence of “Fast Car” as an international phenomenon.

Representatives for the Recording Academy could not be reached for comment.

Combs’ version of “Fast Car” was ranked as the fifth biggest song of the year in the U.S. for 2023 when Variety published its annual Hitmakers list in late November, coming in ahead of smashes like Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero.” It was a multi-format crossover hit for the country superstar, topping Billboard’s Radio Songs chart for four weeks, making it to No. 1 on the adult pop and country formats for two weeks each, and topping out at an impressive No. 6 at Top 40 radio and No. 2 on the Hot 100.

Chapman’s original version came out in 1988 and peaked at No. 6 on the Hot 100, not really a reflection of how massive it was across demographics at the time. It reached the top 5 in the U.K. twice, once in 1988 and then again 23 years later in 2011.

[From Variety]

Ordinarily, I don’t look forward to the Grammys in general, and most Grammy collabs feel awkward and uncomfortable. But this is very cool and I genuinely can’t wait to see Tracy on stage. You know people in the room will be so happy to see her and I hope they honor her properly. From what I’ve seen, Luke always treated Chapman and her song with the utmost respect (he didn’t even change the “checkout girl” lyric) and I hope he knows what a big deal this is! He got Chapman on stage for the first time in fifteen years!!

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I’ve been steadily falling for Jamie Dornan ever since he admitted to kissing a horse, knowing full well he was highly allergic. It’s like some reverse Pepé Le Pew moment where he was smitten with the repellent partner. Then my emotions kicked up a notch when we learned he had to be hospitalized after being bitten by toxic Portuguese caterpillars during a golfing vacation. So while the rest of the world may be hung up on his heartthrob status or (underrated) acting chops, I’m waiting for word of Jamie’s next close encounter with the animal kind.

One aspect Jamie might appreciate about my peculiar focus on him is that I come to the table with no opinion on his role in the Fifty Shades franchise. Christian Grey seems to haunt him, as the part is addressed in basically every interview he gives. For those who need the refresher, the film came out in 2015. Jamie just appeared on the BBC’s Desert Island Discs podcast, and this time he talked about hiding out in the country when the bad movie reviews started pouring in:

During an episode of BBC Radio 4’s “Desert Island Discs” published Sunday, the actor revealed he “hid” as “Fifty Shades of Grey,” the film adaptation of E.L. James’ popular romance novel, was receiving an onslaught of negative reviews in 2015. Critics largely panned the movie, which earned a 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Amid this negativity, Dornan weathered the storm at director Sam Taylor-Johnson’s house.

“We went to Sam Taylor-Johnson and Aaron (Taylor-Johnson), her husband, their place, and they weren’t there,” he said. “They let us have their place in the country, and we sort of hid there for a while and shut ourselves off from the world for a bit.”

Despite the poor reviews, “Fifty Shades of Grey” was a hit at the box office, grossing over $500 million worldwide and leading to two sequels, released in 2017 and 2018. Dornan recalled it was a strange sensation for him to receive so much mockery for a movie that was also wildly successful.

“Then you’re like, ‘Alright, there’s a bit of ridicule here, and I’m now contractually doing two more of them,’” he said with a laugh. “And knowing that there’ll be much more of that damnation to come.”

But Dornan stressed that he doesn’t regret taking on the role of Christian Grey opposite Dakota Johnson, although he bemoaned that the role is still often brought up, even when he’s receiving positive reviews for other projects. “A lot of reviews are like, ‘He’s great, but lest we forget when he wasn’t great here,’” he joked.

Since the “Fifty Shades” trilogy ended, Dornan has gone on to star in numerous acclaimed projects, including Kenneth Branagh’s 2021 romantic drama “Belfast,” which was nominated for seven Academy Awards. He received a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor in 2022. In 2023, Dornan reunited with Branagh on the mystery “A Haunting in Venice,” which received mostly positive reviews.

[From USA Today]

I can’t tell if interviewers simply won’t stop bringing up Fifty Shades, or if it’s Jamie who feels compelled to apologize for it. For the rest of his life, it would seem. But he shouldn’t feel the need to go into witness protection for a film character! He’s said in the past that he’s still “paying penance” for playing Christian Grey, and to still be talking about it nearly 10 years later… Honey, stop punishing yourself! You need all your strength for when you cross paths with a moose who gives you hives! (I’m just spitballing here, surprise me with the next creature confrontation.) But Jamie has been candid lately about his self-doubt, and in another part of this podcast he said “I’m happier with my self-doubt because it always gives you something to try to prove.” Is this a sensible pep talk, or not giving yourself a break?

Side note: when the book Fifty Shades of Grey first came out my aunt warned us against it right away. “Not because of the p0rn. Because of the prose!”

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