Author: Rod Price

Got a Song Stuck in Your Head? This 40-Second “Earworm Eraser” Might Save You

Getting a song stuck in your head is annoying. It can even be maddening. But the internet might have just delivered a fix at exactly the right time.

There is a 40-second audio track floating around online called the Earworm Eraser, and its entire purpose is to help remove songs that are stuck in your head. Not replace them. Not remix them. Just evict them entirely.

The idea behind the Earworm Eraser is pretty simple, and kind of clever. Instead of giving your brain another catchy tune to latch onto, the track constantly shifts tempos, time signatures, and musical styles. Just when your brain starts to settle in, it changes again. And again. The result is something your brain cannot really grab onto long enough to turn into a new earworm.

In other words, it’s musical chaos, but intentional musical chaos.

The Earworm Eraser is available on YouTube, and the comment section reads like a support group for people who accidentally listened to “All I Want for Christmas Is You” one too many times. Plenty of listeners swear it worked almost immediately. Others say it did absolutely nothing for them. So yes, results may vary.

Still, there is something fascinating about how many people are desperate enough to try it. Earworms are a real psychological thing, often triggered by repetition, stress, or even boredom.

The Earworm Eraser is not claiming to be science-backed therapy or a guaranteed cure. It is more of a harmless experiment that takes less than a minute of your life. Worst case scenario, it does nothing and you are still stuck singing the chorus in your head. Best case scenario, sweet mental silence.

Shooter McGavin Has Been Voted the Biggest Pop Culture Jerk of All Time

If pop culture has taught us anything, it’s that we love to argue about fictional people almost as much as real ones. And now we have a brand new reason to fight in the group chat. TheRinger.com did a March Madness-style bracket to determine the biggest pop culture jerk of all time, and the final winner is a name Adam Sandler fans know very well.

Shooter McGavin is officially the biggest pop culture jerk ever.

The smug, trash-talking golf villain from “Happy Gilmore” squeaked out a narrow victory in the championship round, beating Eric Cartman from “South Park” with 54% of the vote. That is a tight finish, especially considering Cartman has spent decades being aggressively awful to just about everyone within shouting distance.

The tournament started with a massive field of 64 fictional jerks pulled from movies, TV shows, and cartoons. We’re talking about a truly stacked lineup of unpleasant personalities. Early competitors included Draco Malfoy, Gollum, Stifler from “American Pie”, Newman from “Seinfeld”, Jerry from “Tom & Jerry”, and Biff Tannen from “Back to the Future”. Right away, it was clear this bracket was not messing around.

The list got even more chaotic when you dug deeper. Phil Connors from “Groundhog Day” made an appearance, along with Larry David playing a version of himself on “Curb Your Enthusiasm”. Squidward from “SpongeBob SquarePants” was there, Veruca Salt from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” showed up, and Jim Halpert from “The Office” was thrown into the mix.

Jim’s inclusion raised a few eyebrows, but if you look at the show through the eyes of Dwight, Roy, or especially Toby, it makes sense. Jim did manage to beat Real Housewife Ramona Singer in the first round, but his run ended when he lost to Biff in the next matchup.

When the dust settled, the Final Four came down to Shooter McGavin, Eric Cartman, Biff Tannen, and Larry David. That is an impressive group of people you would absolutely avoid at a party. In the end, Shooter’s combination of arrogance, constant trash talk, and total lack of self-awareness pushed him over the top.

There is also something deeply funny about Larry David almost winning a tournament for playing a jerk based on himself. If anything, that feels like the kind of result he would appreciate the most.

So congrats to Shooter McGavin, who now holds the most prestigious and completely meaningless title in pop culture history. And if you disagree with the result, do not worry. That just means the bracket did its job.

Were These the 20 Best Movies of 2025?

If you love movie rankings, prestige cinema, or simply arguing with strangers online about which films actually deserve awards, Rolling Stone handed you a fresh piece of ammo.

The magazine released its official list of the 20 best movies of the year, and it’s full of buzzy titles, festival darlings, and at least one film your coworker has been begging you to watch for six months. Movie fans have already started debating the picks, which makes this a perfect moment for anyone googling phrases like best movies 2025, top films of the year, or Rolling Stone list.

Topping the collection is “One Battle After Another”, a film whose title alone feels like a summary of adulthood. Right behind it is “Hamnet”, the Shakespeare-adjacent drama that has been quietly dominating film conversations all season. Also landing in the upper tier are the spy thriller “Black Bag”, the historical drama “Train Dreams”, and the stylish French standout “Nouvelle Vogue”.

What makes Rolling Stone’s list fun is how wide the tonal range is. You get intense dramas like “No Other Choice”, charming indies such as “Sorry, Baby”, and the chaotic delight “Marty Supreme”, which somehow clawed its way into the Top 10. The mid-section includes emotionally charged picks like “Sentimental Value” and the art-house favorite “Peter Hujar’s Day”.

“Eddington” brings the tensions of the pandemic to a violent end, while “Orwell: 2+2=5” offers us a look at the career of “1984” author George Orwell. There are also films with big cultural buzz like “Universal Language”, “Best Wishes for All”, and the intriguingly titled “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl”, which absolutely sounds like something that played to ten-minute standing ovations at Cannes.

The list rounds out with a mix of genre films and heavy hitters: “The Phoenician Scheme”, “Caught by the Tides”, a fresh take on “Frankenstein”, and horror thriller “Weapons”. Even though they sit in the 11 through 20 slots, these movies have all had serious word-of-mouth energy this year.

Lists like this tend to reflect broader trends: more literary adaptations, more international filmmaking in the spotlight, and a whole lot of stories anchored in personal identity and political urgency.

Whether or not your favorites made the cut, Rolling Stone’s lineup shows how varied and experimental modern filmmaking has become. And hey, if you needed a new watchlist, here are 20 solid excuses to ignore your responsibilities for an entire weekend.

My main question is: Where is “Sinners” on this list?

Survey Says: People Are Secretly Over a Lot of Christmas Traditions

The holiday season may look magical on Instagram, but in real life, not every Christmas tradition feels like a warm mug of cocoa. A survey dug into which traditions people are still excited about, which ones they tolerate, and which ones they quietly wish would be banished to the North Pole. It gathered thousands of responses, giving us a surprisingly honest look at how people REALLY feel about holiday rituals. If you need proof that holiday burnout is a thing, well, here it is.

So, what are people still gung-ho about?

Secret Santa surprisingly takes the top spot, with 54% of respondents saying they’re still into it. Maybe it’s the thrill of trying to guess which coworker bought you a mug shaped like a reindeer. Or maybe it’s the $20 limit that keeps things from getting too awkward.

Snow came in at 42%, which makes sense. Snow is beautiful in movies and on postcards, and slightly less delightful when it’s blocking your driveway.

A solid 41% insist that all presents must be opened on Christmas Day, no exceptions. This rule is beloved by traditionalists and feared by anyone who travels between multiple households and ends up opening gifts in the back seat of a car.

Christmas entertainment holds steady. Christmas music, Christmas movies, and Christmas carols all hover in the low 40s and 30s. Apparently there are still plenty of people who will listen to Mariah Carey voluntarily and even leave the house to sing about figgy pudding.

Decorations also make the list, though only 29% are still truly enthusiastic about decking the halls. Hosting Christmas parties isn’t wildly popular either, with 27% saying they’re up for it. That number feels right, considering hosting means cleaning, cooking, and pretending not to notice when someone uses your good hand towels.

Then there’s the spicy category: 26% of respondents say they’re legitimately offended if someone doesn’t like Christmas. Not “bummed,” but offended. Good luck to the polite introverts trying to navigate that one.

Ugly Christmas sweaters still have fans at 25%, tied with baking cookies. Honestly, both traditions have the same vibe: fun, cute, and slightly messy.

Some traditions ranked much lower. Only 21% of people want the tree up before Thanksgiving. And Christmas family photos? Just 14% are really into those, which tracks considering how many of them end in tears, bribery, or matching plaid pajamas no one wanted.

Finally, only 11% of people make their own Christmas cards, which raises the question: Who ARE these people, and what kind of free time do they have?

If nothing else, this survey proves that even the most beloved holiday rituals can get a little . . . complicated. But whether you’re team “let’s do everything” or team “how about we just chill,” at least you can rest easy knowing you’re not the only one feeling that holiday fatigue creeping in.

13 Movies You’d Never Expect to Spark the “Is This a Christmas Movie?” Debate

Every year the Die Hard argument rolls back into town like Mariah Carey defrosting on November 1st. But the Christmas movie gray area is way bigger than one Bruce Willis rooftop showdown.

A whole lineup of beloved films quietly sneak their way into the holiday conversation thanks to snow, twinkly lights, or one random Christmas tree that shows up for five seconds.

So if you’ve ever wondered whether a movie needs jingle bells, Santa, or at least one ugly sweater to qualify as a Christmas movie, here are 13 more films that keep the internet arguing.

First up, the entire Harry Potter franchise. Even though only parts of each movie happen at Christmas, the cozy Hogwarts vibe, the snow-covered grounds, and that first Great Hall holiday feast have permanently connected Harry and the holidays in people’s minds. Movie eight is the only one that skips the festive spirit, but the franchise as a whole still gets honorary holiday status.

Speaking of moody snow, Batman Returns earns its place simply because Gotham decorates like it’s trying to win a neighborhood lights contest. The giant Christmas tree alone seals the deal.

And then there’s Eyes Wide Shut. Despite the steamy storyline, it’s undeniably set during holiday season.

Gremlins is maybe the most obvious Christmas-adjacent pick on this list. It has a Christmas gift, Christmas carols, and tiny troublemakers, so it gets a big “yes.” First Blood is a funnier case, because it technically includes a single Christmas tree in one scene, which some fans treat as a binding legal argument.

Trading Places brings holiday chaos with its tipsy Santa moment, while Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Iron Man 3 both take place in Los Angeles during the Christmas season. Shane Black, the director of both, basically treats Christmas like his favorite film set accessory.

Other classics sneak in through tone. Edward Scissorhands has that dreamy winter fairytale feeling. Lethal Weapon opens with Christmas music. Rocky covers multiple holidays and basically treats the entire winter season like one big emotional montage. And Hook sets its real-world scenes at Christmastime before we head off to Neverland.

And finally, The Nightmare Before Christmas remains the movie most likely to start a fight at family gatherings. Christmas movie? Halloween movie? The only correct answer is: yes.

Happy debating.

Holiday Decorating Injuries Are Way More Common Than You Think

The holiday season is supposed to be full of joy, lights, food, and family. But according to a new survey, it is also prime time for unplanned trips to the emergency room. And no, it is not just from sneaking raw cookie dough out of the bowl.

The survey found that 30% of Americans have been injured during holiday-related activities at some point. Sometimes it was minor, sometimes it was serious enough to require medical attention. Either way, nearly one in three people has a holiday horror story that probably started with, “I thought this would only take a second.”

The most common injuries come from surprisingly everyday moments.

Thirteen percent of people say they have cut themselves while wrapping or opening presents, which means scissors and aggressive gift wrap are a bigger threat than we give them credit for. Eleven percent have slipped or tripped outdoors, likely thanks to icy sidewalks, wet leaves, or rushing to the car with armloads of stuff.

Holiday cooking is another danger zone. Ten percent of people say they were injured in the kitchen, which tracks for anyone who has tried to cook a full holiday meal while multitasking and answering questions. Candles are also a problem, with 6% reporting burns. Another 6% say they tripped over holiday-related objects, which is a polite way of saying décor was everywhere.

Then there are the decorating injuries that feel almost inevitable.

Four percent of people have fallen from a ladder, another 4% were hurt while standing on furniture to hang decorations, and 3% were injured while putting lights or decorations on the roof. Add in the 3% who were injured by “a new toy,” and suddenly the holidays start to sound like an obstacle course.

Alcohol plays a role too. Twelve percent of those who were injured admit they were intoxicated at the time, which may explain at least some of the ladder and furniture decisions.

Fire safety also comes into play when it comes to holiday lights.

Thirty-eight percent of people leave both indoor and outdoor holiday lights on overnight. Another 24% leave only outdoor lights on, while 16% leave indoor lights glowing, like a Christmas tree. Only 22% say they turn everything off before bed, which is the safest option.

That matters because many of us are using older decorations. Twenty-seven percent say their oldest holiday lights are at least five years old, and 13% say they are seven years old or more. Older lights plus overnight power is not a great combo.

The holidays are supposed to be festive, not dangerous. So maybe this year, step off the chair, double-check the ladder, blow out the candles, and turn the lights off before bed. The ER does not need any more holiday decorations.

Underrated Holiday Gifts That People Actually Love (Even Toilet Paper)

If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping yet, you’re running out of time. And if you’re running out of ideas, too, maybe it’s time to think outside of the SACK. Because when gadgets, clothes, and novelty junk are off the table, people online say the real winners are not flashy at all. They are practical gifts that get used, appreciated, and quietly loved long after the wrapping paper is gone.

According to a popular online discussion, some of the most underrated holiday gifts are the ones that make everyday life easier. Not exciting, not glamorous, just genuinely useful. And honestly, that might be the dream.

Extra phone chargers and cable organizers top a lot of lists.

Nobody ever complains about having too many ways to charge their phone, especially when one can live in the car and another at work. Right up there with that are high quality sheets and towels. People may not buy them for themselves, but they absolutely notice when they suddenly have nicer ones.

Food also makes a strong showing. One popular idea is a reusable tote filled with non-perishable comfort items like soup, crackers, and cookies. It feels thoughtful without being complicated, and it is guaranteed to get used. The same goes for premium subscriptions. Spotify, HBO Max, or any streaming service someone already uses is basically a gift that keeps showing up every month.

Restaurant gift cards are another fan favorite, especially when they support local, non-chain spots. People specifically called out skipping places like Chili’s or Outback and going for neighborhood restaurants instead. Grocery and gas gift cards also got a lot of love. They used to feel impersonal. Now they feel like free money at exactly the right time.

Comfort items came up again and again. Cozy pajamas, quality coffee, socks, and yes, even underwear all made the list. Context matters with that last one, obviously. Coworkers might want to stick with socks.

Some of the most memorable gifts were downright practical.

One person said their grandparents paid their gas bill for Christmas. Another remembered getting random toiletries like deodorant, toothpaste, and Q-Tips from their grandma and realizing later how clutch that actually was.

And then there is the gift that started the whole conversation, toilet paper. In one case, someone received a 124-pack during a white elephant exchange. Everyone laughed, but the winner said it was hands down the best gift they got that year.

Other honorable mentions included a one-time car detailing, landscaping services, a bidet, and anything that saves time or money. The takeaway is pretty clear. When someone already has everything, giving them something useful might be the most thoughtful move of all.

The Most Christmas-y Christmas Movies of All Time

Everyone has that one holiday movie they’ll defend with the passion of a thousand jingle bells.

But instead of arguing over hot cocoa again this year, we finally have something resembling science to settle the debate. A new study took 20 popular holiday films and ran them through 20 different data points to determine the ultimate Christmas movie of all time. Yes, it is possible to quantify festive spirit, and yes, someone actually did it.

Researchers broke their ranking into four main categories. They counted Christmas references in each movie, including things like Christmas outfits, holiday songs, uses of the word “Christmas,” and any direct Santa sightings. Then they compared that with the film’s box office success, critic and audience reviews, and how much festive buzz each movie still generates across social media and search trends every December.

And according to the data, the most Christmas-y Christmas movie of all time is the original Home Alone.

Surprised? While it scored lower than you’d expect in sheer Christmas references, the movie crushed the competition in box office performance and long-term holiday hype. Even with just five shots of Christmas outfits, 11 Christmas songs, 13 uses of the word “Christmas,” and a single Santa cameo, Kevin McCallister still reigns supreme.

Here is the top ten, in case you need to update your holiday watchlist:

  1. Home Alone (1990)
  2. Elf (2003)
  3. Love Actually (2003)
  4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000, Jim Carrey version)
  5. The Santa Clause (1994)
  6. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
  7. Arthur Christmas (2011)
  8. Gremlins (1984)
  9. The Polar Express (2004)
  10. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

For the people who insist Die Hard is a Christmas movie and will absolutely not let that argument die, good news and bad news. It did make the list, but it landed just outside the top ten at number eleven. It was followed by Home Alone 2 and Scrooged.

So whether your holiday vibe is cozy, chaotic, romantic, spooky, or aggressively pro-Bruce Willis, now you can cite actual data when declaring your favorite Christmas movie the rightful king of the season. Merry science to all, and to all a good movie night.

It’s Science: Cold Weather Makes Us Drink More

If you’ve ever found yourself reaching for a drink the second the temperature drops, congratulations, science is on your side.

A study from the University of Pittsburgh has confirmed something that feels obvious to anyone who has survived a long winter; colder weather really does make people drink more alcohol.

Researchers looked at weather patterns across cities and compared them to average alcohol consumption. What they found was a clear, direct connection between cold temperatures and higher alcohol intake. In other words, when it’s freezing outside, people are more likely to pour themselves another one.

The explanation is actually pretty simple.

Alcohol increases blood flow to the skin, which creates a warming sensation. It does not actually raise your core body temperature, but it tricks your body into feeling warmer. That cozy buzz might be why a cold night suddenly feels like the perfect excuse for a drink, whether it’s a beer, a glass of wine, or something stronger.

This helps explain why cold-weather traditions often revolve around alcohol. Think about it. Après-ski drinks, hot toddies, mulled wine, whiskey by the fire, and even tailgating in freezing stadiums all lean heavily on booze. When winter drags on, alcohol becomes part comfort, part social glue, and part survival tactic, at least mentally.

But the study also came with an important warning label.

Researchers found that people living in colder climates were more likely to develop liver disease, which is strongly linked to long-term alcohol use. That means the seasonal urge to drink can turn into a real health issue if it becomes a habit instead of an occasional indulgence.

It is a reminder that while alcohol may feel warming in the moment, it comes with consequences. The short-term comfort can easily mask long-term damage, especially in places where cold weather sticks around for months at a time. Winter blues, limited daylight, and cabin fever can all pile on, making it even easier to drink more without noticing.

None of this means you need to swear off winter drinks entirely. It just means being a little more aware of why you are reaching for them.

If it’s cold, dark, and miserable outside, that urge might be less about celebration and more about coping.

So yes, science has officially confirmed what your instincts already told you. Cold weather makes us want to drink. Just remember that staying warm and staying healthy do not always mean the same thing, even if winter tries to convince you otherwise.

Avoid a Christmas Catastrophe: Don’t Listen to “Frosty the Snowman” and Drive!

They call it The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, but Christmas can also be the most DEADLY.

From falling off ladders while hanging Christmas lights, to drinking bad eggnog, to . . . listening to “Frosty the Snowman” in the car. Wait . . . what???

According to a study from Insuranceopedia, songs with over 120 beats per minute can lead to dangerous driving habits. And “Frosty” is one of the most dangerous holiday songs of them all, at 172 bpm.

Here are the Top 10 Christmas hits that can lead to vehicular disaster:

1.  “Frosty the Snowman”,  Gene Autry:  172 beats per minute (BPM)

2.  “All I Want for Christmas Is You”,  Mariah Carey:  150 BPM

3.  “Feliz Navidad”,  José Feliciano:  149 BPM

4.  “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”,  The Jackson 5:  147 BPM

5.  “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”,  John Lennon, Yoko Ono , and The Plastic Ono Band:  146 BPM

6.  “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”,  Frank Sinatra:  143 BPM

7.  “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”:  142 BPM

8.  “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday”,  Wizzard:  140 BPM

9.  “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”,  Judy Garland:  137 BPM

10.  “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”,  The Jackson 5:  129 BPM

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