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The Most Dangerous Day of the Year for Your Phone Is July 4th

Sure, the Fourth of July is rough on your fingers (thanks, fireworks), but it turns out the real casualty might be your phone. And no, we’re not being dramatic… just statistically accurate.

A phone repair company looked at their data and found that July 4th is the single worst day of the year for phone accidents. That means more cracked screens, more soggy devices, and a whole lot of panicked “Find My iPhone” searches. In fact, phone mishaps spike 52% higher on the Fourth than an average day. (Memorial Day and Labor Day are next, but they don’t quite have that same chaotic energy.)

The bigger problem? Summer in general is like a war zone for smartphones.

Water damage cases jump more than 80%
Cracked screens rise 18%
Lost phones soar 66%

(So yes, your phone absolutely dreads summer break.)

If you’d prefer to end the weekend with both your dignity and your device intact, here are a few solid survival tips:

1. Don’t trust that “waterproof” hype. Yes, you heard about someone who fished their phone out of a lake after two months and it still worked. That’s the phone equivalent of a miracle. Yours is more likely to drown in a hot tub full of margarita mix. Bonus fun fact: saltwater and chlorine are even worse for electronics.

2. Put your info on your lock screen. Take a screenshot of your contact details and set it as your wallpaper. It triples your chances of getting your phone back if it goes missing.

3. Fix that cracked screen already. A busted screen makes your phone extra vulnerable to water damage. Even humidity can sneak in through the cracks and cause problems. (Yes, your phone is apparently as high-maintenance as your ex.)

10 Things That Happened 10 Years Ago: June 29-July 5

Joey Chestnut loses, Ben Affleck gets divorced, and Donald Trump hears, “You’re fired.” Here are 10 things that happened 10 years ago this week.

Joey Chestnut lost the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

It was the first time in nearly a decade that he didn’t win. Competitive eater Matt Stonie ate 62, while Chestnut only managed 60. It’s the only time Chestnut lost between 2007 and 2023. He won eight straight, lost to Stonie in 2015, then won another eight in a row before sitting out in 2024 due to a sponsorship issue.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced their divorce.

“After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce.” The announcement came one day after their 10th anniversary. He eventually got back together with former flame Jennifer Lopez, and married her in 2022. They split up two years later.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis secretly got married.

They tied the knot on July 4th, 2015, 17 years after first meeting as cast members on “That ’70s Show”.

Donald Trump heard “you’re fired” over and over again.

NBC, Macy’s, NASCAR, and others dumped Trump after he launched his presidential campaign and made disparaging remarks about Mexicans: “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

Diddy fell in a hole at the BET Awards.

He was performing with Lil Kim, Mace, Faith Evans, and others while celebrating the 20th anniversary of Bad Boy Records.

Rihanna did something no other artist had done.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced she was the first artist to rack up more than 100 million gold & platinum song certifications.

“The Tonight Show” was on hiatus after Jimmy Fallon almost lost a finger.

His wedding ring partially ripped his finger off when he tripped on a rug and grabbed a countertop to catch himself. He suffered a “ring avulsion” and was in the ICU for 10 days. They had to take a vein out of his foot and rebuild the digit. “The Tonight Show” resumed taping two weeks later in mid-July.

“Crypto” was giving people diarrhea.

A disease called cryptosporidium – or “crypto” for short – was infecting pools and hot tubs and making people ill. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies wouldn’t take off in a big way for another few years.

People were wondering if “South Park” would make it to 20.

In the lead up to Season 19, co-creator Matt Stone calmed fans’ nerves by saying, “We won’t stop until we get canceled. We’re renewing. They have to f*cking cancel us, goddammit!” Season 27 of the show (which premiered in 1997) is set to start July 9th, 2025.

The trailer for “Creed” was released.

Fans of the “Rocky” franchise were wondering if the spinoff – starring Michael B. Jordan as Apollo Creed’s illegitimate son – would even work. It ended up grossing $174 million at the box office, leading to “Creed II” in 2018 ($214 million), and “Creed III” in 2023 ($276 million).

The Surprising Psychology Behind “Just Keep It” Returns

Ever had Amazon tell you, “Just keep it,” when you tried to return something? That tiny thrill might be more than just a lucky break. It can also be the ultimate marketing move.

It creates brand loyalty.

A lot of the big-name retailers have adopted the “just keep it” return policy for certain low-cost items over the past few years, largely because the return shipping costs more than the item itself.

Now, a study from the University of Notre Dame found that letting customers keep those unwanted or defective items – known as “returnless returns” – actually makes them more loyal in the long run.

It fosters “brand warmth.”

Researchers found that those “keep it” returns trigger something called “brand warmth.” Basically, we start to think of the company as more generous, friendly, and trustworthy. That warm and fuzzy feeling sticks, and it can turn a one-time buyer into a lifelong customer.

The effect gets even better when the company frames it as the most eco-friendly option, or suggests you keep it and give it to someone else. That little nudge can make us feel like we’re part of something bigger, and keeps the brand in our good graces.

But there’s one thing that can ruin it.

Even when the product is defective, the goodwill isn’t completely lost – unless the company demands proof. Making a customer jump through hoops to prove something doesn’t work is where the good vibes go to die.

“One Mississippi, Two Mississippi”: In Other Countries

If you’re having a low-stakes kind of day, this might be the most delightfully useless but hilarious thing you’ll see: someone on Reddit asked non-Americans what their version of “One Mississippi, Two Mississippi” is… and the responses did not disappoint.

These playful phrases, often used by kids to count seconds during games like hide-and-seek, vary wildly depending on where you’re from. But the creativity? Universal. Let’s take a scenic world tour of weird and wonderful second-counting traditions.

In Denmark, they apparently count beers: “One case of beer, two cases of beer…” Not exactly playground material, but A+ for local flair.

Scotland goes full safari with “One elephant, two elephant,” while up in Canada, it’s a toss-up between “One hippopotamus” and “One steamboat.”

In Brazil, kids say “Um indiozinho, dois indiozinhos,” which translates to “One little Indigenous kid, two little Indigenous kids.” India opts for “Tick tick one, tick tick two,” which sounds like it could double as a suspense-building sound effect. Meanwhile, China gets rhythmic with, “1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4…” and repeats up to ten before looping back.

Aussies might say, “One cat and dog, two cat and dog,” although one local insisted they’ve never heard that in their life… so it may just be folklore at this point. Mexicans take a minimalist approach with a calm, deliberate “Uno… dos… tres…”

One resident of Mississippi admitted that growing up there, they thought everyone just used the name of their own state. So “One North Carolina, Two North Carolina”?

And finally, a shout-out to the South African who used “One Mississippi” . . . without even knowing what or where “Mississippi” was.

So no, it won’t solve any of the world’s problems. But it might make your next round of hide-and-seek a little more international.

An Oddly Specific List of the Best 10th Albums

Rolling Stone just dropped what might be the most oddly specific music list ever: The 50 Best 10th Albums of All Time. Not debut albums. Not greatest hits. Specifically, the tenth full-length album in an artist’s discography. And somehow, it kind of works?

Here’s the top 10 from their wildly niche but weirdly compelling countdown:

“Exile on Main Street” – The Rolling Stones (1972)
“Wildflowers” – Tom Petty (1994)
“The White Album” – The Beatles (1968)
“Station to Station” – David Bowie (1976)
“Rust Never Sleeps” – Neil Young (1979)
“I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You” – Aretha Franklin (1967)
“A Portrait of Merle Haggard” – Merle Haggard (1969)
“One Nation Under a Groove” – Funkadelic (1978)
“Animals” – Pink Floyd (1977)
“Fleetwood Mac” – Fleetwood Mac (1975)

Yep, The White Album is technically The Beatles’ 10th, and Exile on Main Street leads the pack with its gritty, chaotic brilliance. Meanwhile, Tom Petty’s Wildflowers might be the most emotionally gut-punching album on the list — and possibly the most slept-on 10th album of all time until now.

It’s a surprisingly strong lineup when you think about it. By the time artists hit their 10th record, they’ve usually either fallen off completely or hit a stride so confident they’re making magic on autopilot. This list leans heavily on the latter.

So, what’s the best eleventh album of all time? Don’t give them ideas. Actually, do — this was kinda fun.

Normal Amount of Clumsy? Average Adult Racks Up 35 Injuries a Year

Think you’re more accident-prone than your friends? You might be totally average.

A new poll commissioned by bandage brand Curad has revealed that the typical adult suffers 35 minor injuries – like cuts, bruises, and scrapes – every year.

That’s almost three a month. So, if you haven’t stubbed a toe or cut yourself slicing into an avocado lately, you’re overdue.

Lifetime total: 4,000

Curad’s study also took a look at the lifetime total. Over the course of your life, the average person will tally up about 4,000 little injuries. So yes, it’s entirely normal to have a few mystery bruises at any given time.

4,000 would be 50 a year if you make it to 80 years old, much higher than the average of 35 for adults. But remember, not all age groups have the same injury risks. Anyone who’s raised a five-year-old knows they average way more than three boo-boos a month.

Think back to when you were a kid and all those times you bumped your head, got stung by bees, twisted an ankle, or skinned a knee. Those cuts and scrapes from your prepubescent years really add up.

The most common causes?

Unsurprisingly, the top culprits for adults are distraction, clumsiness, and kitchen mishaps – a trio responsible for most of our everyday injuries. Yeah, we’re basically walking slapstick routines.

And speaking of distraction, technology is making it even worse. A whopping 80% of people say they’ve had a near-miss accident while using their phone. One in three admit to close calls while walking and texting, and nearly one in five have gotten into trouble just from scrolling social media.

So if you’ve ever walked into a pole while checking Instagram, you’re not alone.

We’re oddly proud of our injuries.

There’s also a surprising amount of social pressure tied to injuries. One in four people say they feel judged when they wear a band-aid, and are worried others will think they’re weak. But not everyone feels that way.

A solid number of Americans are into the attention and can’t wait to brag about it. One in eight people want you to ask what happened, because every injury has a story.

The TL;DR? It’s a dangerous world out there. Life’s hard, and no one gets through it unscathed. (Especially if you’re walking around staring at your phone.)

So You Wanna Be on “AGT”? Get Ready to Be Roasted on National TV

If you’ve ever dreamed of auditioning for “America’s Got Talent”, get ready to leave your ego at the door – and maybe pack some thick skin while you’re at it.

Now in its 20th season, the hit reality show isn’t just about talent and standing ovations. According to “People”, the contestant contract includes a clause stating that your appearance may be, quote, “disparaging, defamatory, embarrassing, or of an otherwise unfavorable nature.” Translation? The show has full permission to roast you on national TV.

That might sound harsh, but it’s standard fare in the world of reality competitions. It’s likely why reality show “villains” don’t usually run off to sue for hurt feelings. Public ridicule is part of the package, and if you’re not cool with being edited into a meme, you probably shouldn’t sign on the dotted line.

But that’s not the only fine print hopefuls should know. Here are a few other behind-the-scenes rules contestants agree to:

You’re not the boss of your song choices. Even the most gifted singers collaborate with producers to select tracks that suit their voice and meet licensing requirements.
Wardrobe is a team effort. Once you’re on the live shows, producers help choose your performance outfits . . . goodbye, lucky sweater.
Props and pets need a green light. Any stunts involving animals or stage tricks have to be approved ahead of time for safety reasons.
It all starts with a 90-second audition. Every act, no matter how polished they look on TV, first goes through an open call audition that’s over in less time than it takes to microwave popcorn.
You’re not getting rich (yet). Contestants don’t get paid to appear, but the show does cover living expenses, so at least there’s that.

Whether you’re a magician, singer, or a guy who juggles flaming lawn chairs while riding a unicycle (there’s always one), just know this: AGT wants you to shine—but it’s not afraid to let you flop either. All in the name of great TV.

Scarlett Johansson Thinks Colin Jost Would Do Better Than Michael Che in a Dinosaur Attack

Scarlett Johansson is gearing up to face off against dinosaurs in Jurassic World Rebirth, but before she hits the big screen, Jimmy Fallon hit her with a different kind of survival test: Which of her past co-stars could actually make it through a real-life dino attack?

During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show, Fallon put Johansson through a celebrity survival bracket, asking her to pick between pairs of actors based on who she thinks could outlast a Jurassic-style catastrophe. The results were both hilarious and surprisingly well thought out.

Here’s how it went down:

Chris Hemsworth vs. Chris Evans: Scarlett picked Hemsworth. Why? “He’s Australian,” she said, adding that he’s probably toughened up from living among “a lot of scary venomous snakes.” Fair point.
Bill Murray vs. Adam Driver: She went with Driver, and not just because he played Kylo Ren. “He was a Marine,” Johansson reminded Fallon. End of discussion.
Florence Pugh vs. Brie Larson: Brie got the edge here. Scarlett cited Larson’s hardcore fitness, saying, “I’ve watched her push a tire up a hill as part of her training. I’ve watched Florence make a great bruschetta.” Both impressive skills—just not equally useful during a raptor chase.
Sofia Coppola vs. Wes Anderson: Johansson gave the survival nod to Sofia. “Maybe she’s had some interactions with big, honcho type of people,” she said. “She comes from that type of family.” Which… might help in dealing with a T-Rex? Unclear.
Michael Che vs. Colin Jost (her husband): This one got personal. Johansson picked Jost, not just for love, but because he’s from Staten Island. “He’s a tough guy,” she insisted. Staten Island: Nature’s boot camp.

Jurassic World Rebirth stomps into theaters next Wednesday, and while Scarlett’s co-stars might not be in it, they’ve now been unofficially ranked by prehistoric survivability. Start placing your bets now.

Steve from “Blue’s Clues” Is Launching a Podcast for Grown-Ups

Ready to feel all the nostalgic feels? Steve Burns – the original, green-striped-shirt-wearing host of “Blue’s Clues” – is officially stepping into the podcast world. But this time, he’s not talking to Salt, Pepper, or Mailbox. He’s talking to you.

Steve’s new podcast is called “Alive“, and it’s aimed at the generation who grew up with him and might now be quietly spiraling into adulthood.

Each weekly episode will explore what it means to “stay human in a complicated world.” Think: self-reflection, curiosity, and probably fewer cartoon chairs with faces.

Burns says the inspiration came from his viral 2021 video marking the 25th anniversary of “Blue’s Clues”, where he popped back into our lives to say he never forgot us … and yes, we cried.

In describing “Alive”, Steve said, “There are a thousand podcasts you can listen to, this is one that listens back.”

He wants to pick up right where he left off decades ago, but with grown-up themes like connection, curiosity, and asking deeper questions.

In other words, this is still a show about following clues, just not the crayon-drawn kind.And in case you’re worried that this is going to be all introspection and no fun, Steve promises there will still be a little lightness sprinkled in. “There will be LESS talking furniture,” he said, “but there will still be some fun along the way.”

The show is expected to drop this fall, and judging by the buzz around it already, “Alive” might just be the cozy, thoughtful podcast hug our collective inner child needs.

So, whether you’re solving existential mysteries or just need a reminder that someone still believes in you, Steve is back.

Feeling the Heat? Grab a Glass of Milk

If you’re currently melting in the nationwide heat wave and reaching for another bottle of water, you might want to reconsider.

A doctor in the U.K. is making waves online for suggesting that milk—good old-fashioned cow juice—is actually a better hydrator than water when the temperature climbs. That’s right, your childhood beverage of choice might just be your best defense against dehydration.

So what makes milk so magical in the heat? First off, it’s about 87% water. But what gives it an edge is everything else in it.

The sugar, protein, and fat slow down digestion, which means your body holds onto the fluids longer. Translation: you stay hydrated longer without constantly chugging fluids like a camel at a spa.

Milk also packs a sneaky punch of sodium, which helps your body retain water . . . basically functioning like a natural sports drink. Electrolytes? Check. Hydration? Check. Weird looks from your friends when you’re chugging milk in 95-degree heat? Also check.

But don’t worry, vegans and dairy-intolerant folks aren’t out of luck. The doc says soy milk is a solid alternative with similar hydration benefits. Just skip the vanilla almond-coconut-oat extravaganza if hydration is your goal . . . those might not have the same water-retention magic.

While you might not see athletes slamming milk instead of Gatorade anytime soon, the science adds up. So next time you’re overheating and reaching for a sports drink, consider moo-ving over to the dairy section instead.