R.I.P. – Topical Fruit

R.I.P. Penny, You Did Good

Start digging through your couch cushions and car cupholders, because your spare pennies might soon become collector’s items.

The U.S. Mint just produced its final penny—ever. Yep, the iconic one-cent coin is being retired, and it’s all thanks to a directive from President Trump and one very basic math problem: pennies cost more to make than they’re actually worth.

On Monday, the last-ever U.S. penny was minted in Philadelphia, ending a run that dates back to 1793. That first version was solid copper. These days, the little guys are mostly zinc with just a tiny copper coating—because even our coins can’t escape inflation. But despite the cheaper materials, the cost to produce each penny is still about 3.7 cents. That’s more than triple its face value.

President Trump ordered the Treasury Department to shut down penny production back in February, citing the cost inefficiency. Now that directive has officially been carried out, marking the end of a truly tiny era in American currency.

Don’t panic though—your existing pennies are still legal tender, and there are billions in circulation. But once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Some businesses are already adjusting by rounding prices to the nearest nickel when customers pay with cash. (That’s rounding both up and down, so no need to freak out just yet.) Others are now requiring exact change, which could make cash transactions a bit more awkward moving forward.

Critics of the move point out that ditching the penny may have some ripple effects, especially for folks who rely on cash and don’t have easy access to digital payments.

And here’s another sad twist… nickels are next on the chopping block. According to the U.S. Mint, each nickel costs 13.8 cents to make. So, we’re losing money on those too.

This isn’t the first time killing off the penny has been proposed, but it’s the first time it’s actually happened. For now, it’s a farewell to one of the most annoying and underappreciated parts of your pocket change—and possibly the start of a slow march toward a more cashless future.

And who knows? Maybe someday, that crusty penny at the bottom of your junk drawer will be worth more than a dollar. Probably not, but hey, stranger things have happened.

AOL Pulls the Plug on Dial-Up Internet, Ending a Noisy Era

Gen Z may love their wired headphones, thrifted cameras, and all things retro, but if they ever wanted to experience ‘90s-style Internet, that door just got a little harder to open.

AOL has officially announced it will shut down its dial-up Internet service on September 30, 2025. Yes, somehow, this was still an option in 2025.

For millions of Americans in the 1990s, “America Online” was the on-ramp to the World Wide Web. Before broadband and Wi-Fi, you got online through your telephone line — complete with that ear-piercing chorus of digital screeches, beeps, and static that meant you were connecting. And if someone in the house picked up the phone, well, you were instantly disconnected.

Back in the day, AOL flooded mailboxes with shiny CDs promising free trial memberships — often boasting “100 free hours” — before charging a monthly fee. The service peaked when logging on meant chat rooms, AIM messages, and the thrill of hearing “You’ve got mail.”

AOL shortened its name in 2006, but by then broadband and wireless Internet had already taken over. According to U.S. Census data, only about 160,000 Americans were still using dial-up in 2023, making up roughly 0.1% of all Internet connections in the country. It remains most common in rural or remote areas where high-speed options are limited, and satellite is the only alternative.

Dial-up’s one big selling point has always been price — sometimes under $10 a month — but that comes with a glacial speed limit of 56 kilobits per second. At that pace, a single song takes around 12 minutes to download, and a high-definition movie? About 170 hours. That’s over a week of your computer working harder than you do on Monday mornings.

AOL says the shutdown is part of its regular evaluation of products and services, and while this is the end for their dial-up, other companies like Microsoft and NetZero still offer similar connections for the few who want or need them.

So, farewell, America Online. Thanks for the nostalgia, the CDs we used as coasters, and for making us believe the Internet was a place where “getting mail” was exciting.

If you never got to hear that iconic dial-up handshake sound, just know: you really missed out… and also, you’re probably better off.

Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan Dies at 71

One of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling history, Hulk Hogan, has died at the age of 71.

WWE confirmed the news Thursday, sharing that Hogan — born Terry Bollea — passed away in Clearwater, Florida. According to TMZ, medics responded to a cardiac arrest call at his home, and he was transported by ambulance.

Hogan was more than just a pro wrestler — he was the wrestler who turned the then-WWF into a global phenomenon in the 1980s. With his larger-than-life personality, signature mustache, and unforgettable catchphrases like “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?!,” Hogan brought wrestling into the mainstream.

He wasn’t just a ring performer. He was pop culture.

The WWE released a tribute on social media, saying, “WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.”

At his peak, Hogan was everywhere — from cereal boxes to Saturday morning cartoons. WrestleMania wouldn’t be what it is today without him. He headlined the very first one in 1985, teaming up with Mr. T to take down Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff.

And then he bodyslammed Andre the Giant in front of 93,000 fans at WrestleMania III — one of the most famous moments in wrestling history.

But Hogan’s later years were marred by scandal. A leaked sex tape in 2012, filmed without his knowledge, ignited a legal battle that eventually bankrupted Gawker. Then in 2015, audio from that same tape surfaced, revealing Hogan using racial slurs—fallout that deeply damaged his public image and led to a temporary exile from WWE.

In recent years, Hogan battled several health issues. TMZ reported a neck surgery in May, and US Weekly noted he underwent a “pretty serious” heart procedure in 2024.

Hogan was married three times and had two children, Brooke and Nick, with his first wife, Linda. He remarried in 2010 (to Jennifer McDaniel), divorced again in 2022, and tied the knot once more in 2023 with Sky Daily.

His final WWE appearance came in January 2025, during the Netflix debut of Monday Night Raw.

From body slams to red-and-yellow bandanas, Hulk Hogan’s influence stretched far beyond the squared circle. He was, simply, the face of an era.

Rest in peace, Hulkster.