8/12/25- Worst Song, EV's Make You Car Sick, and How Many States?

Tuesday 8/12/25

Celebrate:

Baseball Fans Day

IBM PC Day

International Youth Day

National Julienne Fries Day

National Middle Child Day

National Sewing Machine Day

Truck Driver Day

Vinyl Record Day

World Elephant Day

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Researchers are saying that electric vehicles might be making you more car sick.  And the reason is we aren't getting the same clues that we normally get from gas cars, like the vibrations from the engine.  And when we can't anticipate what the car is doing, we can get more carsick.

But don't expect it to be this way forever.  Scientists are exploring fixes, like adding subtle vibrations, lighting, or visual cues to help your brain anticipate what the car is about to do.

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Over the past week, there's been an ongoing debate about the "worst song ever" on X . . . and it's getting heated.  An early post gave the title to "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros . . . but the lead singer of that band says it was actually a very good, influential song, leading to The Lumineers and Of Monsters and Men.

(Yea, I’ve never heard it before either)

Here are some other "worst song ever" submissions on X:

"Hey, Soul Sister", Train  (2009)

"Happy", Pharrell  (2013)

"All About That Bass", Meghan Trainor  (2014)

"Moves Like Jagger", Maroon 5  (2011)

"Blurred Lines", Robin Thicke  (2013)

"Cheerleader", Omi  (2012)

"Shape of You", Ed Sheeran  (2017)

"We Are Young", Fun  (2011)

"The worst song ever written is the whole discography of U2."

One person even said, "People need to learn the difference between the worst song ever and an overplayed song.  I refuse to believe 'Mr. Brightside' [by The Killers] is one of the worst songs ever."

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In a poll, adults were asked how they felt about going back to school when they were kids.  14% said they were "very happy" about it . . . 16% were "very sad."  And 51% of parents are happy about their kids going back.

when people were asked how they'd prefer we handle the shortages of teachers and funding, 74% said they'd like to pay teachers more . . . 29% said they'd like to see the school day reduced from five days to four.

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A new poll found 30% of Americans want to visit all 50 states. 

Does a layover at an airport count as "visiting" a state? (I say no) 14% of Americans think that's the minimum requirement to say you've "been" somewhere.  27% say driving through a state is the minimum (so I've been to gerogia since we drove in it for 15 minutes). . . 21% say a full trip with sightseeing . . . and 2% think even just flying over a state counts.

So how many states have you been to?

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A couple got married in a "chicken tender dip"-themed wedding in Las Vegas . . . and it was officiated by the Hellmann's mascot, "Manny Mayo."  And believe it or not, this WAS something they agreed to.

Nick Phillips and Heather Schroering were the winners of a Hellmann's wedding contest package, which included a ceremony . . . a full reception, with food . . . a professional photographer . . . and $5,000 to cover travel expenses.

And they were into it.  The couple describes themselves as "condiment sommeliers," and they say the wedding was, "very on-brand" for them.  In fact, during their previous proposal, the ring was hidden in a sauce ramekin.

And when marrying them, "Manny Mayo" said, "Like chicken tender dip and chicken tenders, marriage is a beautiful union of two special flavors that just work together."  The audience erupted with a genuine, "Awwwww."

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Today's Useless Fact of the Day - Every year, the U.S. goes through enough cardboard boxes for shipping to build a mile-high cardboard wall around the entire continental U.S.  

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