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Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gen Z Is Coming for Your Punctuation
Is nothing sacred anymore? Now we can't even text — text, the thing millennials practically invented on T9 keyboards — without being called out by Gen Z. The generation who banned skinny jeans and used to eat Tide pods are calling out people for breaking their texting 'rules,' which include not capitalizing letters, hidden meanings in emojis, and, yes, foregoing punctuation. One Gen X mom on Upworthy said her teenagers called her out for being 'aggressive' by using a period in a text message, which she vehemently defended. More from SheKnows Don't Be Surprised If Your Teen Asks for This New Toy That's Going Viral on TikTok Another punctuation problem Gen Zers have? Ellipses at the end of texts, which aren't meant to signal anything deeper. 'What, exactly, is going on with boomers and ellipses?' one Redditor asked, per New York Post, saying that they felt this 'comes off as passive aggressive at worst, insane at best.' As a millennial, I can see both sides. I often use periods in my texts without thinking, but I would only say 'Hey…' if I did have something serious to say afterward. I get that other generations have a different style of texting, but it does get confusing when people read into texts they shouldn't (or don't realize you're being passive-aggressive when you are!). For Gen Z, though, this lack of care for punctuation goes beyond casual text messages. One millennial wrote about how frustrated she feels when reading school essays and seeing teens leave out periods and skip capitalizing letters for Reader's Digest. Jason Dorsey, a business etiquette expert, the president of the Center for Generational Kinetics and the author of Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business, told the outlet, 'There's definitely a trend where Gen Z eschews traditional grammar in written communications. We see this particularly in how they have dropped using capital letters and punctuation.' This is normal, he explained, adding, 'Language is fluid, and conventions change all the time as societal norms evolve.' It's all fine and good … if you can keep up. My Gen Z sister asked me if I was being aggressive when I said 'lol' at the end of a sentence, which is a habit from even before texting. She said 'lol' and the happy face emoji are both passive aggressive; whereas she will use the skull emoji or say 'im dead' instead to signify that she 'finds something so funny she literally died' (not literally). It's mind-boggling to say the least, which is why half the time I just call her so she can be super clear on my intentions. We need more advice to wrap our minds around the teen texting etiquette, so we reached out to our SheKnows Teen Council for more tips on the hidden meaning of texting, and if punctuation is actually out or not. Hopefully their answers will clear some things up for all of us! Esmé, 19, says she doesn't 'think twice about it' when her parents use a period, as 'they would use a period without understanding current connotation.' (Esmé's parents: same!) But she does take it as 'passive aggressive' if someone younger than 30 uses it. It seems like wondering if someone is mad at them was a common theme among the teens we talked to. 'My mom always texts me using periods and it makes me think that she's pissed off at me,' Ajani, 20, says. 'I've told her about how it comes across as a little passive aggressive but she's yet to stop. It throws me off because she also uses periods when she is actually mad at me so she's constantly sending me mixed signals.' Corbin, 13, shares, 'If somebody texts with a period, then they're probably mad. Like if they just said, 'hey' or something without a period I would think it was casual, but with a period they just seem a little bit mad.' (Although, he doesn't feel this way about a text from his parents 'because I know they're old,' he adds.) 'When someone ends a text with a period, I usually immediately assume that they are trying to be ironic/dramatic, or they are mad at me,' Sophie, 19, says, adding that she doesn't feel the same with her parents because 'they like to text with punctuation.' 'Ultimately, it mostly just depends on the person you're texting,' Sophie continues. 'For example, if someone who usually doesn't use punctuation sends me a message with a period at the end, it signals to me that something is different.' Exclamation points and question marks are OK within reason, according to Esmé, although she reiterated that she 'never uses periods.' She explains, 'I feel like question marks are just a grammar thing that feels normal but exclamation points are like a version of an emoji just to show that I'm super excited.' Corbin says that while he uses 'question marks a lot' with his friends, he hasn't 'see a period or an exclamation mark in a text from my friends in a long time.' 'My friends and I don't tend to use grammar or even capitalize our texts, while my parents and teachers use correct punctuation,' Sophie says, adding, 'I think that the unspoken consensus in our generation is that as long as the other person understands what you mean, it works.' She uses punctuation when she wants to give out a deeper meaning behind her texts, such as exclamation points to 'help soften a message.' 'It's like adding a smiley face to the end of a text in a way,' Sophie says. And the opposite: 'When I'm mad, I tend to use a period instead of an exclamation point because it has such positive connotations.' Coby, 15, doesn't use a period when texting with friends unless 'maybe if its two sentences or more.' He also has feelings on other punctuation: 'Exclamation points are a bit much because you can't really portray emotion through a phone so using an exclamation point to do it is, like, overkill. … If my parents text me and they use punctuation it doesn't seem weird because I know that's just how they text.' Ajani says, 'The crying emoji 😭 is the most commonly used amongst everyone that I know.' Gen Z 'only uses this emoji 😂 to be ironic when something isn't funny,' says Esmé. However, she does use other emojis and GIFs. 'My friends are much more emotive [in texting], sending emojis, multiple exclamation points, and GIFs,' she explains. 'They also obviously use more slang and text shorthand than my parents. I think my friends and I will text shorter thoughts but more of them — like separate texts but five at a time where my parents are more concise and keep it in one longer text.' While Sophie admits that grammar and punctuation 'can help minimize the likelihood of a misunderstanding,' she also thinks it's good to understand how other people will take your texts. 'It's important to understand and adapt to different people's ways of texting,' she says. For me, I've found myself adapting my texting style when texting with my Gen Z sister. I'll use way more casual sentences with little-to-no punctuation (and take out all the 'lol's) compared to when I'm texting friends or my husband. If we can meet them in the middle when it comes to texting, maybe Gen Zers can meet us in the middle when it comes to using more formal language and grammar for school essays and in the workplace. At the end of the day, you can text the way you want to (proper grammar and all), but just know that teens are going to be silently judging you for it — or potentially questioning any hidden meanings. There's no harm in just being considerate of others and understanding how your 'Hey.' might make a teen feel compared to just: 'hey'Best of SheKnows Bird Names Are One of the Biggest Baby Name Trends for Gen Beta (& We Found 20+ Options) These Are the 36 Celebrities with the Most Kids 15 Celebrity Parents Whose Kids Went to Ivy League Schools
Business Insider
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
I've traveled to over 80 countries. Here are 13 of my favorite restaurants I've eaten at around the world.
I've eaten my way through almost 80 countries. Throughout my travels, I've loved the meals I've had at casual hole-in-the-wall establishments as much as I've loved ones from Michelin-starred restaurants. Plus, balancing high-end and casual dining experiences has shaped my taste buds and my views on hospitality and service. Although it was difficult to narrow down my top picks, here's what I'd say are some of my favorite restaurants in the world. Chicago's Esmé beautifully blends together art and food. This Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant is in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, and it's the perfect place to go if you want a meal that blends food and art. With an evolving tasting menu that changes each quarter, chef Jenner Tomaska and his partner, Katrina Bravo, excel in collaborating with local artists and creatives to create memorable, art-filled dining experiences. From the dishware, surrounding artwork, and music, to the presentation of each dish, Esmé tells a story throughout the entire tasting menu experience. Bahia is one of Malta's few restaurants with a Michelin star. Bahia is one of Malta's seven Michelin-starred restaurants. The restaurant is inspired by the four stages of an orange tree: seed, growth, bloom, and harvest. Guests are welcomed to each table by a small display that symbolizes the terrain and topography of Maltese and Gozitan villages. The wooden display has three removable tubes, and diners are asked to select their degustation preference by placing the ceramic tube (for à la carte), bamboo tube (for plant-based), or bronze tube (classic) in the center of the wooden piece. I loved that each thing I ordered came with a drawing and description of the dish and the village where it and its ingredients came from. Bardea Food and Drink in Delaware is great for family-style dining. Located in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, Bardea is an inventive Italian restaurant. Co-owners Scott Stein and Antimo DiMeo (also executive chef) source ingredients from Italy and local Delaware Valley Farms to create fresh dishes. The restaurant values family-style dining and serves plates that are designed to be shared. I love how, at its core, Bardea is all about bringing community together over a delicious meal. Sifr is another gem in Chicago. It has always been difficult for me to find a restaurant that I feel embraces the true spirit of my home region in the Middle East. Then, I dined at Sifr. This woodfire restaurant in Chicago is helmed by chefs Sujan Sarkar and Sahil Sethi, who excel at preparing dishes with incredible spices. Their dishes give me the comforting feeling that I have when I'm eating in the Gulf Arab region. I highly recommend the mezze platter, falafel, tiger prawns, and Persian berry pilaf. Food aside, the restaurant is also gorgeous with a beautiful rooftop overlooking the River North district of Chicago. I love the Matsuhisa location in Aspen. Renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa created the iconic Nobu chain, and he's also the mastermind behind Matsuhisa. There are a few locations of this sushi restaurant, but my favorite is in downtown Aspen, Colorado, in an old Victorian house. The menu is influenced by Japanese and Peruvian cuisines. All the dishes I tried during my visit were melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Some of my favorite bites were the black cod miso and yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño. Plus, the service was incredible. Snack De Mairipehe blew me away in Tahiti. While on a moped exploring the Polynesian island of Tahiti, I got so hungry and randomly stopped at Snack De Mairipehe. Fortunately, it was an excellent decision. The hole-in-the-wall, open-air restaurant has outstanding local dishes. It's also where I was introduced to the island's signature dish, poisson cru, which translates to "raw fish." The dish resembles a ceviche but consists of raw fish marinated in citrus juice and coconut milk. I've never had anything like it. Oystera in Todos Santos is great for fans of seafood. In the heart of Todos Santos, Mexico, lies a beautiful oyster bar called Oystera. Built on the former site of a sugar mill, Oystera is a beautiful restaurant with lush greenery wrapping around its bar. It specializes in seafood, especially oysters sourced from Baja California that are served with a sweet sauce and ponzu. Café Tola has pleasantly surprised me. I stumbled upon Café Tola years ago in Chicago and was blown away by it after just one bite of its spinach and cheese empanada. The café's freshly baked, warm empanadas range in flavors from guava and cheese to birria, with enough options for all taste buds and many dietary restrictions. This casual establishment has multiple locations throughout Chicago and one in New York City. My FZN dining experience in Dubai was memorable. FZN by Björn Frantzén is an extraordinary blend of European fine dining with a sprinkle of Japanese influences. The restaurant spans two floors but only seats 27 diners. My dining experience was incredibly memorable. Each meal begins in the "family room" on the upper floor, where canapes and drinks are served. From there, I was introduced to the ingredients that would be used in the multicourse tasting menu and then escorted downstairs, where I received a glimpse of the kitchen. Then, our group of diners was taken into a room with dim lighting so we could observe the magic happening in the kitchen. I was impressed by Masseria in Washington, DC. Named after 16th-century farmhouses in Puglia, Masseria pays homage to chef Nicholas Stefanelli's Italian heritage. The Michelin-starred restaurant seats diners as if they're visiting an authentic Italian country estate — and the food is incredible. In my opinion, Stefanelli succeeds in transporting diners to all regions of Italy as his menu features dishes and ingredients from varied Italian culinary regions. Guests can choose a multicourse menu and seating options in the courtyard, covered pergola, or indoor dining room with a view of the open kitchen. I enjoyed my dining experience at Dinner by Hestan Blumenthal Dubai. Dinner by Hestan Blumenthal Dubai is a Michelin-starred dining experience where historic British roots appear in each dish. I loved how the servers were like storytellers as they described the creation of each recipe and how it was inspired by the past, sometimes as far back as medieval times. This eatery also has a London location, though the Dubai one won me over with its dim lighting and dark interiors that felt perfect for a romantic special occasion. Campione feels like a hidden gem in Montana. Located in a historical building in Livingston, Campione is owned by friends Joshua Adams, Jeffrey Galli, and Anthony Sferra. They believe that eating well is not just for special occasions but is a requisite of every meal — and the food feels like proof. The restaurant works with local farmers and suppliers to provide local proteins, veggies, fresh baked goods, pasta, and Roman-style pizzas to diners. Virginia Beach's Love Song seems to always have something new on its menu. Owned by chef Mike Hill and Jake Keller, Love Song offers seasonal dishes made with fresh ingredients. The small establishment on Virginia Beach's oceanfront that packs a lot of flavor into shareable plates and its cuisine takes influence from a range of regions, from Spain to France. Every time I visit, I love getting to try innovative new dishes.
Newsweek
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Toddler Meets Baby Sister for First Time, Parents Left Confused by Response
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Welcoming a new arrival into the family can be both nerve-wracking and exciting—as demonstrated by one toddler in a viral TikTok video. On April 18, a clip captured Theodore Diglio meeting his newborn sister, Esmé, for the very first time. However, the moment didn't exactly go to plan. Theodore is left speechless as he stares at Esmé cradled in their mom Victoria's arms. While Victoria (@victoriaadiglio) can't help but laugh at the situation, Theodore is clearly not amused, seriously eyeing his sister—leaving viewers to wonder what could be going through his mind. The comical clip, captioned, "Not the introduction I was expecting," has gathered 3.2 million views. Newsweek is waiting for Victoria to provide a comment. Two screenshots from the viral video showing Theodore looking at his sister and the camera with a blank facial expression. Two screenshots from the viral video showing Theodore looking at his sister and the camera with a blank facial expression. TikTok/@victoriaadiglio First Impressions of Siblinghood Almost half of Americans believe two children is the ideal family size, according to Gallup research. However, first-borns—like Theodore—may initially disagree with the idea of expanding the family. The text layered over the video reads: "He met his baby sister for the first time and isn't having it," earning nearly 298,000 likes. Fortunately, it isn't all doom and gloom. In a follow-up clip posted five days later, Theodore appears to have warmed up to his little sister. The video shows him sweetly letting Esmé rest on his lap and gently kissing her forehead—a touching sign that their sibling bond is already growing. How to Prepare a Toddler for a New Sibling The Child Mind Institute, based in New York, offers expert advice on how to prepare an older child for a new arrival: Prepare them for the reality that babies cry and require constant care. Prioritize special one-on-one time with your child to maintain your bond. Involve them by letting them choose toys or help decorate the nursery. Explain that you'll be going to the hospital—and reassure them you'll return home with the baby. Include them in the baby's daily routines, such as diaper changes, bath time, or fetching supplies, to help them feel important. TikTok Reacts Many users couldn't help but compare Theodore to a working man—likely due to his thick, neatly combed hair, his "big bro" knitted sweater layered over a collared shirt, and his jeans. One popular comment joked: "He took work off for this," earning over 91,000 likes. Another teased: "You interrupted his golf game to tell him this?!" A third chimed in: "Lil bro realized he has to share the inheritance now." And a fourth commenter humorously observed: "Looked at mom thinking 'total betrayal,' then side-eyed dad like 'this is your fault too.'" If you have a family dilemma, let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Opinion: Dear Michelin Guide, don't come here to Charlotte. Not yet, anyway.
I recently spent a weekend in Chicago, where the Michelin Guide has recommended restaurants for 14 years. While I was there, I had the opportunity to dine at a restaurant I had never been to before: Esmé. Esmé is a hybrid art gallery-restaurant. The line between the two is seamless and not at all disconcerting. The cuisine is 'chef-driven,' as much as it is inspired by the artists whose works are on display, but it is without ego and full of empathy. The kitchen had worked together to create a special black truffle and freekeh course for me, inspired by one artist's struggles with ADHD, being on the spectrum and being bipolar. My own manic episode had kept me off the plane to go to Esmé a year ago, and I had the distinct embarrassment at the time of explaining all of this in an Instagram DM to the chef. When I visited, the tears that the service captain shared with me when she said the earthiness of the dish was meant to make me feel safe and grounded, were genuine. The flavors were bold, the plating colorful and the wine pairings inspired. It was the best restaurant experience I have had in ages. The Michelin Guide, which rates restaurants between one and three stars — with most restaurants not receiving even a starless mention — rates Esmè but one single star. Charlotte, pause for a moment to consider this and perhaps noodle on the notion that we're just not ready for the Michelin Guide. The Queen City's food cognoscenti, ever the active rumor mill, can also now predict the future. With news that Michelin is indeed coming to the American South, inclusive of North Carolina, Michelin inspectors could even be sitting at the table next to you when you go out for dinner tonight. I couldn't think of anything worse, to be honest. And I say this with a modest bit of authority. I am a former judge for the World's 50 Best Restaurant awards, and I have eaten at over 20 three-star restaurants, perhaps twice as many two-star restaurants and countless one-star restaurants. I once ate at every starred establishment in Singapore. On top of which, I have won two North Carolina Press Association awards for my food writing and restaurant criticism. I have the waistline to prove this. Despite what people may think of me as a food critic, though, I do genuinely want Charlotte restaurants to succeed. Based on what I've experienced so far since moving to the Queen City in 2020, I think so too should Charlotte restaurants want Michelin to stay far away. For now. Consider a distribution curve and that restaurants in Charlotte today fall into one of three categories: Category A belongs to the very small handful of restaurants that could be ready, with some seemingly created ready. Category B is for 90% of restaurants in town, neither here nor meh. They are the starless mentions, if anything at all. On the low end, these restaurants are stuck in the past, overrun by ego, are possibly trapped within the tight grip of unscrupulous influencers, or all of the above. They could be restaurants that serve gigantic portions of otherwise satisfactory food for the sole purpose of being extra. On the high end, these are popular crowd pleasers with good food that is sometimes great, that just seem to be missing that certain je ne sais quoi. Category C restaurants are the opposite of A, with no hope of ever being in a Guide. Think: chain restaurants and bad bar food. With the state of Charlotte restaurants thusly presented, an America South Michelin Guide in which the Queen City makes an appearance, in my opinion, would be nothing more than a disservice, both to our restaurants and to diners. Keep in mind that the Michelin Guide purportedly only gives stars out based on food, but most savvy, experienced Michelin diners know that not to be the case. There are intangibles like 'chef's vision,' more objective criteria like consistency of quality and even the rumored 'white tablecloth-factor.' (Do only restaurants with white tablecloths get stars? Maybe, who knows?) And, of course, there's always the front of house service to consider, as nobody tastes food in a vacuum. Let's all agree that good ol' Southern hospitality generally means that most restaurants seeking Michelin validation here in Charlotte have strong front-of-house service. Let's also agree that restaurants with white tablecloths aren't that common, and therefore any 'white tablecloth-factor' is equally awash amongst our restaurants. Putting these two factors aside, then, we're left with the consistency of the quality of the food and 'chef's vision' to make up what sets a particular restaurant up for recognition in that little red book. Therein lies the problem — the two factors that create the wide chasm between Category A and Category C restaurants in Charlotte. Our B restaurants are generic to a fault or so full of chefs' egos that diners' pleasure seems secondary. Or they serve otherwise good food, but they seem to be resting on their laurels. Many of these restaurants don't think very highly of us Charlotteans in that they copy their concepts from other restaurants in the U.S. or around the world, thinking that no one is going to notice. But in this Instagram age when the camera eats first, it would be easy for anyone to go to the pages of the world's best restaurants and duplicate a dish or two. Who would know? I've seen that one Category B restaurant recently even copied a dish — from the ingredients to the presentation — from a restaurant in Charlotte. It was good, but it was also good at the OG. [WHAT ELSE IS HOT? The ultimate list of new restaurants, bars and cafes coming to Charlotte in 2025.] Charlotte, let's pause for a moment to consider whether we deserve better. I think we do. We don't deserve restaurants where food that costs a car payment leaves us full of nothing but regret. We don't deserve to have a night out only to realize that our pleasure and enjoyment are secondary to chefs pontificating on ingredient provenance. We don't deserve, here in 2025, food that is still stuck in 1995. There are times and places for that, of course, but not in restaurants wanting to be included in the Michelin Guide. These, in case it weren't already clear, are the Bs that should be Cs. In that wide B chasm, though, are restaurants so close to glory, so close to being in that A group. The Michelin Guide demands — and so too do we deserve — excellence, but excellence that has a personality. Michelin inspectors do not reward group efforts. The chef's vision must be clear, and that vision is what's missing from some otherwise fantastic restaurants in town. Take us to church, dear Charlotte chefs, one might say, while you sharpen your knives. Charlotte restaurants want stars? Then I want to see them reach for those stars. In that Group A, I would argue, there are no more than five. Possibly only one of those will receive a star, and the rest perhaps a Bib Gourmand, a runner-up prize given by Michelin to restaurants whose excellent food is also a good value. Only one star does not a guidebook make. Or shouldn't. Dallas may have eked out one star, but that was for an all-Texas guide. So consider that proposition. The Queen City eking out one star in a regional America South guide? It's embarrassing at best, and at worst — well, at that point, doesn't the entire Michelin enterprise seem to have become a money grab? The point is not to have anxiety over optics or to shoehorn in restaurants that are not yet ready. The point of the guide is to be able to find restaurants that will offer experiences like that one I had at Esmé in Chicago. Only one star in Charlotte? I guarantee it. A Michelin star in Paris should have the same weight and meaning as a star in Tokyo, as a star in Copenhagen, as a star in Chicago. This is to say nothing of two or three stars, neither of which will be given to any restaurant in Charlotte. To dole them out to the mid or altogether unworthy would mean to dilute everything that Michelin is supposed to represent, and then what are we left with? A little red book of ho hum. One star in Charlotte? I guarantee it would go to L'Ostrica or Omakase Experience by Prime Fish. Why? The food at L'Ostrica is unlike any other at a restaurant in Charlotte. Chef Eric Ferguson borrows from New American, European and Asian traditions to create food that is elegant, accessible and delicious. The Sunday Suppers and daily sandwich specials have been particularly successful, especially when it comes to bringing people together. L'Ostrica is a first-class restaurant with a real neighborhood feel, with back and front of house working together to create an experience that is both upscale and relaxed. Omakase Experience by Prime Fish, on the other hand, will be inaccessible to most given the price point ($300 per person before tax, service and drinks). But, unlike some of those B and C category restaurants, you will see where all the money goes. Chef Robin Anthony sources the very best ingredients available to create pristine, luxurious dishes, all in an intimate omakase setting. This restaurant is classic 'Michelin bait,' designed for and created to win a star (or two), and I think it is a reasonable assumption that it will happen at some point. [READ MORE: Omakase is popping up all over Charlotte. Here's where you can try out the experience.] But I am also not a betting man. So, Charlotte, I ask you to pause, to reflect, to think with your stomachs and your brains, and for all of you to say it together with me: 'Dear Michelin Guide, yes we are the America South and proud of it. But, please do not come here. We are not ready. Yet.'
South China Morning Post
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Who is Michael J. Fox's youngest daughter Esmé Fox? The Duke University student, actress and budding reporter has been dubbed a ‘renaissance gal' by her Back to the Future star dad
It's official: Michael J. Fox is one of the soppiest people on Instagram. On Valentine's Day, he wrote a gushing message to his wife of 36 years Tracy Pollan . 'You have the sweetest eyes I've ever seen (even in sunglasses), I still get lost in them. Happy Valentine's Day @ Yours forever.' Pollan replied with an equally loved-up response: 'Happy Valentine's Day my love, will you please be mine?' Advertisement It's not the first time Fox has showed his softer side on socials either. Late last year he celebrated his youngest daughter Esmé on her birthday. 'Esmé, Happy birthday to our renaissance gal,' he wrote on November 3 alongside photos of his youngest daughter. 'You do it all. Your Dood loves you very much … Who doesn't? Keep living your best life.' Esmé Fox has famous parents, but remains relatively low profile herself. Photo: @ 'I love you so much!! thank you!' Esmé, whose account is private, replied to her dad's post on the site. Esmé Fox turned 23 on November 3, 2024. Photo: @ Pollan also weighed in. '@esmeannabelle Happy Birthday!!! I love absolutely everything about you and I am blessed to be able to explore the world with you! You are my heart.'
