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Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
16 Early Internet Websites Only Millennials Remember
Recently, Redditor u/Toomad316 asked those in the Reddit community to share the early internet sites from their childhood that kids these days will never know, and even as a '98 baby, I don't remember some of these! That said, I'm curious to know: do you remember these websites? " —TheTeaSet66"I really wish the old Candystand was still around. I want to play Lifesavers mini-golf again for the nostalgia. I still remember learning about it in study hall because a teacher let one of the football stars play Candystand mini-golf on the smart board. I went home and immediately pulled it up on the family PC to start my own addiction to Candystand. They had so many great games I could play that were way more fun than writing a 20-page Shakespearean tragedy."—Scribe625 "StumbleUpon." —Professional-Sir7115"StumbleUpon was such a gem. I don't know if it was because the internet was smaller back then, but it was so much easier to find diverse, but quality content. These days, it feels like we're stuck to platforms that provide specific types of content and little control over the algorithm."—LostPhenom "I Can Has Cheezburger. I wasted many hours on there." —Majestic-War-7925To jog your memory a bit, this website was known for popularizing cat memes, typically with intentionally misspelled text called "LOLSpeak." " RIP Adobe Flash." —samxmariexThis website was a destination for a bunch of entertaining, flash-based games that anyone could play. But when Adobe Flash Player ceased to exist, became unusable. "Homestar Runner." —anony1911The Homestar Runner website launched in 2000, featuring the Flash-animated web series where people could play games and watch animations. "The old Cartoon Network website. It was a treasure trove of games. I, for one, had a blast making my own Codename: Kids Next Door ID and printing it at my mom's office. Color and all." —vanvonhunter "Napster. The original." —jkb1023jbNapster launched in 1999 and allowed users to download MP3s from other people's hard drives, essentially creating a free online music library. "Addicting Games." —RazzleDazzle1537Addicting Games was a website full of, well, addicting games. From action games, puzzles, mystery games, and more, this site was a go-to for many who were looking to pass the time. "MapQuest." —Pure_Chain5903Before Apple Maps or Google Maps, there was MapQuest. This site gave you directions, but you had to print the directions out or write them down. Oh, and there was no "reroute" option back then, either. "Ask Jeeves." —Thayes1413"ChatGPT is what I thought Ask Jeeves was going to be like in middle school."—C-Fifth "LiveJournal." —Last-Temporary-2877"I kept mine from 2002 all the way to 2023. It's wild seeing all those years represented at the top of the archive page!"—Imaginary-List-4945 The obvious one is MySpace." —BertKekticWidely considered to be the OG of social media, MySpace was a platform where users could create and customize their own profile, upload pictures, make friends, and just post updates about their lives. "GeoCities." —RogueWedgeGeoCities allowed people to create and publish their own websites. The site would place the different websites into "neighborhoods," even giving them special "street addresses." "Neopets." —BlackaandWhite2024Neopets was a virtual game launched in 1999 where users can adopt, customize, and interact with creatures called Neopets in the world of Neopia. "LimeWire. Is this file an album? Is it a virus? Is it porn? Let's find out!" —ImissyoudarlinSimilar to Napster, LimeWire allowed users to share and download files (music, movies, etc.) from other users for free. Lastly: "eBaum's World." —DaveyMuldowney"Reddit before Reddit. Until I realized they were just reposting shit from other sites. But yeah, all of those early 2000s memes? I got them from eBaum's."—sckurvee I honestly miss the old Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, and Nickelodeon websites so much! I used to play That's So Raven pinball for hours. What's a website from your childhood that kids nowadays know nothing about? Let's talk about it in the comments, or you can anonymously submit your stories using the form below!
Buzz Feed
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
24 Experiences Only Millennials Understand
As someone who grew up in the Millennial era, I know all about the experiences our generation went through far too well. Reddit user uselessZZwaste recently asked, "What's one thing millennials did back in the day that today's generation would think was wild?!" Here are the hilariously relatable responses that'll instantly bring you back to those days: "What's your screen name?" "Get off the internet, I need to make a call." "T9 texting." "Checking the movie times in the newspaper." "Printing out driving directions on MapQuest." "Prank calls." "Writing letters to each other and trading them between classes vs. texting." "Waiting for Netflix to send the movies we wanted by mail." "Failing to reach the home phone before it stops ringing, and just sitting there wondering who made the call." "Knocking on someone's door to ask if they wanted to do something." "Having to get to a movie theater way early if you wanted to see a new movie, and hoping there were seats together." "Going out to meet friends at a place you pre-decided on at school the previous day. Not knowing if they'll be there when you arrive." "We paid for texts." "The internet chatrooms. Oh my lord." "Burning CDs for friends or having to use a converter to play your CD on a vehicle's cassette player. Going to a physical store to read video game magazines with walkthroughs, guides, and get rumors of cheat codes from the employees and patrons." "Going to the library to read books and find quotes for essays. Going to multiple libraries to find books that didn't exist in your local library." "Asking a random girl for her number, or else you may never see her again. No social media, nothing else. And then, upon calling that number (which was a house number), you had to introduce yourself to her parents over the phone because they were most likely to answer." "Downloading paid ringtones. The first rollout wasn't even the actual song, just a melody created by the phone's chirps and beeps." "Getting dropped off somewhere with enough money to use the payphone. Once." "The look on my kids' faces every time I tell them we had to type out the citations/bibliography for a paper or project. They've had citation generators their whole lives." "The innocence of not always having someone know your location and not always knowing someone else's location." "Memorizing phone numbers." "Explaining commercial breaks and TV schedules to my preschooler is always a doozy. Also, VHS tapes make NO sense to him." "Be kind, rewind." What's the wildest thing millennials did back in the day? Share your thoughts in the comments or using the anonymous form below. Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Buzz Feed
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Millennials Are Sharing The Things We All Did 20 Years Ago That Would Make Any Gen Z'er Question Our Collective Sanity Now, And Oh Wow
I hate to break it to you, but we're officially closer to 2050 than we are to 2000. (Yes, that actually makes me sick just trying to wrap my brain around it.) And with time moving so quickly, tons of things that were completely normal in those days are completely obsolete now. Which is an equally hard pill to swallow. But it's always fun to reminisce on what life was really like in the 2000s, when life was simpler — and make fun of young people in the process. So recently on Reddit, people have been answering the question: "What's something people did instinctively 15 years ago, but now younger people don't even realize was a thing?" and the answers have unlocked some serious memories. Here's what people said: "Spending hours renaming and cataloguing an iTunes library ripped from LimeWire." "Carrying a Garmin or other GPS navigation device with you in your car." "Writing in cursive. I was at a wedding where the seating cards were written in cursive, and when I grabbed mine, I had three different younger couples ask me to find theirs." "'Instinctively'? Ctrl + S every few minutes." "Taking 500 photos on a digital camera on a single night out, and then uploading them all to Facebook in several separate albums." "Paying attention to the way you're going so you know how to get back. Or pay attention to landmarks. No one seems to do this anymore." "Downloading playlists to iPods or phones because streaming would destroy your data." "Set up a meeting point when going to a concert, and a fall-back position after the concert in case we get lost." "Travelling internationally without a smartphone, and hoping a friendly local is honest when you ask directions." "People don't know what it's like for weed to be counter cultural and criminal anymore. Kids don't know how to roll joints in legal states; they all get pre rolls. They don't know what it's like to drive 45 minutes outside of town to meet some 45 year old burnout dude playing with knives in the corner while he tries to spit a freestyle for you, and get you to smoke a blunt with him when all you want is your $35 1/8th of an unknown strain that he swears is some top-shelf med-grade shit." "Putting a CD into your car dashboard." "Taking off the head unit of your car stereo, putting it in its box, hiding it under the seat, and putting a wheel lock on, all before you leave and lock your car." "Printing MapQuest directions." "Lining up hours before a movie to get a good seat (no reserved seats). My friends and I lined up for two hours for Avatar when it first came out." "Checking your data usage to make sure you haven't gone over your 100 MB and incurred $0.05/KB overage charges." And similarly: "Restricting the length of your texts to not be charged another 12p for going over the character allowance for one text." "Memorizing phone numbers." "Mailing the DVD back to Netflix." "15 years ago, I still had to pay to 'rent' the required cable box on top of paying for the cable itself." "Handing the clerk your credit card instead of putting it in the machine yourself. And putting your car key in the door." "Turning on/off car headlights." "We talked to strangers so much because people were seen as our entertainment. It was completely normal to be in line at the grocery store just talking to people beside you while you waited. We didn't have phones to be stuck on all day, so we actually interacted with the world and people around us to not be bored." "Watching the 6:30 nightly news in real time. I stopped watching when Trump was elected." "Actually being friends with work colleagues; going to their birthday parties, etc. Now everyone just seems to want to get to work and go home." "Driving to stores to buy things, and planning your whole day around it." "Wedding invitations or important events would come with a map to the venue." "Writing a check." "Answering the phone when it rings." "Planning your route BEFORE getting in the car." "You went to work in nice clothes and got to wear jeans on Friday!" "Knowing which direction is north. In my experience, young people struggle to navigate anywhere without their smartphone giving them directions. They don't really examine the map, and they don't concern themselves with keeping track of where north is." "Hitting the rewind button." "Calling the credit card company before traveling." "Making YouTube videos for the fun of it. Now everyone thinks it's a job and is making soulless, cookie-cutter content by chasing trends to feed the algorithm." "Turning your phone off to save the battery. Now people would rather sacrifice their social life than be unreachable for 10 minutes." "Looking up businesses in the Yellow Pages." "Bulletin boards in coffee shops and casual restaurants are missing now. It used to be that if you wanted to hire someone for a local service, you could find people's flyers or business cards tacked to it: landscapers, plumbers, painters. You could also find show flyers." And we've covered the '00s, so now, let's chat about the '90s! What's something everyone did 25 years ago that would confuse young people today? Tell me in this quick form, or in the comments below! And for more content that brings you right back to the good ol' days, check out BuzzFeed Canada on Instagram and TikTok!
Forbes
18-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why Gen Z Craves The Freedom To Make Mistakes At Work
Group of people brainstorming new ideas Getty Images Why does Gen Z crave the freedom to make mistakes at work? Well, take a trip with me back in time to see some reasons. I want you to imagine your early 20s. You remember those moments, right? They were incredibly awkward and wonderful moments of trying to figure out your life and reach every dream before you're 30. After all, how many of us wanted to be on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list? I'm guessing the majority. Now, imagine your very first job interview. You may have chosen your lucky outfit, packed your portfolio with your best ideas, and even grabbed your MapQuest directions as you stepped out of your apartment, ready to embrace a world of possibilities. But, despite your knees shaking and heart racing, you felt at ease when you walked into a packed room of your peers. After all, you can size up your competition and figure out how to stand above the rest during your in-person interview. Fast forward a few years and picture the same scenario for Gen Z. Everything has changed. They aren't greeted by their peers, and many aren't even greeted by a real person. The days of walking into a room and sizing up the competition are long gone. Unlike previous generations, Gen Z don't necessarily have the privilege of simply trying to outshine their peers for recognition. After all, close to 40% of managers right now would rather invest in robotics than venture into the unknown world of Gen Z employees. And why wouldn't they? If AI can save the company millions, why would they risk it all to bet on Gen Z? Even Shopify CEO Tobi Luke is getting on this trend. In a recent MSNBC article, Luke revealed that all employees will have to prove that AI is lacking in some way before even considering hire anyone new. Think about the pressure of having to prove yourself against a machine that's 99.9% correct most of the time. There's no opportunity to build camaraderie or form a strong rapport with your coworkers or managers. Because, in all honesty, the only measuring tool for your success is artificial intelligence. Now, I'm a massive supporter of AI. Any company looking to attract and retain top Gen Z talent needs to integrate this valuable technological source across their company. However, I also recognize the humongous pressure now placed upon Gen Z, especially as new hires. They lack the freedom to make mistakes. When they're only given one option, which is to perform at 100% 24/7, they lose the ability to be innovative and imaginative, and to lead with curiosity. Now, according to Bill Gates, he believes that AI has the power to not only amplify the creativity and ingenuity of humans. He goes one step further and states that, 'AI, truly has the power to become a full replacement for humanity.' On the opposite side of the debate, according to a recent survey by Wiley, 80% of respondents believe that soft skills, such as team development, leadership, and communication will still be more valuable than artificial intelligence and it's impact on the modern workplace. However, soft skills need room to develop, and that's a big risk. Now, I know it's a daunting endeavor to invest in Gen Z. But, when you bet on them, you gain the ability to make your company more profitable and productive. Because by giving this generation the freedom to make mistakes, you're not only fostering a more creative and innovative work environment, but you're also tapping into the unique perspectives and ideas that Gen Z can bring to your business. And after all, many companies who have tasted the sweetness of success have also experienced the feeling of failure, and they're much better off because of that experience. Just look at Jeff Bezos, Henry Ford, and even Arianna Huffington, a woman who experience over 35 rejections for her second book proposal. But look at what they became. All of these moguls leaned into their mistakes and used each experience as a building block toward success. Think about your own life and career? What were your most significant moments? Did success lead you to where you are now, or did you fail forward? In a time of AI, how do we enable and encourage Gen Z to make mistakes, experiment, and think outside the box? Here are three ideas to help shape your business into an environment of innovation and inspiration. Like every generation starting their careers, Gen Z comes with almost zero experience when first hired. Their resumes may include professor recommendations, internship experience, or character references, but hiring Gen Z is, for the most part, a significant gamble. However, it's important to remember that this generation also brings with them a wealth of potential and fresh perspectives that can truly bring tons of value to your business. Many managers and executives feel frustrated and uneasy about investing in this generation. In fact, according to Deloitte, 66% of them are scared half to death to risk it all and invest their time and money into new hires. This reality is understandable. After all, venturing out and taking a risk on Generation Z is a massive leap of faith. However, the results can yield incredible rewards if you're willing to take this risk. If you provide Gen Z an environment that encourages them to make mistakes, be innovative, and color outside the lines, they will become one of your most valuable assets. This is why it's imperative that you create an environment that gives new hires the freedom to exceed your expectations. By doing so, you not only show confidence in their ability but also inspire them to take your business to the next level. According to a recent report from the World Economic Forum, more than 41% of employers globally plan to drastically cut down their workforce because of access to artificial intelligence. The problem with this turn of events is that AI is potentially infringing upon the job market for Gen Z and threatening their ability to attain entry-level employment. Now, I'm a strong advocate of AI regarding business integration and usability. However, as a replacement for human employment, I have my concerns. For example, AI cannot lean into creativity. It can't see all angles of repercussions. In fact, the one thing that it can do is obey commands. So, where does that leave innovation? Without the human element, companies will be held to the same standard, and they won't be able to exceed past AI capabilities. On the other hand, Gen Z will be able to experiment and find tons of ideas that meet your customer needs and expectations. For instance, they might come up with new marketing strategies that resonate with younger audiences or innovative product designs that cater to changing consumer preferences. They're able to do this because they have the freedom to make mistakes and figure out what works and what doesn't. Think about it: It took Thomas Edison 10,000 times to figure out how not to make the light bulb. And rather than complaining about his own frustrations, he famously said, 'I have not failed 10,000 times. I've simply found 10,000 ways on how not to make a light bulb.' In the same way, it took Steve Jobs years to create the iconic iPhone. Without the freedom to experiment, fail and figure things out the hard way, the products, software, and systems that are normative in our day-to-day experience would have never come into existence. Success has and always will be dependent upon failure. The ability to try and try again is what makes companies great. The freedom to make mistakes at work is what will set your company apart for Gen Z and attract the top talent you need to stand out and stand above your competition. Consider these ideas and start implementing them in your business today.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gulf of Mexico name change for Florida textbooks and laws signed. When will it happen?
And with a stroke of the pen, Florida became the first state to officially recognize "Gulf of America" as the name of the body of water off the western coast bordering nearly half of the state. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed two bills (HB 575, HB 549) that rename what's currently still known as the Gulf of Mexico in state law and public school textbooks. The move is a response to President Donald Trump's day-one executive order, "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness," to change the name of the Gulf and rename Denali, a mountain in Alaska, back to Mount McKinley. DeSantis was also the first to use "Gulf of America" in any official capacity when he referred to it in an order concerning the freak winter storm that shattered Florida's 130-year-old snow records just hours after Trump's directive in January. Here's what to know. Under HB 575, The Designation of the Gulf of Mexico, all references in Florida statutes to the Gulf of Mexico must be changed to Gulf of America. It's a long list, as it includes 53 different mentions, including all descriptions of boundary lines for Florida counties bordering the Gulf, references to tourist development taxes, coastal construction regulations, property rights regulations, beach management, the definition of "coastal barrier islands." tax regulations for oil drilling aznd more. A tongue-in-cheek amendment to the bill from Rep. Dr. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, to instead change the name of the Gulf to the Gulf of Endor — with requirements for other landmarks to also be renamed after other "Star Wars" locations — was not added or we might have seen the Grand Canyon renamed "Sarlacc Pit," Las Vegas now called "Mos Eisley" and Interstate 4 changed to the "Kessel Run." The changes to state law will take effect on July 1, 2025. Under HB 549: Gulf of America, all state agencies must update their geographic materials to use the new name. Initially, that would have meant all existing school books and educational materials, but an amendment changed that to require the new name in all instructional materials and library media collections adopted or acquired on or after July 1, so schools have some time. On January 20, the first day of his second term, Trump directed the secretary of the interior to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America' for use on official maps and throughout the federal government. This is ordinarily at least a six-month process, but it was fast-tracked by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names and quickly adopted by Google Maps, Apple Maps and others. Once it was changed, Trump issued a proclamation declaring Feb. 9 to be "Gulf of America Day." "The area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico has long been an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation and has remained an indelible part of America," the order said. It didn't receive universal acceptance. MapQuest allowed users to name the Gulf whatever they wanted and the order was mocked by Democrats, late night hosts and on social media. The Associated Press, a worldwide news organization, announced that its widely used style guide would continue to refer to the Gulf as the "Gulf of Mexico" since it shares borders with another country and has been called that for more than 400 years. The Trump administration reacted by barring its reporters from events. AP sued, and last week, a federal judge ordered the White House to lift its access restrictions. Other countries are not obligated to honor the new name. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo mocked the suggestion at the time, suggesting the United States should be called "Mexican America." However, recognizing the new name is likely to be a sticking point for countries hoping to deal diplomatically with the Trump administration. Trump is not the first to suggest it. In 2012, former U.S. Rep. D. Stephen Holland of Mississippi proposed a bill to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America." He meant it as a joke, to mock his Republican colleagues he said seemed to want to push anything or anyone Mexican out of the state. Two years previously, when he was on "The Colbert Report," late night host Steven Colbert created a "Gulf of America" fund to help clean up after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster dumped 210 million gallons across nearly 60,000 square miles of the Gulf over a period of four months in 2010. "I don't think we can call it the Gulf of Mexico anymore," he said at the time. "We broke it, we bought it." More than half of Florida's coast borders the Gulf of Mexico, a partially landlocked body of water between the United States and Mexico that links ports in five Southern states and Mexico with the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean with two passages — called the Florida Straits — on either side of Cuba and the Yucatan Channel between Mexico and Cuba. The Gulf has an average depth of 5,300 feet. The Gulf mainland shore runs more than 4,000 miles from the Florida Keys to Cabo Catoche on the Yucatán Peninsula. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas all share the coast, along with the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Vera Cruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo. While existing residents certainly knew about it and had their own names, the first European to find the Gulf was Sebastián de Ocampo in 1508-1509, according to the Texas State Historical Association. It remained unnamed until the early 1540s and was considered part of the "North Sea" (Atlantic Ocean). One map dated 1584 called it "Mare de Nort," or "Sea of the North." Baptiste Boazio, the illustrator and map maker of Francis Drake's Caribbean cruise of attacks in the 1580s, used "Gulf of Mexico" on his map "View of Entire Route of Sir Francis Drake's West Indian Voyage." A 1630 map called the body of water "Gulf of New Spain." The Spanish name evolved into Seno Mexicano. "Seno" means "gulf" or "bay." It has also been called Golfo de Nueva España and Golfo de México on various maps and documents, and there are at least 32 different versions of the name in different languages and dialects, according to the United States Geological Survey. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gulf of America now official name in Florida. When do books change?
