Latest news with #Uno
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘You can't do that!' — How Uno became the game that brings out everyone's inner tyrant
Each set of Uno cards that have been produced for more than five decades comes with written rules on how to play the game. But that doesn't mean everyone who plays Uno plays by the same rules — which has caused plenty of disagreements over the years. Uno was invented in 1971, and for the past 54 years, friends, family members and lovers have been quarreling over how to play. Can you play a +4 on a +2 and make the next person draw six? Can you play double cards if they are the same number and color? If you get skipped, can you play a skip on top of it, therefore skipping the person next to you instead? The drama has been so intense that Uno has entered the chat, posting the original rules on social media. Still, some people don't buy it ... Despite the drama of it all, people can't stop playing, and in 2018, the colorful numbers game was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, alongside pinball and the Magic 8 Ball. Invented by an Ohio barber named Merle Robbins after a dispute with his son over the rules to Crazy Eights, the game has taken many forms since its conception: Uno Elite, Uno Attack, Uno Show 'Em No Mercy, Giant Uno, etc. It doesn't matter which one is played; tears are still shed. When the +2 gets played against you for the fifth time, it starts to get personal. I recently sat down to play the game ('High School Musical' edition) with family members ages 37, 13, 9 and 4. The first argument concerned the number of cards each person receives. Seven or five? The youngest started. After a reverse card was played, the question was asked if someone who was two turns away could play their reverse card of the same color on top of it, even though it wasn't their turn yet. 'No, that's not how it works,' the 9-year-old said. But the 13-year-old quickly rebutted that: 'Yes, it is. You can stack.' The 37-year-old agreed that yes, you can stack, but the reverse won't apply to the person whose turn it actually is. The 13-year-old didn't agree with that. 'We all have to agree upon the rules before we proceed,' the 37-year-old said, not even three minutes into the game, followed by the 9-year-old slamming their cards on the table, saying with sass in their tone that they no longer wanted to play. It seems only natural that the game fosters family hostility, since that's what led to its creation. When asked how the game affects their own lives, one person told the Deseret News that her boyfriend gets so frustrated playing that they had to stop because she was losing 'attraction' to him. Another said she liked to play, and is even 'passionate about the rules,' but only 'when it benefits me,' she said. 'I play dirty.' Ray Adler, vice president and global head of games at Mattel, Uno's owner, told The Wall Street Journal that the game's paradox of rivalry and simplicity is what maintains its popularity. 'Best friends become merciless. Seven-year-olds turn strategic,' he said. 'This is what makes Uno special — universal accessibility meets authentic emotions disguised as family fun.' If you actually want to know the rules of the original game, you can find them here. Just don't forget to say, 'Uno!'
Cosmopolitan
3 days ago
- Cosmopolitan
Hydra is the laidback, stunning and walkable Greek island you need to book for your next summer trip
With hundreds of islands, it can be slightly overwhelming to know which of the picturesque Greek paradises to spend your precious annual leave at. However, after spending a week on the calm, sunny and car-free island of Hydra, it's safe to say it's at the top of my list of recommendations. The small island is located less than an hour away by ferry from the city of Athens. Spend a night in the city and soak up the lively atmosphere before heading over for a week of true relaxation in Hydra. The island was beloved by Leonard Cohen, and recently featured in an episode of Prime Video's Daisy Jones and the Six. But despite its fame, the vibe is lowkey and relaxed. Cars aren't allowed so everyone travels by foot, boat or donkey. The town itself is easily walkable, and you can see it all within a day, which leaves plenty of time for the highlight - the beaches. Dotted around the island are a number of gorgeous coves, mainly rocky, that took my breath away on multiple occasions. There are so many, you'll want to spend a good week on the island hopping from place to place, picnic and books in tote bags, ready to spend afternoons swimming in the crystal clear sea followed by Spritzes and games of Uno. And when the day is over, make sure to pay attention to the unreal sunsets as you get ready for a chilled out dinner in the marina. Ready to plan a week in Hydra? Here's everything you need to know about the Greek oasis. One of the biggest reasons I love Hydra is how the buildings have been maintained, with many restrictions stopping the development of big hotels taking over. Instead, hotels are boutique and intimate, like the Hotel Miranda where we stayed. It's located just a minute's walk up a side street from the main port, and was originally a sea captain's mansion built in 1810. There are just 14 rooms in the hotel, some with balconies looking out to sea, and others with garden views. The small number of rooms and relaxed nature of the hotel makes it feel like you're staying at the house of a great family friend. And this in part is due to the fact the hotel is run by Miranda - hence the hotel's name - and her lovely family. Breakfast is served each morning in the hotel's courtyard, surrounded by lemon, orange and jasmine trees, where you can tuck into freshly made pastries and local jam, while chatting away with other guests. Simply heavenly. Over the years it's played host to a number of artists and exhibitions, and this is reflected in the walls of the hotel, which are decorated in a very classical style but with all the modern facilities you could want. Book your stay at Miranda Hotel here Hydra is the island to come to if all you want to do is relax on the beach, catch-up on your reading list and swim in crystal blue waters. However, knowing which beach to go to is crucial. Many of them are accessible by water-taxi only, so you do need to slightly plan ahead - however the ones I've listed below are all accessible on foot. The journeys to them are so picturesque, it makes the stroll all the more enjoyable. Spilla beach Located less than a five minute walk from the centre, the Spilla beach is less of a beach and more of a series of plinths to rest and dive in from. It's set between two beach bars - the Hydronetta and Spilla beach bar - which are built into the rocks. It's the sort of place you go for a proper swim and then get out for a much needed Aperol. Avlaki beach This is just a 10 minute walk from the port and is located down a long set of steps. It's a very small beach with crystal clear blue water. It's a spot for a morning swim, where it's pretty much deserted, and then heading back for breakfast. There are no toilets or facilities, just two ledges to rest on. However there is a very nice restaurant, Téchne, at the top, which is open for lunch and dinner. Kamini If you're looking for a beach to spend the whole day on then I'd head to Kamini. It's about a 20 to 25 minute walk from the port, or you can get a water taxi. You can either lay a towel out on the beach for free or there are a few rows of sun beds and umbrellas you can rent for the day. They're part of the Castillo restaurant, which is truly stunning,and you can either eat in the restaurant, or order to your sunbed. We ended up taking sandwiches with us and ordering rosé while playing Uno all afternoon. Honestly, it doesn't get better than that. Mandraki Located to the right side of the port, this is either a five minute water taxi or 20 minute walk. There are two beaches, one that belongs to the Mandraki Hotel where prices for the sunbed a day are pretty spenny, or there's the public beach which has sun beds at a more affordable rate, restaurants, toilets and a beach bar. There's a number of yachts docked around this beach which makes for some great people watching. To note: apart from the beach at the Mandraki Hotel, the rest of the beaches on the island are made up of stones and not sand, so while not essential, next time I'd definitely bring a pair of water shoes. While you can get a water taxi to one place, there are also plenty of boat tours that will arrange to take you to many of the best beaches on the island in one day. Ideal if you're only there for a long weekend and want to pack as much in as possible. If you need a bit more activity in your day, then start the morning off with a horse ride. Harriet's Hydra Horses company leads group riding treks across hydra, visiting monasteries and beaches dotted across the island. She keeps the groups small and every trek is personalised to that group. Hydra is a small island with a small main town, but it's still packed with plenty to keep you entertained. As well as the shops lining the main port, there's also a number of galleries, the Hydra museum, and Leonard Cohen's house (you can't go into his old house but you can walk past and take pictures) to keep you busy. A classic no frills Greek taverna which easily had some of the best food we ate on the island. It's all about the salads, fresh fish and peppers stuffed with feta, and it's located in the most gorgeous square with live music playing. In the same square is Kafeneio, which is a more modern and elevated take on classic Greek dishes. It kind of felt like if you picked up an east London restaurant and dropped it onto a Greek island. This seafood restaurant elevated above the port is the best place to go for good food and unmatched views in the evening. While they specialise in seafood (order the king prawn linguine - you won't be disappointed), they also do plenty of Greek classics. You can't really leave Greece without having gyros, and this was our favourite place on the island to get them. The gyros are super fresh, have a variety of toppings available and the come in very large portions. There are plenty of places to drink along the main port, however our favourite place for cocktails was at Amalour. It's set in a lively square and looks out on a number of bustling restaurants. They do an unreal margarita and from around 11, you can start dancing until the early hours. Hydra isn't the island to come to if you want to go out partying every night - Amalour and Red Club are the only two venues to play late nice music. Amalour is perfect if you just want to let you hair down for one night while you're there. For more low key and intimate evening drinks head to the L'Americano. It's just down the road from the Miranda Hotel and does an incredible cocktail menu. With relaxed jazz music playing you could easily spend a few hours here. Oh and be sure to try the spicy white negroni. The best (and basically only) way to get to Hydra is to fly into Athens and from there take an hour and a half ferry from the port, which you should book ahead. Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK's Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from TV and film, to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating quizzes, covering exciting new food releases and sharing the latest interior must-haves. In her role she's interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of The Kardashians. After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into fashion journalism, writing for the Daily Express, before working as Features Editor at The Tab, where she spoke on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on LinkedIn.
Mint
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Everybody's mad about Uno
When a fight breaks out between a couple at one of his New York board game cafes, Greg May can guess the likely culprit without even looking up: Uno. More than 50 years after its debut, the card-shedding game is now more popular than ever, fueled by savvy marketing, nostalgia and viral stunts. That is especially true among young adults, who organize game nights around Uno, incorporate drinking rules and embrace increasingly cutthroat variations. But taking a game that already seemed designed to make people mad and reintroducing it to grown-ups who were raised on different rules can be a recipe for tension. Think politics divides? Try mixing competitors with different views on stacking 'action" cards, or getting everyone to agree on the true power of the Wild card. And nobody can seem to decide whether staples of the game of their youth – like mandating players yell 'Uno!" when they have one card left – are socially acceptable at a bar with strangers. 'Emotions can definitely run high," said May, co-founder of the Hex & Company and The Uncommons cafes in New York. Josh and Erin Alderson by all accounts have a peaceful marriage. But there is one issue on which they can't seem to come together. Josh says a Wild card only lets a player change the color, while Erin argues it allows the player to change the color and play a card. The couple typically defaults to Erin's ruling. Sitting on the floor of their living room in St. Louis one night this month, the duo were locked in a different kind of standoff: an Uno match that wouldn't end. 'We're both very competitive, so we can't finish in a tie," Erin said. 'I think we ended up playing nine rounds." (Josh won, she added somewhat begrudgingly, crediting his victory to a strategy of hoarding action cards until late in the game.) Uno's publisher, Mattel, has embraced the game's power to test relationships and often acts as referee, settling disputes on its X account, realUNOgame. '*Per management: You cannot STACK a +2 on a +2," the account posted, denouncing a commonly held belief that stacking—or playing the same card on top of itself to double its consequence—is allowed. 'Go ahead, roast us." Mattel also launched Uno Show 'Em No Mercy, a version designed that features what gamemakers call ruthless rules and penalties. It was the second-best-selling card game in the U.S. last year, according to research firm Circana, trailing only the classic version of Uno. Ray Adler, vice president and global head of games at Mattel, said the game's appeal stems from both its simplicity and its power to divide. 'Best friends become merciless. Seven-year-olds turn strategic," Adler said. 'This is what makes Uno special – universal accessibility meets authentic emotions disguised as family fun." Despite several new iterations, Uno's basic rules have remained largely unchanged since its 1971 debut. Players take turns shedding cards that match the color or number of the top card on a discard pile. If a player can't play a card, they draw a new one from the deck. The first person to ditch their hand wins. The deck is sprinkled with cards that force another player to draw more cards, thwarting their path to victory and extending the game. The other catch: You have to call out 'Uno!" when you have one card left. Maggie Burke learned this the hard way while playing Uno at summer camp. After shedding her hand down to one card, she was too shy to yell, 'Uno!" The other campers called her out. Now a 28-year-old writer in Boston, Burke had a full-circle moment while playing with an attractive stranger at a dive bar. 'Had to be really chill abt the fact that they didn't announce uno when they had one card left making their win invalid," she posted on X. 'Couldn't let them see the game night aggression." Burke said Uno has had a revival in her life thanks to regular game nights with friends. The group created a drinking version by adding blank cards that require the next person up to either draw 25 cards or take a shot. 'People I don't know will join in at the bar, and I'm just like, 'I feel bad because I don't know you, but I gotta give you the Draw 4,'" she said. Expletives are often exchanged—especially after a few drinks—but 'it's always playful," Williams said. Uno got an unexpected viral boost from a British YouTuber. At a charity soccer match in 2023, Max Fosh sprinted down the pitch in front of more than 60,000 spectators at London Stadium and tackled an opposing player in the hopes of drawing a yellow card. When the referee obliged, Fosh whipped out a green Uno Reverse card. The stunt helped supercharge a movement to use the card—which in the game reverses the order of play—as a real-life comeback meaning, 'No, you." Now American middle schoolers stash Reverse cards in their pockets to redirect any manner of affront. In turn, teachers have tucked the cards into lanyards and stowed them in desk drawers, prepared for when students try to use the cards on them. Leigh Dyer, a 25-year-old account manager at an Orlando, Fla., marketing firm, loves Uno so much that she recently bought a miniature deck to keep in her purse for when she goes out with friends or colleagues. She has long followed house rules that allow stacking, as well as dropping multiple cards at once: 'If I have three Draw 4 cards, I'm laying them down," she said. But recently, Dyer has started to rethink that strategy. 'I've become very cautious about stacking when I'm sitting next to my mom or my fiancé," she said. 'Because what goes around comes back around, especially with the Uno Reverse." Write to Connor Hart at
Wall Street Journal
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Everybody's Mad About Uno
When a fight breaks out between a couple at one of his New York board game cafes, Greg May can guess the likely culprit without even looking up: Uno. More than 50 years after its debut, the card-shedding game is now more popular than ever, fueled by savvy marketing, nostalgia and viral stunts. That is especially true among young adults, who organize game nights around Uno, incorporate drinking rules and embrace increasingly cutthroat variations. But taking a game that already seemed designed to make people mad and reintroducing it to grown-ups who were raised on different rules can be a recipe for tension. Think politics divides? Try mixing competitors with different views on stacking 'action' cards, or getting everyone to agree on the true power of the Wild card. And nobody can seem to decide whether staples of the game of their youth – like mandating players yell 'Uno!' when they have one card left – are socially acceptable at a bar with strangers. 'Emotions can definitely run high, 'said May, co-founder of the Hex & Company and The Uncommons cafes in New York. Josh and Erin Alderson by all accounts have a peaceful marriage. But there is one issue on which they can't seem to come together. Josh says a Wild card only lets a player change the color, while Erin argues it allows the player to change the color and play a card. The couple typically defaults to Erin's ruling. Sitting on the floor of their living room in St. Louis one night this month, the duo were locked in a different kind of standoff: an Uno match that wouldn't end. 'We're both very competitive, so we can't finish in a tie,' Erin said. 'I think we ended up playing nine rounds.' (Josh won, she added somewhat begrudgingly, crediting his victory to a strategy of hoarding action cards until late in the game.) Uno's publisher, Mattel, has embraced the game's power to test relationships and often acts as referee, settling disputes on its X account, realUNOgame. '*Per management: You cannot STACK a +2 on a +2,' the account posted, denouncing a commonly held belief that stacking—or playing the same card on top of itself to double its consequence—is allowed. 'Go ahead, roast us.' Mattel also launched Uno Show 'Em No Mercy, a version designed that features what gamemakers call ruthless rules and penalties. It was the second-best-selling card game in the U.S. last year, according to research firm Circana, trailing only the classic version of Uno. Ray Adler, vice president and global head of games at Mattel, said the game's appeal stems from both its simplicity and its power to divide. 'Best friends become merciless. Seven-year-olds turn strategic,' Adler said. 'This is what makes Uno special – universal accessibility meets authentic emotions disguised as family fun.' Despite several new iterations, Uno's basic rules have remained largely unchanged since its 1971 debut. Players take turns shedding cards that match the color or number of the top card on a discard pile. If a player can't play a card, they draw a new one from the deck. The first person to ditch their hand wins. The deck is sprinkled with cards that force another player to draw more cards, thwarting their path to victory and extending the game. The other catch: You have to call out 'Uno!' when you have one card left. Maggie Burke learned this the hard way while playing Uno at summer camp. After shedding her hand down to one card, she was too shy to yell, 'Uno!' The other campers called her out. Now a 28-year-old writer in Boston, Burke had a full-circle moment while playing with an attractive stranger at a dive bar. 'Had to be really chill abt the fact that they didn't announce uno when they had one card left making their win invalid,' she posted on X. 'Couldn't let them see the game night aggression.' Burke said Uno has had a revival in her life thanks to regular game nights with friends. The group created a drinking version by adding blank cards that require the next person up to either draw 25 cards or take a shot. Andrea Williams frequently plays Uno at a bar near her apartment in Hartford, Conn., with her college friends and random patrons. 'People I don't know will join in at the bar, and I'm just like, 'I feel bad because I don't know you, but I gotta give you the Draw 4,'' she said. Expletives are often exchanged—especially after a few drinks—but 'it's always playful,' Williams said. Uno got an unexpected viral boost from a British YouTuber. At a charity soccer match in 2023, Max Fosh sprinted down the pitch in front of more than 60,000 spectators at London Stadium and tackled an opposing player in the hopes of drawing a yellow card. When the referee obliged, Fosh whipped out a green Uno Reverse card. The stunt helped supercharge a movement to use the card—which in the game reverses the order of play—as a real-life comeback meaning, 'No, you.' Now American middle schoolers stash Reverse cards in their pockets to redirect any manner of affront. In turn, teachers have tucked the cards into lanyards and stowed them in desk drawers, prepared for when students try to use the cards on them. Leigh Dyer, a 25-year-old account manager at an Orlando, Fla., marketing firm, loves Uno so much that she recently bought a miniature deck to keep in her purse for when she goes out with friends or colleagues. She has long followed house rules that allow stacking, as well as dropping multiple cards at once: 'If I have three Draw 4 cards, I'm laying them down,' she said. But recently, Dyer has started to rethink that strategy. 'I've become very cautious about stacking when I'm sitting next to my mom or my fiancé,' she said. 'Because what goes around comes back around, especially with the Uno Reverse.' Write to Connor Hart at
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
COVU Acquires Uno Insurance Services, Extends AI-Native Roll-Up Into Texas Market
SAN FRANCISCO, May 22, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--COVU, Inc., the leader in AI-native customer servicing for the insurance industry, today announced the acquisition of Uno Insurance Services, a fast-growing Texas-based agency with a stronghold in Houston's Spanish-speaking communities and a track record of revenue growth through targeted acquisitions. This marks COVU's second acquisition and the company's first major acquisition in the Texas market. The move demonstrates the scalability of COVU's platform to serve both urban and culturally diverse populations, without compromising on its core mission of empowering independent agencies to evolve or exit on their terms. "Uno is a great example of what modern agencies look like—community-driven, acquisition-savvy, and customer-first," said Ali Safavi, CEO of COVU. "By combining Uno's local relationships and cultural fluency with COVU's AI-native infrastructure, we're expanding the ways we can serve diverse customers while supporting the next generation of agency growth." Built for Growth, Grounded in Community Led by principal Eddie Vitale, Uno Insurance Services has grown revenues an average of 26% over the past three years by acquiring and integrating small local agencies throughout the Houston area. The agency has a loyal, primarily Spanish-speaking customer base, and strong carrier relationships including Progressive, Southern Vanguard, and Allstate. Uno's historical EBITDA margins and consistent customer retention (111% revenue retention) make it a compelling addition to COVU's national platform—contributing both cultural strength and operational efficiency. As part of the transaction, COVU plans to retain Eddie as a strategic consultant to support additional acquisition opportunities in Texas and beyond. "The biggest area of anxiety for most business owners or agents is staffing. During the initial service period with COVU, a lot of that stress was relieved as part of their due diligence process. I knew my clients were being taken care of, and that was a huge relief," added Vitale. "Both my team and I are incredibly excited about this partnership. They now have access to better benefits than I could provide, opportunities to work on a national scale, enhanced career paths, and the flexibility to work from home if they choose. It's a game-changer." Supporting Every Agency's Path Forward COVU's acquisition of Uno underscores its commitment to giving agency owners the tools to scale, the option to step back, or the freedom to exit entirely. Whether an agency is growing aggressively or simply wants a seamless succession plan, COVU provides the servicing backbone to preserve their book, protect their client relationships, and unlock value. "If I could go back, I would do it again and sell to COVU. Absolutely. I'm very glad to be partnering with COVU and being part of this growing ecosystem," said Eddie Vitale. About COVU COVU is a transformative platform designed to revolutionize the insurance servicing industry through AI-native solutions combined with human support. The company is dedicated to enhancing customer experiences and operational efficiency for insurance agencies while providing flexible servicing models to meet the demands of modern consumers. Watch the full interview with Eddie Vitale here. View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Sheny Plasenciapress@ Sign in to access your portfolio
