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Time Magazine
4 days ago
- Time Magazine
I Used to Hate the Beach. Here's What Changed My Mind
You're either a mountain person or you're a beach person. At least, that's what I used to think. The two groups aren't just distinct but opposite, the Sharks vs. Jets of outdoor recreation, each side dance-snapping at the other in rhythmic distrust. There was never any question which gang I belonged to. Growing up, my family skied. We hiked. While no one would ever have described us as 'mountaineers,' our vacations nearly always involved verticality. What really made us mountain people, though, is that we weren't beach people. On its face, what set us apart was elevation, but really the divide ran much deeper. In the mountains, you pick a point and work hard to get there. If you're hiking or climbing, the goal is above you. If you're skiing, snowboarding, or mountain biking, the goal is below. Either way, in the mountains, a sense of satisfaction and wonder comes through hard work and achievement. You earn your views. Beach people, on the other hand… well, to be honest, I didn't really get beach people. I understood beach activities: boogey-boarding, bodysurfing, fishing. But just hanging out on the sand, sitting on a rickety chair in the shade of a flimsy umbrella, with nothing but a book or human being for company? That didn't seem merely strange to me. It seemed scary. The Jewish Talmud refers to sleep as 1/60th of death. That's more or less how I felt about hanging out at the beach. And so, as fate would have it, I fell in love with a beach person. The coastal Maria to my alpine Tony was Jacqui, a Jersey girl who grew up ten minutes from the shore. We were 25-years-old when we met on OkCupid in its 2011 heyday. She was still in law school at the time. I was a junior speechwriter in the White House. While sleeping in her childhood twin bed was not entirely inviting, the prospect of free weekend getaways was too good to pass up. We made a few trips each summer. 'What should we do?' I'd ask in the morning. 'Go to the beach,' Jacqui would reply. 'Okay, but what should we do at the beach,' I'd ask. Jacqui would give me a confused look, as though I'd asked what we should do while wrestling alligators or piloting fighter jets through a hail of enemy gunfire. For 'to go' was the only beach-related verb needed. Read More: What Surfing Taught Me About Having Fun in a World That's on Fire It's hard to believe that there was a time when I thought that a 'beach day' was the same thing as 'a day spent at the beach.' The latter is a description. The former, I now know, is a ritual. The details are unique to each beachgoer, yet the experience being summoned is the same. For my then-girlfriend, now wife, it began at Wegman's, the grocery store that plays the kind of communal role in Central New Jersey that cathedrals once did in Medieval Europe. There, like a witch carefully selecting spell ingredients, she'd pick out provisions. Turkey sandwich with provolone and spicy mustard. Ruffles potato chips. Sparkling water. Blueberries. (Jacqui eats other kinds of berries, of course, but never at the beach.) We'd throw our haul in the cooler, set out in search of a parking spot, and haul our chairs toward the sand. It's hard to describe how antsy I felt in the absence of a concrete, mountain-person goal. We're letting entire hours fly by! I'd think. I can't point to the exact moment when I began to feel kind of beachy. But in a way, that's the point. A beach day isn't about discrete moments—it's about time melting into itself like provolone cheese on a turkey sandwich. It's one of the few instances when 'Where did the time go?' can be asked with delight rather than regret. That's especially true in America. In a country that fetishizes productivity, the beach celebrates the absence of achievement. It gives a quiet, content middle finger to our nation's workaholism. In its own laid-back and lackadaisical way, beachgoers argue that life's most valuable reward isn't a yacht or private jet or invitation to hobnob with the rich and powerful. It's extra time—and the chance to spend it with people you care about. In a country in the grip of rampant and growing income inequality, that's a remarkably egalitarian view of luxury. For most Americans, the beach is also the country's most accessible public land. Many of America's most pristine woodlands or peaks are deep in the wilderness. That's part of what makes them pristine. The beach is different—and far more densely populated. While coastal counties make up less than 10% of the lower 48 states' landmass, they're home to 40% of its people. For many American families, sun and sand are the most affordable nature around. And in our often privatized and commodified country, American beaches today remain surprisingly accessible. There are ongoing fights about the dwindling number of public beaches, and reasons to be concerned the number will shrink. But for now, in both law and theory, the beach belongs to everyone. Nor has beach access devolved into yet another red versus blue issue. California and Texas like to present themselves as polar opposite visions for America. But one thing they have in common is that the public has a legal right to access the beach. Read More: How I Learned to Love My Body—Especially in the Summer That's one reason why—while the fantasy of a private beach remains the prevailing one in beer commercials or posts from travel influencers—in real life the beach is increasingly a melting pot. Nationalists like Stephen Miller suggest that when people from different backgrounds share the same space, the inevitable result is chaos. The beach belies that. That's especially easy to see here in New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the country, and one of its most diverse. When people from vastly different groups hang out on the beach, what happens is pretty simple: they enjoy themselves. That's not because they're trying to prove a point about multiculturalism. It's because, if you're not enjoying yourself on the beach, who even are you? The beach isn't perfect. If someone ran for president on the single-issue platform of 'No blasting music from giant Bluetooth speakers on the sand without your fellow beachgoers' consent,' they'd have my vote. But while I still love to ski and hike and earn my views, I've realized that sharks and jets exist in closer symbiosis than I once thought. We don't have to divide ourselves into mountain people and beach people. We need both. And if we're lucky, we get to be both. One night, almost a decade ago, Jacqui and I went to Long Branch, New Jersey on July 4th. We staked out a spot on the jam-packed sand and laid out our blankets. There were at least a half-dozen languages being spoken, but no translation was needed. We sat together, chatting in anticipation of the fireworks, enjoying a quintessentially American experience. After the last boom echoed over the shoreline, everyone went their separate ways. But not immediately. There was a moment when all of us—thousands of us—lingered and listened to the ocean. We sat there on the edge of the infinite, each of us knowing that, for a moment, anyway, we had all the time in the world.


Buzz Feed
23-07-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
I'm Not Gonna Lie, These 20 Absolutely Mind-Blowing Pictures Just Completely And Totally Shattered My Dumb Little Brain
This is what the border between Mexico and the United States looks like at the ocean between Tijuana and San Diego: Here's another unique border. This is the border between Canada and France on Saint Pierre and Miquelon near Newfoundland: While campaigning for president in 1912, Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest but survived because the bullet was slowed by a steel glasses case and a folded speech in his jacket pocket. This is the shirt he was wearing that day: He famously went on to deliver the speech anyway, clocking in at over one hour. In Finland the largest size of mayonaise is called "AMERICAN SIZE:" No comment. This is one of only two remaining pirate Jolly Roger flags in existence: It was captured in 1790. According to the BBC, the flag's red color "signified the pirates intended to spare no life if a battle broke out during a ship's capture." Here's what some dinosaur footprints look like: Neat! Way, way back when it was originally created, Lysol advertised one of its uses as being for 'feminine hygiene:" Obviously, this is incredibly dangerous. This is Paul Karason, whose skin turned permanently blue after years of consuming colloidal silver: He claimed it cured many of his health problems, including arthritis and acid reflux. Here he is next to a non-blue person: According to astronomers, this is the average color of the universe: The color is called "cosmic latte." To figure this out, astronomers averaged the colors of over 200,000 galaxies together. Folks, would you drink the cosmic latte? Some old lawnmowers had built in cigarette lighters: We used to be a proper country. Yellow watermelons are a thing that exists: They apparently have more of a "honey" taste. I've seen them at Wegman's... but have not tried. Some menus include the estimated cooking time for each dish along with the price: This is a loaf of sourdough bread that was miraculously preserved after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE: It was inside an oven at the time of the eruption. Folks, are you eating the volcano bread? Over time, gold crayons can turn green on the outside but still be gold on the inside: Sanddollars, my friend... sanddollars can be very tiny: This is what the start of a river looks like: Otherwise known as a spring. This is the start of the Metolius River in Oregon. Before treating cuts on eyeballs, a yellow dye is applied to better locate any tears: It does look pretty cool, though. This is the amount of contact a train wheel typically makes with the track: A bit scary. This is what a cross-section of a Boeing 747 looks like: Not much between you and the great wide-open sky. And, finally, some elevators in Japan have tiny little toilets in the corner: For... you know... emergencies.

Engadget
09-07-2025
- Engadget
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025: Live updates on Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7 and Watch 8
The Unpacked keynote has started, and after a quick flash of the usual legal disclaimers, Samsung is now showing us a video. I feel like Fold and Flip owners have such different expectations. I mean a tri-fold sounds pretty rad but personally all I want is the option to pay a little more money for a Flip that has flagship cameras. I agree with Sam. They also teased that next "Ultra" chapter. Will we see a Z Fold Ultra? It should be a trifold, in my opinion! FWIW, this Unpacked event is at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, which is its own weird little corner of town that's kind of hidden away and hard to get into. That said, there is a Wegman's right down the street, so maybe Samsung was expecting people to stop there first? (I kid.) The rumor I'm most interested in is the possible appearance of Samsung's tri-fold phone. Info about it has swirling around for a while, but it's been somewhat unclear if Samsung actually has plans to release it in the US. If we do see , I'm betting that it will be as a quick tease or a "one more thing" at the end of the presentation, similar to how they gave us a preview of the S25 Edge at the previous Unpacked event at the beginning of the year. Do you all think maybe Samsung couldn't find any good catering because everyone is so busy shopping Amazon's Prime Day deals. Did you like how I casually referenced this massive shopping event in the middle of our liveblog? I just wanted to set the scene for those wondering what's going on outside of the Samsung world today and this week. (The Engadget homepage is a good indicator of what else is happening in the consumer tech world.) Well hi there Sam! I too have a seat, but it's at my desk, at 6:45AM, in sunny Arizona. Looking forward to throwing the Galaxy Z Flip 6 I've used daily for the past year or so into that sun shortly. Some rumors suggest that Samsung might be preparing to reveal a Galaxy S25 Fan Edition (FE), which would add yet another model to its S25 family. I'm not convinced we'll see that today, but if we did, that would be the fifth S25 phone to date. (Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge Hey y'all, I'm at Unpacked and I finally grabbed a seat and figured out the Wi-FI situation (hint: it's not good). But I'm still hyped because as a foldable phone enthusiast, it feels like were primed for some big updates to Samsung's lineup. I guess I could talk about tech and Samsung for a bit. Like we mentioned earlier, this is the third Unpacked this year, with the most recent one being a quick, short pre-recorded video detailing the super thin Galaxy S25 Edge that was first teased at Unpacked in January. In his review, Sam found it delivered more than just a slim frame — it was a compelling alternative to the S25 Plus. Sam told me there are no snacks at the Brooklyn event, just drinks. I am left with no choice but to go ask Mat about snacks. I know this is the dedicated journalism you are all here for. The seating area in front of the stage at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2025 in Brooklyn, with row of empty chairs near the side. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget) Looks like there's plenty of room for Sam at the event! So you have time to go look at the snack selection before finding a seat, right Sam? A line of people standing in front of a large building with a banner on it showing the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked invitation image. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget) The view from the line to get into the Unpacked event in New York. By the looks of the picture Mat shared below, it's looking like a stellar spot for an event! I've also heard Sam is in line at the main Unpacked venue in New York and waiting to get in. Don't worry, I will request pictures of snacks. As it usually does, Samsung is also hosting satellite Unpacked events around the world, including one in London, where our UK bureau chief Mat Smith may has joined us from. Hi Mat! Samsung Unpacked event 2025 in London, UK (Image by Mat Smith for Engadget) Hi from the London satellite event. Samsung has wall-to-wall screens here. Picture to follow! While we think we know all that Samsung has up its sleeve today, I can't help wondering if it might surprise us with something unexpected. There was a lot of talk a few weeks ago about a possible Galaxy Z Fold Ultra, possibly because of the company's use of the words "the next chapter of Ultra" in its teaser blog post in June. Sam Rutherford might also drop in today to share pictures from the event in Brooklyn, and he's a dedicated foldable fan and to my knowledge currently uses the Pixel 9 Pro Fold as his primary device!
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How Long Island food rescue volunteers are turning leftovers into lifesavers
NEW YORK - Volunteers with Food Rescue US are teaming up with restaurants and markets to combat hunger and food waste across Long Island. Using a simple app-based system, they collect and deliver surplus food directly to shelters and pantries—sometimes within minutes. What we know Volunteers with Food Rescue US regularly stop by The Culinary Studio in Huntington to pick up freshly prepared meals. These meals are then delivered directly to shelters or food pantries in need. "Whatever we make here is for them too," said Mary Spoto, owner of The Culinary Studio of Huntington. The nonprofit works with multiple food donors, including five Panera locations on Long Island, Wegman's, and various local farms. "We work with five Paneras on Long Island, we work with Wegman's, we work with local farms," said June Ingraham, Western Suffolk Co-Site Director for Food Rescue US. How it works Once a food donation is ready, a post goes out on the Food Rescue US app. Volunteers then claim the "rescue" and quickly transport it. "Within thirty minutes we're dropping that food off to an agency," said Liz Maloney, Western Nassau Site Coordinator. Volunteers follow a set weekly schedule with donors. "We have a set weekly schedule with our donors to pick up on certain days and if you're available to do the rescue—you click 'I'll do it' and that means you have claimed the rescue," Maloney explained. By the numbers According to Feeding America: About 250,000 people on Long Island suffer from food insecurity. 79,000 of those are children. Nationwide, 30–40% of food is wasted and ends up in landfills. The other side While major donations come from food banks, smaller deliveries from Food Rescue US help round out offerings at local pantries. "We could do everything we can because there are so many people who need food," said Nancy Seiden, VP of The Community Food Council. The Community Food Council feeds approximately 300 families each week and is always in need of more food donors. "It's very rewarding and when you see the look on somebody's face and you give them food they didn't know they'd have—it's really heartwarming," said Anne Sacks-Berg, Western Suffolk Co-Site Director of Food Rescue US.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Last-minute Valentine's Day shoppers look for perfect gift
Businesses are blossoming with Valentine's Day deals and some last-minute shoppers are out trying to find their loved one the perfect gift. 'There's nothing like chocolate and when you put chocolate over strawberries it says Valentine's Day. that's why I got an assortment here of some of these different strawberries,' said Jim Robertson, a shopper. Snow-heavy winter makes for good times at Peek'n Peak Some may say all you need is love but it appears a little chocolate every now and then doesn't hurt. That's why Jim Robertson makes a trip to Wegman's every year to buy the sweethearts in his life something special. And while browsing the delicious strawberries, Robertson saw a familiar face. 'My grandson's right here and he's picking up flowers and strawberries for his wife,' Robertson said. 'It's just a day dedicated to the loved ones my wife especially,' said James Zillman, another shopper. Road crews preparing for another round of Erie winter weather Robertson and Zillman weren't the only ones taking advantage of the grocery store's Valentine's Day display. Several people were browsing their fresh-cut floral arrangements and balloons. There's even meat and seafood items for the couples that want to stay home and cook like Zillman and his wife. 'Our floral team set up this beautiful display as well as working hand and hand with other departments to create something that our customers literally stop in their tracks,' said Virginia Sawdey, a cooking coach at Wegman's on Peach Street. 'Today we're looking forward to seeing a lot of people come in our teams are ready to go, we'll be here throughout the evening.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Another popular gift for this holiday is jewelry. Whether you're looking for a sparkly diamond or a unique piece like jade, you can find what you're looking for at Dempsey & Baxter. 'there's an expectation on Valentine's Day that candy and flowers are affordable, jewelry doesn't have to be more expensive than candy or flowers but it has more permanence and can carry more of an emotional impact,' Jack Dempsey, the owner of Dempsey & Baxter. Dempsey has been in the jewelry business for over 50 years and says they have a lot of traffic this time of year. 'We sell a lot of sterling this time of year, silver hearts with jewelry, there's some signature pieces, we have new engraving equipment,' he said. 'Customers don't have to be worried too much whether or not if there's going to be something available.' Remember to keep those Valentine's Day treats away from pets 'Happiness is one of the things that make life go longer and sharing things with people, that's what life is all about,' Robertson went on to say. Dempsey and Baxter closed at 6 p.m. Friday night but opens Saturday at 10 a.m. and Wegmans is open until the evening. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.