A single Quarter Pounder might look like a hefty meal. However, when compared to the amount of cow meat McDonald’s uses annually, it’s a drop in a beefy ocean.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
Day: February 6, 2026
Imagine the camaraderie behind the scenes of a country concert, where friendships often trump contracts. You won’t want to miss this insight. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Imagine the camaraderie behind the scenes of a country concert, where friendships often trump contracts. You won’t want to miss this insight. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
The Seattle Seahawks have won nine straight games, looking for their first Super Bowl title since the 2013 season. On the other hand, the New England Patriots might be embarking on the beginning of a new dynasty in Foxborough. Super Bowl LX has all the makings of a classic, as Seattle was 60-1 in the preseason to win the title while New England was a whopping 80-1. Who’s going to win Sunday in Santa Clara? Here are the FOX Sports staff’s game predictions. Greg Auman: Seahawks 31, Patriots 20 It simply feels like Seattle is a more complete team, dominant on both sides. New England’s defense has done the heavy lifting in three playoff wins, but I think Seattle is better than anything they’ve faced. I think offensive coordinator (and soon-to-be Raiders head coach) Klint Kubiak will build a smart game plan that limits the risk for Sam Darnold, and I think Seattle’s playmakers will be the difference in the game. Ben Arthur: Seahawks 24, Patriots 17 Both teams have elite defenses (Seahawks have the slight edge), so I think this comes down to quarterback play. And I just trust Sam Darnold more. That would’ve been a crazy thing to say a year ago, but give him credit. He’s delivered for Seattle in the biggest moments in this Super Bowl run, most notably the NFC championship game. Drake Maye is the MVP finalist, but he hasn’t been the same player since the regular season ended. Henry McKenna: Patriots 17, Seahawks 13 There has been a startling recency bias around the two QBs in this game. Sam Darnold saw two divisional opponents for the third time and had deep familiarity with those defenses — and he beat up on them. But New England’s? Not so much. Meanwhile, Drake Maye has played better than you’d expect (from his statistics) while playing three elite defenses on his playoff run. But he certainly hasn’t matched his impressiveness from the regular season. Darnold will finish this game with three turnovers, with the Patriots’ defense generating interior pressure that makes life difficult to read out Mike Vrabel’s disguised coverages. And that’ll open the door for Maye, who will start nervous in the first half but find his footing enough to score a pair of second-half touchdowns (one rushing and one passing) to win it. The Seahawks will have a final drive for the go-ahead TD, but the Patriots’ defense will hold. Ralph Vacchiano: Seahawks 31, Patriots 20 I have seen the worst of Sam Darnold, and I am over it. He is an elite, championship-worthy quarterback now. But the Seahawks don’t need him to throw for another 346 yards and 3 touchdowns. They have one of the NFL’s best rushing attacks (even without Zach Charbonnet) and a dangerous defense. The Patriots have had a remarkably charmed run and haven’t faced a team as good as the Seahawks all season. That reality is about to smack them hard in the face. Eric D. Williams: Seahawks 27, Patriots 23 Expect the Patriots to keep the game close because of the experience of head coach Mike Vrabel and New England’s underrated defense. However, the Seahawks have too many explosive players on offense for the Patriots to keep Seattle contained for the duration of the game. I don’t see New England’s offensive line keeping Drake Maye clean in perhaps the most lopsided positional match in the game. Maye was sacked an NFL-high 15 times in the playoffs and is responsible for three miscues. Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald and Seattle’s dominant defensive front, led by Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence, should create problems for Maye. There’s still a chance Sam Darnold reverts to his turnover-prone ways, which leads to a puncher’s chance for New England here. Will Hill: Seahawks 27, Patriots 17 The Patriots have had a remarkable turnaround post-Bill Belichick, but the Seahawks will pose a significant step up in competition compared to what the AFC bracket presented. I expect a low-scoring game, but I think the more talented Seahawks will ultimately pull away and win 27-17, with Sam Darnold taking home MVP. Chris Fallica: Seahawks 27, Patriots 23 I hate the game from a spread standpoint. It seems like a simple handicap where Seattle is better at every position and groupthink has the Seahawks winning comfortably. If anything, I’ll see if I can get a cheap Seahawks’ money line on the game, but I’m not going to lay 4.5 here. Sammy P: Seahawks 23, Patriots 20 After a low-scoring first quarter, I expect things to stay competitive the rest of the way. New England (15-5 ATS) made bettors money all season long and that mostly came in the favorite role. Mike Vrabel is a tremendous underdog coach and that song should remain the same this Sunday in Santa Clara. Geoff Schwartz: Seahawks 24, Patriots 13 The Seahawks have been the best team wire to wire this season and the best case for the Patriots in this game is Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold turning back into a pumpkin, which I do not expect. He’s been nails this postseason. The Seahawks’ defense is going to sit in zone coverage and force the New England to work for all their yard,s which is difficult without dynamic playmakers at the skill positions. The Seahawks will win this game comfortably. Patrick Everson: Seahawks 31, Patriots 17 It might end up being a close game. Maybe New England even pulls off the upset. But Seattle is very good, and I think this game might get away from the Patriots. So I’m betting on a couple of Seahawks alternate spreads, -6.5 and -9.5, hoping to get a little more at the pay window. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Country music’s evolution is a story of streaming’s impact — shorter songs and fresh collaborations are just the beginning of this sonic journey. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Country music’s evolution is a story of streaming’s impact — shorter songs and fresh collaborations are just the beginning of this sonic journey. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
He also shared a few more details about Sunday’s alternate halftime broadcast. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
He also shared a few more details about Sunday’s alternate halftime broadcast. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Chicago-style popcorn is a beloved tradition in the Windy City thanks to its unexpected balance of flavors and textures that may surprise you.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
Few ideas are as central to the nation’s identity as that of the American Dream.
With the 250th birthday of the United States coming up in July 2026, it’s worth stepping back to examine a concept essential to the nation’s self-image.
The term “American Dream” was actually coined in the 1930s by historian James Truslow Adams. Ever since the establishment of the Colonies, however, America has been viewed as a land where individual and collective hopes and aspirations can be realized.
From the idea of America as a shining “city on a hill” to the Declaration of Independence’s guarantee of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” the nation has been premised on high aspirations. The concept of the American Dream has epitomized these hopes, and it continues to be present throughout our cultural landscape.
As a social scientist, I set out to explore what Americans thought about the American Dream in today’s society. I interviewed scores of people, from an elderly man sleeping on the street to a billionaire entrepreneur.
I wanted to know exactly how they defined the American Dream – and whether it has become harder to achieve today than in the past.
Defining the dream
From pickup trucks and lawn tractor ads to the labeling of undocumented immigrant children as Dreamers, references to the American Dream in contemporary life are ubiquitous. Washington, D.C., is now home to a brand-new, US$500 million museum, the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, devoted to celebrating the idea and its history.
It turns out that for most people I interviewed, the American Dream consists of three basic ideas.
The first is what might be called an economic bargain: If you work hard and play by the rules, you should expect to have a financially secure life. This includes owning a home, being able to afford raising kids and retiring in comfort.
Tetra Images/Don Mason via Getty Images
Second, the American Dream is centered on hope and optimism. It is about personal progress and the belief that the nation’s best days lie ahead. It’s the idea that each generation should do better than the previous one, and that upward economic mobility is essential for bringing this about.
The third and final idea people expressed was having the freedom to pursue their hopes to reach their full potential. For many, this is the epitome of the American Dream.
At its best, the U.S. is seen as allowing individuals the freedom to live the life they want. Liberty and rugged individualism have been hallmarks of America since its beginnings, so it should come as no surprise that they are also central to the American Dream.
Economically more elusive?
Given this, has the American Dream become more or less difficult to achieve over time? Unfortunately, for a growing number of Americans, it appears to be more difficult.
First, the goal of leading an economically secure life in exchange for hard work has become more elusive. Data from the Census Bureau indicates that median wages for full-time male workers have essentially flatlined since 1973. The economy has been producing more low-wage and part-time jobs. Many of these lack benefits, such as health insurance.
Less-skilled workers, such as truck drivers and postal clerks, have actually lost ground in terms of income. At the same time, housing, medical care, child care and higher education costs have dramatically increased over the past 40 years.
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What about upward mobility and the hope for each generation to do better economically than the previous one? There is some evidence that one reason the middle class is shrinking is that more people have entered upper-income tiers.
Still, younger generations will actually earn, on average, less as adults than their parents did. This is the first time in U.S. history that this is the case. The formerly taken-for-granted idea of generational progress and moving forward appears to have stalled.
Upward economic mobility for lower-income workers has also slowed over the past 50 years, making it harder to climb the ladder of opportunity.
Dissatisfied, not dreaming
Finally, what about personal freedom? Survey data indicates that greater numbers of Americans feel they have less control over their lives and futures than in the past.
For more than 20 years, Gallup has asked the question, “In this country, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you do with your life?” The percentage of Americans reporting being satisfied has dropped notably over the past two decades. In 2007 it was 87%, but by 2024 it had fallen to 72%. For women, the number was even lower, declining from 85% in 2007 to 66% in 2024.
By comparison, the average for the wealthiest countries in the Gallup survey was 86%. Consequently, on all three counts it appears that the American Dream is becoming harder to achieve.
An aspirational hope
These trends are important for making sense of the polarization and general negativity found in America today. Too many Americans feel that they’ve been left behind and that the American Dream has become a distant reality.
For these Americans, the words of the late comedian and social commentator George Carlin ring true: “It’s called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.”
Yet the American Dream is a powerful metaphor and aspiration that continues to inspire many in this country. Among those I interviewed, there was a strong consensus that it represents the very best of what America has to offer.
There is no other country that has quite the equivalent of the American Dream. As the nation enters its next 250 years, working toward reestablishing the concept as a reality for millions of people who have fallen behind may be vital to maintaining the essence of the American promise.
Mark Robert Rank does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Politics + Society – The Conversation