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Is It Really Rude to Respond to a Text with a One-Word Answer?

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The Hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Has Resumed—Here’s What We Know About the Plane That Vanished into Thin Air

Just after midnight on March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 took off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport heading to Beijing. It was a routine red-eye route for the Boeing 777, but what started as a commonplace flight soon became one of the biggest mysteries in aviation history. Less than an hour after takeoff, MH370 lost radar contact as it crossed into Vietnamese-controlled airspace. The plane and all 239 people on board were never seen or heard from again . “For years, I have been asking, ‘What do you mean by lost contact?'” Li Eryou, whose son disappeared on the flight, told the BBC . “It seems to me that if you lose contact with someone, you should be able to reconnect with them.” Authorities tried, kicking off a multinational, multiyear search via air, sea and deep-sea sonar mapping. But neither government nor private search-and-rescue teams have been able to locate the wreckage. With questions mounting and answers in short supply, the strange disappearance ha...

Curious About Living Abroad? This New Report Ranks the Top 10 Countries for Expats

After spending a semester studying in Spain during my junior year of college, I became obsessed with the concept of moving abroad . Instead of spending their days rushing around from place to place, the Spaniards around me maintained a healthy work-life balance, moved at a slower pace and prioritized time spent with friends and family above all else. I fell in love. Even after I returned to the U.S., I missed the life I lived while in Spain. Today, I find myself looking up the visa requirements for various countries at least once a month and fantasizing about starting over in a city full of culture , history and, of course, food. New data suggests I’m not the only American who feels this way. A Gallup poll released last month noted that approximately 20% of Americans say they would like to move abroad permanently. According to the data, one of the most common reasons for wanting to make such a change is lower confidence in U.S. institutions. A 2024 report conducted by Expatsi, a comp...

Stranger Things Is Over—Now What?! Here Are 7 Shows to Watch to Fill the Void

Even as a professional entertainment writer, I still totally fangirl over an amazing show like Stranger Things . Its unique blend of action, heart, humor and nostalgia—oh, and some scary sci-fi monsters—was unmatched, and I felt a part of pop culture history as I watched the finale in the movie theater on New Year’s Eve. But now that it’s over, I admit I’m deep into that disoriented, empty feeling, like a book hangover but for a decade-long story. There’s nothing stranger than a TV show that’s been part of our lives for 10 years disappearing quicker than Will Byers into the Upside Down. So what now? You (and I!) need a way to get that sci-fi fix in the Rightside Up! I came up with a list of Stranger Things –like shows you might have missed. They each promise nostalgia, science-fantasy elements, kid-led adventures or a combination of all these aspects to fill the void. Some of these shows have already ended their run, but I made sure to include only those whose storylines were satisf...

Is It Really Rude to Pull an Irish Exit?

In  Reader’s Digest ’s new series, “Is It Really Rude to…,” Charlotte Hilton Andersen tackles low-stakes etiquette questions from everyday life using a combination of her common sense and vast knowledge from writing 50-plus etiquette stories for this site. Have a situation you can’t stop ruminating on? Email us at  advice@tmbi.com . First, let’s define our terms. An Irish exit is when you leave a gathering without saying goodbye to anyone. No hugs. No vague promises to “do this again soon.” No frantic search for the host while your coat slowly disappears into a pile of identical coats. You simply … vanish . I’m happy we’re tackling this topic, as it has been on my mind this week. I recently attended my husband’s work holiday party—a festive, fluorescent-lit marathon of smiling at strangers and saying things like, “Oh, wow, that’s so interesting!” and “I’ve heard so many great things about you!” After several hours of professional small talk and a taco buffet, I did what an...

This Is the Most Common Zodiac Sign—See How Yours Ranks

Truth: I never liked my zodiac sign . The reason? When I used to share it as a kid, I was met with wrinkled noses and taunts, as in, “Eww, you’re a Cancer? The symbol is CRAB!” I mean, what 10-year-old wants to be associated with a disease and an icky crustacean? Fortunately, the teasing eased (plus I made better friends), and I grew to love my zodiac sign, since I adored my July birthday. Lake parties, cookouts in the backyard and raucous sleepovers were my jam for years. But if I’d only known back then how popular my sign was, I might not have sweated being a Cancer when I was young. Now we can all be enlightened: The smart folks at the Washington Post have sussed out the most common astrological signs in the United States and ranked them in order of frequency. Keep reading to learn how your sign stacks up—and which zodiac sign rules them all. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more horoscopes, knowledge, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. Ho...