Before the era of streaming services, TGIF and Must-See TV reigned supreme. In the 1990s, networks like ABC and NBC stocked up on comedies and realistic dramas, while relative newcomer Fox had its own arsenal of groundbreaking shows. Even cable networks like HBO and Cartoon Network started upping the ante with quality programming, marking a […]
Stacker
Posted inNews
Most dangerous states to drive in
Driving is dangerous—perhaps even the most dangerous thing most Americans do in their everyday lives. Behind the wheel of a hunk of metal and plastic weighing an average of more than 2 tons, drivers aren’t just risking their own lives and those of their passengers, but of everyone else on the road—or near it—as well. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
40 films that provoked national controversy
Controversial films tend to have one of two effects: Potential moviegoers steer clear of the big screen, heeding critics’ warnings to beware, or the promise of something contentious makes viewers want to see the movie even more. In fact, some argue generating controversy is the point of certain films. Views on film content can change […]
Posted inNews
30 great anti-war movies
War is an unfortunate subject that continues to be relevant throughout history. When the dust settles and the bloody aftermath is tallied, and sometimes even before then, creatives give their views on the situation through outlets like music, literature, and film. Because, like war, human connection is also a practice as old as time. Stacker […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Best TV shows of the last year, according to TV critics’ top 10 lists
Over the past year, TV lovers have had no shortage of new content to enjoy. Acclaimed series like “Derry Girls” and “Better Call Saul” aired their eagerly anticipated final seasons. Meanwhile, streaming juggernauts such as HBO’s “Euphoria” and Netflix’s “Stranger Things” returned after long, pandemic-induced hiatuses, plunging their characters into the life-or-death perils of high […]
Posted inNews
Fewer people are taking out mortgages as interest rates increase
Americans are taking out fewer mortgage loans as interest rates increase, a reflection of buyer uncertainty amid rising inflation, higher interest rates, and concerns about economic slowdowns. And even as mortgage rates hover near highs not seen in 20 years, mortgage amounts have yet to fall back to pre-pandemic levels. Experian examined mortgage rate data […]
Posted inNews
US presidents who only served one term or less, ranked
Research has found that the successes and failures of most presidents fade from public memory within 50 to 100 years after they leave the White House. This is especially true for the many bearded men of the 19th century, as some historians call them, who held the country’s highest office for one term or less. […]
Posted inNews
Visualizing solar power capacity across the US
When Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022, billions of dollars were appropriated and millions of acres were reserved for renewable energy expansion. This unprecedented investment—an estimated $369 billion for climate and energy funding—spurred private industry to get in on the action. Morningstar Direct, as reported by CNBC, found that upwards of $425 […]
Posted inNews
50 songs you won’t believe are turning 50 this year
The 1970s was a tumultuous time, full of upheaval on many fronts, from the end of the Vietnam War to the dawn of personal computers. It makes sense that its music had a similar helter-skelter feel. The early ’70s were a musical melting pot where genres like rock, reggae, funk, and pop could coexist. Ingenuity […]
Posted inNews
20 of the strangest natural phenomena in America
As the fourth-largest country in the world, the United States has a vast assortment of picture-perfect natural scenery to flaunt. From the Alaskan Tundra to the Gulf of Mexico, Niagara Falls to the Hawaiian Islands, the contrasts between the 50 American states and five territories are fascinating and sometimes enigmatic. Geological, physical, chemical, and biological […]
Posted inArts & Culture
50 best space movies of all time
Space has always captured the imagination of artists with all of its potential and unknowability. The sheer number of space-themed and set-in-space movies released over the years is a prime example of this. From silly takes like “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” to more serious stories like “First Man” to blockbusters like “Star Wars,” […]
Posted inNews
Where people in Providence are looking to buy homes
The Covid-19 pandemic ushered in a period of frantic, domestic migration that saw Americans moving farther away from established urban centers. The number of homes sold every month has slowed as interest rates have risen, cooling some of those pandemic trends. But many Americans are still choosing to move long distances, and the vast majority […]
Posted inNews
50 best movies from the 1970s
The 1970s were a magical time for movies, with a whole new crop of stars and directors becoming household names, from Robert Redford and Al Pacino to Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen. After the tumultuous ’60s that included the civil rights movement, the sexual revolution, and the Vietnam War, America was a different place, and […]
Posted inNews
60 historic photos from American military history
On the world stage, as a leading military superpower, America has been involved in wars and conflicts to protect or ensure American values and democracy, as well as the sovereignty of other nations, and to support allied governments whose own conflicts bear on global peace. Each U.S. military branch—from the Army and Marine Corps to […]
Posted inNews
50 famous firsts from presidential history
George Washington, the country’s first president, won both of his elections unanimously, with every elector casting their vote for him. That’s a far cry from today’s bitterly contested battles. President Washington was followed in office by John Adams, the first resident of the new White House, then still called the President’s House. Presidential firsts made […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Most popular boy names in the ’00s in Rhode Island
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for boys in the 00s in Rhode Island using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born in Rhode Island from 2000 to 2009. Note: The Social Security Administration collects data on baby names with a binary understanding of […]
Posted inNews
Nearly 119 million watched Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show—here’s how that really compares to past performances
Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show Sunday dazzled in more ways than one. For starters, the Barbados-born singer became the first performer to take the Super Bowl halftime stage pregnant—a fact she hinted at in an interview before the show. Next up are the viewership numbers. Rihanna’s performance, which included plenty of her most popular bops […]
Posted inNews
Counties with the highest diabetes rate in Rhode Island
Diabetes rates have been on the rise for the last two decades, and show no sign of abating. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 11.3% of the U.S. population suffers from diabetes—though many of those affected do not know they have the chronic illness. Diabetes was the 8th leading cause of […]
Posted inNews
Movies most likely to win each major Oscar category
The Academy Awards ceremony is Hollywood’s biggest night, and in the weeks leading into the 95th soiree of pomp and cinematic excellence, film-world pundits have pored over this year’s facts, figures, and numbers to get down to the nitty-gritty of making their predictions of who will win and who will simply smile and politely clap. […]
Posted inNews
100 best movies of all time
Audiences have been enraptured by cinema since 1895 when Auguste and Louis Lumière used a cinematograph machine to project moving images onto a screen. Naturally, movies have come a long way since the early days of 50-second reels, resulting in a rich variety of styles—many of which are easily streamed right from home. Every cinematic […]
Posted inArts & Culture
30 of the best narrated movies of all time
The narrator is often an unheralded character in movies, with their importance overshadowed by those who appear on screen. Nevertheless, great narration often can subtly help bring the story to life. In film noir and neo-noir films like “Sunset Blvd.” and “Alphaville,” it helps the audience get into the heads of otherwise stoic characters as […]
Posted inArts & Culture
50 classics from (almost) everyone’s high school reading list
Research shows that reading fiction encourages empathy. While more high school curriculums should include modern, diverse writers like Amy Tan and Malala Yousafzai, certain classics—like John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” and Sandra Cisneros’ “The House on Mango Street”—endure. Some even make a comeback. George Orwell’s “1984,” a novel published in 1949 about a dystopian […]
Posted inArts & Culture
70 photos from the ’70s that show how the world was changing
All told, the 1970s were a chaotic decade. At home, the countercultural revolution of the ’60s continued with protests against the Vietnam War and demonstrations in favor of increased women’s rights. Globally, there was also a good amount of political upheaval evidenced by the Iranian Revolution, the conflicts between Egypt and Israel, and the ongoing […]
Posted inNews
List: States with the biggest Native American populations
More than 5 million Native Americans live in the United States as members of 574 federally recognized and 63 state-recognized tribes. That number is projected to rise to 10 million by 2060. A federally recognized tribe is a sovereign entity with a government-to-government relationship with the United States, as well as the rights of self-governance […]
Posted inNews
List: Best county to live in for every state
What makes the best county in each state? Often it involves a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents. Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live using […]