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Books & Music Did you know he got his start in the music biz as a producer — not a rapper? Jennifer Nied 2018-10-11

Getty Images | Noel Vasquez If there’s one thing you can say about rapper and fashion mogul (and Mr. Kim Kardashian) Kanye West, it’s that he’s not afraid to take risks. Here’s everything you may not know about Kanye, from the fact that he was once an awkward teen in Chicago to the fact that he was engaged once before ultimately meeting and marrying Kim.

Kanye Had An Awkward Phase As A Teen

Even the multitalented, trendsetting West had an awkward phase when he was younger. Rolling Stone reported that in high school, other kids teased him about his braces. It seems like it was worth it, though, because his smile looks great today.

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He Attended Two Colleges

He started at American Academy of Art in Chicago and transferred to Chicago State University. West dropped out before graduating and opted to pursue a career in the music industry instead. He named his 2004 debut album “The College Dropout,” though West received an honorary doctorate degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2015.

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He Got His Start As A Producer

West got his start in music with Roc-A-Fella Records as a producer for several of the tracks on Jay Z’s album “The Blueprint.” He wanted more than producing credits, however and convinced the Roc-A-Fella team to give him a shot on the other side as a rapper.

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He Likes Nicknames

In September, West announced on Twitter that he now prefers to be called “Ye.” “Ye” is also the name of his latest album. Some of his previous album names have also matched his other nicknames, Pablo and Yeezy — notably, 2013’s “Yeezus” and 2016’s “The Life of Pablo.”

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He Was Engaged Once Before Marrying Kim Kardashian

In 2006, West proposed to his then-girlfriend, designer Alexis Phifer, over a romantic dinner while on vacation in Capri, Italy. The two ultimately parted ways in 2008, just months after his mother’s death in November 2007. At the time of the breakup, a friend of his told People, “Kanye has been going through a rough time.”

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Kanye Was In A Car Accident That Nearly Killed Him

In 2002, while driving home from the studio at 4 a.m., West fell asleep at the wheel, crashed into an oncoming car and broke his jaw. (The crash broke both of the other driver’s legs and his pelvis.) He had to have it wired shut to let it heal. He ended up recording his first single, “Through the Wire,” with his jaw still wired shut.

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He Had A Close Relationship With His Mother

His parents divorced when he was 3 years old, and his mother, Donda, raised West in Chicago. When he was a rising star, she left her teaching position at the University of Chicago to work as his manager. West frequently brought her as his guest to award shows and events.

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His Mother Died Suddenly After Surgery

In 2007, Donda died after returning home following cosmetic surgery. People covered the aftermath and the coroner’s report, writing that the Los Angeles coroner concluded she “died of heart disease while suffering ‘multiple post-operative factors’ after plastic surgery.'” The sudden and tragic loss was understandably difficult for West. He named his new creative content and design company Donda as a tribute to his mother.

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His Tastes In Music Are Surprising

During a Rolling Stone interview from 2006, West had a conversation with Willi.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas in which he said, “I love your album. The only albums that I listened to were yours, System of a Down and Fiona Apple.”

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He Loves Stuffed Animals

When a Rolling Stone reporter noted the teddy bears on a windowsill in his house, West replied, “People give me bears all the time. I love stuffed animals.” His mascot Dropout Bear appeared on some early album covers, and apparently, the bear was a spontaneous choice for the cover. “The bear just happened to be at the school where Def Jam had booked the photo shoot for the album,” music exec Plain Pat told Complex.

West Compared His Lyrics To Advice From Mahatma Gandhi

West is never short on confidence. During an interview with Rolling Stone, he shared how he felt about a line in “Everything I Am” that goes, “Everything I’m not made me everything I am.” “In my humble opinion, that’s a prophetic statement,” he said. “Gandhi would have said something like that.”

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He Has Directed Films

West was a director and a writer on the short fantasy film “Cruel Summer,” which tells the story of a car thief who falls in love with a blind princess. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012. MTV compared it to his 2010 short “Runway,” saying it “plays like an extended music video.”

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He Relies On Others When Making Creative Choices

West bounces lyrics and new ideas off anyone who happens to be in the studio, and reportedly solicits advice from anyone and everyone. In fact, he has reached out to journalists, girlfriends and delivery drivers in addition to established industry professionals. In a Rolling Stone story, a former girlfriend noted she had to be careful about saying she didn’t like something, because he’d cut it.

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He Has Won 21 Grammys

West’s tally of mini gramophones ties him with Jay-Z. However, he has also had an incredible 68 Grammy nominations. West received his first Grammy in 2004 for Best Rap Album for “The College Dropout.”

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He Has A Controversial View Of AIDS

West shocked the crowd at an AIDS awareness concert tour with his claim that AIDS was a “man-made disease” that had been “placed in Africa just like crack was placed in the black community to break up the Black Panthers.” During a Rolling Stone interview, he affirmed the widely discredited belief. “My parents taught me that AIDS was a man-made disease designed to get rid of the undesirable people,” he said.

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He’s Been Named One Of The Most Influential People In The World

West has made it onto Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world list twice, in 2005 and in 2015. He also earned GQ magazine’s International Man of the Year title in 2007, and GQ also recognized him as one of the 20 Best-Dressed Men in 2015.

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He Has Blowout Birthday Parties

Thanks to his wife, Kim Kardashian West celebrated his recent 41st birthday in superstar style. The bash came complete with magic tricks and Kanye cookies. The guest list included Kardashian’s sisters and West’s musician friends. For his 30th birthday, West celebrated with friends Jay Z, Rihanna and John Legend at a Louis Vuitton store and had a teddy bear cake.

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He Collaborates Often

West has collaborated with an incredible array of award-winning recording artists. He doesn’t just stick to R&B stars either. He has worked with Elton John, Lil Wayne, Pusha T, Alicia Keys, T-Pain, Fergie, Bon Iver, Chris Martin and Nicki Minaj among others.

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He’s Writing A Book

West is a prolific writer when it comes to lyrics and Twitter, but a book is uncharted territory for the star. “I’m writing a philosophy book right now called ‘Break the Simulation,'” he told The Hollywood Reporter in April. “And I’ve got this philosophy … about photographs, and I’m on the fence about photographs — about human beings being obsessed with photographs — because it takes you out of the now and transports you into the past or transports you into the future.”

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He Sees A Philanthropic Future For His Yeezy Brand

“Yeezy will eventually become like a relief company,” West said of his clothing brand in an interview with Charlamagne Tha God. “If there’s a disaster we’re gonna dress. We’re gonna bring clothes and water. The same design perspective that can sell a $300 sweatshirt — we’re just going to give it. And eventually, that’s who we’ll be. You’ll look up, 5, 10 years from now, and Yeezy will be the biggest service provider of apparel.”

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West Doesn’t Watch Much Television

West told an interviewer, “I don’t usually watch normal TV.” However, he said he likes documentaries and had enjoyed watching the 2018 Winter Olympics. He also mentioned wanting to see Wes Andersen’s “Isle of Dogs.”

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He Marched For Clean Water

West consistently speaks his mind, no matter how controversial the cause, but this platform was surprisingly tame. In 2007, the superstar surprised about 50 Lexington, Maryland, residents when he joined them in observing World Water Day. West’s father organized the group, and they walked 3-6 miles for the U.N. initiative to raise awareness about clean drinking water.

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He Became Addicted To Opioids After Cosmetic Surgery

“I was drugged out,” West said during an interview with TMZ Live. Mid-interview, he stands, turns around and says to the entire TMZ office, “Hey, everyone listen to this, please.” West then explained how he became addicted to opioids — and media stories about the appearance of celebrities — after cosmetic surgery. “I didn’t want y’all to call me fat, so I got liposuction. Right? And they gave me opioids.”

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He Invested In His Father’s Business

His father Ray West is a former Black Panther and was one of the first black photojournalists at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He also worked as a Christian counselor. In 2006, West helped his father open the Good Water Store and Café in Maryland. The Kanye West Foundation loaned him the money for the cafe.

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He Bought Out The Covers Of 9 Publications

The cover buyout in September was a publicity push for the new Yeezy Adidas shoes. The New York Post was one of the publications that sold its cover for the advertisement, which featured the words “We Love” in 11 languages, as you can see in this Instagram shot from juniorrose_0731:

He’s Worth How Much!?

Kim Kardashian’s appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in July caused a stir when Kimmel asked her about reports that Kylie Kardashian had become a billionaire. Kimmel asked Kim, “You’re not almost a billionaire, are you?” she replied, “I would say my husband is, so that makes me one, right?” A writer at Celebrity Net Worth parsed out the rumors that flew after the appearance, and ultimately, the publication valued West’s net worth at closer to $250 million.

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His Relationship With Kim Kardashian Began With Friendship

West made his true feelings for her pretty clear in the lyrics of  “Cold” before the famous couple began dating. “And I’ll admit, I had fell in love with Kim, Around the same time she had fell in love with him.” Complex noted that the lyrics revealed an overlap with Kardashian’s relationship with NBA player Kris Humphries, whom she was married to briefly in 2011. Not long after the song’s release in 2012, their relationship turned romantic.

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His Tattoos Are Meaningful

West has many tattoos, but two of them are extra special. He has the birth dates of his mother, Donda, and his daughter North tattooed on his wrists.

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He’s A Vocal Supporter Of President Trump

West donned a red Make America Great Again hat and took to the microphone to support the president following his “Saturday Night Live” appearance Sept. 29. But this was only the rapper’s most recent show of support for Donald Trump. After a meeting with West in 2017, the president told reporters the two have been “friends for a long time.”

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‘Ye’ Was His First Album That Did Not Go Platinum

West released “Ye” in June 2018. He completed the album on his ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. All of his seven other studio-produced albums have been certified platinum or higher in the U.S.

Food & Recipes Yikes! This is scary. Kate Streit 2018-10-11

Celebrities & Pop Culture Grey's fans, who's excited?! Annamarya Scaccia 2018-10-11 Could this be a case of “How I Met … Grey’s Anatomy”? Fans of the beloved CBS series “How I Met Your Mother” may be in for a special treat during the next episode of “Grey’s Anatomy,” airing Thursday, Oct. 11. Josh Radnor, who played Ted Mosby on “How I Met Your Mother,” is reportedly set to make a guest appearance on the ABC show as Meredith Grey’s potential love interest, according to People. But nothing is set in stone.

Getty Images | Roy RochlinThe rumors of Radnor’s guest appearance all began with a sneak peek of Thursday’s episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” In the clip, Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, is dressed up, having traded the white doctor’s coat for a tan trench jacket and white blouse. Her coworkers seem taken back by her change in clothing. After some back and forth between the doctors, Dr. Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary) blurts out, “Oh my god, you have a date.” Grey tells her coworkers she has no idea who she is meeting or what he even looks like. The date, it turns out, is the work of the matchmaker patient at Grey Sloan Memorial, whom viewers may remember from last week’s episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” Grey’s mystery man may very well be Radnor, but details about his character are being kept under lock and key.

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Celebrities & Pop Culture This list will also remind you of some of the show's best guest stars and recurring characters! Kate Emswiler 2018-09-17

Getty Images | Frazer Harrison If you’re a “Modern Family” fan, you’ve likely witnessed all the ups and downs of the Pritchetts, Dunphys and Delgados over the years. Now, take a peek at the offscreen love lives of all your favorite “Modern Family” actors. You may be surprised to find you recognize some of their real-life significant others from other popular shows!

Stephanie Beatriz (Sonia Ramirez)

If you don’t know Stephanie Beatriz as Gloria’s sister, Sonia Ramirez, you may know her as Detective Rosa Diaz on the recently canceled (then quickly uncanceled) “Brooklyn 99.” Beatriz, who is engaged to actor Brad Hoss, identifies as bisexual. Her coming out inspired an epidode of “Brooklyn 99” in which Diaz, Beatriz’s tough-as-nails character, also came out as bisexual. In an essay penned for GQ, the actress clarified that marrying a man doesn’t make her any less queer. “I’m choosing to get married because this particular person brings out the best in me,” she wrote. “This person happens to be a man.”

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Nathan Fillion (Rainer Shine)

On “Modern Family,” Nathan Fillion’s vain character, a TV weatherman appropriately named Rainer Shine, pursues Haley — despite an age difference that makes everyone uncomfortable. Although they are very briefly engaged (five minutes!), Haley and Rainer’s relationship was not meant to last. In real life, the “Castle” star has been romantically involved with several women, most recently actress Krista Allen, though the two appear to no longer be together.

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Elizabeth Banks (Sal)

Elizabeth Banks is easily one of the most memorable and beloved of “Modern Family”‘s many recurring guest stars, as her turn as Cam and Mitchell’s impulsive and vivacious friend, Sal, always breathes some fresh air into the show. Offscreen, Banks is married to producer and sportswriter Max Handelman, whom she met in college when she was 18 years old. The two waited until 2003 to tie the knot and they now have two sons together, Felix, 7, and Magnus, 5.

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Kevin Hart (Andre)

Comedian Kevin Hart appeared twice on “Modern Family” as Phil’s friend and neighbor, Andre. When he’s not making audiences laugh in TV shows, movies and stand-up specials, Hart spends time with his wife, Eniko Parrish, and their baby son, Kenzo, along with Hart’s children from a previous marriage, Heaven and Hendrix.

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Chazz Palminteri (Vincent / Shorty)

Chazz Palminteri has a recurring role on “Modern Family” as Shorty, one of Jay’s oldest and dearest BFFs. The seasoned actor, writer and restaurateur has been married to his wife, Gianna Palminteri, since 1992. The couple has two children, Dante and Gabriella, and they live in New York.

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Jennifer Tilly (Darlene)

Jennifer Tilly appears in several episodes of “Modern Family” as Darlene, the wife of Jay’s friend Shorty, who moves with Shorty to Costa Rica — much to Jay’s dismay. In a later episode, however, Shorty returns and admits that Darlene left him for another man. Tilly’s real-life romantic partner is Irish-born poker player Phil Laak, whose poker-playing uniform of a hoodie and sunglasses has earned him the moniker “The Unabomber.” Tilly herself is also a world-renowned professional poker champion.

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Sarah Hyland (Haley Dunphy)

Sarah Hyland plays the ditzy, boy-crazy Haley Dunphy on “Modern Family,” but for more than a year now, in real life she’s only had eyes for one guy: Wells Adams. Adams was a contestant on “The Bachelorette” in 2016, and it looks like his loss at the final rose was a win for everyone, especially Hyland. After Adams’ stint on “Bachelor in Paradise” in the summer of 2017, he and Hyland started dating and they’ve been serving up coupled cuteness ever since.

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Benjamin Bratt (Javier Delgado)

On “Modern Family,” Benjamin Bratt plays Gloria’s hunky, suave ex-husband, Javier, who swoops in occasionally to visit his son, Manny, but never provides any reliable support as a dad. Bratt’s real-life persona couldn’t be further from this character, as he has been married to his wife, actress Talisa Soto, since 2002, and he’s a devoted dad to his two children, Sophia, 15, and Mateo, 12.

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Ed O’Neill (Jay Pritchett)

The blustery “Modern Family” patriarch and closets mogul, Jay Pritchett, is played by Ed O’Neill, previously of “Married… With Children” fame. In reality, O’Neill has been married to actress Catherine Rusoff since 1986. The two share a pair of daughters, 19-year-old Sophia and 22-year-old Claire (just like on TV!).

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Jane Krakowski (Dr. Donna Duncan)

Fans of “30 Rock” and “Ally McBeal” likely recognized Jane Krakowski immediately in the several “Modern Family” episodes that featured her as the passive-aggressive Dr. Donna Duncan, Gloria’s nemesis at Manny’s school. When she’s not playing hilarious roles on sitcoms, Krakowski is likely spending time with her son, 7-year-old Bennett, whom she shares with her ex-fiance, fashion designer Robert Godley.

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Lin-Manuel Miranda (Guillermo)

You may not have realized it at the time, but if you re-watch the 2011 “Modern Family” episode “Good Cop, Bad Dog,” you’ll notice that the guest star playing the dog trainer who pitches a terrible business idea to Jay, is unmistakably “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. When Miranda isn’t playing hilarious guest roles or concocting award-winning rhymes, he’s probably enjoying time with his wife since 2010, Vanessa Nadal, who is both a lawyer and a scientist. The two have two sons together, and while delivering his speech at the 2016 Tony Awards (before baby No. 2 came along), Miranda declared, “My wife’s the reason anything gets done. She nudges me towards promise by degrees. She is a perfect symphony of one. Our son is her most beautiful reprise.”

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Keegan-Michael Key (Tom)

On “Modern Family,” Keegan-Michael Key plays one half of a couple that Phil and Claire meet while on vacation. The Dunphys think highly of their new friends and love having dinner with them … except for one thing: They refuse to ever pick up the check. In real life, Key married producer Elisa Pugliese in June 2017. When he popped the question in November 2017, Key gushed on Twitter, “I’m the luckiest man ever. She said yes!”

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Rachel Harris (Amelia)

Comedic actress Rachael Harris guest starred on “Modern Family” once, playing Amelia, the owner of a trendy restaurant for which Mitchell and Cam are having trouble getting reservations. They arrange a play date for Amelia’s son and their daughter Lily, in an effort to gain access to the restaurant, but things go awry, as usual. In real life, Harris is married to her second husband, violinist Christian Hebel, and the pair has one child together, Henry, with a second baby on the way!

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Matt Dillon (Robbie)

Matt Dillon plays a bit of a cad on “Modern Family,” appearing as Claire’s ex-boyfriend from high school who shows up at a party at Claire and Phil’s house — as a date for Claire’s mom, DeDe. Awkward! Offscreen, Dillon has been a serial dater for so long, he’s even made lists of “celebs who have never married.” His current girlfriend, however, dancer and actress Roberta Mastromichele, may just convince Dillon to take the plunge yet.

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Jordan Peele (Derrick)

Just like his longtime comedy partner Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele delivered laughs when he guest-starred on “Modern Family.” In the episode “A Fair to Remember,” Peele played a “police officer” whom Jay is grumpily paired up with for a fair charity event. The two had very funny onscreen chemistry, but offscreen, the Oscar-winning Peele has the best chemistry with his wife, comedian and actress Chelsea Peretti, well-known to “Brooklyn 99” fans as the precinct’s sassy Gina. The couple has a son together, Beaumont Gino, whom they welcomed in July 2017.

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Sofia Vergara (Gloria Pritchett)

Gloria, the sexy, loud, loving second wife of Jay Pritchett, is played with hilarious timing and just enough sass by Colombian actress Sofia Vergara. In November 2015, Vergara married “True Blood” actor Joe Manganiello in a lavish Palm Beach wedding that was draped in flowers and oozing with romance. Soon after the wedding (which featured Vergara’s “Modern Family” castmates in attendance), Vergara went on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and said, “It was like a fairy tale. It came out perfectly how I wanted, I have to say.” Vergara also has a 26-year-old son, Manolo, from a previous marriage.

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Ty Burrell (Phil Dunphy)

Devoted dad and loyal husband Phil Dunphy is married to the oft-beleaguered Claire on “Modern Family,” but, in real life, actor Ty Burrell has been married to his wife, Holly, a professional chef, since 2000. The pair has two children, 8-year-old Frances and 6-year-old Greta, and they have strong ties to Utah, where Burrell owns two bars and a restaurant. Family is everything to Ty and Holly Burrell, and Ty told Fatherly that he loves sitting down to dinner with his wife and daughters each night. “We’re very traditional in that way,” he revealed. “My wife and I were both raised in households where you sat down at dinner every night. It is a wonderful rhythm-of-the-day thing.”

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Julie Bowen (Claire Dunphy)

Claire Dunphy enjoys a wacky-but-loving relationship with doofy husband Phil on “Modern Family,” but Julie Bowen‘s real-life marriage has been a bit less smooth lately. Bowen was married to Scott Phillips in 2004 and the couple has three children together, 11-year-old Oliver and 9-year-old twins, John and Gustav. Earlier this year, however, Bowen filed for divorce from Phillips, and Bowen has turned to her castmates and kids for distraction from the situation. “The beauty of having three children is they don’t give you much time for thinking,” Bowen told Us magazine in April. “They’re like a crash course in being in the now.”

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Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett)

“Modern Family” viewers get a hilarious, weekly glimpse into the marriage between Mitchell and Cameron — but fans who follow Ferguson on social media can witness his own happy real-life marriage, too. Wed in 2013 (with playwright Tony Kushner officiating), Ferguson and his husband, lawyer Justin Mikita, have a non-profit organization together called Tie The Knot, which sells bow ties as a way of raising funds to support same-sex marriage.

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Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker)

Eric Stonestreet plays lovable and loving Cam, the sensitive, football-coaching husband to Mitch and father of Lily. But, in real life, Stonestreet is not gay (or, as he put it to Oprah.com, he’s “openly straight”). The 47-year-old actor is currently dating Lindsay Schweitzer, a pediatric nurse, whom he gushed over on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in September 2017. “She calms me — she calms my nerves,” he told DeGeneres. “I’m a very high-strung person.”

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Ariel Winter (Alex Dunphy)

Ariel Winter’s character, Alex Dunphy, may be dorky and awkward on TV, but the 20-year-old’s offscreen romance with 30-year-old Canadian actor Levi Meaden seems to be effortless, sweet and downright steamy. The two began dating in November 2016 and they have since moved in together. The couple shares three dogs and a bunny, and they even got tattoos for each other (Meaden’s is a picture of a peanut butter jar while Winter’s is a hunk of cheese, symbolizing a combination that doesn’t seem to go together, but somehow totally works).

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Nolan Gould (Luke Dunphy)

Clueless Luke Dunphy is played by the actually quite-smart Nolan Gould (he graduated high school at age 13!), who, at age 19, has basically grown up on the set of “Modern Family.” For that reason, he doesn’t see his co-stars as viable love interests. When asked on the “Allegedly” podcast whether he’d ever date his onscreen sister, Ariel Winter, for example, Gould stated, “I love her but she’s a really good friend. We grew up together … I would never wanna waste that.” Although he reportedly isn’t dating anyone in particular, rumors have swirled around Gould and actress Joey King (pictured below) and model Hannah Glasby but Gould has largely kept his dating life out of the public eye. Or perhaps he has no time for dating, as the actor stays busy with his hit TV show, his passionate work for wildlife and environmental causes, and his worldly travels with his friends.

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Rico Rodriguez (Manny Delgado)

Rico Rodriguez plays a bit of a mama’s boy on “Modern Family” as Manny Delgado, firstborn son of Gloria (Sofia Vergara). In real life, the 20-year-old actor seems just as fond of his TV mom, but there’s no evidence of a serious romance in Rodriguez’s life at the moment. In September 2016, he revealed to ABC News that he was “till single and ready to mingle.” According to his Twitter feed, his greatest loves seem to be sports-related, so he may still be single, or perhaps he simply keeps his private matters private.

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Fred Willard (Frank Dunphy)

Beloved comedic actor Fred Willard plays Phil’s earnest father, Frank, on “Modern Family,” and it turns out he’s a loving father and husband in real life, too. Willard married his wife Mary, a playwright, in 1968 and the couple had one daughter together, Hope Willard. Sadly, Mary passed away unexpectedly in July 2018 at the age of 71. She and Fred had been married for 50 years.

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Shelley Long (DeDe Pritchett)

On “Modern Family,” former “Cheers” star Shelley Long plays DeDe Pritchett, mother to Claire and Mitchell and long-suffering ex-wife of Jay. In real life, Long was married and divorced twice, most recently to stockbroker Bruce Tyson. Long and Tyson share a 33-year-old daughter, Juliana Long Tyson, who is an accomplished actress in her own right.

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Nathan Lane (Pepper Saltzman)

Nathan Lane plays the recurring role of eccentric wedding planner Pepper Saltzman on “Modern Family,” though Pepper’s extravagant ideas are often a little too much for Mitchell and Cam to handle. When it came to his own wedding, the Broadway legend chose a far simpler approach. In 2015, Lane married his partner of 18 years, playwright Devlin Elliot, in a quiet ceremony at New York’s City Hall.

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Adam DeVine (Andy Bailey)

Jay and Gloria’s affable nanny, Andy (played by Adam DeVine), presented a bit of a romantic problem for Haley on “Modern Family,” as she secretly crushed on the good-natured nerd (who was so similar to her dad!). And while Andy had feelings for Haley, too, their timing was never right. DeVine’s real love life appears to be more easygoing — he has been dating actress Chloe Bridges since 2015 when the pair met while working together on a horror film. In October 2017, a “clueless” DeVine told an Australian radio show that he didn’t realize Bridges might expect a marriage proposal when he whisked her off on a romantic European vacation. “I think she was having some grandiose ideas, meanwhile I’m too dumb to pick up on any clues,” he told the hosts.

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Ernie Hudson (Miles)

Ernie Hudson is perhaps best-known for his role as Winston Zeddemore in the “Ghostbusters” film franchise, so nostalgic audiences delight in his role as Jay’s old pal, Miles, on “Modern Family.” Offscreen, he’s been married twice, and his second marriage, to Linda Kingsberg, has been going strong since 1985. The couple has two children together, Andrew and Ross.

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Steve Zahn (Ronnie LaFontaine)

Any regular viewer of “Modern Family” knows Steve Zahn as the Dunphys’ obnoxious and hyper-sexual neighbor, Ronnie LaFontaine. Zahn’s TV wife, Amber, on “Modern Family” is played by Andrea Anders, but in real life, Zahn has been married to Robyn Peterman since 1994. The couple now lives in rural Kentucky, where Zahn seems to enjoy a more relaxed way of life. “I met my wife in 1990 when I was on the national tour of ‘Bye, Bye Birdie,'” he told The Irish Times in 2017. “We moved out of the city 13 years ago, and it’s the best thing I ever did. Overheads are lower. I don’t have to work when I don’t want to.”

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Matthew Broderick (Dave)

Matthew Broderick’s brief storyline on “Modern Family” has Broderick’s character feeling romantically frustrated, as he misinterprets Phil’s generally affectionate nature for something more lustful. In real life, Broderick has enjoyed a long marriage with Sarah Jessica Parker. The couple has homes in Manhattan, the Hamptons and Ireland, and they share one son together, 15-year-old James, along with twin 9-year-old girls, Marion and Tabitha.

Food & Recipes Do you agree with this? Augusta Statz 2018-09-17

Getty Images | Joshua Blanchard I’m sure I’m not just speaking for myself when I say there’s nothing I take more seriously than Mexican food. If I had to choose a cuisine to eat for the rest of my life, it would be Mexican without a second thought. Recently, Taco Bell was voted the best Mexican restaurant in the country — and people online have a lot to say about it. The Harris Poll EquiTrend Study surveyed 77,031 U.S. consumers who were at least 15 years old about their favorite restaurants based on quality, familiarity and future considerations. This year, Taco Bell beat out restaurants such as Chipotle and Moe’s Southwest Grill to win “Brand of the Year” for the Mexican restaurant category. The director of the survey, Amir Kanpurwala, wasn’t surprised about the results. “Taco Bell’s marketing is ubiquitous so it wasn’t surprising to me that they came out on top this year. It’s not so much that Moe’s or Chipotle are falling off the map. Taco Bell has just been a stronger brand as of late, as demonstrated by the strong familiarity and consideration marks,” Kanpurwala said in a press release.

Books & Music "I had always been afraid to be angry." Augusta Statz 2018-09-17

Getty Images | Rich Fury Carrie Underwood is opening up about the trying year she had in 2017. Her candid interview with CBS News is unlike any other as she talks about suffering a fall and enduring three miscarriages, all while working on her album “Cry Pretty.” Last month, Underwood announced she’s expecting her second child with husband Mike Fisher. They are already parents to a 3-year-old son, Isaiah. She shared the news with her fans in an Instagram video, saying, “Mike, Isaiah and I are absolutely over the moon and excited to be adding another little fish to our pond.” But it wasn’t until later that she began talking about the difficulties she and her husband had while trying to get pregnant with their second child, suffering three miscarriages along the way. Underwood opened up about their pregnancy journey in the CBS interview, revealing that last year “just wasn’t how I imagined it. I’d kind of planned that 2017 was, you know, going to be the year that I work on new music, and I have a baby.” “We got pregnant early 2017, and didn’t work out,” she continued. “ot pregnant again in the spring, and it didn’t work out … Got pregnant again, early 2018. Didn’t work out.” At first, the musician used her songwriting as an outlet for her frustrations. She admitted that her life is a huge inspiration for her latest album. “When you go in to write, you’re drawing off of personal experiences and you’re talking about people that you know, or friends that are dealing with things,” she said of her songwriting in an interview with Taste of Country. “Your life influences your music for sure.” But above all, two major things helped her get through the toughest of times: her son and her ability to finally give in to her feelings and “get mad.” “I had always been afraid to be angry,” she said in the CBS interview. “Because we are so blessed. And my son, Isaiah, is the sweetest thing … I have an incredible husband, incredible friends, an incredible job, an incredible kid. Can I be mad? No.”

On October 30, 1938, U.S. citizens were glued to their radios as they received dire news: Their country was being invaded. Not by Nazi zeppelins or Japan's secret Godzilla unit, but by Martians coming to destroy the world. However, this announcement didn't come from a journalist, but from Orson Welles, who was pulling a prank on millions by making them think the plot of a popular sci-fi book was actually happening. Or at least, that's what the newspapers wanted us to believe.

New York Daily NewsThis the closest a headline has ever gotten to actual yelling. Continue Reading Below Advertisement According to news sources, Welles' performance of War Of The Worlds had "upwards of a million people, convinced, if only briefly, that the United States was being laid waste by alien invaders." Quite the prank, except that Welles was as shocked as everyone else. His show, The Mercury Theatre On The Air, had been around for months, adapting famous literary works as radio plays every week without anyone ever thinking they were real. When they premiered the show with Dracula, it didn't cause people to loot their local garlic-and-stakes emporiums, so what was so special about War Of The Worlds? If anyone was to blame for tricking people into panicking, it was the newspapers. During the '30s, print media was in decline (can't imagine what that's like), with people preferring to get their news from their newfangled talkin' machines. So when they heard of Welles acting out a newsreader announcing the end of the world, they saw a chance to smear the radio as spreading fake news, proving that people should only trust print journalists -- which we now know is even dumber than believing aliens are invading. Continue Reading Below Advertisement However, the embarrassing truth for Welles was that not enough Americans even listened to his show for it to cause pandemonium. As the alleged mass panic was kicking off, a radio ratings service was telephoning households to ask what they were listening to. Only 2 percent answered that they were listening to "the Orson Welles Program," and none said they couldn't talk because they were helping Pa load his shotgun to stop the aliens from probing Ma. The only thing the "scandal" wound up doing was make the 23-year-old Welles famous throughout the country as the world's most convincing storyteller, which must've really helped his burgeoning film career. So what we're trying to say is this: Thanks for Citizen Kane, fake news. Support your favorite Cracked writers with a visit to our Contribution Page. Please and thank you. For more, check out George Washington Got Hit By Lightning In The Womb and Paintball Looked Far More Insane In The 1900s. Also, we'd love to know more about you and your interesting lives, dear readers. If you spend your days doing cool stuff, drop us a line at iDoCoolStuff at Cracked dot com, and maybe we can share your story with the entire internet. Follow us on Facebook before the aliens take over your brain!

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Family & Parenting Ready to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping? Clint Davis 2018-09-13

Amazon Parents, you know the drill: back-to-school shopping is over and now it’s time to get started on buying holiday gifts. If the child in your life hasn’t already dropped a million hints about what he or she wants this year, Amazon is making it easy on you. The online retail giant put together a foolproof list of 100 toys that virtually every kid will be thrilled to receive come December. The list was curated by Amazon’s experts and has something for all ages. We’re giving you a closer look at 2018’s top 25 toys, according to Amazon. Note: All prices were current as of Sept. 11, 2018.

L.O.L. Surprise! Bigger Surprise!

Amazon Price: $89.99 Suggested Age: 5 years and up Last year, the Big Surprise from L.O.L. Surprise! was one of the hottest toys of the holiday season, and this year, Amazon says the new Bigger Surprise! will be even, well, bigger. The whole package is a mystery grab bag that holds at least 60 surprise items inside, including dolls, stickers and accessories. Last year, the Big Surprise package sold out quickly, so you’d better jump on this one as soon as it goes on sale Sept. 25.

Amazon

Little Live Scruff-A-Luvs

Amazon Price: $19.99 Suggested Age: 5 to 15 years For the little animal lovers out there, Scruff-A-Luvs are a perfect holiday gift. These cute toys allow kids to “adopt” an abandoned pet whose matted fur is in need of a good grooming in order to bring out its full cuteness. The box holds either a dog, cat or bunny, and it’s a total mystery which pet they’ll get until it’s opened.

Amazon

Pomsies

Amazon Price: $14.89 Suggested Age: 3 years and up These fluffy little cuties are described on Amazon as “lovable, wearable pom-pom pets” that go with you everywhere. There are several different colors and varieties of Pomsies, but all of them react when touched, purring and displaying more than 50 different responses. Their tails can be latched onto virtually anything, from a backpack to your kid’s hair.

Amazon

Paw Patrol Ultimate Rescue Fire Truck

Amazon Price: $59.97 Suggested Age: 3 years and up Not every toy on Amazon’s list has a perfect, five-star rating or the “Amazon’s Choice” seal of approval, but this one has both. Even if your kids aren’t into “Paw Patrol,” this fire truck toy probably has something that will excite them. The truck has a 2-foot extendable ladder, a mini fire cart and a “water cannon” that actually shoots projectiles.

Amazon

Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall Building Kit

Amazon Price: $99.99 Suggested Age: 9 to 14 years Of all the toys on Amazon’s list, this is probably the one most adults will want for themselves. This elaborate Lego reconstruction of one of the most iconic locations from the wizarding world has 878 pieces and stands at 14 inches tall when completed. In addition to house banners, a potions room and a basilisk to build, this kit also comes with 10 mini figures that include Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Amazon

L.O.L. Surprise! House

Amazon Price: $189 Suggested Age: 5 to 13 years Unboxing videos have become all the rage on YouTube, and grab-bag toys like this offer kids the chance to feel the excitement of being totally surprised by a gift. The L.O.L. Surprise! House has more than 85 surprises inside, including furniture. The whole package is housed inside a wooden, multi-story house that measures 3-feet tall by 3-feet wide.

Amazon

Cozmo Robot By Anki

Amazon Price: $179.99 Suggested Age: 8 years and up Toy robots have become very popular over the past few years and — despite being expensive — can be very educational for kids. Cozmo is a cute little robot that teaches kids a basic version of coding that allows them to customize how the toy behaves. This toy requires access to the free Cozmo app, which works on iOS and Android devices.

Amazon

Monopoly: Cheaters Edition

Amazon Price: $15.99 Suggested Age: 8 years and up Monopoly has unveiled countless special editions over the years, but the new Cheaters Edition might be its most interesting yet. The game encourages players to break the rules by including new cheat cards that suggest sneaky moves for players to pull off in order to get rewards.Best of all, the game comes with a plastic handcuff that will chain a player to the jail space if they get caught cheating. This game may not win any awards for the message it sends kids, but it sure does sound like a lot of fun.

Amazon

Don’t Step In It: Unicorn Edition

Amazon Price: $19.04 Suggested Age: 4 years and up This special edition of the hilarious yet slightly disgusting game Don’t Step In It features colorful unicorn poop. The game sees blindfolded players taking careful steps across a playing mat as they try to avoid piles of unicorn poop, which is actually a colorful clay-like compound. This version of the game is exclusive to Amazon.

Amazon

L.O.L. Surprise! Glam Glitter Series Doll

Amazon Price: $23.80 Suggested Age: 5 years and up The third L.O.L. Surprise! toy to make Amazon’s top 25, this is the most modestly priced of the trio but still includes plenty of surprises for a kid to unbox. Each package contains seven surprise items, including a doll, outfit, shoes, fashion accessory and stickers. The package can be used as a carrying case after it’s been opened.

Amazon

Barbie Care Clinic Vehicle

Amazon Price: $52.88 Suggested Age: 3 to 7 years Kids who want to make their Barbie doll into a first responder will love this toy ambulance. The play set transforms from a vehicle into a three-room clinic where Barbie can treat patients. Warning to parents: This toy also has flashing lights and a siren — so those AA batteries may not be required if you want some peace and quiet.

Amazon

Ozobot Bit Coding Robot

Amazon Price: $44.88 Suggested Age: 6 years and up If you’re looking for a more affordable robot to help teach your child coding, Ozobot is a great choice, according to Amazon. This pocket-sized robot is ready to go right out of the box and charges via an included USB cable. Kids can use an easy-to-grasp coding system to program the robot themselves.

Amazon

Osmo Genius Kit

Amazon Price: $99.99 Suggested Age: 5 to 12 years This award-winning toy doesn’t come cheap but appears to be worth the price, based on stellar Amazon reviews. The Osmo system requires an iPad to use and turns the device into an educational tool meant to make core subjects fun for kids to learn. Osmo comes with five hands-on games that improve a child’s language, math, problem-solving and drawing skills.

Amazon

You’ve Got Crabs Card Game

Amazon Price: $24.99 Suggested Age: 7 years and up The title may not sound totally kid-friendly, but this fun card game is suggested for players as young as 7 years old. You’ve Got Crabs comes from the makers of Exploding Kittens, and is a game that promotes teamwork and plenty of yelling. The game is designed for four to 10 players and comes in a cute package.

Amazon

Kano Harry Potter Wand Coding Kit

Amazon Price: $99.99 Suggested Age: 6 years and up This coding toy is perfect for the Harry Potter fan in your life. Using an app that works with most tablets and computers, it allows the user to build a wand that will respond to their movements. The customizable wand will allow the witch or wizard to cast spells and play games on the Kano app.

Amazon

Melissa & Doug Pet Vet Play Set

Amazon Price: $26.99 Suggested Age: 3 to 6 years Like other toy sets from Melissa & Doug, this kit aims to help kids discover their passion in life. This one is aimed at future veterinarians and comes with a plush dog and cat, plus 24 pretend tools they’ll need to treat their furry patients. The whole kit comes in a tote bag that’s perfect for little vets who are on the go.

Amazon

FurReal Munchin’ Rex

Amazon Price: $49.99 Suggested Age: 4 years and up The latest toy that allows kids to see what it’s like to take care of their own pet is the FurReal Munchin’ Rex. This little dinosaur has 35 different reactions when kids interact with it, ranging from excitement to disgust. The set comes with several options for kids to “feed” to Munchin’ Rex, including broccoli and a caveman cookie.

Amazon

LittleBits Avengers Hero Inventor Kit

Amazon Price: $149.95 Suggested Age: 8 years and up This is one of the more expensive items on Amazon’s list of hot toys, but it also might be one of the coolest. This kit not only teaches kids how to code but it also lets them emulate the powers of their favorite member of the Avengers. This toy promotes creativity and STEM education and requires access to an iOS or Android device.

Amazon

Lego Boost Creative Toolbox Building And Coding Kit

Amazon Price: $159.95 Suggested Age: 7 to 12 Years This Lego kit allows kids to make one of five wildly different creations, ranging from a dancing robot to a sweet guitar. The toy has near-perfect ratings on Amazon and promises to sneakily educate kids while they have fun. Access to a tablet or smartphone is required.

Amazon

Radio Flyer My 1st Wagon

Amazon Price: $19.97 Suggested Age: 3 years and up It’s hard to beat a classic! This toy version of the iconic Radio Flyer red wagon is perfect for a child to haul toys or stuffed friends inside. It stretches from 19.25-inches long to 9.5-inches wide.

Amazon

Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash Track Set

Amazon Price: $48.88 Suggested Age: 5 to 9 years Yet another classic toy to make Amazon’s list is this Hot Wheels track. The set comes with a Hot Wheels car and lets kids unleash mayhem with a track that will launch vehicles through a series of corkscrews. Hot Wheels says the set will promote problem-solving skills by teaching kids how to time a perfect launch that doesn’t result in a crash.

Amazon

Moj Moj Claw Machine Playset

Amazon Price: $49.99 Suggested Age: 6 to 12 years This toy combines unboxing fun with classic arcade action. This tabletop claw machine features working joysticks and six egg-shaped prizes that each contain a mystery item. The toy also makes noises and has working lights.

Amazon

Baby Alive Potty Dance Baby

Amazon Price: $48.82 Suggested Age: 3 years and up This sounds like a bizarre one, but it currently has a perfect five-star rating at Amazon. This doll drinks real water before “peeing” it into the potty it comes with. Oh, and this new Baby Alive also does a “potty dance” when she takes a seat on the toilet.

Amazon

Nerf Rival Prometheus

Amazon Price: $199.99 Suggested Age: 14 years and up Not only is this impressive toy suggested for the oldest kids on the list, it’s also the most expensive. How could a Nerf gun possibly be worth $200? Well, this bad boy uses a rechargeable battery to fire 200 rounds at a velocity of 100 feet per second. Yeah, that’s pretty much guaranteed to shut down any Nerf war.

Amazon

Star Wars FurReal Ultimate Co-Pilot Chewie

Amazon Price: $129.99 Suggested Age: 4 years and up Who doesn’t want to be best friends with Chewbacca in real life? This sophisticated, 16-inch interactive plush will engage kids with more than 100 sound and motion combinations that respond to talking, touching and movement. This version of Chewie is also a big softie and will react with soothing sounds when he’s scratched on the head.

Here's the scoop! Jennifer Nied 2018-09-13

Museum of Ice Cream The Museum of Ice Cream has become a beloved traveling exhibition and viral sensation. It all started in New York City in 2016. Since then, it has popped up in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami, drawing sold-out crowds. The festive museum has also taken over our Instagram feeds with images of sprinkle pools and epic, brightly colored treats. The brand’s next stop is a bit surprising, but just as sweet. The Museum of Ice Cream has teamed up with Sephora to launch a makeup collection. That’s right, ice-cream inspired products to paint all over your face.

A Scoop Of Beauty

The Museum of Ice Cream officially announced the collaboration on Sept. 12 with an animated Instagram post. The post shows a preview of the festive products to come: popsicle-shaped eyeshadow cases, sprinkle-filled brushes, vivid palettes and more. The collection “captures the vibrant personality and signature design aesthetic of Museum of Ice Cream’s most beloved spaces,” according to the company.

Sweet Looks

The changes will be noticeable. Annamarya Scaccia 2018-09-13

Getty Images | Justin Sullivan After months of anticipation, Apple is finally rolling out its new iOS update, and iPhone users couldn’t be more excited. Available Monday, Sept. 17, iOS 12 will have dozens of fun features and upgrades that will enhance the iPhone’s performance, from speed to responsiveness and general enjoyment. So, what can iPhone users expect from the new iOS 12? To start, faster typing speeds and quicker app launches that will make using your device far less stressful. But Apple will also roll out a bunch of new tools with the update that will streamline your experience and in the end, make it a lot more enjoyable. Check out a few of the most interesting new features.

Apple

Grouped Notifications To Make Life Easier

One of iPhone’s more frustrating features is receiving a pop-up for every single new message, email, calendar reminder, Facebook update — you name it. But thanks to the new iPhone update, individual notifications will now become a thing of the past. Soon you’ll be able to group notifications from the same app so they appear as stacks on your lock screen, rather than an individual pop-up for each new alert. The revamped notification system also allows you to control the number of notifications you receive and from which apps.

Say It With A Memoji

Sometimes words are not enough to express how you truly feel. Instead, why not say it with a Memoji? Think of an Animoji — but of yourself. With the new iPhone update, you will be able to create an avatar that suits your mood and personality and that you can use in Messages and FaceTime. Want to show your friend just how funny you found their joke? There’s a Memoji for that!

Apple

Monitor Your Family’s Digital Habits With Screen Time

We live in a technology-driven world, which means most people waste countless hours in the digital space. It’s so easy to lose track of how much time you or your family spend browsing websites, watching videos or scrolling through social media. Apple’s new Screen Time feature will log how many minutes or hours you spend on your phone — whether it’s using apps or sending messages — on a daily and weekly basis. This way, you can have a better understanding of your digital habits and change them as you deem necessary.

Measure Your Space With Augmented Reality

Are you redesigning your living room and need to know the dimensions of your current furniture? If you’re an iPhone user, there’s no reason to break out the tape measure. Thanks to the new Measure app, you’ll be able to use augmented reality — an immersive, interactive experience that blurs the line between reality and the virtual world — to measure real-world objects using your camera.

Apple

Streamlined Shortcuts Will Save You Time

Do you go running at 5 p.m. every day? Pick up coffee during your lunch break at 2 p.m.? Or walk 15 minutes to your first class every Tuesday and Wednesday morning? Whatever your routine, the new updated Siri Suggestions will learn your routine and suggest appropriate — and timely — shortcuts when you need them. What’s more, the iPhone update will let you use your voice to run shortcuts or create your own with the Shortcuts app.

Host Your Own Virtual Conference With Group FaceTime