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Cecily Knobler

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In 1975, a small Nebraska town created the world's largest time capsule. Reopening it was wild.

The relics found inside, including pet rocks, were groovy.

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Old photographs in a box as time passes.

Time capsules are just cool, no matter how you slice them. The term, officially coined at the 1939 New York World's Fair, has been around for centuries. According to Evan Andrews's piece on History.com, "The world’s first planned time capsule debuted in 1876 when New York Magazine publisher Anna Deihm assembled a 'Century Safe' at the U.S. Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia."

Exactly 100 years later, it was opened. Andrews shares, "At a ceremony attended by President Gerald Ford, Senator Mike Mansfield said the opening had honored 'the wish of a lady who sought to speak to us from the other side of a 100-year gulf.'"

Just recently, in a small town in Nebraska, a time capsule from half a century ago was unearthed. NBC News writer Maya Eaglin reports, "Treasures from 1975, sealed inside what the World Record Academy once called the 'world’s largest time capsule,' went on display Friday, drawing hundreds of people from across the country to catch a glimpse of relics from the past."

  -Nebraska Now  www.youtube.com  

She adds, "Thousands of letters, pet rocks, artwork, a groovy teal suit and even a yellow Chevy Vega had been preserved inside the capsule—a portal to another era—for half a century."

The letters are still being sorted, though one person, the article relays, was able to find a very special relic he snuck in. "Clark Kolterman, who was there in 1975, put his wedding invitation in the capsule. 'I can’t believe they found it,' he said, surrounded by his children."

This all begs the question: if you were filling a capsule of time of your own (other than, say, your kitchen junk drawer), what would you put in it? Redditors jumped to answer the question “What would you put in your 2025 time capsule?” just a couple of weeks ago.

The replies ranged from thoughtful and serious to downright hilarious. One person joked, "Someone with their phone on speaker, holding it at arm’s length and yelling in the general direction of it." Another, mocking chemicals found in fruits and vegetables, suggested, "Any of the supermarket fruit and veg I buy seems to not ever go off these days. I’m unsure what they now do to them, but I’d be intrigued to know if they remain edible in 50 years' time."

 time capsule, time, history, relics , hourglass A brown and blue hourglass sits on stones.  Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash  

Though a few took the question to heart and gave earnest suggestions:

 
     
  • "A newspaper"
    •  
  • "A cinema or theatre ticket"
    •  
  • "TV guide"
    •  
  • "An unused games console and games"
    •  
  • "A book of stamps (if you’re a millionaire)"
    •  
  • "A favourite recipe"
    •  
  • "A USB with a video of you talking about you/your life/life in 2025"
    •  
This person has already given it a shot, though they most likely have some time before they recall everything they put in it. "We did something similar a couple of years ago and put in:- A coin from the year, a Lidl (grocery) brochure, a sealed packet of Pokémon cards, a letter and photo from us as a family, couple of bits of random tat (plastic toys) and some other stuff that I've completely forgotten."
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Mental Health

There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't

Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash

A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.

Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.

It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."

 Chameleon, science, reptile, adaptation, mirroring A chameleon rolls its eyes.   Giphy SWR Kindernetz 

Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."

While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."

 Sam Elliott, cowboy, southern accents Sam Elliott gives a tip of his cowboy hat.   Giphy, Sam Elliott, Grit TV  

People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'

They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."

(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)

Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."

Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"

@theweirdocoach

Anyone else? #adhdawareness #adhdinwomen #neurodivergent


Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."

And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."

This article originally appeared in May.

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Mental Health

75 years ago psychologist Rollo May proposed a revolutionary change to how we see anxiety

This would radically change how we approach mental health.

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An anxious person covers their face. Sheet music.

What if we could reframe the way we view anxiety? Instead of it being this negative, festering nuisance, could it be finessed into something that's ultimately positive?

Well, psychologist Rollo May–who was often considered one of the most renowned existential psychologists/philosophers of his time–believed that the way many of us think about anxiety is all wrong. In 1950, May released his book The Meaning of Anxiety, which was revised and re-released in 1977, and sought to challenge the belief that anxiety is a "bad" emotion. Instead, May suggests it's a feeling that should serve as a reminder to "take action."

 Rollo May, psychology, anxiety, psychologist, positive, negative Archivo:Rollo May USD Alcalá 1977.jpg - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia ...  es.m.wikipedia.org  

Of the latter 1977 release, Goodreads describes it as, "the first modern book on anxiety following Freud and Kierkegaard. May challenges the idea that 'mental health is living without anxiety,' believing it is essential to being human. He explores how it can relieve boredom, sharpen sensibilities, and produce the tension necessary to preserve human existence."

The gist is that anxiety can't be ignored as it's such a normal part of the human condition. Instead, it should be used as a guide to cultivate knowledge, spring into action, and enhance creativity.

In the late 1980s, May sat for an interview entitled "The Human Dilemma with Rollo May" as part of Jeffrey Mishlove's Thinking Allowed series. Among many ideas discussed, Mishlove asks, "When you speak of anxiety, you don't think of it as a symptom to be removed, but rather as a gateway for exploration into the meaning of life."


May gives a resounding, "Yes, you got that exactly!" He adds, "I think anxiety is associated with creativity. When you're in a situation of anxiety, you can of course run away from it and that's certainly not constructive." He then exemplifies the "no-nonsense" approach he was often known for: "You could take a bunch of pills to get over it or cocaine or whatever else you may take."

Mishlove interjects, "You could meditate." May responds, "You could meditate. But I think none of those things, including meditation–which I happen to believe in–but none of those paths lead you to creative activity."

"What anxiety means," he continues, "is it's as though the world were knocking at your door. That you need to create. You need to make something. You need to DO something. And I think anxiety, thus, is well for people who have found their own heart and their own souls. For them, it is a stimulus toward creativity, toward courage. It's what makes us human beings."

The full interview contains a moment when Mishlove states, "I suppose much of anxiety comes from the basic human dilemma of being mortal. Of ultimately having to confront our own demise."

  -Jeffrey Mishlove's Thinking Allowed series with guest Rollo May  www.youtube.com  

May answers, in part: "Man is the only creature—men, women and children sometimes, even—who can be aware of their death. And out of that comes normal anxiety. When I can let myself FEEL that, I apply myself to new ideas. I write books. I communicate with my fellows. In other words, the creative interchange of human personality rests upon the fact that we know we're going to die…Our knowledge of our death is what gives us a normal anxiety that says to us to make the most of these years you are alive. And that's what I've tried to do."

Mishlove also points out, "Another source of anxiety you've described in your writing, is our very freedom. The ability to make choices and to have to confront the consequences of those choices." May once again agrees. "Freedom is also the mother of anxiety. If you had no freedom, you'd have no anxiety."

He's essentially stating that again, anxiety comes from the very act of being aware of our own consciousness. "Those of us who do have anxiety are alert, alive. We're aware that what we do matters. We only have about 70 or 80 or 90 years in which to do it, so why not do it and get joy out of it, rather than running away from it?'

The comments sections across the board are full of insightful thoughts. This person sums it up nicely: "Our existential freedom is what allows us to feel anxiety and despair; this, in turn, gives rise to creativity, growth, understanding, and joy. It's almost like anxiety and creativity are two sides of the same coin."


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Love Stories

Man shares the brilliant ‘Les Mis’ flash mob he gave his husband on their 10th anniversary

"And yet with you my world has started."

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A scene from the musical Les Misérables

Some love simply can't be expressed without a flash mob. And singing. Lots and lots of singing. For TV writer, producer, and actor Gary Janetti, this was the case. On the 10th wedding anniversary with his husband, popular TV stylist Brad Goreski, Janetti secretly gathered friends, family, and professional singers to pop up and sing "One Day More" from the hit musical Les Misérables (based on Victor Hugo's novel of the same name). And it was anything but miserable.

 Les Miserables, musical, play, French revolution, art A poster for the musical Les Miserables on a tall building.  Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash  

First shared publicly on Goreski's Bravo TV show It's a Brad, Brad World, this moment has been bringing people joy for over a decade. Here's how it went down: In the resurfaced Instagram clip, which Janetti rcently posted to honor their 24th wedding anniversary, Goreski is seated in a chair outside. It seems as though a man is serenading him with the fight song "One More Day." Encapsulating the Jean Valjean character, he stands in front of the crowd and sings his heart out. But then, out of nowhere, singer Jonah Platt (who happened to have worked with Janetti on Will & Grace) appears to sing Marius's part of the song. "I did not live until today," he croons. "How can I live when we are parted?"

Goreski is already beside himself, showing off a huge smile. That's when Trish (Brad's college friend, as written on the chyron) pops in to sing Cosette's beautiful soprano duet with Platt. "Tomorrow you'll be worlds away. And yet with you my world has started." Goreski audibly gasps as his delight cannot be contained.

And just like that, Goreski and Janetti's friend Megan Mullally (a Broadway star in her own right, best known to many as Karen from Will & Grace) stands and sings Éponine's heartbreaking solo. "One more day, I'm on my own. One more day with him not caring. What a life I might have known. But he never saw me there," she sings, nailing it. Goreski laughs and exclaims, "Shut uuuuup, oh my God!" as the crowd cheers.

From the back, we hear a booming voice belonging to Goreski and Janetti's friend, Alec. The crowd shifts to watch as he sings a battle cry, "One more day before the storm…" as the others continue their parts. At this point, Goreski just doesn't know WHERE to look, as there are so many surprises. Much of the audience swarms the stage to sing as "chorus" when Janetti himself finds his inner-Javert and sings, "One more day to revolution, we will nip it in the bud. We'll be ready for these schoolboys, we will wet themselves with blood."

  - YouTube  www.youtube.com  

Just when it couldn't get more perfect, Goreski's own mother, Debbie, stands up and sings her solo, complete with cockney accent. At this point, Goreski is stomping his feet with happiness. The guests/chorus begin marching on stage as we flash to their friend James, who, of course, is also singing. People get hoisted up, as does a bright red flag—which luckily turns out NOT to be a metaphor for their marriage.

The crowd gasps and applauds as the flash mob brings it home. Goreski leads the much-earned standing ovation.

 standing ovation, Lin Manuel Miranda, Tony Awards, musical theater Lin Manuel Miranda at the Tony Awards.  Giphy  

The comments are nearly as delightful as the performance. Janetti explains, "Today is our 24th anniversary. I threw this flash mob for Brad for our 10th. I’ve been coasting off it ever since." To which Goreski hilariously retorts, "You sure have because I haven’t received an anniversary present from you since then."

Some beg the question many of us might have: "I’ll still never understand how all your friends and family are casually THIS good at singing."

Many point out how wonderful and inventive and romantic it all is. Though, a few were saddened this hasn't been done for them. As one puts it, "Well now I'm just mad at my husband...."


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