Parade

Some movies simply entertain us. Others manage to expose something so unsettling about the world that they remain powerful decades after the credits roll.

Such is the case with Michael Mann’s riveting 1999 drama The Insider, starring Al Pacino and Russell Crowe, which is based on the true story of one man’s decision to take on Big Tobacco, and the heavy personal price he paid for telling the truth.

Crowe stars as Jeffrey Wigand, a former executive and research scientist at tobacco company Brown & Williamson, who possessed potentially explosive information about the tobacco industry. Pacino plays Lowell Bergman, the veteran 60 Minutes producer who recognizes the importance of what Wigand knows and works to persuade him to tell his story.

What follows is a tense battle involving corporate power, journalism, and one increasingly frightened whistleblower whose decision threatens his career, family, and personal safety.

Directed by Mann, who co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth, The Insider was based in part on journalist Marie Brenner’s 1996 Vanity Fair article about Wigand, “The Man Who Knew Too Much.” Christopher Plummer rounds out the principal cast as legendary 60 Minutes correspondent Mike Wallace.

But this is hardly a movie confined to conference rooms and television studios. Mann somehow turned the complicated mechanics of investigative journalism into a genuine thriller. And a human one at that.

At its center is Crowe’s anguished performance as a man forced to decide how much he is willing to sacrifice to reveal what he knows, alongside Pacino’s relentless Bergman, who becomes equally determined to get the story before the public.

“The real appeal to me of the film was to involve audiences as intensely as I could into characters who were very real,” said Mann in an interview with Charlie Rose. “In the kind of awkwardness of Jeffrey Wigand I was stunned by the humanity of it, just the raw humanity of it…And both men who are as polarized from each other as possible, both struggling against very large size adversaries. That’s the real emotional, and dramatic, intellectual appeal of the material.”

Not lost on anyone is that The Insider co-stars two of the most accomplished and revered actors of our time. It turns out that not only were the characters polarized, but that the actors themselves worked very differently.

“It was very interesting,” said Crowe in an interview with Larry King. “And we have a totally separate process, you know. I’m not looking for it. I’ve done my homework. I’ve done it since I’ve been at the set that morning in terms of specifically thinking what do I need to get out of this thing to push the story forward…Whereas Al will begin to discover it in that moment, which is very fascinating to watch, you know, but it’s just different from me.”

Released on Nov. 5, 1999, The Insider wasn’t considered a major box-office success, earning approximately $60 million worldwide. Critical acclaim, however, was another story. The film received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Mann, Best Actor for Crowe and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also nominated for five Golden Globe Awards and won numerous and varied prestigious awards worldwide.

More than a quarter-century later, its reputation has only grown. The Insider currently boasts an impressive 96% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, which ranks the film among its 300 Best Movies of All Time. Decades after it was released, the acclaimed thriller continues to be celebrated, both for its artistry and its enduring relevance.

Perhaps that’s because the questions at the heart of the movie have never gone away: What does it cost to tell the truth when powerful people don’t want it told? And who is willing to pay the price?

Related: 1968 Pop Song, With 17-Year-Old Singer From ‘The Birthplace of Rock and Roll,’ Is Still a Generational Hit 58 Years Later

For decades now, Lou Reed‘s “Walk on the Wild Side” has been used as a sort of pop culture shorthand to conjure up the vibe of New York City in the early ’70s. It’s been featured in the soundtracks of countless movies and TV shows and sampled by musical acts as diverse as A Tribe Called Quest and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked “Walk on the Wild Side” at #223 on a list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” In short, it’s about as iconic as a song can get. But as it turns out, the track almost had a very different focus.

Released on Reed’s classic 1972 album Transformer, “Walk on the Wild Side” was the legendary singer-songwriter’s biggest commercial hit, peaking at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in April 1973. The song was pretty revolutionary at the time, as it told the stories of a cast of real-life counterculture characters from Andy Warhol‘s Factory scene. Initially, though, it was about a different cast of characters…literally.

According to the renowned author Salman Rushdie, who was a friend of Reed, the late musician wrote the song for a musical version of another writer’s novel.

“Originally, it [“Walk on the Wild Side”] was written to go as the title track of this Nelson Algren musical, based on Nelson Algren’s novel, Walk on the Wild Side,” Rushdie explained on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in 2025.

“And then the musical fell apart, never happened, and so…the music is the same, but he rewrote the lyrics, dropping the characters from the novel, and replacing them with characters from the Warhol Factory,” he continued.

“I always thought it would be kinda fun to introduce people to characters they maybe hadn’t met before, or hadn’t wanted to meet,” Reed himself explained of his lyrical inspiration in Transformer: The Lou Reed Story.

Each verse of “Walk on the Wild Side” is about a different person from Warhol’s entourage: Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, Joe Dallesandro, Joe Campbell (Sugar Plum Fairy) and Jackie Curtis.

As Woodlawn later told The Guardian, the part about her (including the line “plucked her eyebrows on the way”) was indeed accurate.

Jack Mitchell / Getty Images

“My father got a job at a hotel, so we moved from New York to Miami Beach,” Woodlawn recalled.

“I was going to school, getting stones thrown at me and being beaten up by homophobic rednecks,” she continued. “I felt I deserved better, and I hated football and baseball. So, aged 15, I decided to get the hell out of there and ran away from home. I had $27, so hitchhiked across the USA. I did pluck my eyebrows in Georgia. It hurt! My friend Georgette was plucking them and I was screaming, but all of a sudden I had these gorgeous eyebrows and she put mascara on my eyes.”

Dallesandro felt differently, telling The New York Times that Reed hadn’t even met him yet when he wrote the song and based his verse on the character he played in Flesh.

Photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, however, who documented the Factory scene, made a strong point when he said, “If Lou hadn’t written that song, none of these characters would be remembered.”

Related: 1972 Rock Hit, Recorded in a Single Day, Is Making a Sudden Resurgence

Discovering a versatile food you can integrate into a wide range of meals that instantly ups the nutritional value can feel like a goldmine. Maybe for you, that food is cottage cheese. You can eat it on its own, or you can integrate it into dishes like scrambled eggs, dips, pancake mix and pasta sauce as a way to add more protein to your meal.

Registered dietitian Maggie Michalczyk, RD, says that cottage cheese can absolutely be part of a healthy diet. “It’s a convenient source of high-quality protein and also provides nutrients like calcium, potassium, phosphorus and vitamin B12,” she explains. But she adds that some cottage cheese can be high in saturated fat and sodium, so it’s important to read the nutritional label when shopping for it.

If you’re doing your best to follow a heart-healthy diet and eat cottage cheese regularly, it’s important to know how it can impact your cardiovascular health. After all, as Michalczyk pointed out, some cottage cheeses can be high in sodium or saturated fat, neither of which is good for your heart when consumed in excess.

Parade talked to three registered dietitians about how eating this popular dairy product regularly impacts heart health. Here’s what you need to know.

Related: This Is the Worst ‘Healthy’ Food for Heart Health, Cardiologists Say

How Cottage Cheese Impacts Heart Health

“As with most foods outside of fruits and vegetables, there are pros and cons to cottage cheese’s nutritional composition,” says Parkview Health registered dietitian Sarah Mohrman, RDN. For example, she explains that the calcium in cottage cheese is beneficial for heart health, but it’s also important to be mindful of the saturated fat content. 

Tara Spisak, RD, another registered dietitian at Parkview Health, agrees that cottage cheese contains both nutrients that support heart health as well as ones it’s important to be mindful of. “As with most foods, be mindful of serving sizes to prevent excess fat and sodium consumption in your heart-healthy diet,” she says.

Michalczyk notes that cottage cheese is especially a great heart-healthy food to integrate into your diet when it’s used in place of other foods that are higher in sodium, saturated fat and refined carbohydrates. For example, cottage cheese is typically lower in saturated fat than sour cream, mayonnaise and ricotta cheese. Even when you use cottage cheese to cut down on the portion of these foods instead of replacing them completely, it can be beneficial to heart health.

Related: 25 Foods That Are Good For Your Heart, From Fruits and Veggies to Heart-Healthy Nuts and Seeds

Saturated Fat vs. Protein: Understanding Cottage Cheese Nutritional Content

One of the reasons why cottage cheese can make a meal more satiating is its protein and saturated fat content. But a diet high in saturated fat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. If you have cardiovascular disease, are at high risk for it, have high cholesterol or are simply trying to cut back on the saturated fat in your diet, Michalczyk recommends choosing low-fat cottage cheese. That way, you’re still getting the protein, calcium and other nutrients it contains while keeping your saturated fat intake low.

As for cottage cheese’s protein content, this is a definite benefit of the food. “While protein itself isn’t necessarily ‘heart protective,’ choosing protein-rich foods like cottage cheese can help people build balanced meals and can replace foods that are higher in saturated fat or refined carbohydrates, which are not as good for heart health,” Michalczyk says.

Spisak agrees, explaining, “Cottage cheese contains a good source of protein, with about 13 grams per half-cup serving, which is equivalent to about two ounces of meat.”

Related: 7 Foods Cardiologists Always Eat for Heart Health 

Does the Sodium in Cottage Cheese Raise Blood Pressure?

If you are among the 48% of US adults who have high blood pressure, you likely know that it’s important to watch your sodium intake. The American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, with an ideal limit of less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day.  

“Cottage cheese can raise your blood pressure, due to its high sodium content,” Spisak says, adding that a half-cup serving of cottage cheese typically has about 350 milligrams of sodium, so it’s considered a high-sodium food. 

All three dietitians say that cottage cheese’s sodium content doesn’t mean it’s bad for heart health. What’s most important, they say, is being mindful of your overall sodium content and staying within the AHA’s guidelines.

Key Heart Health Benefits: Potassium, Calcium and Cholesterol 

Two nutrients in cottage cheese that directly benefit cardiovascular health are potassium and calcium. Spisak explains that potassium supports blood pressure because it helps to process sodium out of the body. “Potassium also relaxes blood vessel walls, which can help lower blood pressure,” she adds. 

While Michalczyk says that a serving of cottage cheese only has roughly 3% of the daily recommended amount of potassium, it still counts towards maintaining normal blood pressure and healthy blood vessel function. It just shouldn’t be your main source of potassium. 

As for the calcium in cottage cheese, Michalczyk explains that calcium plays a role in the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels as well as heart and muscle function, all of which contribute to overall cardiovascular health. 

When reading the nutritional panel for cottage cheese, you may notice that it contains cholesterol. While it is important to be mindful of your cholesterol intake if you want to lower your risk for cardiovascular disease, the amount of cholesterol in cottage cheese is generally low and not something to worry too much about. In fact, the cholesterol in cottage cheese is lower than the cholesterol in most cheeses, making it a great way to reduce the amount of cheese used in recipes, which in turn will lower the overall cholesterol content of the meal.  

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How To Eat Cottage Cheese for a Heart-Healthy Diet

As all three registered dietitians have shared, cottage cheese can certainly be part of a heart-healthy diet. Since it is high in sodium, all three recommend pairing it with other foods that are low in sodium. 

“Alone, cottage cheese can serve as an excellent protein source for breakfast or as a snack. However, you can ramp up the nutrition content of this dish by adding healthy fruit or serving it over a fresh sliced tomato,” Mohrman says.

Michalczyk adds that this dairy product on its own can be a nutritious snack, especially when it’s topped with berries, walnuts, chia seeds and cinnamon, which are all beneficial for heart health.

Spisak says that having half a cup of cottage cheese with fruit paired with a slice of whole-grain avocado toast can make a nutritious breakfast or snack. “You could also replace ricotta cheese with cottage cheese in lasagna to help cut down on fat and calories,” she adds.

On a similar note, Michalczyk says you can blend it into a tomato-based sauce for a creamy, protein pasta sauce. These are just a few ways you can get creative with cottage cheese in the kitchen. 

Mohrman emphasizes that it’s important to remember that heart health isn’t just about one singular food; it’s your overall diet that matters the most. But if you’re looking for a way to get more protein, potassium and calcium into your diet, cottage cheese is a great way to do it. 

Up Next:

Related: This Is the Worst Dairy Food for Heart Health, Experts Warn

Sources 

• Maggie Michalczyk, RD, registered dietitian and creator of Once Upon a Pumpkin.
• Sarah Mohrman, RDN, registered dietitian at Parkview Health. 
• Tara Spisak, RD, registered dietitian at Parkview Health.
• Maki, K. C, Dicklin, M. R. and Kirkpatrick, C. F. (2021) Saturated fats and cardiovascular health: Current evidence and controversies. Journal of Clinical Lipidology. 15(6):765-772.
• High Blood Pressure Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• How Much Sodium Should I Eat Per Day? American Heart Association.

In 1973, the Allman Brothers Band reached a commercial height that would never be duplicated.

Brothers and Sisters, the band’s fourth studio album, hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in September 1973 and remained there for five weeks. It knocked Chicago’s Chicago VI out of the top spot before eventually giving way to the Rolling Stones’ Goats Head Soup.

The achievement was remarkable not only because Brothers and Sisters became the Allman Brothers Band’s biggest album, but because of everything the group had endured before making it.

Rolling Stone would later describe the Allmans as the “first great jam band,” praising the way they combined traditional blues with their own strain of rock ‘n’ roll and pushed improvisational music into previously unexplored territory.

But by the time Brothers and Sisters arrived, the band responsible for that groundbreaking sound had been profoundly changed.

The Allman Brothers Band Rebuilt After Two Devastating Losses

Founding guitarist and bandleader Duane Allman died in a motorcycle crash in October 1971. The band continued without him, releasing Eat a Peach in 1972, but another tragedy followed just over a year after Duane’s death.

Bassist Berry Oakley died following a motorcycle accident in November 1972. Oakley had already participated in the early Brothers and Sisters sessions, playing bass on “Wasted Words” and “Ramblin’ Man.”

Rather than attempt to replace Duane with another lead guitarist, the Allmans changed their musical architecture. Lamar Williams joined on bass, while Chuck Leavell’s piano became increasingly important to the group’s sound. Dickey Betts also emerged as the band’s de facto leader and took on a larger songwriting role.

That evolution helped push Brothers and Sisters toward the country-influenced sound that would produce the band’s biggest single.

Related: Last Surviving Original Member of Legendary ’70s Rock Band Turns 82

‘Ramblin’ Man’ Almost Didn’t Sound Enough Like the Allman Brothers

Betts wrote and sang “Ramblin’ Man,” but its country flavor initially made the band hesitant to record it.

“We knew it was a good song but it didn’t sound like us,” drummer Butch Trucks recalled, according to Alan Paul’s book “One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band.”

Luckily, they recorded it anyway.

“Ramblin’ Man” became the Allman Brothers Band’s first and only Top 10 hit, climbing all the way to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Rock critic Dave Marsh called it “the closest real blues slide guitar has come to topping the chart” in his book “The Heart of Rock & Soul.”

And there was another future rock-radio staple waiting on the album.

Betts conceived the instrumental “Jessica” as an experiment inspired by Django Reinhardt, attempting to create a melody that could be played using only two fingers. When his young daughter Jessica entered the room and began bouncing to the music, Betts used her energy as inspiration and named the piece after her.

‘Brothers and Sisters’ Became the Allmans’ Commercial Peak

Released Aug. 6, 1973, Brothers and Sisters took off immediately.

The record went gold in retail sales within 48 hours of shipping and sold approximately 760,000 copies in its first three weeks. Billboard reportedly dubbed it the “success story of the summer.”

It ultimately spent five weeks at No. 1 and has sold more than 7 million copies worldwide.

For a band that had lost two foundational members in barely a year, Brothers and Sisters could easily have been the sound of something ending.

Instead, it became the biggest album of their career.

Related: ’70s ‘Guitar Legend,’ Who Powered the Allman Brothers’ Biggest Hit, Turns 74

It was 45 years ago on Sept. 5, 1981, that Hank Williams Jr. released “All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down),” a timeless ode to aging outlaws everywhere.

Written solely by Williams Jr. and produced by Jimmy Bowen, the rollicking, fiddle-filled tune finds the singer, affectionately known as Bocephus, feeling nostalgic as he reflects on the wild, rebellious party days he once shared with his buddies, who have now settled down. 

RELATED: 1994 No. 1 Country Classic, Written by Alan Jackson, Is Still a Powerful Generational Hit 32 Years Later

An anthem to getting older, Williams Jr. acknowledges that his friends have moved on from the loud and buzzy lifestyle they once knew to a quieter stage. Yet he seems both wistful and amused by the idea of slowing down, admitting, “The hangovers hurt more than they used to.” 

In the song, Williams Jr. also name-checks fellow outlaws including Kris Kristofferson, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash, pointing out how they, too, have moved away from their rowdy ways. Jones is getting straight, Jennings is spending more time at home with Jessi Colter, Cash isn’t living as he did in the ‘60s, and Kristofferson has moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. 

“All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)” served as the lead-off single from the Country Music Hall of Fame member’s 1981 album, The Pressure Is On. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on Nov. 21, 1981, and remained for one week. 

RELATED: 2009 No. 1 Hit, Ranked Among ‘Best Country Songs of All Time,’ Reimagined as a Duet With Megan Moroney

“All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)” was the country icon’s fifth No. 1 hit, following previous chart-toppers,“All for the Love of Sunshine,” “Eleven Roses,” “Texas Woman,” and “Dixie on My Mind.”

The song also established “all my rowdy friends” as a recurring phrase in Williams Jr.’s music. In 1984, he released “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight,” which he later reworked as  “All My Rowdy Friends Are Here On Monday Night” for the opening of Monday Night Football. The Williams Jr. theme debuted in 1989 and became synonymous with the football broadcast for decades.

Related: 1987 No. 1 Hit, Ranked Among ‘Best Country Songs of All Time,’ Reimagined by Garth Brooks at Secret Pop-Up Concert

Fifty-six years ago, rock pioneers Deep Purple released “Child in Time,” an epic 10-minute track that inspired a young Metallica star long before his legendary career began.

Released on June 3, 1970, as a key track on their fourth studio album, Deep Purple in Rock, “Child in Time” was quickly recognized by rock fans as a monumental work. Although it was never issued as a commercial single, the track found success among an underground audience, earning significant critical acclaim from rock fanatics.

“Child in Time” was co-written by all five members of Deep Purple’s iconic Mark II lineup, including Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice. Spanning a staggering 10 minutes and 18 seconds, it stands as one of the longest and most ambitious compositions in their discography.

Glenn Hughes, Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice, Jon Lord and David Coverdale of Deep Purple pose for a portrait in 1973.

Chris Walter/WireImage

The song utilizes a unique blend of hard rock, blues and psychedelic elements, building from a quiet, organ-led atmosphere into an explosive vocal climax. The stunning track stands as a quintessential hard-rock masterpiece, pairing a haunting melody with dramatic, high-intensity moments that leave listeners entranced—even inspiring some of the world’s rock icons.

In an interview on the Music And We podcast, Metallica drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich revealed that “Child in Time” was one of the most transformative tracks he heard growing up. At just nine years old, Ulrich was captivated by how the song conveyed a story through its dramatic instrumentals:

“And so when I think back to those very formative years, the Deep Purple song ‘Child in Time’, which I first heard on the Made in Japan album… it sort of had an epic feel and a different kind of feel than some of the other songs, and had these dynamics and felt more like a journey,” Ulrich recalled. “And so that felt like a journey, like a story. When you were listening to that song, that was a sort of an experience that kept evolving as you were listening to it.”

After seeing the band live with his dad in Denmark, Ulrich realized the song evolved with every performance, molding to whatever mood the players were in. The life the band brought to the track during each show caused him to fall even harder for the genre: “Deep Purple’s ‘Child In Time’ was the first time I was exposed to music that lived and breathed depending on what mood the players were in. And that has left a mark on me.”

Nearly six decades since its release, “Child in Time” continues to leave a lasting mark on music history. In the digital era, the track has maintained a strong presence among younger rock fans, accumulating over 119 million streams on Spotify.

Related: 1970 Country Song, Written in 25 Minutes at a Canadian Beach, Is Still a Powerful Hit 56 Years Later

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If your home could use more hidden storage without adding an oversized piece of furniture, Wayfair has the Bayou Breeze Hence 31.5-Inch Wide Sideboard Set marked down to just $160, compared with its regular $500 price. The set includes two matching cabinets with a natural finish that combines a light wood look with woven rattan doors and black metal legs. 

Each cabinet measures 31.5 inches high by 31.5 inches wide by 15.75 inches deep, with an interior measuring 22 inches high by 30.5 inches wide by 15.5 inches deep. They’re made with manufactured wood, steel, and natural rattan, with two doors per cabinet and shelving inside. The set can hold up to 100 pounds and is both water- and scratch-resistant.

Bayou Breeze Hence 31.5-Inch Wide Sideboard Set, $160 (was $500) at Wayfair

Courtesy of Wayfair

Shop at Wayfair

What’s especially unique about this gem is that you get two matching pieces instead of one long sideboard, which gives you a lot more flexibility. You could place them together under a TV for a setup that’s about 63 inches wide, use the pair as a buffet in the dining room, or separate them to add storage in different areas of your home.

One reviewer wrote, “These were super easy to put together and are so spacious,” while another called the cabinets “very sturdy and well made.” Others have used them beyond a traditional sideboard, including as TV stands, bedroom storage, and even a basement bar setup. One shopper described the piece as “gorgeous,” while another said it was “beautiful” and praised its extra storage.

Related: Walmart’s ‘Beautiful’ Farmhouse Sideboard Offers ‘Spacious Storage’ and ‘Makes a Perfect Coffee Bar’

The curved rattan panels give this sideboard a very boho look, so it would fit well in spaces with neutral tones, greenery, woven accents, and other natural materials. The black metal legs also add a slightly more modern touch, making it a good fit for rooms that blend both styles.

Shop More Deals

• Winston Porter Kitchen Storage Island, From $105 (was $196) at Wayfair
• George Oliver Sideboard with Pantry Doors, From $195 (was $889) at Wayfair
• Charlton Home Scarlett 2-Drawer Buffet Table, From $255 (was $700) at Wayfair

If you’re already thinking about a fall home refresh, the Bayou Breeze Hence 31.5-Inch Wide Sideboard Set is an easy way to make a change without paying full furniture prices. And with the set nearly 70% off, now is a great time to check Wayfair before the deal changes or the last finish sells out.

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales twice a week.

To solve today’s NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, you’ll need to be a bit of a film buff, know a thing or two about physics, have an affinity for sweets, and possess a green thumb.

Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!

Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.

So, if you’re working on today’s Mini Crossword on Sunday, September 6, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!

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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Sunday, September 6, 2026

Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: Like sashimi and steak tartare — HINT: Ends with the letter “W”

4 Across: Unit of energy symbolized by a “J” — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

6 Across: Debate back and forth — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”

7 Across: Online source for health diagnoses — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”

8 Across: Yo ___ (Spanish “I am”) — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: National sport of New Zealand — HINT: Starts with the letter “R”

2 Down: Graduate, for short — HINT: Ends with the letter “M”

3 Down: Garden intruder — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”

4 Down: Hit 1975 film shot largely on location in Martha’s Vineyard — HINT: Starts with the letter “J”

5 Down: Black-and-white cookie — HINT: Ends with the letter “O”

Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Sunday, September 6, 2026

Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Answers

1 Across: Like sashimi and steak tartare — RAW

4 Across: Unit of energy symbolized by a “J” — JOULE

6 Across: Debate back and forth — ARGUE

7 Across: Online source for health diagnoses — WEBMD

8 Across: Yo ___ (Spanish “I am”) — SOY

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: National sport of New Zealand — RUGBY

2 Down: Graduate, for short — ALUM

3 Down: Garden intruder — WEED

4 Down: Hit 1975 film shot largely on location in Martha’s Vineyard — JAWS

5 Down: Black-and-white cookie — OREO

Related: I Recreated the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars Every ’90s Kid Loved

In 1975, ABC introduced the comedy sitcom Barney Miller, which continues to be recognized as a timeless classic in television history.

After eight seasons and 44 years since its series finale, the Hal Linden-led show, which brought life inside a New York City police precinct to viewers, was named by Rolling Stone among the 100 Best Sitcoms of All Time.

Based on the ranking released by the publication, Barney Miller secured the No. 49 spot, highlighting how the “proudly shaggy office sitcom” delivered “one of TV’s most realistic depictions of police work, as well as one of the funniest.”

Marking Linden’s mainstream breakthrough role, he took on the character of Barney Miller, the level-headed and witty captain of the fictional 12th Precinct in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village.

While the setting featured a police workforce, the ABC show focused on the humorous and mundane realities of working in a precinct instead of shout-outs and action-packed car chases.

“Barney Miller” cast Maxwell Gail (Det. Stanley “Wojo” Wojohowicz), Gregory Sierra (Det. Sgt. Chano Amenguale), Jack Soo (Det. Nick Yemana), Ron Glass (Det. Ron Glass), Abe Vigoda (Det. Phil Fish), Barbara Barrie (Elizabeth Miller), Hal Linden (Capt. Barney Miller)

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Barney Miller also captivated viewers with the diverse and eccentric detectives and staff of the 12th Precinct, as well as the steady stream of bizarre criminals and unusual civilian complaints that became a defining part of the sitcom’s enduring appeal.

The sitcom’s popularity led it to win three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series in 1979, Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series in 1980 and Outstanding Comedy Series in 1982.

Adding to the list were two Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical in 1976 and 1977.

As for the ratings, Barney Miller grew into a strong performer after a slow start and eventually becoming among the 10 highest-rated television programs in the Nielsen ratings, according to Awards Daily.

Unfortunately, after 170 episodes, the beloved sitcom bid goodbye to viewers when its final episode aired on May 20, 1982.

Linden and co-star Max Gail once set the record straight that the show wasn’t cancelled, but the sitcom co-creator Danny Arnold opted to end the series himself after failing to find new writers to continue the sitcom.

“The last year, Danny called us all together and said, ‘Listen, we’re having writing problems, finding new writers [good writers did not want to join for the ninth year … there’s hardly any way up.]” Linden recalled, as cited by Remind Magazine, adding, “ So, he said, ‘I’m going to solicit scripts from everywhere — colleges, anywhere, anybody who thinks they’re a writer.’ And he went away for a month and that’s what he did. He solicited scripts from any writing source to see if he could find writers. And a month later he came back and said, ‘Guys, there’s no reason to do this show unless we can do it right. And I cannot find writers.’”

Despite the decision, viewers continued to enjoy the years of watching Barney Miller, and the ABC series ultimately became a television legacy.

Related: 1972 Hit Drama Film Named Among ‘Best Movies of the ’70s’ Still Holds a Perfect Rating

A songwriting retreat in the Great Smoky Mountains produced one of Tennessee’s most recognizable songs, and according to its writers, the whole thing took only about 15 minutes.

Husband-and-wife songwriting team Boudleaux and Felice Bryant wrote “Rocky Top” while staying at the Gatlinburg Inn in Tennessee in 1967. The Osborne Brothers recorded the song that same year, turning the quickly written tune into an enduring bluegrass favorite that would eventually become an official state song.

The Bryants already had an extraordinary catalog behind them.

They had written a string of hits for The Everly Brothers, including “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake Up Little Susie” and “All I Have to Do Is Dream.” In 1967, the couple traveled to Gatlinburg to work on a collection of slower songs for an album by Archie Campbell.

They needed a change of pace.

As the story goes, Boudleaux suggested writing something faster to break up the session. Within roughly 10 minutes, the couple had created “Rocky Top,” an upbeat ode to an imagined place tucked away in the Tennessee hills.

Its cheerful chorus disguised a more complicated message.

The narrator longs for a simpler life on Rocky Top while contrasting it with the pressures of the city. Along the way, the Bryants also worked in references to moonshine, disappearing federal agents, and environmental changes, giving the song considerably more character than a straightforward celebration of mountain life.

The Osborne Brothers recorded it in November 1967.

Released as a single in December, “Rocky Top” reached No. 33 on Billboard’s country chart in 1968. It wasn’t an enormous chart hit, but the song proved far more durable than its initial peak suggested.

“Rocky Top” soon became deeply connected to Tennessee.

The University of Tennessee’s Pride of the Southland Band began performing it at sporting events in the 1970s, helping turn the song into an unofficial anthem for the school. In 1982, Tennessee designated “Rocky Top” one of its official state songs.

“It’s the nostalgic plea for simple times that really resonates with everybody,” said Del Bryant, the son of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, in an interview. “There’s a longing there that is not quite sad, still a happy tempo, but that is what resonates with people and what the core of the song is about.”

Other country stars embraced it as well, with Lynn Anderson taking her version into the Top 20 on the country chart in 1970.

“People ask me now, ‘When you gonna quit?'” Bobby Osborne told NPR in 2017. “Why, they ask the wrong guy. I don’t intend to quit as long as I can do what I’m doing now. Now, if I get to where I can’t sing or can’t play or can’t think good or whatever, then I might have to. But I ain’t gonna quit ’til then.”

Fifty-nine years after the Bryants sat down to write it at the Gatlinburg Inn, “Rocky Top” has long since outgrown its modest chart beginnings. What started as a 15-minute break from writing ballads became a song inseparable from Tennessee itself.

The whole purpose of cleaning the house is to maintain a safe environment for you and your family. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains, wiping down surfaces—especially in the bathroom and kitchen—removes bacteria and viruses, which helps prevent common illnesses such as colds and the flu. Dusting and vacuuming are important too. Otherwise, dirt and dander can accumulate, which can lead to breathing issues or triggering allergies.  

But it’s not just the act of cleaning that’s important; the products you choose to clean with matter too. Certain cleaning products contain active ingredients that can irritate or burn the skin. Some ingredients also release harmful fumes into the air. According to the American Lung Foundation, even cleaning products labeled “green” or “natural” can be harmful to health.

How can you choose cleaning products for your home that are safe? We took this very question to a toxicologist. Here, he shares what he keeps in mind when buying cleaning products. Plus, see which active ingredients it’s best to avoid. 

Related: Oncologists Are Begging People To Stop Using This Common Cleaning Product

How a Toxicologist Shops for Cleaning Products

Dr. Alex LeBeau, PhD, MPH, CIH, is an exposure scientist, toxicologist and environmental health expert at Exposure Consulting. It’s literally his job to educate the public about what type of products are safe, and which ones aren’t. 

Dr. LeBeau shares that when he’s shopping for cleaning products, he pays careful attention to the label to see if the product aligns with guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has a mission to protect human health and the environment. 

“The EPA has specific definitions for what is a cleaning product and what is a disinfectant,” Dr. LeBeau tells Parade, explaining that the EPA defines a cleaner as a soap or detergent to remove surface dirt and defines a disinfectant as a chemical that kills bacteria and viruses. “While a product can be both a cleaner and disinfectant, only disinfectants are EPA-registered antimicrobial pesticidal products.”

Related: You’re Probably Cleaning This One Kitchen Item Wrong—and It’s a Germ Magnet

To know if a cleaning product has been approved by the EPA, look on the back or bottom of the product for a number labeled “EPA Reg. No.” Usually, this number contains two or three parts, separated by dashes. Having this number ensures that a cleaning product matches the definitions of either a cleaner or disinfectant that Dr. LeBeau previously explained. 

He explains that when he’s shopping for cleaning products, he considers what he wants to use them for and then decides accordingly, based on the EPA-approved definitions. For example, if he’s going to clean the kitchen (somewhere bacteria from raw meat can be found), he uses a disinfectant. The same goes for when he’s choosing a product for cleaning the toilet, another place where bacteria can lurk. But a regular cleaner is typically enough for wiping down everyday surfaces, such as coffee tables, desks and bookshelves. 

Want to go the extra mile in terms of safety? Look for an EPA Safer Choice Label, which is a separate certification that ensures every ingredient has been reviewed for human health and environmental safety.  

Related: Most People Are Cleaning This Body Part Wrong, Doctors Warn

Ingredients To Avoid

Dr. LeBeau explains there isn’t a hard line between ingredients in cleaning products that are safe versus unsafe. “Safe is a relative term in the eyes of the user,” he says. For general safety, he recommends following the directions on the label. “This may include keeping away from children or using with the appropriate surface contact time,” he adds.

If you or anyone in your household has any underlying respiratory health conditions, the American Lung Association says to be cautious of products with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that can vaporize at room temperature and can contribute to chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions and headaches. 

Common VOCs found in cleaning products include acetone, ethanol, isopropanol, xylene and toluene. These ingredients can be found in cleaning products such as air fresheners, chlorine bleach, dishwashing detergent, dishwashing liquid, rug and upholstery cleaners, furniture or floor polish and oven cleaners. 

According to HouseFresh, an independent company dedicated to educating people about air quality, not all VOCs are harmful. But if using a cleaning product is causing you to experience itchy eyes, shortness of breath, painful sinuses, headaches, nausea or confusion, that’s a sign that it’s impacting you negatively and it’s best to find an alternative.    

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Other Safety Precautions To Take While Cleaning

In addition to reading product labels when shopping for cleaning products, Dr. LeBeau says that, sometimes, it’s important to wear protective gear such as rubber gloves or eye protection when cleaning. This, he explains, will be indicated on the product’s label with its instructions. 

For example, if you’re cleaning with products that contain any harsh chemicals or scrubbing areas known to have lots of germs (like the bathroom), slapping on a pair of gloves before you start scrubbing is a good idea. 

If you know that certain chemicals make your eyes sting, that’s a sign to wear protective goggles (or to swap the cleaning product out for one that’s not as harsh). For many people, this means wearing goggles when using bleach, ammonia or oven cleaner. 

N95 face masks can also come in handy when you’re cleaning confined spaces and don’t want to breathe in strong fumes, like bleach and ammonia. 

Dr. LeBeau’s biggest piece of advice is to check that the cleaning product you’re considering buying has an EPA number and use it according to how it’s defined. Beyond that, deciding what specific active ingredients to avoid will vary from person to person, based on how sensitive they are, any underlying health conditions they may have or simply what ingredients they want to avoid. But if a cleaning product is negatively impacting you in any way, that’s a sure sign to stop using it and switch it out for something gentler. 

Up Next:

Related: ‘I’m a Cardiologist—This Is the One Frozen Food I Never Keep in My House’

Sources

• When and How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Cleaning Products and Household Chemicals. American Lung Association.
• Dr. Alex LeBeau, PhD, MPH, CIH, an exposure scientist, toxicologist and environmental health expert at Exposure Consulting.
• Selected EPA-Registered Disinfectants. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 
• Learn About the Safer Choice Label. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 
• 100 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and where they are found in the home. HouseFresh.

Alex Van Halen doesn’t seem interested in making amends with Sammy Hagar.

The legendary Van Halen drummer, 73, made his feelings about the band’s former frontman crystal clear during a September 3 interview with Brazilian music journalist Marcelo Vieira, who translated Alex’s memoir, Brothers, into Portuguese.

While discussing books written by other members of Van Halen, Alex had relatively positive things to say about original frontman David Lee Roth’s 1997 autobiography, Crazy From the Heat. But when the conversation turned to Hagar’s 2011 memoir, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock, his response was harsh.

“I don’t know what he wrote, and I don’t wanna know,” Alex said, according to a translation from Portuguese published by Roadie Crew. “In my opinion, Sammy Hagar is a complete idiot.”

The blunt remark comes amid continued tension surrounding the band and its legacy.

READ MORE: ’80s Classic Rock Icon Reacts to Being Snubbed From Reunion Plans

Hagar, 78, fronted the band after Roth’s departure, joining Alex, Eddie Van Halen, and Michael Anthony for a hugely successful run that began with 1986’s 5150. However, Hagar recently revealed that he and Anthony haven’t been asked to participate in an archival project Alex is developing from unfinished Van Halen recordings.

“No. We haven’t been asked, number one,” Hagar said during a February appearance on Rock of Nations. Hagar claimed there could be an enormous amount of unreleased material featuring that lineup because the band recorded lengthy jam sessions while creating albums.

He didn’t hide his frustration over potentially being excluded, either. “I’m disappointed that Mike and I wouldn’t be invited. It’s, like, what? Are you kidding me? We’re still alive. We’re out here doing it. We’re playing those songs. We can still do it, you know?” Hagar said.

While Hagar acknowledged that the archival project is ultimately Alex’s to control, the drummer’s new comments make it clear no reunion is on the table, at least anytime soon.

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For more than five decades, Mel Collins has been the musician rock stars call when a song needs the unmistakable punch of a saxophone.

The veteran British musician turned 79 on Sept. 5, marking another milestone in a remarkable career that has included King Crimson, Camel, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, The Rolling Stones and countless others. Among those credits is Bob Dylan, whose sprawling 1975 sessions for Desire brought Collins into the studio for the cinematic “Romance in Durango.”

Born Melvyn Desmond Collins on Sept. 5, 1947, he emerged as a musician in the late 1960s and first worked with King Crimson as a session player in 1970 before joining the band permanently.

He made his first appearance with the progressive rock pioneers on In the Wake of Poseidon and became an important part of the band’s early-’70s sound. His saxophone and flute could be heard across albums including Lizard and Islands, giving Collins a prominent place in one of progressive rock’s most adventurous groups.

His versatility soon made him a sought-after session musician.

That reputation brought Collins to New York City in 1975 during the famously crowded early sessions for Dylan’s Desire. Collins was then associated with the British group Kokomo, several of whose musicians participated as Dylan experimented with different combinations of players.

“We got asked to go in one by one,” Collins told Rolling Stone. “He wanted some singers, so the Kokomo singers went in. He wanted a keyboard player, so the keyboardist went in. I was the last one. I was thinking, ‘He won’t want a saxophone.’ As it happened, there was a trumpet player [Michael Lawrence]. And I got called in at the last minute after drinking a glass of brandy and thinking, ‘I’m going to be going home soon.’ And bang! I’m in the studio with this very nice guy, the trumpet player. Bob Dylan just sort of walked around the studio playing the song and we had to get a rough idea of it. Then we had to go for a take.”

Collins played tenor saxophone on “Romance in Durango,” Dylan and Jacques Levy’s tale of an outlaw fleeing across Mexico with his lover. The recording assembled an unusually large cast that also included Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris and violinist Scarlet Rivera.

His involvement with the Desire sessions extended further. Session records also place Collins on takes of songs including “Isis” and “Mozambique” as Dylan worked through the material that would ultimately form the 1976 album. “Romance in Durango,” however, is where his tenor saxophone can be heard on the finished record.

Collins’ résumé only grew from there. He contributed to albums by Bryan Ferry, Bad Company, Tears for Fears, Dire Straits, and The Rolling Stones.

“The Stones wanted a sax player, and at that time, Bobby Keys was banned,” Collins revealed years later. “The whole story is in Keith Richards’ book. He was their usual guy. He did ‘Brown Sugar’ and all those old songs. And Mick booked me to do this session. I had been in the South of France, and they were doing it in Paris. It was a bit uncomfortable since Keith obviously wanted Bobby Keys, and Mick wouldn’t have it. So I’m there in the studio. I knew Ronnie quite well. He came in and went, ‘Hey man, how are you doing?’ And he walked to the other side of the studio. It’s a very big studio, EMI. Then Keith came in. I was there with Mick and trying to play the solo of my life.”

He also eventually returned to King Crimson, joining the band’s later incarnation and performing with the group through its final years of touring.

“Robert [Fripp] called me asking if I wanted to go on this new spree with the new version of King Crimson, and I said ‘of course, yes please,'” Collins said in a 2023 interview. “And that just followed on, very fortunately at that time. I was back with Robert, and it was great. I suppose we were on the road for about seven years since 2014, until a couple of years ago. It was a great band.

At 79, Collins’ career offers an extraordinary tour through decades of rock history. He rarely needed to be the name on the album cover; one blast of that saxophone was often enough to make his presence known.

Related: 1971 Rock Song by Genesis, Lasting Over 10 Minutes, Is Still a Powerful Hit 55 Years Later

Jameela Jamil isn’t finished talking about Botox.

Days after declaring “Botox is a prison,” the Good Place actress returned to Instagram Saturday, September 5, with an even lengthier explanation of why she takes issue with the cosmetic treatment and the beauty standards she believes women are expected to follow.

Jamil acknowledged that some people interpreted her original comments as criticism of cosmetic procedures in general, something she denied in her follow-up. “I don’t care if you wanna get your whole face and body rearranged! I care about facial EXPRESSION. Facial emotion. Facial freedom,” she wrote.

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In her caption, Jamil expanded on that argument, saying she doesn’t want women pressured into becoming “cookie cutter copies of the same AI filter face and body.” However, she said her “absolute rage” is directed at the loss of facial expression.

“We need to show how we feel more than ever as our rights are stripped away,” she wrote. “NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PERFORM STOICISM.”

Jamil also questioned why signs of aging have become something women are encouraged to hide, pointing to Emma Thompson, the late Maggie Smith, Kate Winslet, and Kristin Scott Thomas as examples of the faces she admires.

Fans chimed in, sharing their opinions in the comments.

“I still believe that you should complain about the cage of patriarchy, not women and what they choose to do with their bodies,” one said.

One commenter noted, “Ah, so you’re not policing what women do with their bodies, you’re just policing how their faces should express emotion to meet your standard of ‘authenticity.’”

“I love you but it’s ~you~ that’s still missing the point lol. Respectfully. ,” replied another.

READ MORE: Jameela Jamil Declares ‘Botox Is a Prison’ in Fiery Rant About Women’s Faces

Some agreed with the star. One wrote, “I think people are so quick to take it as a personal attack and not seeing how incredibly fucked up it is that women see wrinkles as something they want to get rid of in the first place even at the risk of losing the things that make them them.”

Another said, “I had Botox and fillers done today and still understood your point. It wasn’t hard.”

The latest comments follow Jamil’s first viral Botox rant earlier this week, when she wrote, “I can’t look at Botoxed faces anymore. I miss the faces that move.” She later declared, “Botox is a prison that presents as stoicism in a time women should be f**king ROARING.”

And the follow-up also comes amid a difficult few weeks personally. Jamil announced she was canceling an upcoming sold-out live show for her podcast Wrong Turns the day before, revealing that she had been “really sick with a fluke bad luck thing” and had been in the hospital.

The actress said it marked the first time she had canceled an appearance or booked job during her 18-year career. She told followers she planned to “go away for a bit and recover,” although she would continue occasionally posting from bed.

With the sweltering summer heat beginning to fade away as September settles in, what better time than fall to cozy up on the couch for some Netflix and chill? This month, a host of new movies have been added to streaming platforms for your leisurely viewing pleasure, and if you’re a sci-fi fan, Sigourney Weaver‘s Aliens is one of the films that just hit Netflix.

Added on Sept. 1, the otherworldly flick was ranked at No. 30 on Rotten Tomatoes‘ list of the best movies to watch on Netflix right now. It has earned a 93% Tomatometer score, collecting 172 reviews, and a 94% Popcornmeter score with over 250K fan ratings.

The sequel to 1979’s Alien, it centers around the protagonist and her struggles on a colonized moon. “After floating in space for 57 years, Lt. Ripley’s shuttle is found by a deep space salvage team. Upon arriving at LV-426, the marines find only one survivor, a nine-year-old girl named Newt. But even these battle-hardened marines with all the latest weaponry are no match for the hundreds of aliens that have invaded the colony,” the official synopsis reads.

The website’s “Critics Consensus” praises Weaver’s standout acting: “Propelled by a commanding and layered performance from Sigourney Weaver, Aliens trades the original’s slow-burn dread for tightly orchestrated action and visceral thrills to stand as a sequel worthy of its predecessor.”

Directed by James Cameron, Weaver stars as a gutsy Lieutenant Ellen Louise Ripley—a role originally meant for a man. “I think I was very fortunate to be in such an unusual first project. There’s a timelessness about Alien; the writers took a male part and rewrote it as a woman because no one will ever think that the girl might end up the survivor,” she told AARP The Magazine for its December 2025/January 2026 issue. “They didn’t make her vulnerable and having little crying jags or any of that stuff. She was just, ‘What’s next?’ Put one foot in front of another.”

The film also features Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, William Hope, and more, per IMDb.

Aliens is widely considered one of the greatest films of the ’80s. It received several awards and nominations, including an Academy Award nod for Best Actress for Weaver, at a time when sci-fi was rarely on the ballot. It reportedly earned $131.1 to 183.3 million during its theatrical run, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 1986 worldwide.

Next, 1992 Morgan Freeman Movie, With a 96% Rotten Tomatoes Score, Ranked as One of the Best Movies of All Time

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There are so many factors that add to a room’s ambiance. Among the most significant is the lighting, which can be warm and inviting or crisp and sharp. If you’re looking for something unique to illuminate your space while enhancing its coziness, the Umeuc Rose Tree Table Lamp can add both subtle light and a charming design to the room.

At a glance, the light is incredibly unique — and it’s earned praise from shoppers for its elegant appearance. It’s also an excellent deal, marked down from $15 to just $12 in white and pink at Amazon. Other hues, including pink, red, white, and multicolor, are also available for only $14.

Umeuc Rose Tree Table Lamp, from $12 (was $15) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

The delicate roses set the lamp apart, with 24 individual branches branching out from a dark, twisting trunk. When the light is switched on, the petals glow from within to give the blooms an especially luminous appearance. The effect is absolutely enchanting, whether you place the lamp on a nightstand or use it to decorate a dresser or desktop.

It stands about 18 inches tall with a 5.12-inch base, so it doesn’t occupy too much space. At the same time, it’s sizable enough to make a statement without overwhelming the room or competing with other design elements. This practical size also makes it a suitable option if you want something that’s as decorative as it is functional.

The lamp plugs in via USB, so it can connect to a wall adapter, laptop, or portable power bank. This convenience makes it simple to move the lamp around when you want to add some light to another part of the home. It also enhances any space — a bedroom, nursery, home office, or even a hallway or entryway.

Related: Sleep Soundly Year-Round With This 7-Piece Comforter Set That’s 27% Off and Feels Like ‘Pure Luxury’

According to a shopper, it’s “exquisitely made” and boasts high-quality construction. Another reviewer remarked that they were equally impressed by the lamp, noting that it looks more expensive than it actually is.

Shop More Deals

• Furinno 3-Tier Side Table, $16 (was $41) at Amazon
• Amada Homefurnishing Washable Area Rug, $62 (was $90) at Amazon
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Whether you’re hoping to bring some more romance to your decor or you just love the way bouquets brighten the room, the Umeuc Rose Tree Table Lamp offers an easy and affordable option that’s quick to set up. Grab it in your preferred color at Amazon!

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In September 1971, the stars were aligning. Dennis Hopper and Kris Kristofferson, that is. As Hopper was filming The Last Movie, his highly anticipated follow-up to Easy Rider, Kristofferson was making moves of his own.

Not only was the legendary singer-songwriter scoring his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Me and Bobby McGee,” the counterculture masterpiece he co-wrote with Fred Foster that Janis Joplin took to the top of the charts, but he was also about to make his big-screen acting debut.

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Originally summoned to Peru as a horse wrangler and to contribute music to Hopper’s movie, Criterion Collection shared that Hopper thought the singer-songwriter looked so good on a horse that he offered him the role of Minstrel Wrangler right there on the spot.

Or, as Kristofferson later casually put it, per Screen Anarchy, “I was hired as a horse wrangler. Dennis Hopper had me sing ‘Me & Bobby McGee’ in the film because he liked it so much.” The decision changed the trajectory of Kristofferson’s career.

Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

After his debut in Hopper’s metafictional drama that explored the effects of Hollywood filmmaking on a remote Peruvian community, Kristofferson landed the starring role in Bill Norton’s Cisco Pike, followed by major parts in Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and Frank Pierson’s A Star Is Born.

Back home, Kristofferson still had plenty of musical momentum behind him. His songs were everywhere: Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee” was dominating the pop charts, while Sammi Smith’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night”—another Kristofferson composition—had topped the country chart.

Meanwhile, his own second studio album, The Silver Tongued Devil and I, was also turning him into a bona fide recording star, thanks in part to the love song “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again).” The success was followed by a hit fourth album, Spooky Lady’s Sideshow, which reached No. 11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in 1974.

As for the original reason he went to Peru in the first place, The Last Movie’s soundtrack, not officially released until five decades later, per Variety, was widely celebrated, thanks in part to Kristofferson’s contributions.

The raw ballad he wrote for Joplin made its way into The Last Movie, but as a country-folk duet performed with Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas. He also performed “Good for Nothing Is Good Enough for Me” alongside Phillips and John Buck Wilkin, as well as “The Party Walk,” with Wilkin and Phillips.

Despite The Last Movie notoriously bombing with critics and fans alike, Kristofferson arrived in Peru as a songwriter and left as a rising screen star.

Related: ’70s Rocker, Discovered by Deep Purple, Was Murdered 39 Years Ago—and His Killer Walked Free

Hole, the alternative rock band fronted by Courtney Love, delivered an enduring anthem of the grunge era with the 1994 song “Doll Parts,” and it is still making waves decades later.

In a ranking released by Rolling Stone, the track earned a place on the list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, along with historic favorites and new classics.

The fragile, haunting yet utterly explosive sound, accompanied by the emotionally raw lyrics of Hole’s song “Doll Parts,” secured the No. 208 spot.

Featured on their sophomore album Live Through This, released in April 1994, the band’s second single was considered Hole’s signature anthem after being a smash hit at the time.

“Doll Parts” peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the group’s highest-charting song of its career.

Hole band at the 1998 Billboard Music Awards

Ke.Mazur/WireImage

Behind the mainstream success of Hole’s “Doll Parts” was a song inspired by Love’s chaotic romance with the late Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain.

In a 2020 Instagram post, the frontwoman revealed that it only took her 20 minutes to write the song while she was inside the bathroom at a friend’s house party in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“I had to write most of the lyrics on my arm in Sharpie as I ran out of paper,” Love posted, as cited by Billboard, adding, “People were pounding on the door as I wrote it. It was played for the first time about an hour later, at the Virgin Megastore in Boston. It was about a boy whose band had just left town, who I’d been sleeping with, who I heard was sleeping with 2 other girls, it was my way of saying, ‘You’re a f—ing idiot if you don’t choose ME, and here is all the desire and fury and love that I feel for you. Good songs don’t always come in 20 minutes, but the force was strong and that one did.”

As for the person who inspired it, Love gave an obvious clue and said: “Anyway I married that guy.”

Kurt Cobain of Nirvana with wife Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean Cobain

Terry McGinnis/WireImage

The song was written in 1991 after she reconnected with Cobain and was first recorded in November of the same year during Hole’s BBC radio session with John Peel, according to Songfacts.

Live Through This was released just a week after Cobain’s passing and two months after their bass player, Krista Pfaff, died of a drug overdose.

Related: 32 Years Ago Today, Iconic ’90s Rocker Died at the Age of 27

Asia is well-known for producing power ballads, so it shouldn’t be all that surprising to fans that one of the band’s most beloved hits was recognized on Ultimate Classic Rock‘s ranking of the “50 Greatest Power Ballads in Rock History.”

The publication put Asia’s 1983 hit “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes,” off the supergroup’s second record, Alpha, at the ranking’s 46th spot. Other songs featured on Ultimate Classic Rock‘s ranking are Aerosmith‘s “Dream On,” “Keep On Loving You” by REO Speedwagon, and Journey‘s “Faithfully.”

The John Wetton-penned track, which has a runtime of 3 minutes and 31 seconds, became almost immediately popular, securing the number 34 Billboard Hot 100 spot in November 1983, just four months after the release of Alpha.

According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Wetton was thinking about the band’s keyboard player Geoff Downes‘ relationship issues while penning the song.

“He was going through a complete emotional turmoil over a girl about a year and a half ago, and I identified so strongly that I went home and wrote the song in five minutes. Boom! Sat right down at the piano and there it was. If anything’s straight from the heart, that song is,” said Wetton during an interview in 1983, per Songfacts.

Members of Asia Have Discussed the ‘Alpha’ Album

While “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” was a popular tune, Ultimate Classic Rock reported that critics and members of Asia, Steve Howe and Carl Palmer, didn’t love the Alpha album.

“The second album was a complete mistake and was put together, possibly, through greed and the ‘chasing the single’ syndrome. It was just full of pop tunes that just died miserably,” said Palmer, the drummer of Asia, during an interview for Time and a Word: The Yes Story by Martin Popoff, published in 2016.

Downes also discussed the band’s second album in a 2001 interview with Classic Rock Radio. He said he believed that Alpha was viewed as being inadequate, as their “first album [Asia] had been so successful that anything less than that was considered to be a bit of a flop.”

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Most homeowners understand the importance of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The harder question is whether those alarms need professional monitoring. After all, if a smoke detector is loud enough to wake the entire house, why pay someone else to monitor it? Right?

There is a practical answer: An ordinary alarm depends on someone being there, hearing it and being able to respond. A professionally monitored detector doesn’t. That distinction becomes particularly important when you’re asleep, away from your home or dealing with an emergency that leaves you unable to call for help yourself.

So, is professional monitoring actually necessary for smoke and carbon monoxide detection? Not always—but understanding what it adds can help you decide whether it makes sense for your home, your family and the way you live. Here’s everything you need to know.

If you’re considering adding monitored fire or carbon monoxide detection to an existing security system, ADT offers free home quotes and can recommend equipment based on your home’s layout.

Do I Need Monitored Smoke Detectors?

You don’t need professional monitoring for a smoke detector to provide lifesaving protection, but monitoring adds another layer of protection. When a detector senses smoke or fire, the monitoring service receives the alarm and can contact emergency responders according to its procedures, even if you’re asleep or away.

Working smoke alarms should be the starting point in every home, monitored or not. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends installing smoke alarms on every level of the home and inside each bedroom. It also advises testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly.

Professional monitoring addresses a different problem: What happens after the alarm sounds? With an ordinary smoke detector, the next step depends on someone hearing the alarm and reacting to it. But with a professionally monitored ADT smoke detector, an alarm can also be reported to an ADT Monitoring Center.

ADT says that for professionally monitored smoke detectors, its monitoring center can dispatch first responders when the alarm sounds, although procedures can vary by municipality. That can be especially useful if a fire starts while nobody is home.

Does 24/7 Fire Monitoring Matter While You Sleep?

Smoke alarms are designed to wake people during a fire, but professional monitoring provides an additional response path. If an alarm is triggered while your family is sleeping, trained personnel can receive the signal rather than relying solely on someone inside the house to hear the alarm and make the call.

Nighttime fires are particularly concerning because occupants may have less time to recognize what is happening. The National Fire Protection Association notes that the majority of fatal home fires happen while people are asleep, which is one reason it recommends smoke alarms inside bedrooms, outside sleeping areas and on every level of the home.

A monitored system doesn’t replace those alarms. It simply adds another layer to them.

ADT’s monitored smoke and carbon monoxide detectors sound locally but can also generate alerts through the ADT+ app and communicate with ADT’s professional monitoring service. Compatible detectors can also trigger paired devices in the house, so they sound together (increasing the odds of them being heard).

Do You Need Professional Monitoring for Carbon Monoxide?

Professional monitoring is particularly valuable for carbon monoxide (CO) since it is invisible and odorless. These devices can signal a monitoring center when dangerous levels are detected rather than depending entirely on someone inside the home to respond.

This is important because carbon monoxide presents a different problem from smoke: your senses may provide no warning at all.

The CDC describes CO as an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. It also warns that people who are sleeping can die from CO poisoning before experiencing recognizable symptoms.

That’s why CO alarms themselves are essential.

The CPSC recommends installing battery-operated CO alarms or models with battery backup on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Interconnected alarms are preferred so that when one activates, they all sound.

ADT’s monitored CO detectors add remote notification and monitoring-center communication to that local alarm. ADT says its CO detectors operate continuously even when the security system is disarmed and can send an alarm to the monitoring center when professional monitoring is active.

What’s the Difference Between a Monitored and Unmonitored Smoke Detector?

Both monitored and unmonitored smoke detectors can sound an alarm inside your home. The major difference is that a professionally monitored detector can also communicate an emergency to a monitoring center, while an ordinary standalone alarm generally relies on someone nearby to hear and act on it.

Here are the major differences at a glance:

Feature

Standard Alarm

Professionally Monitored Alarm

Sounds inside the home?

Yes

Yes

Can wake sleeping occupants?

Yes

Yes

Works while you’re away?

Detects locally

Detects and can report an alarm remotely

Monitoring center notified?

No

Yes

App alerts?

Depends on device

Available with systems such as ADT

Professional response support?

No

Yes

That doesn’t make a standard smoke alarm inadequate. Properly installed, working smoke and CO alarms remain fundamental home safety equipment. Monitoring simply adds another way for an emergency to get noticed before it’s too late.

Is Professional Fire and Carbon Monoxide Monitoring Worth It?

Professional monitoring is worthwhile to homeowners who want someone else available to respond to smoke or carbon monoxide alarms around the clock, particularly when the house may be empty or family members could be asleep or unable to react quickly.

For some households, standalone alarms may be enough. But I would give professional monitoring serious consideration if:

• The house is frequently empty during the day
• You travel regularly
• You have pets home alone
• Children or older adults live in the home
• You want smoke, CO and intrusion monitoring in one system
• You don’t want to depend entirely on phone notifications for emergency situations

ADT’s combination detector can monitor smoke, carbon monoxide and heat, while providing audible, visual, voice and app alerts when paired with professional monitoring.

For homeowners already considering a monitored security system, adding life-safety detection may make more sense than maintaining completely separate systems.

The Bottom Line: Do You Need Monitored Smoke Detectors?

You absolutely need working smoke and CO alarms in the appropriate locations around your home. But professional monitoring is an added layer that can give you peace of mind.

It won’t prevent every fire or guarantee a particular emergency-response time. What it can do is make sure an alarm isn’t relying solely on you being home, awake and able to react. That’s the part I find most compelling.

A burglary alarm protects property. But smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring can address situations where minutes—and sometimes seconds—matter to the people inside the house.

If you want to see what monitored smoke, CO and home security protection would look like for your property, ADT offers free quotes and professional system recommendations.