We didn't have the hole story. via Knowable


We all know, in theory, that the times are changing, and with each new generation of students there will be changes in educational curriculum, approach, and learning tools.
But just like how hard it can be to do the math to figure out how long ago we graduated from high school, it can be really hard to swallow the fact that school looks so incredibly different for students now than it did for Millennials and Gen-Xers.
TikToker @ms_d_math sat down with one of her colleagues, who is also a Millennial math teacher at the middle school where they work, to reflect on how different their students' school experience looks than when they were students themselves.
TikToker @ms_d_math introduced their project as:
"This is a list of things that were normal when we were in middle school but would completely make you guys [Gen Z and Gen Alpha] crash out."
Her colleague added:
"Spiral!"
The pair shared a few items that were not all that surprising, given technological advancement and the demands that arose because of the pandemic.
For example, students are now given the opportunity to rent out a laptop or tablet at the beginning of the school year and only need to return it at the end of the year, unlike the class-sized set of laptops Millennials had to share and return at the end of the class period in which they were needed, or the setup of desktop computers in a designated computer lab. Because of laptop and tablet availability, computer labs are no longer needed.
However, a less expected change is that most students don't have textbooks anymore. All of their educational materials are available online, often including novels that they might read for their English classes.
Most of their homework is done online, as well, so they don't have to worry about forgetting the textbook they need at school, and they can also check their answers online, instead of Millennials hoping they got the right answer or checking their answers in the back of their textbooks.
A few very Millennial-coded items have mostly disappeared from the classroom, as well, including Scantron tests and Little Blue Books for tests, the ELMO (Electric Light Machine Organization) projector we used to take notes from, and the large tube television on a rolling cart that promised a relaxed day in the classroom.
You can watch the video here:
@ms_d_math Things that were normal to us in middle school… #middleschoolteacher #early2000s #fyp #teachersoftiktok
Fellow TikTokers were shocked by the items that aren't used in the classroom anymore.










The response was so extensive, the pair of teachers got together again to share more.
They first confirmed some of the things their students didn't use anymore, like physical textbooks, the Scantron, and the ELMO, because of the use of their laptops.
Their students also do not have to participate in summer school anymore if they fall behind in their studies or are unsuccessful in a class, they don't have to change clothes for gym class, and they can complete their SATs and ACTs online instead of in person and on paper.
You can watch the second video here:
@ms_d_math Replying to @Sophie Ann For everyone that saw our last video, we hope this answered some of your questions! #middleschooltoday #middleschoolteacher #teachersoftiktok #fyp #educationtoday
It's mind-boggling to think about how much the education system has changed, mostly because of the extreme importance that teachers placed on these educational tools while Millennials were going to school.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), raised eyebrows over his bizarre and surprisingly permissive defense of new guidelines for alcohol consumption, saying "it does allow people an excuse to bond and socialize, and there’s probably nothing healthier than having a good time with friends in a safe way."
Oz spoke as the Trump administration on Wednesday released updated dietary guidelines for Americans, emphasizing whole and minimally processed foods, reduced consumption of refined carbohydrates, and what officials described as a “war” on added sugars.
Reuters White House Correspondent Jeff Mason asked the following question:
"One of the changes that was made had to do with alcohol. Secretary Kennedy or Dr. Oz, could you explain the science behind the new language on not saying two drinks for men and one drink for a woman every day would be healthy, and whether or not the industry had an impact on the language of moderation versus just saying alcohol is not healthy and you shouldn’t drink it?”
Oz, taking the podium at the suggestion of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., replied:
“So alcohol is a social lubricant that brings people together. In the best-case scenario, I don’t think you should drink alcohol, but it does allow people an excuse to bond and socialize, and there’s probably nothing healthier than having a good time with friends in a safe way."
"If you look at the blue zones, for example, around the world where people live the longest, alcohol is sometimes part of their diet. Again, small amounts taken very judiciously and usually in a celebratory fashion."
"So there is alcohol in these dietary guidelines, but the implication is don’t have it for breakfast. This should be something done in a small amount, hopefully in some kind of an event that may have alcohol added."
"But they generally moved away from two glasses for men, one glass for women. There was never really good data to support that quantity of alcohol consumption. That data was probably primarily confounded with broader data about social connectedness."
You can hear what he said in the video below.
That's quite the statement from the same guy who made headlines last month for telling federal workers to stop eating so many Christmas cookies and included a section titled "Cutting Cubicle Cravings" in his department's newsletter.
Oz has been making the rounds for months preaching about all the ways Americans should "get healthier"—all while ignoring the soaring costs of healthcare premiums—so it's rather odd to see him defend drinking alcohol, which is linked to an increased risk of developing noncommunicable diseases, including liver disease, heart disease, and several types of cancer.
Oz was swiftly called out.
The new recommendations, which align with Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, urge Americans to prioritize high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while avoiding highly processed foods.
The long-standing MyPlate guide—once used to illustrate balanced meals with roughly equal portions of grains, vegetables, protein, and fruit, plus some dairy—has been scrapped.
In its place, the administration has reintroduced a revised food pyramid, flipped upside down and slightly rearranged. Protein, dairy, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables now dominate the chart, while whole grains play a much smaller role.
While medical associations have applauded spotlighting how ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and sodium contribute to a host of health problems such as heart disease and obesity, concerns remain.
The American Heart Association said in a statement that it is "concerned that recommendations regarding salt seasoning and red meat consumption could inadvertently lead consumers to exceed recommended limits for sodium and saturated fats, which are primary drivers of cardiovascular disease.”
Additionally, Marion Nestle—professor emerita of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University—said that the focus on protein “makes no sense (Americans eat plenty) other than as an excuse to advise more meat and dairy, full fat, which will make it impossible to keep saturated fat to 10% of calories or less."
Bowen Yang, who's well-known for his work on Saturday Night Live and his role in Wicked and Wicked: For Good, stepped off of the SNL stage for the last time, mid-season, after being a writer and performer for the past eight seasons.
During his final skit, Yang starred opposite Ariana Grande, with the couple playing a married couple. Grande was waiting for Bowen to come from after his final shift before retiring from working at an airport.
While Yang's character lamented all the things he would miss about his workplace and the people there, Yang became emotional, clearly speaking about his time on Saturday Night Live and his love for his fellow cast members just as much as his character was talking about retirement.
You can watch the skit, "His Final Shift," here:
@nbcsnl his final shift 🫶
Yang was clearly emotional about his departure during his final skit and the cast's bow at the end of the night, as well as on his Instagram stories.
But now that some time has passed and emotions have settled, Yang has started to open up about the reasons behind his decision to step away from the show on his podcast, Las Culturistas, opposite Matt Rogers.
A crucial factor involved his acting, namely that he felt limited at times by the roles he received on the show.
“I feel like I was really bogged down the entire time I was there about the idea that there was no range in anything I did."
"I knew I was never gonna play the dad. I was never gonna play the generic thing in sketches."
"It’s a sketch show; each thing is like four minutes long. It is short and collapsed by necessity, so, therefore, it plays on archetypes."
But the more important point came from Yang himself, knowing it was time to go.
"This is honestly what's behind it: It's time."
"You would do seven seasons, and then you would scoot."
"But then Covid and the current media landscape, and the current entertainment ecosystem is so turbulent, that people have completely valid reasons for staying longer, or in a lot of cases, don't have the privilege of staying on as long as they would have liked."
"I have this very beautiful thing where I get to say that I stayed on exactly as long as I wanted to."
You can hear part of the conversation here:
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
Fans were touched by Yang's reasoning and supportive of him taking the next step.
Yang got to walk away from Saturday Night Live on the perfect night with a skit that gave him the perfect opportunity to say goodbye, with his wonderful friend Ariana Grande, with Cher as the musical guest, and at the time that he felt ready to go.
Even the most fabulous departures are emotional, but it's clear that the timing was right for Yang. And after he's had some rest and travel, he promises new, great projects for his fans to look forward to.
Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse sparked outrage after he offered to travel to Minnesota following ICE's fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin claimed Good “weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them.” But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pushed back against this narrative considering witnesses described seeing Good in the vehicle trying to flee officers when she was shot.
Good's killing has sparked massive protests in Minneapolis in light of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's claim that ICE agents were attempting to remove an ICE vehicle that had gotten stuck in the snow, alleging that "a mob of agitators that were harassing them all day began blocking them in."
Then in came Rittenhouse with this sociopathic take:
"After thinking about it, should I travel across the state line to Minnesota?"
You can see his post below.
The last time Rittenhouse traveled to protests things turned deadly.
Rittenhouse has remained a darling among the right since he was acquitted of all charges relating to the August 2020 fatal shootings of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz during the Kenosha unrest, which took place after police officers shot and partially paralyzed Jacob Blake, a Black man.
Rittenhouse was charged with first-degree crimes which legal pundits cite as the only reason he was acquitted as the evidence left reasonable doubt on the requirements for a first-degree conviction. Had Rittenhouse been charged with 2nd degree homicide or manslaughter, they surmise he would have been found guilty.
Since his acquittal, Rittenhouse—whose sobbing on the stand inspired a flurry of memes—has cashed in on his notoriety by appearing at far-right events, fundraising for a host of pet projects that have gone nowhere including a "Media Accountability Project" aimed at suing everyone who called him a murderer.
He also recently got married and shared pictures of himself and his bride that included one showing her beaming next to him and toting a rifle.
Many were not impressed by his "joke"—and condemned him for making light of Good's murder.
Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent on Portland Avenue near East 34th Street in the Central neighborhood of Minneapolis—just a mile away from where George Floyd was killed in 2020.
Good’s killing prompted hundreds of protesters to gather at the scene, a crowd that swelled into the thousands later in the day. Law enforcement officers used tear gas and pepper spray against demonstrators outside a federal building. By Thursday morning, protesters had blocked investigators from accessing the site of the shooting.
LEGO has long been known for its fostering of creativity, independent play, and imaginative designs, both in their LEGO sets and free-form bricks.
Parents have long hailed LEGO as a viable option for fostering creativity and critical thinking, even when faced with the frustrations of children not cleaning up all of the pieces and the pains of potentially stepping on them.
But parents aren't sure what the future holds after LEGO made an announcement that could change everything during an appearance at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show.
Kids' screen time has been an enduring concern for parents. In response, LEGO decided to add something they feel will encourage kids to put down the screens and turn back to building: their new SMART Brick design.
Tom Donaldson, LEGO's Senior Vice President and Head of Creative Play Lab, explained:
"The launch of LEGO SMART Play brings creativity, technology, and storytelling together to make building worlds and stories even more engaging, and all without a screen."
As of March 2026, families will be able to purchase LEGO SMART Bricks, which light up, make sounds, and even detect motion. LEGO will also be creating a whole new line of SMART builder sets, which will function in conjunction with the SMART Brick.
The company will begin production with several of its most popular STAR WARS builder sets, reimagined with the SMART Brick. Lightsabers will light up, and vehicles like the X-wing and Landspeeder will detect when they are rolled over or thrust into the air, with appropriate sound effects issuing from the pieces.
This is arguably a highly innovative design and will bring new life and possibilities to these beloved builder sets, and they might even stand a chance of drawing the attention of screen-dependent children.
While parents and LEGO fans could get behind that, they worried the new tech would discourage children from using their imaginations in crafting ideas, stories, and sound effects.
With lights and sounds provided for them, in addition to the increasingly easy step-by-step instructions for builder sets, what will be left for these children to dream up on their own?
Not to mention parents' concerns about opening doors to involuntary tracking and subscription fees.
As with most technological advances, the Smart Brick comes with positives and negatives, both in design and intention. While this might be a marvelous idea for those who need motivation to put down their devices, it could also hinder imaginative kids who already have fewer options for independent play in an increasingly digital world.