Why do we experience “cute aggression”?

Published 15 days ago • 8 min read

Sunday Edition • May 5, 2024

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Seasonal color analysis is having a moment on social media, with people excitedly sharing their results followed by declarations like “I could have sworn I was a summer!” Introduced in the 1940s, the concept took off in the ’80s following publication of the book Color Me Beautiful. It involves evaluating colors against your skin tone, hair color, and eye color to determine the palette that best complements your features, and thus identifying yourself as a spring, summer, autumn, or winter. Experts offer this service, but you can also try it yourself or with friends. Learn more about the process and get tips for doing seasonal color analysis at home.

Featured Story


“Too Cute to Handle”: Why We Want to Squish Adorable Things

We’ve all experienced it: Faced with an infant’s chubby cheeks or a puppy’s wagging tail, we feel the powerful urge to pinch, squish, or even bite the adorable subject. “Cute aggression” is a seemingly bizarre phenomenon, but one that science suggests serves a very real purpose.

According to research published within the last decade, the reaction may be a means of moderating the flood of positive emotion that occurs when we see something “too cute to handle.”

Fair enough, but there’s a lot in life that can leave us awash in positive feelings — beautiful paintings, music. Why aren’t we overcome with the urge to tear down a canvas in a museum or take a sledgehammer to our speakers? The answer has to do with what we consider cute in the first place.

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This Week’s Top Stories


Culture


Millions More Salaried US Workers Will Soon Be Eligible for Overtime Pay

The U.S. Department of Labor is adjusting the maximum salary eligible for overtime pay, a change that could boost the wallets of millions of Americans. While most hourly workers can earn overtime pay, there’s a current cap of $35,568 for people who are salaried.

But under the new rule, effective July 1, salaried employees earning up to $43,888 a year will now qualify for time-and-a-half pay after working more than 40 hours in a week. On Jan. 1, 2025, the threshold will rise to $58,656 and subsequently get updated every three years beginning in 2027.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, this will make 4.3 million more U.S. workers — including 2.4 million women and 1 million people of color — eligible for overtime by the start of next year. Most of the affected individuals work in professional and business services, health care and social services, and financial activities.

“This rule will restore the promise to workers that if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you should be paid more for that time,” acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su said in a statement. “Too often, lower-paid salaried workers are doing the same job as their hourly counterparts but are spending more time away from their families for no additional pay.”

Health


Toe Yoga Can Improve Balance, Posture, and More — Learn How to Do It

We know, we know — not another exercise fad. But we promise that this one is actually pretty fun, and surprisingly beneficial for how simple it is. Toe yoga involves making small movements with your feet (think: pointing and flexing or scrunching and unscrunching your toes) in an effort to improve balance and posture and prevent common injuries like plantar fasciitis, among other gains.

“Toe yoga can be a healthy addition to anyone’s routine. Older people might also greatly benefit from this to increase strength and stability to avoid falls,” podiatrist and foot surgeon Nam Tran told Verywell Health, adding: “Starting slow is always the best way to prevent overstretching and injuring your foot. Start with one exercise at first and add on others as time goes on.”

Learn more about toe yoga benefits, the best exercises to start with, and how to incorporate the practice into your routine.

Culture


Disney Eatery Is the First Theme Park Restaurant to Earn a Michelin Star

When you think of Michelin star restaurants, you likely imagine molecular gastronomy served in the trendiest neighborhood of a big dining city like New York or Paris (and maybe also The Bear). All that’s to say, roller coasters and costumed characters probably don’t come to mind — but maybe they should.

Victoria & Albert’s, located at Walt Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort, has become the first theme park-operated restaurant to earn a coveted Michelin star. Still, Victoria & Albert’s has more in common with other fine dining establishments than your average Disney food stand: There’s a strict dress code, a no-children-under-10 policy, and a $295 tasting menu (which doesn’t include the acclaimed wine pairing).

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by Michelin for the innovative dining experience our team brings to life here at Victoria & Albert’s,” Chef de Cuisine Matthew Sowers said in a statement. “Everybody on our team earned this star, from our stewards to our culinarians to our pastry chefs, and we hope to inspire future generations of culinary professionals to follow their dreams.”

See photos of the food and the interior.


Sunday Selections


Deep Dives


  1. Prefer central air to open air? Find your place in nature with this guide for indoorsy folks
  2. Postage stamps have been around for nearly 200 years — here’s why we still use them
  3. Green roofs can transform cities, but blue-green roofs take eco-consciousness to the next level

What to Watch


The Fall Guy

Starring opposite Emily Blunt, fan favorite Ryan Gosling plays a hardworking — and often overlooked — Hollywood stuntman who’s thrust into the role of hero when he finds himself at the center of a real-life criminal plot. Inspired by the 1980s TV show of the same name and directed by stuntman David Leitch, this hilarious action-comedy is a “love letter” to the unsung crews behind the blockbuster movies viewers love.

Something We Love



Made by Mary Personalized Jewelry

Made by Mary was launched by a new mom who wanted to create jewelry that represented pivotal moments in women’s lives. Specializing in personalized pieces, it also offers a large collection of ready-to-ship rings, earrings, bracelets, and more, all of which are handmade. We particularly love the birth flower rings, perfect for stacking.

Recommendations are independently selected by our team but may result in a commission.

This Week in History


Ben & Jerry’s Opens Its First Ice Cream Shop

May 5, 1978

Anyone lucky enough to visit the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury, Vermont, (there’s free ice cream tastings at the end of the tour!) will be familiar with the story. Two kids met in seventh grade gym class on Long Island in 1963, became friends, and eventually moved to Vermont, where they took a $5 correspondence course in ice cream-making. Then, on this day in 1978, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened their first ice cream shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington. Today, the pioneering brand is known for its activism in addition to its creative offerings. Check out the “flavor graveyard” commemorating “dearly de-pinted” ice creams.

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Quote of the Day


“A stranger’s compassion can make a world of difference.”

– OPRAH WINFREY

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