Morning! While you were sleeping (or staying up to binge-watch Friends for the tenth time, or pulling an all-nighter in the library), a few things went down that you’ll probably want to know about. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get scrolling.
Rumor Has It
Apple announced the end of an era — it’s time to say bye-tunes to iTunes.
Apple confirmed Monday that iTunes, which has been available for years on iPods and iPhones, has been overshadowed by streaming services, including the company’s own streaming service, Apple Music, CBS News reports. The company announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) that iTunes will soon be phased out.
Apple is planning the end of iTuneshttps://t.co/uGWyxD5hSy
— Bloomberg (@business) June 2, 2019
When Apple releases its new operating system this fall, iTunes will split into three separate streaming apps: Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV. The new MacOS, Catalina, will also be available this fall and will have an iTunes replacement simply called Music, CNET reports.
But, if you’re wondering what will happen to all of your music on iTunes, do not worry — your songs are safe.
“Users will have access to their entire music library, whether they downloaded the songs, purchased them or ripped them from a CD,” Apple said in a press release.
Apple says the new Music app for Mac is “lightning fast, fun and easy to use,” and will have over 50 million songs, playlists and music videos, ABC News reports.
iTunes became a staple in the music industry, with the first iPod launching in 2001. iTunes gave music lovers an easy (and legal) way to download music, with songs starting at just 99 cents. The average price per song is now $1.29.
Well, all good things must come to an end. RIP iTunes.
News You Can Eat
Round up those old coins from your trip abroad, because McDonald’s offering up any of the items on its new “Worldwide Favorites” menu for any amount of foreign currency.
If you’ve traveled abroad, chances are you have some spare foreign coins lying around, so why not try out some of McDonald’s new menu offerings?
This Thursday, June 6, Mickey D’s is hosting the McDonald’s International Currency Exchange to encourage customers to try out the new international items, Thrillist reports. From 2-5 p.m. local time you can hand over any denomination of foreign currency in exchange for your choice of one item off of the “Worldwide Favorites” menu. This promotion is limited to one piece of foreign currency per customer, USA TODAY reports.
“Have an extra Euro laying around? Found a Japanese Yen in that old travel fanny pack? Wondering what to do with that Rupee from last summer’s trip to India? Start rummaging under those couch cushions, take that spare foreign currency you have, and head around the corner to your nearest participating McDonald’s,” McDonald’s said in a statement.
The “Worldwide Favorites” menu, which launches nationwide on Wednesday, June 5, includes the Stroopwafel McFlurry from the Netherlands, the Grand McExtreme Bacon Burger from Spain, the Tomato Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich from Canada and the Cheesy Bacon Fries Australia.
So, grab those coins and take a food trip of the world! If only the actual foreign currency exchange rates were actually this awesome.
Then This Happened
Actress and talk show host Busy Philipps testified on Tuesday before Congress about her decision to get an abortion when she was 15-years-old, and blasted the recent bans being passed at the state level on the procedure.
Taking her emotional fight for women’s rights before Congress, Philipps said “If I were that same 15-year-old in Arizona [today] legally I would have to get parental consent. I would be forced to undergo a medically unnecessary ultrasound, go to a state-mandated in-person counseling session designed solely to shame me into changing my mind and then take a state-mandated 24-hour timeout to make sure I really know what I wanted.”
“And finally, I would be forced to give the state a reason why,” Philipps said in her opening remarks at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing. “Well, here is mine: It is my body, not the state’s. Women and their doctors are the ones that are in the best position to make informed decisions about what is best for them, no one else.”
“Abortion is health care and should not be treated differently as any other health care,” she said. “I am so sad that we have to sit here in front of a row of politicians and give deeply personal statements because the ‘why’ shouldn’t matter. I am a human being who deserves autonomy in this country that calls itself free.”
Philipps, 39, was one among an all-female panel of witnesses at Tuesday’s hearing that also included attorneys, reproductive health advocates and doctors, ABC News reports.
The actress first publicly discussed her abortion last month during her talk show after Georgia passed a bill that bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can occur as early as six weeks during pregnancy, The Hill reports.
After sharing her story, Philipps launch #youknowme on social media, where she encouraged other women to publicly share their stories of abortion.
“It was not a decision I made lightly,” she said of her decision to have the procedure as a teenager during her congressional testimony. “But I never for a moment doubted it was the right decision for me.”
According to The Washington Post, Philipps was later questioned by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), who asked whether a baby who survived an abortion has a right to live, a reference to a “born alive” bill that some Republican lawmakers have been attempting to pass.
“While I played a doctor on television, sir, I am actually not a physician,” Philipps responded.
Philipps ended her testimony by talking about her two young daughters, Birdie and Cricket.
“My dream for them is that the will live in a world in which women are truly equal with complete control over their reproductive health,” she said. “That is the dream I hold for all people, regardless of their privilege or parents or what state they live in.”
Happy Thoughts
The Handmaid’s Tale season three premieres today on Hulu!