"360" by Charli XCX should be everyone's favourite song on Brat. It is mine, but the only way I can show you how much it should mean is by asking why it isn't already yours. Let's do this Socratic dialogue style; I can do both sides. Charli would love that: A 360 approach where I'm on both sides! I chose this song because it feels like a masterful thesis on Charli's relationship to media. In today's media landscape, it's cool to be mysterious and illegible. But doesn't Charli strut atop a well-attended table on the song's mini clip at the start of what is undeniably a legendary album? Yes, but that's only because she's not just here; she's quite literally decided to shake the tables (by climbing on them? Queen). She poses and turns, gives us a '360' and encourages us to snap our pictures and make her our muse. A Charli non-scholar would read this as a wholesale embrace of celebrity's constant exposure to media. And they would be right to some extent. Charli, however, is claiming something much more radical, I would think. Charli is claiming that she's the original, and that all these other media fiends are copying her originality. A careful listen suggests that the star taking all the photos, smiling and posing, has Charli as " [their] favourite reference baby!" So it's not Charli in front of the camera? Who is it then?? I would claim it is her legacy. Charli knows she single-handedly birthed the "city sewer [lady]" vibe that's taken over teenage style. She is mother. She has no problem with copycats! She just wants one to remember that "[she'll] always be the one." "Huh, what?" you might ask. If you harbour any such thoughts, then you are not the target audience. There's more, but brat summer is calling. I've got to go, but Charli isn't going anywhere. She is the moment. Charli is the "365, party girl." I, too, want to be able to strut (to school instead of on tables), but right now, I can't be brat ("girl, so confusing", but I'm lowkey brokey). You can change that! Charli would want that for both of us.

I play Connections every morning, and it's been a thrilling and energetic way to start my days. It also helps me maintain connections (wink wink) with friends when we share our results for the day! Here's my very own connections puzzle, thank you for the time! The categories are: 1. Famous Musicians (Yellow – Easy) - Bach - Elvis - Mercury - Prince *Explanation and Challenge: This group features famous musicians across different genres and eras, from classical to rock and pop/funk. While "Bach" and "Elvis" may be an obvious pair, the inclusion of "Prince" adds a layer of complexity as it could also be confused with the royal titles in group 3. Additionally, "Mercury" may be a difficult association to make to Freddie Mercury, as it could also refer to the elemental metal or the planet. 2. Varieties of Apples (Green – Normal) - Gala - Macintosh - Queen - Empire *Explanation of challenge: This group comprises various apple varieties, which are a common sight in stores and grocers around the world. The challenge lies in recognizing "Queen" and "Empire" as apple varieties instead of words in other categories: both hint at a connection to the royal titles in group 3, which adds a layer of complexity for solvers to untangle. 3. Royal Titles (Blue – Hard) - King - Dame - Duke - Peer *Explanation and Challenge: This group includes various titles associated with royalty and nobility. While "King" and "Duke" are straightforward, "Dame" and "Peer" might be less obvious, especially since "Peer" can also mean an equal or colleague in other contexts. This group is additionally challenging as "Prince", "Queen" and "Empire" are included in other groups in the puzzle; and this will likely challenge solvers if attempted as the first group. Solving groups 1(yellow) and 2(green) first, however, will likely make this connection much more manageable. 4. Bodies of Water (Purple – Very hard) - Creek - Kettle - Amazon - Brook *Explanation and Challenge**: These are all names for bodies of water but with some twists. "Kettle" can be tricky as it’s not a traditional body of water name but rather a geological term for a type of lake formed by retreating glaciers. "Amazon" is immediately recognizable, but could be misleading if solvers think of the company - the inclusion of "Macintosh" in group 2 (green) will likely cause some overzealous solvers to seek a connection to tech companies. This category essentially challenges solvers to distinguish between common names and those with specialized meanings. Thank you!!