McDonald's Quietly Removing Drink Stations at All Locations

For decades, the self-serve beverage fountain has been a staple at McDonald's restaurants across the country, allowing guests to fill their own drinks and have unlimited free refills. However, it sounds like things will be changing in the near future.

Over the next several years, McDonald's will be quietly removing these self-service drink stations at all restaurants across the country.

McDonald's Eliminating Drink Stations

Over the past several years, McDonald’s has made moves to modernize its restaurants while adapting to a new era of fast food where consumers are increasingly favoring takeout, delivery, and drive-thru service over dining in.

As a result, Fox News Business reports that McDonald's plans to eliminate self-serve beverage stations in dining rooms throughout the country by 2032, with the changes expected to roll out gradually over the next several years as restaurants are remodeled or updated.

Fox News Business reports that the move gives McDonald's "greater control over beverage portions, cleanliness and inventory, while cutting maintenance costs for the self-serve machines."

The State Journal-Register of Illinois previously reported that the move was due to concerns about hygiene and theft.

Free Refills Here to Stay

While the self-service drink stations may be phasing out, customers can rest easy knowing that free refills will not be a thing of the past.

“Free refills are a big draw for people,” Kim Derringer, who operates three McDonald’s franchises in Springfield, Ill., told The State-Journal Register. “I don’t see anything taking that away.”

Customers should expect to continue receiving free refills; they will just have to bring their cup to the counter instead of filling it up themselves.

Dirty Sodas

This move comes as McDonald's adds "Dirty Sodas" to the menu, allowing expanded beverage offerings that are created behind the counter rather than at the self-serve beverage station.

"Our fans’ love for McDonald’s beverages runs deep," McDonald's said in a statement last month. "Next month, we’re building on that passion with a new era of beverages, featuring a variety of Refreshers and crafted sodas rolling out nationwide."

Needless to say, it's clear where McDonald's is heading.

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Johnny Cash's 'Hurt': The Sad Song Inspired by Nine Inch Nails' Original Hit

In November 2002, 70-year-old Johnny Cash released the final album of his career, American IV: The Man Comes Around. Included on the project was the music legend's rendition of what is widely-regarded as one of the saddest songs of all time.

"Hurt," which Cash released as a single in March 2003, routinely finds its way onto lists of the most depressing songs in music history. The song's accompanying music video also left a powerful mark on viewers.

"His trembling voice, aged with the weight of a lifetime, made it sound less like a song and more like a final confession," writes Eric Alper, who ranked "Hurt" as the saddest song of all time in 2025. "Neuroscientists point to its slow, steady pulse and minor chords—which mirror the heartbreaking acceptance of mortality."

But several years before Cash debuted his take on "Hurt," the original version by Nine Inch Nails had its own day in the sun.

'Hurt' may be a sad song, but both versions were a smashing success

Nine Inch Nails included "Hurt" on its 1994 album The Downward Spiral, and then released the song as a promotional single, straight to radio, in April 1995.

The song reached No. 8 on the Canada Rock/Alternative and U.S. Alternative Airplay charts and also received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song in 1996.

Like Cash's version, Nine Inch Nails' original is also a frequent flier on saddest songs lists on the internet.

A classic done two ways

Twenty-three years after Cash's death, Nine Inch Nails remains forever linked with the country icon because of "Hurt."

"Cash was a year away from dying when he cut the song, and he turned the tale of heroin abuse into a look back on his life while barely changing any of the lyrics," Rolling Stone wrote in 2013 when it named Nine Inch Nails' version the second-saddest song ever. "June Carter Cash appeared in the video just three months before she died. Without any dispute, it was Cash's final masterpiece and the perfect epitaph. When you hear Trent Reznor singing it today, it's nearly impossible to not think about Johnny Cash."

Reznor, Nine Inch Nails' lead singer, told Geoff Rickly of the Alternative Press in 2004 that it was "incredibly flattering as a writer" to have Cash, "a great writer and a great artist," choose to cover his song.

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Nintendo's Highest-Selling Game Ever Almost Never Existed

Nintendo has sold hundreds of millions of video games across its four-plus decades in the industry. No game has sold more than Wii Sports.

At nearly 83 million copies sold, this pack-in title came free with the purchase of the Wii console that came out in 2006. It could and should be argued that people were buying the Wii just so they could try this cute little tech demo that transformed the video game industry in the middle of the decade.

Ironically, some of Nintendo's biggest minds were against the idea of putting Wii Sports for free in the Wii's box.

Former Nintendo of America COO and president Reggie Fils-Aime chatted with professor Joost Van Druenen last week and talked to him about the disapproval that Nintendo visionary Shigeru Miyamoto had for giving Wii Sports away for free with the purchase of the Wii.

"I'm in a small meeting with Mr. Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto... and we are talking about how to best launch the system (Wii) and I said I really think we should pack in Wii Sports.

I kid you not. The look that Mr. Miyamoto gave me... Mr. Miyamoto gives me this death stare. Then he says Reggie-san, 'we don't give away content for free'. This is where my historical experience with the company's content came in.

I instantly retorted, 'But Mr. Miyamoto, when I bought my SNES, Super Mario came free with that system. So it has been done, but strategically and with thought as a way to drive the business forward.'"

Fils-Aime may not have been the brains behind Nintendo's biggest characters like Miyamoto was, but he certainly seems to have understood the business side of gaming in a way that others didn't.

The Wii was a console that needed to be demonstrated to consumers. It changed the way video games were played in the 2000s. No longer confined to just button-pressing, the Wii wanted gamers to swing its controller and immerse themselves in its worlds with motion controls.

Wii Sports became the most well-known game of the era, and the one that showed casual audiences how fun gaming could be. It may have been free, but it ended up being the most valuable product in Nintendo's history.

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Feeling The Heat? These Everyday Foods May Help Manage Hot Flashes

Can your diet calm hot flashes during perimenopause? Discover how simple food choices can help manage symptoms.

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8 Exciting PlayStation Games Releasing in May, Including James Bond and Batman

Both the weather and the gaming action look like they will be heating up in May for PlayStation users. 

The next installment in the James Bond series of games, Batman and Warhammer 40,000 are just three of more than half a dozen games coming this month to liven up your system. 

Something for everyone on Playstation in May 

First of all, don’t forget three free games are set to drop for PlayStation Plus subscribers on May 5: EA Sports FC 26, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and Nine Sols. 

For those who are not subscribed to Playstation Plus (or just not moved by any of the three free games becoming available), something completely different is set to drop May 7 in Mixtape, which is billed as a “narrative adventure game” that allows players to take high school friends through their final days before adulthood. 

They’ll do that through music from acts like Devo, Joy Division, and Siouxsie and the Banshees that is sure to stir up fond memories not just for the people in the screen but those holding the controller. 

(That is also available on Steam as well as for Nintendo Switch 2 and XBOX Series X|S.) 

Big name games later in the month

The best could be saved for last as OO7 First Light is set to drop May 27, five days after LEGO Batman: Legacy of The Dark Knight. 

007 First Light is a highly anticipated stealth shooting game that presents a new origin story for James Bond that is set to bring both nostalgia (GoldenEye 007, anyone?) and exciting new perspective  from the makers of the Hitman series. 

In this one, a younger version of the famous British spy gets his very first mission, but this is not a trip back to the ‘50s or 60s when the first Bond films were released. This game is set in the modern day with the Double O program getting revived. 

LEGO Batman: Legacy of The Dark Knight is scheduled to be released May 22 for all major systems and puts fans in position to solve puzzles and control famous DC Comics heroes in both single-player and multiplayer modes. 

This month on PlayStation 📅

📼 May 7 - Mixtape
👽 May 12 - Directive 8020
🚐 May 14 - Outbound
☕ May 21 - Coffee Talk Tokyo
🏎️ May 21 - Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks
🐱 May 22 - Bubsy 4D
🦇 May 22 - LEGO Batman: Legacy of The Dark Knight
🕵️ May 27 - 007 First Light pic.twitter.com/Qswqvavs7u

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) May 1, 2026

What else is coming in May? 

In between Mixtape and the LEGO Batman game, five more titles are set to drop. 

First comes Directive 8020, a supernatural horror game, followed by the open-world exploration game Outbound. 

The third week of May will see Coffee Talk Tokyo, Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks and Bubsy 4D. 

Coffee Talk Tokyo offers an opportunity you never knew you needed: To be a barista acting as an amateur therapist for humans and fantasy people (including some who are no longer alive) in a coffee shop in Japan. 

Bubsy 4D is one more shot of nostalgia as the bobcat who debuted on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis in 1993 is back for his seventh game. This one is a 3D platform action game. 

Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks is a combat racing game featuring buggies, tanks, helicopters, customizable courses and more.

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REI Is Selling Free Country's Top-Rated Sun Hoodies for Only $40

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In This Story

Free Country SunFree Long-Sleeve Hoodie, $40 (was $60)

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Why We Love This Deal

As both a shopping reporter and lover of low-cost clothing, one of my favorite collections to check out over at REI is the gear from Free Country. The brand is all about serving up technical outdoor gear at everyday prices, so when you find a Free Country deal, you know you’re in for a good time.

One of the better deals I've seen lately is the Free Country SunFree Long-Sleeve Hoodie. This UV-protective layer is 33% off, making it just $40. It’s an ultra-soft UPF 50+ sunshirt with a hood for extra protection, and it is a top-rated item at REI that over 300 people have bought in the past week. You'll find it in four colors, and most sizes are still in stock at the moment.

Free Country SunFree Long-Sleeve Hoodie, $40 (was $60) at REI

The Free Country SunFree Long-Sleeve Hoodie.

Courtesy of REI

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What Shoppers Should Know

• Sizes Available: From small to 2XL
• Color Options: 4
• Fabric Blend: 87% polyester, 13% spandex
• Sun Protection: UPF 50+
• Best Use Case: Comfortably keeping the sun off your upper body.

What separates this sun hoodie from the pack? It’s the fabric. The 87% polyester, 13% spandex blend is stretchy, easy to get on and off, moisture-wicking, and it feels ultra soft. The fabric has the elements spun right into the fibers with zinc providing UPF 50+ sun protection (blocking over 98% of UV rays) and jade providing natural heat resistance. Oh, and it’s also odor-resisting for good measure.

Free Country seems to have really done its market research on this one. It’s offered in four colors, and they’re all blue or blue-green to some degree. But it’s all by design; as we've seen with Billabong sun shirts and Hurley sun shirts, these are the colors of sun and surf that so many like. It helps that they feel cooler after hours in the sun, too.

Related: Nordstrom Rack Is Now Selling Quiksilver Flip-Flops for $15

What Shoppers Are Saying

One shopper said, “I love the UPF Hoodie!! Perfect for a beach day!!” while another commented that “the hoodie fits perfectly, is lightweight, and attractive.”

The Free Country SunFree Long-Sleeve Hoodie is down to $40 while this deal lasts.

Shop More Free Country Deals

• Free Country SunFree Polo Shirt, $37 (was $55) at REI
• Free Country Super Soft Crew Shirt, $25 (was $40) at REI
• Free Country Sedona Ripstop Shirt, $60 (was $90) at REI

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Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now' Named the Happiest Song Ever by Science

Whatever mood you're in, there are plenty of songs to match it. If you're feeling good--or you're down and are looking for a pick me up--chances are you'll search for something upbeat and joyful to listen to.

What constitutes a "happy" song could mean different things to different people. But according to science, one 1970s rock anthem, which registered as a mild hit following its release and has grown in popularity since, is the "happiest" song of all time.

You might be wondering what the song is. If you guessed Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now," you'd be correct.

The science behind 'Don't Stop Me Now'

In 2015, Dutch cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Jacob Jolij took on the assignment of what makes a feel-good song, well, feel good. While recognizing music choices are largely personal preference, Jolij wanted to dig deeper on the science behind happy tunes.

By studying 126 songs from a 50-year period and breaking down their tempo, lyrics, theme and other factors, Jolij was able to determine that happier songs share some similar qualities.

"The pattern was very clear. The average tempo of a ‘feel good’-song was substantially higher than the average pop song," GOOD wrote in 2017. "Where the average tempo of pop songs is around 118 beats per minute (BPM), the list of feel good songs had an average tempo of around 140 to 150 BPM.

"And it appears the Queen song has all the attributes for happiness."

Full disclosure: "Don't Stop Me Now" is a favorite of this author for a running or workout playlist, and it's great for weddings and other celebrations. There's obviously people who would disagree with Jolij's findings, but we're fine with it.

The top 10 happiest songs, per Jolij's study

1. Queen - "Don't Stop Me Now"
2. ABBA - "Dancing Queen"
3. The Beach Boys - "Good Vibrations"
4. Billy Joel - "Uptown Girl"
5. Survivor - "Eye of the Tiger"
6. The Monkees - "I'm a Believer"
7. Cyndi Lauper - "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
8. Bon Jovi - "Livin' on a Prayer"
9. Gloria Gaynor - "I Will Survive"
10. Katrina and the Waves - "Walking on Sunshine"

From an under-the-radar hit to one of Queen's biggest songs

"Don't Stop Me Now" was featured on Queen's 1978 album Jazz, alongside other band staples like "Bicycle Race" and "Fat-Bottomed Girls." The song was released as a single in January 1979 and peaked at No. 9 on the UK singles charts but only No. 86 in the United States, nowhere near the group's most successful songs to that point like "Killer Queen," "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Are The Champions" and others.

However, over the last 47 years, "Don't Stop Me Now" has surged in popularity, to the point where Rolling Stone readers rated it the band's third-best song in a 2014 survey.

Billboard also examined the evolution of "Don't Stop Me Now" in a 2019 article, which came out a few years after the song was determined to be the "happiest" ever, a conclusion backed by science.

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