On this week's episode - our hosts actively avoid using the word "Alexa". Also, beware, this episode may contain smartassery. 

[New to the show? Find out the stories we talk about in this week's episode below and connect with Amir and Chris on Twitter! Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).] 

This week's Five Favorites 

1. Amazon Is Making a Rival to Apple's AirPods as Its First Alexa Wearable [Bloomberg story by Mark Gurman]

2. No joke, Google is killing off the Pixel 2, Inbox, goo.gl URL shortener, and Google+ this week [PCWorld story by Michael Simon]

3. 'Old Town Road' proves TikTok can launch a hit song [Verge story by Julia Alexander]

4. Why More and More Brands Are Getting Into the Streaming Game on Twitch [AdWeek story by Mitch Reames]

5. Rise of The Snapchat Empire [Techcrunch by Josh Constine]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

• Netflix confirms it killed AirPlay support, won't let you beam shows to Apple TVs anymore [Verge story by Sean Hollister]

Honorable Mention:

People won't stop staring at their phones, so a Dutch town put traffic lights on the ground [Quartz story by Neha Thirani Bagri]

Social of the Week 

• @RMAC18

#FiveFavorites Mentions this week:

• Alissa Trumbull

Support our community lead (Katy Spencer Johnson) and the fight against cancer[One Mission Buzzoff]

• Funds raised immediately benefit families and children at Boston Children's Hospital, Dana Farber, and Hasbro Children's Hospital.