Service dogs are professionals who are trained to be attentive, helpful and extremely well-behaved for their owners who rely on them for everyday living. They aren't easily distracted and have solid control over their impulses because their job performance is vital to humans who need them. No one wants a service dog going rogue. But underneath all of that self-control and professionalism, service dogs are still dogs, and they deserve to have a little fun every once in a while. An adorable recent encounter onboard a Disney Cruise Ship makes that abundantly clear. Pluto and Goofy along with Chip and Dale. Photo by Taha on Unsplash Ashton McGrady is a content creator who shares her adventures with her Golden Retriever service dog, Forest, who has an affinity for Disney characters. In one video, she shows Forest choosing his own stuffy at a Disney gift shop, even putting the money on the counter to pay for it himself. In another video, McGrady takes Forest onto the high seas via a Disney cruise ship: The Wish. Onboard, Forest was lucky enough to be reunited with his favorite character, Pluto. People the world over are feeling his joy vicariously. Watch: > @radiantlygolden > > proof that distance won’t keep the very best of friends apart ❤️🚢✨ we love you pluto!!! #servicedog #servicedogteam #disneytiktok #disneycruiseline #disneycruise #hostedbydisney Ashton calls Forest her "best pal and lifesaver," and it's clear from her videos that they make a great team. People loved seeing the good doggo get to let loose and enjoy a romp with Pluto and how the cast member interacted with him as well. Over two million people viewed the video on TikTok and hundreds chimed in to share how happy it made them. **"Those dogs are such good pups and work so hard to keep their owners safe, it’s nice to see them play for a bit ❤️"** **"This is the most golden retriever golden I’ve ever seen 🥰🥰🥰"** **"i just know the actor under the costume was having the best day ever."** **"DID PLUTO WAG HIS OWN TAIL??? This is the best thing I’ve seen all day"** **"It's like the Disney hug rule applies to dogs...but it's play with them until they are done."** **"This truly made me smile"** ** ** Dogs aren't normally allowed onboard cruise ships unless they're service dogs, like Forest. Photo by Stephen Mease on Unsplash The "Disney hug rule" referenced here is an apparently unofficial "rule" that Disney cast members when dressed in character don't end a child's hug until the child lets go—basically letting the child hug the character as long as they want to. It's not an actual rule, but it's a thoughtful practice some cast members use to make sure their young guests don't leave a character meet disappointed. For Forest, the equivalent is playing until he (or his owner—he's on the job, after all) decides he's done. This isn't the first time Forest has had a touching reunion with Pluto. Ashton shared another video with a similar interaction—it's clear that Pluto truly is Forest's bestie. > @radiantlygolden > > I just want to go back to this moment 🥹 if you’re friends with pluto and you see this, you made our entire day ♥️ #waltdisneyworld #wdw50 #epcotfestivalofthearts #festivalofthearts #epcot #charactermeetandgreet #disneytiktok #distok #servicedog #servicedogteam #servicedogsatdisney Ashton also uses social media to educate people about service dogs, as there are a lot of misunderstandings out there about what service animals are, how they work, and where they are allowed to be. Though service dogs and their owners will often naturally form a bond, a service dog is not a pet; it's a working animal that assists a person with disabilities or health conditions. In fact, service animals are considered medical equipment, in the same category as a wheelchair or an oxygen tank, and they are allowed to go anywhere the person they are serving would normally be allowed to go—even if other animals are not allowed. As the Americans with Disabilities Act website states: "Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is allowed to go." Service dogs are sometimes confused with emotional support animals, but they are not the same thing. Service animals are trained to do specific tasks related to mitigating a person's disability, which could range from recognizing when their owner is needing medical attention to reminding them to take a medication to guiding them around an obstacle or across a street. > @radiantlygolden > > If a business is not pet-friendly, they may only ask these TWO questions! note: “emotional support” is NOT considered a valid answer to question 2. thank you @Disney Parks for this great example of how it should be done. #servicedog #servicedoglife #servicedogteam #disabilitytiktok #disneyparks There are some guidelines and laws that govern how the general public as well as private businesses should interact with service animals. First, no one should pet a service animal unless their handler specifically invites them to. Second, there are only two questions a business owner or their staff members are allowed to ask a person with a service dog: 1) Is the dog a service animal who is required because of a disability? And 2) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? They are not allowed to ask for documentation, ask what disability the person has or ask that the dog demonstrate what they can do. For people who need them, service animals like Forest are a vital part of living a full life. They are also working professionals who deserve a break now and then, so it's fun to see this good doggo having the time of his life: like the time he met a pair of dolphins who were endlessly fascinated with him, or when he scored a great seat at the Taylor Swift Eras Tour. Rolling around with his best bud, Pluto, though, definitely takes the cake. You can follow Ashton and Forest on TikTok and YouTube. _This article originally appeared in January. It has been updated._

Some love stories are so out of the ordinary that they are worth sharing with the world. And few love stories are as extraordinary as the one between a man and the sweet creature that hatched from a mysterious egg he found and incubated. The true tale of Riyadh and Spike's starts like the opening to a children's book: "One day, a man was walking along and spotted a lone egg where an egg should not have been…" And between that beginning and the story's mostly sweet ending is a beautiful journey of curiosity, care, and connection that captivated people all over the world. **Irish author, broadcaster, and activistRiyadh Khalaf was out walking in Devon, England, when he came upon an egg.** "We just found what we think is a duck egg," Riyadh says in a video showing the milky white egg sitting in a pile of dirt. "Just sitting here on its own. No nest. No other eggs." ** ** What do you do when you find an egg where it doesn't belong? Photo credit: Canva Thinking there was no way it was going to survive on its own, Riyadh put the egg in a paper cup cushioned with a napkin and took it home to London, which entailed two car rides, a hotel stay, a train ride, a tube ride, and a bus ride. He said he used to breed chickens and pigeons, so he had some experience with birds. Knowing the egg could survive for a while in a dormant state, he ordered an incubator on Amazon. An incubator keeps eggs at a particular temperature and humidity range in order to allow them to continue growing. They mimic the warmth the egg receives from the mother bird sitting on it in the nest. Without that warmth, the fetus inside the egg will die. With the egg tucked safely inside the warm incubator, the journey to see if the egg was viable began. **Even though it was "just an egg," Riyadh quickly became attached, and once it showed signs of life he took on the role of "duck dad."** Every day, the egg showed a drastic change in development. The incubator was working, and Riyadh's giddy joy at each new discovery—movement, a discernible eye, a beak outline—was palpable. He devoured information on ducks to learn as much as he could about the baby he was (hopefully) about to hatch and care for. **Finally, 28 days later, the shell of the egg began to crack. The baby was coming!** > View this post on Instagram A post shared by Riyadh Khalaf (@riyadhk) > "I could see this very clear outline of the most gorgeous little round bill," Riyadh said—confirmation that it was, indeed, a duck as he had suspected. But duckling hatching is a process, and one they have to do it on their own. Ducklings instinctively know to turn the egg as it hatches so that the umbilical cord detaches, and the whole process can take up to 48 hours. Riyadh watched and monitored until he finally fell asleep, but at 4:51am, 29 hours after the egg had started to hatch, he awakened to the sound of tweets. "There was just this little wet alien staring back at me," he said. "It was love at first sight." Riyadh named his rescue duckling Spike. Once Spike was ready to leave the incubator, he moved into "Duckingham Palace," a setup with all of the things he would need to grow into a healthy, self-sufficient duck—including things that contribute to his mental health. (Apparently, ducklings can die from poor mental health, which can happen when they don't have other ducks to interact with—who knew?) "My son shall not only survive, but he shall thrive!" declared the proud papa. > View this post on Instagram A post shared by Riyadh Khalaf (@riyadhk) > Riyadh knew it would be impossible for Spike not to imprint on him somewhat, but he didn't want him to see him as his mother. Riyadh set up mirrors so that Spike could see another duckling (even though it was just himself) and used a surrogate stuffed duck to teach him how to do things like eat food with his beak. He used a duck whistle and hid his face from Spike while feeding him, and he played duck sounds on his computer to accustom Spike to the sounds of his species. He knew that Spike could not stay and live with him forever, so he'd need to learn how to become a normal, everyday duck. "It's just such a fulfilling process to watch a small being learn," said Riyadh. As Spike grew, Riyadh took him to the park to get him accustomed to the outdoors and gave him opportunities to swim in a small bath. He learned to forage and do all the things a duck needs to do. Throughout, Riyadh made sure that Spike was getting the proper balanced nutrition he needed as well. In the wild, most ducks eat plants, small insects, seeds, grains, and fruits. Some species of ducks will even eat small fish. Contrary to popular belief, bread is not good for ducks. It's not inherently harmful, but it's basically candy to them — it has little to none of the nutrients their bodies need. So if they fill up on bread, they may eat less of the foods they really need. Riyadh had a lot to learn! Check this out: > View this post on Instagram A post shared by Riyadh Khalaf (@riyadhk) > **After 89 days, the day finally came for Spike to leave Riyadh's care and be integrated into a community of his kind "to learn how to properly be a duck."** A rehabilitation center welcomed him in and he joined a flock in an open-air facility where he would be able to choose whether to stay or to leave once he became accustomed to flying. Within a few weeks of being at the rehabilitation center, his signature mallard colors developed, marking his transition from adolescence. Spike has been thriving with his flock, and Riyadh was even able to share video of his first flight. This is where "And they all lived happily ever after" would be a fitting end to the story, but unfortunately, Spike and his fowl friends are living in trying times. The rehabilitation center was notified by the U.K. government in December of 2024 that the duck flock needed to be kept indoors for the time being to protect them from a bird flu outbreak and keep it from spreading. Building an entire building for a flock of ducks is not a simple or cheap task, so Riyadh called on his community of "daunties" and "duncles" who had been following Spike's story to help with a fundraiser to build a "Duckingham Palace" for the whole flock. Riyadh's followers quickly raised over £11,000, which made a huge difference for the center's owners to be able to protect Spike and his friends. All in all, Riyadh and Spike's story is a testament to what can happen when people genuinely care. If Riyadh had left that egg where it was, it may not have made it. If Spike hadn't survived and been moved to the rehab center, the ducks there would be in greater danger of the bird flu due to the costs of building an indoor shelter for them. Despite the ongoing bird flu threat, the story really does have a happy ending. In an update from June 2025, Riyadh shares that Spike is currently living with Leanne Clarke, who built a rescue shelter called "The Quack Shack" in her home. Riyadh's story and fundraising made much of the construction possible. Spike is starting to remember Riyadh less and less, which is bittersweet, but means that Spike is thriving in his new, safe, domesticated life. Thanks to Riyadh for sharing Spike's journey with us. (You can follow Riyadh on Instagram here.) _This article originally appeared in January. It has been updated._

As many modern-day parents can attest, grandpdarents like to give a lot of...stuff. It can be overwhelming and frustrating, bringing all these things into your home that you have to find a place for, all of it adding to the clutter and mental load. Some informal surveys say 75% of parents are frustrated that grandparents give the kids too many gifts. And it's not just gifts, but food, baked goods, and groceries that noboday asked for—it's all too much! It's a double-edged sword, though, because sometimes the stuff _is_ great and really helpful. It's important to remember that there is a lot of generosity and love behind grandparents' (sometimes outlandish) gifting. It's a way for them to stay connected to the family when they can't always be there during the day-to-day. A little gift here and there is a way to show the grandkids they love them, and sending a batch of brownies you definitely don't want to be eating is just their little way of helping out. To that end, a mom on TikTok recently showed off her outrageous haul from her mother-in-law, who sent a laughably generous care package when the family was sick with the flu. Sick woman in bed with thermometer, scarf, and hot water bottle on neck.Photo credit: Canva Makenzie Hubbell can barely contain her laughter as she begins telling the story on camera. "My entire family is sick and we asked our mother-in-law to shop for us, so this is everything she got." Hubbell then holds up two eight-packs of Gatorade, or enough to hydrate a professional sports team. "We asked for some goldfish for my son, for when he starts eating." Cue enormous, bulk-sized tub of Goldfish crackers. Then two giant bags of Tyson's chicken nuggets. "We asked for ground turkey. She got us two," Hubbell says, showing off the packs. "Did not ask for these, but very thankful," she says, holding up a container of strawberries. "Strawberries are very expensive." It went on and on. A huge package of chicken breast that could feed their family for a week. But the package wasn't just food and rations. There was a book for the little one, cupcakes for mom's birthday, and a gift in an adorable bag (spoiler: It was a candle and a t-shirt). **The care package was a veritable clown car of supplies and gifts. It's safe to say that mom-in-law went way overboard, in the way that grandparents do. Watch Hubbell show it all off here:** > @chunkymak i fear the gatorade wont last more than 3 days😂😭 #plussize #plussizeedition #groceries #groceryhaul ♬ original sound - chunkymak Commenters related heavily to the video, and it's got us wondering if mother-in-laws have been getting a bad rap all this time. Turns out that mothers-in-law, despite their reputation, are coming in clutch all over the place! We might not always see eye to eye, but they're some of the most reliable and generous family members out there. "You won the mother-in-law lottery." "This is my MIL but she gives so much and won’t allow us to pay any portion back." "My ex's mother, my oldest son’s grandma, drops off a care package of groceries every time she goes to Costco. Always a rotisserie chicken. Muffins, fruit, snacks for school and fresh veggies." "Welcome to the best mother in law club. My husband had a lot of health issues before he passed and my MIL would schedule her cleaning lady to come over the day before he came home from the hospital." "My MIL is the same way…but times 4. If I asked her to pick some things up, it would be a haul. Those of us that are blessed, APPRECIATE!" "So happy when I hear positive MIL stories on this app. While I am not one nor do I have one it always seems like they’re getting such a bad rap." To add to the comedy of it all, Hubbell's mother-in-law was back with more rations and an entire pharmacy's-worth of medical supplies the very next day: > @chunkymak Replying to @weetchofthewoods she also got us the sams club big pack of pampers cruisers in the wrong size so she's going to exchange them but she's got such a huge heart🩷 #plussize #plussizeedition #groceries #groceryhaul ♬ original sound - chunkymak **Conflict between women and their mothers-in-law might be a little exaggerated by sitcoms and stand-up comics, but it is a tricky relationship to manage.** - YouTube www.youtube.com Mothers-in-law are naturally protective of their own children and have strong feelings and opinions about how their grandchildren are being raised. Communication and boundaries are key, but can be a challenge for any family to navigate with grandparents. Case in point: Just as many commenters on Hubbell's video expressed regret that they didn't have nearly as good of a relationship with their own MIL. It's a good exercise for any married person to look past the conflicts and disagreements and recognize how generous grandparents, and especially those pesky mothers-in-law, can be with their time and money. They just love to go overboard like in Hubbell's viral video, and seem to take pride in being more helpful than you could possibly ever ask them to be. Sure, that generosity also comes with a lot of junk and a little more spoiling of the kids than you'd like, but Hubbell's video is a good reminder to stop and be appreciative for just a moment if you're lucky enough to have an overly generous mother-in-law in your life. _This article originally appeared last year._

Teachers play a much larger role than simply being educators—in fact, teaching basic reading and writing pales in comparison to the nurturing, life lessons, and support they provide for kids. Elementary school teacher Alice Yates (@missaliceinteacherland) understands what it means to go above and beyond for her students, especially those in need. In a video posted to her Instagram in early 2025, Yates shared an emotional story about a student who recently lost a parent. After noticing she was coming to school with her hair unbrushed most days, she decided to step in with kindness by doing her hair everyday. At the start of the video, Yates shows herself brushing out a little girl's hair as she tells her story in the captions. "A few months ago one of my student's parent died pretty suddenly...she was coming to school with her hair not even brushed most days," she writes. "I just wanted to help where I could. So I bought a cheap comb and hair ties so that I could at least do a basic pony for her to get her hair out of her face." > See on Instagram The small act of love did not go unnoticed. Her other students noticed Yates doing the student's hair, and wanted to get their hair done, too. "Then the other girls in the class started asking if I'd do their hair too. Now during breakfast, we have chitchats while we do hair! I wouldn't trade this time for anything. It has helped us all become so much closer.❤️" She goes on to explain that she wasn't sure if parents would be okay with it, but was put at ease after getting a thankful message from one. > See on Instagram "I was a little nervous some parents might take it the wrong way that I'm doing their kids hair, but then I got this message: 'I just FaceTimed with [student's name] and saw her hair. It was adorable. Thank you for being extra sweet to my girl while I'm away. I don't even know what her hair looked like when she came in lol." Yates offered more details on why she treasures the personal interactions with her students: "I love being the teacher that I needed growing up...when I was a kid many of my teachers didn’t take the time to get to know us. They didn’t really show us love, tell us about their family, or even ask about ours," she writes. "They showed up, taught from a McGraw Hill Teacher Guide and went home. I think back on school and I hated it most years. I can count on one hand the teachers that I felt safe and happy with." > See on Instagram Her experiences inspired her to be a different teacher. "School filled me with so much anxiety and I think it’s a huge reason why I pour my heart and soul into teaching now," she writes. "I find so much comfort in looking into a parents eyes and telling them that I will take care of their baby, and they look back and me and know I mean it. ❤️" Yates' emotional video got an incredibly supportive response from viewers. "And that’s a vocation right there & exactly the teacher our children need 💕," one wrote. Another shared, "This is beautiful bc when I was in 3rd grade my dad almost died in a motorcycle accident. Needless to say with no family nearby, most days I was barely dressed much less brushed. My teacher would bring barrettes to put up my hair and ill never forget the difference it made in my life ♡." Another commented, "They will never forget you and the time you took for them ❤️." If you would like to contribute to Miss Alice's classroom, you can shop her Amazon Classroom Wishlist here. _This article originally appeared last year._

When my friend invited me to join her family for their once-a-month movie night, she asked which John Hughes movie she should show her 14-year-old twins. The answer was obvious. It had to be something fun, school-related, and iconic. _Ferris Bueller's Day Off_ seemed like the perfect choice, since we Gen X-ers loved it when we were exactly their age in 1986. The fraternal twins (one boy, one girl) sat down on a rare early Saturday evening when neither had dance practice or a sleepover. We gathered in our comfy clothes, popped some popcorn, and hit "rent now." They were excited by the opening scene, where an adorable Matthew Broderick (doesn't matter what generation one is, he transcends them all) is pretending to be sick in bed with worrying parents. His sister Jeanie is suspicious and exhausted by his antics, but Ferris prevails. He then delivers a brilliant monologue about eating life up and living in the moment. His now-famous line, _“_ Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it,” is still plastered in quote books and on Bumble profiles. The twins seemed inspired, and one of them actually teared up in the first five minutes. - YouTube www.youtube.com Spoilers ahead: the movie is pretty simple. Ferris is a super cool high school kid with a beautiful girlfriend, Sloane, played by Mia Sara. His best friend is a depressed hypochondriac named Cameron, who is played to perfection by Alan Ruck. Ferris skips school a lot (nine times!) and grabs each day by the neck. There are themes of hedonism, nihilism, and Taoism, but neither twin mentioned them. The first thing both kids _did_ bring up was how privileged the characters were. Affluent Chicago suburbs, after all, was the setting John Hughes knew best. They also noted, as many have over the years, that Ferris seemed rather selfish and insensitive to what others in his life wanted and needed. ## Who is the true hero of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'? There have been many conversations over the years about Cameron being the true hero of the film. He has an unwavering story arc, unlike Ferris's. He's sad, but pushes through it and even gets the guts up to stand up to his father after accidentally totaling the old man's prized Ferrari. In fact, there was a theory that Ferris was a figment of Cameron's imagination—a _Fight Club_ scenario, if you will. Robert Vaux writes on _CBR_, "The theory holds that the entire day is a fantasy taking place in Cameron's head while he lies sick in bed. His sickness actually supports the theory: once Ferris comes over, it vanishes, and Cameron plunges energetically, if reluctantly, into the events of the day. According to the theory, it's because there are no events of the day. He's still sick at home, and the whole thing is a daydream." I fully expected the twins to have similar thoughts. If not the _Fight Club_ part, at least the idea that Cameron was the true protagonist. But what they (both of them) said instead was shocking. "No," the daughter told me. "I mean, I liked Ferris, and I loved Cameron. But it's Jeanie who's the hero here." Jeanie, the sister mentioned earlier, was played with pure rage by Jennifer Grey. She spends most of the movie attempting to narc on Ferris rather than enjoying her own beautiful day. She is angry and determined until…she meets a "bad boy" at the county jail, played complete with bloodshot eyes by Charlie Sheen. (Sheen stayed up super late the night before the shoot so that he looked weary. "I just figure if I show up looking tired, that's going to be an asset. I need to look tired, so I'm gonna be tired. There was no booze, no dope, there was nothing involved in that night preparing for this," he said.) Taken aback, their mom pushed back. "Jeanie, the sister? Why?" The son answers, "She just changes the most. She starts out, like, having it in for Ferris. Really, having it in for EVERYONE. And then she just like figures it out." The daughter adds, "Yeah, in the end she was rooting for Ferris. She came the farthest from where she started and she's the one who kinda saved him." - YouTube www.youtube.com Gobsmacked, I turned to Reddit for more answers. In the subreddit r/movies, someone recently posted, "Something I noticed about Ferris Bueller's Day Off." They then proceed to drive the Cameron theory forward. "At the start of the film, Cameron is in bed sickly and not really confident in himself, but as the movie progresses, he starts to get more confidence, and by the end, he gains the courage to stand up to his father." ## What is a flat or static character? A Redditor replies with this thoughtful answer: "I've heard it called a flat character arc when the protagonist doesn't change but is instead the catalyst for those around them to change. It's hard to pull off but is often the most satisfying kind of character. Ted Lasso (especially in season one) is a good example _."_ Others echo that idea, offering up characters like Forrest Gump and The Dude from _The Big Lebowski._ Chauncey Gardiner in Being There is another great example; he remains the same while the world projects its own personality onto him. So is Mary Poppins; she blows into town, has a big effect on everyone around her, and then flies off. These characters stayed exactly the same while the world or others in their lives changed around them. It's described on a YouTube clip as _"_ The moment you realize the main character is not actually the main character." - YouTube www.youtube.com This would give credence to the twins' opinion. But I'd never heard anyone choose Jeanie before (and they weren't swayed by Grey's performance in _Dirty Dancing_ because they hadn't seen it yet). When pressed one more time, their answer didn't change. "No doubt, it's the sister. She should have a spinoff." Their mom was so proud, and we all totally agree. _This article originally appeared last year. It has since been updated._

Few TV moments are as satisfying as a _Wheel of Fortune_ blunder. They usually go viral because of a wildly goofy answer, like the 2024 classic _"Treat Yourself A Round of Sausage."_ But every once in a while, it's hard to figure out who made the mistake: the contestant or the show's producers, who green-lit a puzzle that may have been…well, _too_ puzzling. Which brings us back to 1993, with one of the most bizarre moments in _Wheel of Fortune_ history. The category was "Slang," and three contestants were presented with one nine-letter word. It took them more than three minutes to solve as the studio filled with awkward laughter, and it's fair to debate whether they really got it. - YouTube www.youtube.com ## "There, you said it! You said it the second time!" It's a slow reveal: a pair of "T"s, an "S," a "B," an "N"—all with no guesses. Finally, upon the reveal of a "K," someone takes the first stab: "Buttinsky" (pronounced like "butt in sky"). Nope. Then comes a "Y." Another "Butt in sky." Even when we get the full word, "BUTTINSKY," no one can pronounce it to the producers' liking. Finally, one contestant runs through a handful of variations, and host Pat Sajak, seemingly eager to move on, jumps in: "There, you said it! You said it the second time!" It's a close call. You be the judge. It appears none of the contestants had ever heard the word "buttinsky," which, according to _Merriam-Webster_, is a noun meaning "a person given to butting in" or "a troublesome meddler." "We cannot say who was the first wit to add the common last element of some Slavic surnames to the term _butt in_ ," the dictionary company _wrote_, "but we can tell you that the word has been in common use since the beginning of the 20th century." - YouTube www.youtube.com ## "I actually saw this when it aired. I've never forgotten it." So what does the general public think about this puzzle? Here are some notable YouTube comments: _"Pat: 'Yeah, what do we have there?'__Contestant: 'Buttinsky, jack—'"_ _"Producer was like, I don't even know how to pronounce that."_ _"Weirdest puzzle in WoF history"_ _"Nope...that is clearly "Butt in sky'"_ _"This was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for the Slang category--it offered one of the most difficult puzzles on the show, much like how Megaword had ones that had mostly uncommon letters and were very hard to pronounce."_ _"I actually saw this when it aired. I've never forgotten it. I'd hate to have my butt in sky :P"_ _"The producers were needling WAY too much on the pronunciation here. Wow, that was excruciating to watch lol"_ _"After something like that, they should have invited all three of those guys back or did a do-over puzzle and thrown it out."_ _"Buttonsky, Battensky, Buttansky, Bittensky, Bettinsky, Bottinsky, until we get to Buttinsky. Very funny."_ _"No wonder that category was retired."_ On the latter note: According to the _Wheel of Fortune_ Fandom site, "Slang" was introduced on September 7, 1992, and retired on June 19, 1995. - YouTube www.youtube.com

Back in the 1920s, a man named Leo Gerstenzang observed his wife as she gave their baby a bath. To clean the child's ears, she would stick cotton balls on each end of a toothpick. It worked great, but Gerstenzang was concerned about the sharp ends—one slip could be extremely dangerous. So, he worked up a safer version, spending the next several years designing a machine that could make and package cotton swabs "never touched by human hands." He called them "Baby Betty Gays," after his daughter, and then just "Baby Gays." Later, he developed the idea for the brand name "Q-Tips". The product caught on quickly, and for many years it was a popular choice for both adults and kids to remove earwax, among other uses. However, in the 1970s, the company added a warning to the package that the cotton swabs were not meant to be inserted into the ear. **Today, ENT professionals advise against using cotton swabs in your ear. Yet, many people continue to do it. One reason? It feels absolutely amazing.** - YouTube www.youtube.com Sure, none of us want wax buildup in our ears, but it's become extremely clear that cotton swabs aren't actually all that great at removing wax. Outside the risk of perforating your ear drum by pushing the swab in too far, experts say cotton swabs are more likely to push wax _deeper_ into the ear rather than pull it out. That's pretty counter-productive. **But by and large, people report that the feeling of twisting a cotton swab around inside your ear feels incredible. There is, believe it or not, a quasi-medical term for this sensation: an eargasm.** Dr. Karan Rajan recently created a now-viral video on TikTok covering the topic in-depth. He says that, for some people, the Vagus nerve-endings inside the ear are extremely sensitive. The Vagus nerve is a "branchlike structure that runs from your brain to your butt," according to _Men's Health_, and carries information about touch and sensation. When stimulated, you may experience a pleasurable feeling anywhere the nerve impacts, "including your heart, belly, and even reproductive areas." "This leads to a parasympathetic response and a calming effect, similar to the other type of 'gasm. This is why, for many, ears are an erogenous zone." He adds that the erectile tissue in your ears can get engorged when stimulated, giving you...you guessed it...an "ear boner." Add to this that the inside of your ear is not touched very often and can sometimes get itchy or irritated, it's no wonder rubbing it with a cotton swab feels so dang amazing. One fun fact, or a not-so fun fact depending on your perspective, is that some people have what Rajan calls the "cough glitch," where stimulation of the inner ear makes them feel like there's something in their throat and may trigger a cough. Vice versa, a tingling in the throat may be felt in the ear. It's just another funny response by the Vagus nerve, but a much less pleasurable one. > @dr.karanr > > Eargasm @wtfaleisa **It's not just cotton swabs that can make your whole body feel amazing via the nerves in your ears.** If the vibrations are just right from music or any other sound or physical sensation that makes the ears tingle, a similar eargasm effect can occur. This could be one reason people love ASMR, or autonomous sensory meridian response, videos. The whispering and other soft sounds can create a pleasurable, euphoric, tingling sensation throughout the body and trigger feelings of relaxation and reduced stress. _Medical News Today_ adds, "The sensitivity and power of the ears may explain why they can feel erogenous for many people. Whispering into the ear during intercourse can stimulate nerve endings and enhance feelings of intimacy. Physically stimulating the ears by massaging, licking, or gently biting them may also enhance feelings of arousal and closeness." **When you add in the emotional element that music, in particular, can create in us, the eargasm feeling can become extraordinarily powerful.** Music reporter Allison Hagendorf says that when a song swells in an emotional, triumphant crescendo, it can be a euphoric experience. "Scientists call it _frisson_ , French for 'shivers', and it's this full body reaction when music, emotion, and surprise collide all at once. It's that surge you feel when something in a song takes you somewhere unexpected." Though not strictly related to a stimulation of the Vagus nerve, music that hits just right can flood your brain with dopamine, the neurochemical responsible for feeling love, joy, and awe. Fascinatingly, only about half of all people have the capability to experience these "musical chills." > See on Instagram **The reason a little stimulation in and around our ears can feel so amazing goes far beyond just that "scratching an itch" sensation. There's legitimate neuroscience behind why the ears may be the key to full-body pleasure and euphoria in many people.** Again, doctors advise against sticking cotton swabs in your ears for a variety of health and safety reasons. But if you find yourself tempted to do it because it feels so good, consider yourself lucky that you're among those capable of powerful eargasms. Luckily, there are other, safer ways to explore your auditory superpowers.

Solo hobbies are great for establishing some quality alone time, but there’s something to be said for enrichment activities that add to our physical wellbeing, provide a creative outlet, or give a recreational boost while also helping us build our own little tribe of like-minded weirdos. Still, it can be a little intimidating to know where to start. That’s why a good old-fashioned crowdsourced list can come in handy. Recently, folks on Reddit answered the question, "What hobbies attract the most friendly people?" and it’s filled with out-of-the-box answers that can provide a little bit of inspiration and encouragement. From unique art meet-ups to sports that are surprisingly welcoming, here are some of our favorite answers: ## 1. Sewing/Crocheting A group of crocheters. Photo credit: Canva "My very introverted and not-too-social mom picked up crocheting some time after turning 50. She found the most wholesome and friendly group of people that she is now super close with." “The crochet community is pretty friendly, supportive, and incredibly talented.” "I’ve had multiple instances where I’m shopping for yarn and another fiber artist will start a cute little 'whatcha makin'' convo. Then we trade advice and opinions, and I always feel like I just made a new friend. :)" ## 2. Archery A person getting ready to shoot a target with an arrow. Photo credit: Canva "Archery is pretty awesome, even just going to the public range. Everyone is friendly for sure." "Something that always turned me off from other sports was when people would get overly emotional and angry when playing. The archery range is so peaceful." ## 3. Arcades A group of friend enjoying games at an arcade. Photo credit: Canva "Playing pinball or gaming in vintage arcades. Everyone there is usually pretty polite, civil, and just having a good time." ## 4. Rock Climbing Two people rock climbing. Photo credit: Canva "Very laid back, active people in reasonably good shape, social, and eager to help with problems or just make small talk." "If you live near a climbing gym, look into beginner classes. Many gyms offer a six- or eight-week program that teaches you how to belay and do everything safely. It's a great way to meet other people who are getting into climbing." ## 5. Improv An improv class. Photo credit: Canva "I took a couple of improv classes a few years ago and had an absolute blast! Everyone should try it at least once in their life. I think it’s really helped me work with people and be a better teacher." ## 6. Birdwatching (birding) Two people enjoying birdwatching. Photo credit: Canva "I'm a bird watcher! In my experience, most birders are just goofy nerds that love going 'oooh is that a [insert bird name here]???' It's great fun!" ## 7. Robot Combat A hand-built robot. Photo credit: Canva "The community is thriving, and people are helping each other all the time and sharing ideas. 15% of the spare parts I pack when going to meet-ups are meant for other people, and we gift away the broken bits of our robots to our opponents as trophies. Sometimes we even travel and Airbnb together." ## 8. Beekeeping A friendly beekeeper. Photo credit: Canva "It's a lot of older people who are interested in sharing knowledge." ## 9. Woodworking Two woodworkers. Photo credit: Canva "The woodworking community is really supportive. All it takes is one tablesaw mishap to humble you a bit and decide you'd rather not see that happen to anyone else, lol." ## 10. Boxing/Capoeira/Martial Arts People participating in Capoeira.Photo credit: Canva "Yeah, I know it’s not the stereotype, but try it, you’ll be surprised." "Capoeira. The people are almost __too__ friendly." “I've wanted to do some kind of martial arts since high school and only managed to work up the courage to finally try it in my 30s. As a woman, it's such a masculine, intimidating environment. Once I got over the initial nerves (which took a while) and got to know some people, it was the warmest, most supportive, and authentic community I've been in." ## 11. Book clubs A book club meeting. Photo credit: Canva "I joined a book club, and everyone is really cool!" ## 12. Gardening A gardening club. Photo credit: Canva "Gardeners are the most generous, friendliest people I've ever met. Optimistic too." ## 13. Hiking A group of hikers. Photo credit: Canva "I’ve never joined a group that wasn’t full of the kindest people. The one I’m in now is lovely." ## 14. Miniature Painting A guy painting a miniature. Photo credit: Canva "The miniature painting community is one of the most supportive/friendly communities on Earth. You could probably shit on a mini and throw some glitter on it, and someone who's been painting for 25 years and is essentially a genius artist will be like, 'I love the color scheme, welcome to the hobby!'" ## 15. Horror Conventions Two characters you might see at a horror convention. Photo credit: Canva "I've met so many nice people at horror conventions. Polite, friendly, enthusiastic, and curious." ## 16. Scuba Diving A scuba diver throwing up hand signs. Photo credit: Canva "The scuba community is super supportive. I think it’s inherent to how the sport works. Good communication, mutual respect, and caution are instilled in you during the education process. You need to be able to meet someone for the first time and potentially trust them with your life as a dive buddy. That requires a certain level of built-in trust. On top of that, there’s an extra layer of camaraderie that you get from diving in odd spots or at unusual times of the year. I once dove in a quarry on the absolute last day of the season, when it was cold enough that my wet gear froze to the table, but I had a blast chatting up the handful of other people unhinged enough to be out on the water that day." ## 17. Skateboarding A group of skateboarders. Photo credit: Canva "It’s literally like a family everywhere you go." ## 18. Beer Brewing Two people enjoying beer. Photo credit: Canva "I'm sure most people would assume it's just a bunch of pretentious craft beer bros. However, people are incredibly cool and very positively constructive with their feedback. As a result, everyone who has gained some confidence is thrilled to share their beer and have people genuinely appreciate them." ## 19. Competition shooting People at a gun range Photo credit: Canva "Believe it or not…people are very kind to each other and we love to nerd out over our builds. Safety is almost always our #1 priority and I honestly feel more safe at the range than I do at a car meet!" ## 20. Mountain Biking Three people mountain biking Photo credit: Canva "If you're sitting on the side of the trail, everyone who passes will stop to ask if you're OK. People will share food, parts, tools, directions, advice, etc." "You can literally pull up to a brewery, grab a beer, and sit down with other mountain bikers you've never met and instantly become friends by sharing stories or talking about how your ride went." ## 21. Disc Golf A hand throwing a frisbee into a disc golf basket Photo credit: Canva "Disc golfers are generally friendly and chill." Last but not least… ## 22. Fishing A person fishing Photo credit: Canva "Every time I've joined a fishing club or just met someone while out fishing, we share stories and tips and enjoy the experience. Good people."

Perhaps anticipating that musical artists might be more sensitive than most, music journalists sometimes gently goad them to provoke reactive quotes. But what happened in a 1977 Australian interview may have proven otherwise. In a resurfaced clip making the rounds on social media, three members of the band Fleetwood Mac (Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, and Christine McVie) are being interviewed in Australia. As they discuss how they all became part of the band, McVie explains: "When Fleetwood Mac first formed, it was a blues band. A pub band that used to travel around the country and earn relatively little money ... But they became very successful with a single they had out called 'Albatross,' which made them popular on the continent — Europe and England. As far as I know, America didn't really know them." > See on Instagram The reporter then directs questions to Buckingham and Nicks: "Stevie and Lindsey, how did you manage to leap into such a successful band? How did it come about?" After joking for a second about his wording, Buckingham answers: "We had a band about two years previous to Fleetwood Mac called Buckingham Nicks. And at the time Mick (Fleetwood) was looking for a studio in which to record an album in, and he ended up at Sound City in Los Angeles just looking at the studio. And the engineer who had done our album played him some of the tapes just to show what the studio sounded like. And he really liked the tapes. He really liked the music. And I guess a week after that, Bob Welch left the group. And just on a hunch, they asked us to join. We didn't audition or anything." But here's where things might have taken a turn. The interviewer then seems to solely focus on Buckingham: "It must have been one of the first bands to incorporate ladies and use them, as such. Any problems as far as credibility of ladies in rock 'n' roll when the band first hit the road with the girls?" > See on Instagram Buckingham appears to know better than to answer, and he and Nicks quickly look at McVie, who replies: "Well, I had already been in the band for a good while, as a 'lady.' And as a musician, ya know. I'd been primarily a musician, rather than a 'backup singer' in any case. And then when Stevie joined the band, she was also a frontline singer and writer. I think in that way, I guess we were the innovators of that kind of thing because it was more or less, to my knowledge, prior to us girls would be in rock bands, but would be backup singers and…" "Pretty faces," the interviewer interjects. At first glance, Nicks seems jarred by the comment but remains calm, responding: "Well, I think it comes down to the fact that Fleetwood Mac could not go on without Chris and me if we were sick or something. Whereas most bands, with a girl in it, could go ahead and would go on and play. But they'd have trouble without us." Nicks, for her part, has often been a champion of female singer-songwriting. In fact, after she performed with Taylor Swift at the 2010 Grammys, journalists and fans alike were critical of Swift's performance. Nicks believed so strongly in the then 20-year-old singer that she wrote about it in _Time_ magazine. Stevie Nicks gives kind words to Taylor Swift. www.youtube.com, Entertainment Tonight __According to Peter Burditt'sarticle in ****_American Songwriter_ , Nicks wrote: "This girl writes the songs that make the whole world sing, like Neil Diamond or Elton John. She sings, she writes, she performs, she plays great guitar. Taylor can do ballads that could be considered pop or rock and then switch back into country. When I turned 20 years old, I had just made the serious decision to never be a dental assistant. Taylor just turned 20, and she's won four Grammys. Taylor is writing for the universal woman and for the man who wants to know her. The female rock-'n'-roll-country-pop songwriter is back, and her name is Taylor Swift. And it's women like her who are going to save the music business." The comments under the Australian interview clip are extremely supportive of Nicks and McVie. "When I think of the band, Fleetwood Mac, I always think of Stevie Nicks and Christine McPhee (McVie) first. Christine and Stevie were equal members of the band. Everyone in that band wrote songs. All of the love affairs coming to an end made a fantastic album called _Rumours_." "I love that Lindsey did not answer this question. He knew better! Love to them all!" "Pretty faces! Has he never seen them perform? But they pave the way! Ladies don't realize what women went through. Women could not even own a credit card or have a bank account in 1974. So crazy!" (They're likely referring to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which passed that year.) Finally, this Instagrammer sums up the discussion with a perfect comment: "The inventor of Rock 'N' Roll was a lady herself, Sister Rosetta Tharpe."

The saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," has been around since ancient times and is still a good reminder that customs and habits vary wherever you go. One of the best things about traveling to another part of the world is discovering how things you think are normal or standard are not universally so, and seeing how different cultures function broadens your ideas of the human experience. That's why a woman from Denmark explaining "normal" things that are considered rude in Nordic countries has caught people's attention. People are often fascinated with Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway, largely because they regularly top lists of "happiest countries in the world" (which is always a little surprising considering the weather in that part of the world alone). Here are the 13 behaviors and habits Kelly Louise Killjoy says Nordic countries consider rude in her experience: - YouTube youtu.be ### 1. Being late to anything Of course, being late is rude in a lot of places, so this one may not be surprising, but punctuality is a culturally specific expectation. There are places where it would be considered rude to show up early, and other places where "fashionably late" doesn't exist. In Killjoy's experience, Nordic folks like to be as close to exactly on time as possible. "Like five minutes early or five minutes late, no more, no less," she says. "Preferably exactly on time." And they will often apologize for even being one minute late. ### 2. Showing up unannounced Some countries have a distinct "dropping by" culture, but the Nordic nations aren't among them. Even close friends and family call or text before arriving at someone's house, as it's considered rude to just show up. "With Nordic people, it's all about respecting our time," Killjoy says. "We often plan our time very carefully, according to when we're meeting you. And these meetups are often scheduled weeks or months beforehand. So the door may be open, but it doesn't mean the schedule is." ### 3. Canceling plans last minute "Unless you have a serious reason, this is more rude than saying no up front because you don't feel like it," Killjoy says. "Again, Nordic people plan their time around you for weeks, if not months, so respect our time and we will love you for it." Woman disappointed by last minute cancelled plans. Photo credit: Canva ### 4. Speaking to people without a practical purpose Even though not everyone loves it, small talk is considered normal in American culture. Not so much in Scandinavia. If you're just running errands or going through your normal daily life activities in Nordic countries, people don't just shoot the breeze with you. "If you talk to us, we will assume there's a reason, otherwise we get confused and awkward," Killjoy says. "If you've ever had a conversation with a Nordic person where you thought, 'Why didn't they like me?' or 'This got awkward very quickly,' it's because that Nordic person was more than likely trying to figure out what you wanted out of that conversation." ### 5. Being overly polite Killjoy says this is another area where Americans and Nordic people often misunderstand each other. The idea of politeness being rude even sounds like an oxymoron, but for Nordic folks, it's really about being asked questions you don't want to give real answers to. The example Killjoy gives is asking people, "How are you?" That's standard for Americans, and it's understood that you're not asking someone to spill all of their emotions in the moment. But Nordic folks take questions at face value, so it feels personal and invasive. ### 6. Speaking loudly in public places One thing that people sometimes pinpoint with Americans visiting other countries is that we tend to speak loudly. In a public place like a restaurant, where lots of people are talking, it's not really much of a consideration for us. But it is for Nordic folks (and a lot of other European countries, Killjoy points out). ### 7. Sitting next to someone when you don't have to "This is a classic Nordic meme, but it's true," Killjoy says. "We do not like people sitting next to us when we can see there's space around for them to divide themselves upon." If you sit next to a Nordic person on a mostly empty bus, they'll think something is wrong with you or that you might wish them harm. (To be fair, this is likely true most places. But there are some friendly folks who like to chat with strangers and will take the opportunity when they see it.) Sitting closer than necessary to someone is rude. Photo credit: Canva ### 8. Using formal titles "Unless you're addressing the king or queen, don't," says Killjoy. Although titles like "Mr." or "Mrs." or "Dr." are used to show respect in a lot of places, Nordic folks tend to see them as impersonal and distant. "Even doctors and teachers will think it's weird if you use formal titles with them," she says. ### 9. Bragging "This ties into the people being loud part as well," Killjoy says. "Nordic culture is a very conflict-avoidant and don't-stand-outish kind of culture." She says there's even a Danish word for this social norm that heavily discourages standing out and favors humility and equality: _Janteloven_. "Bragging just goes heavily against that," Killjoy says. ### 10. Tipping "Tipping cultures are very awkward to Nordic people," says Killjoy. "Like, I don't understand why you can't just pay your employees." (Same, honestly.) > — (@) ### 11. Not taking off your shoes in someone's home This one is more of a household-by-household preference in the U.S., it seems, but in Scandinavia, it's the norm to take off your shoes in the house. Most Nordic homes have mudrooms for this very purpose. ### 12. Honking your car horn Go to any major U.S. city, and you'll hear no shortage of car horns. Killjoy says in Denmark it's illegal to honk your car horn for any other reason than as a danger warning or if someone hasn't seen you. "If you honk, someone will assume there's something wrong," she says, so don't honk there out of impatience. A person honks their car horn. Photo credit: Canva ### 13. Jaywalking Killjoy calls jaywalking "kind of rude," primarily because Nordic folks tend to be rule-followers. It's not that they will never jaywalk, but generally, they only do it when no one is really around or would notice. Of course, these "considered rude" behaviors are coming from one person, and some commenters from Nordic countries added some clarifications in the comments (such as the "no dropping by" rule being something newer or more specific to urban than rural areas). But many fellow Scandinavians corroborated the things on this list. It's good to know, though, what people from one of these countries might find rude when you meet them. And if you ever find yourself in Denmark? Do as the Danes do.

Tig Notaro truly contains multitudes. She has the ability to keep people howling by charmingly re-framing the world in an absurd, yet hilariously joyous way. And this same brilliant mind that brings uproarious laughter, also delivers vulnerable depth in equal measure. After the death of her close friend, poet Andrea Gibson, Notaro appeared on CNN's _All There Is with Anderson Cooper_ podcast to discuss grief. (Gibson, who used they/them pronouns, and their wife Megan Falley documented their love and mortality in the gut-wrenching—and also beautifully funny—documentary _Come See Me in the Good Light_ , directed by Ryan White.) Cooper, who has also often been open about his struggle to make sense of death and pain, was ready to jump right in. > See on Instagram Their conversation was heartbreaking, beautiful, and even hilarious. Notaro is asked about her friendship with Gibson, who passed in 2025, and what it was like to be there in the moment. "I don't even know how to explain what I was just a part of and what I just witnessed. It really, really resonated on a deep level. The humanity was on overdrive." After Cooper shares that witnessing the death of someone so close is incredibly moving, Notaro adds, "It's really making me re-think a lot of things in my life. I think I want a new normal. I'm not holding onto anything that's not real. I don't know if it's right to say make friends with that idea of dying, but it really should be more in conversation. I don't want my death to sneak up on my kids. Although I've had a lot of health issues, so I don't know if it's gonna sneak up on anyone! But I really have such a new…" Notaro pauses for a moment for some clarity. "Not that I'm gonna abandon comedy and become a death doula." They seemingly half-jokingly discuss the idea of becoming duel death doulas, with Notaro suggesting they have business cards made up. "Anderson and Tig's death doula. Sir. Let's do this! I think people would freak out if _we_ were who showed up in the final moments of their life." > See on Instagram Returning to the initial conversation, Notaro shares "But this experience with Andrea really made me understand the importance of really talking about death. Rather than live my life fearing death and trying to kick it away at every possible move I'm making. Cuz it's coming." In an exclusive with _Upworthy,_ Notaro was willing to leave no stone unturned. (I've known her since our 20s, and she has always been quick to make a room explode with laughter, while always game to go deep at anytime.) **_Upworthy: I know you've experienced so much grief, and I'd imagine fear, caused by your own health issues over the years. What do you think it was about Andrea passing, in particular, that made you feel like you were really ready to talk about it?_** Notaro: "Yeah, I’ve had a lot of practice with grief: losing love, loved ones, body parts, and health in general. It's humbling. With Andrea, I think it wasn’t just the loss, it was the clarity. Andrea had already been speaking so openly about mortality and love, that when they died, it felt like the conversation didn’t stop, it just shifted. When I was personally diagnosed with cancer in 2012, I didn’t process it in a poetic way like Andrea did. I was more like: 'Okay, this is happening. Also, I have a show tonight.' I think that’s how I survived things before: I kept moving until my body or heart said: 'Nope. Sit down.' Andrea’s death made me sit down. It made me realize I wasn’t trying to be brave, I was just ready to be honest with myself and make changes that would make things feel more congruent in my life." **_Upworthy: If you did become a death doula (and I'd like to hire you if so), what are some of the important things you'd discuss with a person who was dying? What would you say to their families/loved ones to help ease the pain?_** Notaro: "To the person dying, I’d probably say very little. I’d listen. And when I did talk, it would be more about comfort: do you need a blanket? We're all here. You are so loved—which was basically what we were all telling Andrea in those final days. To families and loved ones, I’d say: 'There’s no correct way to be present, you don’t have to say the perfect thing, you showed up and that counts more than anything you could possibly say—it's massive.'" **_Upworthy: I had a friend who died a few years ago and I swear I felt him in my room just a few days later. I know not everyone believes in such things, and maybe it's our brain trying to make sense of stuff, but have you experienced anything like that?_** Notaro: "I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. I think it's so nice to know you feel/felt them in whatever capacity. I don’t walk around having clear, cinematic experiences of people visiting me from the other side, but I wish I did. But I have had moments where someone felt very near, whatever that means. And whether that’s spiritual or neurological or emotional or all of it mashed together, I'm just going with it. If something brings comfort and doesn’t hurt anyone, I’m not interested in debunking it. I’m tired. Let people feel things." > See on Instagram _**Upworthy: Is there anything else you'd like to share about your friendship with Andrea?**_ Notaro: "Well, Andrea was one of those people who made you feel more honest just by being around them. They were really, deeply funny and deeply gentle in a way that wasn’t fragile. I miss their literal voice. And their words. They didn’t waste any of them. The very last thing Andrea said to me at their bedside was: 'Tig, I loved being your friend.' So simple but so beautiful. I will also always really, really miss the way Andrea's smile lifted the lines on their cheeks. It was one of my favorite things to see, but it also usually meant Andrea was laughing, which was always a joy to hear—that deep, deep belly laughter will forever be missed."

Accidents happen, of course, but it’s fair to blame parents if they give their child a name and the initials spell out something unseemly or embarrassing. They should have considered this before naming the child. However, you can’t blame someone with funny initials after getting married, because no one will reject the love of their life for having a last name that starts with the wrong letter. A woman shared that she can’t stand her initials because she can’t wear monogrammed clothing. "My initials] are the bane of my existence, and I can never have [traditional monogramming (first, last, middle) without it being a sandwich." Yes, her initials, in the traditional monogram form, are BLT. They are a tasty option for lunch, but probably not something you’d want on a fancy necklace or bathrobe. She also refuses to eat the sandwich. "Raw tomatoes are disgusting to me personally,” she adds. ## What is traditional monogram form? Why is it that in traditional monogram form, a married woman’s initials are different than if she was writing them first, middle, and last? “A monogrammed gift for a woman should include her first, middle, and last initial or, if she is married, her first, maiden name, and married name initials. Traditionally, a woman's monogram is presented in first, last, and middle initial order,” _The Monogram Merchant writes._ For example, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy would have a traditional monogram of JKB. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy greets guests before a reception for the Wives of American Society of Newspaper Editors Members.via The U.S. National Archives/Wikimedia Commons To make the woman feel better, some commenters shared their initials, and many were worse than BLT. _"My friend's is AIDS, so dont worry, i remember in secondary school having to sew our initials on pillows for home economics. I felt bad for her."_ _"I’m D.M.B. - all I’m missing is the U."_ _"Mine are TB.... just as unappealing haha."_ _"My initials are BS, so don't feel bad. I get cracked on all the time."_ _"Hubs initials are ET. Cue 'ET phone home,' circa the '80s, from all his so-called friends at work."_ _My initials are RAD, lol."_ _"I knew a girl with the initials PMS, I think food is better than that."_ _"Mine happen to spell 'ELF', and I hated it as a kid. Now I embrace it, lol."_ _"My brother’s are R.A.T. He kinda embraced it, an animal lover and all."_ _"I'm APE lol."_ _ _ A gorilla walking on its knuckles. via Canva/Photos "Upon reflection, I should have considered this more when naming my daughter, her initials are - AHO. If we had hyphenated then, AHOG." "My brothers are R.A.T. He kinda embraced it, an animal lover and all." "After I get married next year, my initials will be the biggest white supremacy group in the US, so it could always be worse." "MGM, I am a company." ## Are unfortunate initials bad for your health? __It was once believed that having unfortunate initials meant more than suffering the occasional embarrassment—they could take years off your life. In 1999,a study found that men with positive initials, such as WOW or JOY, lived 4.5 years longer than those with neutral initials, while those with negative initials, such as DIE or ROT, died 2.8 years later. The idea was that people with negative initials subconsciously think less of themselves, which could lead to an unhealthy lifestyle compared to someone with positive initials. However, six years later, that study was debunked by a subsequent study that found there is “no persuasive biological theory of how longevity should be significantly affected by initials." Pamela Redmond Satran, author of _Baby Names Now_ , says we should still consider initials when naming children. "Every conventional naming book gives the guideline, 'Don't forget to look at the initials,'" Satran said, according to _CBS News._ "Even if the second study contradicts the first, and having bad initials is not going to shorten your life span, it could make what there is of your life less pleasant. And who wants to foist that on innocent children?" _This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated._

Today's adults often lament the economic turmoil of the 21st century, from the Great Recession of 2008 to the financial upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic of the early 2020s to very real struggles with unaffordable housing and education. A lot has transpired to drive up the cost of everyday living without a corresponding rise in wages. With a major upheaval of the U.S. government unfolding in early 2025, uncertainty was even more solidified as the theme of the day. When financial instability hits, it's time to take measures to mitigate it however we can, and thankfully, we can learn a thing or two from our elders who lived through the money struggles of two world wars and the Great Depression. Frugality was a way of life for our grandparents and great-grandparents, and though times have changed—a lot—many of those wise ways to save money still stand. And the good news is that many of them are good for the environment and our health as well as our wallet, so Here are some of the easiest, best frugal living habits we can take from previous generations: Cooking at home is almost always cheaper than eating out, and often significantly so.Photo credit: Canva ## Cook from scratch Even with the cost of groceries being higher than they were, it's almost always significantly cheaper to eat at home than it is to eat out. Learning to cook is a useful and enjoyable (for many) hobby that can also save you money, as long as you're not trying to cook something overly fancy. Cooking doesn't have to be complicated, and it's never been easier to find simple recipes. There are even sites that will come up with a menu and recipes for you based on what you already have in your pantry. Stock up on basic ingredients, keep it simple, and find some favorite meals that you can whip up quickly and easily. ## Less meat, more beans Meat is pricey—especially good quality meat—and with animal-borne diseases becoming more of a concern, animal products in general are getting more expensive. Perhaps now would be a good time to transition to more of a plant-based lifestyle, making more use of cheaper protein sources like beans. Canned beans are generally quite affordable, but dried beans are even cheaper if you don't mind taking the time to soak and cook them. If you have an Instant Pot, it's super easy to batch cook dry beans, which you can then store cooked in the freezer for quick reheating. Bulk spices often cost a fraction of what they cost in jars.Photo credit: Canva ## Buy herbs and spices in bulk Spices in jars are stupidly expensive sometimes, and you might assume that's just what they cost. But if you've never shopped in the bulk spice section at a store—even at an expensive health food store—you might be surprised by how much cheaper it is. Leafy herbs like oregano, thyme, basil, and sage weigh almost nothing, so even if they cost $20/lb, a jar's worth is often pennies to the dollar cheaper than buying them already packaged. (Just beware heavier spices, as sometimes those can be just as expensive as jarred. Definitely worth comparing, though.) ## Borrow and barter When times are tough, getting by becomes a community effort, but there's no reason we have to wait for an actual economic depression to help one another out or scratch one another's backs. We all have things that sit around not being used much of the time that others might like to borrow, from tools to books. Trading services can be an excellent way to save money in a win-win way. Growing your own food can save you money.Photo credit: Canva ## Grow a garden During the pandemic, many people started growing WWII-style "victory gardens" simply because they could, but gardening can be a great way to save on produce and herbs. If you can start early in the spring and grow from seed, even better. Though learning to keep a garden thriving can be a little trickier than it looks, the savings can be impressive. For instance, one tomato plant can harvest 10 to 20 pounds of tomatoes, so even if you spend $5 on a starter plant, you can save a ton compared to produce section prices at the store. No yard? Gardening in containers works, too. ## Clean with vinegar and baking soda It may seem like a small thing, but lots of small things like cleaning products add up. Buying vinegar in bulk and diluting it 50/50 with water makes a great basic cleaner, and baking soda in bulk can help you scour surfaces as well. Vinegar smell doesn't last long, but you can always add a little essential oil to the mix to add some scent. You might need a stronger disinfectant for certain cleaning jobs, but for a basic cleanser, vinegar gets the job done. Biking is free.Photo credit: Canva ## Drive less Americans love to drive and many of us do it far more often than we need to, spending more on gas than necessary. And even though gas prices have come down most places, it still isn't cheap. Combining trips or making a once a week "errand day" can help us cut down on driving. So can carpooling or biking or walking more. ## Buy used Thrift store shopping can save a ton of money, especially if you shop around to various thrift shops to find the ones that actually have good stuff at low prices. Clothes especially can be a much better deal used than new, and no one will ever know the difference. Furniture is also a fraction of the cost used vs. new, and often older furniture is better quality anyway. Check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and other online markets for used items before running to the store or buying something new online. Public libraries are treasure troves of free items to borrow.Photo credit: Canva ## Utilize your public library Public libraries are treasure troves of free stuff, and not enough people take full advantage of them. Not only can you get books, but many libraries have huge collections of movies or other entertainment. Some have art collections you can check out, others have tools and household items you can borrow. There are also free book clubs, lectures, classes and other activities that can add to your social calendar without spending anything. ## Make do with what you have This might sound like a no-brainer, but many of us have gotten into the habit of buying whatever we think we need simply because it's convenient. Amazon has created some habitual buying habits that we might want to rethink if we're trying to save money. Do you really need a new jacket or is the one you have still perfectly usable? Is there still some life left in that pair of shoes? Even holding off on buying things for a month or two and making do with what you have can help you save money and see that you don't need as much as you might think. Lots of small savings can add up, so don't assume that a few cents or a dollar here and there don't matter. Once you get into these habits, you may even find that frugal living to be a preferred way of life, regardless of your financial situation. It certainly can't hurt to try it. _This article originally appeared in March._

Every parent has said the line: "Good night! Sleep tight! Don't let the bed bugs bite!" This sing-song rhyme that has been around for centuries alludes to the fact that bed bugs were prevalent in the past. After a significant decrease post-WWII, however, the sneaky pests have been making a comeback. Since the 1990s, bed bug infestations have risen dramatically, leading people to look for ways to avoid and get rid of the blood-sucking little buggers. Unfortunately, a lot of the information about how to do that is flat-out wrong. Popular YouTube science communicator and former NASA engineer, Mark Rober invites viewers to forget what we think we know and go on an educational journey with the leading bed bug researchers at Rutgers University's urban entomology lab. Not only did Rober subject himself to bed bug bites on purpose to see what happens when they feed, but he also conducted a series of experiments in the lab to find out what is actually effective at killing them and what is not. Bed bugs have a reputation for being nearly impossible to get rid of, which isn't really the case, according to Rober. When you know what works, it's actually a fairly simple process to kill an infestation. And the good news is that it doesn't entail any toxic chemicals—in fact the pest control chemicals sold for bed bugs don't work at all, according to Rober's tests. A person in gloves inspecting for bed bugs. Photo credit: Canva In the process of learning about bed bugs, Rober shared a few "super wild" facts about the infamous creatures. ## Fact #1: Bed bugs can live 3 to 10 months without feeding. Eek. No wonder it seems like it's impossible to get rid of them. Starving them doesn't work. They can live in the resting stage for three to six months, and if the environment is cold enough, they can survive around 300 days, or 10 months, without eating. ## Fact #2: Bed bugs don't transmit disease Some good news here: Unlike blood-sucking mosquitoes, bed bugs don't carry or transmit disease. The bad news on the front is that because they don't pose a disease threat, only an annoyance, there's not a big incentive to fund research to eradicate them. ## Fact #3: Bed bugs are attracted to vertical objects In one of Rober's experiments, he placed a dish with a cylindrical vertical column inside it and a dish without a column, and nearly all of the bed bugs in the enclosure ended up in the dish with the column. "If you think about it, humans sleep at the highest elevation any given room. So their logic is just crawl up any vertical surface you see until you eventually find a warm-blooded meal at the top." Part of how they find humans is by smell, which is why certain strong-smelling items can act as a deterrent for bed bugs. In Rober's experiment, Bounce dryer sheets, moth balls, baking soda, and essential oils all seemed to repel bed bugs (as opposed to ultrasonic pest repellants, which appeared to have no effect). However, none of those things did anything to kill them. ## Fact #4: Before 1950, one in three homes had bed bugs Yikes. Even with the resurgence, we're still nowhere near those numbers, thank goodness. - YouTube www.youtube.com ## Fact #5: The way bed bugs mate is weird The term used to describe it is called "traumatic insemination," and really, you should just let Mark Rober explain it with his visual metaphor. Start at minute 11:30. ## Two things work well to kill bed bugs—diatomaceous earth and heat > @scibodytherapy You only need three things to get rid of bed bugs. 1.) Heat. Steam specifically. This will be used to treat all of your soft line surfaces (pillows, clothes, mattresses etc 2.) Diatomaceous earth. This natural powder etches the insects exoskeleton and casues death via dehydration. 3.) Time. This is a battle that can be won, but it may take a month ir more to completely eliminate an infestation. ##bedbugs##parasitecleanse##diy ♬ original sound - Josh Cottle In testing chemical sprays, foggers, and other items marketed for killing bed bugs, Rober found a "superstar" in a natural, non-toxic substance. Diatomaceous earth—pulverized fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms called diatoms—was the most effective at killing the buggers with a 90% mortality rate after 10 days as opposed to 12% with the Hot Shot bed bug spray. Diatomaceous earth is mostly silica, which absorbs moisture, and when the silica dust sticks to the bed bugs as the walk through it, it dehydrates them. A light dusting of diatomaceous earth around all the cracks and crevices of a room is one way to kill off an infestation, though that process can take days. The other way to kill bed bugs is heat. Steam kills bed bugs, as does heating up a room to over 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Temps over 122 degrees kills bed bugs instantly, and as Rober points out, there's no way for them to build immunity to this kind of treatment. So steamers and clothes dryers set to high are the average person's best bet for killing off bed bugs if they have them. The "nuclear option" is to have a pro come in with big heaters and cook your home for a day. ## How do you avoid getting bed bugs in the first place? - YouTube www.youtube.com An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that's true for bed bugs especially. Avoiding an infestation if there's already one in your apartment building is trickier, but a lot of people inadvertently bring bed bugs home from hotel stays. Checking the underside of a hotel mattress as soon as you enter the room is a good habit to practice. Bed bugs poop a lot, and there will be spots along the edges of the mattress if bed bugs are present. The other tip is to use the luggage rack to store your suitcase instead of leaving it on the floor or furniture, and to hang clothes on the closet hangers instead of putting them into the hotel room's dresser drawers. Some people may even put their suitcase in the bathtub, at least until they've checked the bed for signs of poop. Nobody wants to deal with bed bugs, but at least now we have clear evidence of what actually works to get rid of them and what doesn't. Cook them with heat/steam and dehydrate them with diatomaceous earth, and take some simple steps when traveling to lessen your chances of getting them in the first place. Sleep tight, everyone! _This article originally appeared last year._

Kids birthday party culture is definitely a source of major strife in the current zeitgeist. For one thing, parties have become outrageously expensive. Renting a lane at the bowling alley and getting some pizza for a dozen kids used to be the _cheap_ party. Now that same experience will probably run $500 or more. If you tack on custom desserts (unless it's a Costco sheet cake), goodie bags, and a premium venue like a trampoline park or arcade, you could be looking at a bill of close to $1000! That's madness! RSVP etiquette is in crisis, too. Social media is rife with stories of no one RSVPing, RSVPers no-showing on the day, and others sorts of rude or bizarre behavior from parents that turns parties sour and, sadly, ruin kids' birthdays. **One parent's story of a birthday party gone horribly wrong, though, definitely takes the cake.** ** ** A bad birthday party can really hurt the birthday boy or girl. Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash "My son's birthday was recently and we decided to throw him a party at a local place that was kid focused and amazing," the parent writes in a Reddit post. Due to classroom rules and wanting to pass the invitations out through school, the family invited all 24 kids from their child's class. "Not a single parent RSVP'ed. Not a single one. My name, my phone number, AND my spouse's phone number was on the card. I'm literally staring at one ... that I handwrote and this was included on the invite. I handwrote every card so I know for a fact what was on there," they say. Not wanting to cancel the birthday party (and traumatize his son), the parent began inviting kids from other branches of their network. Friends' kids, coworkers kids. Basically anyone with a warm body so that they could throw a proper party. In the end, the family planned and paid for 15 kids to attend the party, including a resounding zero from class. And then everything went haywire. A lot can go wrong if you don't get the birthday invitations just right.Photo credit: Canva "Party was yesterday night. ... We get there, get settled in, and start seeing kids come in. A few of his classmates began showing up. I was fine with that and was excited kids started showing up for him. And then more kids started showing up. One family brought 7 kids total; 3 teens, 2 slightly older kids, a girl from his classmates, and their cousin. Another family brought their son AND one of his friends because 'they didn't know if their son would know anyone there so we wanted to make sure he had a friend to play with'. So many of them brought siblings." The numbers quickly got way, way out of hand. Organizers at the venue told the parent they were going to have to pay for all the extra kids that showed up. So the OP unfortunately had to tell anyone who brought uninvited kids, or failed to RSVP, that they would have to pay their own way for all the crafts and activities available at the venue. A few families apologized and ponied up, but... "I had multiple parents tell me that they didn't know they couldn't bring their other kids and promised to pay before they left. Some asked for my Cashapp/Venmo/Zelle so they could reimburse me later since they couldn't afford it right now. Some just left, a few taking their presents with them." With so many kids running amok, the party took an unfortunate turn. Kids started being mean to an animal that was brought out for entertainment and its handlers had to put it away. Trash went flying everywhere. Kids climbed on tables and got kicked out. It was pandemonium. In the end, the parent had to pay an extra cleaning fee, pay for damage done to the venue, and pay for all the extra kids who showed up whose parents left before chipping in. Worse yet, their son was devastated at how the party turned out. "I was in tears. My son is really upset that there were so many mean kids. He said this was the worst party ever and asked to not have a party for next year." ## The obvious question coming out of this story: Why are people so awful?! Stories like this one sadly aren't rare. The cynical take is that parents are ruder and more self-absorbed than ever, that our chronically disconnected society has diluted our sense of community and obligation to be kind to each other. The (slightly) more optimistic and probably more accurate take is that today's parents are completely overwhelmed and have their hands full coordinating handfuls of events that are months away, responding to dozens of daily emails from school and teachers and daycares, being engaged and hands-on in every aspects of their kids lives, etc. So RSVPs sometimes slip to the bottom of the list and get forgotten. The behavior in this parent's story is appalling, but probably not intentionally malicious. Still, social media users were furious on behalf of the child and his parents in the story. "This is unacceptable behavior," wrote one commenter. "People suck and kids parties bring out the worst in people!" added another. "manners have gone out the window lately I don't know why anyone would do this, its so unbelievably rude," someone wrote. "Upside: I feel like you're raising a kid that's going run circles around these folks later in life," another person added optimistically. Parents were distraught after kids who never RSVPd trashed the party. Photo by Malachi Cowie on Unsplash ## Whatever the cause, there are a few ways you can protect yourself and your kids from birthday party catastrophes like this one. **Don't include the specific location on the invite.** The best way to stop people who didn't RSVP from showing up unannounced is to stay vague about the party venue. Just put the day and time on the invitation so people can save the date, but make them text or call before you tell them where the party will be held. That way, you can secure a commitment beforehand. **Specify whether siblings are welcome.** Unfortunately, some parents have been known to use other kids birthday parties as informal daycares, dropping all of their kids off at once and taking themselves a nice break! It's not all conniving, though. It is legitimately a lot easier on some families to bring everyone along to a party rather than dividing and conquering to entertain siblings who weren't invited. Just be clear on the invite or in RSVP discussions about who's allowed to come and whether parents are expected to stay (or if it's a "drop off party"). (For parents RSVPing, experts agree that you should never assume siblings are invited.) - YouTube www.youtube.com **Understand classroom rules**. A lot of schools now require that, if birthday party invitations get handed out in class, that everyone is invited. That rules comes from a great place of not wanting anyone to feel left out, but it also causes a lot of problems. The inclusivity is a positive but it also means you end up inviting a lot of kids and parents you don't know very well or at all. If you're up for this logistical challenge, go for it! But if not, consider a smaller party with just your child's good friends—and invite them privately outside of school. **Keep it simple.** Many parents are choosing to keep parties cheaper and simpler to avoid financial catastrophes like the one in this parent's story. Meet-ups at a public park with cake and juice boxes, for example, are much lower stakes than anything involving wildlife. Inviting a small handful of people to your house rather than an expensive venue involves cleaning and prep, but allows you the advantage of operateing at your home base. Finally, for anyone on the receiving end of a birthday party invitation, don't be a jerk! RSVPing either way is a much appreciated gesture. On the chance that you do forget to RSVP (it happens), don't show up unannounced. It may not seem like a big deal, but when a couple dozen sets of parents all have the same thought, this dad's viral story shows exactly what can go wrong. _This article originally appeared in March. It has been updated._

Remember in school when the teacher would split the class into different reading groups? One was always, clearly, more advanced, while the other went at a slower pace. But the groups usually weren't labeled as such out loud. One teacher, at least, says maybe they should be. The results from 2024’s National Assessment of Educational Progress found that the slide in American students' reading abilities has only worsened. The percentage of 8th graders with “below basic” reading skills was 33%, the lowest in the exam’s three-decade history. The percentage of fourth graders “below basic” was the largest in 20 years at 40%. “Our lowest performing students are reading at historically low levels,” _said Peggy Carr_, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, which administers the NAEP exam. “We need to stay focused in order to right this ship.” A big reason for the drop was the disruption in education caused by the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but educators are looking to see if there are other causes behind the drop in competency. “This is a major concern — a concern that can’t be blamed solely on the pandemic,” _Carr said._ “Our nation is facing complex challenges in reading.” Alarmed by the drop in reading scores, a high school teacher named Amber, who goes by @Amber.Maree44 on TikTok, is considering telling her students the grade level in which they read in hopes that it will motivate them and give them a reality check on their performance. > @amber.mariee44 > > Please give your feedback I can’t tell if this is a good idea or not #teacher #teachersbelike #teachertok #teacherlife #teachersoftiktok #highschool #literacy “I'm starting to think that we need to be more straightforward with students about their progress and where they're at academically,” Amber said. "I think they need to know what grade level they're performing at." Amber’s perspective may also be helpful to parents. A _2023 study_ revealed a significant gap between parents' perceptions of their child's performance and their actual standing compared to grade-level standards. Nearly nine out of ten parents thought their child was at grade level, while about half were below grade level nationally. “I'm hesitant to do this because I know that we don't want students to feel bad about themselves, and I know that we don't want to discourage students by showing them their deficits. So I think, for a lot of students, having a real reality check like that where it's like, 'Hey, you're in high school. But it looks like you're reading at a fifth-grade level,' I think some students need that in order to push themselves to actually try in school," she continued. A teacher helping a student.Canva/Photos Amber’s suggestion runs counter to some in education who believe that if children are told they are below grade level, it will _discourage them from reading_. Students may not challenge themselves by attempting to read above their level, or they may become discouraged. This may further deter their progress, and it is far from an imperfect process to determine where a child is with their reading skills. "To the people saying 'oh but only tell the parents' no, the kid needs to know. The parents can't read for them, or do the work for them. also some parents don't care, or don't get it," one person wrote in the comments. "I’m a teacher. I did this for years, and I would tell my students iif you aren’t at a level you’re proud of, I want you to know it’s NOT your fault. But if you choose not to fix it, it will be,'” another added. Reading can be a challenge for many students.Canva/Photos Amber believes that a big reason why 54% of adults cannot read at a fifth-grade level is that no one told them, so they don’t know they need help improving their reading skills. To combat the literacy crisis, Amber was considering having her students take an online literacy test to determine their grade level; she doesn’t need to know the results because she already knows where they are from previous tests. Then, so no student feels singled out, she can have a dialogue with her students who have fallen behind about how they can improve their skills. This approach strikes a happy medium, allowing students to learn where they are without shame from their teacher, while also providing them with options to enhance their skills. _This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated._

The English language is bizarre, littered with inconsistent rules, surprising pronunciations and subtle quirks in phrasing that we often overlook. With that in mind, what is "is is"? For starters, it’s a pretty common grammatical pet peeve. Beyond that, it’s also a strange repetition that you might find yourself saying out loud even though you’d never write it. Before we go any further, let’s give some examples. You might encounter "is is" in sentences like "The problem is, is that we don’t have time for dinner" or "My point is, is that rock music is best experienced on headphones." You might read both of those sentences and think, "I’d never say that." But read them out loud, using those commas for intentional pauses, and the concept should crystalize. (Next time you listen to your favorite podcast, keep this front of mind—it might now become _your_ pet peeve. You’re welcome.) > @wordsatwork > > When it comes to English grammar, the weird thing is is that we can use "is" two times in a row - but how? And why? Let's talk about it! #language #linguistics #english #grammar #learnontiktok #education #fyp ## You might call it the "is-is hiccup" This isn’t just the stuff of online griping—linguists do have technical names for it. One common term is a "double copula," and an excellent article from the website _GrammarBook.com_ uses the way catchier and more accessible "is-is hiccup." "Often these are statements made by sophisticated and qualified spokespersons," their author writes, distinguishing between real examples of this verbal flub ("The fact of the matter is, is that…") and others that are clunky and unorthodox but are technically correct ("A] comedian from North Carolina named Andy Griffith once made America laugh with ['What It Was, Was Football,' his monologue about college football from a country boy’s perspective.") So, why do we do this anyway? In 2013, __Slate__'s Alyssa Pelish spoke to linguists and presented an educated guess. At one point, they ask readers to consider the following sentence as spoken out loud: "The thing is we are all out of pickles." They explain, "If the speaker places a definite stress on _is,_ the rest of the sentence is likely to be followed by a pause, no? Linguists like Patrick McConvell at Australian National University and Laura Michaelis-Cummings at the University of Colorado have found that the stressed _is_ , coupled with the break immediately after, sounds awkward to speakers’ ears, since it’s unlike the general patterns that stresses and pauses typically follow in English." The resulting "is is," according to Michaelis-Cummings, is something of a "workaround." Teachers explain grammatical rules. Photo credit: Canva, Pressmaster (left, cropped) / pixelshot (right, cropped) ## If you say "is is," you probably have good intentions In other words, you’re probably using "is is" for the sake of clarity—even if some find it annoying. Speaking of which: One user created a thread about this topic in the r/grammar subreddit, and multiple people replied by theorizing about the concept. "The unnecessary 'is' comes from the fact that people often don't speak grammatically, but often speak in sentence fragments, especially when they're still figuring out what they want to say," one Redditor suggested. "I used to have to transcribe recordings of conversations, and it really struck me just how much people tend to stammer, use filler words, or change tacks in mid-sentence." Others chimed in while also playfully using "is is." This comment wins the thread: "What the meaning of 'is is' is is not so clear." In response to one breakdown, someone replied, "This is very clear and actually helpful," highlighting the key difference between the written and spoken word. (But as another person noted, some examples in the thread are grammatically correct, and others aren’t. Confusing stuff!) In summary: The thing is, is that words are weird. - YouTube www.youtube.com

It seems that the higher up you ascend in your career, the more you grow to love a good business catchphrase, buzzword, or idiom. Working in an office will have you saying things like "let's kick this off," "let's circle back on this," and "let's not boil the ocean here" in no time. Idioms, while they can get annoying when overused (especially in the workplace), do serve a helpful purpose. They're a sort of fun shorthand, conveying a lot of meaning in a few words. While idioms act as analogies or metaphors that give more context to a situation, they also come with a lot of history: when you hear one, you remember all the times you've heard it before or even used it yourself. It instantly contextualizes what's going on and quickly helps us understand what someone may be communicating. ****However, run-of-the-mill workplace idioms have gotten a little stale, to the point that many of them have become meaningless cliches. We could all use some new ones, and luckily, folks on social media are chiming in with some ridiculous creations of their own.**** It all started when an X user named Tomie shared what would go on to become a hugely viral post: "I've started saying nonsense phrases at work like 'that's neither cheese nor cheddar' just to see my coworkers nod seriously like they understand." > — (@) Tomie added in another post, "Like woah there, pause the pineapples." ****The post received nearly 2 million views and hundreds of comments on X. Soon, it made its way to the professional crowd on LinkedIn, where people began building on Tomie's original suggestions.**** Daniel Berk added a few of his own: "Let's not microwave the lasagna on this one." "We might be polishing the doorknob instead of opening the door." "This feels like we're alphabetizing water." "Let's not put racing stripes on a parked car." "That's a lot of garnish for no entrée." "We're measuring the shadow, not the object." Noah Latner chimed in with: "Let's not settle in before we buy the house." "That lollipop isn't worth the lick." "You've got to put the patty on the grill before it sizzles." "This banana's got no peel to it." "Don't juice a pickle and tell me it's matcha." Sally Thomas writes, "One of my finest achievements was in a previous company where the manager was full of buzzwords. I got him to adopt 'It depends how you fold your napkin' as a favourite saying." Jennifer Connelly suggested: "Let's sauce these nugs later!" Cameron Gibbons said, "I'm not sure where it started, but one exec at Google said 'let's double click into that' and it spread like wildfire through the org." "That banana's got no peel to it." Giphy Liora Kern cooked up a few idioms that paid homage to different languages and cultures: "Dutch version: 1. That's a lot of hagelslag on a very thin slice of bread. 2. It's a three bicycles beat one car type of thing. Belgian version: 1. We're agreeing on the fries because agreeing on the sauces is harder. 2. We're arguing over the glass instead of the beer." "We’re arguing over the glass instead of the beer." Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash ****Here are a few more from the creative minds on X:**** "The last nail is the rustiest one." "Two claps and the goat's up the hill" "Let's toss this idea into the piranha bin." "I'm pulling the porcupine here." "This is all bags and boxes." "The proof is in the parmesan." "There's a rock behind every bush." "There's more to being a dog than sleeping under the porch." ****The funniest part about these made-up, nonsense idioms is that they kind of make sense.**** Some of the idioms brainstormed by random commenters are variations of existing catchphrases, or combinations of multiple different ones ("It's not exactly rocket surgery."). But many are complete gibberish, and yet our brains still seek out and manage to find some semblance of meaning in them. YouTube English teacher Aly says that "corporate English" is like its own language. Speaking the secret code with confidence, and pretending to understand it even when you don't, are key to success. In fact, one recent study found that more than half of employees regularly "pretend" to be working. So if you've ever felt self-conscious because you were in over your head at work or didn't know what the higher-ups were talking about, rest assured there's a good chance they were faking it, too. - YouTube www.youtube.com One commenter on Tomie's original post summed it up perfectly: "Office culture accepts nonsense when said confidently and calmly." Another added, "The only way to survive corporate America is to understand its 90% make believe." Delivering a totally made-up, nonsense business idiom with full confidence is one sure way to make people perk up and take notice of how brilliant you are.

If you lived through the '90s and early aughts and happened to watch _The Montel Williams Show_ or _Larry King Live_ , you probably remember their "resident psychic," Sylvia Browne. With her flaxen blonde hair and very short bangs, Browne claimed to be a medium for "angels" and purported to be clairvoyant when audience members asked her questions. Of course, it wasn't just Millennials watching. Many members of previous generations would, often secretly, enjoy her segments with abandon like a sci-fi zombie B-movie. It wasn't until we had a little hindsight that we could measure her extremely confident-sounding statements and understand that...many of them simply were not true. Near the end of last year, people who grew up in this era began making compilations of some of Browne's most outrageous, inappropriate, and often laughably wrong predictions. The trend went so incredibly viral that it has picked up steam again, and these clips continue making the rounds. > See on Instagram In one montage of clips, we see person after person bravely stand up and ask Sylvia questions. Often they'll ask about someone who has gone missing. Browne's answers are curt and to the point. "He drowned" seems to be a big one. To one woman who asked about her father, Sylvia matter-of-factly states, "He's alive. He's in Florida." A common question Montel often asked after Browne's declarations was, "Does that make sense?" Usually the answer was, "No, but thank you," as the audience member gingerly took their seat. The best part of watching these clips continue to go viral is the communal joy it's bringing to the comment sections (not to mention the nostalgia and the jokes). One person writes that their life schedule was dependent on whether or not Browne was booked as a guest that day. "If Sylvia was on, I'd skip school." Amanda Seyfried in a scene from the movie Mean Girls. Giphy, Paramount Pictures This person jokes after seeing the woman who was told her father has been in Florida for decades: "Her dad in Florida watching this: Darn it!" Another acknowledges Browne's go-to answer. "Sylvia, I forgot my middle name…." "It drowned." "Okay, thank you." And here's another spin on it: "5 years ago my father went missing while climbing Mount Everest I was wonde....." "He drowned in the Titanic." "Thank you." Over on Threads, @Robbylernan posted quite a few Browne clips, claiming, "I went down a Sylvia Browne rabbit hole last night and I laughed my a-- off for an hour." > See on Instagram One person on the thread reminisces about their favorite Browne moment: "The best one was when she told that reporter that the girl in the picture was kidnapped and dead and the reporter said, 'That picture is me.' And she looked at the woman and said, 'You weren't kidnapped?' BRUHHH." Note: Her predictions weren't all completely wrong. In fact, _The Daily Mail_ recently shared a Browne prediction that went viral during the COVID-19 pandemic. Browne reportedly stated, "In around 2020, a severe pneumonia-like illness will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments." That said, skeptics debunked her claims for years. In a piece for _TV Insider_ , freelance entertainment Martin Holmes reminds readers of the time "Browne told Louwanna Miller her missing daughter, Amanda Berry, was 'not alive,' explaining to the distraught mother, 'Your daughter's not the kind who wouldn't call.'" Holmes adds, "Berry was found alive in 2013 after she escaped years of captivity." In 2010, _Skeptical Inquirer Magazine_ noted, "Despite her repeated claims to be more than 85 percent correct," a study reported that "Browne has not even been mostly correct in a single case." Wrong or right, it's the wrongness that seems to bring the most delight to those who are dipping into the nostalgia. Even _Saturday Night Live_ got in on the fun. Amy Poehler spoofs Sylvia Browne on SNL. www.youtube.com, Saturday Night Live, NBC Universal

Xennials are the micro-generation that nobody knows what to do with. Sometimes they're considered Gen X; other times, elder Millennials. Members of the micro-generation are also confused about where they belong. They're way too young and optimistic to be Gen X, but way too jaded and blunt to be Millennials. If you're part of this micro-generation, chances are you've felt like you belong to both generations. Author Kristen Shelt explains that Xennials occupy a "hinge" position between two generations, allowing them to hold two timelines at once. It's not just the fact that Xennials are a micro-generation that gives them this ability; there are several micro-generations. What makes this micro-generation unique is the time frame in which its members were born: between 1977 and 1983. Joyful moments shared over a vintage phone call.Photo credit: Canva Shelt shares in a TikTok video: "Xennials had a fully analog childhood. You rode your bike until the streetlights came on. You answered the phone without knowing who was calling. You waited a week for new episodes. You were raised in a world where boredom still existed, and then right as you entered adulthood, the digital world detonated. Email, cell phones, early internet culture, social media in its Wild West era. You went from zero connectivity to full immersion almost overnight." The author goes on to explain that the split timeline in which Xennials came of age created a "very specific internal architecture." According to Shelt, this gives Xennials the independence and cynicism of Gen X, while also giving them the reform-minded energy and emotional intelligence of Millennials. Retro computer setup in a vintage tech room.Photo credit: Canva Shelt explains: "You know how to detach when necessary, but you also know how to name your feelings without imploding. You can fix a printer and cry in therapy in the same afternoon, and that's the Xennial frequency. Your field is interesting because you grew up in a world that taught you survival, and you came of age in a world that demanded self-reflection, so you learned how to run two operating systems at once. Don't depend on anyone and build community, or you'll drown. Two very contradictory types of realities." This split causes Xennials to feel out of place and may also help explain why researchers don't have a neat generational box for the micro-generation. Shelt says this constant in-between state is Xennials' greatest strength: "Xennials understand both collapse and creation. You watched the old systems crack, and you stepped into adulthood just as the pressure to fix them began. You carry X realism and Millennial idealism simultaneously. This makes you natural translators for the moment we're living in." > @kristen1942 Xennials hold two timelines #xennials #fyp #millennial #genx #genz ♬ original sound - Kristen While some people disagree about the micro-generation's name and the pronunciation of Xennial, several TikTok commenters weighed in on how the world shifted as they entered adulthood: "'Older than your peers but younger than your responsibilities' is so spot on. 82 here and at 43 my age still shocks me, in my head I'm younger. But yet I'm everyone's tech support both older and younger around me. I can write in cursive, type proficiently and write code. I also still feel like I'm trying to teach empathy and consideration to both my boomer parents and my Gen alpha kids. We have no real guidebook on parenting as well, because many of us are trying to break the mold but when you're raise in authoritative ways, it's hard to go against all you know. You are right though - I've always felt out of place." "Many of us were also in high school when Columbine happened. (Class of '99) I watched the whole thing unfold on a TV my teacher wheeled into our classroom. We were the last generation to go to school without being afraid of a mass shooting, and then the first to experience that fear." Focused work session at the laptop.Photo credit: Canva "Witnessed the Challenger explosion in school n 9/11 as we entered adulthood. Owned a cassette Walkman, CD discman, MP3 player, iPods, n now smartphones. Played Oregon trail n had AOL account. Rode our bikes til the street lights came on n now doom scrolling." "Born in 77. This is accurate because in both my personal and professional life I have come to be known as the person that can handle conflict most effectively. And this is because my x characteristics make me understand accountability and my millennial characteristics make me able to communicate it in a kind, empathetic way."

No matter how often we encounter them, people often overlook the "people in our neighborhood," as Mister Rogers would call them. Their presence is so common that we don't always notice them until they're gone for a day or two. These are people like school bus drivers, sanitation workers, delivery drivers, and postal workers. Of course, people know they exist and that they do a job, but because their presence is in the background of daily life, we may not give their jobs much thought. There's the thought that "someone has to do it" when it comes to the service they provide, but sometimes that "someone" is you. Or at least it could be you, especially after hearing how much one of those jobs pays. It's a common misconception that work like sanitation or postal service is menial and low-paying, but the truth is that this essential work can be quite lucrative in the right circumstances. ## A U.S.P.S. mailman shared his paycheck on social media to help recruit more mail carriers. The post office continues to have a shortage of mail carriers in certain areas, especially in rural settings. This shortage causes delays in receiving mail and longer hours for current mail carriers. While the post office has been working to fill gaps by increasing hiring, it still isn't enough, given the large number of USPS workers nearing retirement. It seems to be a constant struggle to keep an adequate number of mail carriers throughout the areas that need them most. The pay is good and you get to drive this sweet truck around!Photo by Joel Moysuh on Unsplash One barrier to people applying to the Postal Service may be that they don't realize the Postal Service is hiring, since some people may see mail carriers as background characters. **Another concern may be whether people can earn a livable wage working for the post office, butLukas' video can help fill in the blanks.** In response to viewers who don't believe he actually makes six figures, the Missouri mailman and TikTok creator shares a screenshot of his paycheck showing he brings home $4,423.09 every other week, which averages out to just over $100K a year. Being fully transparent, Lukas shares that his paycheck includes 23 hours of overtime because he has to work extra hours due to being short-staffed. ## How much do U.S. postal workers make? "On one of my previous videos, somebody said, 'prove it' on one of my checks, so here's one of my last checks. As you can see, the overtime hours, plus my normal pay all equals up to $4,423...so, and that's for two weeks of work. I'm working too much, but if you were to multiply that by 26 weeks, that's over $100,000. We need help, and the post office pays well," he says. Lukas repeatedly states in his video that the post office is hiring and needs help desperately, but comments were mixed on whether working at the post office was a good move. > @lukasthegiant > > We're Hiring and Yes, We Pay Well. In some cases, over 100k!#greenscreen #werehiring #paidwell #tallestmailman #needhelp #getpaid #100k #usps #apply "I mean he’s technically making 25.00 hourly and $38 for each hour of OT. You’re forgetting the minimum wage in majority of states is 7.25," one person writes. "Post office is recession-proof. Been there 30 years," another commenter shares. Someone else chimes in, "been working at the post office for 5 years just made regular. it is not easy when you start but once you know how to do it it's a BREEZE." Three USPS boxes. via Canva/Photos A former postal worker reveals, "I worked there 6 years and had no life. Worked 12 + hrs for 7 days a week. I wasted most of my 20s working. NO THANK YOU!!!!, before adding. "When I started years ago it was $15 an hr when I left it was $25." To be fair, while Lukas is doing well for himself (and working quite hard for the money), many mail carrier shortages are partly due to wages that don't cover the cost of living in certain areas. So there's definitely room for improvement, and the American Postal Workers Union is fighting for higher pay and better hours all the time. ## What's the average USPS mail carrier salary? According to Glassdoor, the median pay for a USPS mail carrier is $66,000 a year, with an average range of $55,000 to $81,000, and that's before overtime. In addition, they receive generous benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; long-term care insurance; a retirement package; up to 15 days of leave; and 11 Postal Service holidays. The post office seems to be much like any other job. Some people have a great experience working there, while others do not, but if someone is looking for a chance at a new career with retirement benefits, USPS could be a place to land. _This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated._

One of the toughest things about being a parent has to be helping your child discover and nurture their talents. You seek to encourage them to try new things without overwhelming them. You want them busy with lots of enriching activities but not so busy they don't have time to just be a kid. And when you do stumble on something they have a knack for, you tread lightly, wanting to give them every opportunity to pursue it without pushing too hard. It's a really tricky balance to get right. Maybe that's why we're so fascinated with child prodigies, or even just talented kids whose parents have done a bang-up job of giving them the space and encouragement to explore their creativity. Joseph, a dad from Dublin, Ireland says he started drawing and painting in the evenings about a year ago to help him unwind from work. It's a great idea, because adult coloring has been shown to have a ton of positive mental health effects. Plus, it's fun! But one unintended and adorable side effect of Joseph's coloring was that his young son, Philip, decided he wanted to emulate him. Philip had always loved coloring but, Joseph says, "I had to get him some pastels, and he started trying on the same drawings as I did," Joseph says. "I found it absolutely adorable when he was seriously repeating the same movements as me: cleaning the tips of the pastels, blend the edges of colors, etc." One thing quickly became apparent: Philip was much, much better than his old man. **Last year, he made a painting that was so good he couldn't resist sharing it onReddit. Within two days, it generated over 100,000 views and 3000 likes."** The overwhelming response? _"Uh, 5-year-olds can't do that."_ Have a look and see for yourself. Not bad, eh? Philip painted this blue mountain lake piece with help from a YouTube tutorial. bruncvik/reddit The first piece Philip shared is wildly impressive. Some commenters couldn't believe that a 5-year-old could have made it, but I think you can see it pretty clearly. It has just enough childlike crudeness, but the stylistic flair is just off the charts, from the whispy sky to the slightly foreboding trees. Redditors agreed that it was incredible. "Thats better than I can do now at 25," one Reddit user wrote. Others questioned whether the boy might be related to Bob Ross. "I told [Philip] about it, and I guess that was his first big dopamine hit," Joseph says of going viral. "Since then, he is asking to draw more often, and there's often an intrinsic reward for him. One painting got submitted to a charity auction at his school ... I don't pressure him to draw; he's coming to me to ask whether he can use my pastels" One critical part of the story is that Philip often follows along with YouTube videos that his dad finds for him. Lest you think this should diminish how impressive the painting is, quite the contrary. As someone with an almost-5-year-old of my own, I've seen the kind of stuff kids this age are capable of drawing — and it's not this! No matter how much instruction they have. The structured YouTube videos were able to unlock Philip's natural talent and guide him in a way that his dad never could. **Here's the finished painting he was following along with. Honestly? I like Philip's better! It has a lot more personality.** ** ** Here's what the painting was "supposed" to look like. She'z ART/YouTube ## The response to Philip's first painting was so positive that his dad decided to post another piece. You gotta give the people what they want! ********I love this one, too. The youngster's talent is on display again, with an excellent color palette and aggressive strokes giving it life. Remember — the kid is five years old! Five! Usually they can barely muster a convincing stick figure.**** **** **** I love this haunting purple and orange piece Philip painted! bruncvik/reddit **And again, here's the model painting from YouTube. Joseph said his own versions of these paint-alongs come out looking a lot like the example, but that his son has an incredible way of making them his own.** As you might expect from a 5-year-old, the brush strokes are a little more crude and dramatic — but they're purposeful, as well! Philip's renditions have a lot of energy and seem to leap off the page. But what do I know? I'm no art critic. However, the huge social media response definitely shows that Philip is onto something here. A YouTube tutorial of a sunset river helped Philip learn to paint the scene. She'z ART/YouTube **Philip's dad gives a lot of thought to the right way to nurture his son's talent without pushing too hard and snuffing it out.** "He attended an afterschool art club, where they experimented with different media, but he found it too restrictive. He is still bringing home new art at least twice per week, but it's something he does on his own," dad says, not sure if pushing his son into formal art instruction is the right thing to do. **Experts say that pushing too hard when your kid shows a flair for something, especially regarding longterm goals (like going to art school or becoming a professional artist one day), canbackfire big time and make them feel overwhelmed and resentful.** Believe it or not, the process of nurturing and teaching starts super early. Art teachers and experts agree that how you react to something as simple as your toddler's nonsensical scribbles can have a big impact on their self-esteem and enjoyment of making art. > @susanstrikeryoungatart > > Scribbles provide an important opportunity to talk to your toddler, provide vocabulary, and promote literacy! #reading #readiness #scribbles #Vocabulary #todddler #art #kidsart #childrensart #childrenspainting #goodartprojects #teachingontiktok #criticalthinking #fypシ #fypage #teachingart #artlessons **Heidi Hass Gable, a former gifted child, says in a TedX talk that prodigies and brilliantly talented children can be extremely sensitive.** They often have to suppress their talents in a desire to fit in with all the other kids. That makes raising them and nurturing that talent a delicate high-wire act. Experts recommend making sure gifted kids get lots of downtime and to not place too much emphasis on achievements like grades, awards, contest wins, etc. Praise the hard work and the process but try to help them avoid attaching their self-worth to external validation. - YouTube www.youtube.com Joseph finds lots of subtle ways to encourage his son's interest. "One thing I do with him, though, is to talk about painting when we are out and about. Last weekend, we went to watch the sunset, and I asked him what colors he'd use for the clouds. ... Philip is just as obsessed with different shades (his current favorite word is 'vermilion' and his favorite color is 'turquoise'), and how they mix." Being the parent of a talented or gifted kid is no easy job. There are a lot of pitfalls and plenty of ways to bungle your attempts to nurture that talent. As impressive as Philip's artwork is, especially for his age, the thoughtful parenting on display in this story is just as awesome. _This article originally appeared in January. It has been updated._

Question: If the average American eats 8 pounds of strawberries a year, and an average strawberry farm yields approximately 20,000 pounds of berries per acre, how many people could a 200-acre strawberry field yielding 4 million pounds of strawberries feed? Don't worry, you don't have to do the math. The answer is 500,000 people. But what if that same 4-million-pound crop, providing enough strawberries for _half a million_ people, could be grown on just _one_ acre instead of 200? It's possible. You just have to go—or rather grow—up, up, up. Indoor vertical farm company Plenty Unlimited knows a lot about growing up. In fact, it's their entire business model. Instead of the sprawling fields that traditional farming methods require, "vertical farms" have a much smaller land footprint, utilizing proprietary towers for growing. Plenty has used vertical farming methods to grow greens such as lettuce, kale, spinach and more for years, but now it boasts a vertical berry farm that can yield a whopping 4 million pounds of strawberries on a little less than an acre. > See on Instagram Growing indoors means not being at the mercy of weather or climate unpredictability (barring a storm taking out your building), which is wise in the era of climate change. Unlike a traditional greenhouse, which still uses the sun for light, Plenty's indoor vertical farms make use of the latest technology and research on light, pinpointing the wavelengths plants need from the sun to thrive and recreating them with LED lights. Plenty farms also don't use soil, as what plants really need are water and nutrients, which can be provided without soil (and with a lot less water than soil requires). Being able to carefully control water and nutrients means you can more easily control the size, taste and uniformity of the berries you’re growing. If that sounds like a lot of control, it is, and that idea might freak people out. But when a highly controlled environment means not having to use pesticides and using up to 90% less water than traditional farming, it starts to sound like a solid, sustainable farming innovation. > See on Instagram Plenty even uses AI in its strawberry farm, according to its website: “Every element of the Plenty Richmond Farm–including temperature, light and humidity–is precisely controlled through proprietary software to create the perfect environment for the strawberry plants to thrive. The farm uses AI to analyze more than 10 million data points each day across its 12 grow rooms, adapting each grow room’s environment to the evolving needs of the plants – creating the perfect environment for Driscoll’s proprietary plants to thrive and optimizing the strawberries’ flavor, texture and size.” Plenty even has its own patent-pending method of pollinating the strawberry flowers that doesn’t require bees. Just the fact that this enormous crop of strawberries will be coming from Virginia is notable, since the vast majority of strawberries in the U.S. are grown in California. Traditional strawberry farming takes up a lot of land.Photo credit: Canva Is Plenty’s model the farm of the future? Perhaps it’s one option, at least — though there are major questions about whether the vertical farming method is truly economically sustainable in the long run. Though Plenty had been growing diverse crops, the company completed a chapter 11 reorganization in the spring of 2025, narrowing the focus of its vertical farming model to strawberries. “This emergence is the start of a new, focused era for Plenty,” said Dan Malech, Plenty’s Interim CEO. “Our technology has the power to make fresh food accessible to everyone. To accelerate our impact, we are laser focused on strawberries. We’re expanding the growing capacity in the Plenty Richmond farm and pursuing opportunities to bring Plenty’s vertical strawberry farming technology to new locations through farm sales – something Plenty is uniquely positioned to offer based on its proprietary technology.” Strawberries are a wildly popular fruit. Giphy Plenty is not the only vertical farm company out there, which is great. The more we grapple with the impact of climate change and outdated, unsustainable farming practices, the more innovative ideas we’ll need to feed the masses. If they can get four million pounds of strawberries out of an acre of land, what else is possible? _This article originally appeared in February. It has been updated._ _ _

One of the fun things about traveling to different countries is that you not only get to learn about other cultures, but you also learn some things about your own. Americans who travel abroad often learn that people around the world appreciate them for being open, friendly, and good at spreading hope and optimism. On the other hand, people in other countries can often tell when an American is coming from a mile away because they speak loudly, whether indoors or outdoors. Americans also have a very peculiar body language and are known to lean on things when they have to stand for an extended period. A Reddit user posed a question in the AskReddit subforum to learn more about how Americans stand out abroad: What's an "obvious" sign that someone is American? The post received more than 35,000 responses, with an overwhelming number of commenters noting that Americans are all smiles and love to make small talk, something most people appreciate. ## According to Redditors, here are 15 "obvious" signs that someone is American: ## 1. They have a unique confidence _"An Italian told me that Americans walk confidently in the wrong direction."_ _"Been taught to walk fast, and look worried.. People think you know what you're doing."_ ## 2. They're friendly _"I worked as a cashier in a tourist place in Paris, I always recognised Americans because they were kinda friendly to me and they always left tips."_ _"I guess there are worse things than friendly and generous."_ ## 3. Time = distance _"If someone asks how far away something is, an American will tell how you long it takes to get there as opposed to a physical distance."_ _"It actually pisses off some Americans to give a distance in miles, unless they're calculating gas mileage. In some places, you have to give with and without traffic options. I think it's more valuable info in time than in distance."_ ## 4. Grinning at strangers _"The gentle grins you give to strangers if you make eye contact with them as you pass by, at least in the Midwest. was not well received in Germany."_ _"I dated a European man here in the US. When we walked together, every time I made eye contact with someone on our path I would smile at them, and they would always smile back. Boyfriend was so confused at all these strangers smiling at me. Kept asking if I knew all these people. It was hilarious."_ ## 5. They like personal space _"How much personal space they give themselves. Americans like at LEAST an arm's length."_ _"We're conditioned to fill spaces evenly. I noticed when i worked delivery, spending lots of quality time on elevators that for every new person that enters, everybody shuffles to even things out. Similar thing plays out in social gatherings and bars. Not sure if that's universal or not, but I find it interesting. I think the size of our personal bubbles is because our spaces are generally much larger because we've got the space (heh) to build bigger buildings, sidewalks, roads etc. Might also explain why we're louder. Used to filling larger spaces with volume."_ Body language expert Joe Navarro says that among Americans, the social zone for acquaintances and casual interactions is four to 12 feet, while family and close friends stand 1.5 to four feet apart. The intimate zone, for those closest to us, ranges from the skin to about 18 inches. ## 6. They lean _"According to the CIA, when training to be a spy, you have to unlearn how to lean. Americans tend to lean on things when standing still."_ All of this is true, according to Jonna Mendez, the former chief of disguise at the CIA, who has shared some of her tips and tricks for making Americans seem more European. "So we would de-Americanize you," Mendez told NPR. "They think that we are slouchy, a little sloppy. And they think that they can almost see that in our demeanor on the street because they stand up straight. They don't lean on things." ## 7. They don't have an indoor voice _"I've lived in America for 25 years, and it still irritates me that instead of lowering their voices in restaurants so everyone can hear, Americans just scream over each other and make their restaurants as loud as clubs."_ _"For some reason, my otherwise smart and wonderful American friends will speak in the same volume, diction, and speed regardless of any outside factor unless specifically asked."_ ## 8. Dessert for breakfast _"In my homestay in London, I was told that I was 'so American' for enjoying a piece of cake for breakfast (not frosted cake, but like a nuts and dried fruit spiced coffeecake kind of thing). Apparently, that's exclusively for like a 4 pm snack, and breakfast is more of a savory meal."_ _"A lot of American breakfast items in my mind are desserts (pancakes, muffins, waffles, etc.). It doesn't mean I won't eat them, but it's kinda weird to do so."_ ## 9. They wear their clothes differently _"A British man once told me he knew I was American because I was wearing a baseball cap backwards."_ _"An Italian told me they could tell I was American because I wore my sunglasses on the top of my head when I wasn't using them."_ ## 10. Exposed soles _"While visiting Turkey, I was told that I looked American because I was sitting with one leg across the other, and the bottom of my shoe was exposed. Apparently, it's rude idk."_ _"In a lot of places outside of the US, showing the bottom of your shoe is rude."_ ## 11. Tactical gear _"Tactical sunglasses."_ _"I'm in the US, and virtually anything marketed towards men has the word 'tactical' in front of it."_ ## 12. They love small talk _"I'm from California (though a smallish town), and we wave to neighbors on our road, even if we haven't met, and start conversations in the grocery line with people if the opportunity presents itself. Also, smiling and saying hello to someone you happen to walk by and make eye contact with is quite normal. We are a social species, it would be so weird not to be friendly, even to strangers, for me, and I'm not even that social of a person."_ _"What really gets me to it is not that Americans do small talk constantly, but the fact that they are so good and fast at it. I mean, I say 'yeah, it's hot,' and they reply with some interesting fact or make a connection to their hometown. I feel less of myself after this. They must have some small talk class in school or some sh*t."_ ## 13. They like to point _"I've always observed my US friends like to point at stuff while walking and say what it is…. We were out walking around Amsterdam recently and they were like 'hey look it's a smoke shop'…. 'Oh look a sex shop'…. 'Oh hey, it's a prostitute' …. 'Look at the canal'…. 'Wow it's another prostitute'….. 'another canal' etc etc. It was like watching Netflix with Audio Descriptions turned on."_ _"You know that little voice inside your head, your internal monologue? Americans seem to monologue their thoughts."_ ## 14. Optimism and enthusiasm _"Dunno in all context, but Americans in Europe stand out with their ceaseless optimism and enthusiasm."_ _"I'm reminded a lot of Ted Lasso. Everyone I know (all Americans) loves the show. I wonder what kind of European fan base it has." _ _"Americans are so positive and have such a thirst for life. It sickens me."_ ## 15. They eat while walking _"When I lived in Europe, people said only Americans eat while walking. I'd be eating a bagel or something on the way to work or class, and multiple people asked if I was American lol."_ __"Jay Leno said on_ Top Gear,_I think it was, that Americans are also the only people who eat while driving._ I don't do this, but I constantly see people who do, haha, especially in LA, where people spend a lot of time in their cars."_

"What's for dinner?" has been asked by kids for millennia, probably, and the most common answers depend on both where and at what time in history it was asked. In ancient times, people were limited to what they could hunt or gather. Medieval recipes look different than what people ate in the 19th century. And what our grandparents ate when they were children was different from what our kids eat today. Obviously, people couldn't DoorDash Chipotle in the '70s, but when someone on Reddit asked people born before 1970 what they ate for dinner most weeks, there were some standard meals a lot of Americans clearly ate regularly growing up. Lots of meatloaf and beef stroganoff. Pork chops and chop suey. Convenient assistance from Shake n' Bake, Hamburger Helper and TV dinners. Canned fruits and veggies. So much Jell-O. > from AskOldPeople Here are some of the most popular responses: "Overcooked pork chop, minute rice, canned green beans, canned fruit cocktail Spaghetti with ground beef and sauce made from a packet (Durkee?) Pot roast (whatever cut of meat was on sale) cooked with Lipton onion soup mix. Frozen peas. Canned peaches. Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and canned green beans. Canned pears Shake n bake chicken and scalloped potatoes from a box. Canned fruit of some kind. On awesome days Chef Boyardee pizza mix from a box. I liked LaChoy chop suey. Always with a jug of milk on the table." Meatloaf was a staple dinner.Photo credit: Canva "So I think many of our moms went to the same home ec classes. Our house also had on rotation: Goulash: It wasn’t what I have come to understand is Hungarian Goulash, but ground beef/spices/tomatoes. Chicken Diane: Way overcooked chicken with rosemary, thyme and other seasonings. Meatloaf: Yes, ketchup on top. And the ever-present rice. Dad bought an aluminum rice cooker from his time in Japan and we had rice (he added soy sauce on top) 3x per week. The other side was baked potatoes. The big treat!!!??? Chef Boy Ar Dee pizza from a tube on Friday once per month. Mom had a round aluminum baking pan and make dough, spread the included sauce on the dough, add the Parmesan Cheese (in the included packet). That was the biggest treat - and in all honesty I would go back to that day cause I miss my mom. Best pizza ever." - YouTube www.youtube.com "Hamburger patty or braised round steak, green salad, canned vegetable (peas, beans, corn, beets). Occasionally a baked potato. Sometimes my mom would toss chicken in a flour/seasoning mix and bake it and we'd have oven fried chicken--maybe once every couple of weeks. We got beef from a cousin so it was cheap, and chicken was expensive. Mom also made spaghetti with ground beef, and beef stew with the tougher cuts of the cow. Oh--and liver--God how I hated liver night. We always had cheap grocery store 'ice milk' in the freezer for dessert." Spaghetti is still a classic.Photo credit: Canva "Sunday - Spaghetti/macaroni and homemade spaghetti sauce and a salad. Monday - Roast chicken, a side (potatoes, Rice-a-Roni), and a veg. Tuesday - Pork chops, a side (potatoes, Rice-a-Roni), and a veg. Wednesday - Spaghetti/macaroni and homemade spaghetti sauce and a salad. Thursday - Rump or sirloin steak, a side (potatoes, Rice-a-Roni), and a veg. Friday - breaded and fried fish (ugh--haddock, halibut, or cod if the latter was on sale), a side (potatoes, Rice-a-Roni), and a veg. Saturday - Rump or sirloin steak, a side (potatoes, Rice-a-Roni), and a veg. Dessert would be supermarket ice cream (carton, usually Neopolitan), Jello chocolate pudding, Table Talk pie (usually apple)." Why were pork chops so popular?Photo credit: Canva "Typical meals: stroganoff made with ground beef and egg noodles. Pot roast. Swiss steak. Chicken cacciatore. Fried chicken. This was in California, but my parents were from the Midwest so pretty meat-and-potatoes. There was always a side vegetable and a starch. Rarely bread or rolls. Occasionally salad but not always until the 1980s. No formal/planned dessert except for special occasions like birthdays and holidays, but sometimes there was ice cream in the freezer or there were cookies (store bought; my mom wasn't a baker). In the late 70s my mom loved Julia Child and started to be more adventurous with cooking; later she took Asian cooking classes too." "Beef stroganoff, fried bologna, weiners wrapped in bacon and then broiled, baked beans, (from scratch) liver. Jello 1-2-3 (so space age!) Bundt cake, canned fruit salad, canned pears, canned peaches." - YouTube www.youtube.com "When we had some money (early in the pay period): Spaghetti with sausages and homemade sauce Liver and onions Chop suey Spare ribs and sauerkraut Pork chops with mashed potatoes and gravy Beef stew Boeuf bourguignon Beef stroganoff When we were short on money: Spam & scrambled eggs Homemade macaroni & cheese Cold cereal That’s all I can think of right now. We very rarely ever had dessert and almost never ate out. We never had fast food, the only fast food chain in town was Burger King, and McDonald’s was a town away and only open about six months of the year." Here's to all the meals that nourished us in every era of our lives.