Author: Matt Gilligan

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Are You Secretly a Jerk? Use the Shopping Cart Theory to Learn the Answer.

If you have to ask yourself if you’re secretly a jerk, chances are that you’re not.

It’s kind of like how real sociopaths would never wonder if they were secretly sociopaths. Still, there are some definitive behaviors of mid-tier jerks.

One of the many tell-tale signs lies in what you do with your shopping cart after a trip to the grocery store.

Pro tip: whatever you do, don’t do this.

So, what do you do with your shopping cart after you’re done shopping?

Do you aimlessly leave it somewhere near where you’ve parked, or do you take the time to push it back to the cart holder? Be honest with yourself.

If you do the latter, good on you.

If you do the former, oops – you just might be an a**hole.

Rest assured, you’re not alone. Even coin incentives aren’t enough to motivate people anymore, these days.

Basically, the theory is rooted in Platonic notions of self-governance.

It’s a gauge of what we’re willing to do on our own so we can all exist peacefully in society. So, our behavior when nobody’s looking (or we at least think that nobody is) is a huge indicator for our own morality. That might seem like a lot of weight resting on just one shopping cart, but it’s a sign of a larger issue.

What do you do when you’re the only one responsible for your actions?

It’s the same idea behind littering and curbing your dog – or even replacing a roll of toilet paper. The shopping cart theory measures how much you’re thinking about other people when they’re not right in front of you. It’s essentially a movable range of how self-absorbed you might be, but it’s by no means a definitive guide.

What do you think of the shopping cart theory? Is it an accurate way of weeding out the jerks, or is it totally misguided?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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They Know All of Your Business, and More Secrets Wedding Planners Keep

Weddings are such a magical time for most people who are involved, and I’ve got to think that wedding planners do what they do because they love love, and there will always be people getting married.

If you’ve seen the movie The Wedding Planner (you have, right?), then you probably suspect that part of the job is “handling” tough members of the wedding party in order to help that big day go exactly right.

They’ve got more secrets than that, though, so read on to find out what they are!

9. The job is a minefield of divas.

Image Credit: Pexels

It’s not just the bride, either. Guests can come with odd requests, like needing a carseat for the bus ride to the reception, or the more general overbearing mother-in-law or a band who thinks they’re some kind of rock stars.

Whatever it takes to make the day all about the happy couple is what they do.

8. They don’t get to enjoy the party.

Image Credit: Pexels

If you think their “reward” for getting through the ceremony and the beginning of the reception is to kick off their shoes and dance with everyone else, you’re wrong.

They’re on high alert, watching for potential trouble until the cleanup crew arrives.

7. Bustles and sparklers are the worst part of their day.

Image Credit: Pexels

There are plenty of things that can blow up someone’s wedding day, but sparklers can actually, you know, blow up.

And wedding planners hand hundreds of them to drunk party guess for a big sendoff!

The other thing is the bustle – the wedding planner has the most experience with wedding dresses, and so they’re often called on to pin up the dress. Gulp!

6. Pinterest is their WebMD.

Image Credit: Pexels

If you tell your wedding planner that you’ve been working on a Pinterest inspo board for your wedding for half of your life, they’re going to cringe.

Some even charge a “pain in the a$s fee” if you want to DIY anything you’ve pinned.

5. Groomsmen can be ugh.

Image Credit: Pexels

There’s booze and there are dudebros for days – it shouldn’t surprise anyone that wedding planners deal with getting hit on by groomsmen on a regular basis.

4. Bridesmaids are a pain in their butt.

Image Credit: Pexels

Bridesmaids are jealous, or uninterested, or they drink too much or sneak off with a groomsmen…wedding planner spend a good portion of women’s big days tracking down the bridesmaids and shoving them back into line.

3. You can’t haggle them down.

Image Credit: Pexels

If you think they’re getting a great deal because they get to eat your cake and drink some champagne, think again.

They spend a LOT of hours planning behind a desk, and it’s not something they do “just for fun.”

It’s a job, pay their fee.

2. They know the bride and groom’s secrets.

Image Credit: Pexels

If the bride is secretly pregnant, the planner gets them special drinks. If someone is sick, they won’t tell.

It’s none of their business, but they might need to be informed to keep the day running as smoothly as possible.

1. And a few more, to boot.

Image Credit: Pexels

If anyone in the wedding party is hooking up, if the parents are going through a rocky divorce, if someone has a drinking problem – they see it all.

I don’t think this is the job for me, but it sure is interesting!

If you’re a wedding planner or know someone who is, weigh in on these secrets (or more!) in the comments!

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14 Stories With the Most Adorably Wholesome Endings

There are a few reasons that people get online – to be social, to read the terrible news, to see cats – and even though “inspiration” probably isn’t most people’s answer, that doesn’t stop us from loving sweet and wholesome stories.

If you’re in that kind of mood today, these 14 tales surely won’t disappoint.

14. Definitely a dad joke.

He got her, too.

My neighbor almost had my mom worried for his safety from UnexpectedlyWholesome

13. No questions asked.

It’s not personal. It’s just policy.

We have much to learn from UnexpectedlyWholesome

12. Bless his heart.

Even birds need a bit of help sometimes.

A man trying to dry the bird that is wet due to the downpour and is about to freeze from the cold .. with a hair dryer from UnexpectedlyWholesome

11. I obviously need to know what happened next.

Updates please!

Nice from UnexpectedlyWholesome

10. Second chances are worth giving.

Even if they don’t all turn out like this.

Image Credit: Twitter

9. She’s ok AND she has pie.

She’s double ok.

https://angelwarm.tumblr.com/post/176175531708/angelwarm-i-hope-that-one-day-i-will-finally-be

8. At his own expense.

When you’ve got a feeling, you’ve gotta go with it.

Image Credit: Reddit

7. Wholesome dads are the best dads.

Also co-sleeping is boss.

Unexpectedly wholesomeness in Ask Reddit ? from UnexpectedlyWholesome

6. Do what makes you happy.

All the time, no questions asked.

Image Credit: Twitter

5. And he’s always happy.

Weird, that.

4. Get yourself a friend like this.

Positive reinforcement only.

Made me smile from UnexpectedlyWholesome

3. Something else came, though.

A couple of things, I guess.

2. We all feel this way about our Mum’s cooking!

If she’s decent at it, I mean.

Anon loves his mother from UnexpectedlyWholesome

1. Dogs love helping.

Apparently that goes for wolves, too.

Awwwww this is absolute poggers from wholesome

More of these, please! In fact, if I could have ALL of these, that would be the best thing I can think of right now.

Tell us in the comments which one you liked the best!

Thanks, fam!

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A Molten Salt Reactor That Eats Nuclear Waste Might Be the Next Big Thing

Scientists are always looking for ways to do things that relate to the way we use energy better, faster, smarter, and better for the environment.

Molten salt reactors were invented in the 1950s, but since the Atomic Energy Commission (which became the Department of Energy) was committed to light water reactors – they were already used in the electric power industry and were powering the nuclear navy.

A few engineers and scientists kept quietly working on developing the molten salt reactors, though, even without government support, and two engineers – Carl Perez and Ed Pheil – founded Elysium Technologies USA.

Image Credit: Elysium Technologies

Now, they have an updated design for a Molten Chloride Salt Fast Reactor (MCSFR).

The reactor offers a number of upsides and benefits, like zero downtime to fuel (online), not needing a large water source nearby, using less electricity, and that it’s fueled by nuclear waste from other reactors and weapons.

The reactor is a potential source of hydrogen generation and doesn’t cost much to run and operate, creating safe and reliable energy with built-in failsafes like not needing an operator to shut it drown.

Image Credit: Elysium Technologies

The Elysium salt reactor stands out from its peers by requiring less safety infrastructure in general, due to its low operational pressure requirements and its components having a high technical readiness.

The fact that it burns up nuclear fuel from water reactors and weapons waste, transforming it into useful energy, is a great bonus, too.

Once it’s finished burning, only about 5% of the nuclear waste remains, and it’s less toxic for a shorter amount of time, too – it decays in around 300 years instead of 10,000, like the waste from conventional solid-fuel reactor waste.

Image Credit: Public Domain

Obviously, that’s great for the environment, too.

Elysium believes they can built these on both large and small scales, and with the world turning to nuclear power as a leading option to reduce carbon emissions and meet climate goals, this seems to be a no-brainer as the way to go.

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Well-Intentioned, Hilarious Attempts to Untangle the English Language

English is known as one of the toughest languages in the world to learn. There are rules, sure, but they’re kind of more like guidelines and they get regularly broken for really no reason at all.

It was spelled at random until nearly 1600, when some standardization was attempted, but it’s still enough of a mess to give anyone learning it as a second language complete breakdowns on a regular basis.

Which is why, I assume, some people have attempted to make common-sense changes over the years, only to be thwarted because obviously, human beings and change don’t mix – not even when it’s for our own good.

Here are 4 times people have (unsuccessfully) tried to make things a little bit less confusing.

4. Teddy Roosevelt insisted his government use “simplified spelling.”

Image Credit: Public Domain

Spelling reform had become something like trendy by the late 19th century – everyone from Brigham Young to Andrew Carnegie was throwing out suggestions on how to make English easier.

Carnegie thought that English wasn’t catching on with the rest of the world because of its inconsistent spellings, and thought his “Simplified Spelling Board” was the answer. It included a list of 300 revised words (‘rime’ and ‘kist’ instead of ‘rhyme’ and ‘kissed’), and got an unsuspected boost when President Teddy Roosevelt issued an executive order stating that the revised spellings be used in all federal government communications.

Roosevelt’s reason was practical, and came down to the almighty dollar. He believed extra and unnecessary letters were costing millions in printing overheads, which led to pushback from the printing industry, and a bunch of other people that were just too lazy to figure it out.

Across the world, people laughed but Roosevelt stuck to his guns, even delivering a State of the Union written with the revised spellings, many in the government flat-out ignored the order.

3. Benjamin Franklin had a problem with the letter ‘C.’

Image Credit: Public Domain

Cookie Monster would be appalled, but with an eye on a more phonetic alphabet, Franklin believed the letter ‘C’ should really take a hike.

Modern English allows for letters like C to be pronounced differently depending on context. If you read ‘Pacific Ocean,’ for example, you’re pronouncing the ‘C’ three different ways in a single phrase.

Franklin thought the C was unnecessary, given that we have other letters that already make all of those sounds – K and S, for example – and believed the letters J, Q, W, X, and Y were similarly superfluous.

He proposed 6 new letters to represent commonly used sounds like -ng and ‘sh,’ but honestly, no one was really interested.

2. Noah Webster, who created the Webster’s Dictionary, would have been on board, though.

Image Credit: Public Domain

Webster was also an advocate of spelling reform, and is remembered for launching a war on the letter ‘U’ – he’s why Americans drop the letter in words like ‘color’ and ‘rumor.’ The English added it to act sort of French, because we all know we have to act like we loathe the people we actually want to be the most like.

Webster, like Franklin, was a fan of phonetic spelling, and while it might make more sense to spell ‘soup’ ‘sooop’ and ‘tongue’ ‘tung,’ his efforts were also for naught.

His essay on the subject, published in 1790’s Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings, was barely legible, and he was basically mocked by the entire country.

I mean, we already learned one set of sh**ty spellings. No one is going to vote to relearn the entire thing.

1. George Bernard Shaw’s Shavian Alphabet

Image Credit: Fair Use

Playwright George Bernard Shaw was famously inspired by his passion for spelling reform, but in the end, he too was conquered by English’s absolute refusal to be smoothed out and squared up.

Because of the vastness of English, he struggled with consistency; he removed apostrophes only to realize he needed them sometimes when a word like ‘I’ll’ looked like ‘ill’ without one.

To fix the problem, Shaw chucked English entirely and imagined an entirely new writing system that embraced phonetic English complete. He died in 1950 and left the bulk of the work to a charitable estate – along with a hunk of cash.

The British Museum ended up with most of the money, but a guy called Kingsley Read got the rest, and set about coming up with a system of 48 “short”, “tall,” and “deep” letters that each corresponded with a unit of sound.

He had trouble with publicity, and again, the inherent laziness of human beings, who weren’t into the idea of finding something entirely new.

Maybe someday.

But probably not.

I guess we’re just going with English the way it is, huh? Colonel and everything?

What’s the most confusing part of English for you? Let’s commiserate in the comments!

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Memes That Will Make You Do a Double-Take

When you think of the word “optical illusion,” you might picture the familiar illustration of vases that turn into faces or the image of a duck that is actually a bunny, but we can find optical illusions in everyday photographs.

Fight those winter blues and maintain your sanity as you social distance by taking a good look (or two) at the optical illusions in these 17 memes deserving of a double take.

1. Off with her head!

Or maybe on with her jacket?

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

2. Stop, thief!

I know his arm isn’t that long but I can’t NOT see it that way.

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

3. This is what happens when cats play with weapons:

Do you see the hole?

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

4. I still haven’t figured this one out:

It’s like he’s staring right into my soul.

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

5. Booty booty booty booty rockin’ everywhere:

Pants are required ma’am.

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

6. It’s not what it looks like.

God as my witness.

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

7. I’m gonna rock and roll all night:

Play Cotton Eye Joe!

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

8. What am I missing here?

D*mn, that camo really works.

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

9. Quick, someone get this kid a snack:

OH phew, nvm, she already has one.

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

10. There’s a new super hero duo on the block:

Step aside Batman & Robin.

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

11. First look: T-Rex

Second look: what is that man doing and why? Is he on a roof?

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

12. You know what I heard?

Her owner’s husband is SO in the doghouse.

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

13. Talk about getting ahead:

One of the hottest new trends of 2021.

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

14. Don’t panic:

It’s not what it seems.

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

15. Which animal do you see?

A crow or…a cat?

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

16. I told you he was in the dog house.

Get your mind out of the gutter.

Image Credit: lotsacreamlotsasugar

Cool your jets. That’s an EAR.

But I bet it got you for a moment, huh?

#15 was the one that made me look twice. I am ashamed to say, I did NOT think those were her feet…

Which meme made you do a double take?

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A Student Humiliated Their Toxic Teacher in Epic Fashion

They say revenge is a dish best served cold, but some situations call for desperate measures.

This student in particular had their hands full with an especially toxic teacher.

We’ve all had at least one mentor who totally took advantage of their position of power… so, those of us who haven’t gotten that closure can live vicariously through this student’s epic payback.

Image Credit: Reddit

We start off with a classic story of favoritism and bias. Obviously, Cathy was the teacher’s pet of the entire school, while this student unfortunately sat at the bottom of the social ladder.

Image Credit: Reddit

What the central protagonist of our story here does seems innocuous enough, but to a mega-strict Catholic school where they’re already an easy target, they might as well have committed a cardinal sin.

Image Credit: Reddit

Now, that treatment is just pure evil. Luckily, this student had the perfect plan in mind to exact sweet revenge.

Image Credit: Reddit

You see where they’re going with this? But wait, there’s more.

Image Credit: Reddit

But sometimes, winning isn’t enough. Sometimes, you need a demolition job.

Image Credit: Reddit

I love how OP is really building up the tension here. Imagine the staggering number of books they’d read up to that point.

Image Credit: Reddit

Get ready to really embark on the hero’s journey here.

Image Credit: Reddit

This image alone solidifies this story as the ultimate tale of the underdog.

Image Credit: Reddit

Now that’s what I call dedication. Cathy better be shaking in her boots.

Image Credit: Reddit

This kid was a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode. Those condescending Catholic school teachers really unleashed an absolute beast.

Image Credit: Reddit

Sorry, Cathy and Mrs. Smith – you got totally decimated by the dark horse of the grade.

Image Credit: Reddit

Well, that truly scratched a bad vengeful itch that I’ve been harboring since the fifth grade. It’s great to see that this student actually managed to wreak havoc on the system that wronged them.

Have you ever taken revenge against a teacher who tormented you? Share your story with us in the comments!

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Enjoy These Stories With Unexpectedly Wholesome Plot Twists

There’s a reason that there is an entire subreddit dedicated to stories that are unexpectedly wholesome, and I think it’s that in the dirty swamp of the internet, people enjoy finding gems once in a while.

I mean sure, we all love a terrible story as much as the next person – it makes us feel better about our own lives, after all – but you can’t eat that as a steady diet.

If you’re ready to cleanse your palate, here are 16 stories that should give you the warm fuzzies inside and out.

16. All it takes is one person to see you.

Sometimes it takes more than that.

Wholesome story from UnexpectedlyWholesome

15. This is a cute idea.

But I wish he didn’t get full of plastic every day.

Goby saves the day from UnexpectedlyWholesome

14. Sometimes you gotta talk it out.

Best of luck to the sweethearts.

Straight as nails from SuddenlyGay

13. Boys are people, too.

Pass it on.

https://iamryanhenly.tumblr.com/post/155650771223/snazzy-lester-ok-so-there-was-this-post-talking

12. You are now, I guess.

I doubt anyone will complain.

11. I know it’s just a robot…

But this is how we’re probably going to be destroyed.

https://stickmanbrandon.tumblr.com/post/182796122055/this-morning-nasa-abandoned-their-mars-rover

10. Well that’s amazing.

Look at that smile!

Image Credit: Twitter

9. One word can say so much.

It can give someone hope.

8. When you’re secure in your masculinity.

Or scared.

Piggyback Sunset from MadeMeSmile

7. The genes are strong with this one.

I approve.

Found this unexpectedly wholesome response to an ask reddit post from UnexpectedlyWholesome

6. It was meant to be.

He was shooting his shot.

5. You gotta be a good dog owner.

There is no greater responsibility.

Image Credit: Bored Panda

4. Less fighting, more cake.

That should be the world’s slogan.

Image Credit: Reddit

3. Bless his heart.

That woman is raising a good boy.

How do I use a coffee press? from Coffee

2. The world needs more of these men.

And people in general.

True love from UnexpectedlyWholesome

1. And the internet swooned.

There was nothing left to do.

I’m going to get addicted to this subreddit, and not even feel bad about it!

Which one of these was your favorite? Confessions in the comments!

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Increase Your Health and Happiness With Biophilic Design

Do you ever wonder why people buy fresh cut flowers for their home? Have you noticed how cultivating potted plants has boomed in popularity since the start of the pandemic?

Interacting with nature makes us happier and healthier. But many of us spend the majority of our lives indoors, so it only makes sense that we would bring nature in along with us.

There’s a word for design dedicated to this practice. No, we’re not talking feng shui, we’re talking biophilic design.

Image Credit: iStock

The concept of biophilic design was introduced by E.O. Wilson, a renowned biologist and professor at Harvard, in his 1984 book Biophilia.

Biophilia means “love of life.”

Living Future describes biophilic design as “the practice of connecting people and nature within our built environments and communities.”

Image Credit: iStock

Constructing our homes and workspaces in a way that incorporates access to sunlight, plants, and views of the natural world isn’t just aesthetically pleasing. It’s better for our overall physical, emotional and mental well-being.

Studies show that interacting with nature is beneficial for human health, whether you’re taking a walk in the woods or feeding birds.

Image Credit: iStock

According to Terrapin Bright Green, by bringing nature into your home or work space, biophilic design can reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and enhance mood and creativity.

Healthier employees are happier employees, and happier employees are productive employees.

Image Credit: iStock

Biophilic design can also be incorporated at home.

One crucial element is sunlight. If you have windows in the home, open the blinds and pull back the curtains to let the sunshine in!

Remember to keep them clean and clear of obstructions.

Image Credit: iStock

Next, add some greenery: potted plants, hanging plants, herb gardens, the more the better. Fresh cut flowers work as well, and come with the added bonus of a pleasant aroma.

You can also incorporate Earth tones and patterns into your interior design, or hanging pictures of natural landscapes on the wall if you don’t have access to natural views.

Image Credit: iStock

You’d be surprised how the simple action of incorporating the elements of nature into your home or workplace can increase your quality of life.

Do you practice biophilic design? Let us know how in the comments!

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Treats From Your Childhood You Might Not Realize Were Discontinued

Nothing takes us back to our childhood like our favorite snacks. Memories are made while celebrating a win over Capri Sun and Otter Pops or trading Cheetos for Ho-Hos at lunch time.

But not all snack foods were made to stand the test of time. You might recognize these 12 treats from your childhood that have actually been discontinued.

1. The new and improved lollipop:

Maybe this one is better off staying in the past.

Image Credit: BuzzFeed

2. But these MUST be brought back:

The only Altoids worth eating.

3. How could they ever go?

Reeses in all shapes and sizes are unquestionably delicious.

Image Credit: BuzzFeed

4. RIP Orange Slice

Orange you grateful for all the memories we shared?

Image Credit: BuzzFeed

5. What an awful trick!

Talk about sLIMEy…

6. Quick, enjoy this Nesquik cereal!

Oops, too late, it’s discontinued.

Image Credit: BuzzFeed

7. This is almost cruel:

At first they seem like regular Skittles, but THEN…

Image Credit: BuzzFeed

8. Everything is better in 3D:

Top marks for crunch factor and mouth feel.

9. The perfect stocking stuffer:

Or spicy pick me up!

Image Credit: BuzzFeed

10. You’d BUTTER not forget:

The simple joy of Butterfinger BB’s.

Image Credit: BuzzFeed

11. We’ll leave this snack in the stone age:

Don’t worry, Flintstone vitamins will never go extinct.

Image Credit: BuzzFeed

12. Milk-sippin’ fun!

Whatever fruits your loops, man.

Image Credit: BuzzFeed

We’re sad to see them go, but we’re glad we got to enjoy these snacks while they were still around.

So maybe Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pops were never meant to be long for this world, but why on Earth were Reeses Peanut Butter Cup bites ever discontinued?! Who doesn’t want more peanut butter goodness per bite?

Do you have a favorite snack from your childhood? Tell us about it in the comments!

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