Author: Matt Gilligan

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These Service Dogs-In-Training Attended a Performance of “Billy Elliott” and Paid Adorable, Rapt Attention

In case you didn’t know, service dogs go through official good citizen training – the and training that allows them to best assist specific disabilities – but that they also typically spend time with foster families so they can learn how to behave in everyday social situations?

It’s true.

One of those everyday situations might be going to the theater – live, musical, or movie – with their trainer, so that if the person they’re paired with wants to take in a show of any kind, they’ll know exactly what to expect and how to behave.

And that’s how we got this theater full of pups, all quietly, cutely watching Billy Elliott.

The dogs are part of the K-9 Country Inn Service Dog program in Canada, and they were all very good dogs – every one observed proper theater behavior.

The pups attended a “relaxed performance” at the Stratford Festival theater, which means it’s a showing specifically for people who need more accessibility, accommodations, or reduced noise, lighting, or startling effects.

According to the Stratford  Festival website:

“Relaxed performances are specifically designed to welcome patrons who will benefit from a less restricted audience environment. Patrons of all abilities are welcome, including but not limited to those with intellectual or learning disabilities, sensory processing conditions or autism. There is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement within the auditorium, and some minor production changes may be made to reduce the intensity of light, sound and other potentially startling effects. Babes in arms are also welcome to our relaxed performances.”

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Thank you Stratford Festival @stratfest for welcoming us to Billy Elliot – The Musical! – It was a phenomenal show, all of our teams had a fantastic time. We greatly appreciate the assistance from the staff and local goodies for our service dogs from The Barkery! – Photo description: A group of handlers and their service dogs sit in front of the Stratford Theatre. They are all smiling at the camera. – #k9countryinnservicedogs#servicedog#assistancedog#firefighter#endthestigma#healing#ptsd#ptsdservicedog#ptsdrecovery#ptsdawareness #veteran #canadianarmedforces #ivegotyourback911#firstresponders#911dispatcher#posttraumaticstressdisorder#goldenretriever#billyelliot #mentalhealth #k9cisd #paramedic #medic #toronto #ems #labrador #standardpoodle #stratfordfestival #poodle

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What a great combination of events, all of which prove there are good humans (and pooches) out there with making the world accessible for everyone on their minds.

And, just for fun, Mark Hamill wins for best response on Twitter.

The force is definitely with him, and may it be with these pooches when they go on to take their permanent assignments!

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This Non-Profit Recycles the Soap from Hotels You Leave Behind When You Check out

Every time you check out of a hotel, you leave behind a mostly-unused bar of soap. It may even be untouched, if you’re the type of person who has strong soap preferences. So what happens to it?

The answer is pretty disappointing: hotels generally just throw the soap away for sanitary reasons. And all that soap adds up; about one million bars of soap are thrown out every day in the U.S., between travelers and hotels.

One traveler was unhappy to discover this wasteful practice, so he decided to do something about it. Shawn Seipler, a former tech employee who used to travel five months out of the year, thought that he could make better use of all those slivers of soap, so he started Clean The World. The Orlando-based company collects unwanted hotel soap, sanitizes it, melts it down, and redistributes it around the world.

Just last year, Clean The World made over 7 million bars of recycled soap, which were then donated to people in need. Thousands of children die from diseases that are preventable with basic hygiene — or, as Clean The World puts it, “Soap saves lives.” The organization also recycles shampoo, conditioner and body wash for homeless shelters around the world.

Clean The World partners with hotels for the modest price of 50 cents per room per month. There are operating centers in Orlando, Las Vegas, Montreal, India and Hong Kong.

“There’s a whole world of hotels out there we can get to start donating,” Shawn told Thrillist. “Right now we’ve got 20 percent of all hotels in the US. That’s a lot of room to grow, and a lot of soap to make.”

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Avoid These 10 Driving Mistakes to Keep from Getting a Ticket

There are the tons of ways to catch the attention of the police on the road – speeding, driving recklessly, having expired tags or broken lights – but did you know there are other driving behaviors that can shine a spotlight on your car, as far as cops are concerned?

There totally are, so if you’re looking to keep your driving record clean and your bank account fuller, you might want to think about following these 10 rules of the road.

10. Turning right on red.

Don’t assume that it’s always a legal maneuver because in some states it definitely isn’t.

“In some areas, such as New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Nebraska, Minnesota, and California, a traffic light might also feature a red right arrow,” points out one attorney.

9. Driving in the lefthand lane.

We all know (or we should) that the far left lane is meant to be a space for passing, not driving, but in many states it’s actually illegal to drive in the left lane when you’re not actively passing another car.

“Most drivers know that going above the posted speed limit is against the law, but not all drivers realize they can be ticketed even when driving at the posted speed limit – that is, if you’re in the left lane,” explains Jake McKenzie of Auto Accessories Garage.

If you live in Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and West Virginia, you especially want to take note.

8. Not yielding properly.

Some states, like Arizona, have specific rules when it comes to yielding – and because over 7400 crashes in 2017 were due to improper execution, they have good reason to enforce them, says attorney Chris Goodnow.

“Oftentimes, drivers have different levels of comfort for the flow of traffic they feel safe merging into.”

7. Cutting through the corner gas station.

It might be a clever time saver, but it’s illegal in most states, says traffic defense attorney Matt Pinsker.

“For starters, when persons cut through the gas stations they are often going at high speeds and might hit someone…it defeats the purpose of having a traffic light in that area at all.”

6. Not dimming your brights.

We all know we’re supposed to dim our high beams if another car approaches, but did you know it’s actually illegal to leave them on if you’re within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle?

Have been pulled over for this, can confirm.

5. Too much noise.

In 43 states, police can pull you over and ticket you for having a car that’s too loud. It’s illegal to have mufflers that make “excessive or unusual noise,” so whether your car is just old or you enjoy annoying everyone around you with a loud vehicle, beware.

Most states and municipalities also have noise ordinances on the books that cover blasting stereo music over a certain decibel, as well, and you can be fined for violating them.

4. Driving a lifted truck or SUV.

Whether you’ve had your truck or SUV lifted because you like the way it looks or you’re keen on off-roading, the trick could make your vehicle suspicious in the eyes of the police.

“Many people in lifted trucks or SUVs may be susceptible to a ticket and not realize a violation,” says Goodnow. “In many states when a truck is lifted, the lights must also be adjusted to point at a downward angle to avoid blinding the driver in front of them.”

Long and short, you’ll probably want to do plenty of research before installing that lift kit.

3. Tinting your windows.

“There are many modifications that may get a motorist pulled over in certain states,” notes personal injury lawyer Chris Goodnow.

This includes having window tint that’s too dark, but since laws vary from state to state, it can be difficult to make sure your shade is legal everywhere.

Best keep it light because better safe than sorry!

2. Taking a joyride.

If your friend has a cool old car that’s not totally road-worthy, it’s a good idea to let it set in the garage until it is – if you’re driving, you’re liable for any issues with the vehicle.

1. Crossing into the shoulder.

Defense attorney Derek Andrews wants to remind everyone that not only are you required to stay in your lane, you’re also required to stay within the confines of the road.

“New York vehicle and traffic laws require that drivers maneuver their vehicles entirely within a single lane…Police officers have been known to pull drivers over when their vehicles, even just a portion like a tire, crosses the fog line.”

 

The more you know!

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This Is Why Humidity Make Us Feel Hotter

The actual temperature outside is around 91 degrees as I write this, but the “heat index” is about 106 degrees – but what is it about the extra water in the air that makes it feel (absolutely, one-hundred-percent) unbearable outside?

Well, part of that reason can be explained by our bodies natural cooling system – sweating.

Sweat works to cool us by evaporating from our skin, which wicks away heat in the process, but when the air outside is too moist, the sweat drips of us instead of evaporating.

It leaves you just as smelly, but not nearly as cool.

The National Weather Service has a handy chart to help weather people determine the relative humidity (the amount of water the air can hold, based on temperature) and compute the “heat index,” too.

In 1979, Robert G. Steadman, an academic textile researcher, wrote a paper that laid out the basic factors that affect how hot a person felt under a given set of conditions, and the resulting chart is basically being used to calculate heat index today.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The research relies on the idea of a “typical” person – 5’7, 147 pounds, wearing long pants and a short-sleeved shirt, and walking over 3mph in the shade (enjoying a light breeze), so while it may vary slightly from person to person, probably not enough to make a huge difference on any given day.

The National Weather Service has a four-tiered system to tell people how dire the heat situation is out there, with days with a heat index over 130 classified as “extreme danger,” and “danger” days ranging from 105-130.

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Current perceived temperature: #romansigner #heatindex

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On those days, prolonged exposure to the heat and humidity can cause sunstroke, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, so you know. You probably want to stay inside.

I’ll be here on my couch, praying my air conditioner makes it through another six weeks of summer weather.

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These People Might Just Get Food Poisoning in the near Future

Having had actual food poisoning once in my life (through no fault of my own), I would say that it’s definitely something you want to avoid at all costs.

So maybe don’t try any of these things at home.

15. I love mayo but just stop.

14. Pregnant ladies rejoice?

13. A crime against pizza.

12. That poor sushi.

11. This person is undoubtedly from the midwest.

10. That’s not how any of this works.

Image Credit: Tumblr

9. What a waste!

8. I get needing a crunch, but…

7. Toddlers are unreliable.

6. Imagining this made me gag.

5. Why would you do that to an Oreo?

4. It’s plated like some sort of gourmet!

3. Ketchup is not for everything. #sayitwithme

2. Okay…but not together.

1. I’d rather just eat the guacamole with a spoon.

Some of those definitely made me throw up in my mouth. Ew!

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“Men Writing Women” Twitter Shares What Male Writers Actually Know About Women: Not Much

It’s a joke in the writing community that male writers manage to create the most cringe-worthy, impossible female (and sexual) moments – and now, there’s a Twitter account dedicated to giving shoutouts to the best (worst) of the bunch.

Buckle up, because these are amazingly too much.

15. I mean why not just get a dog?

14. Still trying to figure this one out.

13. I mean, who doesn’t?

12. At least he mentioned her face first?

11. Snoozer.

10. Her wheat-colored nest.

9. The breasts.

8. Nipple-weary.

7. I obviously need to get to know my boobs better.

6. Can you say “rape-y?”

5. Never you worry, ladies.

4. Skim alert.

3. A decent little pooper.

2. Is that supposed to be a good thing?

1. IDK I’d be reaching for the pepper spray.

I’m off to walk “boobily” to the kitchen for a cookie that will somehow never find its way to my waist!

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People Share Their Stories About Big Mistakes They Made

Listen up, y’all!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. And these 12 people made mistakes, but then realized it and the results were hilarious.

Best + Worst = Better Than Best

Sit back, relax, and let these hilarious mistakes roll!

1. YUM!

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

2. OH NOIZE!!!!

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

3. I approve this mistake!

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

4. Fan fic probs!

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

5. Uh ohhhhhh…

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

6. Roped in!

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

7. OMFG!

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

8. Hahaha… does Australia actually exist? Hmmmm?

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

9. Haha… wrong man, MAN!

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

10. Awwww! Wasabi frog!

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

11. Same same…

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

12. You will always be “anal sneeze boy”

Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

Which one did you like the most?

Let us know in the comments!

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15 Tumblr Posts That Might Give You a Big Chuckle

Tumblr can be many things – sweet, insightful, aggressive, on-point – including funny, but these 15 posts took hilarity to the next level!

15. This is actually a horror story in disguise.

https://carry-on-my-wayward-butt.tumblr.com/post/186339172976

14. And also money for Netflix.

https://shaelit.tumblr.com/post/185983146979/all-our-generation-wants-is-a-small-apartment-and

13. *sips tea*

https://gluten-free-pussy.tumblr.com/post/182858563153/hervacationh0me-alsuper2-lezcatnoir

12. I mean friendship is nice and all.

https://saisai-chan.tumblr.com/post/186511863034/im-going-to-defeat-you-with-the-power-of

11. Truer words.

https://sabotabby.tumblr.com/post/180944940561/im-sad-i-wasnt-born-in-the-era-of-bitch-do

10. Big feelings.

https://imaginmation.tumblr.com/post/182324163856/large-emotion

9. No wrong answers.

Human form of duolingo owl from tumblr

8. Prove her wrong.

https://frawgs.tumblr.com/post/179016851446/and-then-god-was-like-lets-not-give-this-bitch-a

7. They are cute sometimes.

https://rockboci.tumblr.com/post/182330745173

6. Clever girl.

https://flightcub.tumblr.com/post/155369348877/my-three-favorite-things-are-the-oxford-comma

5. It’s funny AND it makes you want to weep.

https://jethroq.tumblr.com/post/116467066732/heavenboundghost-when-did-lmao-become

4. Never give up on a Tumblr post.

https://giggle.tumblr.com/post/186060830243

3. Now that you think about it…

https://carry-on-my-wayward-butt.tumblr.com/post/178360981101

2. Dumb animated kitty.

https://jennyfromthesock.tumblr.com/post/97605364873

1. Nailed it.

https://meganphntmgrl.tumblr.com/post/183344040700/not-gonna-say-this-again-a-cyborg-is-something

Did you lol in real life, too?

Twinsies!

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5 of the Most Costly Computer Failures in History

It’s utterly terrifying to think of what would happen if there was a major computer-related disaster and the entire world’s records were wiped out in one second.

I guess we never really know what dangers lurk out there in the world of cybercrime, hacking, etc., but it’s scary to think about it, considering how much we rely on computers for everything.

Let’s look at five major computer failures in history and what ended up happening.

1. The Dhahran Patriot Missile Interception

Photo Credit: US Army

During the first Gulf War in the early 1990s, the Patriot Missile became an iconic fixture. The Patriots were able to shoot down other missiles and aircraft.

One Patriot system in Saudi Arabia had its internal clock drift by 0.34 seconds because it had been operational for 100 hours. Israelis had advised the Americans to periodically reboot the system’s computers, but it was not done. The results turned out to be fatal.

On February 25, 1991, Iraqi forces launched a Scud missile. The Patriot system originally detected it but because of the slight time drift, it looked in the wrong place and did not attempt to intercept the Scud. The missile hit American barracks in Saudi Arabia and 28 American soldiers were killed.

2. WannaCry

Photo Credit: Public Domain

A worldwide ransomware cyberattack was launched in May 2017 affecting Windows-based computers. The encrypted data put out by the virus infected over 200,000 computers in 15 countries.

The WannaCry attack demanded ransom from those affected, asking for between $300 and $600 per computer. If people paid the ransom, their data was returned safely. WannaCry also badly infected the UK’s National Health System. It’s estimated that the attack caused $4 billion worldwide, and it is believed that North Korea was to blame.

3. Spectre

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Spectre, discovered in 2018, is a vulnerability present in almost all current computer systems. This is how it works: it tricks a program into accessing memory while actually allowing someone to read data and possibly retrieve sensitive information.

It’s highly likely that Spectre will not disappear for a long time, and it might even be affecting your system right now.

4. ILOVEYOU

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

On May 5, 2000, millions of people around the world received an email with “ILOVEYOU” in the subject line. There was a file attached to each email called “LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.TXT.vbs,” and, in classic fashion, millions of people opened the file.

When opened, the virus overwrote files on the computer and sent copies of itself to every address in a person’s Microsoft Outlook contacts, so you can imagine how quickly it spread. The attack ended up costing $15 billion to remove from computer systems after it infected 50 million computers in just ten days.

5. The Boeing 737 MAX

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

This one you may have heard of, since it’s been in the news recently.

The Boeing 737 MAX was rushed into production, and, like all planes, it needed to keep its fuel costs as low as possible. But the 737 MAX needed larger engines that could not be mounted on the wings like usual, which meant the engines were moved closer to the body.

Because it would be expensive to retrain pilots to deal with the changes, Boeing used a computerized system called MCAS that automatically pushed the nose of the aircraft down when an excessive angle was detected. They also neglected to inform pilots about the MCAS system.

This technology led to two catastrophic incidents: a Lion Air flight crashed in October 2018 and an Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed in March 2019 that killed a total of 346 people. The 737-MAX is now grounded worldwide, costing airlines and Boeing millions, if not billions of dollars.

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An Aquarium’s Naughty Penguin of the Month Award Winners Have Committed Some Hilarious Crimes

These penguins are definitely up to no good.

The National Aquarium of New Zealand has taken drastic measures in an attempt to get their penguin population to shape up – they’ve started a running list of the naughtiest penguins of the bunch and post them on Facebook.

No public shaming would be complete without a list of crimes, but let’s face it – telling the world that the water birds are pushing each other from the pier, stealing food, or just bugging the crap out of each other isn’t going to improve their behavior.

Honestly though…do you really want it to?

Below are 10 of my favorite penguins, so bad they’re actually the best.

10. Don’t get in the way of a hungry lady!

? PENGUIN OF THE MONTH – FEBRUARY ?It's a mother/daughter duo this month!Good Penguin of the Month – PepperShe's…

Posted by National Aquarium of New Zealand on Wednesday, February 6, 2019

9. He’s definitely not winning boyfriend of the month, either.

GOOD PENGUIN: DoraDora was such a trooper at our regular health checks this month. She waddled straight over to the…

Posted by National Aquarium of New Zealand on Wednesday, August 7, 2019

8. I mean he was fine.

Here we go *Penguin of the Month*Naughty Penguin – Flip abandoned her boyfriend and their baby for an entire week!!!!!Good Penguin – Mr Mac ate during a public encounter ( normally snobs them)

Posted by National Aquarium of New Zealand on Tuesday, January 8, 2019

7. I mean maybe he’s just trying to keep everyone on their toes?

? PENGUIN OF THE MONTH TIME! ?Good Penguin: ELMOElmo, our oldest resident, has been waddling out of her burrow to eat….

Posted by National Aquarium of New Zealand on Sunday, July 7, 2019

6. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Mo.

Here we go everybody our Naughty and Good Penguins for the month of December!Naughty Penguin- Mo… for hiding in the…

Posted by National Aquarium of New Zealand on Wednesday, December 12, 2018

7. Okay so Mo might be my Patronus.

? Penguin of the Month – June 2019 ?NAUGHTY – MoMo has been a lay-about over the last few weeks! Has sleep ins, and…

Posted by National Aquarium of New Zealand on Sunday, June 9, 2019

4. Apparently no one likes getting weighed.

“This is it” You have all been waiting for the penguin update!Naughty Penguin Flip… managed to evade the keepers on…

Posted by National Aquarium of New Zealand on Monday, July 2, 2018

3. He’s just having a bit of harmless fun.

? Penguin of the Month – May 2019 ?NAUGHTY – DaveDave just can’t get it together and stay off the naughty list! We…

Posted by National Aquarium of New Zealand on Sunday, May 5, 2019

2. Dave again!

? NAUGHTY & GOOD PENGUIN OF THE MONTH – MARCH 2019 ?NAUGHTY (kind of!): Because Dave has been partially hand raised,…

Posted by National Aquarium of New Zealand on Tuesday, March 5, 2019

1. Variety is the spice of life.

? PENGUIN OF THE MONTH – APRIL 2019 ?NAUGHTY – Martin Martin is new to our Penguin Cove (rescued after a predator…

Posted by National Aquarium of New Zealand on Wednesday, April 3, 2019

 

Just more proof that the penguins are the best animal in the zoo.

Or anywhere, really.

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