Category: creative

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Hotels and Foster Dogs Are a Match Made in Heaven

As fun as it can be to travel, being away from home can be hard, as well.

So hotels try to do things to make you feel as comfortable as you would be at home:
Free wine in the lobby, hot popcorn. Cookies.

But one hotel in Mississippi is going the extra mile to make its guests feel welcome–and to help out the local canine population too.

The Home2 Suites by Hilton located in D’Iberville, Mississippi, just north of Biloxi, has been piloting a program called “Fostering Hope” since 2018.

Together with the Humane Society of South Mississippi, the hotel helps dogs find their forever home.

One at a time, each lucky doggo gets to visit the hotel.

 

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Dog friendly guests are invited and encouraged to interact with the dogs.

According to Mental Floss:

They can take the dog for a walk and feed them during their stay. They’re even allowed to bring the pet into their hotel room overnight.

So far, more than 60 dogs have been adopted since Home2 Suites began fostering them in October 2018.

 

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It’s a brilliant plan! People don’t even know they want a dog, until they fall in love with a specific dog.

They don’t even know they have room for a dog, until it’s too late because the dog has already taken up residence in their hearts.

These people know what they’re doing.

Who can say “no” to these faces?

 

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Since 2018, the program has been a huge success.

In their first year, they found homes for about 30 dogs.

And things may have slowed a little due to the pandemic, but Home2 Suites aren’t deterred.

They’re looking to roll out this program in more locations across the US soon.

 

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If you’re not planning on visiting Biloxi any time soon, you can still check out some of the eligible fur-babies on the Humane Society’s Instagram @HumaneSocietyOfSouthMS.

And if doggos aren’t really your thing, they have gorgeous kitties available for adoption too!

 

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What do you think about this program? Would it make you book a room at Home2 Suites on your next trip?

Tell us in the comments!

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Cool Guides That Explain Complicated Issues

They say “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and it turns out it’s true!

Some of us, 65% of the world’s population, in fact, are visual learners.

Providing an infographic doesn’t just help illustrate the point, it can actually help people internalize it.

That’s one of the reasons the r/coolguides subreddit is so popular, providing dozens of cool infographics and guides.

Here are 14 Cool Guides that really bring the point home and help to simplify complicated topics.

1. Equity – more than just a DEI buzzword

And also not the end of the conversation.

Inequality v. Equality v. Equity v. Justice from coolguides

2. Same concept, different picture

Because there’s more than one way to explain things.

Explanation of the subtle differences between equality and equity from coolguides

3. Recognize the symptoms

Sometimes fainting is just fainting.
But sometimes it’s something more.

I’ll never remember this mid-heart attack but this is good to know from coolguides

4. What it’s actually like to be color blind

In all it’s different forms.

Different forms of Color blindness from coolguides

5. How to handle a dementia patient

With empathy, and so as to get your desired results.

How to treat people with dementia from coolguides

6. The actual truth about depression

And what it looks like from the outside looking in.

A more comprehensive guide to symptoms of depression from coolguides

7. And then you add ADHD into that mix

It’s a whole different ball game.

How untreated ADHD causes and traps you in depression from coolguides

8. Can you recognize the signs of mental abuse?

Trauma can take so many forms. So can patience.

Recognizing a Mentally Abused Brain from coolguides

9. But there are ways to release “happiness chemicals”

Legal activities, in all 50 states.

Activities that make your brain release happy chemicals from coolguides

10. And how exactly does gerrymandering change things?

You might need some of those happiness chemicals once you see the chart.

How gerrymandering works from coolguides

11. Or how about fascism?

What is it, anyway? Here’s a handy guide.

From the US holocaust museum from coolguides

12. Or how about the lesser known variations of the Confederate flag?

I saw them once in 8th grade, but that maybe have been the last time.

The history of confederate flags. from coolguides

13. What does “defund the police” actually mean?

Here’s a list of their demands.

Five Demands, Not One Less. End Police Brutality. from coolguides

14. And what even are marginal taxes?

There may not be anything more complicated than the tax code.

Marginal Tax from coolguides

Y’all, I don’t know if I even consider myself a visual learner, but I sure do love infographics.

What’s your favorite Cool Guide? Tell us in the comments!

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Check Out the Ways You Can Make a Complete Stranger Smile

All of us could use a smile from a stranger these days.

In fact, according to SCL Health:

When you smile, your brain releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides to help fight off stress. Then other neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins come into play too. The endorphins act as a mild pain reliever, whereas the serotonin is an antidepressant. One study even suggests that smiling can help us recover faster from stress and reduce our heart rate.

With that in mind, going out of your way to help someone smile seems like quite an act of community service.

But how do you bring a smile to someone’s face? That’s where random acts of kindness come in.

Here are 9 ways you can make someone smile–and make yourself feel good in the process!

1. Literally just say hello

As funny as the Progressive commercial is where the seminar instructor says, “The waiter doesn’t need to know your name,” sometimes it’s nice to make that personal connection.

They probably don’t care about your name, but I’ve seen servers who seem touched and genuinely surprised when I ask how they are.

Sometimes, just waving at someone or saying hello is enough to remind them that they’re not alone, they’re not here just to serve you, they’re not here just to get yelled at by the guy who wanted something they couldn’t give.

So make that personal connection, and you just might make someone’s day.

Image credit: Mayank Baranwal via Unsplash

2. Be the office snack fairy

It’s no secret that the office-shtick can get pretty dull.

Same old work, same old breaks, same old snacks in the vending machine.

You will immediately have more friends if you surprise your coworkers with a treat for National Donut Day.

And it doesn’t have to be sweet treats. People love free food. (Maybe not spinach.)

Just make sure that if you’re bringing them nice treats you’re not a total goblin the rest of the time, or they might not trust the snacks you suddenly bestow!

Image credit: Devon Divine via Unsplash

3. Think of the children

It honestly doesn’t take much to make kids happy.

Couple crayons, a pad of paper or a coloring sheet–restaurants figured it out years ago.

Reader’s Digest points out that such items can be donated to local police stations.

When the police are called to a home where there are children, one officer can engage the kids while the other handles the situation. This is a great way to calm and distract children during what can be a very frightening experience.

I never would have thought of this, but it seems like a great way to help a kid in need.

Image credit: Lucas Alexander via Unsplash

4. Help out a selfie-taker

It’s one thing when you’re a tourist yourself.

You and a stranger are standing there taking the same picture of the same thing.

You offer to take their picture for them, they offer to take yours next.

But you can also make someone’s day by being the friendly local.

When you see a tourist trying to take a selfie, if you have the time to stop and offer to take their picture for them, it can really make a difference in their experience of your city.

Image credit: Erik McLean via Unsplash

5. Buy a lottery ticket – and give it away!

Half the fun of a lottery ticket is the game, right?

Whether it’s a scratch off or a big prize, the fun is in the possibility and what it might represent.

They’re not expensive, but everyone loves to talk about what they would do if they won, even if they never play.

Why not buy one and just *poof* – give it away?

Maybe your good karma will return to you in unexpected ways.

Image credit: Emiliano Vittoriosi via Unsplash

6. Check on the elderly

Maybe it’s a friend, a neighbor, or a family member.

Maybe they’re shut in most of the time with no one to talk to, or they just need a hand around the house.

Whatever the reason, the elderly are often forgotten as we get busy and go about our lives.

Time speeds up for us, because we have 1001 things to do: work, kids, walk the dog, make the dinner, prep for the meeting, fold the laundry, wash the dishes, rinse, repeat.

But sometimes after retirement, especially if you’re on your own, time can start to slow down and feel endless, even as the days blur together.

So give them a call. Write them a letter. Drop by with treats.

Just let them know they’re not forgotten.

Image credit: Nick Karvounis via Unsplash

7. Help a friend who needs self-care

It’s hard to remember to slow down and unwind.

Sometimes, if you can even find the time, it’s hard to give yourself permission.

But it’s EASY to remind other people and give other people permission.

When you can see what a friend needs, remind them that it’s okay.

Whether that’s helping them remember to take a deep breath and feel their feelings when they’re stressing out, suggesting a book to read, inviting them on a walk, or even offering to take their kids off their hands for long enough for them to do their errands in peace…

People generally know what they need, but they’re hesitant to ask for it–or allow themselves to have it.

Reminding someone that it’s okay to take time for themselves can be exactly what they need.

Image credit: Toa Heftiba via Unsplash

8. MAKE your friend practice self-care

We’ve all been feeling the distance lately.

It’s hard when the ones you love are far away.

Never forgotten, but not always front of mind–sometimes we need to step back and think about them, and find a way to make sure that they know that we are.

You could send them a gift card for coffee, or mail them a nice letter.

Did you know that you can actually have SOUP delivered these days?

There are lots of ways to show someone you care.

Image credit: Natural Chef Carolyn Nicholas via Unsplash

9. Leave some coins behind

Ever been at the laundromat and realized you were short on quarters?

Or the vending machine ate your last dollar and you have a major case of the afternoon hangries?

Or how about that person who blows out their tire at midnight coming home from the airport, and they need quarters for the air pump for the spare? (Yes, I’ve been that person.)

Leaving a roll of quarters, or even just a dollar’s worth of change, with a note that they’re free could really help a person out of a jam.

Image credit: Matthew Lancaster via Unsplash

Well I’m sold. Those are all great ways to make someone smile, and feel like you’re making the world a little better.

What’s your favorite random act of kindness? Drop it in the comments.

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Family takes “If I Fits, I Sits” to a Whole New Level With Their Cat

When I was a kid I really liked the idea of tiny rooms. Sure, I had a normal sized bedroom. But inside my closet, there was a tiny door.

Where did it lead? (I don’t know. I think it was locked and led to the pipes.)

And even though I had a room of my own, I longed to have a tiny secret room that no one could go in but me.

Turns out, maybe cats feel the same way. It’s a proven fact that cats like containers.

There’s a reason why “If I fits, I sits,” has become a slogan for cat lovers everywhere.

Even big cats aren’t immune.

And we all know how they feel about boxes.

But could it be that all this sitting in tight places is because secretly, cats want tiny bedrooms of their own?

One family recently found out.

After adopting a tuxedo kitty called Wyatt from a shelter, Bryan Davies really wanted to make the cat feel at home.

His bedroom had a sort of secret, unused cupboard and so Bryan renovated it for his feline friend, complete with cat-sized furniture and pictures on the wall.

It’s the perfect, cozy little container for a cat.

And because Wyatt was an avid birdwatcher, they completed the setup with a wall-mounted tablet for watching YouTube videos of birds and other wildlife.

What a cushy pad!

As Bryan told The Dodo:

“He spends a lot of time in there, asking to watch his show before taking a nap.

He zones out to the screen like a normal teen. And he naps — hard.

He really does enjoy it as much as a kid who finally got his own room.”

It kind of reminds me of a favorite childhood story, the Little Golden Book Home for a Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown.

Not only does Wyatt have a nice little room, but he loves boxes like any cat, and his room has a good deal of symmetry going on.

That’s interesting because, according to a recent study, it’s not just containers that cats love.

Ever wonder why they also want to lie down on your laptop, keyboard, notepad, or book?

Apparently it’s not just to irritate you.

According to this new study, squares and rectangles, the actual shapes are what often attract cats.

The researchers found that cats will actually sit inside an optical illusion of a square, because they like squares so much.

It’s fascinating! No wonder Wyatt loves his little room with its little bed and TV.

What do you think about all this? Does your pet need their own bedroom too? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

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Dachshunds Went Viral for “Helping” To Save the Suez Canal

I really love a good dog story.

Crusoe the Dachshund is no stranger to the camera.

A spunky little dog who, like many dachshunds, suffers from Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), he and his canine siblings, Oakley and Daphne, are internet-famous across multiple platforms, and where they recently went viral because of one of their adventures.

The three doxxies make lots of videos, which can be found under their Instagram handle @crusoe_dachshund.

The pups often play dress-up in their videos, like this one where they posed as a zebra, a lion, and a monkey for Earth Day this year:

And donned their favorite Star Wars costumes on May the 4th:

These intrepid little dachshunds just like to have a good time, whether it’s filming a makeup tutorial:

Or a mock ad for a jewelry store:

And they are no strangers to the art of the green screen!

So when that massive container ship got stuck in the Suez Canal, blocking more than 400 other vessels for several days, their fans knew just who to call to dig it out.

Originally posted on TikTok, with a slightly longer version available on YouTube, these little diggers did what dachshunds do best.

When he’s not busy posing for the camera, Crusoe also acts as the CEO for the company DoggoRamps, which was founded by his owner Ryan Beauchesne.

According to their website, the company was started when little Crusoe underwent surgery on his back in 2016.

Crusoe loves to spend time with us on the bed and couch, and I still wanted him to be able to do that without always worrying he might jump off.

So, through much trial and error and many iterations, I finally designed the original small dog bed ramp, which I used for Crusoe for a couple years before even bringing it to market.

Nowadays Crusoe is doing just fine. (He did help dig out that container ship after all. Ahem.)

And the ramp that Ryan invented for him has helped over 10,000 other dogs and their families.

How’s that for a good-boy story? Let us know what you think of Crusoe in the comments.

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Dog Owners Can’t Wait to Try a Robotic Pooper-Scooper

I remember when I was young, my dad had to walk around the yard every weekend scooping up all the dog poo before he could mow the lawn.

Sometimes I had to do it too, and you could always tell when the dog had gotten hold of some crayons…

Well now it seems like there’s a robot for every unpleasant task–vacuuming, mopping, even cutting the grass–so of course it was only a matter of time before someone invented a robot that scoops the poop for you.

You read that right.

The scrappy start-up Beetl Robotics, led by CEO Xiong Chang, has developed a prototype for a machine that will rove through your yard picking up all the little presents that your four legged friend left behind.

Their Facebook page, which explains that the robot will deposit the doo into a compost bin, shows the development of their design over time, from this early concept…

…to a finished product that debuted at the 2017 CES (consumer electronics) trade show, where Beetl placed 3rd for Best Tech:

The company follows the Agile method of product development, which allowed them to deviate from their original design to make the concept even better.

According to their website:

We iterated on our robotic poop-scooper idea to add lawn mowing functionality.

We opted for a sickle-bar grass shear mechanism to get the added benefit of releasing the clamshell jaws from long grass.

All navigation was processed via computer vision and advanced sensor fusion.

Consumers are very excited about this technology, but unfortunately it can take a long time to get from concept to market, so the Beetl isn’t available for sale yet.

Still, I love a good robot, so sign me up when it is. What do you think about this idea? Do you need one for outside, and another for inside, to pick up your kids’ toys before you run your Roomba? Tell us in the comments!

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Church Signs Sure To Bring You Closer to Heaven

There are roughly 380,000 churches in the U.S.

To put that into perspective for you, that’s about one church per 800 people. It’s 27 times the number of McDonald’s locations, and those things are everywhere.

So, how do you make your church stand out among the crowd? Easy. You come up with a funny sign and let the internet do the rest.

15. Hot and cold

It’s even hotter than the bad place out here.

Sign at local church from funny

14. East and west

I didn’t know such a level of affection was even possible.

This sign at my local church from funny

13. A clean start

It’s not in the original Bible but it’s in the extended cut.

This sign a local church put up. from funny

12. A balanced diet

Thank you.

This has to be the best church sign I’ve ever seen. from funny

11. No cheating

Ok, not gonna lie, it took me a second.

This church sign is going hard on the puns from funny

10. Buzz off

“Hey God, are we totally sure we need these things?”

My personal favorite church sign. And I agree. from funny

9. Let the rain fall

That’s enough blessings for now, thanks.

Sign at a church in Colorado from funny

8. Spot heroes

And this commandment is to be held above all else.

Sign at a church in Salem, MA from funny

7. Now you see me…

…now you don’t.

The Sign Outside a Church in my Town from funny

6. Closer to thee, Oh Lord

BRB, heading to Heaven.

Never thought I’d see one, but the church sign near my house made me laugh hard today! from funny

5. Cut to the chase

I shouldn’t have to sell this to you.

Church sign guy hates his job from funny

4. The golden ratio

It’s actually not a bad bit of advice.

This church sign in CC, TX is winning the sign game. from funny

3. Grace under fire

This is so cringey it loops back around to funny.

A church sign in my home town… from funny

2. Oh God

Well, that’s a spicy take for a church.

The sign in front of my friends church … is doing it right! from funny

1. Special perks

I’m in, you win, I’m done with heat and sin.

Church signs in Phoenix. from funny

Pretty good. Almost makes me wanna start going back to church.

What’s the funniest sign you’ve seen recently?

Tell us about it in the comments.

Thanks, fam!

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This Hand-Made Darth Vader Grill Will Ensure Your Next BBQ Is a Big Hit

Summer is almost here and as long as the cicadas don’t get you, that means grilling season!

Star Wars fans take notice, nerd culture is alive and well, and there is a grill or fire pit out there just for you.

Etsy is simply the best for shopping small and finding incredible hand-made crafts, and this grill is no exception.

Artist and entrepreneur Burned by Design from Barnsley in Yorkshire, England has designed a grill and fire pit in the shape of Darth Vader’s helmet.

The charcoal grill is completely unique!

As described by Delish.com:

The grill is about 17.3 by 17.3 by 30.7 inches, and comes with three chrome-plated swivel racks.

and because they are hand-made to order, they take about a month to deliver.

But just look at the Imperial glory that could set your next backyard cookout above the rest:

I mean come on:

And if The Betrayer isn’t really your Star Wars jam, there are other wood-burner options to choose from.

So whether you’re a fan of Boba Fett, R2D2, or the Mandalorian, there’s something here for you.

Prices range from in the $600s for a smaller-sized wood burner to the $700s for the Vader grill and all the way up to $1200+ for some of the larger spacecraft-inspired fire pits.

That’s right. You can hang with your friends and watch for meteors seated around your very own Death Star.

And just in case you are more Rebel-Alliance-minded, there is a Millennium Falcon fire pit, too.

I think I’ve been doing summer wrong for years. Time to hit up Etsy.

What do you think? Did these make you long for summer and nerding out with your BFFs? Tell us what you think in the comments.

The post This Hand-Made Darth Vader Grill Will Ensure Your Next BBQ Is a Big Hit appeared first on UberFacts.

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People Challenged Her Right to Wear a Metallica Shirt, so a Woman Pulled Out a Guitar and Set Them Straight

If you’re going to put yourself out there online, you expect that you will have to deal with some level of haters.

It comes with the territory.

The trolls come out, armed with keyboards and masked by anonymity.

And when that day comes, I hope we can all handle it with next-level grace and grit, like Zaria Joyner did.

Last December, Zaria, a young musician, posted a video to her TikTok account @zariasmusic describing the difficulties of being a woman trying to break into the industry, and asking her followers to stream her songs on Spotify.

@zariasmusic

The song is called “Romanticized” by Zaria let me know what y’all think #music #spotify #artist #studio #rap

♬ original sound – Zaria

A small, unexpected detail in the video brought in the trolls, not because she was asking for help, but because she generally presents herself as an R&B musician, and she had the audacity to wear a Metallica t-shirt.

But then… a troll rolled into the comments.

@paytonnsmith said: “Name 3 Metallica songs.” And others followed the troll’s lead.

Undeterred by the haters, Zaria responded in the most amazing way possible.

Instead of naming 3 songs, she played them. She may be soft spoken, but she absolutely shreds on guitar.

@zariasmusic

Reply to @paytonnsmith I hope this video finds the #Metallica fans lol, not my best #guitar playing but that wasn’t really the point #guitarist

♬ original sound – Zaria

With chops like that, you have to wonder how long she’s been dedicated to her craft.

Turns out, Zaria was practically born with a guitar in her hands.

@zariasmusic

follow your dreams kids. @sullyguitars #guitar #guitarist #rock #metal #GEICOLipSync

♬ Original Sound – Unknown

And she always knew that she was going to be a star some day:

@zariasmusic

Me in the first picture would be so proud of me now, I’m dropping my first rock song very soon so follow my Spotify ❤ #guitar #rock #metal #emo #punk

♬ Dead Man Walking – Brent Faiyaz

Lots of Zaria’s TikTok videos show fun little snippets from her song-making process. Like this one:

@zariasmusic

Do y’all want more videos like this? #studio #homestudio #artist #spanishpop

♬ original sound – Zaria

Or recordings of her laying down backing vocals for famous singers like Ariana Grande.

@zariasmusic

If you guys like this drop a like and comment and check my music out on Spotify! #arianagrande #positions #Bye2020 #NewYearNewMiO

♬ original sound – Zaria

And Zaria understands how the TikTok logarithms work, so she’s definitely willing to engage with her critics, as she did in this video response to people who disapprove of her use of auto-tuning.

@zariasmusic

#duet with @wshanelance thanks Shane for teaching these plebs a lil something about the music industry #autotune #rap #producer

♬ original sound – SHANE LANCE

She apparently took the whole experience in stride and is “taking requests, I guess.”

She added…

“I really just thought it would be funny and I didn’t expect the response that the video received.

The supportive comments just kept rolling in.”

Zaria says that Metallica was one of her earliest musical influences, and the reason that she learned to play guitar in the first place, a background that is now helping her to redefine the genre of R&B.

As she likes to put it, her sound is more like R&R&B (Rock & Rhythm & Blues).

@zariasmusic

Reply to @soultun3 What do y’all think? This comment has me weak 💀😂 #randb #blues #rock #guitar #guitarsolo

♬ original sound – Zaria

She loves what she’s doing, and she’s proud of her work. But she’s quick to remind viewers that it’s a tough industry to break into.

Check out her Link Tree from which you can stream her songs on Spotify or Apple Music and see for yourself.

I’d say she totally showed the haters. I wish I could ever have a comeback that solid.

Have you ever had the opportunity to respond to trolls like that? Let us know in the comments.

The post People Challenged Her Right to Wear a Metallica Shirt, so a Woman Pulled Out a Guitar and Set Them Straight appeared first on UberFacts.

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This Woman Saved up Her Dog’s Excess Fluff to Have a Pair of Boots Made

We all love our pets and we like to honor them in different ways. Paintings, t-shirts, jewelry, etc. Heck, for Christmas last year, my sister got me a pair of socks with her dog Bea’s face on them because I’m the designated dogsitter for that wonderful pooch and, to be frank with you, Bea and I have fallen in love over the years.

And I wear those Bea socks everywhere!

But a dog owner named Soleil Pond might just take the cake when it comes to honoring her pet, a pooch named Nimbus.

Pond had been keeping all of Nimbus’ fluffy fur because she knew she wanted to use it to create something special as a tribute to her beloved pooch.

I mean, just look at that face! How could you not be in love with him?!?!

As the fur piled up, Pond thought more and more about what she might be able to create that would be unique…

And then it finally dawned on her!

Why not make a pair of boots to keep warm? So Pond gave all of Nimbus’ fur to a friend of hers who made her these beauties that Pond says will “tolerate temperatures as low as -40 degrees.”

Whoa! I think she might have started a hot new trend with these…

Photo Credit: Facebook

This is what living your best life looks like, people!

Have you done anything creative like this with your pets? If so, tell us about it in the comments.

And share some pics if you have ’em! Thanks fam!

The post This Woman Saved up Her Dog’s Excess Fluff to Have a Pair of Boots Made appeared first on UberFacts.