Linguistic Maps Highlight How Americans Say Things Differently Across the Country

In case you weren’t aware: America is a HUGE place. Having driven all over the ap when I was younger, I can tell you that it’s truly surprising how vast our nation is.

With that large landmass comes various regional dialects. People in Boston speak differently than people in Mississippi. The folks in North Dakota sound a heck of a lot different than the citizens of Texas. And so on and so on.

These nifty maps show some of the differences in how Americans say things.

1. This one gets people worked up

Photo Credit: Reader’s Digest

2. Where to put the rubbish?

Photo Credit: Reader’s Digest

3. Which do you prefer?

Photo Credit: Reader’s Digest

4. Garage sale is dominant

Photo Credit: Reader’s Digest

5. Hey y’all!

Photo Credit: Reader’s Digest

6. What do you call your footwear?

Photo Credit: Reader’s Digest

7. And finally, how many syllables are there in “caramel”?

Photo Credit: Reader’s Digest

8. Eastbound and Down, loaded up and truckin’

Photo Credit: Reader’s Digest

9. I love “bubbler”

Photo Credit: Reader’s Digest

Pop, soda, or Coke? That’ll really get a heated debate started…

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Here’s How Even a 5% Increase in Rent Would Affect NYC’s Homeless Population

Homelessness is a major issue in modern urban socities, and even though a lot of folks are slow to admit it, there’s actually a strong connection between gentrification an increase in homeless populations in those same locales.

One byproduct of gentrification is a hike in rental rates for the area. Recently, economists estimated that a mere 5% rise in NYC rent prices could cause more than 3,000 people to end up on the streets.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Los Angeles models generate a similar number, with around 2,000 people being forced from their homes over a 5% rent increase.

There are ways that cities can combat their homeless issue if they choose to make it a priority, and positive results are being seen in Houston, Tampa, Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, and Saint Louis. All of those cities saw a decline in their homeless population from 2011 to 2016.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Many cities choose to implement voucher programs that cover rent for a few months at a time, which does seem to work to an extent, though underlying causes like access to mental health and substance abuse care and counseling still need to be addressed for the problem to be considered mended long term.

Responses have to be comprehensive, long-term, and committed, which means not only controlling rent prices and new development, but increasing affordable housing and shelter beds and helping people access the healthcare they need to keep their jobs and be able to pay rent.

Image Credit: Pixabay

With so many cities working on it and setting good examples, it seems as if there’s a good chance others might follow their lead, and that the working poor and lower class earners might not be the victims of “progress” in the future the way they have been in the past.

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17 Awesome Responses to the #Trashtag Challenge

When it comes to internet challenges, I think it’s safe to say many of remain skeptical. On the one hand, there are challenges like the “Ice Bucket Challenge” that raised millions for ALS research, and on the other, there are things like the Tide Pod challenge – which I think we can all agree is a collective low for humanity.

The latest trend is called the #Trashtag challenge, and it’s definitely in the “score one for humanity” column. The goal is to save the planet, one bag of garbage at a time, and with 1.3 billion tons of household waste being generated every year, it’s far past due.

The challenge is simple: take a before photo of an area littered with trash and put it next to an after photo of the same area once you’ve cleaned it up.

The hashtag blew up after a Reddit user posted a screenshot of someone who had completed the challenge with the caption “Here is a new #challenge for all you bored teens. Take a photo of an area that needs some cleaning or maintenance then take a photo after you have done something about it, and post it here.”

Image Credit: Reddit

And post they did! Below are 17 amazing before-and-afters that you’re just going to love.

#1. Yes.

Image Credit: Twitter

#2. This brought a bit of a tear to my eye.

Image Credit: Twitter

#3. Such a nicer walk now!

Image Credit: Twitter

#4. I fear he might have bagged up his shirt on accident.

Image Credit: Twitter

#5. That’s a lot of trash.

Image Credit: Twitter

#6. An hour well spent.

Image Credit: Reddit

#7. If a 70-year-old retired school teacher can do it, what’s your excuse?

Image Credit: Reddit

#8. A big job, well done.

Image Credit: Twitter

#9. A South African #trashtag

Image Credit: Reddit

#10. Cleaning up a tourist area in Vietnam.

Image Credit: Reddit

#11. Many hands make light work.

Image Credit: Reddit

#12. Look what 10 people and 1 Sunday morning can do!

Image Credit: Reddit

#13. Hard to believe people let such a beautiful place get so messy.

Image Credit: Reddit

#14. Actually makes you want to sit there now.

Image Credit: Reddit

#15. Manila Bay after a judge ordered it cleaned up. Wowzers.

Image Credit: Reddit

#16. In their school unis and everything.

Image Credit: Instagram

#17. I’m sure the horse helped.

Image Credit: Instagram

It’s not too late to do your part – get out there and clean, people!

 

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Son’s Tweet about His Dad’s Empty Donut Shop Helps Sales Skyrocket After Going Viral

Ah, Twitter. It’s been the source of all sorts of craziness in the last few years, but this might be one of the best Twitter stories yet.

When Billy By’s dad opened Billy’s Donuts in Missouri City, Texas, sales were slow to say the least. Nobody was coming in. So Billy did what any normal person does in 2019 to try to boost business: he took to social media to plead his case.


You know people couldn’t resist Billy’s dad standing behind the counter waiting for customers to come buy up his delicious donuts.

And guess what? The tweet picked up steam, went viral, and people started going to the store!


It worked!

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Even TWITTER jumped on the story and told people to get on down to the shop.


How’s that for advertising? As of this writing, the original tweet has been retweeted 343,000 times!

Billy’s dad looked pretty darn happy about this turn of events.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Billy tweeted an update about the amazing turnaround.


Check out the Billy’s Donuts Instagram page, too.

I needed that wholesome story! And now I need some donuts!

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So… Drive-Thru Workers Can Apparently Hear EVERYTHING You Say – Even When the Speaker Isn’t On

Uh-oh…

If you tend to visit your local drive-thru pretty regularly, you might not love this. You see, it seems that drive-thru employees can hear every single thing you say in your car, even when you’re just waiting for the speaker to turn on.

One Reddit user and drive-thru worker posted the tidbit, just to let everyone know that, yup, they can hear you. Their headsets pick up pretty much everything.

Photo Credit: iStock

“As soon as you drive up to the speaker, we get a beep over our headsets and the transmission begins,” Redditor wreckinitralph wrote. “If we don’t answer you right away – we can hear everything. If we apologize and say we’ll be with you in a minute – you’re not on hold, we can hear everything. If you’ve ordered but the drive-thru line won’t let you pull ahead yet – we can hear every single thing you’re saying. I wish I could forget some of the stuff I’ve heard.”

Whoooaaaaa. So, basically don’t talk crap about the drive-thru until after you’ve safely pulled away with your food. And if you need to say something embarrassing or top-secret, maybe roll your windows up and whisper? Your car is not as private as you think!

Photo Credit: iStock

Another Reddit user had a similar and equally horrifying revelation in the comments of the post.

“This also applies when you’re on any type of support chat. Whatever you type, even if you don’t press enter, is transmitted right to them as you’re typing it,” user Steve90000 wrote.

WHAT. What kind of cruel world is this, anyway?

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Sexist Guy Posts His “12 Rules for Beautiful Women,” Gets Destroyed by the Internet

What is it with sexist jerks trying to tell other people how to live? It’s absolutely ridiculous. The only solace I have is that the internet tends to put them back in their place pretty quick.

Take Alexander J.A. Cortes, for example. The self-proclaimed “trainer”, “writer”, and speaker recently took to Twitter and laid out his 12 rules for “How to be a Beautiful Woman.”

Photo Credit: Instagram

Cortes has a history of tweeting out misogynistic views so this was really nothing new, but it caused a lot of people to respond nonetheless.

Here’s the tweet heard ’round the world that set off such a firestorm.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Cortes continued…

Photo Credit: Twitter

“Only a man can tell a woman how act.” Wow. And then he ended on this note.

Photo Credit: Twitter

As you can probably imagine, women were pretty livid.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Cortes obviously is a Grade A-level troll and he replied to his haters with another Tweetstorm.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

This “roadmap” he mentions was a retweet from this guy.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Unless you’re blind, you can see that this guy is quite the catch. And the ladies let it loose once again.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

And, finally…

Photo Credit: Twitter

THE END.

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People Everywhere are Picking Up Trash Thanks to the Viral “Trashtag Challenge”

I can’t stand people who litter. It’s absolutely disgusting to me that people can have such little sense of personal responsibility that they would just toss their trash around willy-nilly. I always try to do my part to pick up when I can, but it just gets me so mad that some people see our beautiful world as their own personal trash can.

But wait, here’s some great news! The #trashtag hashtag went viral recently and people from all over the world have been pitching in, picking up trash, and posting the pics on social media to prove it.

The hashtag was actually created back in 2015 by a company called UCO to encourage people to pick up trash in the woods.

Here is just a sampling of the great photos people have been posting. Keep it up, everyone!

1. All the way from India

2. Before and after

3. Cleaning up the roads

4. Look at that!

5. Keep posting these

6. Cleaning up beaches

7. All the way from Nepal

8. I could look at these all day…

9. …And I probably will

10. Look at all that garbage

Now this is a viral trend I can get behind.

Get out there and do your part!

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10+ People Share their Most Awkward Adult-Life Moments

When I was in kindergarten, I once accidentally called my teacher “mommy” when I was really tired. It was pretty embarrassing, and I wanted to melt into the floor for most of the day. Now, imagine having an experience that’s just as humiliating, but as an adult.

These 12+ confessions are that moment, but for the grownup world.

#1. Thank God for good senses of humor.

“My old boss, and my husband’s names were one letter apart. (I worked in a daycare, so the owner and all the staff often texted one another to update each other on kids, any issues parents had, and general questions.) My husband was working 3rd, and I was working 1st. We didn’t get to see each other much, and most of our conversation was done via text.

On my very first week, I was in a rush after getting into work, and texted my husband the same thing I always texted him when I got into work.

“Hey babe, I’m here. I hope your night was as awesome as you are <3. I love you soooooooo much. Your dinner is in the crock pot.”

When I went on break, I checked my phone. Nothing back from my husband, but my boss had texted me. It read “Love you too! Mwah!”

I was so confused until I looked back at the messages and realized I had sent her the text meant for my husband. Changed her contact name to “Boss” after that one.

Thank God she had a good sense of humor about it.”

#2. I think he meant the $100 bill.

“This happened to a coworker years and years ago. We were tellers at a local bank. Every Christmas we had tiny candy canes to give to the kids of customers. One guy came through with his. With his transactions he had cash back. Teller 1 was helping him. She proceeds to give him his cash in a 100 bill and the candy cane for his kid. He looks at her and says, “Can I have that broken up?” She then proceeds to bash the candy cane to a pulp with my stapler and gives it back to him. Teller 2 just looked at her after the dude said thanks and drove off, and said, “I think he meant the 100 bill.” I will remember this story forever.”

#3. Definitely this.

“These days I rarely talk on the phone to anyone who isn’t family so “love you, bye “ is a standard phone call ending. We had some issues at our house last year and I’m pretty sure I told 2 contractors and the insurance adjuster I loved them.”

#4. Honey.

“Not me, but my mom. She was in a meeting and not paying attention for whatever reason. Then someone asked her a question and she responded with “What’s that honey?”. Made me crack up for so long.”

#5. On the pot.

“My friend was on a toilet, someone knocked and she said: , Come in!’

edit: thanks for silver kind stranger!”

#6. Mixed up.

“My husband has mixed up my and his sister’s name more than once.

Also, calling your kids the pet’s name.”

#7. The look on his face…

“I’m a dental hygienist. my patient was a man who had just turned 91 the day before.

instead of saying “happy late birthday!” like a normal fucking human being, I accidentally (and very loudly) said “HAPPY LAST BIRTHDAY!!!!”

the look on his face… y’all.

this was also my second day at my new job.

edit: to answer everyone’s question on if he’s still alive: I have no idea. this happened about 2 months ago, so I won’t be scheduled to see him until sometime in July. fingers crossed he comes back or I’m going to feel even worse.

also thank you for the gold and silver! but pleaseeee put that towards a charity of your choosing instead! my idiocy doesn’t need rewarding.”

#8. Wrong job.

“At Dollar Tree the other day my boyfriend walked up to the cashier and she said almost immediately “How was your meal?” and then “Oh! wrong job!””

#9. A prayer cadence.

“I once saw a flustered young lawyer address a judge as “Oh Lord.” He was a big church person and had kind of fallen into a prayer cadence as he nervously argued. Everyone pretended it had not happened.”

#10. Big Daddy.

“I had a coworker who would jokingly call our chief “big daddy” behind his back. We were all working a little late one night and she let “hey big daddy!” slip as he walked in. To her credit she owned it and now calls him that in regular conversation.

Still weird though.”

#11. The cringe hasn’t lessened over time.

“Calling your wife “Mom” is pretty bad. I did that once almost 20 years ago and the cringe hasn’t lessened over time.

Edit: We never had kids, so it’s not like anyone else was calling her Mom. So… yeah. Super awkward. Yay!”

#12. We laughed about it for years.

“When talking with family we always end our calls with “I love you.”

So I’m on a call with my long time assistant and as the call ends without thinking I say “I lo…” and stop horrified as I couldn’t think of how to finish it. Thank God she had a sense of humor. She said, “ Aww, come on now, you can say it, go ahead, tell me you love me. “ So I did and we laughed about for years.”

#13. Some random chick at Walmart.

“Well I’ve accidentally rubbed the back of some random chick at Walmart thinking she was my wife before.”

#14. I scolded the dog.

“I’m a teacher. I unthinkingly scolded my dog the other day with, “Follow the directions!” We kinda just stared at each other for a second while I realized how ridiculous I sounded.”

#15. Enjoy!

“I’ve worked in restaurants since I was 16. When I bring someone to a table I say “enjoy.” After any drink or plate of food I put down at a table I do the same. Well I guess it was just inevitable that when a man asked me where the washroom was and I directed him that I told him to “enjoy!””

No less awkward. Maybe more.

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Physics Professor Wrecks Flat Earthers Using Simple Math

I am constantly amazed by the whole flat earther movement. Even though there’s a truly staggering (like multiple centuries’ worth) amount of scientific data proving without a doubt that the Earth is round, they still keep insisting that it’s flat. What century is this?

A physics professor at the University of Porto in Portugal named Pedro Teles was obviously fed up with this nonsense so he took to Imgur to put these flat earthers in their place.

This is how Professor Teles began.

Photo Credit: Imgur

Now pay attention and try to keep up…

Photo Credit: Imgur

That’s right! Clockwise! Now on to the North Pole!

Photo Credit: Imgur

You have to reproduce the same experiment, flat earther…and pay attention to that pendulum.

Photo Credit: Imgur

You’re not done yet!

Photo Credit: Imgur

And here’s the proof, friends.

Photo Credit: Imgur

Nice work, professor! Now, I understand if you need to go back and read this again.

But remember the most important part of this experiment…forward this to everyone in your life who believes the earth is flat!

Thank you in advance.

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10+ People Share the Brutal Truth They Learned from Failed Relationships

Breakups are rough, but they can also be a valuable learning experience – they help teach us what we really need from a relationship, what our own flaws are, and even what kinds of red flags to look out for.

That said, maybe the lessons learned by these 12+ people can save you some time (and heartache) the next time around.

#1. When it comes to kids.

“You can love each other as much as you can but if you’re not compatible when it comes to kids, future goals, etc it’s just not going to work out.”

#2. Not your responsibility.

“Sometimes, their mental health is not an excuse to stay with someone. Sometimes, you just need to let that go and it is not your responsibility to keep them healthy. If something does happen to them, it’s not your fault.
You can’t fix someone’s mental health. They can only do that themselves.”

#3. Don’t date a drinker if…

“Don’t date a drinker when you’re not one yourself.”

#4. Poor boundaries.

“I have poor boundaries and I’m too eager to please while simultaneously being too demanding.

Edit: Lol I wonder if I’ll tell her I got my first 1k comment over her.”

#5. Red flags.

“Cheating is a non-negotiable red flag.

Refusing to take responsibility is a red flag.

Ignoring your s/o is worse than arguing against your s/o which are both infinitely worse than communicating with one another about the topic at hand.

And the best one: you have to love yourself more than you love being in a relationship.”

#6. More red flags…

“If she gets fired from >10 jobs in 6 years because nobody can stand working with her…

That’s a red flag…

Edit: I guess the lesson would be to notice how other people that spend 8hrs a day with her….”

#7. It takes two.

“It takes two to make it work. And I was the only one doing any work, hoping if i worked hard enough, he would love me back as much as I loved him.

Doesn’t work that way.”

#8. Take them at their actions.

“if someone acts like they don’t care, its because they don’t care”

#9. The rest of your life.

“Dont put the rest of your life aside, when they leave you are then left with nothing.”

#10. You can’t stop them.

“People are who they are, not who you wish they would be. Loving someone and wanting a future with them won’t stop them from being a toxic person. And the only good option with toxic people is to get them out of your life. Even if it hurts.”

#11. You’ll never be able to be yourself.

“If you start the relationship by editing yourself and hiding the parts of you that you think they won’t like, it’s a trap and you’ll never be able to be yourself. Tears will follow. Do yourself a favor and at a reasonable point in the early relationship, be vulnerable and tell them all the things about yourself you are afraid of admitting. They’ll find them out eventually anyway….”

#12. Not great for each other.

“Accepting that life happens and sometimes two great people are not great for each other.”

#13. You can’t love away the issues.

“You can’t love away the depression. She self medicated with alcohol, and my love wasn’t enough to make her stop drinking.”

#14. Abusive households.

“Just because you both grew up in abusive households doesn’t mean the other person will be reluctant to abuse you.”

#15. How you react to this quirk.

“Everyone has a quirk. Everyone. Even you- you just might not know what it is. Day to day survival of a relationship can depend on how you react to this quirk. I dated a lot of guys who would just annoy the piss outta me daily with their quirks, and I’m not contributing our break ups solely to these habits, but it definitely didn’t help to be annoyed or disgusted on the daily by your partner. It took me some time to realize that this is just a part of who they are and I will never be able to change that. Learn to accept people for the funny little things they do.”

Keep your eyes on the prize out there!

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