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In Response To Robin Williams' Death, The Most Powerful Description Of Depression I’ve Ever Heard
I am so, so thankful this video was made. It's probably the most intimate, real description of depression I've ever heard.
08.13.14
So we've all heard the numbers, but what does that mean in reality? Here's one year's wages — yes, *full-time* wages. Woo.
I've written tons of things about minimum wage, backed up by fact-checkers and economists and scholarly studies. All of them point to raising the minimum wage as a solution to lifting people out of poverty and getting folks off of public assistance. It's slowly happening, and there's much more to be done.
But when it comes right down to it, where the rubber meets the road is what it means for everyday workers who have to live with those wages. I honestly don't know how they do it.
Ask yourself: Could I live on this small of a full-time paycheck? I know what my answer is.
(And note that the minimum wage in many parts of the county is STILL $7.25, so it would be even less than this).
One year of work at McDonalds grossed this worker $13,811.18.
This story was written by Brandon Weber and was originally appeared on 02.26.15
Cameron House's Woolly Wellness retreat includes tea in the garden with adorably rude guests.
Remember when "goat yoga" was all the rage? And then "cow cuddling" and "turkey cuddling" made everyone's bucket lists?
Now we can add "nuzzling with naughty sheep" to the mix, but with a fancy Scottish twist.
Less than an hour from Glasgow, Scotland, the Cameron House resort sits on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, looking as if it were plucked straight out of a fairy tale. Sprawling green grounds, gorgeous lake views and a four-story castled mansion greet guests as their "home away from home" (only better), and a perusal of the reviews show guests raving about the 5-star resort's elegance, beauty and exceptional service.
I mean, just look at this place:
Cameron House sit on Lake Lochmond in Scotland.Cameron House
Up til now, Cameron House reviews haven't mentioned anything about having tea with sheep, but that's about to change.
Guests at Cameron House now have access to an exclusive one-day Woolly Wellness retreat that includes a yoga flow session, a guided sound meditation with cozy sheep-themed blankets and pillows, and the highlight of the day—an unforgettably untraditional tea with actual naughty sheep.
Ever had tea with a naughty sheep?
Cameron House/Naughty Sheep
To create the unique experience, Cameron House has partnered with a nearby ethical animal encounter farm, appropriately named Naughty Sheep, which is focused on holistic wellness experiences. As part of the retreat, guests can enjoy a classic British tea in the garden while their woolly companions join in for cuddles and maybe a bite or two of the homemade snacks on the table. There's even an opportunity to feed lambs fresh milk from a bottle as part of the experience.
If you've ever wondered if your table manners are up to snuff, no worries here—you'll seem downright prim and proper compared to the sheep. But their adorable rudeness just contributes to a whimsical and hilarious experience for all.
And the hilarity is the point. Some might picture a wellness retreat as people spending their time zenned out in meditation, but "holistic" means integrating various elements of health, and joy and laughter have countless physical and psychological health benefits. Laughing triggers the release of endorphins, reducing stress, and it improves blood flow and circulation, which is good for cardiovascular health. Laughing can even boost immunity by increasing the body's production of antibodies.
The sheep-oriented retreat is also a fitting experience for the Scottish countryside, as Scotland actually boasts more sheep than people. (Not by a lot, but that statistic is real, according to The Ohio State University.) Though not native to Scotland, sheep have been an integral part of Scottish culture for thousands of years, particularly in the tradition of Scottish woolen textiles. Wool is not only warm, breathable and long-lasting, but it's one of the most sustainable fibres on the planet, and it's all thanks to millions of naughty sheep.
Cameron House on Loch Lomond
Cameron House
The Woolly Wellness retreats are offered once a month and space is very limited, so jump on it if you're interested. The day starts at Cameron House and includes transportation to and from the "ewe-nique" retreat, the delightful experiences at Naughty Sheep, a 3-course dinner at Cameron Grill restaurant, a one-night stay at Cameron House and a full Scottish breakfast in the morning.
Who needs goat yoga when you can enjoy the charm of Scotland, the luxury of a lake resort, the rejuvenating effects of a wellness retreat and some memory-making sheep nuzzling? Go to the Cameron House website to learn more about the Woolly Wellness retreat and the resort's other offerings as well.
"We didn't want a freeloader."
Dogs are naturally driven by a sense of purpose and a need for belonging, which are all part of their instinctual pack behavior. When a dog has a job to do, it taps into its needs for structure, purpose, and the feeling of contributing to its pack, which in a domestic setting translates to its human family.
But let’s be honest: In a traditional domestic setting, dogs have fewer chores they can do as they would on a farm or as part of a rescue unit. A doggy mom in Vancouver Island, Canada had fun with her dog’s purposeful uselessness by sharing the 5 “chores” her pitbull-Lab mix does around the house.
The mom says Rhubarb has chores because “we didn’t raise a freeloader.”
@rhubarbthedoggo No freeloaders on my watch 🙅🏻♀️ #pittiesoftiktok #dogtiktokers #dogsoftiktok #pitbulllove #pibblelove #pibbles #pibblemixesoftiktok #pitbullmix #dogfluencers #doggotiktoker #dogmomsoftiktok #dogmomlife #dogmoms #dogtiktokviral #dogmomma #prettypitty #prettypittie #prettypitties #dogrelatable #relatabledogmom #relatabledog
Here are 5 “chores” that Rhubarb has mastered.
1. Makes sure the laundry doesn't get cold
Translation: Sits on top of the clean laundry, ready to be folded.
2. Unlicensed therapist
Translation: Gives us kisses when we're tired or feeling down.
3. Supervise repairs
Translation: She gets in the way when you're in a compromised, uncomfortable position with a wrench in your hand.
4. Alerts us when there's an intruder
Translation: Stands at the window and barks furiously at the mailman.
5. Keeps mum's spot warm
Translation: Lays in her spot on her favorite chair in the living room.
The video inspired some funny responses in the comments.
“He’s carrying that household on his back. Give him a raise,” Tatiana, Esq. wrote. “Obviously the most valuable member of the household,” DJTrainor51 added.
We still love you, Zach Morris.
Every era has its own version of what’s attractive. And very rarely does that aesthetic hold power with the following generation. In fact, it often becomes the opposite of cool.
Just think of Elvis. He might have been a universal sex symbol for a time, but it also wasn’t long before his pompadour became passé. Same goes for Paul Newman’s rugged manliness, David Cassidy’s babyface, Tom Selleck’s mustache. Indeed, for everything a season.
Which brings us to the 90s. The age of beach blonde surfer boys (real surfing skills not required, but a plus). Of flannel, lots of flannel, and super chiseled bodies. Let’s not forget this was the dawning of the term “metrosexual,” and also the time period that brought us that Calvin Klein ad with Mark Wahlburg.
How exactly would these guys measure up with the Gen Z kids today?
That was the question Caitlin Baudhuin aimed to answer when she decided to have her Gen Z daughter rate teenage heartthrobs of the 90’s and 00s on a scale of 1-10.
Let’s just say…none of them made the cut. Which saddened many a millennial and Gen Xer.
First up: Zachery Ty Bryan, who played eldest brother Brad Taylor on “Home Improvement.”
Baudhuin’s daughter graciously gave Bryan a 3. That’s the numerical version of “meh.”
Next: James Van Der Beek from “Dawson’s Creek.”
Appalled, her daughter says “It's so bad. It's like, I don't even know.”
At this point, you must be thinking, “well, she must be a Joshua Jackson kind of gal.” As Baudhuin explains, you were either Team Dawson, played by Vanderbeek, or Team Pacey, played by Jackson.
But after being shown a picture of Jackson, Baudhuin’s daughter makes a face like she’s just had bad shrimp, and says, “That's two. The last one was a four, that one's so bad. He's so ugly.” Ouch.
Finally, Baudhuin’s Hail Mary is “Saved By The Bell”’s Mark-Paul Gosselaar, aka Zack Morris.@caitlin.the.realtor Episode 1 of my daughter rating my teen hollywood heartthrobs of the 90’s. 🤦🏻♀️🤣 #greenscreen #90skids #90steenheartthrobs #dawsonscreek #teampacey ♬ original sound - Caitlin - Memphis, TN Realtor
Before ranking Gosselaar at a measly 2.5, her daughter says, “Why is his smile like, it looks like he's not even happy. It looks like he's fake smiling. And then like his hair, like why is that a sleek back?”
This last one seemed to hurt folks the most. “The disrespect for Zach Morris!” one person wrote. Meanwhile, another said that ranking him that low was “criminal.”
But wait, there’s more. Baudhuin did a round two, many heartthrobs inspired by viewer suggestions. See the victims below:
-Shane West from “A Walk To Remember” got a 3, primarily due to his spiky hair. Baudhuin’s daughter is clearly not a fan of 90’s hairstyles. To which her mother asks, “have you seen boy’s hair these days?” Fair point!
-Freddie Prince Jr. from “She’s all That.” Another 3.
-Joseph Gordon Levitt, as seen in his role for “10 Things I Hate About You.” Levitt got a whopping 4 or 5! Progress!
-Erik von Detten from “The Princess Diaries.” This time Baudhuin asked her daughter to “ignore the greasy hair.” Which must have worked, cause he got a 5.5, thus winning this unofficial beauty contest. Still brutal though.
@caitlin.the.realtor Part 2 of my daughter rating 90’s/early 2000’s heartthrobs. We have a sort of winner! 🎉 #greenscreen #90s #early2000s #heartthrobs #awalktoremember #princessdiariesmovie #shesallthat #10thingsihateabout ♬ original sound - Caitlin - Memphis, TN Realtor
So there you have it. Beauty trends indeed come and go for men too. And on the bright side, even if our childhood icons don’t have the Timothée Chalamet Effect, it’s nice to know that by and large the definition of heartthrob has become way more diverse and inclusive. Thanks for that Gen Z, even though your candidness is savage sometimes.
Crows are so much smarter than we think.
A family from Denmark has created a touching video montage documenting their unique friendship with a wild Eurasian crow. This crow, affectionately named Russell, has become an honorary member of their household, forming special bonds with each family member, including the pets.
However, the crow's relationship with their son, 2-year-old Otto, is truly extraordinary. “They could spend hours just playing,” Otto’s mother, Laerke Luna, says in a video shared by The Dodo. "When Otto is outside, he will never leave Otto’s side.”
Russell, the free-spirited crow, ventures away from the family's home from time to time, but never for too long. He always comes back and announces his return by tapping on the door, swooping in to lounge on the sofa, or awaiting Otto's return from school atop their roof.
“When we are inside, he will sit inside the window because he wants Otto to go outside with him,” Laerke said.
The family’s relationship with Russell didn’t come out of nowhere. When Russell was a young bird, he had health problems so the family took him and nursed the bird back to health. Eventually, they witnessed his first attempts to fly.
Recently, Russell became friends with another family member, their second child, Hedwig. Although he does get a little annoyed with the bird’s frequent attempts to nab his pacifier.
Even though it’s rare for humans to strike up such a close bond with a crow, according to research, it’s not that surprising. Audubon says that crows are “some of the smartest animals in the world” with an intelligence “on par with chimpanzees.” They are also very social and family-oriented, so no wonder Russell loves Otto and his family.
Dishwashers actually use the dirty water to know how to wash your dishes.
There always seem to be something going on with the pods and powders you're supposed to use in the dishwasher to clean your dishes. Either the pods don't dissolve completely or the powder gets all goopy and hard, never really fully dispensing into the dishwasher.
The inconsistency in product dispensing can leave you wondering if the dishes are even getting cleaned, causing some to toss the detergent pod into the bottom of the dishwasher. It would seem that placing the detergent at the bottom would allow for it to actually reach your dirty dishes. But Melissa Pateras, a domestic expert, explains that doing it that way isn't doing what you think it's doing.
Pateras actually breaks down exactly how dishwashers work to clean your dishes while explaining why putting the detergent on the bottom is ineffective.
"Your detergent tab has to go into the compartment because when you press start on a dishwasher there is a small amount of water that goes into the machine, and then a pump will push that water into the spray arms and then the force of that water makes them turn sort of like a lawn sprinkler," Pateras says.
The mom explains that this part of the prewash is important because your dishwasher uses the dirty water to determine how dirty your dishes are. Then the water is promptly drained. If you place your detergent in the bottom of the dishwasher, all the detergent is now drained out with the dirty water. This means you're basically washing your dishes with plain water since the soap is now gone.
@melissadilkespateras Where does it go? @Jenn K #cleantok #dishwasher #dishes ♬ original sound - Laundrytok | Melissa Pateras
Commenters were curious why the pods weren't dissolving or seemingly getting stuck on the compartment door. Pateras says, it "could be that the compartment is wet when you load the tab or the door needs to be cleaned."
When someone asks about using the "auto" button on their dishwasher, the author explains that the auto setting, "uses the sensor to detect how much dirt is on your dishes, and then adjusts the water temperature and cycle duration accordingly."
Who knew there was this much detail going into washing the dishes. If you're wondering about the best cleaning detergent, Pateras swears by Cascade Platinum but says not to buy any dishwasher detergent in bulk as it becomes more ineffective the longer it sits. The more you know>