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Joy

Celebrate Valentine's Day by watching animals be cute for three straight minutes

animals, valentines day
TikTok

Love makes even the natural world go round.

Valentine’s Day is a holiday usually met with pretty mixed reviews. But if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that animals deserve all the love.

A compilation of all kinds of critters, big and small, being cute and cuddly is breaking the internet with more than 5 million views. And when I say all kinds, I mean ALL kinds.

If you’ve always wanted to see a bear dancing for joy, watch this video. If you ever wondered if a black panther enjoys smooching, watch this video. If you secretly wish an alligator could sit on someone’s lap like a puppy, watch this video. (By the way, there’s real puppies in it too.)

Did I mention there’s an itty-bitty baby dolphin? Yes, this is not a drill. Plus big dudes with tiny kittens! This video literally has everything your heart could desire.

@jokerhoney0#pet#funnyvideos#animals#cute♬ original sound - joker

No matter what animal pops up on the screen, there’s a prevalent theme that comes to mind as even the apex predators display affection: Love is the most natural thing in the world, and a universal language that needs no words. It’s so much more than romance; love is that little tug that pulls us into one another, reminding us of how we are all connected through the heart.

Everyone, man and beast alike, needs it. And it can be found in something as simple as a hug. Or, in this case, a video of animals hugging. Even if you detest Valentine’s Day, love is something worth celebrating.

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The four magic phrases to use when you’re stopped by the cops

Everyone should know these.

Photo via Pixabay

Knowing your rights when navigating the unbalance of power in any given police traffic stop.

This article originally appeared on 08.31.18


Whether it’s a traffic stop that turns into “We smell something in your car” or a “driving while black” situation, you have rights when you’re pulled over, and it’s for the best if you actually use them. So how does this work, anyway?

Well, you have rights when you’re pulled over. These have been established via case law, and ultimately, some stem from the Constitution itself. In order, here are the magic phrases, along with some graphics to help you remember.

1. “Am I free to go?”

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Pop Culture

How movie trailers get you hooked in a matter of seconds, explained by a guy who makes them

"It's like trying to sell a jigsaw puzzle."

Vox/Youtube

Bill Neil breaking down iconic trailers for Vox.

We know that a ton of dedicated time, energy and artistic skill goes into bringing movies to life. But what about the thing that first introduces you to the movie? That 60-second video meant to encapsulate every thrill, swoon and jump scare the story promises to deliver, if only you are brave enough to step out to the movie theater (or these days, your couch) for two hours.

We are, of course, talking about the movie trailer. And take it from the ones who create them, trailers are in and of themselves a complex art form—with just a dash of psychological manipulation.

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97-year-old Dick Van Dyke's stunning reveal as 'The Masked Singer' brought a judge to tears

The legendary showman shared, "It was the weirdest thing I've ever done."

Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons

Dick Van Dyke in 2017, showing off his signature grin.

Few people manage to achieve the status of both Hollywood legend and human legend, but Dick Van Dyke is definitely one of them.

The 97-year-old actor, dancer, singer and all-around showman blew away the audience and judges of "The Masked Singer" when he was revealed as the voice behind the enigmatic "Gnome" in the show's ninth season opener. Judge Nicole Scherzinger found herself crying at witnessing the reveal.

"I love you so much. We love you so much. The whole world loves you so much," she said through tears. "I'm trying to, like, play it cool, but you look so gorgeous! You look so handsome!"

Indeed, Van Dyke looks remarkably good for being three years shy of 100, and the fact that he's still got the energy to do a wild reality show is a testament to his vitality. He truly is #aginggoals personified.

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Mom offered to pay someone to hang out with her son with Down syndrome. The response floored her.

Everyone deserves friends.

via Pexels

Two friends hanging out playing video games.

Christian Bowers of St. Charles, Missouri, has Down syndrome, which didn’t stop him from making friends in high school. But, according to Today, after he graduated and left the school's social atmosphere, he had a hard time making friends. The situation was made worse because his siblings had people over all the time.

"On the weekends, Christian watched his older sisters have sleepovers and attend parties while he sat on his own,” his mom, Donna Herter, told Today. Six months after leaving school, Bowers kept asking his mother, "When are my friends coming over?" and she had no words for him.

Herter had no idea what to do. You can’t force adults to be friends, but she couldn’t bear to watch him suffer. So she decided to pay someone to be his friend. That way, she could rely on them to come and spend time with her son.

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Kitten pushes sibling out of the way when potential adopter comes by

This is possibly the cutest sibling rivalry on the internet.

Reddit screenshots

Kitten pushes sibling out of sight when potential adopter comes by.

Adopting an animal is almost always an adventure. Looking around a pet store or animal shelter, trying to see whose personality speaks to you the most, is one of the most serotonin-releasing things animal lovers can do. Catching kittens taking cat naps or watching chubby little puppies roll all over each other can make just about anyone smile.

One potential adopter was at an adoption site, not just for the happy feels but to pick out a new kitten, and she saw one with a lot of personality peeking out from the window in the door. This sweet kitty was looking right at the woman with its furry little paws on the door in order to boost itself to get a better look.

But when the woman started talking to the curious face looking back at her, another kitten appeared and wanted this stranger's attention, too. Except...the first kitten was not at all interested in sharing the nice lady's undivided attention. Nope. No, ma'am. No, sir. No how. It was not having it. Apparently, even kittens can experience sibling rivalry, except it's far cuter and much less annoying (at least to the owners).

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Science

32 years separate this before and after of a beautiful Washington forest. Take a look.

Our relationship with our planet can be mutually beneficial if we commit ourselves to sustainability.

Left photo from Records of the Environmental Protection Agency; Right, by Miguel Vieira/Flickr.

A return to green over decades.

This article originally appeared on 12.22.16


Douglas Scott grew up on Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the dying shadow of the timber industry that had supported the region for decades.

"Nearly every home had a bright orange or yellow sign reading 'This home supported by timber dollars,'" Scott wrote on Outdoor Society.

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