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Upworthy Weekly Podcast: The '90s, dating questionnaires, the mall

Upworthy Weekly Podcast: The '90s, dating questionnaires, the mall

Our third episode is a Gen X extravaganza where Alison and Tod talk about the short-lived swing craze of the mid-'90s and review a list of things people miss from the "last great decade." Also, a brave Boy Scout rescues an injured dog, great news the media isn't telling you, and the mysterious event that occurs before death.

Questions, comments, want to share what happened in your week? Email us at UpworthyWeekly@Upworthy.com.

Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeart Radio.

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Joy

5 small things that made us smile this week

Your weekly cheat sheet to the best of the Internet

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Life can be bleak, so we’re going to be celebrating the small joys while we can—whether that’s a sweet snack that boosts your mood (courtesy of our friends at All In), or a dad joke so epic you'll hurt your eyes from rolling them so hard. These momentary mood boosters are everywhere you look—you just have to be able to find them underneath all the noise. And that’s where we come in.

Consider this weekly web series your cheat sheet to the best of the Internet—not just random memes to make you laugh, but examples of people truly finding something extraordinary in the mundane. Each Friday we'll be delivering five pieces of media that allow you to stop for a second, take a breath, and feel just a little bit brighter among the daily stress—and this week, in honor of Father's Day, it's dad-themed.

Ready to smile? Here we go.

1.The "soulmated so hard" trend

@breezeb3a

I’ll never recover from losing you 💓

♬ The Winner Is... Version - DeVotchKa

This is a TikTok trend that’s both wholesome and, at times, actually jaw-dropping. The premise is this: Pets can be our soulmates, and sometimes we “soulmate” so hard that our pets leave a lifelong impression on us. This trend has people showing how big of an impression their pets have made on them, even after they’ve crossed the rainbow bridge. In one video, user Brianna Kay shares an ultrasound of her baby with what looks like the outline of her dog kissing the baby on the forehead. In another video, an owner asks her soulmate cat to send her a sign from beyond the grave that she is at peace. The response (here) will shock you.

2. Dudes getting flowers

Why is it that men (traditionally speaking) are the ones who give flowers, and not usually the ones who get them? We don’t have a good answer for that, but it’s clearly time to flip the script. This week, our friends from All In are hitting the streets of New York and delivering bouquets to men, and they are absolutely loving it. Let’s make this a regular thing.

3. A new grandpa gets good news  

@ellelauricella In my feels today remembering my dad’s reaction to meeting my baby ❤️ We named his middle name after my father and kept it a surprise my whole pregnancy. This was one of the happiest moments of my whole life. #postpartum #dad #dadsoftiktok #dadanddaughter #grandson #firstgrandbaby #birthvlog #hospitalbirth #momsoftiktok #fyp #firsttimemom ♬ Stuff We Did (from 'Up') - Piano Version - your movie soundtrack

Just in time for Father's Day! There’s almost no better way to honor your dad than naming a new baby after him, which is exactly what happens in this video. It’s almost impossible not to cry (happy tears!) seeing this new grandpa learn the good news from his daughter, who’s already weepy from postpartum hormones. (We’re not crying, you’re crying.)

4. Dad's loving dogs

@aubree.avery I had to make a PowerPoint to convice my parents to let me get her & now she is four years old and my parents beg me everyday to let them keep her. #dogmom #doodle #doodlesoftiktok #dogs ♬ Kiss me Sixpence None The Richer - whitelinesprettybabyy

Speaking of adorable dads: It seems like there’s this universal experience where when someone brings a pet into a household, the dad of the household will refuse to bond with it (at least at first). TikTok has latched on to this truth and is now flipping the script, showcasing dads who initially refused to accept the family pet and are now treating it like their precious firstborn. Search “dads and the dog they didn’t want” on TikTok and you’ll find some hilarious examples (like this dad, testing every couch inside a furniture store to make sure he’s able to adequately rub the dog’s belly from his seat on the sofa).

5. A dog who just cannot handle a prank 

@haleyandthepets spoiler bro got mad instantly #foryou #foryoupage #dogs #fyp #dunkindadawg #viral ♬ snoopy von - joro.mixes

We can never share enough dog content, right? (That was a rhetorical question, because the answer is of course not.) Dogs are adorable. They’re hilarious. And they have some very strong feelings. In this video, one easygoing dog gets his “nose stolen” as a prank, and every time he finds out, he shows his owner that he is absolutely not having it. Give that baby her nose back!

For even more “extra”-ordinary moments, come find us on social media (@upworthy) or on upworthy.com!

For scrumptious snacks that add an extra boost of joy to your day, be sure to check out All In.

Learning

The one sign that someone is highly intelligent, according to literary genius Leo Tolstoy

He was a master of understanding the human condition.

en.m.wikipedia.org

Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy.

Leo Tolstoy was a Russian novelist known for epic works such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina. His life experiences—from witnessing war to spiritual quests—profoundly influenced his writings and gave him profound insights into the human soul. His understanding of emotions, motivations and moral dilemmas has made his work stand the test of time, and it still resonates with people today.

Julian de Medeiros, a TikToker who shares his thoughts on philosophy, recently shared how Tolstoy knew if someone was highly intelligent—and his observation says something extraordinary about humanity.

intelligence, thinking, thought process, humanity, humansAn intelligent man's thought process.Canva Photos

“The more intelligent a person is, the more he discovers kindness in others,” Tolstoy once wrote. “For nothing enriches the world more than kindness. It makes mysterious things clear, difficult things easy, and dull things cheerful.”

@julianphilosophy

Intelligent people are kind #intelligent #intelligence #kindness #smart #tolstoy #men #women


De Medeiros boiled down Tolstoy’s thoughts into a simple statement: “Intelligent people are unafraid to be kind.” He then took things a step further by noting that Tolstoy believed in the power of emotional intelligence. "To have emotional intelligence is to see the good in other people, that is what Tolstoy meant, that to be intelligent is to be kind," he added.

It seems that, according to de Medeiros, Tolstoy understood that intelligent people are kind and perceptive of the kindness in others. The intelligent person is conscious of the kindness within themselves and in the world around them.

In a 2024 opinion piece for Inc., author and speaker Jeff Hayden cites organizational psychologist Adam Grant, who says, "Generosity isn't just a sign of virtue. It's also a mark of intelligence. Data: people with high IQs have more unselfish values, give more to charity, and negotiate better deals for others. They prioritize the long-term collective good over short-term self-interest. It's smarter to be a giver than a taker."

Hayden adds on to this statement, saying, "...You can also be smart enough to be generous, thoughtful, and kind. You can be smart enough to build people up instead of tearing them down. You can be smart enough to give before you receive (or better yet, with no expectation of reciprocation.) You can be smart enough to shift the credit from yourself to others."

kindness, intelligence, humanity, human condition, be kindKids showing kindness through sharing. Canva Photos

In other words, these findings certainly line up with what Tolstoy's take on the correlation between kindness and intelligence.

Through Tolstoy's musings, de Medeiros (and Hayden and Grant) makes a point that is often overlooked when people talk about intelligence: truly smart people are as in touch with their hearts as they are with their minds.

This article originally appeared two years ago. It has been updated.

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A resurfaced clip of Robin Williams joking with Tom Cruise is a masterclass in comedy

"I'd walk 15 miles in the snow to stand in your garbage."

Gage Skidmore, Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy, Wikipedia

Tom Cruise at 2019 SDCC. Robin Williams on a 2008 USO tour.

The year was 1994, and it was an especially exciting People's Choice Awards. All the heavy-hitting A-listers were nominated, and many of them won. Superstars like Tom Cruise (for his dramatic role in The Firm), Julia Roberts (for The Pelican Brief), and yes — the beloved Robin Williams.

After Williams won for his delightful performance in/as Mrs. Doubtfire, he was answering questions at the press Q&A. Just as he was mid-sentence, he received a heckle from the crowd, yelling, "Robin!" Williams immediately yelled, "Yo!" toward the direction of the person and then realized, lo and behold, it was Tom Cruise.

Williams begins screaming, "I love you, Tom! Tom, I love you!" To which Cruise enthusiastically answers, "Robin!" And then, in brilliant typical Williams fashion, he immediately descends into a quick-witted impression of Cruise's Rain Man co-star Dustin Hoffman's character, Raymond.

Switching back and forth between both Cruise and Hoffman's characters, Williams asks, "Raymond, you like Tom?" "Yeah." Very good friend." "Yeah." "Tom Cruise." "Yeah." "A lot of awards." "Yeah." "304 votes." "Yeah." "Got his own awards." "Yeah." He then quickly breaks back into his own voice and exclaims, "You're a vampire now! I'm amazed that you're a vampire!"

Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man, moviesCruise and Hoffman walk in the movie Rain Man.Giphy, Rain Man GIF by Filmin

At this point, Cruise walks up onto the stage to shake Williams's hand, which Williams immediately turns into a giant bear hug. He then shouts, as though he's the emcee at a comedy club, "Tom Cruise, ladies and gentlemen. Please give it up for Tom Cruise!" As Cruise approaches the microphone, Williams says, "They're gonna ask you questions about Steven, so good luck!" (He's referring to Steven Spielberg, who was receiving a special award that evening and with whom they would both eventually work.)

But it doesn't end there. Williams then offers to translate for Cruise in Russian. So as Cruise admits, "Of course I have to go AFTER Robin," Williams pretends to translate, while the crowd erupts with laughter. He then looks at Cruise and jokes, "Damn, we look like a before and after commercial," noting Cruise's good looks. In a jokey voice, Williams riffs, "Hi, thanks to this incredible implant, you can become Tom Cruise!" In a different voice, Williams adds, "Damn, the boy's pretty. I love him! I walked 15 miles in the snow to stand in your garbage."

Williams takes off, only to return seconds later exclaiming, "You're a pretty man! And a damn good actor too," before shaking his hand. Just as we think we're about to get to Cruise's portion of the night, Williams asks him, "Can I ask you a question?" Cruise and the rest of the audience laugh with glee.

- YouTube, Robin Williams, Tom Cruisewww.youtube.com, The Hollywood Fix

The comment section is joyous. Under the same video on YouTube (mistakenly labeled as People's Choice acceptance speech), a commenter adds, "Literally no one will ever come close to Williams. That man was an all-in-one machine. He didn't learn comedy... He WAS comedy."

That video includes Cruise's Q&A portion, alongside his The Firm co-star, Gene Hackman.

Referencing that, another person posted, "Gene Hackman was an insanely talented actor, and Robin was just one inimitable, unique, and special human that blessed us all with his talents."

Another solemnly shares in part, "Enjoying this time capsule from the mid-1990s, it was so cool watching Robin being Robin once more, in his prime. But sad too, knowing the fate of this incredible comic genius."

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Music

Freddie Mercury soundalike gets 10,000 people to spontaneously sing Queen's 'Love of My Life'

Marc Martel captures Freddie's unique voice almost perfectly.

Marc Martel/YouTube

Marc Martel sings with the audience in Santiago, Chile, in May of 2022.

Freddie Mercury was known for many things—his dramatic showmanship, his larger-than-life personality, and his untimely death during the peak of the AIDS epidemic—but he is most remembered for his clear, powerful voice, ranging from rich bass notes to impressive soprano coloratura.

It's hard to do Freddie's voice justice, but Marc Martel has managed to wow millions with his impersonations of the Queen lead singer. If you close your eyes and listen, there are seconds when you might swear you were hearing Freddie himself singing again.

freddie mercury, queenFreddie Mercury knew how to work an audience.Giphy

Martel's cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody" has been viewed 56 million times on YouTube. And another of his videos showcases Martel's ability to captivate an audience with his—or Freddie's—voice.

At a concert in Santiago, Chile, in 2022, Martel began playing the piano intro to "Love of My Life," one of Queen's simplest and most sentimental ballads. As soon as he opened his mouth to sing, the audience did the same—10,000 people all singing along in unison—and it's just beautiful.

Watch:

- YouTubeyoutu.be

Queen fans not only loved the sing-a-long but they were also blown away by how close Martel came to channeling Freddie Mercury with his vocals:

"I'm 63. Heard Queen from the start. This man is unbelievable. Why Queen didn't grab him is unbelievable, beyond belief."

"For those of us who love the Mercury timbre, Martel is a blessing."

"The part "you've hurt me" sounds exactly like Freddie. I also love the fact that people are singing too, it gives me Queen concerts vibes :)"

"When the crowd started singing, it genuinely gave me goosebumps. It was like he was singing with a choir. Some great voices in the audience! Well mixed too. Incredible as always!"

"Never mind the vocal inflections, he plays piano outstandingly. Freddie’s voice was so unique and original, it’s unbelievable how close Marc is."

And if you want to see Martel's "Bohemian Rhapsody" video with 56 million views, here it is. Enjoy:

- YouTubeyoutu.be

Amazingly enough, Martel never took singing lessons, instead learning from imitating his favorite vocalists. He also didn't grow up listening to Queen—he came to appreciate their music later in life.

Martel told Altwire in 2023 how he feels about constantly being compared to the late, great icon, Freddie Mercury:

"It’s obviously an honor, and I’ve been getting that comparison for a while, over 12 years now, on a regular basis, no matter what music I’m singing. Even when I try not to sound like Freddie, people will come up to me and there was a point where I was counting how many people would say that to me after a show, like 'Hey! Has anyone ever told you that you sound like Freddie Mercury?' It was at least 5 every time, without fail.

"It is an honor, there are far worse singers out there to be compared to. I’ve come to terms with it. I’ve accepted it, and it’s something I’m never going to escape, so why bother? If I tried to escape it, or kind of morph my voice into something unnatural. It’s the way I sound and thankfully it’s someone who people genuinely love to hear."

Martel is taking his voice on the road again in 2025, touring the United States through the summer and heading to Europe in fall. If we can't have Freddie Mercury live, singing along with Martel to Queen's classics may just be the next best thing.

You can find more of Marc Martel's Freddie Mercury magic on YouTube.

This article originally appeared two years ago.

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Men reveal touching compliments women have said to them that pulled their heartstrings

"After 49 years and 8 months together out of the blue she says, 'I’m still in love with you'.

Image via Canva

Men share the most heart-warming things people have told them that had deep impact.

Kind words and compliments can sometimes mean so much more than anticipated. And certain compliments from women to men can have a deep and lasting impact, whether they are from a spouse, parent, friend, or even a stranger.

In an online forum, member kitcat1098 posed the question: "Men, what has a woman told you that touched your heart more than you let on?"

And men did not hold back divulging the impactful things women have said to them. These are 21 of the best compliments a woman has given a man, according to men.

man crying, man tears, man happy tears, emotional man, man emotionsTears Crying GIFGiphy

"A classmate in anthropology class, we were making casual conversation while we examined bones and I told her I had a brother and she asked me 'is he like you? So gentle?' I have very low self esteem, or rather a lot of self loathing. When I get a compliment my instinct is to think I’m being mocked or pitied. That one came out of left field, and it actually got past my mental defenses and connected. It was also genuinely, genuinely touching to me." DPPestDarkestDesires

"Ex gf and I were leaving her families' holiday dinner. I made a casual comment, something to the effect of 'Nana remembered both me and my job. I think she likes me.' And her reply struck me like a lightning bolt. She casually said (while still staring at her phone) 'Of course Nana likes you. You are a genuine and kind person. Who wouldn't like you?' She didn't mean it as a compliment. She said it like an observation that any other person would have made and seemed almost annoyed that I didn't understand how they both apparently saw my interaction with her. I never told her how much that meant to me." whovian5690

"After 49 years and 8 months together out of the blue she says, 'I’m still in love with you'. Separate_Gazelle3481

in love, still in love, love, romantic love, kissingIn Love Kiss GIFGiphy

"My mom passed away a couple years ago from Covid and I was her primary caretaker for over 10 years before that. She was a single mom and meant everything to me. I have really bad confidence issues and struggled extremely hard with depression. To be frank, I was a lazy sack of shit. After my mom passed I ended up losing everything and basically ended up having a trial by fire trying to become a functioning adult all within like 2 months. A couple months ago I took my Grandma (her mom) out to lunch and she looked at me and just said 'your mom would be so proud of you.' It hit me like a ton of bricks because I still feel like I'm behind everyone else at my age and haven't really ever experienced that before." EppsXIII

"I’m an engineer and used to be an engineering team leader when my amazing General Manager left for another opportunity. I was asked if I would like to be considered to take his place and oversee sales and construction in addition to engineering, as well as P&L responsibility for the region. I was wavering on it and told my wife, 'I don’t know. (My predecessor) was from more of a sales background and a better public speaker and …..' She told me, 'You don’t need to be (your predecessor). You can just be you and bring your own strengths and leadership qualities.' I got that job and have served in that position for the last 8 years. It was the best career decision I ever made, and thinking about that conversation with my wife still chokes me up." Scintelle

"My girlfriend told me that I'm the father to our daughters that she always wished she had growing up and I think about that all the time." Tydozer_

smile, smiling man, emotional man, happy man, touching momentIn Love Awww GIFGiphy

"Two women said, unannounced and without knowing my situation, called me a good dude they could always depend on, without prompt or self pity. It was..really, really, nice to hear." cgtdream

"My wife when she told me she was proud of me for standing up to my emotionally abusive parents after almost 30 years of keeping my mouth shut and being a doormat. I cried, but even that doesn't come close to letting her know how much that meant to me and words can't describe it." Deylar419

"Our daughter was born with a heart defect. She died at 6 weeks old. My wife turned to me a few weeks after the funeral and said 'you’re a rock all the time and I appreciate it more than words will ever be able to express, but it’s time for you to let it out.' I wasn’t okay for quite a few hours after that." BGOG83

"I'm a 50/50 single dad. I was in Walmart and a woman overheard me talking to my son, who was 4 at the time. We crossed paths later on and she stopped me and complimented me on how I talk to my son. 'There aren't very many dads out there who are like that with their children. It's really nice to see.' I was completely stunned and I struggled to maintain my composure with a weak 'Thank you.' I had to stop for a few minutes to process it and I was so overwhelmed that tears were flowing. I've been trying so hard to raise my little guy since he was a year old, struggling at times, trying to do things right. No one ever asks me how I'm doing, I've had people treat me like absolute shit since my breakup and I talk to only a small fraction of the people I used to. His mom and I are on good terms as co-parents and I won't ever budge from that. To have a complete stranger stop and compliment me like that just meant so much." j1ggy

good dad, compliment, nod, agree, yesProud Schitts Creek GIF by CBCGiphy

"Twenty six years ago a girl told me I had friendly eyebrows." OneTimeIMadeAGif

"'Thank you for bringing dignity to this dump.' -eccentric old lady in McDonald’s. Narrowly, I think she just meant the McDonald’s, since I was wearing a suit, but I choose to apply the sentiment more broadly." BubblyTaro6234

"(I found her father dying from a heart attack). It was a week later after he passed. We were in bed together she said 'you can cry and I won’t tell anyone'. I looked up to that man a lot and how he lived his life." hdlog43

"Had a girl seemingly out of nowhere ask me if I was doing alright yesterday. I don’t think I was putting out negative vibes or anything. It was just a check in. It was kind of awesome." abrandnewanthem

happy, happy man, smiling, happy smile, excited manHappy Lets Go GIF by US OpenGiphy

"My wife showed me a picture of her and our daughters getting some froyo and she said 'thanks babe for working so hard so that we can afford a treat on a Tuesday'. Somehow it made me feel like all the hours I slave away and don't have with my family are actually worth something. I got all watery-eyed and happy. It like refueled me." Engininja_180PI

"I’ve been close to only a few girls in my life. And one thing they’ve said about me is that I’m a good listener. I’ve always taken it as a compliment but I honestly don’t know what I did that warranted that comment. I literally just listened to them talk. I don’t take notes or give encouraging comments and honestly, I don’t even remember what they say sometimes. Anyway, I was talking to a girl I’m seeing and I brought this up and she agreed. I was wondering what she thought and was expecting her to give some insight but then she said 'but do they listen to what YOU have to say ?' I was honestly taken aback. I did not expect her to be concerned about that for me. And I was honestly so touched." zool714

"That she feels safe with me." Inside-Cod1550

hug, safety, safe, feel safe, safe feelingcouple hug GIFGiphy

"My girlfriend telling me she feels safe being herself around me, and then proceeding to meow at me and us proceeding to meow at each other like two completely normal people." BaconAndVibes

"'You're the only man that has ever treated me with respect.' I wasn't even trying flirt with her, she was my groupmate back in college and I treated her like any other bro. I guess its because she is very attractive that she gets a lot of unwanted male attention. It was both a compliment and something very sad for me." KapePaMore009

"I wasn't the easiest kid to have, nothing crazy but messy, lazy, etc. A few years after moving out my mom said she 'misses me so much' and here I was convinced she was exited to be an empty nester... got to my feels." steadyhands25

"I once had a coworker tell me I looked nice. To her it was probably just something of a nicety. But to me, well I still remember it 10 years later." BaddestKarmaToday


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Former NYC cop handles his first Florida alligator, and its a delightful 'squealing' mess

“One of our newer officers from New York experienced his very first-run in with a gator and it showed!"

Largo Police Department/Facebook

Officer Martinez is all of us non-Floridians.

A police officer who moved from New York to Florida just reached a new milestone as a Florida cop: handling a rogue alligator.

Thanks to a fun video posted to Facebook by Florida's Largo Police Department (LPD), we see the newly arrived Officer Christopher Martinez on "his first alligator call." And well, he handled it a bit like anyone outside of the state would.

“While most of our team handled it like a pro,” the LPD wrote in its caption, “one of our newer officers [Martinez] from New York experienced his very first-run in with a gator and it showed! Let’s just say there was some jumping and maybe some squealing.”

florida, florida gator, new york vs florida, cops, funny videos, funny police videos, wholesomeOfficer Martinez getting hazed, Florida-style.Largo Police Department/Facebook

In the now-viral clip, with over 2 million views, a visibly nervous Martinez has his gloved hands in the air as he tries to wrap his head around what to do.

“Okay, let’s talk about how we’re going to do this,” he says, trying—and failing—to remain calm. His fellow officers can’t help but laugh as Martinez keeps backing away every time his partner tries to hand the critter off.

“IT HAS SO MUCH BITE FORCE!” Martinez exclaims. Meanwhile, his partner kindly reminds him that with tape around its mouth, the gator actually has a bite force of zero.

Finally, Martinez musters up the strength to take the creature, only when it starts to flap about in his hand, he loses it, crying “Aghhh… Oh my God!” in at least two octaves higher than his normal speaking voice.

florida, florida gator, new york vs florida, cops, funny videos, funny police videos, wholesomeA very normal reaction, tbh. Largo Police Department/Facebook

And then, through whimpers, we hear “take a picture for the love of god.” This guy gets it. Even in the face of imminent danger, one simply must strike a pose.

As Martinez hands the captured gator back to his partner, it once again squirms, which of course sends Martinez screaming into the distance and his teammate roaring with laughter.

“Welcome to Florida, Officer Martinez,” the onscreen text reads. The department also added that, I"the gator was safely removed and relocated to a proper area," and despite Martinez's traumatic reaction, "no officers were harmed."

florida, florida gator, new york vs florida, cops, funny videos, funny police videos, wholesomeNot all heroes wear capes. Largo Police Department/Facebook

florida, florida gator, new york vs florida, cops, funny videos, funny police videos, wholesomeNailed it, Officer Martinez.Largo Police Department/Facebook

Down in the comments fellow Floridians had a field day.

“New Yorkers all hard core until a baby dinosaur arrives,” one viewer quipped.

“Better get used to it.....there are bigger ones that ring doorbells lol” warned another.

“Wait until he finds out they climb fences too lol ” someone else wrote, to which another responded, “...or slips through the doggy doors.”

Listen, Florida: for the rest of us (save maybe Louisiana), handling gators is not a normal thing! We don’t have an Alligator Hotline, okay? We don’t have “throwing a gator into a recycling bin” as part of our morning routine? We’re not this guy:

But hey, kudos to you all for handling the wildlife like champs. But all this gator chat has led us to this question: is “must know how to handle an alligator” on every job description, or is that just sort of assumed? Inquiring minds wanna know.

To watch Officer Martinez's big moment, click here.

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