Ah, 1989. It's not just an iconic Taylor Swift album, but one of the greatest years on record, according to many who lived threough it. Not everything was great, of course. There was the tragic violence in Tiananmen Square. But there was also the dismantling of the Berlin Wall. Tim Burton's Batman was the top film at the box office, while Seinfeld and The Simpsons took television by storm.Yes, the eighties were epic. The jeans were pegged, the shoulders were padded and the hair was feathered and huge. It was 1989—the peak of Gen X youth coming of age. And nowhere is there better proof of that specific moment in time than a recent viral video of a group of high school students sitting at their desks in 1989.Undoubtedly filmed by some geeky kid in the AV club who probably went on to found an internet startup, the clip has gone viral across social media, tapping straight into Gen X's memory banks. For those of us who were in high school at the time, it's like hopping into a time machine.It's so wild to think that the kids in this video are in their fifties today. The show "Stranger Things" has given young folks of today a pretty good glimpse of that era, but if you want to see exactly what the late '80s looked like for real, here it is: — (@) Oh so many mullets. And the Skid Row soundtrack is just the icing on this nostalgia cake. (Hair band power ballads were ubiquitous, kids.)I swear I went to high school with every person in this video. Like, I couldn't have scripted a more perfect representation of my classmates (which is funny considering that this video came from Paramus High School in New Jersey and I went to high school on the opposite side of the country).Comments have poured in on Reddit from both Gen Xers who lived through this era and those who have questions.First, the confirmations:"Can confirm. I was a freshman that year, and not only did everyone look exactly like this (Metallica shirt included), I also looked like this. ??""I graduated in ‘89, and while I didn’t go to this school, I know every person in this room.""It's like I can virtually smell the AquaNet and WhiteRain hairspray from here....""I remember every time you went to the bathroom you were hit with a wall of hairspray and when the wind blew you looked like you had wings.""Class of 87 here!! I was the guy wearing the Metallica shirt for sure."' The Metallica shirt was everywhere in 1989. Giphy "These kids look like my high school classmates, even tho I was on the West-Coast and they were on the East. I had actually forgotten about how many mullets there were and the perms were everywhere! Oh, and let’s not leave out the giant bangs and blue eyeshadow with pink lip gloss. And yes, I was part of the enormous bang club!"These were not isolated trends. A video yearbook from Jericho High School in New York confirms it — the eighties were everywhere! - YouTube www.youtube.com Then the observations about how differently we responded to cameras back then."Also look how uncomfortable our generation was in front of the camera! I mean I still am! To see kids now immediately pose as soon as a phone is pointed at them is insanity to me ?""Born in 84 and growing up in the late 80’s and 90’s, it’s hard to explain to younger people that video cameras weren’t everywhere and you didn’t count on seeing yourself in what was being filmed. You just smiled and went on with your life.""It is crazy how uncomfortable everyone seemed to be knowing they were on camera compared to kids today. Gen Xer here and would still feel awkward taking a selfie."Even the official "video yearbook" from Pickerington High School the same year couldn't escape the inherent awkawrdness: - YouTube www.youtube.com Which, of course, led to some inevitable "ah the good old days" laments. When this video was captured, we were still a good decade or so away from mass popularity of cell phones, cable television, and every house having the Internet. Can you believe it? What did these kids do all day?!"Life was better before the Internet. There, I said it.""Not a single cell phone to be seen. Oh the freedom.""It's so nice to be reminded what life was like before cell phones absorbed and isolated social gatherings.""I genuinely wish I didn’t grow up In the 21st century"It was a different time, alright. And not everything was 100% for the better:"My freshman year of high school there was a huge uproar when, on the first day's assembly, admin informed everyone that the smoking lounge for students would indeed be closed permanently."Probably for the best that we left things like smoking lounges for students or playing real fast and loose with seatbelts in the past.But perhaps the most common response was how old those teens looked."Why do they all look like they're in their 30's?""Everyone in this video is simultaneously 17 and 49 years old.""Now we know why they always use 30 y/o actors in high school movies." There's no escaping that teenagers in the 80s looked like grown adults. Giphy As some people pointed out, there is an explanation for why they look old to us. It has more to do with how we interpret the fashion than how old they actually look. Outdated styles and aesthetics trick our psychology into dating photos and people, making them appear older than they are.Ah, what a fun little trip down memory lane for those of us who lived it. Was it a better time, or a time we'd rather forget? It all depends on what your own experience was, but in any case, it's hard not to look back and smile at what was certainly a simpler era. (Let's just all agree to never bring back those hairstyles, though, k?)This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated.

Any parent knows that kids can be surprisingly astute little philosophers at the most unexpected times. One minute, your child is throwing a tantrum because you sliced their sandwich wrong, and the next, they are blowing you away with their deep preschool thoughts. It's enough to give you whiplash, but it's also one of the most fun things about being around kids. You never know what they're going to say, and sometimes what they say is just awesome.Case in point: This 5-year-old who gave his mom some sage advice about handling her nerves. X user @Eprecipice (StressieBessie) shared the story in a tweet thread. She wrote: "When talking about our agendas for the day, I told my 5yo I was a little nervous about a meeting I have today. He said, 'Mama, I am nervous all the time. I know what to do.' So friends, here is all the advice he could fit into the drive to school:"A 5-year-old's incredible advice A very thoughtful child. via Canva/Photos1. “You gotta say your affirmations in your mouth and your heart. You say, ‘I am brave of this meeting!’ , ‘I am loved!’, ‘I smell good!’ And you can say five or three or ten until you know it.”Okay, first of all, the fact that this kiddo knows what affirmations are is awesome. Some people have questioned whether this advice really came from a 5-year-old because of the vocabulary, but kids are sponges, and affirmations aren't rocket science. It's become quite common for preschools and kindergartens to teach kids things like this, so it's not actually surprising to hear him talk about affirmations. It's just adorable to hear the ones he suggests.When talking about our agendas for the day, I told my 5yo I was a little nervous about a meeting I have today. He said, “Mama, I am nervous all the time. I know what to do.” So friends, here is all the advice he could fit into the drive to school:— StressieBessie (@EPrecipice) January 25, 2022 2. “You gotta walk big. You gotta mean it. Like Dolly on a dinosaur. Because you got it.”Okay, so this actually is sound advice. Researcher Amy Cuddy gave a whole TED Talk about how our minds respond to our own body language, and how using confident body language can actually release chemicals in our brains that make us feel more powerful and self-assured. So "walk big" like you mean it is legit.2. “You gotta walk big. You gotta mean it. Like Dolly on a dinosaur. Because you got it.”— StressieBessie (@EPrecipice) January 25, 2022 3. "Never put a skunk on a bus."No idea what this means, but it's definitely solid wisdom.4. "Think about the donuts of your day! Even if you cry a little, you can think about potato chips!"I'm genuinely not sure if this is referencing real donuts or not, which is part of what makes it delightful advice. Metaphorically, "the donuts of your day" could be the positive things that happened, and focusing on those instead of the negative is basic positive thinking. Then again, if you cry and think about potato chips, perhaps he's just referencing comfort with food. Either way, totally feeling it.4. “Think about the donuts of your day! Even if you cry a little, you can think about potato chips!”— StressieBessie (@EPrecipice) January 25, 2022 5. "You gotta take a deep breath and you gotta do it again."Pretty much every therapist from every psychological school of thought will tell you that breathing exercises are one of the quickest ways to calm your body and mind. Simple, but seriously sound advice.6. "Even if it's a yucky day, you can get a hug."Even though it sounds like a pretty typical thought for a kid, it's also good advice for well-being. According to The Conversation, the chemicals released when we hug can help us manage stress, reduce anxiety, and manage our emotions. They can also improve sleep, reduce stress reactivity, increase well-being, and help fight off infections. So when the going gets rough, there's nothing wrong with hugging it out. Smart kid.He added one more piece of advice for good measure6. “Even if it’s a yucky day, you can get a hug.”— StressieBessie (@EPrecipice) January 25, 2022 “Don’t get distracted and your feet will stay on the sidewalk and not too full of snow.” That's sage advice if I ever heard it. Like a little Confucius, this one.Seriously, if you ever want to hear some of the most oddly profound things you'll ever hear in your life, spend some time interviewing a 4- or 5-year-old. They really do say the darnedest things. And if you're nervous about something, just keep telling yourself you're "brave of" it. If nothing else, it'll bring a smile to your face remembering this delightful thread.This article originally appeared three years ago.

It's no secret that pet owners are obsessed with snapping candid photos of sleeping dogs, yawning cats, and anything that looks cute, cuddly, or hilarious. Taking photos is one way we humans express our love for our pets.The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are a fun-filled competition created by Tom Sullam and Paul Joynson-Hicks to promote positive awareness of animal welfare issues. Past winners include a well-timed shot of a monkey who appears to have hurt the family jewels on a suspension wire. (Don't worry, folks, no monkeys were harmed for the awards.) The competition has been so successful that the duo decided to branch out and create the Comedy Pet Photo Awards, where photographers can submit pictures of their furry friends for a £2,000 ($2,650) prize. Watching Make It Rain GIF Giphy Donations generated by the competition go to Animal Support Angels, an animal welfare charity in the U.K. The 2024 winner features a dog shoving his head through a way-too-small cat door. In 2023, the champion was a kitten caught red-handed trying to sneak-attack his brother. (The competition is on hiatus for 2025 but will resume in 2026.)But even several years later, the crop of winners from the 2021 contest remains one of the best ever. The overall champion was Zoe Ross for "Whizz Pop," a photo of her labrador puppy Pepper, who appears to be tooting bubbles.Overall Winner: Zoe Ross "Whizz Pop," Penkridge, U.K. Overall Winner: Zoe Ross "Whizz Pop," Labrador puppy, Penkridge, UK© Zoe Ross /Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 Did this puppy swallow a bubble? Either he drank some bubble solution or this photographer just happened to have remarkable timing.“We never ever thought that we would win but entered the competition because we loved the idea of helping a charity just by sending in a funny photo of Pepper," Ross said in a statement. "She is such a little monkey, and very proud of herself, bringing in items from the garden and parading past you until you notice her. She is the happiest puppy we’ve ever known and completely loved to pieces.”Here are the rest of the winners of the 2021 Comedy Pet Photo Awards.Best Dog Category: Carmen Cromer "Jurassic Bark," Pittsboro, North Carolina Best Dog Category: Carmen Cromer "Jurassic Bark," Pittsboro, North Carolina© Carmen Cromer/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "My golden retriever, Clementine, loves to stick her face in front of the hose while I water the plants. Her expression in this photo made me think of a tyrannosaurus rex, hence the title, "Jurassic Bark." Duh nuh nuuuh nuhnuh, duh nuh nuuuh nuh nuh, dun duh duuuh nuh nuh nuh nUUUUUUhhhh." – Carmen CromerBest Cat Category: Kathrynn Trott "Photobomb," Ystradgynlais, U.K. Best Cat Category: Kathrynn Trott "Photobomb," Ystradgynlais, U.K.Best Dog Category: Carmen Cromer "Jurassic Bark," Pittsboro, North Carolina Jeff stealing the limelight from his brother Jaffa. What is it that cats love so much about photobombing?Best Horse Category: Mary Ellis, "I Said 'Good Morning,'" Platte River State Park, Nebraska Best Horse Category: Mary Ellis, "I Said 'Good Morning,'" Platte River State Park, NebraskaBest Cat Category: Kathrynn Trott "Photobomb," Ystradgynlais, U.K. "I like to visit the stable horses before I begin my hike at the State Park. This is the reply I received when I said 'Good morning.'" – Mary EllisWhen they say you should never look a gift horse in the mouth, maybe this is what they had in mind.All Other Creatures Category: Sophie Bonnefoi, "The Eureka Moment," Oxford, U.K. All Other Creatures Category: Sophie Bonnefoi, "The Eureka Moment," Oxford, U.K.© Sophie Bonnefoi/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "Cutie and Speedy are two chicks hatched from eggs placed in an incubator at home in August 2020. They spent their first few weeks indoors. In the photo, they are just over two weeks old. They were curious about everything. This is the day they discovered their own shadow. It was hilarious to see them wondering and exploring that 'dark thing' that was moving with them!" – Sophie BonnefoiJunior Category: Suzi Lonergan, "Sit!" Pacific Palisades, California Junior Category: Suzi Lonergan, "Sit!" Pacific Palisades, California© Suzi Lonergan/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "Our granddaughter gave the command to sit. Beau is very obedient." – Suzi LonerganAnyone who's ever owned an oversized dog has been here before. This snapshot absolutely reflects the hilarious reality of keeping a gentle giant in your home.Pets Who Look Like Their Owners Category: Jakub Gojda, "That Was a Good One!" Czech Republic Pets Who Look Like Their Owners Category: Jakub Gojda, "That Was a Good One!" Czech Republic© Jakub Gojda/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "This photo was taken by accident during the photography of my ex-girlfriend with her beloved mare. For this cheerful moment, I thank the fly that sat on the horse's nose and he instinctively shook his head." – Jakub Gojda.The resemblance is uncanny!Highly Commended: Chloe Beck, "Hugo the Photobomber," Walsall, U.K. Highly Commended: Chloe Beck, "Hugo the Photobomber," Walsall, U.K.© Chloe Beck/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "This is my best friend Faith, her husband Alex, and their cheeky Sproodle, Hugo. Faith wanted a photograph to mark a special occasion—her first outing after shielding at home for 14 months. Hugo jumped into the frame at just the right moment!" – Chloe BeckHighly Commended: Luke O'Brien, "Mumford and Chum," Coventry, U.K. Highly Commended: Luke O'Brien, "Mumford and Chum," Coventry, U.K.© Luke O'Brien/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "Losing the opportunity to play with my human bandmates during lockdown, Flint, my rescue dog, soon taught me that we didn't just have sharp bones in common, but musical ones, too. He soon became the perfect substitute for a collaborative stomp up at home, so much so that we felt we deserved our own band name (Muttford and Chum). With my camera set up remotely during this shoot, I think it's fair to say that the image is proof that his conviction as a performer matches my own." – Luke O'Brien.Luke and Flint could have been strong competitors in the lookalike contest, if you ask me.Highly Commended: Kathryn Clark, "Wine Time," Chichester, U.K. Highly Commended: Kathryn Clark, "Wine Time," Chichester, U.K.© Kathryn Clark/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "It's that time of day again! Little Blue enjoys it almost as much as me." – Kathryn Clark.This cat just gets it.Highly Commended: Diana Jill Mehner, "Crazy in Love With Fall," Paderborn, Germany Highly Commended: Diana Jill Mehner, "Crazy in Love With Fall," Paderborn, Germany© Diana Jill Mehner/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "This is Leia. As you can see, she definitely loves playing with all the leaves in autumn. It was really tricky to take this picture because you never know what the dog is going to do next." – Diana Jill MehnerHighly Commended: Christine Johnson, "Boing," Crosby Beach, U.K. Highly Commended: Christine Johnson, "Boing," Crosby Beach, U.K.© Christine Johnson/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "I was busy playing with my dog on the beach and this dog came to play. I liked the shapes he was making in the air." – Christine JohnsonHighly Commended: Manel Subirats Ferrer, "Ostrich Style," Platja del Prat de Llobregat, Spain Highly Commended: Manel Subirats Ferrer, "Ostrich Style," Platja del Prat de Llobregat, Spain© Manel Subirats Ferrer/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 Nuka playing hide and seek at the beach. Hey, we've all buried our head in the sand at one point or another.Highly Commended: Colin Doyle, "Nosey Neighbor," Bromsgrove, U.K. Highly Commended: Colin Doyle, "Nosey Neighbor," Bromsgrove, U.K.© Colin Doyle/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "According to Ozzy, we need a new fence panel ASAP. He is fed up with Chester our nosy next door neighbor spying on him every time he has a meal." – Colin Doyle.There's a lot going on in this one, but the hidden camera is what really makes it a winner.Highly Commended: Corey Seeman, "A Warm Spot on a Cold Day," Michigan Highly Commended: Corey Seeman, "A Warm Spot on a Cold Day," Michigan© Corey Seeman/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "Two of the morning regulars at the dog park are Gary (hound mix with the jacket) and Kona, one of the most chill dogs ever." – Corey Seeman.Highly Commended: Lucy Slater, "So What?" San Diego, California Highly Commended: Lucy Slater, "So What?" San Diego, California© Lucy Slater/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 "This is how I like to sit!" – Vincent the catHighly Commended: Mollie Cheary, "Photobomb," Poole, U.K. Highly Commended: Mollie Cheary, "Photobomb," Poole, U.K.© Mollie Cheary/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 '"Bailey was so excited to see her friends, she couldn't sit still for a photo!" – Mollie ChearyThe photos are hilarious and adorable, but you might wonder: What's the point of all this?The founders have actually given that quite a bit of thought. According to the website:"Lots of people ask us why we do the competition and what we are trying to achieve. This is an epic question. So, we’ve had a really good think, (with tea and biccies obvs) and come up with this: 'Through the Comedy Pets, we want to promote positive awareness of animal welfare issues and celebrate the incredible and valuable contribution that pets can and do have on our lives.'"So you're actually doing a lot of good by viewing, laughing at, and even sharing these photos. Great work!This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated.

Deeply moving. The post The one song Patti Smith will never forget: “Quite an experience” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

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NSW Premier defends arresting Australians, who dare to criticize the globalist orchestrated Third World invasion! "We don't have the same freedom of speech laws that they have in the U.S., and the reason for that is that we want to hold together a multicultural community." pic.twitter.com/WV8LOw5BoB — Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) December 24, 2025