Dogs seem to intuitively understand human emotions, and they can be trained to understand and respond to a nearly unlimited number of words, phrases, or commands. Some experts say smarter breeds can learn hundreds of different prompts! It makes you wonder how far off they really are from being able to truly communicate with us using something resembling language.People have been wondering and experimenting with the idea for a long time. Speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger and her dog Stella were the first to experiment with talking buttons in 2019, where Stella could press a button with her nose to activate a word sound, thereby speaking, in a sense. Since then there has been a surge of online content showing other pet parents using similar kits to communicate with their own pups.The most fascinating aspect of this phenomenon is the question of whether or not canines are able to understand full-blown complicated sentences beyond “treat” and “outside.”While the overall jury is still out on that, scientifically speaking, dogs like Ripley — a 2-year-old Australian Shepherd — seem to make an incredibly compelling case for believing the hype. An Australian Shepherd like Ripley. Photo by Ilona Frey on Unsplash Ripley has an entire TikTok account documenting his impressive talk button journey, along with 85,000 followers. But a video posted on March 28, 2024, feels next-level.In the clip, Ripley presses the “smell” button as his parents eat lunch. When that doesn’t get their attention, he begins to bark.“What do you smell?” a voice finally asks. To which Ripley replies “outside,” followed by “gardens.”Confused, someone asks, “It smells like the gardens outside?”Ripley’s parents had apparently just started a load of laundry before making lunch, and the detergent had been spilling all over the floor from the washing machine. Ripley had been smelling the detergent, which was reminiscent of the gardens outside.Unfortunately, they didn’t put two and two together until after they went back to the laundry room and saw the rapidly worsening mess. Hence the moral of the story: “You should always listen to your dog.” @letsgoripley He’s so freakin’ smart! #Talkingdog #letsgoripley #ripleytalks #fluentpet #australianshepherd #dogs Ripley’s amazing feat prompted lots of praise from over a million viewers.“All of the treats,” one person wrote.Another added, “I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, he is brilliant.”"He was so mad y'all weren't moving," someone joked."This is amazing!!! It’s a good thing it wasn’t an emergency like a fire or something dangerous!!!! You both seemed a little slow to realize that she was trying to warn you of something off/strange!!!" said another.Others were quick to compliment the breed. And rightfully so, as Australian Shepherds are known for their remarkable intelligence, as well as their strong drive and exuberance, according to the American Kennel Club. They thrive when they have a job, and the way Ripley jumped into action is a pretty great example of this characteristic.The whole account is pretty remarkable. In another popular video, Ripley uses the buttons to demand to see his grandma (who, no doubt, gives him lots of treats). In another, he can be seen asking for water and alerting his humans that he smells food. His owners insist that he understands what they're saying to him and uses the buttons to communicate, not just for rewards and praise. @letsgoripley Ripley really loves his Grandma! This happened multiple times this day. This was the first time. Stay tuned… ? #australianshepherd #fluentpet #talkingdog #dogswhotalk #dogmom #dogdad #puppy #doglover #grandma #smartdog #aussiesoftiktok #puppylove So, while we might not have definite evidence for the efficacy of talk buttons, one thing remains abundantly clear—our dogs are trying to communicate with us in whatever way they can. All we need to do is listen.Check out even more of Ripley's talk button shenanigans on TikTok.

With meditation on the rise, slowing down has never seemed so attractive. But what if you took it to the next level? Imagine this: sitting perfectly quiet for 90 minutes straight (the length of a typical movie): no talking, no laughing, no looking at your phone, and definitely no falling asleep. Sounds pretty difficult, right? Now, imagine being surrounded by nearly 100 competitors while attempting this. What are you competing at, you ask? Doing absolutely nothing.Welcome to the serene, powerful world of “space-out competitions,” a fascinating phenomenon that began in South Korea, and is now sweeping across Asia—and beyond. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KOREA.NET (@koreanet_official)What exactly is a space-out competition?The concept is simple: participants gather in a public space, often sitting on yoga mats, and compete against each other by doing nothing for 90 minutes. Competitors are free to move around and change positions but be warned: although lying on your back is comfortable, it could lead to falling asleep, which warrants immediate disqualification. So does playing music, talking, or laughing.If players need to use the bathroom, they can raise a colored card to be excused. Judges roam around, carefully monitoring the contestants. At the end of the 90 minutes, the judges choose the ten competitors who seemed the most peaceful. Of those ten, the person whose heart rate graph shows the steadiest downward trend is crowned the winner. Space-out competitions were created to combat burn-out and an overstimulating world. Photo credit: Canva“It’s the quietest competition in the world,” says the founder of South Korea’s space-out competition, a visual artist who goes by the pseudonym, Woopsyang. In 2014, she was inspired to create the competition after suffering severe burnout, telling CNN, “I wondered why I was so anxious about doing nothing. So, I created a competition thinking that it would be nice to pause all together at the same place at the same time.”But what began as a quirky art project quickly evolved into something much more profound, with space-out competitions in Asia now regularly attracting thousands of applicants, although only 50-80 people are often selected to participate.From burnout to breakthroughWoopsyang’s origin story is, sadly, not unique for her home country of South Korea, where a grueling work culture persists. Known as “pali pali” (빨리빨리), or “hurry hurry” culture, citizens feel pressured to approach life through a turbo-charged lens. Those who succeed, by burning their candle from both ends, simultaneously wear this burn-out badge with honor while deeply resenting the nation’s ethos—one that rewards speed, efficiency, and rapid progress above all else. South Korea's "pali pali" culture prizes speed, efficiency, and progress over everything else: even mental health. media3.giphy.com There are other ways that South Koreans are fighting back against the burnout, like with the rising “sohwakhaeng” movement, which roughly translates to “small but certain happiness.” South Koreans have embraced this philosophy in droves, realizing that delight can exist in any moment: in a freshly baked loaf of bread, neatly folded clothing, or the smell of freshly cut grass. By consciously training ourselves to be aware of life’s smallest beauties, we begin to see the bigger picture and excavate ourselves from the day-to-day toils that seem to drag us down.“Especially here in Korea, it’s such a competitive country, where people think that if they do nothing that they are a little behind,” says 35-year-old freelance announcer Kwon So-a, who won the 2024 Space-Out Competition in Seoul. “I think everyone has to have their own pace and sometimes just slow down.”What started in Seoul is now gaining traction across Asia and beyond, with space-out competitions spreading to cities including Beijing, Rotterdam, Taipei, Hong Kong and Tokyo, reports CNN.The science behind spacing out“Doing nothing is good for your mental health,” explains Kwon So-a. “Your body has to relax. But your body can only relax when your brain relaxes.”This mentality, which lead to So-a’s win, exemplifies the principle of ART, or Attention Restoration Theory, which was developed primarily by psychologists Rachel and Stephen Kaplan. The central idea here is that directed attention—the kind channeled towards work, phones, and screens; most of what fills our modern days—fatigues the brain and has “far-reaching consequences.” It’s a radical way of looking at the human attention span: that directed attention, the kind we use to focus on tasks, is a finite resource that gets depleted, minute by minute, second by second.To combat this, ART argues that natural environments—such as National Parks—and other activities that engage in “soft fascination” allow our directed attention to replenish. It might sound vague, but that’s because it’s meant to. Researchers describe soft fascination as “attention that is less demanding on our mental capacity,” conducted in environments where reflection and daydreaming can run wild. Dr. Kaplan specifically names locations like sitting next to a stream or discovering a quiet place in the forest as places that “capture attention effortlessly,” as opposed to “hard fascination,” found in hyper-arousing video games, movies, or television. Soft fascination supports mental respite and replenishes our attention, rather than depletes it.Which makes space-out competitions the perfect oases for soft fascination and attention restoration, as participants are allowed to sit quietly in their surroundings, disengaging from the constant distractions of modern life. There are ways to incorporate spacing out in your daily life, no competition required. Photo credit: Canva How to space out, no competition requiredYou don’t need to enter a space-out competition to reap the benefits of attention restoration therapy or simply doing nothing. And you definitely don’t need to do sit quietly for 90 minutes or monitor your heart rate. Here are a few simple ways to incorporate spacing out into your daily life:Schedule unstructured time: Scan your calendar and reserve a 15 to 30-minute block to just exist. You could walk to a local park and watch the clouds float by, or simply just stare out the window. The only goal here is to feel as unstimulated as possible.Remove distractions: Put your phone on silent, leave it in another room, and be intentional. This is your space-out time: treat it as sacred.Boredom is actually good for you: Although it seems like we’re always trying to escape it, try embracing boredom. During space-out moments, it might be tempting to throw yourself into mental planning or thinking about the past or future. Those things will always be there when you return. Gently allow these thoughts to pass.What’s your soft fascination? Finding what works for you is half the fun. Maybe it’s leaning back in your chair and noticing how your house plant catches the light, or sitting on a calm, chill corner of your block and listening as the birds sing through the trees.Remember: this is not a waste of time: Well, not in the traditional sense, anyway. “We feel like we’re wasting our time if we don’t do anything while others are keeping busy,” Woopsyang reminds us. “[But] you can waste time a little bit. You deserve it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by VICE Asia (@viceasia)One day, Woopsyang dreams of creating a “World Spacing Out Day,” where everyone on earth stops moving at the same time, just for a short while, she tells InsideHook. "Wouldn’t it be the world’s largest, quietest festival?” In the meantime, we could all take a page out of Woopsyang’s book, and find ways to quietly engage in our own, mini space-out competitions. After reading this article, why not give it a try?

When it comes to dating, one through-line exists among generations: people are looking to connect. Now, the length of connection may vary—as might the intensity. Some call it love, some call it sex, some call it just "hanging out." But it's connection either way.In a study conducted by Zoosk, researchers claim to have "analyzed over 5.7 million profiles and surveyed more than 4,000 daters." Alongside dating expert Haley Quinn, they even talked to people on the streets of London to get their opinion on what seems to be quite a definitive difference in generational dating styles. - YouTube www.youtube.com Before we get into the differences, let's first note the similarities. In the post, "How does your generation date?" therapist Nancy Ryan, LMFT, points out that Boomers, Gen X, and a good portion of millennials actually existed before the Internet and dating apps. "A simpler time of landlines, answering machines, and nosy parents who loosely cupped the receiver while yell-whispering, 'It’s a boy!'"Another common theme? All the dating generations (at least in the survey) overall prefer their first meeting to be a "coffee date." (Some, of course, disagree—but across the board, this polled high, perhaps implying it's best to keep it short, sweet, and non-committal before actually moving forward with someone.) Also according to the study, "Over 80% of daters across all generations think holding the door open for your date is a romantic gesture!" Chivalry is alive and well.That said, there are unique differences between generations, as dating norms have evolved over time. Wherein there used to be "rules" set by many Boomers and the generations before them, things have changed. "People are freer to follow their heart," Ryan writes. This isn't to say each generation doesn't push their own set of proposed guidelines, with TikTokers and Insta influencers especially dictating advice like "Don't call, never double text," etc. But each age group is a bit less dogmatic than in past years. See on Instagram One distinguishable—but not surprising—difference is that Boomers prefer a phone chat to texting. This number decreases as the age is lowered. "The majority of Baby Boomers (60%) like to call to arrange a date. This is 13% more than Generation X, 25% more than millennials, and 26% more than Generation Z." Also in descending order is how chatty a first online message is. Boomers say the most, with Gen Z usually messaging the least. (Think: Sup. How u?)But when it comes to getting deep, there is one generation who takes the cake—and that's Generation X. This was measured in the amount of texts that go back and forth between potential daters, noting they're not just one-word questions and answers. A little more meat on the bones, so to speak.Some attribute this to your everyday existential crisis hitting some Gen X-ers (and older millennials) right now. Also, possibly being the latchkey baby-busters that they are, maybe they just have a bit more time to get into the "heavy" stuff. @thirdactunscripted Does this resonate with you? I want to know how many people out there are starting their third act! Opportunity is knocking! It’s time to seize the day. #opportunity #seizetheday #thirdact #nextchapter #newbeginnings #newlife #thirdactunscripted #genx #genxwomen Naturally, this isn't a one-size-fits-all. Any person of any age, any gender, any sexual orientation doesn't just fit into a box, no matter how many polls are conducted. Gen Zers (and yes, Boomers and all other generations) can and do "go deep," as well. But again, as the generation who didn't necessarily have the tools to discuss trauma, were often left to their own devices, and experienced exponential change in the landscape of the world in a really short amount of time—maybe they just simply want to TALK about it.

Driving past the home you grew up in is an emotional experience. Looking at it from a distance, memories start to flood in, and for Navy veteran Kenny, 83, a recent drive-by of the home he helped his dad build in the 1950s brought back a treasure trove of heartfelt stories. Kenny (@patriotickenny), with the help and support of his close friends, drove past the home that he helped build brick-by-brick with his father while he was in high school. He shared memories of his dad and mom, and how the house was a labor of love and the American Dream. "This house build was so special," they captioned the post. In it, Kenny is sitting in the backseat of a car as he is driven past the home, and his reaction is captured in the emotional video. See on Instagram Kenny's friend Amanda is driving, and he excitedly tells her, "Keep going! See that big white house down there with the porch? Right there! There it is!" After Amanda asks if his dad really built it, he responds, "Yes he did! It's still identical to this day the way he built it." After saying how nice it looks, Kenny becomes emotional and adds, "I miss that place."He goes on to share more details of how the house was built with his help, explaining that they laid all the brick and how they salvaged the bricks from Fort Snelling. "We went over there with his pickup and hauled them a load at a time," he says. Kenny adds that construction began in 1955, about the same time he entered the service in high school. "I helped him a lot."Kenny also details how his mom put her touches on the home. "Around the whole front my mother had it solid with peonies. Solid. She planted it all the time, peonies and geraniums on the side," he explains as his voice cracks and holds back tears. See on Instagram Kenny also helped build another home with his dad, which was captured in another video shared on his page. Kenny explains that this home was actually ordered from a catalogue then built together in the late 1970s."Yeah, that's it!" he says as he claps his and with excitement. "Oh it's junk now but he's got a flag. And the deck is still on!" he says about the home on 10 acres of land. "Me and my dad started all the framework there...my dad he always helped me. We helped each other." Kenny also shares that he fenced the property for their horses with boards, which still stand. See on Instagram In 2021, Kenny met his friends and neighbors Jenny and Amanda, along with Jenny's dad Jerry. Ever since, they have called themselves "The Crew" and began creating videos together showing Kenny's life and experiences as a veteran. Kenny began the Patriotic Kenny Foundation to help raise funds for mobility scooters for disabled veterans after he was blessed by his own from generous donors. - YouTube www.youtube.com Since then, his videos have continued to bring joy to his viewers. Many were moved by his genuine emotion after visiting the home built with his father:"So sweet. The admiration for his parents. He's like a little kid talking about them, getting emotional ?," one wrote."He’s so precious. I wish I could give him a big hug. I love that he was able to go back and see so much and his contribution to it," said another. "I love hearing his stories. It is a very nice house. I know he’s proud to have helped his dad and learned so much from him," gushed someone else.

When 29-year-old Cameron moved to London in 2024, she was expecting a bit of culture shock coming from New York City. Though she was used to living in a big city, she knew there were certain things they did differently in the UK, and she expected it would take her time to pick up on all of them.She had to learn British slang, adapt to their style of greetings and humor, develop a taste for their food, and learn how to properly order a Guinness. Somewhere in all of that excitement, she met a man and fell in love.When Cameron moved in with her boyfriend, Laurence, she noticed something peculiar about his pajamas: Every night, he'd hide them under his pillow before bed. Was he a serial killer, she wondered, or just British? While making the bed one day, Cameron found a pair of shorts, aka jammies aka pyjamas aka jimjams, tucked behind one of her boyfriend's pillows. One solution: The Bananas never took their Pajamas off. Giphy Cameron took to TikTok to find out if this was a cultural thing or if she should be concerned about Laurence's strange behavior."Can someone please tell me what this is about? I just moved in with my British boyfriend and he does this every morning and I just wanna know why, and if it's actually a thing with other people," she says. She then whips the camera around to show a (rather adorable) pair of pajamas neatly folded and discretely hidden away behind one of the pillows on the bed."British people: please confirm Y/N if I need to send for help. Why does he do this??" Cameron captioned the video. @camabroad British people: please confirm Y/N if I need to send for help. Why does he do this?? The Brits responded to the call, and came out in full force of the pyjama-hiding boyfriend.Here are just some of the comments:"As a British person I can tell you this is ingrained in us from literal birth""Where else do you put your pyjamas?""Hi! I’m from Spain, I think that’s an European thing, here we do it too""I think it’s an European thing as I’m French and used to do this as a child""Too clean to put in the laundry, not clean enough to put back in the dresser so we put them under the pillow to wear them again that night.""Royal inspectors visit 1000s of houses across the U.K. every day and if your pyjamas aren’t under your pillow and your crumpets aren’t in your crumpet bucket you have to give a shilling to the king."Pajamas under the pillow is normal not just in the UK but all over Europe. It seems to come from a cultural expectation that pajamas don't need to be washed after every use. As a parent who's absolutely drowning in two kids' laundry every day, I totally respect this idea! Maybe we'll even steal it for my household. It's practical and even kind of fun.Though Americans and Brits speak mostly the same language, and we both need to sleep, our bedtime routines can be drastically different.Mattress sizes are different in the UK and America, for example. As you'd probably expect, the UK doesn't have anything quite as big as the popular King size—though the British Super King is close.Americans also religiously drink coffee first thing in the morning whereas many Brits like to wait for mid-morning, if they drink coffee at all. For now, tea still reins supreme. We Americans are big on white noise while we sleep to drown out distractions and sometimes even our own thoughts. About 52% of Americans use music or white noise to sleep compared with just a quarter of folks in the UK.Brits also commonly use a hot water bottle to keep the bed warm at night during the winter, something that's completely foreign to Americans. This is partly because of another big difference in how UK and US-ers sleep. In the US, we tend to use a top sheet under our cover or duvet which provides extra insulation and keeps things warmer.Finally, about a quarter of Americans use melatonin regularly to fall asleep. In the UK, you can only get melatonin with a prescription! - YouTube www.youtube.com Our sleep rituals are so personal to us and so vitally important in how we live our lives. You can imagine how jarring it might be to go to another country and discover that you, with your white noise and melatonin and your fresh jammies every night, are the weird one!TikTok viewers got a kick out of Cameron's discovery, and it's always fun to playfully and respectfully discuss our cultural differences. There's always more to learn!

The opposite of the pop charts.

He was also known for several James Bond movies.

He was also known for several James Bond movies.

When it seemed like the actor was done on TV, Ball gave him one more chance.

Weakened Iranian Regime Resorts to Saber-Rattling