Most of us accept that our devices are listening to us, and that we likely have our own personal very disappointed FBI agent tracking our movements on the Internet, right? Maybe that's just a specific group of people. It's certainly not me …ahem. If it's true, though, there are certainly several amused and confused FBI agents in a three-year-old thread on Reddit where someone asked, "What is something illegal that you do frequently?" The answers are probably not what you would expect, but they're pretty funny nonetheless.When most people think of illegal things done frequently, it's probably something like eating grapes from the store while shopping or forgetting to pay for the thing at the bottom of the cart. But this question got people's creativity going and, honestly, some folks may be going to jail because of these confessions. There are people out here living on the edge every day, and I just don't know how they manage to do so. Someone claimed to have downloaded a car! After all of the anti-piracy commercials in the early 2000s warning us of the dangers of downloading things and this guy actually did it. Police officer watching white SUV drivePhoto credit: CanvaObviously, this guy didn't download a car, but another commenter said they charmed a sea witch for her pearls of the deep, and I'm inclined to believe them. There are also quite a few rule-breakers who turn right on red when there's a sign that clearly says not to. But the one comment that shines like an illegal beacon is the person who admits to pirating movies. According to the thread, they've seen all of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and even Hook, yet somehow they escape the law.Speaking of actual pirates, this person is like a reverse pirate. You may want to sit down for this because it's intense. The commenter admits to paying random people's expired parking meters downtown where they live. The shame this poor soul must feel on a daily basis. And if police officers are looking to Reddit for real criminals, then they need to look no further, since further down the thread, someone admitted to "acquiring toilet paper from work." Don't fret, though; they've designated it their "weekly bonus," so it's totally cool. Police figurine with plastic cruiserPhoto credit: CanvaSure, these don't seem so bad, but others have warned these guys to be on the lookout for arrest warrants, especially for the person who records and rewatches NFL games without the express consent of the NFL. It's a terrifying thing to admit to in a public forum. I hope they're okay.Looks like the jig is up for this person: "I like to go down into my skeleton hole and … oh ho ho, you rascally FBI agents! Almost had me that time," a commenter who shall not be named wrote. There are so many very serious and totally not made-up crimes within that thread that it would take days for agents to comb through to arrest all of the culprits. It'll be especially tough trying to locate the person who dares to whistle for their lost canary in Berkeley before 6 a.m. Surprised doctor at lineup, humorous scene!Photo credit: CanvaThese criminals must be stopped at all costs. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a special task force dedicated to the mass apprehension these admissions of guilt will cause. Let's learn from their crimes and keep them in our thoughts.

Science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke is best known for co-writing the screenplay for the 1968 movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, one of the most influential films of all time. But more than a science fiction writer, Clarke was also an explorer, a TV presenter, and a forward thinker who helped popularize science and space travel. In 1961, he won a UNESCO award for popularizing science. Clarke, who died in 2008 at age 90, was ahead of his time and his contributions to the world of science fiction will continue to live on. A resurfaced 1974 interview with Clarke shows how forward thinking he truly was. In the interview, a young father and his son talk to Clarke about computers. The father explains that in the year 2001, his son will be the same age as he (the father) is at the time of the recording of the video. Surrounded by mainframe computers, the father wants to know how computers will have changed by the time his son is an adult. Computers.Photo credit: CanvaIn the interview, Clarke predicts that the large machines he was showing off would be compact enough to sit on a desk at one's home, and that the man's son will be able to access "all the information he needs for his everyday life. His bank statements, theater reservations, all the information you need in the course of living in a modern, complex society." Clarke went on to say that computers would be taken for granted much like telephones. But the boy's father still had his concerns and surprisingly they're the same concerns of many parents today.The father asked about the social implications of building everything around the computer and how it would impact individuals. Clarke must've had a crystal ball because he expanded on how it would enrich society and gave the example of workers such as business executives being able live anywhere on Earth and be able to work at home from their computers. Neat and a little creepy, huh?Watch the uncanny prediction below:

Every time I see a Kia Soul, I imagine it full of giant dancing hamsters dressed like little hip-hop artists bopping along to whatever music is blasting. All it took was one commercial to permanently imprint that in my mind. Now that I've learned that there was a study conducted on rats listening to music, I can vividly picture them jamming out in a tiny SUV. Thanks, Kia.But seriously, a 2022 study from the University of Tokyo concluded that rats recognize and move to the beat of different music. What is this strangely adorable discovery, and why was it scientifically necessary?Maybe one of the researchers just really likes rats. It's not exactly clear what prompted the research, but with the popularity of platforms like TikTok, you don't have to be a scientist to know that some animals enjoy shaking their little booties to whatever tunes their humans are playing.Researchers from the University of Tokyo published a peer-reviewed article in the journal Science Advances that shows that humans aren't the only ones who feel the need to move when music is played. Researchers played different types of music for the rats to see how they would react. The music included selections from Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, Michael Jackson, Queen, and, of course, Mozart (because maybe pop isn't their thing). Scientists then measured the head movements of the rats as the music played at different tempos. white lab rat bopping his head while attached to colored sensors www.u-tokyo.ac.jp It wasn't just rats that participated in this little experiment. Humans also had their head movements calculated to see how the two compared when listening to the same types of music. I'm sure the scientists didn't need a study to prove that humans will bop their heads to music they enjoy, but who else were they going to use for a comparison? The hamsters from the Kia commercial were probably booked.After playing the music at four different tempos, scientists found that the rats started feeling the groove in the 120 to 140 beats per minute range as this is where their head bops synchronized. You know who else "got the feelin'," as James Brown would say? Humans. The humans who participated had the same synchronized head bops between the same 120 to 140 beats per minute. White rat with number 5 on head www.u-tokyo.ac.jp Researchers found that the faster the music was played, the less the rats and humans bopped their heads. While it's fun to know that Lady Gaga produced a desired head-bopping reaction in the rats, the research shows that there could be some innate ability for animals to move to the beat of music.You won't catch the researchers swearing by animals knowing how to break out in dance just yet. The study concludes that more "studies comparing humans and animals will offer insights into the origins of music and dancing."I think that's fair. Getting a chance to create more tiny rat dance clubs seems like an enjoyable way to spend your time, and you get to call it work. It's a winning scenario if you were to ask rodent lovers.

The world can feel so wondrously big when we’re kids, to the point where even the smallest excursions can feel like a grand adventure. Even, say, a walk to grandma’s house next door.That was certainly the case for Missy Lanning’s sweet two-year-old daughter. And thanks to modern-day technology, we all got to go along for the adorable ride! In a previous clip posted to her TikTok, Lanning explains that her little one walks alone to Grandma’s (aka Mimi’s) house, which is on the same plot of land.Naturally, when someone suggested that Lanning put a microphone on her daughter for the next solo journey, Lanning did one better and strapped a full-blown camera on her. A delightful (and loooooong) journey filled with giant blue skies, friendly farm creatures, and wholesome Little House on the Prairie vibes ensued. Watch: @missylanning Replying to @Embo ♬ original sound - ?Missy Lanning? So cute, right? Especially hearing her say "chitens" instead of chickens. And the fact that she's wearing a Little Red Riding Hood-esque cloak ON HER WAY TO GRANDMA’S? Chef’s kiss. Down in the comments, people were floored at getting to see the full scope of a trip like that when seen through the eyes of a small child. “Her POV is giving she travelled for 40 days and 40 nights.” “She’s gonna grow up to tell her kids how you made her through mountains and snow storms to get to Mimi’s.”“Her POV is making me realize how huge the world must seem to kids! I’ve never considered this before.”“‘The road was long and treacherous, it was many days. But we had pet friends along the way.”“She left on Sunday and got there on Monday.”“From her POV it was like hiking the Appalachian Trail.”We might not ever technically be able to turn back the clock and return to a time when the world was this vast, but children help us remember that feeling when we just sit back and watch them experience it for the first time.

Cold snaps call for warm, home-cooked dinners, and a homemade pot roast is the ultimate comfort food.This hearty one-pot dish will fill your home with a delicious aroma as it cooks in the slow cooker or Dutch oven. And it's a stick-to-your-bones meal that is also budget-friendly.Pot roast lovers shared their favorite pot roast recipes with each other on the Reddit subforums r/Cooking and r/slowcooking. From a classic pot roast to Mississippi pot roast to Korean-inspired pot roast, these are nine pot roast recipes to try. - YouTube www.youtube.com Classic Pot Roast"For the entirety of my adulthood I've struggled with pot roast. It always came out bland, or dry, or the veg was mushy. But today I did it. It's warm and buttery, melt in your mouth, the veggies are tender but not mush, and it's just right on the seasoning (for me anyway).-4lb roast-3 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks-3 russet potatoes, cut into big chunks (or whole little potatoes, but I had russets).-1 big onion, cut into big chunks-3 garlic cloves, chopped up-Worcestershire sauce-salt-pepper-dried thyme-dried rosemary-garlic powder-1 packet Lipton French onion soup mix-beef broth (edit: I use unsalted because the soup is salty enough and I like to control my salt levels enough to not die)-Oil (I only had olive on hand)First I patted the roast with paper towels, then coated it with a thin layer of olive oil. Smother it with salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary. I listen to my ancestors when I spice things, but if you think it's enough, it's not. Get a pan and put some oil in it, let it get to temp (hot, hot hot hot hot hot) and put the roast in. Let it settle, get a nice brown crust on all sides. Into the crock pot everything goes, I put the potatoes on the bottom, then the carrots, then the onion, then garlic. I sprinkled just a bit more salt (not too much, the soup mix is salty by itself) pepper, thyme and rosemary, and a little garlic powder as well. Top it with the soup mix, beef broth (I used a bit more than a cup, covering the veg but not the meat) and add a few good shakes of the Worcestershire sauce. Put the roast on top, pop the lid on, put it on LOW (super important, it will not cook right on high, trust me). Let it go for 6-8 hours, mine was done at 8. I stuck a fork in it at 6 and it wasn't quite there, at 8 it fell right apart. Pull the meat apart, and then if you want a nice thick grave, make a cornstarch slurry and put stir it into the pot with everything. Pop the lid back on for like 15 minutes and there you go! I've never felt more like an adult." - CassiopeiaFoonPerfect Chuck Roast Pot Roast"With this recipe, all that mattered to me is that it came out tasting like the pot roasts I remember having as a kid and I jumped at the chance to share that food when the request for a pot roast popped up ?." - Witless_RavenFrench Onion Pot Roast"French Onion Pot Roast. This is my go-to recipe! Simple and tastes amazing. I like to add mushrooms and carrots. :)" - agelessArbitrator @tinekeyounger Tonight for dinner is a simple pot roast?????️ Wine Braised Beef with Mushrooms"I make it according to this recipe (keeping it as one whole piece rather than chunks). I like to add 6 cloves of garlic as well as cayenne, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and I usually bundle sage+rosemary+thyme springs instead of just thyme." - Cold_Letterhead_2441Mississippi Pot Roast"Recipe (adapted from here):1 (3-4 pounds) chuck roast1 packet low sodium ranch dressing mix1 packet low sodium gravy mix (use this instead of au jus because it has too much salt)2 tablespoons unsalted butter Half a jar of presliced pepperoncini peppers (equal to 8-10 whole peppers chopped)InstructionsMelt butter in a Dutch oven or large pot on medium high and sear roast on each side for 1-3 minutes, rotating with tongs. This triggers the Maillard reaction, giving extra depth to flavor. Place roast in slow cooker and turn to low heat. Use pepperoncini juice to deglaze the frond in the Dutch oven and pour over roast. Sprinkle the top with the ranch dressing mix and the gravy mix. Place chopped peppers on top of the mixes. Cook over low heat for 8 hours. When done, separate roast from fat and place in pan. Pour over at least 1/4 cup drippings (not fat) so roast stays moist. Use remaining drippings to make a delicious gravy. Serve with egg noodles or mashed taters. Yum! ?" - mkv40270 - YouTube www.youtube.com Korean Pot Roast Over Rice"Recipe:2-3 lb chuck roast1 c beef broth1/2 c soy sauce1/2 c brown sugarI used a big spoon full of jarred, minced garlicApx tbs of sesame oil (eyeballed it)Ditto for rice wine vinegarAbout a Tbs. of powdered gingerAbout a tsp of crushed red pepper flakesSprinkled some white pepper (eyeballed it...not a ton)Whisked that liquid together and set the crockpot to low for 8 hours.At 7.5 hours, added 2 tbs cornstarch to thicken up the sauce. Shredded it and garnished with green onion." - User Unknown Company Pot Roast"I love Ina Garten’s recipe." Black Forest Pot Roast"1(3-3½ pound) chuck roast1 onion, chopped¼ cup water5 to 7 button mushrooms, sliced¼ cup ketchup¼ cup dry red wine2 tablespoons Dijon mustard1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon pepper1 clove garlic, minced2 tablespoons cornstarch3 tablespoons waterPlace roast in slow cooker. Mix remaining ingredients(except cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water)and pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Remove roast and slice. Keep warm. Turn to high. Dissolve water and cornstarch, stir into cooker. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Ladle over sliced meat. You can make the gravy stovetop if you wish. I’ve served this to friends over for Christmas Eve dinner several times. Delicious." - RideThatBridgeChef John's Slow Cooker Pot Roast "Chef John's Slow Cooker Pot Roast. It blew me away and is a regular dinner." - adsvx215

When thinking about a vulture, the words “sweet” and “adorable” probably aren’t the first to spring to mind. But that’s just because you haven’t met George. George is a 37-year-old turkey vulture with a penchant for mischief and a huge online following who lives at the American Eagle Foundation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.Having never learned to fly, George instead traipses about the avian sanctuary with his caretakers.He also gets plenty of exercise causing trouble—his favorite method being “land sharking,” where he walks past someone all innocent-like, then lunges forward to peck their ankles. Ah, and let’s not forget George’s fondness for stealing trail mix out of nearby bags.Below is a video (by GeoBeats Animals) showing a day in the life of this handsome bird:All in all, George is just a curious bird who loves to play and be around people (other vultures…not so much) and his gregariousness is garnering a lot of love online. "I love how he hops around and he looks quite majestic when he's basking in the sun," one YouTube commenter wrote. Another exclaimed, "Holy Canoli... How CUTE is George!?"Fun fact: While turkey vultures do mainly consume carrion, they enjoy fruit as well. George loves bananas and cantaloupe in particular, and—not having a voice box, a typical vulture trait—he will make loud grunts of joy while noshing. He's not just cute, folks. He's just like us. Vultures might not have the most glamorous job, but it’s an essential one. As explained on George’s Instagram (yes, he’s an influencer), vultures are “nature’s clean-up crew,” eliminating disease-spreading bacteria, and other pathogens that live in a carcass. See on Instagram This close association with death might cause people to view these birds of prey as creepy or sinister, but in reality there’s nothing inherently scary about them. In fact, our world is better because of them.And with his rich personality, George is giving us even more reason to show vulture love.Follow George’s vulture shenanigans on Instagram.

Recently, there have been a string of videos depicting people, mostly women, becoming overcome with fits of rage in grocery stores and restaurants over Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits being cut. The videos have been shared thousands of times as a means to shame the people in them for their bad behavior, while simultaneously upholding the stereotype around who receives SNAP benefits. Comment after comment tells the women in the videos to get jobs and stop relying on government assistance to feed their children. The only problem is, the women aren't real. The videos were generated with Sora and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) apps that allow users to create realistic AI videos with a quick description and a couple of clicks. While some people were quickly able to identify the problematic videos as AI, a lot of people couldn't. As AI technology continues to improve, it becomes even more difficult to identify when a video or picture is real, but there are some easy tells people can look for. @jayrandolph02 Getting $2500 a month in SNAP is next to impossible but people don’t care to analyze that any further. This video is going platinum in the very obvious twitter circles. #snap #ai #sora2 #politics #governmentshutdown ♬ original sound - JayRandolph 1. Their skin has no textureNo one's skin is perfect, except if you're a computer-generated depiction of a human. Everyone else has texture, blemishes, fine lines, or bags under their eyes. The reason for that is being human is rough sometimes, and it shows on your face. Some people might have acne scarring, freckles that aren't perfectly placed, or a night of terrible sleep that shows in their eyes. People also tend to move their faces throughout their lifetime, which causes laugh lines and crow's feet from squinting. We have pores, too.If the person in the picture or video doesn't appear to have skin with depth, texture, or other imperfections, chances are, they're not a person at all. According to the BBC, "AI images often lack details that can be found in real pictures, leading to these photos having an 'airbrushed' look." Portrait of a woman in a serene, natural setting.Photo credit: Canva (AI-generated)2. The words aren't words at allThis one can be easily overlooked because of brand recognition. AI will use a familiar logo, which will trick your brain into creating the words around the logo because you know what it's supposed to say. But take an extra few seconds to read the words in the picture or video because, if it's AI-generated, the words will be gobbledegook. Just a hodgepodge of random letters and symbols that mean nothing. Interview in the grocery store aisle.Photo credit: Canva (AI-generated) 3. Look for anomalies that don't make senseOf course, humans are born with all sorts of anomalies, but they are generally differences that we are accustomed to seeing. These are things like a small extra digit on the side of someone's hand, or one leg that might be a little shorter than the other. But when AI is creating full-body pictures, something big but easily overlooked is almost always off, like a human leg growing out of a dog's neck in the family picture below. Or a hand that looks like it belongs to a woman attached to a man's arm turned completely the wrong way, while the other hand looks normal. From a distance or at first glance, someone could easily overlook the discrepancies in photos or videos, so it takes looking a little longer to clock them. Group hug with furry friends in the park! ??Photo credit: Canva (AI-generated)4. Things blend or are blurryOne thing that will give AI away is blurry mouths while the person is speaking. Their lips and sometimes their tongue, will become blurry, pixelated, or even slightly disappear. Sarah Kimmel, from Family Tech Zone tells KSL News Utah, "AI has a really hard time, especially with hands and transitions, so you know, my shirt ends here but with an AI image, it's going to blend into the background more or my belt will blend into my shirt, or my hair is going to blend into the background as well so you want to pay attention to those sharp edges and also, whether or not the picture is even feasible. So there's these beds on the side of a cliff, and you're like, 'How does somebody even get to that bed?' That image is not possible, it's AI-generated." 5. Syncing is slightly offThis isn't just something you'll notice with mouths as the AI-generated people are speaking, but other things will be a little off, too. A video of someone running a bath may show the bath water turning on just before the person reaches the tub or after they've already walked away. You might hear a door close right before the person closes the door. 6. It makes you unexplainably uncomfortableHumans are hard-wired to connect to other humans, even if it's through a screen. Watching a computer pretend to be human can cause little alarm bells to go off in your head or belly that tell you that something isn't quite right. Everyone can't put their finger on what it is, but our body often gives clues that the video you're watching is "not one of us." Hopefully, we don't have to walk around like "Among Us" characters anytime soon. @turdfergie Replacing snap/ebt with nutraloaf ? #ai #snap #ebt #satire #foodstamps ♬ original sound - Turd Ferguson Ruben Circelli from PC Mag writes, "Listen closely to a video’s audio, and pay special attention to timbre, which is the character of a sound independent of its pitch or volume. AI-generated voices, in particular, often have a vaguely robotic timbre. And even if you can’t describe exactly why they sound off, it’s usually easy to hear when something isn’t quite right."7. The original source is sketchyWhen all else fails, when something feels off, you can take a screenshot of the video or picture and run it through Google's reverse image search. This will help bring up the source of the content. If it's AI, it will likely bring you to a dead end or take you to a social media page that only contains other videos or images that also seem off. Going to the source before purchasing something from an ad online can also save you frustration. People use AI to generate products as well, so going to your browser to type in the company name, like Barbie or Levi's, to search for the product is one way to beat getting duped by AI. @maggiemcgaugh Replying to @Kofi ♬ original sound - Maggie McGaugh At the heart of identifying AI content is critical thinking. Taking a critical look at the content in front of you will save you from sharing something inaccurate. While the AI videos are supposed to be used for fun, some bad actors are using them to spread misinformation or create anger and fear. In the age of AI, it's important to slow down, do a quick Internet search of the video to see if a reputable source is discussing it, or look for a few of these easy giveaways.

As a post-30 adult with a career and responsibilities, it’s natural to lose your sense of agency—it can feel like you’re trudging through a boring biopic script written by a stranger. Many of us have followed convention: If you were able to get through school (and perhaps fortunate enough to pursue secondary education), you may have felt pressured to decide which path you want to follow for the rest of your life. I remember feeling rudderless as a college freshman: "I’d love to be a professional musician or film director, but that’s impossible. So what else is there? Could I be a writer? I guess I’ll major in English and see what happens." If you’ve been lucky enough to secure a decent-paying job and achieve some form of stability, it’s hard to not keep flipping through the pages of that mundane script, even if you’d rather be doing anything else. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, possibly with a family to support, you may not have the luxury of entertaining a midlife career shift. Plus, the whole idea might feel too scary or daunting. But what can we learn from the people who’ve managed to pull it off? - YouTube www.youtube.com The "unexpected" rewards of making a career change after 30In the r/careerguidance subreddit, one user posed an intriguing question on this topic: "Career-changers: What job surprised you most after 30?" Explaining that they’re "thinking about switching careers at 35 but want something that doesn’t feel like jumping off a cliff," they crowdsourced the experiences of others who’d already taken the plunge: "Curious what people here found unexpectedly fulfilling or practical after changing fields later in life." Some of the answers might offer helpful food or thought as you contemplate the future. One user writes that, at age 35, they left emergency medicine to become a "utility lineman," evolving their idea of what "work" even means. "[At that age, it’s] distilled down to an exchange of time x money," they wrote. "Starting at the bottom is a shock. It can also be liberating. Sans the financial shock, showing up to learn was a welcomed experience. After a short time, the money exceeded what I was previously making. In summary, it can be humbling and rewarding simultaneously." One Redditor replied that they "really need to hear this" perspective, given that they’re also 35 and are "[starting] from the bottom" at a large company after a career change–moving from life as a chef to a project manager to a systems engineer track. "Some days are hard and I feel like it was a mistake, but I know it was the right choice (mostly the financial shock)," they wrote. "I love learning new things, and the project I work on is fascinating."Someone who shifted from "restaurants to industrial property management" highlighted that many of their career skills ("time mgmt, deadlines, projects, talking to people, follow-up, etc.") were transferrable—an important observation. Even if you change careers and start from the bottom, it’s not as if you'd lose the strengths you’ve already developed. That said, as another user pointed out, starting over in a new field may require a "pay cut," and not everyone can make that work. - YouTube www.youtube.com For some people, a career switch offered "hope" and adventureIt’s also inspiring to see how shifting careers has improved some people’s quality of life. One user switched from a software engineer to an airline pilot at age 30, helping them interact with more people, avoid being stuck at their desk, and visit other parts of the world. "I’m back home most days, and it’s amazing getting into bed thinking I’ve flown to two different countries that day," they wrote. Another Redditor, 43, said they’re currently moving from software engineering to cyber-security—an adjustment that’s seemingly boosted their mental health. "What has been surprising is just how young and hopeful going back to school and retraining has made me feel," they wrote. "It really has rejuvenated my entire life. I spent far too long stuck in a career which I didn't feel I had any way out of…In terms of whether this career transition will ultimately be successful—it is too early to say. But already, I don't regret it, as it has brought so much hope and energy into my life."These success stories aren’t attainable for everyone—and in some cases, the stories aren’t fully written. But that’s also kind of the whole point: The idea that we must have "everything figured out" by a certain age is a myth. To illustrate that point, let's look back to 2022, when writer Katherine Morgan tweeted, "I’m 28, so I’m almost there, but can people in their 30s and older please (gently) tell me that it’s going to get better and I don’t need to have figured out my entire life in two years?" The post went viral, as people in their 30s (and beyond) offered some needed perspective. "The good news is you don't need to figure your life out in 2 years," one user wisely wrote. "The semi-bad news is never fully gets figured out. That's a myth. You'll be growing and changing your whole life, and there will be periods of confusion in there. There will also be periods of stability."In that same vein, back in 2020, TV writer-producer Melissa Hunter tweeted in search of a spin on the usual media lists lauding the achievements of people under 30. Instead, she sought out the "big breaks" of folks in middle age—and the examples flooded in, including the mother of four teenagers who published her first full-length book at 45 and started law school at 47. - YouTube www.youtube.com

Growing up, Gen X treasured one very specific thing: Saturday morning cartoons. Waking up to spend a few hours in front of the tube held a significant spot on their weekends growing up in the '70s and '80s.To this day, the memories of Saturday morning cartoons have stayed with Gen Xers. Over on Reddit, they expressed how much the weekend tradition meant to them—and shared their favorites while debating which cartoon series was truly the best."Saturday morning cartoon time was sacred," one Gen Xer wrote. "I loved waking up on Saturday morning and get my dose of toons." @genx_shawn ?? 1️⃣0️⃣ TOP 10 Saturday Morning Cartoons ONLY Gen-X Watched.... #genx #generationx #cartoons #top10 While opinions varied, many Gen Xers were fond of a few Saturday morning cartoons in particular. These are the Saturday morning cartoons that had the deepest impact on them—and still makes them smile.Gen X's Favorite Cartoons"Too many lol Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes, Dungeons &Dragons, Superfriends, Richie Rich, Garfield and friends to name a few." - Little_Devil71"Dungeons and Dragons was a favorite of mine. But I was always flummoxed by the constantly changing schedules and I could never nail down exactly when D&D came on. Every episode I saw was like rolling a 20. Over 3 years they only made 24 episodes. Despite that, it had such a strong impact on our generation." - TheLurkerSpeaks"Two words: Schoolhouse Rock." - nixtarx"Fat Albert." - DogsAreOurFriends"Captain Caveman!" - yurinator71 - YouTube www.youtube.com "Elektra Woman and Dyna Girl, Land of the Lost - not really cartoons, they were live action programs. But my faves." - krybaebee"I still get up early on Saturday to eat cereal and watch tv. I used to love Gem and the Holograms, The Smurfs and The Adventures of He-Man...ooooh, also Superfriends!! Now it's Dateline, haha." - doocurly"Bugs Bunny and Super Friends." - Wolvercote"HANNAH BARBARA!" - BIGscott250"We watched them all Smurfs, Snorks, Turbo Teen, Galaxy High, Voltron, Dungeons & Dragons, Shirt Tales, Gummi Bears, etc. but in my opinion, Kidd Video was the pinnacle." - JETEXAS"I'm glad I was able to get up at 7, and watch cartoons until noon. From Wacky Races to Speed Buggy to Hong Kong Phooey." - Wolfman1961"Three stooges and Our gang was always on before the sun was up. Then the cartoons began." - Dr_Feelgoof"Waking up before 7am you could get the old Bullwinkle and Stooges episodes and then it would go into the Snorks, Shirt Tales, Gummy Bears. Then in the primetiem 9am-11am hours you The Smurfs and Garfield and Friends. If you hungout into the 11am-12pm hours you'd get Land of the Lost and Looney Toons." - itsmellslikefish @thedadbodveteran @andrewbriedis it was a different time….#genx #cartoons #thedadbodveteran #fypage "Bugs Bunny, Woody Woodpecker, Tom and Jerry. I sat watching them in front of the TV in my bean bag." - GogusWho"Transformers then GI Joe." - chaoshaze2"Gummy Bears, Looney Tunes, Garfield, Smurfs, Rainbow Bright…lots!! It seems kids today are missing out, they will never understand it. As a kid I totally loved Saturday mornings being lazy and watching cartoons. Ahh, those were good times." - Sak-pase7796"Looney Tunes, Pink Panther, Scooby Doo, **Shazam / Isis**, Ark II, Land of the Lost, Superfriends, sometimes the Krofft Supershow (especially Wonder Bug, and Electra Woman and Dynagirl; at some point the Bay City Rollers joined in), later on there were the Godzilla Power Hour and Fantastic Four (without the Human Torch though). Fat Albert was usually the end of the morning before Soul Train came on. Schoolhouse Rock was awesome in between the shows on ABC, and also Time for Timer (and his recipes for a Wagon Wheel cracker with cheese and orange juice ice cubes). I remember Johnny Quest too, but can't remember if that was Saturday morning or after school. Cliffwood Avenue Kids on Sunday mornings if we weren't at church." - SpeedSaunders"Lots of ones I liked, but the ones I really looked forward to are...Dungeons & Dragons, Thundarr the Barbarian." - Good_Nyborg"Super Friends and Laff-a-Lympics were may faves, although neither had a whole lot of episodes. Bugs Bunny was my constant." - HectorsMascara"Anyone remember Wildfire? About a girl who was really a secret princess in another world? Wildfire was her horse. My siblings and I loved that one!" - MountainTomato9292

When Sarit Ray first saw a handwritten note addressed to him, he was equal parts excited and apprehensive. Mostly because every streaming drama he consumed warned him that handwritten notes always precede something sinister…often involving murder or maybe espionage on a good day. However, the note he received wasn’t anything quite so menacing. It was simply his neighbor requesting that he water their plants “if they look sad” while this person was away for three weeks. The thing that really struck Ray wasn’t the request (he's a flag-waving plant-obsessed millennial, after all) but the fact that it came from someone who he had never really spoken to, save for maybe a few polite hellos here and there. Even that he wasn’t sure of. View on ThreadsIt left him with only one conclusion: this person must be an introvert. How did Ray know this? He was an introvert himself. To him, it was obvious how slipping a note to a complete stranger seems far more feasible than forcing small talk. If there were any doubts to this hypothesis, they were quickly squelched three weeks later when the plants Ray had happily taken care of disappeared (presumably back into their home)and Ray found a pouch of fancy African coffee sitting on his outside shoe rack. While he didn’t get a note, there was a WhatsApp message saying, “Thanks for watering my plants. I brought you some coffee” that came his way. Again, even though no verbal conversation was had, this neighbor accurately surmised that, along with plants, Ray was also "obsessed" with quality coffee. Latte art in a cup of coffee.Photo credit: CanvaThe whole ordeal left Ray appreciative of the way two introverts were able to find one another and communicate in their own common language.“That person never knocked and said hi. Am I complaining? Not at all. I prefer it if anything…No knock, no awkward chats. Just plants and coffee.”All in all, people were ostensibly touched by this simple, yet wholesome exchange. And many agreed that this was less of a thoughtless gesture and more of a sign toward shyness. “I can’t describe why but I think this is sweet. It’s a gesture that says she trusts you with her plants.”“Some people are introverts and, therefore, uncomfortable with talking to people they don’t know. The note was polite. And she gave you a gift.”“She has been observing you and has deemed you trustworthy. ❤️”And of course, many were hoping they wouldn’t remain wordless strangers for longer. “Aww could be the start of a lovely friendship.”“Invite her up for coffee and ask about her trip.”Ray’s story is a perfect example of how introverts just navigate the world in a different way. To introverts (or socially anxious people), handwritten notes, thoughtful gifts, shared tasks, or slow-burn conversations over time might feel safer and more enjoyable than small talk. And when those gestures are met with understanding, as Ray did with his neighbor, it creates a kind of friendship that feels refreshingly human. Maybe that’s why this tiny interaction resonated so much online. It’s a reminder that connection doesn’t have to be loud to be real. It doesn’t have to be verbal, period. Sometimes it’s as simple as two quiet people tending to plants, gifting coffee, and showing silent kindness across a doorway.