If you've ever walked through a public park or across a grassy college campus, you've definitely noticed the phenomenon. Inevitably, there's a paved path or sidewalk leading from Point A to Point B. And then, branching off of that path, is a well-worn patch of dirt where people have chosen to walk instead.Often the unofficial path is more efficient or more pleasant, and it's just so inviting that you can't help but branch off and walk it yourself. These human-made shortcuts are called Desire Paths — or sometimes Cow Paths or Elephant Paths. (Named as such because big, lumbering animals like to take the shortest route between two points.)Some people say Desire Paths occur when a design fails to connect with human behavior.Which makes them incredibly useful for urban planners and other people who design walking paths! Desire Paths are studied heavily, and some places even choose to pave over them once they appear, making them more official. (While others intentionally block them off).There are even cases where no paving was done until Desire Paths naturally formed — when crowds of people did the engineers' and urban planners' work for them. from DesirePaths People are absolutely fascinated by Desire Paths. The subreddit devoted to them has over fifty-thousand members! There are massive groups on Flickr where people share photos of desire paths they find in the wild. And a recent X thread of desire paths racked up almost thirty million views.Why is it that Desire Paths spark such a reaction in us? If I had to guess, it's because Desire Paths are small acts of rebellion. They are literally a visual representation of going off the beaten path. The symbolism is powerful in a world that can feel very mundane and predictable.They're also something that we create together. No one single person creates a new path. They hold a collective wisdom that resonates deeply somewhere in our souls. And they teach us about ourselves, believe it or not. Here are a few things we can learn about ourselves from Desire Paths.1. We're not superstitious, but we're a little stitious.There are lots of examples of Desire Paths forming around archways or leaning objects.Sure, you could say people walk around so they don't bump their heads, or maybe to make room for passing cyclists.But I like to think we just don't want to risk the bad karma. from DesirePaths 2. Anything that gets in the way of a straight line is annoying.If we're walking in a straight line, we generally would like to continue in that straight line.A decorative circular garden right in the middle of the path might seem like a good idea — but only if you want to see it get trampled. from DesirePaths In the same vein, why walk in a complicated squiggly shape when we can just cut right across? wetwebwork/Flickr3. We like gentle hills more than stairs.It's surprising and fascinating how often people will avoid going up and down stairs if they can cut through the grass instead.Human beings' hatred of stairs is well-documented, but it's interesting to see it play out visually. Gordon Joly/FlickrSome studies estimate walking up stairs is twice as hard on the body compared to walking up a hill. thepismire/Flickr4. We don't like sharp turns.If you know people, you won't be surprised to hear that we like to cut corners! Dan Keck/FlickrWe're not robots! We don't like turning at right angles. Plus, if we're in a rush, a more efficient path saves us time. George Redgrave/Flickr5. We like feeling connected to the people that came before.Holloways are a special sort of Desire Path, carved deep into forests and other nature. They are often ancient. They are ever-changing. By Romain Bréget, CC BY-SA 4.0By walking through these paths, we become a part of them and a part of history.A quote from Rebecca Solnit sums it up perfectly:“Walking is a mode of making the world as well as being in it.”So go ahead and take the road less traveled. Follow your intuition. You might be on to something, and it could be the beginning of a new and better path!

When asked to comment about the turn of fate that led it to a life behind bars, one cat said, "None of you seem to understand. We are not locked in here with you. You're locked in here with us! Meow!" Or that's how Redditor EmiliaFromLV imagined it. While impossible to know for sure, the cats that were facing euthanasia in South Carolina seem delighted in having found new homes with caring humans, even if those humans are hardened criminals and that home is a prison. Through Allendale Correctional Institution’s unusual yet deeply heartwarming “MeowMates” program, dozens of shelter cats roam the halls and bunk rooms, giving inmates newfound purpose. This flood of felines is changing everything for a group of men who once lived with little to care for but themselves. It started with just two cats Originally, Allendale’s program began with a modest two cats, but that number quickly grew after the warden realized the profound impact on both inmates and animals. Today, more than 200 cats call Allendale home, with inmates responsible for their care, training, and the occasional bath—yes, these guys are giving cats baths, even if the cats do tend to start out a little wary. via GIPHY Jackson Galaxy, the Animal Planet star, recently visited the program and was blown away by what he saw: "This is the most exciting thing I've ever seen in my life. I'm not kidding! You've got cats everywhere and they're just wandering around, no fear all… it was beyond my wildest dreams." — Jackson Galaxy Galaxy witnessed firsthand how these inmates, many of whom have spent their lives struggling with anger or isolation, are finding peace, empathy, and even joy through these furry friendships. One man admitted, “I’ve been incarcerated since I was 17, but focusing on this four-ounce kitten melted away a lot of my selfishness.” Healing behind bars—and beyond Life in rural Allendale County is hard for everyone, including stray animals, and without the prison program, most of these cats would face euthanasia. Not anymore. MeowMates has given the prison a unique role as a shelter, thanks to inmates who do everything from cleaning litter boxes to handling medical exams (yes, poop samples and all). As u/Figjam_ZA pointed out, “100% reported reduced inmate stress levels, 85% saw improved work ethic, and 93% reported better self-control.” "Looking back, to have had a cat back then, it would have been an incredible comfort." — u/madscribbler To be fair, not all the men came to the program as cat lovers. In fact, one inmate admitted to being outright terrified of them. But a few playful purrs later, he’s now their biggest fan, saying, “There’s nothing that has changed me like taking care of these animals.” The cats, unfazed by typical prison stressors, don’t ask for much—just food, water, the occasional scratch behind the ears, and maybe a little personal space, as u/RoseHil observed: “Just feed and water it, it’s a fur-plant. Then chill out and don’t bring energy to the room the cat hasn’t already.” What happens when you put 200 stray cats in prison? by u/SunAdvanced7940 incats Second chances for two, and four, legged friends It turns out these furry residents have also softened the hearts of their caretakers, even in such a structured and high-security place. Inmates form such strong bonds with their cats that the program actually rotates them periodically to avoid “adoptive” attachment. Some prisoners have told the warden they’d be content spending life in prison if it means taking care of these animals—a sentiment echoed by u/Figjam_ZA, who marveled that “cats are checked on regularly and apparently do really well in that environment.” While the cats are saving lives in more ways than one, the inmates have, in turn, saved hundreds of dogs and cats through the program since its launch. When Hurricane Matthew hit, Allendale even took in extra animals from other counties, adding emergency sheltering to their impact. Could this be the future of prison programs? Despite evidence of lower recidivism and positive inmate transformation, programs like MeowMates aren’t in every prison due to funding challenges. But this “feline felony” is sparking interest and discussions on Reddit and beyond, with u/LimitlessMegan lamenting, “Studies show these programs work, but they’re rare because most prisons don’t actually focus on rehabilitation.” For now, Allendale is a model for how both man and animal can find second chances, bringing life, purrs, and maybe even a little healing into places most wouldn’t expect.

The heights that he once reached. The post “Let’s try and jump it”: The Beatles album that set the bar for Paul McCartney first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

"It was like we had gone back in time." The post “It was like we had gone back in time”: the song Stevie Nicks said closed generational gaps first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Ah, that iconic laugh.

Ah, that iconic laugh.

by Matt Margolis, PJ Media: Well, this is awkward. ABC released the results of the 2024 presidential election in the must-win state of Pennsylvania during the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix telecast. And with 100% of the precincts reporting, the Keystone State went to… Kamala Harris!  She captured 52% and Trump only 47%. How ‘bout that? TRUTH LIVES […]

from WND: Party leaders pushing for Kamala Harris vote jump into attack mode Kamala Harris is in the throes of a tight presidential race in which she has been unable, even aided by a supportive legacy media and promotional social media agenda, to build any sort of a significant lead on President Donald Trump. That’s […]

by Paul Joseph Watson, Summit News: The Joe Rogan interview with Donald Trump is impossible to hide, it’s been seen by tens of millions of people, yet some people believe YouTube is having a damn good go at it. Several commentators have noted that it appears that YouTube is suppressing the video on its platform. […]