Even though the number of uninsured Americans has been on the decline for over a decade‚ the cost of healthcare is still astronomical‚ especially if you are uninsured. A perfect example of this story was recently shared by TikToker Cinthanie McAllister‚ who told a hilarious story about a bill she got for having a nasty case of gas. Obviously‚ high healthcare costs aren’t funny‚ but sometimes‚ a good laugh can make the pain a bit more bearable. "I bet you didn't know that you wanted to know how much it costs to fart without insurance in an ER in the United States‚" McAllister starts her video from the kitchen."A little while ago‚ I woke up in the middle of the night with the most excruciating abdominal pain I have ever experienced in my life‚" she said while doing her best to hold back the laughter. "I was doubled over. I couldn't walk. I had to literally crawl across our bedroom floor to wake my husband up to get him to take me to the ER. They had to come out to the car and wheelchair me into the ER because I couldn't walk because I was in so much pain."i have to laugh to keep from crying because this is insane @cinthanie i have to laugh to keep from crying because this is insane #storytime #ervisitstorytime #emergencyroom #fyp The pain was so severe that healthcare workers tried to give her morphine for relief. But McAllister didn't want any. "I was like‚ 'No! I don't want any f*cking morphine; I just want to know what's wrong with me.'"The staff had McCallister take a CT scan because they were concerned‚ as were the McAllisters‚ that she may have a ruptured appendix. If not‚ then why would she be in such terrible pain?While she was waiting for the scan results‚ nature called and McAllister went into the restroom. It was there she realized what was causing all of the abdominal distress."I let out the world's fattest ripper you've ever heard in your life‚" she said‚ trying to keep it together. "It was so ungodly smelling. It was so unwomanly. It was so wretched. Like‚ I'm positive that if there were bugs in the walls in that hospital‚ they were bug-bombed out. It was so f*cking bad.""Anyways‚ needless to say‚ after letting out the world's biggest ripper‚ I felt pretty good‚" she admitted. "They ruled it as gastrointestinitis. The CT scan came back clear and they sent me on my way with some suppositories.""How much do you think it cost me to let out that fart in the ER with no insurance? I'm telling you right now‚ you're wrong. It's more. It's more than what you think‚" she says. "This fart cost me $8‚621.10.""The price of gas in this country is outrageous‚" Sarah Staten wrote. "Happened to me once… spent hours in the ER for the Dr to say I had a 'fart stuck sideways‚'" D added.Many people gave her advice on how to avoid paying the bill."Get an itemized bill and tell them you are a cash patient. That should cut it in half or more. Then‚ just tell them you’ll make payments. Send them $20 a month. They’ll take it and do nothing‚" SeaChelleAviatrix suggested.Upworthy has contacted McAllister for comment and has yet to receive a response.

Language is a fascinating thing to explore. Where words come from‚ how things are named‚ the way sayings and slang are constantly being invented—it's all great fun to plunge into.But sometimes a deep dive into words and language reveals missed opportunities as we contemplate what a thing should be called instead of what it is. Reddit user johnnylgarfield asked‚ "What is badly named‚ and what is a better name for it?" and hoo boy did the wordsmiths deliver.Anything that could have "Otto" in it should"Otto Preminger wrote his own biography and failed to title it Otto-Biography.Once in a lifetime pun‚ and he just threw it away." – hippo717"I saw an automatic car wash with the name "Otto's automatic carwash"The fact it wasn't called an ottomatic carwash still hurts me." – ShadowVaderAlternate names for everyday things that we should seriously consider "I keep seeing people say that contractions should be birthquakes." – ssssobtaostobs"Dentures. Should be Substitooths" – donkeyknuckles"Any bacon alternative that is not named Fācon is an abomination." – RitaPoonismysister"Jet ski. Dumb name. Obviously it is a Boatercycle." – KYbywayofNY"Hemorrhoids should be asteroids obv." – UncleDuude"Olives should be Greece’s Pieces." – rmg18555Words that just shouldn't be the way they are‚ on principle"Abbreviation should be a much shorter word. Dyslexia should also be easier to spell."– Masked_Daisy"Lisp" shouldn't make me lisp." – rhaegar89"And why isn't palindrome a palindrome?" – slimfastdieyoung"Why is a fear of palindromes aibohphobia?!?" – 1nonspecificgirl"The same reason the fear of big words is hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia." – redwolf1219"The word for your condition is also your exposure therapy!" – quaffeeHow about two things that should simply be swapped?"I'm not the first to say it‚ but 'pick-up artists' and 'garbage men' should swap titles." – GGAllinPartridge"A driveway should be a parkway and a parkway should be a driveway." – scottcmu"And cookies and bacon should switch since you bake cookies but cook bacon." – cwx149"Butterflies should be Flutterbys." – genderlawyerA whole thread just for the weather folks"Weather forecast is boring. Weather prophecy is awesome." – dire18"Atmospheric foretelling." – uneducated_sock"Precipitation Prognostication" – VonBrewskie"As the atmospheric oracles have foretold‚ 'tis raining." – Shi-Rokku"Meteoracles*" – HauntedHippie"You mean the skyentists?" – illfygliAnd everyone's favorite‚ the naming of animal groups"Why is a group of squid called a shoal when it should be called a squad?" – xdark_realityx"A squid squad? Nice.A crow crewA whale wallA swan swarmA bat batchA lobster clusterand of courseA group of groupers" – loopywolf"Cloister of oysters" – itsmarvin"A Murder of Crows. It should be a CawCawphony." – EscapedCapybara"A murder of crows goes so unfathomably hard tho‚ it can stay." – mrspuffispeng"The committee on groups of bird names are the best in the business. They put everyone else to shame. Murder‚ curiosity‚ charm‚ kettle‚ mural‚ cast‚ parliament. Why even compete?" – remeard

Fear of flying—aerophobia‚ in technical terms—is an extremely common phobia‚ affecting around 25 million adults in the U.S. alone. Some people grit their teeth and white-knuckle their way through their fear‚ while others find themselves unable to get on an airplane at all because of it.Such a fear is understandable‚ really. Hurtling through the sky at 500 miles per hour‚ tens of thousands of feet above the Earth's surface‚ isn't exactly the way humans were designed to get from place to place. (We may have evolved with the brain power and ingenuity to make it happen‚ but that doesn't mean we automatically go along for the ride without our sense of self-preservation kicking in.)One of the triggers for people with aerophobia is turbulence—the occasional shaking and pitching of an aircraft when it hits certain conditions in the atmosphere. Even people who are comfortable flying can find turbulence disconcerting sometimes‚ especially when it creates a sudden dropping sensation. Turbulence is normal‚ but it doesn't feel normal when you're sitting in a chair 30‚000 feet from solid ground. It feels chaotic and out of control. Anna Paul‚ a popular TikTok star from Australia‚ has shared a helpful visual for people freaked out by turbulence in a video that has more than 19 million views. Paul explains that a pilot shared the analogy of a plane flying through the air being like an object suspended in jello. There's pressure on all sides‚ so even if the jello is shaken—and the object shaken along with it—the pressure suspends the object.In other words‚ a plane is not going to suddenly drop down out of the sky due to turbulence‚ in the same way that an object won't drop out of the middle of a bowl of jello. Watch: @anna..paull Fear of flying tip ✈️❤️ The jello analogy is also used by aerophobia experts. Therapist Les Posen specializes in flying phobias‚ and he shows his clients a model airplane suspended in raspberry jello to illustrate the fact that turbulence won't cause a plane to drop out of the sky. He even goes a step farther by having clients smell the jello‚ and then advises them to eat some raspberry candy or juice on the plane to remind themselves of the analogy‚ using their senses to calm their nerves.At the end of her video‚ Paul said there's never been a plane crash from turbulence‚ but that's not quite true. In 1966‚ a flight (BOAC 911) coming out of Tokyo broke apart in midair due to unexpected severe turbulence. However‚ that was a very long time ago. Monitoring of meteorological conditions has greatly advanced since then‚ as have the designs of modern aircraft and the skill of pilots‚ so experts will tell you that turbulence is not something to worry about. If imagining air pressure as jello doesn't really work for you‚ it may be helpful to have a visual of what turbulence actually is. For that‚ Captain Stuart Walker‚ who has been flying for 30 years‚ explains the four main types of turbulence‚ what causes them and what pilots do to avoid them or reduce their impact. He also explains what passengers can do to minimize their chances of feeling turbulence on a flight‚ such as sitting over the wings or toward the front of the plane and flying earlier in the day when temperatures are not as likely to cause air disturbances. Whether you prefer hospital-food-based analogies or no-nonsense‚ scientific explanations‚ the bottom line is that turbulence feels far scarier than it actually is. A shaking plane is not going to drop from the sky‚ modern aircraft can withstand a great deal of movement midair and pilots are highly trained to handle turbulence. And remember: Commercial airline travel really is the safest way to get to where you're going‚ statistically speaking. So next time you fly‚ kick back‚ relax and imagine you're suspended in jello‚ knowing you're in capable hands when the turbulence starts. This article originally appeared on 06.23.22

Around 1 a.m. on April 24‚ semi-truck drivers in the Oak Park area of Michigan received a distress call from area police: An unidentified man was standing on the edge of a local bridge‚ apparently ready to jump onto the freeway below.Those drivers then did something amazing. They raced to the scene to help — and lined up their trucks under the bridge‚ providing a relatively safe landing space should the man jump.Fortunately‚ he didn't.The impressive line-up wasn't a coincidence — the drivers were prepared for exactly this sort of situation.Sgt. Jason Brockdorff of the Huntington Woods Police Department told The Detroit News that the response was something local police and truck drivers had actually trained for. But what was unusual was the sheer number of drivers who responded to the call."That's a practice we use if we have a jumper‚" Brockdorff said. "We try to do it every time‚ to lessen the distance someone would travel if they were to jump. Fortunately‚ that didn't happen."The incident lasted nearly four hours‚ into the early morning. However‚ once the trucks were in place‚ the police were able to more comfortably negotiate with the unidentified man.Eventually‚ the man walked off the bridge on his own and is currently receiving medical help.In a pair of tweets‚ the local police department called attention to the incident to remind people in similar situations of the importance of seeking mental health services (emphasis mine):This photo does show the work troopers and local officers do to serve the public. But also in that photo is a man struggling with the decision to take his own life. Please remember help is available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.You can also call a loved one‚ member of the clergy or 911. There are so many people that can help you make the choice to get help and live! It is our hope to never see another photo like this again.Working together‚ the police and everyday strangers saved a life.Ordinary people heeded the call of service to help a fellow person who was struggling. It's a powerful image that's impossible to ignore‚ and a reminder of humanity at its best.This article originally appeared on 04.24.18

If you just got married‚ chances are lots of people think they know what your life is like. These people are totally well-meaning! And also‚ mostly wrong. Being married isn't exactly like it used to be. Which is great‚ as there are so many different‚ amazing ways to be newlyweds than ever before. But it's also occasionally frustrating‚ as we newlyweds are frequently forced to dispel a lot of myths about our relationships.So let's get them out of the way in one fell swoop.Here are the most common (but mistaken) assumptions strangers make when you're a newlywed couple‚ and what our lives are really like.Assumption #1: We went on our honeymoon already‚ and we left right after the wedding.Reality: In our dreams‚ we definitely did — and we had a great time!In real life‚ however‚ most of us can't just take a week (or more) off work at will. The office is hella busy‚ and on top of that‚ we live in the only wealthy country in the world that doesn't mandate any paid vacation. Many of us were barely able to get the day of our actual wedding off (ultimately‚ we compromised with our manager and took a half-day).We're planning to get to it ... eventually. But it might be a while. We promise we'll send pictures!Assumption #2: We're going to have babies ASAP.Reality: We love being married! But‚ you know‚ we actually haven't decided? About babies? We're just enjoying being married right now. But we'll let you know when it happens. We promise.Assumption #3: We're going to move out of "the city" one day.Reality: It makes sense to assume that‚ like so many newly married couples in generations past‚ we're already planning our escape from our local metropolis to a less population-dense area TBD. But many of us who live in the city really‚ really like it! The city is great. There are good schools here. We can get nachos delivered at 3 a.m.! From either the good nacho place or the OK-but-cheap nacho place.Sure‚ some of us are planning to one day move to the 'burbs for more space (and many already are)‚ but many of us aren't. And still others of us who already live in the suburbs are making the suburbs more like the city.Having a yard is really nice‚ but so is not having car insurance payments.Assumption #4: We feel superior to our second-cousin Frieda whose boyfriend of 19 years still hasn't proposed.Reality: Even though we're feeling pretty good about being married‚ Frieda and Richard are adults and get to make their own decisions — no matter what Aunt Cindy thinks. Maybe they have financial reasons. Maybe they decided a long time ago they don't want to be married. Maybe they believe marriage is an oppressive‚ archaic‚ patriarchal institution that they don't want to participate in‚ and also they're vegan now.In any case‚ leave Frieda and Richard alone.Assumption #5: We're going to have babies soonish.Reality: So‚ yeah. Like I said. Really haven't decided about babies. Keeping our options open. But probably not soon? You know?Assumption #6: One of us changed our last name.Reality: There's totally nothing wrong with couples who decide that one partner will take the other's last name‚ of course. But not all of us do. At least 1 in every 5 women decide to keep their maiden names‚ according to a New York Times survey. And if you haven't taken your partner's last name‚ it's kind of frustrating to constantly hear yourself referred to as Mr./Mrs. Someone Else (for opposite-gender couples‚ this pretty much applies exclusively to women).If you're not sure what last name to use‚ just ask! We'll tell you what the deal is.Assumption #7: We're having Guinness Book of World Records amounts of sex.Reality: For those of us who waited to have sex until marriage — which is‚ of course‚ totally cool — you might need a supercomputer to tabulate. But lots of us have been together for a long time already and may even have been living together already‚ so we're probably having whatever amount of sex is normal for us. It's just a regular part of our lives that throwing a wedding doesn't really have a magical impact on.After many years in a relationship‚ most of us take "Netflix and chill" quite literally. And seriously.Assumption #8: We've finished all our thank-you notes.Reality: Never. We'll be writing these until the end of time.Assumption #9: Hanging out with one of us means hanging out with both of us.Reality: We're still different people. Each of us is a self-sufficient being with free will. And we're probably totally down to hang out with you‚ even if our spouse isn't available.Except you‚ Greg. We're totally avoiding you.Assumption #10: We're going to have babies ever.Reality: So um‚ like I said‚ there's actually a chance we might never have babies? We might decide we don't want them after all. We might find out we can't — in which case‚ these questions might become extremely invasive and painful. We might adopt a child ... who's not a baby. We haven't figured it out yet.At the end of the day‚ It's kinda up to us‚ you know?Assumption #11: We never use the garlic press you got us.Reality: We use it all the time! Thank you so much!Assumption #12: One of us is going to stay home and take care of the house from here on in.Reality: Some of us might want to be a housewife or husband. Others of us shudder at the thought of giving up our careers‚ or urging our spouse to give up theirs. Still others of us might want to‚ but might not be able to forfeit the second income. There's really no right — or standard — way to do it anymore.Assumption #13: We both have all the same likes‚ dislikes‚ preferences‚ outlooks‚ and opinions now.Reality: My wife will never convince me to like jazz. And I will probably never convince her to like "Captain Phillips" fan fiction. And you know what? We're OK with that.For the things that matter‚ we're committed to presenting a united front. But we're still individuals with different thoughts‚ feelings‚ and opinions about what Tom Hanks was up to two weeks before the Somali pirates attacked‚ 'cause honestly‚ that's where the real drama of the story probably is.Assumption #14: We wear wedding rings.Reality: Some of us like wearing a physical symbol of our connection and duty to our spouse. Some of us don't as much. So we don't wear them. But don't worry! We're still extreme double married 5000.Assumption #15: Making us a pink cake that says "baby" on it is going to change our mind about babies.Reality: It won't. But we will definitely eat that cake.Assumption #16: Our lives are a lot different now.Reality: Beginning roughly seven seconds after we say‚ "I do‚" lots and lots and lots of well-intentioned people ask: "How does it feel?!" seemingly expecting to hear: "So much has changed! We got matching ponies! Being married really is a whole new world!" It feels like we're disappointing them when we answer‚ "Pretty much the way we did the day before the wedding." Which is silly‚ since there's no shame in that.For some couples‚ life is a lot different after marriage‚ and that's great. But if stuff is kinda sorta the same‚ that's OK too! Life was great before. That's why we decided to get married.Assumption #17: If we're not going to lay out a precise plan for having babies‚ at least we'll probably get a pet.Reality: OK. This one is true.This article originally appeared on 11.06.15

A lot of parents are tired of being told how technology is screwing up their kids. Moms and dads of the digital age are well aware of the growing competition for their children's attention‚ and they're bombarded at each turn of the page or click of the mouse with both cutting-edge ideas and newfound worries for raising great kids.But beneath the madness of modernity‚ the basics of raising a moral child haven't really changed.Parents want their kids to achieve their goals and find happiness‚ but Harvard researchers believe that doesn't have to come at the expense of kindness and empathy. They say a few tried-and-true strategies remain the best ways to mold your kids into the morally upstanding and goals-oriented humans you want them to be.Here are six practical tips:1) Hang out with your kids.This is‚ like‚ the foundation of it all. Spend regular time with your kids‚ ask them open-ended questions about themselves‚ about the world and how they see it‚ and actively listen to their responses. Not only will you learn all sorts of things that make your child unique‚ you'll also be demonstrating to them how to show care and concern for another person.2) If it matters‚ say it out loud.According to the researchers‚ "Even though most parents and caretakers say that their children being caring is a top priority‚ often children aren't hearing that message." So be sure to say it with them. And so they know it's something they need to keep up with‚ check in with teachers‚ coaches‚ and others who work with your kids on how they're doing with teamwork‚ collaboration‚ and being a generally nice person.3) Show your child how to "work it out."Walk them through decision-making processes that take into consideration people who could be affected. For example‚ if your child wants to quit a sport or other activity‚ encourage them to identify the source of the problem and consider their commitment to the team. Then help them figure out if quitting does‚ in fact‚ fix the problem.4) Make helpfulness and gratitude routine.The researchers write‚ "Studies show that people who engage in the habit of expressing gratitude are more likely to be helpful‚ generous‚ compassionate‚ and forgiving — and they're also more likely to be happy and healthy." So it's good for parents to hold the line on chores‚ asking kids to help their siblings‚ and giving thanks throughout the day. And when it comes to rewarding "good" behavior‚ the researchers recommend that parents "only praise uncommon acts of kindness."5) Check your child's destructive emotions."The ability to care for others is overwhelmed by anger‚ shame‚ envy‚ or other negative feelings‚" say the researchers. Helping kids name and process those emotions‚ then guiding them toward safe conflict resolution‚ will go a long way toward keeping them focused on being a caring individual. It's also important to set clear and reasonable boundaries that they'll understand are out of love and concern for their safety.6) Show your kids the bigger picture."Almost all children empathize with and care about a small circle of families and friends‚" say the researchers. The trick is getting them to care about people who are socially‚ culturally‚ and even geographically outside their circles. You can do this by coaching them to be good listeners‚ by encouraging them to put themselves in other people's shoes‚ and by practicing empathy using teachable moments in news and entertainment.The study concludes with a short pep talk for all the parents out there:"Raising a caring‚ respectful‚ ethical child is and always has been hard work. But it's something all of us can do. And no work is more important or ultimately more rewarding."This article originally appeared on 06.16.15

Anna Trupiano is a first-grade teacher at a school that serves deaf‚ hard-of-hearing‚ and hearing students from birth through eighth grade.In addition to teaching the usual subjects‚ Trupiano is charged with helping her students thrive in a society that doesn't do enough to cater to the needs of the hard-of-hearing.A six-year-old child farted so loud in class that some of their classmates began to laugh. The child was surprised by their reaction because they didn't know farts make a sound. This created a wonderful and funny teaching moment for Trupiano.Trupiano shared the conversation on Facebook.See posts‚ photos and more on Facebook.While the discussion Trupiano had with her students was funny‚ it points to a serious problem faced by the deaf community. "I know it started with farts‚ but the real issue is that many of my students aren't able to learn about these things at home or from their peers because they don't have the same linguistic access‚" she told GOOD."So many of my students don't have families who can sign well enough to explain so many things it's incredibly isolating for these kids‚" she continued.Trupiano hopes her funny story about bodily functions will inspire others to become more involved with the deaf community by learning sign language."I would love to see a world where my students can learn about anything from anyone they interact with during their day‚" she told GOOD. "Whether that means learning about the solar system‚ the candy options at a store‚ or even farts‚ it would be so great for them to have that language access anywhere they go."This article originally appeared on 12.14.18

We know too much screen time is not good for us. We also know that younger folks are particularly susceptible to screen addiction. What we don’t fully know is how to effectively help teens and tweens manage the habit‚ especially when screens are such an everyday part of life. However‚ psychiatrist‚ author and dad of seven Richard Wadsworth recently went viral after showing his own personal strategy for getting his kids to do something other than scrolling. It could be the perfect solution for parents to not only break screen addiction‚ but instill some other healthy ritual as well. In the clip‚ we first see Wadsworth’s tween son doing deltoid exercises with dumbbells. Which he apparently got up at 6:30 am to do. What could possibly incentivize practically anyone‚ let alone a preteen to wake up at the crack of dawn to lift weights? Read on. Wadsworth then showed a typed out list of various tasks that must be performed before even setting eyes on a phone or tablet. The list included a short workout in the form of one mile on the treadmill or 20 minutes of another exercise. Wadsworth explained that rather than enforcing strict rules‚ this method provides necessary structure without taking away choice.“I’m not forcing my son to exercise every day‚ but I am setting rules and boundaries around his screen time‚” he said. “He decided he wanted to have more time after school to play with his friend. And so in order to do that‚ he realized that he’d need to wake up a little bit earlier and exercise in the morning.”In addition to exercise‚ the list included domestic chores like cleaning the bedroom and shared areas‚ finishing homework‚ doing laundry‚ preparing for the next day…and‚ perhaps most importantly…making sure the toilet is flushed. “We have all of their screens locked away. And if they want access to any of them‚ they need to come ask us and we’ll go through the list together. And they’re not getting their screens until the list is done‚” Wadsworth continued. He also drew a comparison between screen time and sugary sweets‚ noting how most parents probably wouldn’t routinely allow kids to eat dessert before a nutritious meal‚ but instead allow it to be a treat. “Just as you would hopefully have your kids eat dinner before they had their dessert‚ you should probably be having them do something positive…before they get on their screens." Hence why he tries to get his kids to complete their list before going to the phone. And in case you’re wondering how Wadsworth’s son feels about all this‚ he reported having “so much energy for school” feeling “so much better” since his dad introduced the to-do list. @doctorwadsworth #greenscreen #parenting #parentingtips ♬ original sound - Richard Wadsworth Bottom line: kids need guidance from their parents. And Wadsworth recommends clear cut boundaries to help them develop good habits‚ “because if you don’t do it‚ nobody else is.” Wadsworth’s parenting hack was well received‚ with quite a few grown adults saying they could benefit from this type of boundary-setting in their own life. “Even I’m addicted to this screen. I have to tell myself to put it down all the time and I’m a grown adult. Kids definitely need this!” one user wrote. Another added‚ “I need someone to do this for me (I’m 28).” To which Wadsworth replied‚ “we all need parents sometimes.” Even with potential TikTok bans‚ social media isn’t going anywhere. The sooner parents can implement guidelines like these‚ the better equipped their kids will be at balancing tech savviness with tech dependence.

Once again the youngins are flabbergasting the older generations with their disregard of things they deem unnecessary. There's always something that gets dropped or altered generation to generation. We learn better ways or technology makes certain things obsolete. But it doesn't matter how far we've come‚ our beds still need sheets to cover the mattress.The debate is on the use of top sheets‚ also known as flat sheets. They're the sheets that keep your body from touching the comforter‚ most Gen X and Boomers are firmly for the use of top sheets as a hygiene practice. The idea being that the top sheet keeps your dead skin cells and body oils from dirtying your comforter‚ causing you to have to wash it more often. Apparently Millennials and Gen Zers are uninterested in using a top sheet while sleeping. In fact‚ they'd rather just get a duvet cover‚ though they may be cumbersome. A duvet cover can be washed fairly frequently‚ while some may opt for a cheeper comforter that they don't care is washed often because their distain for a top sheet is that strong. But why on earth do Millennials and Gen Zers hate top sheets? It turns out it's mostly about practicality. Many Millennials are on the move holding a full time job and a side hustle or two to make ends meet‚ adding and extra step when making the bed seems unnecessary. “For a younger demographic‚ eliminating that step when making the bed in the morning really gives you a jump start on the day‚" Ariel Kay‚ CEO of Parachute tells Wall Street Journal. Parachute is a company that offers bedding sets sans top sheets for folks that just don't like them and boy has Kay heard everyone's unsolicited opinions on the matter. She told WSJ that people will stop her on the street to get into debates about the importance or unimportance of top sheets. Yikes.In a since deleted tweet‚ @JesseLynnHarte writes‚ "People say millennials “killed” chain restaurants‚ marriage‚ &; napkins... But WHEN will they acknowledge our greatest take-down yet?? TOP SHEETS. I don’t know a single millennial who uses one. Top sheets are archaic. This is just the truth."It would seem that Millennials and Gen Z would much rather wash their duvet covers weekly than to add a flat sheet into the mix. One big complaint about the flat sheet that adds another con to the list is they get bunched up or tangled around your legs if you're a restless sleeper. Not everyone likes hotel tucked corners on their sheets because it can feel confining.But if you run hot‚ Boomers and Gen Xers have got the thing for you–a top sheet. It would seem that that thin piece of material that irritates some people can act as a sort of temperature control according to USA Today. Even if you don't tend to need the cooling effect of a top sheet‚ what Mary Johnson‚ Tide Principal Scientist at Procter &; Gamble has to say in a USA Today follow up article‚ just may make you rethink ditching the top sheet.Simply by existing‚ "people produce one liter of sweat‚ 40 grams of sebum‚ 10 grams of salt‚ and 2 billion skin cells. All that stuff that happens below the waist [and] up by your head—skincare products‚ hair care products‚ ear wax‚ snot‚ drool‚ lots of really gross stuff—is transferred to your sheets‚" Johnson tells the outlet. So whether you're team top sheet or not‚ it may be a good idea to at least wash whatever you use to cover your bed at least once a week.

Birds can be pretty amazing companions‚ many birds live a lot longer than dogs‚ giving you a buddy for life depending on when you buy one. Some parrots can live up to 50 years‚ while the longest living cockatoo lived to be 82-years-old‚ which is why if you get one of these amazing talking feathered friends‚ you should make plans to put them in your will. Literally‚ it's advised that you put these long living birds in your will so there's a plan in place.But their long lifespan isn't the reason people can't get enough of these birds as pets. Just like children‚ these birds learn to mimic what you say and how you say it‚ which allows them to engage in endearing moments. In a video compilation uploaded to social media by @themothergothel‚ you get to see their adorable behavior play out in front of you. A blue ringneck parrot is captured loving on some brand new baby birds and it's the sweetest thing.In the video you see the bird approach a baby bird and give it a loud smooch before saying‚ "want to pet the baby." Another clip shows what appears to be the same bird giving kisses to a different baby bird saying‚ "I love you" over and over. It's beyond adorable and repeats again with two little nearly featherless baby birds soaking up the attention. It's not clear if this is a bird rescue‚ someone that really loves birds or if it's different birds that look and sound strikingly similar. People's hearts melted at the interaction. "I love that the parrot is clearly demonstrating its understanding of the expressions of endearment it has learned from you‚" one person writes. "I cannot believe parrots are real and we're so nonchalant about it‚" someone marvels. "The bird actually transferred the love that you gave him and repeated the act to his babe‚" a commenter gushes. Parrots are indeed real and somehow we're just used to these guys flying around talking like humans. If you needed a little serotonin boost‚ watch the video below and you'll probably get more than enough to make you smile. @themothergothel This melted me 🥹 #parrotsoftiktok #love ♬ original sound - 🌏💫 MG💫🌏