The hemp industry is regrouping and gearing up for a significant lobbying blitz following passage of the government funding package that contained a provision they say would outlaw nearly all hemp products. The legislation clarifies the definition of hemp to ban all hemp-derived products containing THC, which were legalized by the 2018 farm bill...

A man couldn't believe his eyes when he came across a childhood photo of his girlfriend. The man, who goes by @evanaka1234 on Imgur, shared a series of pictures on his account in 2015, weaving a story through the captions involving his love life and how fate intervened in the best way possible. He first shared a picture of eight preschool kids accompanied by two adults. "While searching for a rice cooker my GF and I came across this picture from her preschool," the man wrote in the caption. Man looks through photos. Canva Photos "I started busting out laughing because I recognized her instantly. Some say she wasn't quite human," he joked, referencing the quirky little smile his girlfriend had in the picture. But that was when a serious realization hit him: a little boy sitting next to his girlfriend began to look eerily familiar. In moments, the man had connected the dots: "HOLY CRAP THAT WAS ME!" he wrote. "We [grew] up a long ways away from each other, a few cities apart at least but it turned out that we somehow had gone to the same preschool. I freaked out and called my mom ( what else would you do in a situation like that) and sure enough she confirmed that it was me. We had both attended this same preschool when we were like 3 years old. Mildly interesting to say the least." Look At That Season 4 GIF by Paramount+ Giphy Beneath the paragraph was another photo of the man and his girlfriend. "This is us today approximately 16 years later," the man concluded.In a similar story, a Chinese couple (later identified as a Mr. and Mrs. Ye) made a stunning discovery that they had crossed each other's paths in the past. According to NBC affiliate KSDK, the year was 2000 when the pair was unknowingly captured in each other's photographs taken at the same spot. The pictures were also shared on Reddit several years ago. from Damnthatsinteresting Oblivious to each other's presence, the man and woman had visited the May Fourth Square in Qingdao, China in 2000. They were posing separately and never interacted with one another. Mr. Ye was hardly aware that he had walked into someone else's frame as he posed for his own picture, but in an interesting turn of events, he made an appearance in his future wife’s photograph. The post compared the duo’s single pictures side by side and Mr. Ye is clearly visible in her picture in the same outfit that he is seen wearing in his own shot. Years later, when Mr. Ye was flipping through pictures of his wife in her home, he realized how their paths had once crossed without them knowing. The couple ultimately met each other more than a decade later in 2011, got married, and even welcomed twin daughters.Take this as a sign to go through some old photos of your own. You may find someone fascinating in the background— and who knows what can happen next!This article originally appeared in September. It has been updated.

If you feel like you somehow missed “Basic Life Skills 101,” you are very much not alone. Plenty of us graduated high school able to analyze Shakespeare, identify igneous rocks, and, for the love of all that’s holy, recite “the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell!” in two seconds flat…yet somehow never learned how to do something as simple as unclog a toilet. If there’s a plunger nearby, then maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance. Without one…and the day is ruined. Enter: grandparents. Or in this case, a grandmother on TikTok who has become the internet’s unofficial modern household oracle. Meet Babs, known to her 4.1 million followers as @brunchwithbabs. She is charming, practical, and full of the kind of real-world hacks your grandparents used before Google existed.Her latest lesson: how to unclog a toilet using items already sitting in your home. No plunger or plumber necessary.The delightfully simple trick @brunchwithbabs ?ADULTING 101: HOW TO UNCLOG A TOILET - THE RIGHT WAY? ?If the water looks high, cut off the water at the supply while you work. There should be a silver handle that can shut off the water supply near the bottom of the toilet. Remember, if you turn off the water, and you need more water to help clear the toilet clog, use a bucket to add water to the toilet. The plunger must be submerged in order to have enough water pressure to clear the blockage. ?Don’t have a plunger or you want to “try the easy way”? Just add a bit of dish soap around the hole in the toilet. Add some hot water and let sit for about 20 minutes. Then flush. The soap and hot water should lubricate the clog enough to clear it. ?If the soap doesn’t clear the blockage, turn to the good old plunger. Toilet plungers have a flange on the bottom - sink plungers do not. The flange should fit snuggly in toilet bowl hole. Push slowly at first and then increase speed until you hear the blockage release. Push 12 times. Flush ?Turn the water on and clean the plunger and you are good to go. #advice #parentsoftiktok #grandparents #howto ♬ original sound - Babs In a helpful TikTok filmed with her husband, aka "Mr. Babs," our online grandma explains her simple unclogging method: “Just add a bit of dish soap around the hole in the toilet. Add some hot water and let sit for about 20 minutes. Then flush.” Badda bing, badda boom. You’re done. The idea is that dish soap acts as a lubricant while hot water helps soften and move things along. Think of it as a gentle spa day for your septic tank. If water in the bowl is high, Babs gently reminds viewers to turn off the supply valve behind the toilet. Once the water stops rising, you can remove a little and give the method a clean slate to work its magic.She also notes that many people grab the wrong plunger. The flat ones are meant for sinks, whereas toilets need a flanged plunger. Use the right tool for the right job the right way, as they say. Kenneth from 30 Rock media2.giphy.com This is not just folksy wisdom. Several credible home maintenance sources back this up. The Spruce explains that dish soap can lubricate and loosen mild organic clogs and their article is reviewed by a licensed master plumber. Heart of Ohio HVAC also includes hot water and dish soap as a legitimate trick for certain blockages. Sears Home Services lists the same combination among reliable clog-clearing methods for soft obstructions.In other words, this hack may sound like folklore but it has the receipts.Why everyone loves thisBabs’ approach gives people the confidence to fix a household issue without calling a professional or buying expensive drain chemicals, which can actually damage pipes, since many are meant for sinks, not porcelain toilets.Her method also saves money and reduces unnecessary waste. Fewer busted plungers thrown out, fewer emergency product purchases, and fewer calls to plumbers for something that can be handled with soap and patience. It is the kind of low-stress, low-cost solution our grandparents might have sworn by.What people are sayingComments on Babs' video were overflowing (in a good way!):“I love my online grandparents,” one user wrote.“Need this so bad!” said another.And the best one. “Never knew about the soap! And I’m a grandmother!” Elderly woman winking. media3.giphy.com Important things to know before you try itLike any DIY fix, this one comes with caveats. Water should be hot, but not boiling, as boiling water can crack porcelain or damage seals. It’s also worth noting that this method works best on mild organic clogs, not on items like wipes, toys, or anything labeled “definitely do not flush.”And of course, if your flush still results in rising water or nothing moves after the soap and hot water trick, it is time to bring in a professional.And Babs has more where that came fromThis is far from Bab’s only viral hack. @brunchwithbabs has become famous for feel-good, practical tips—everything from using wooden spoons to prevent pots from boiling over to freezing cheese to make grating a breeze. Her entire channel is essentially a home economics class with better lighting. And you gotta admit, there is something comforting about a grandmother stepping in to say, “Sweetie, it is fine, here is what to do.” Even if it isn’t coming from your actual grandmother. Moral of the story: when life gets messy, listen to your elders. Or at least the ones on TikTok.

As Americans, many grew up with the consistency of a McDonald's menu: Big Macs, Egg McMuffin, and only on special occasions, the McRib. Since their first store opened in California 85 years ago, they've got the formulas down pat, so whether you're in Los Angeles or Wichita, you essentially know what you're getting when you put in your order.McDonald's could not be contained to just California. After first expanding to Canada and Puerto Rico, the food chain now has "over 36,000 restaurants in over 100 nations," according to their corporate website. And each nation is just a tiny bit different, adding their own cultural "flavor" so-to-speak to the menus.A popular travel blogger, Christian Grossi, was absolutely over-the-moon when he visited a McDonald's location in Shanghai, China. In a TikTok video, he looks at the menu and notes, "This is a lot to take in." He then points to a photo of "The Black Gold Moon" burger and adorably, with perhaps a dash of ADHD, immediately points out the "Salted Egg Yolk McFlurry." He asks his TikTok followers, "Do we try that?" @christian.grossi American traveler is left speechless by Insane McDonald’s in China ?? This video was filmed in Shanghai, China. In China you can find many western brands that are common back in the United States and Europe. Including our fast foods. However they are very different. Here the fast food tastes real, the price is very low, and the variety is completely different than what we have back in the USA. One thing I also noticed here in China is that McDonald’s is always full of people. #fyp #tellme #traveltiktok #china #shanghai He then points out other burgers, many also named the "black gold moon," and then moves over to the curly fries, which he excitedly points out costs just over an American dollar. "This is not fair," he says, shaking his head. "Why don't we have this in the U.S.?"He quickly moves over the desserts, specifically the McFlurry flavors. "They have toffee. They have Hojicha. They have Mochi. They have McDonald's Toffee Cheese Flavored Pie" (which he notes doesn't sound as appealing).Then it's on to the plethora of coffee options. "Wait, hold on. Is that cheese-flavored coffee?" That seems a must-order because next up, Grossi is holding the cheese-coffee and the McDonald's curly fries. He admits, "Because I'm terrified of the coffee, and I'm doing that for you, we're gonna start with the curly fry." He adds for some personal context, "Contrary to popular belief, I hate McDonald's regular fries. So curly fry…" —he takes a bite— "Oh my God, so much better!" He gives it 8.5 out of ten stars, even though, as he points out, he's eating it on "the side of a Chinese road." Tichina Arnold Eating GIF by CBS Giphy Next up? The cheese coffee. "I tried to ask the lady at McDonald's, 'what is this exactly?' She spoke zero English, so we didn't get so far. Anyway." He takes a sniff and reiterates, "Cheese coffee from McDonald's." He takes some pretty big gulps and exclaims, "I can feel it in my bones. You wanna know what this tastes like? It tastes like you put creamer in your coffee. And then, as soon as it gets down your esophagus, it tastes like spreadable cheese from the can."Not a fan, it seems, he questions "what chef or barista thought this was a good idea?" He then theorizes, "they probably thought if an American saw this, they would pay money for it, so I guess they were right." He gives the coffee three stars.Before we get to the comments, are you wondering where the "black moon" references come from? On Mr. Vaughn's YouTube page, he points out that the "Black Castle Moon Burger" is a "limited edition item." According to the narrator, this burger is "inspired by the monkey king, from the Chinese novel, Journey to the West and the Black Myth: Wukong video game, which perhaps is a corporate tie-in. He further explains that the whole theme honors a Chinese festival "celebrating the Harvest Moon." - A traveler tries McDonalds in China. www.youtube.com, Mr. Vaughn He then gives it a try, picking up the sesame-seeded black buns sandwiching the McDonald's twist on "moon cakes." He claims it's usually referred to as the black gold moon cake, but that the "black castle" nickname "likely nods to the game's mythical aesthetic."Back to Grossi's comments, it seems his travels inspire a lot of people to follow in his footsteps. One writes, "Your videos of China have convinced me of visiting there. I never realized how behind we are in the US."Another clears up the cheese-coffee confusion. "Chinese person from NYC here. Cheese foam topped teas and coffees are very popular in Asian cafes. Typically, they taste like a sweet and salty cheesecake. I'm not that into it, but a lot of people are." And this person notes, "Every McDonald’s in every country caters to the things that country likes." This is so true. Another traveler hits up a McDonald's in Paris and is greatly impressed by how fancy it is. As she points to the digital menu, she reports the cheese and ham options, but is also excited by the veggie alternatives. But cheese, it is France after all, is always an option—even cheddar cheese on the fries. @sheshortsweet AHHH. We clearly had different opinions on the cheesecake ??✨? #mcdonalds #paris #paristrip #mcdonaldsparis #mcdonaldshacks #fastfood #europe #honestreviews #tastetest #parisfood #parisfoodie #traveltok #macarons #foodreview #fyp #mcflurry #france #fastfoodreview @McDonald’s She too is floored by the dessert options including cheesecake and macarons, the latter of which she finds too hard to chew. And over in the McFlurry section, she points out a candy she's unsure of but "would love to try." She does opt for the cheesecake dripping in M&Ms and hot fudge, and that, she says, is "pretty good."Not everyone in the comments is equally impressed by the Parisian Micky Ds. "Spoiler alert, McD's in Paris is even worse than US and you have to pay to use the bathroom." Though others feel quite the opposite. "Literally so mad they don’t have the veggie McChicken/nuggets in the US."I can personally attest to the culture influence on the McDonald's menu. I lived in Tel Aviv for a bit and happened to be there when they got their first McDonald's in 1993. I was so intrigued by how different the menu was—and not just because it was in Hebrew. It sported lots of falafel sandwiches and other Middle Eastern spins and spices on traditional McDonald's fare.Other Upworthy colleagues shared their experiences. In Vienna, Austria, writer Annie Reneau shares, "We discovered they had gluten free burgers! And gorgeous Viennese desserts. And we had to pay for ketchup packets. A very different experience."And writer Denise Quan notes, "Even in Hawaii, they have unique local favorites on the menu, like Spam and Portuguese sausage. And saimin (aka ramen.)"

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Bottom line: AI will only “be in charge” if the populace allows it to be in charge. We can shut it all down anytime we like. You can pull your cell phone out of your pocket right now and throw it away, cutting down your digital footprint and becoming virtually invisible compared to yesterday.

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by Jeremy Hammond, The Burning Platform: Google’s parent company, Alphabet, admitted to Congress that the Biden administration pressured YouTube, owned by Google, to remove videos that didn’t even violate its content policies. Alphabet — which has deep ties to pharma — called the practice “unacceptable and wrong.” But it’s still happening. TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/ […]