“Resting Bitch Face,” unhealthy salads, and killer Super Bowls. Here’s what was in the news 10 years ago this week.
You’re More Likely to Die if Your Team Makes the Super Bowl?
A study at Tulane found that football fans 65 and up are 18% more likely to die of the flu if their team makes the big game. Basically, more time spent at parties = more exposure to flu virus. Especially big parties with people you might not see otherwise.
Scientists Figured Out Why People Have “Resting Bitch Face”
A study found “resting bitch face” is caused by subtle facial expressions that signal one specific emotion – contempt. The main factors are slightly squinted eyes and a tiny rise at the corners of the lips, possibly just on one side – but not enough for it to be a “smile.” Also, the term isn’t really fair since it’s equally likely to occur in men and women.
The New McDonald’s Kale Salad Had More Calories Than a Double Big Mac
McDonald’s tried going healthy, but the internet noticed a problem: its kale salad packed more calories than a Double Big Mac – that’s a Big Mac with four patties instead of two. The main culprits were the crispy chicken and sugary dressing. Moral of the story? “Salad” doesn’t always mean “healthy,” especially at a fast-food joint.
Kid Rock Endorses Donald Trump
Kid Rock became one of the first celebs to publicly endorse Donald Trump, praising his outsider status and blunt style. The endorsement fueled debates about celebrity influence in politics and signaled Trump’s growing appeal beyond traditional political circles – especially among outspoken, anti-establishment entertainers.
Internet Hero: A Woman Pulled a Cop Over for Speeding
A woman in Miami went viral after flagging down a cop and pulling him over for allegedly pushing 90 mph for no good reason. Some called her a hero for holding cops accountable; others said she was reckless and naïve. The moment sparked debates about police authority, civilian power, and whether irony should be punishable by law.
Krispy Kreme Race Turns Deadly
A bizarre endurance event turned tragic when a 58-year-old participant died during an annual “Krispy Kreme Challenge” race, where runners eat a dozen donuts and run five miles. He collapsed before the donut-eating part, but the story still raised concerns about extreme novelty races and whether mixing competitive fitness with massive sugar intake is ever a good idea.
Sofia Vergara Said She’d Get a Breast Reduction in 10 Years
Sofia Vergara predicted she’d get a breast reduction in 10 years. A decade later, it’s not clear if that’s ever happened – but no one’s complaining either way.
“The Big Lebowski” Will Never Get a Sequel
Fans hoping for a sequel to “The Big Lebowski” were officially shut down when the Coen Brothers said it wasn’t happening. They felt the cult classic stood on its own. For many fans, it was heartbreaking – but probably what The Dude would’ve wanted.
More People Voted on a Kim Kardashian Twitter Poll Than in the Iowa Caucuses
Kim Kardashian asked her Twitter followers to vote on which name for Kanye’s upcoming album they liked best: “Swish,” “Waves,” or “So Help Me God.” More than 439,000 people voted, and “So Help Me God” won – then he went and named it “The Life of Pablo.”
Meanwhile, 356,000 people voted in the Iowa caucuses. Not an apples to apples comparison, obviously. But it got people groaning about voter turnout and political engagement in general.
An AI Bot to Mess with Telemarketers
An engineer built an AI bot designed to keep telemarketers on the line as long as possible, wasting their time with endless, circular conversations. The project went viral as both comedy and revenge fantasy – and gave the world an early glimpse at how AI could be used for petty, glorious good.