Author: Cortlyn McCarthy

Life Hack: Solve Your Ant Problem by Hoarding Your Own Urine

There’s a wee little hack making the rounds on TikTok, and it’s sparked the kind of question you didn’t know you needed answered: If you pee on an ant hill, will it kill the ants or just invite more of them?

According to people pushing this so-called “green” pest control method, human urine is an all-natural, eco-friendly way to take care of your ant problem. And technically, they’re not wrong – but there’s a pretty big catch.

Turns out, ants are really into pee. Seriously.

Human urine contains a compound called urea, and ants love the stuff. A 2019 study found they were even more drawn to it than sugar water, which is saying a lot when you’re talking about insects basically designed to find and hoard sugar.

If you march out into the backyard, drop your pants, and douse an ant hill thinking you’re going full eco-warrior exterminator, you might just be handing out invitations to an ant rave. Yes, peeing on an ant hill can actually attract more ants.

The hack can still work… but only if you’re a weirdo.

Despite those urophilic tendencies ants have, the hack itself isn’t totally off base, and there is some science behind why the idea got traction. It can work if you do it right – you just won’t want to. (And if you do want to, I’m not sure we can be friends.)

Over time, urea breaks down and turns into ammonia, which ants hate. But the key word here is time.

For the pee-to-ammonia transformation to actually kick in, it needs to ferment. And we’re probably not talking a quick 24-hour marinade. Experts say it works best if you wait at least a month.

You read that right. If you want to solve your ant problem with your own urine, you’ll need to start hoarding that urine in jars for weeks on end. (Some claim letting it ferment for a few days does the trick, but I call those people lazy with commitment issues.)

You’re still reading? Wow, you are weird.

Okay, so maybe you’re on board with the idea of storing your pee in mason jars like an insane person. If so, apparently the method really can work as a chemical-free way to rid your property of ants… or at least convince them to relocate to another part of your yard you haven’t doused in month-old piddle.

Of course, the other option is call an exterminator or buy some Borax at your local hardware store. But then you wouldn’t have those fun jars of liquid gold to use as a teaching aid when you inevitably share this tip with your friends and family. Like everything, it’s got its pros and cons.

Still not sure you’re ready to hoard your own urine?

The good news is you don’t have to decide today. But why not play it safe? Start saving a few mason jars of tepid urine while you weigh your options. Worst case: you spend the rest of your life trying in vain to shake the reputation of the weirdo who can’t part with their pee. Best case: you end up with a basement full of urine just in time for spring – and hopefully, far fewer ants!

You could even take a page out of this lady’s playbook and get your kids involved! A fun bonding activity for the whole family!

“P” as in _____: Woman’s Silly Voicemail Spelling Goes Viral

Imagine you have to spell a word over the phone and use words to clarify each letter. What word do you use for the letter “P”?

“Papa” is the official word from the phonetic alphabet used by the military. But Peter, Paul, panda, puppy, or pizza are also great options.

Something about the choice made by this woman at a dermatologist’s office in Atlanta is just funnier… at least to her.

@haileybalailey

The funniest voicemail maybe ever, poor girl😅 #fyp #voicemail #dermatologist #pork #trending

♬ original sound – poppie

The fact that her coworker couldn’t stop laughing in the background didn’t help her case of the giggles. Kudos to the patient for sharing – not sure laughter is what you want to hear in a voicemail relaying important news about your health.

Over Half of Us Are “Quiet Cracking” at Work

Do all your colleagues think you’ve got your life together at work—emails answered, deadlines crushed, boss totally fooled—but secretly you’re screaming into the void? Congratulations, you might be quiet cracking.

The shiny new term – coined by the workplace training company TalentLMS – describes that awkward stage between burnout and quiet quitting. You’re not phoning it in yet, but you’re definitely not okay.

Think of it like your career is holding a “this is fine” mug while the office is on fire. And you’re not the only one watching the room around you burn.

Quiet cracking is shockingly common

A new survey by Resume Templates found 59% of employees are currently in quiet cracking mode. Another 20% said they were recently. That’s almost 8 out of 10 workers who are either cracking now or just pieced themselves back together. So if the break room feels like a haunted house of tired smiles and forced “I’m good, how are you?”s, that’s why.

What’s making us crack?

What’s pushing people over the edge? The top culprits are:

  1. Too much work (43%)
  2. Personal life stress (40%)
  3. Bad bosses (36%)
  4. Repetitive, soul-sucking tasks (34%)
  5. Low pay (31%)

Just outside the top five were not being recognized (30%) and no room to grow (28%). Basically, people are overworked, underpaid, ignored, or stuck in career quicksand. Fun!

How are we coping?

Mostly by taking time off or secretly job hunting. In fact, 62% of quiet crackers admitted they’re at least somewhat likely to quit in the next six months. Translation: if your office feels stable now, just wait. The great resignation sequel is coming soon to a cubicle near you.

The big takeaway? Quiet cracking is basically the new burnout, but sneakier. If you’re crushing it at work while quietly unraveling, you’re not alone. Odds are, most of your coworkers are too. So maybe, just maybe, it’s time companies stop calling it “employee engagement” and start calling it what it really is: survival mode with a smile.

Shrekking: Here’s What the Hot New Dating Term Means

A new dating term takes inspiration from one of the most popular movie franchises of all time. But did the person who came up with it do our boy dirty? Here’s what the hot new dating term “Shrekking” is all about.

Have you ever gone out with someone you weren’t attracted to because you figured, “Hey, at least they’ll treat me nice”… only to find out they were also a total bastard?

Congratulations, you’ve been Shrekked!

“Shrekking” is the new term for a delightfully savage concept. It’s when you “date down” (aka, go out with someone who’s not up to your normal standards) under the assumption that they’ll be kind, loyal, or emotionally available. But instead of a sweet and self-aware Prince Charming, you get an ogre who’s just as bad (if not worse) than the hottie who ghosted you last summer. Basically, you gambled on inner beauty and lost hard.

@thisiswhyimsingle2024

Getting shreked. I’m here for it 🤣 #shreked #onlinedating #datingsucks

♬ original sound – Bekah

But Shrek is a sweetheart!

The term takes its inspiration from the “Shrek” movies, where Princess Fiona looks past appearances and falls for a literal ogre. But if you’re a little peeved Shrek got looped into this at all, you’re not alone. In the films, he’s a lovable grump with a heart of gold. So naming a trend after him when there’s so much negativity surrounding it isn’t really fair. But here we are.

Yes, it’s mostly about d-bag dudes

While the term technically applies to anyone, it’s mostly being used in reference to men. Which, let’s be honest, kinda tracks. Half of all sitcoms involve a hot wife being low-key Shrekked by her pudgy husband who knows his favorite NFL team’s schedule by heart, but can’t remember his anniversary. (“King of Queens,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “According to Jim,” “The Simpsons,” “The Flintstones,” “Family Guy,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Married… with Children”… to name a few.)

A new term for an old trend

Dating coach Amy Chan – author of “Breakup Bootcamp: The Science of Rewiring Your Heart” – told “USA Today“ it’s a trendy term for something she’s seen many times before. Lots of folks (often women) have taken a chance on someone who wasn’t their type, hoping that physical attraction would grow or that personality would win the day. And being open-minded like that can totally pay off… unless it backfires.

The term might be new, but the behavior isn’t. Plenty of people have put looks lower on the list or hoped attraction would grow over time, and that in itself isn’t a bad thing. Where it backfires is when someone assumes that just because they’re dating ‘down’ in looks, they’ll automatically be treated better.”

Check yourself before you Shrek yourself

The point is that being “less attractive” (whatever that means to you) doesn’t automatically make someone nicer, more mature, or better at relationships. That dumpy guy with one ear two inches higher than the other could be just as likely to ghost you, cheat, or pick fights about pineapple on pizza.

So what’s the takeaway? Don’t go into any relationship – whether hot, not, or even medium cute – with the expectation that their looks say something about their personality, or that you’re owed better treatment just because you’ve “lowered your standards.” People are people, no matter what they look like, and jerks come in every shape and size.

10 Things That Happened 10 Years Ago: Aug 24-30

Free tuna, dogs named “Bella,” and Burger King gets faced for wanting a “McWhopper.” Here’s what was in the news 10 years ago this week.

Burger King tried to team up with McDonald’s on a “McWhopper”

Burger King took out full-page ads in the “New York Times” and the “Chicago Tribune” and posted an open letter to McDonald’s, asking them to team up and make a “McWhopper” – a Bic Mac / Whopper mash-up. They wanted to do it for International Peace Day on Sept. 21 and even launched a website called McWhopper.com in hopes it would happen.

The response from McDonald’s, however, was… yeah, no thanks. The CEO of Micky D’s called it a publicity stunt, burned Burger King for comparing the rivalry to “the real pain and suffering of war,” and said if they ever wanted to team up again, “a simple phone call will do.”

Charlie Sheen wanted to be Trump’s running mate

Owen Wilson had compared Donald Trump’s campaign strategy to Charlie’s meltdown that got him booted from “Two and a Half Men.” (Owen even managed to slip in one of his patented wow’s: “It’s like when Charlie Sheen was doing that stuff—like, wow!”)

Charlie responded by tweeting, “If Trump will hv me I’d be his VP in a heartbeat!” Trump ended up choosing then Indiana Governor Mike Pence instead of Charlie, so… basically the same guy.

Everyone thought James Earl Jones died

2015 was a big year for fake celebrity deaths. There had already be a string of bogus rumors about Willie Nelson, Martin Lawrence, Michael Jordan, and Beyoncé. A parody website posted a fake obit for Jones, who was 84 at the time, so it seemed legit enough – at least to social media boneheads. The story quickly went viral before being quashed by those mainstream media outlets no one trusts anymore. Jones passed away nine years later in 2024 at age 93.

Wes Craven really did die

The prolific horror movie director lost his battle with brain cancer at age 76. His many credits include “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “The Hills Have Eyes,” and the first four “Scream” movies.

Each state’s most embarrassing Google search was revealed

The site Estately.com dug through 11 years of Google data to find the topic each state had googled an embarrassing number of times. Highlights included “sandals and socks” in Washington, “Limp Bizkit” in North Dakota, “penis enlargement” in Mississippi, and “Am I a virgin” in Maryland. (Yes, Maryland. Your neighbor Virginia “is for lovers,” not you.)

TunaLawsuit.com was trending

StarKist was forced to shell out millions of dollars for under-filling their 5-ounce cans of tuna. Anyone who’d bought StarKist tuna in the past six years (or claimed to) could get $25 in cash or $50 in tuna vouchers. You didn’t even have to prove you’d bought their tuna, you just had to say you did. It was a huge loss for Big Tuna, and a big win for fans of canned fish.

A Caitlyn Jenner Halloween costume had people up in arms

The costume (based on her “Vanity Fair” cover) featured a full Dad Bod dude in a cheap wig and a “Call Me Caitlyn” sash. Critics said it mocked the transgender community and promoted transphobia by turning Jenner’s transition into a joke.

Taylor Swift brought Lisa Kudrow on stage for “Smelly Cat”

Welcoming huge celebs to the stage became the norm during Taylor’s “1989” tour. Her same show at the Staples Center in L.A. (now the Crypto.com Arena) also featured cameos by Justin Timberlake and Selena Gomez. But every headline that week was about Taylor (a proud cat lady) bringing out Phoebe Buffay from “Friends” to sing her humorous ode to malodorous felines.

Everyone was naming their dog “Bella”

A study by Nextdoor found it was the most popular dog name in America in 2015, followed by Lucy, Max, Daisy, and Bailey. “Bella” got big thanks to the “Twilight” series, and not much has changed. A decade later, many of us are still naming our dogs after a teen with an unhealthy attraction to vampires.

The “Big Bang Theory” actors were making bank

“Forbes“ ranked the highest-paid TV actors of 2015, and the four main nerds on “Big Bang” dominated the list. Jim Parsons topped it at $29 million, followed by Johnny Galecki at $27 million, and Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar with $20 million apiece. (“NCIS” star Mark Harmon and “Two and a Half Men” fill-in Ashton Kutcher also tied for third at $20 mil each.)

The Lowest Paying Job in America Is “Shampooer”?

Think your job stinks? It could be worse. It turns out the lowest paying job in America is… one you probably didn’t even know exists.

Our friends over at Stacker.com did a deep dive to rank the lowest paying full-time jobs in the United States, and servers can breathe a sigh of relief. Waiting tables barely made the cut, landing at #50 on the list. That means there are at least 49 gigs that pay even less. Here are the Top 10, and what the average full-time worker makes in a year.

1. Shampooer ($30,830)

Yep, it’s a real job title. They’re the folks who wash your hair at salons before the stylist takes over. It’s often an entry-level job for people who want to become stylists but don’t have enough experience yet.

2. Fast food cook ($31,140)

If you’re behind the fryer but never at the counter, this is you. It doesn’t pay great, but there are some perks… like constant grease burns and getting to smell like French fries after every shift.

3. Amusement and recreation attendant ($31,350)

Think carnival workers, ride operators, and concession stand staff. Basically, anyone handing you cotton candy or buckling you into a ride you’re not 100% sure you’ll survive.

4. Fast food counter worker ($31,350)

They earn a little more than the cooks, mostly because they deal with customers. And let’s face it, customers can be tougher than the deep fryer.

5. Usher, lobby attendant, or ticket taker ($31,770)

Those smiling faces at theaters and concert venues? Spoiler alert: they’re probably making less than the price of your ticket.

6. Cashier ($31,810)

One of the most common jobs in America with more than 3 million people scanning barcodes and making change. If their attitude isn’t great, now you know why.

7. Host or hostess ($32,030)

The folks who deal with the riffraff out front earn about $6,000 less per year than the servers who take your order and bring your food.

8. Gambling and sports book writer/runner ($32,570)

They help facilitate bets at casinos and racetracks, or run games like keno. The house always wins, but the workers definitely don’t.

9. Child care worker ($33,140)

Babysitters, daycare staff, and nannies have some of the most important jobs in the world – if only they got paid like it.

10. Dishwasher ($33,220)

Closing out the Top 10 is that guy in the kitchen doing the dirty work – to the tune of about $1,500 more per year than the smiling hostess out front. (And $80 more than the person watching your toddler all day!)

The big picture? Most of these jobs pay in the low-to-mid $30k range, which doesn’t go far when rent, gas, and groceries keep climbing. So the next time you meet someone working one of these gigs, maybe give them a little extra patience – or a tip – because they’re not exactly cashing in.

German Game Show Features Long-Distance Shopping Cart Returns

I tried this in a Kohl’s parking lot once and had to pay a guy $600 for denting Toyota Corolla.

German game show “Schlag den Star” (“Beat the Star”) has an excellent segment in which contestants must successfully return shopping carts from 30-50 feet away.

It took over 6,000 years, friends, but we may have finally reached peak civilization. How do we make this an Olympic sport?

Volkswagen Is Charging Extra to Unlock Full Horsepower

If you thought streaming services were bad with their endless subscriptions, wait until you hear what Volkswagen is doing.

The automaker just rolled out a subscription plan in the U.K. that charges drivers extra to unlock the full horsepower of their electric cars. Yes, you read that right – speed now comes with a monthly fee.

Would You Pay an Extra $22 a Month?

Here’s how it works: take the Volkswagen ID.3, an electric hatchback that technically has 228 horsepower under the hood. Unless you’re willing to cough up £16.50 a month (~$22), you’ll only be able to access 201 horsepower. So, your car is literally being held back until you pay to set it free.

VW claims they’re just “giving people options”

Volkswagen is trying to spin this as “giving people options.” The company argues that some drivers don’t need the full power – like if you’re more of a Sunday driver than a speed demon. But if you want the extra zip, you’ll have to subscribe.

The costs break down like this: In U.S. dollars, it’s around $22 per month or $225 if you pay for the full year up front. There’s also an option to purchase a one-time unlock for $880. Volkswagen says if you go with that one, it stays unlocked even if you sell the car later on. Think of it as DLC (downloadable content) for your vehicle, but with horsepower instead of new skins.

It’s not a totally novel idea

Not surprisingly, people are calling it out as just another way for automakers to nickel-and-dime their customers. And they have a point, becuase this isn’t the first time we’ve seen something like it.

BMW once tried charging U.K. drivers a subscription to use their heated seats, but the backlash was so intense that they scrapped the idea.

Volkswagen insists it’s no big deal

They’re comparing it to gas and diesel cars that have long been offered in different power levels, even with the same engine size. The difference, of course, is that those choices used to be made when you bought the car – not afterward, and with a monthly invoice attached.

For now, the horsepower paywall is limited to the U.K., and there’s no word yet on whether Volkswagen plans to expand it to the U.S. But given how drivers reacted to BMW’s heated seat stunt, they might want to tread carefully.

Would you pay extra to unlock the full performance of your car, or is this a bridge too far? One thing’s for sure: the debate over “pay-to-play” driving has officially hit the fast lane.

Breaking News: Scottie Scheffler Is Good at Golf

We’re going out on a limb with this one and saying on record that Scottie Scheffler (the #1 ranked player in the world since 2023) is pretty good at golf.

Check out the fairly decent chip shot he came up with for a birdie on 17 at the BMW Championship in Owings Mills, Maryland. He went on to par the 18th hole and win the tournament by two strokes.

You heard it here first, folks. We feel confident saying Scottie Scheffler is at least not terrible at golf. Now he just needs to rack up 28 more wins – and 6 majors – in the next 10 months to match Tiger’s pace by age 30. 👀

Of note: Scottie also trails Tiger 3 to 1 in unflattering car-related incidents.

Tiger had his 2021 car crash, his 2017 DUI, and his wife Elin smashed up his Escalade with a 9-iron after she caught him cheating on her with ~10,000 women in 2009.

Scottie has so far only had the one arrest in 2024, when he drove around a police barricade at the PGA Championship in Louisville, KY, and allegedly dragged a cop down the street with his car. Those charges were later dropped, so he obviously still has much to learn about what the word “champion” means.

10 Things That Happened 10 Years Ago: Aug 17-23

One Direction breaks up, “Potato Parcels” go viral, and the Pumpkin Spice Latte finally lives up to its name. Here’s what was in the news 10 years ago this week.

The PSL finally got real pumpkin

12 years after the Pumpkin Spice Latte debuted at Starbucks in 2003, they finally decided to toss some actual pumpkin in there. The new recipe included a “pumpkin spice flavored sauce” made with pumpkin purée.

One Direction broke up

The “extended hiatus” proved to be so extended, it functioned as the band’s unofficial break-up. Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan went their separate ways to work on solo projects. There was talk of a reunion tour in 2024 before Liam died tragically that October after falling from a third-floor window at a hotel in Argentina.

A Texas man was making $10,000 a month mailing potatoes

The website PotatoParcel.com exploded onto the scene after a 24-year-old in Texas launched an app offering to mail Russet potatoes with personalized messages on them. The unlikely success story led to a string of competing websites, and Americans found out the USPS allows you to mail a potato without a box. The potato itself counts as a container.

Jon Stewart had his first gig after leaving the “The Daily Show”

His last show (of his first stint as host) was August 6, 2015, but he was back in the spotlight two weeks later. His first gig following the departure was hosting WWE’s “SummerSlam,” where he fully screwed John Cena out of his World Heavyweight Championship title.

Jennifer Lawrence was the world’s highest paid actress

She topped the annual “Forbes“ list at $52 million, followed by Scarlett Johansson, Melissa McCarthy, Bingbing Fan, and Jennifer Aniston. Robert Downey Jr. had recently topped the highest paid actors list at $80 million.

Three Americans stopped a terrorist attack on a train headed for Paris

On August 21, 2015, a man with an assault rifle opened fire on a train heading from Amsterdam to Paris. Luckily, his gun misfired, and three Americans in their early 20s – two of them off-duty members of the U.S. military – were able to subdue the gunman and end the threat. Four people were injured, including another American who initially wrestled the gun away, but there were no fatalities. The gunman was later sentenced to life in prison.

Ashley Madison hackers leaked everyone’s info

The dating site for cheaters had been hacked that July, and the hackers threatened to release all of the data if the site didn’t shut down immediately. They followed through with the threat, releasing more than 60 GB of data on August 18 and 20. An analysis later showed that Alabama led the nation in extramarital affairs.

Tracy Morgan got married and announced his return to “SNL”

It was a big week for the “Saturday Night Live” alum. The show announced he’d be returning to host after he nearly died in a car crash a year earlier. He also married his 28-year-old baby mama Megan Wollover that same week, but sadly it didn’t last. They filed for divorce five years later in 2020.

A man in Scotland received the “world’s first bionic penis”

The 43-year-old had lost his junk years earlier when it was ripped off in a crazy car accident that saw him dragged nearly 600 feet. Headlines claimed it was the “world’s first” bionic penis, which wasn’t actually true. But people were happy to hear the man’s new bionic junk was an impressive eight inches long.

The owner of the “Goonies” house shut fans down

The owner of the home – located in Astoria, Oregon – was sick of people doing the Truffle Shuffle on her lawn, so she covered the front of her house in blue tarps. She said she’d been dealing with more than 1,000 visitors a day and installed a sign that said, “Imagine that you buy a house, fix it up, spend money, time and love. Then the city of Astoria encourages 100,000’s of people to come and stand in front and view it.” (A sign that said “Hey, you guys! Please stop it!” might have been more effective.)

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