Author: Cortlyn McCarthy

10 Things That Happened 10 Years Ago: June 15-21

It’s time for another nostalgic look back at the good, the bad, and the just plain weird. Here are 10 things that happened 10 years ago this week.

1.  Trump announced he was running for president, and everyone chuckled. He descended his golden escalator, formally entering the fray on June 16th, 2015, and no one thought he had a chance. Hillary Clinton had announced her candidacy two months earlier that April.

2.  The Rachel Dolezal scandal broke. The former president of Spokane’s NAACP chapter resigned after it was revealed she was extremely caucasian. She made headlines again in 2024 when her OnlyFans page got her fired from a teaching job in Arizona.

3.  “Jurassic World” had the biggest opening weekend ever – $208.8 million. But the record only stood for six months. “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” opened to the tune of $248 million that December.

4.  Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig’s made-for-TV movie premiered on Lifetime. “A Deadly Adoption” was a typical Lifetime drama. The only comedy that existed was the fact that Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig decided to do a typical Lifetime drama.

5.  A-Rod got his 3,000th hit, and the fan wouldn’t give him the ball. His 3,000th hit was a homer snagged by pro ballhawk Zack Hample. Two weeks later, Hample finally traded the ball for some signed swag, free All-Star tickets, and a $150k donation to the charity Pitch in for Baseball.

6.  Brian Williams got banished to MSNBC for his B.S. helicopter story. He’d been suspended by NBC News earlier in the year after claiming he was on a helicopter that got hit by an RPG in Iraq.

7.  Sean Penn and Charlize Theron broke up. Yeah, they dated for a minute – or more like 18 months between 2013 and 2015. Their 15-year age gap may have been an issue, and also the fact that he’s known to be… difficult.

8. A divorced guy literally split everything down the middle. A woman in Germany left her husband of 12 years. He went viral after doing the only mature thing and sawing their possessions in half.

9.  Even Michael Jackson’s son thought the name “Blanket” was dumb. News broke that he’d started going by Bigi at school because he was sick of being bullied. (It was just a nickname anyway. Bigi was born Prince Michael Jackson II. MJ introduced him in 2002 by dangling him off a balcony with a towel on his head. Normal dad stuff.)

10.  Utah Valley University invented cellphone friendly stairs. Three separate lanes for walking, running, and texting. It’s been a decade… how has this design not become ubiquitous?

One in Six Single People Have Dated an A.I.

Singles are using AI to find love… and sometimes to even be in love. According to Match’s 14th Annual Singles in America report, nearly one in six single people have dated an A.I. (Kinda…)

One in four singles say they’ve used A.I. to help with dating, a massive 333% jump from last year.

The report found a surprising number of singles are bringing artificial intelligence into the dating world.

So how exactly are people using A.I. to boost their love lives? Some are letting it help write dating profiles or come up with clever openers. Others are even using it to screen for compatibility–basically letting AI swipe left or right for them.

26% of singles overall admit to using A.I. to help with dating in one way or another, with Gen Z leading the charge.

49% of Gen Z singles have tried A.I.-assisted dating.

Yep, half of young singles are now leaning on A.I. to help them track down their soulmate. Just meeting up and seeing if you have chemistry doesn’t cut it anymore.

But here’s where it really gets weird. A surprising number of single people have also used A.I. as a sort of fill-in while they keep looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right.

One in six singles have used A.I. as a “romantic companion.”

You read that right. 16% of singles say they’ve interacted with A.I. as a romantic companion before. The poll described it as using A.I. for “companionship or emotional support” that a romantic partner would normally provide. (Translation: lots of people have already tried out robot boyfriends or girlfriends, or at least dipped their toe into that world.)

It’s not just a Gen Z thing.

Around a third of Gen Z singles say they’ve experimented romantically with A.I., but so have a quarter of Millennial singles. So whether it’s loneliness, curiosity, or just testing out the tech, it’s clear people are getting more comfortable with blurring the line between real and virtual romance.

Does dating an A.I. mean you’re already taken? (Asking for a friend.)

If you’re dating a robot and a warm-blooded human shows up, maybe opt for the human. But Match asked, and the answer is yes. Many people feel that dating an A.I. would count as “cheating” these days.

40% said having an A.I. boyfriend or girlfriend would be cheating. (We assume that’s emotional cheating. If it’s physical too… please wipe down your keyboard.)

If you find all this a little unnerving, you’re not alone.

As A.I. tools get smarter and more customized, the world of dating could see an even bigger tech upgrade whether we’re ready for it or not. But no matter what, one thing’s clear: A.I. isn’t just writing emails and grocery lists anymore. It’s also playing Cupid.

If you thought ghosting was complicated, just wait until A.I. sends you a break-up text.

It’s Official: Coffee Isn’t Optional

If you can’t think straight before your first cup of coffee, you’re not alone. And now a report has confirmed it: coffee isn’t optional.

Coffee is the #1 beverage Americans “can’t live without.”

In its first-ever State of Beverages report, Keurig Dr Pepper (yes, the company behind your morning and afternoon caffeine fixes) surveyed Americans to find out which drinks they love the most, and which ones they need the most.

Unsurprisingly, coffee reigns supreme when it comes to daily survival. It topped the list of the drinks people “can’t live without.”

Coffee is our “happy place.”

According to the report, 62% of Americans agree with the statement, “My day doesn’t start until I’ve had a cup of coffee,” and 69% call their morning coffee their “happy place.”

In other words, coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s therapy in a mug.

Coffee isn’t our “favorite” drink though.

Plot twist! While coffee might power our mornings (and sometimes our afternoons), it’s not actually our favorite beverage when it comes to taste.

That title goes to soda! (If you’re from the Midwest, that’s “pop.” If you’re from the South, we mean “Coke,” but not the brand.)

53% of Americans say carbonated soft drinks are their favorite beverage based solely on taste. So while coffee is the MVP of mornings, soda takes the crown when it comes to pure enjoyment.

The data also reflects how different drinks serve different purposes in our lives. Coffee is how we survive Monday mornings, back-to-back meetings, and groggy commutes. Soda is for backyard barbecues, movie nights, and let’s be real, any meal that just tastes better with some carbonation.

Coffee vs. Breakfast vs. Booze

The report has plenty of other fun stats too. We poured through it so you didn’t have to. Here are the highlights…

  • 59% would rather skip breakfast than skip their morning cup of joe, while 41% would rather chow down and drink something else.
  • 73% of people 21+ would rather quit drinking alcohol than quit drinking coffee.
  • Late night coffee? Los Angeles does it the most. Dallas, Atlanta, and Boston don’t want it to keep them up at night.
  • 65% customize their beverage in some way. 52% add sugar or sweeteners, 51% add creamer or milk, and 44% add flavor syrups (especially when ordering at chains like Starbucks).
  • 58% find soda the most “refreshing” beverage out there.
  • 74% of Gen Z’ers use social media to learn about new beverage trends.
  • 56% of Americans say they’ve cut back on alcohol for “wellness or lifestyle” reasons, and 58% now prefer non-alcoholic drinks when hanging out with friends.
@blahgergirl

#coffee #coffeelovers #workdays #everyday #ineedcoffee #funny #funnyvideos Original Video Credit: @tiffanyrudy

♬ original sound – Blahgergirl

Fine Water Is the New Fine Wine

If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at someone spending five bucks on bottled water, brace yourself, because water snobbery has officially reached a new level.

A recent feature in The New York Times highlights a growing trend among the wealthy and wellness-minded: luxury water tastings. Yes, “fine water” is now a thing, complete with sommeliers, international competitions, and price tags that rival high-end wines.

“Fine water” can cost hundreds of dollars a bottle.

At this year’s Fine Waters Taste and Design Awards in Atlanta — the ninth time the event has been held — six water sommeliers blind-tasted 107 different types of natural water from around the world.

Among the winners? Socosani, made of melted snow filtered through Peruvian volcanic rock. And Pure Mist, made of mist collected from the pine forests of Tasmania. One brand out of Texas called Crazy Water even boasts a naturally occurring dose of lithium.

Much like wine, enthusiasts say fine water has “terroir.”

Terroir means the taste reflects its geographic origin and mineral content. And as interest grows, so does the infrastructure: there are now training programs for water sommeliers, and some people are even converting their wine cellars into “water cellars” stocked with rare finds.

Seriously? Water cellars?

It may sound like parody, but it’s part of a real cultural shift. The appeal isn’t just the taste, it’s the story, the purity, and the experience. In an era where alcohol consumption is on the decline, especially among Gen Z, fine water has stepped in to offer a sophisticated alternative.

Social media is getting in on it too.

Some hotels now feature water bars, and a handful of fine water influencers have amassed large followings by reviewing rare bottles and offering tasting tips.

Michael Mascha, founder of the Fine Waters organization, understands the skepticism but insists the movement is about more than overpriced hydration. “If you think water is just water,” he says, “you’re missing out.”

Whether you see it as an elevated culinary experience or just H2O with a marketing budget, one thing’s clear: fine water is having its moment, and it’s flowing into some very fancy glasses.

@beardedwatersommelier

#water #learnwithtiktok #fyp #mineral are #electrolytes

♬ original sound – Beardys Fine waters

These Everyday Pet Peeves Are Driving Us Nuts—Which Ones Are on Your List?

What’s something small that totally wrecks your mood? If you’ve ever snapped because someone chewed too loudly or your phone buzzed during a meeting, you’re not alone.

A poll commissioned by the brand CBDfx reveals even the tiniest disruptions can seriously stress us out.

You’ll probably encounter at least one of them today, and here’s the through line: if there’s one thing that consistently annoys the hell out of us, it’s… other people. (Yeah, I’m lookin’ at you! 🫵)

Here are the Top 10 minor annoyances that disproportionately get under our skin:

1. Running into someone you’d rather avoid. Whether it’s an ex, an enemy, or just someone you don’t exactly enjoy–it’s never fun when you have to go into “fake friend” mode.

2. A surprise knock at the door. In this day and age, they didn’t at least call first? Or better yet, text? (See #6 below)

3. People talking to you when you need some peace and quiet. Like when you’re in the middle of a work project, and your cubicle mate Todd chimes in with, “If a tomato is a fruit, does that mean ketchup counts as a smoothie??” (Sure, Todd. Now STFU!)

4. Slow or spotty Wi-Fi. In an age where everything’s online, even a 10-second Wi-Fi hiccup can feel like you’re being suffocated.

5. Loud chewing. I hate to keep picking on Todd, but…

6. Getting a phone call from someone out of the blue. It wasn’t that long ago when random phone calls were seen as a nice surprise. But now it’s like a personal affront. (And God help you if you FaceTime me out of nowhere.)

7. Heavy breathing. (See #5)

8. Alarms going off. It doesn’t matter what the alarm sound is, you’ll learn to hate it. It’s why you should never use a favorite song as your morning alarm sound–it’ll be your least favorite in under a week.

9. A flood of text notifications. If you add me to a group text with more than 5 people, we might not be friends anymore.

10. Phone dings during work meetings. Honestly, that one’s on me. I should have had it on vibrate.

Each thing on the list might be no big deal as a one-off, but they do add up fast–especially in a world that’s already overstimulated and constantly connected.

Whether it’s the awkwardness of a surprise visit or the rage-inducing crunch crunch crunch of nearby snacking, these everyday annoyances can trigger an outsized emotional response.

How to calm down after these little disruptions?

According to the same survey, the top method for de-stressing is simple: listening to some music. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by minor irritations, maybe it’s time to reach for your headphones.

The poll found other go-to options include deep breathing, or snuggling your pet. (Please, just don’t do those deep breathing exercises if I’m within earshot!)

10 Things That Happened 10 Years Ago: June 8-14

It’s time for another nostalgic look back at the good, the bad, and the just plain weird. Here are 10 things that happened 10 years ago this week.

1.  American Pharoah won the Triple Crown.  He was the 12th horse to do it, and the first since 1978.  It happened again three years later when Justify won the Triple Crown in 2018.  No other horse has done it since.

@worldhorseracing

10 years ago, Triple Crown 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 was made… 🇺🇸👑 @thenyra #belmontstakes #americanpharoah #triplecrown

♬ original sound – WHR – WHR

2.  The most popular wedding song was “All of Me” by John Legend.  According to Spotify, the #1 first dance song was “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran.

3.  Pizza Hut announced their Hot Dog Bites Pizza was coming to the U.S.  They’d already offered it in the U.K., Australia, Canada, and several countries in Asia.  Unfortunately (or thankfully), it was only a limited-time thing.  It came with a side of French’s mustard for dipping.

4.  The Warriors and Cavs were in the NBA Finals.  Golden State won it in six games even though the Cavs had LeBron James.  It was the second time they had him – he’d just rejoined Cleveland after four seasons with the Miami Heat.

5.  Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were still together.  They were spotted flying coach to France with their six kids.  They announced their divorce about a year later in 2016, but it wasn’t finalized until 2024.

6.  “Best,” was becoming the go-to word for ending an email.  A report found “best” and “thanks” were the top two words people used.  In the early 2000s, only around 5% were using the word “best.”

7.  Kim Kardashian rented out the Staples Center.  It was so her then hubby Kanye West could play basketball on his 38th birthday.  Other players included Justin Bieber, Tyga, Pusha T, and Russell Westbrook.

8.  Florence and the Machine scored their first #1 album.  “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” shot to #1, beating Taylor Swift’s “1989” album at #2.

9.  Raven-Symoné replaced Rosie O’Donnell on “The View.”  She’d guest hosted dozens of times already, but only ended up being a full-time host for two seasons.  The other hosts back then were Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie Perez, and Nicolle Wallace.

10.  We found out the “Brady Bunch” kids were all hooking up behind the scenes.  Susan Olsen (Cindy) told an Australian news outlet there were lots of make-out sessions on set.  Cindy and Bobby, Jan and Peter, Marcia and Greg.  (It’s fitting that Cindy was the one to spill the beans. She was always such a tattle-tale!!)

Why You Shouldn’t Use the Bathroom “Just in Case”

You’ve done it. You’ve maybe even told your kids to do it before walking out the door. But according to health experts, the precautionary act of going to the bathroom “just in case” might be doing more harm than good.

The term for it is “proactive voiding.”

A recent article in The New York Times dove into the science behind a habit called proactive voiding—that is, going to the bathroom before you actually feel the need. While it may seem harmless, urologists say it could mess with your body’s natural signals if done too often.

Your bladder is a muscle. And just like any other muscle, it adapts to routines. If you consistently go before your bladder is full, it may start telling your brain you need to pee sooner than you really do. And over time, this can condition your body to feel like it’s constantly time for a bathroom break, even when your bladder is only half full or less.

How much pee can my bladder hold?

To put it in perspective, a healthy adult bladder typically holds about two to three cups of urine—closer to two for women and three for men. But even under normal conditioning, we feel the urge to go at just half that volume.

Add habitual “just in case” trips to the mix, and you might find yourself sprinting to the restroom way more often than necessary.

Another reason to not do it: incontinence

Sure, using the bathroom 20 times a day would be annoying in and of itself. But peeing when you don’t need to can also cause some real physical consequences. Namely, you might eventually not be able to hold it.

Trying to pee when there’s not much in there can cause straining, which may weaken your pelvic floor muscles over time. And that, ironically, can lead to even more urinary issues.

What if I’ve already trained by bladder to pee too often?

The good news is if you’ve developed a “go now just in case” reflex, it’s not too late to undo it. Experts say retraining your brain is possible, and cognitive techniques can help.

Think things like simple distractions, deep breathing, and self-talk. (Yes, literally talk to your bladder and say, “I’m the one in control here, not you!”) As one expert put it, it’s not just mind over matter, it’s “mind over bladder.”

TL;DR

In short: go ahead and take that preemptive pee before your next road trip. You’ll probably be fine as long as you don’t make it a daily habit.

But unless you’re dealing with limited bathroom access, or a medical issue, it’s better to wait until you actually have to go.

The Most Common High School Experiences We Shared

With graduation season in full swing, a YouGov poll asked thousands of Americans a nostalgic question: If you could go back and do high school all over again, would you?

For many of us, the answer is HELL NO!! But that’s not actually how the majority of Americans feel about it.

Most Americans would like to revisit their high school years—but maybe with a few do-overs.

55% say they’d go back and relive their teenage years, while 40% say absolutely not. (The other 5% are still on the fence.)

The vast majority of that “yes” crowd would do things a little differently though. Only 12% overall said they’d want to have the exact same high school experience if they went back and did it all over again.

Even across generations, we shared a lot of the same high school moments.

The poll also dove into shared high school experiences, ranking how common certain milestones and memories were. Unsurprisingly, having a crush took the top spot—87% of respondents admitted to pining for someone in high school.

50 High School Moments We Shared

Had a crush on someone: 87%

Had a group of friends or a clique: 83%

Took a class you loved: 79%

Took a class you hated: 79%

Attended a school football game: 68%

Kissed someone: 68%

Lied to your parents: 67%

Took the SAT or ACT: 66%

Went on a date: 65%

Had a boyfriend or girlfriend: 64%

Got your driver’s license: 64%

Went to a school dance: 63%

Had a part-time or full-time job: 62%

Made a close friend you still talk to: 62%

Failed a test: 60%

Had a curfew: 55%

Filled out a college application: 54%

Showed up late to class: 53%

Experienced anxiety or depression: 53%

Went to a house party: 53%

Got grounded by your parents: 52%

Went to prom: 52%

Participated in a school club: 51%

Skipped class without permission: 50%

Drank alcohol: 49%

Hung out at a mall: 49%

Volunteered: 48%

Made the honor roll: 47%

Got bullied by someone: 47%

Drove to school: 45%

Got sent to the principal’s office: 43%

Pulled an all-nighter: 40%

Took an AP or honors class: 40%

Played on a sports team: 39%

Got detention: 37%

Smoked a cigarette: 37%

Had sex: 36%

Got into a physical fight: 35%

Had a cellphone: 35%

Cheated on a test or assignment: 32%

Snuck out of the house at night: 31%

Joined the school band or choir: 31%

Participated in a school play: 30%

Smoked pot: 28%

Had a social media account: 28%

Became close to a teacher you still talk to: 22%

Had braces: 19%

Participated in student government: 16%

Participated in political activism: 11%

Bullied someone: 10%

So, yeah. We went through a lot of the same stuff.

If you experienced all 50 things on that list, you really packed it in! If you experienced none of them… you were probably homeschooled. (But c’mon, your mom must have at least bullied you once!)

What the poll reveals?

While everyone’s high school journey is unique, the poll shows just how many of our experiences—good, bad, and awkward—were shared. And if most of us could go back, we probably wouldn’t change everything, but maybe we’d study a little harder, party a little smarter, or say “hi” to that crush just once.

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