Author: Cortlyn McCarthy

Owning a Pet Now Costs a Small Fortune

If your kid asks for a puppy this Christmas, tell them sure… they just might not be able to go to college.

A study by Synchrony found the true cost of caring for a cat or dog over their entire lifetime can range from $20,000 to $61,000 – nearly three times what most people expect.

The poll asked people to estimate how much it would cost to care for a pet for 15 years. The average guesses were $5,735 for a cat and $8,158 for a dog.

But those optimistic ballpark figures fall well short of reality once you account for food, grooming, vet visits, and all those little extras we indulge our pets with. (Hey!! My cat likes dressing up for Halloween, okay!?!)

The actual estimated lifetime cost?

$20,000 to $47,000 for cats, and $22,000 to $61,000 for dogs.

It breaks down to roughly $1,500 a year—and that’s the minimum you should expect.

The cost of pet ownership isn’t just high—it’s also rising fast.

From 2022 to 2025, dog-related expenses increased by 12%, and cat costs have surged 19%.

Despite the financial burden, most pet parents have no plans to live a life without pets.

More than 75% of those surveyed said they see their pets as “family members,” “best friends,” or even “children.” That sentiment runs slightly stronger among dog owners—24% said they view their pup as a child, compared to 21% of cat owners.

With inflation and rising vet bills continuing to push costs higher, the findings serve as a reality check for current and would-be pet owners.

The takeaway? Pets are priceless, but definitely not free.

New Grad Goes Straight to Work, Gets Rewarded by TikTok

In a time when viral fame often comes from stunts or pranks, one Atlanta teen is making headlines for all the right reasons.

Just hours after donning his cap and gown for graduation, 18-year-old Mykale Baker clocked in for his shift at Burger King—still wearing his full graduation attire. According to the video, the graduation didn’t end until 10:00 PM.

https://www.tiktok.com/@mariabonita528/video/7507469018077416735

The moment, captured in a now-viral TikTok by a customer, has struck a chord with thousands of people online, sparking a wave of admiration and generosity.

It shows Mykale standing in the Burger King kitchen, clearly fresh from the graduation stage, ready to take orders with the same commitment he’s likely shown in school. The contrast between the formality of his gown and the fast-food setting quickly turned the photo into a symbol of grit and determination.

The woman who took the photo, moved by Mykale’s work ethic, started a GoFundMe to help support his college dreams. What began as a modest fundraising effort has now grown into something life-changing.

Within days, the campaign blew past $150,000 in donations—more than enough to cover tuition, books, and then some.

Mykale became an internet sensation overnight, but also a beacon of what hard work looks like in action. With the support of strangers rallying behind him, he’s now free to pursue higher education without the financial weight that burdens so many young students.

The story is especially resonant for communities who understand the hustle it takes to get ahead. For many, Mykale’s decision to show up for work on one of the most important days of his life wasn’t surprising; it was relatable.

As the GoFundMe page puts it, “From Burger King to a College Dream.” Thanks to the internet’s better instincts, that dream is now very real.

10 Things That Happened 10 Years Ago: June 1-7

It’s time for another nostalgic look back at the good, the bad, and the just plain weird. Remember where you were when this stuff happened? Here’s what was in the news 10 years ago this week.

1. Caitlyn Jenner introduced herself to the world. She’d come out as trans in an interview with “20/20” that April, but we didn’t really meet her until the “Vanity Fair” spread landed on June 1st, 2015.

2. Kim Kardashian announced she was pregnant again. She revealed the news in a teaser at the end of the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” mid-season finale. She gave birth to her son Saint that December – her second of four kids with now former husband (and former sane person) Kanye West.

3. Thongs were going out of style. “The New York Times” did a story on how thong sales were slipping and young women were opting for the much more comfortable granny panty option.

4. YouTube’s 10th birthday video was trending. It marked the 10th anniversary of YouTube’s beta version, which launched in May 2005.

5. The Duggars were in full meltdown mode. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar from TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting” did their first interview after news broke that their oldest son Josh “improperly touched” five victims, including four of his younger sisters. The show was cancelled that July.

6. Tracy Morgan did his first interview following his horrible car crash. He’d nearly died almost exactly one year earlier when a Walmart truck plowed into the back of his Mercedes Sprinter van. Tragically, his longtime collaborator James McNair didn’t survive the crash.

7. IHOP updated their logo to make it happier. They decided their old one looked like a frown, so they turned it upside down.

8. A guy’s long-neck mugshot went viral. He was accused of stealing $3,000 worth of antique coins from a store, but all anyone wanted to know was how much llama DNA he had.

📸 Parkersburg Police Department

9. The Broadway casts of “The Lion King” and “Aladdin” got stranded at an airport together. The airport sing-off that ensued was of epic proportions.

10. The trailer for “Sharknado 3” was released. It was one of six “Sharknado” movies that came out between 2013 and 2018 – all of them benchmarks in cinematic brilliance.

F*#@ Yeah! America Swears More Than Any Other Country

The U.S. may not lead the world in healthcare or math scores, but it’s secured a different kind of dominance—one four-letter word at a time.

An expansive new study led by Australian researchers found the United States swears online more than any other English-speaking country.

The researchers analyzed over 1.7 billion words from nearly 340,000 websites, and the U.S. came out on top when it comes to online expletives.

On average, roughly 1 in every 3,000 words posted on American websites is a curse word.

That figure rises to 1 in 2,300 words on American blogs, which are more likely to feature informal language.

For comparison, the U.K. trails slightly behind with one curse word in every ~4,200 words, followed by Australia at one in ~4,500.

Their list included nearly 600 different swear words.

The research team cast a wide net in defining what counts as a swear word—an important detail that sheds light on the numbers. The 597 different words they included ranged from heavy hitters like the F-word (and its many creative uses and misspellings) to milder jabs like “jackass” and “butthead.”

Interestingly, the study’s authors didn’t try to hide their national disappointment. While American writing may dominate in online profanity, they hinted that Australia could still hold the edge when it comes to spoken language. “One possible explanation,” they wrote, “is that Australians are more conservative when they write online, but not so much when they are face-to-face.”

Sure, Australia. Tell yourself whatever you need to so you can sleep at night. But everyone knows when it comes to cussin’, America kicks ass. Still the leader of the free world in more ways than one.

Oddball Anniversaries Are the Hot Relationship Trend

Who says anniversaries have to be tied to weddings or going steady?

A growing relationship trend is encouraging couples to celebrate what are being called “arbitrary-versaries” — offbeat, personal milestones that mark the quirky, real-life moments in a relationship.

What’s an “arbitrary-versary”?

The idea was originally floated in 2021, but it’s picking up steam now thanks to a recent PopSugar article that gave it a modern, fun spin. The concept? Mark the unusual, random, or downright ridiculous milestones that only the two of you would find meaningful.

Things like the first time you slid into their DMs, the first time you saw each other naked, or even just that first grilled cheese they made you that was sooooo good.

Yes, really. It can be anything.

While the term “arbitrary-versary” is a bit of a mouthful, the sentiment behind it is easy to get behind: creating more reasons to pause, reflect, and appreciate the shared experience of being weird together.

Other suggestions from PopSugar include sweet or sentimental moments — like the day you realized you had a crush on them, the day you realized you had the same favorite movie, or the first trip you took together.

But why would we need one? We have a real anniversary.

It might sound like something only unwed folks in their 20’s would do, but people of all ages can get in on it. Even if you’ve been married for a decade, it’s a playful way to re-inject some joy and spontaneity into your routine.

Relationship experts say these kinds of fun rituals help strengthen emotional bonds and keep the spark alive. It’s less about the calendar and more about the connection.

So if you’ve been feeling like your relationship could use a dose of fun or gratitude, maybe don’t wait for your next big anniversary. Just celebrate the day you made each other laugh until you cried… or that infamous fart in the car that changed everything.

Let love — and your imagination — be your guide.

Man’s Best Friend? Don’t Do the Ice Bucket Challenge to Your Dog

Another TikTok trend has crossed the line—at least according to animal advocates.

The so-called “Bark Your Mind Challenge” – a viral trend where you dump a bucket of water on your unsuspecting dog – is drawing criticism online for being more cruel than clever.

The setup is nearly always the same: a cutesy voiceover mimics a dog announcing its nominations for the challenge – think Snoopy and Bluey. Then without warning, the pet owner douses their dog in water, capturing the animal’s startled reaction for laughs and likes.

@lindss41

#uscmind #barkyourmindchallenge #zawg #doge #snoopdogg #dogsoftiktok 24 Hrs !

♬ original sound – lindsay

Not everyone’s amused.

The challenge, a riff on the 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, is being slammed by animal welfare organizations as harmful and irresponsible.

“This is a betrayal of trust that undoubtedly leaves your dog confused and terrified,” said a spokesperson for PETA.

The group likened the trend to emotional abuse, warning that stunts like these can damage a dog’s sense of safety and potentially cause long-term fear or anxiety. In short: your pet won’t understand viral fame, but it will remember being scared and soaked.

The criticism highlights an ongoing problem in the social media age – pets being used as props for clout. While videos of dogs doing tricks or reacting to funny sounds tend to be harmless, trends involving shock, surprise, or discomfort blur ethical lines. And as history has shown with similar fads, the internet’s thirst for novelty can easily override compassion.

Animal behaviorists also warn that such experiences can backfire. Dogs rely on consistency and positive reinforcement to bond with their humans. Dumping water on them for entertainment doesn’t just disrupt that bond, it can erode it entirely.

Some people think it’s just harmless fun.

Plenty disagree with the take that a little water in warm weather is tantamount to animal abuse. If it’s hot out, your dog likes water, and you’re not fully sneaking up on them, is it really that harmful to your pup?

Maybe it depends on the context – and the dog. But before you turn them into a viral stunt, just remember they’re a companion not a punchline.

Maybe they deserve better than a bucket of cold water in the name of internet points.

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