Aliens. Florida. Naked people doing crimes. Stories so weird, dumb, or oddly impressive, you’ll wonder how they’re even real – and maybe wish they weren’t.
If I was walking into Buffalo Wild Wings and saw this, I’d still eat there. But I’m probably getting a burger.
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa got a call after someone spotted a chicken hanging out by the front door of a Buffalo Wild Wings in Des Moines.
They noted the hen must have been “confused,” since B-Dubs is the last place a chicken would want to be caught hanging out.
“WHAT THE CLUCK? Talk about a chicken on the wrong side of the road!”
How the chicken got to Buffalo Wild Wings is anyone’s guess, and whether it crossed the road to get there is also a hot topic.
People on Facebook were quick to offer up their own theories – a common theme being she’s finally buckled under the crushing weight of existence, and can’t deal with the unrelenting nature of life itself.
“She’d just given up. Was like ‘Just take me Lord!'”
“It wanted to be someone’s dinner.”
“How 2025’s been going, she just wanted to be done with it all!”
Thankfully, the story has a happy ending.
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa was able to catch the chicken, adding that she was safe and receiving the care she needed. And the best news is it appears the wayward fowl never made it inside the restaurant.
Imagine the level of PTSD you’d endure if you realized you’d been just a few short steps away from becoming a combo meal.
Did you know that Pepsi, the soda company, once commanded the world’s sixth-largest navy? No, that’s not a typo.
This fizzy tale begins in 1972, when Pepsi became the first American consumer brand to break into the Soviet Union. Because the ruble wasn’t accepted internationally, a traditional payment setup was off the table. So instead, Pepsi bartered with the USSR—trading its cola for Stolichnaya vodka, which it could sell in the U.S.
Capitalism, meet vodka-fueled communism.
But things got complicated in 1989. After the U.S. slapped sanctions on Russian goods following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the vodka-for-Pepsi pipeline dried up. That’s when Pepsi’s CEO Donald Kendall found himself back in Moscow, trying to negotiate a new deal with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
The USSR still couldn’t pay in cash, so they got creative. Wildly creative.
The Soviets offered Pepsi a bunch of military ships—17 submarines, a cruiser, a frigate, and a destroyer. The vessels were decommissioned and needed major repairs, but on paper, PepsiCo was briefly a maritime superpower.
For a short time, the soda company technically owned more naval hardware than some countries. Experts even say that, during this fleeting window, Pepsi possessed the sixth-largest navy in the world.
Of course, Pepsi had no plans to start patrolling the high seas with Mountain Dew torpedoes. They sold the ships for scrap metal to a Swedish company, pocketing about $3 million in the process.
So, the next time someone asks what your favorite soft drink is, just remember: Pepsi once had a fleet of submarines.
📸 WarshipPorn / Reddit (1989 – Here are 5 of the 17 submarines Pepsi acquired from the USSR)
Despite the name, Amazon has officially confirmed Prime Day 2025 will last a whopping four days, from July 8th through the 11th.
That’s 96 hours of deals, doorbusters, and digital cart chaos. And yes, that’s still apparently considered a “day.”
The name hasn’t changed, but the math sure has.
Originally launched as a single-day event back in 2015, Prime Day started off as a 24-hour sales blitz. But Amazon doubled the length in 2017, and just doubled it again.
We’re now at four full days of shopping, and Amazon doesn’t seem interested in giving the event a more time-appropriate title. “Prime Week” anyone? (I’d even take “Prime Long Weekend.”)
It’s not even the only Prime Day anymore.
To make things even murkier, Amazon added a fall version in 2022 called “Prime Big Deal Days,” which most people just call “Fall Prime Day” or “October Prime Day.” Then they tossed in a “Big Spring Sale” every March, aka “Spring Prime Day.”
Throw in all the “early deals” that drop before each event and… yeah, it’s basically a never-ending discount cycle. So while Prime Day technically still exists, it might be more accurate to call it “Prime Year” at this point.
To be fair, the word “day” is subjective.
Sure, 24 hours is a day… on Earth. But a day on Venus lasts 5,832 hours. So if you know any higher-ups at Amazon, please let them know they could go way bigger with this.
Technically, they could make Amazon Prime Day 243 days long, and “day” would still be accurate assuming you’re logged on from the Second Rock from the Sun. (I hear the 5G is spotty up there though.)
Here’s how to make sure there’s a throw-down, knock-out fight at your next family Thanksgiving. Help your drunk uncle along by sneaking some booze into his main course.
Alcoholic poultry, anyone?
We just learned you can marinate a turkey in tequila, and it’s all thanks to a brave Midwesterner who did it and almost set their apartment on fire. When you’re an innovator, you’re gonna break a few eggs along the way. (And maybe explode a few birds.)
Tequila turkey nearly blows up oven.
Firefighters in Madison, Wisconsin, had to step in after a dangerously boozy bird almost turned a kitchen into a fireworks display. A local resident decided to try a tequila-marinated turkey recipe, but it backfired spectacularly. (And also literally.)
Just eight minutes into roasting, the oven door blew open with such force that they felt their only option was to call 911. Then firefighters showed up, and when they opened the oven, blue flames shot out.
The culprit? Vaporized alcohol.
The bird had soaked up so much tequila that the booze turned into flammable vapor in the oven. And once that vapor mixed with oxygen? Boom. A fireball.
The person cooking the tequila turkey said they’d used the recipe before without issue. So authorities think it may have been caused by poor ventilation in the oven, which allowed the alcohol fumes to build up to explosive levels. It’s also possible they used way more tequila than the recipe called for.
Firefighters ultimately removed the oven from the apartment to prevent any further risk. Despite the dramatic blast, the incident thankfully didn’t spark a larger fire. And as far as we’ve heard, no fowl play was suspected. (Sorry, I’ll see myself out.)
How to make a tequila-soaked turkey
If you’re a risk-taker with a well-ventilated oven, you can easily find tequila turkey recipes online. But spoiler alert: they probably won’t get you drunk.
Most of the tequila turkey recipes we were able to find call for a very minor amount of booze. (Think tequila basting, or tequila glaze.)
TasteTequila.com modified a recipe from The Food Network… and we’re being generous with the word “modified.” They basically just say to use a lot more booze. The Food Network version calls for just 3 tablespoons, which isn’t going to give you much of a buzz unless you spoon them directly into your mouth.
The booziest real recipe we could find is from the Barefoot Contessa herself – proud drinker Ina Garten – whose Tequila Lime Chicken calls for a full four ounces of the good stuff. (Or technically, not that good… she says to use Cuervo Gold. 🤮)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup gold tequila (*or more if you’re willing to risk a structure fire)
3 whole (6 split) boneless chicken breasts, skin on
As fun as tequila turkey sounds, I bet there’s an 80% chance it’s gross… because who drinks any type of alcohol because it “tastes good”? No one. If you think you do, your decades of drinking have just obliterated your taste buds. (I’m talking to you, mezcal “fans.”)
So while it’s a fun idea, I think I’ll play it safe and stick to my normal Thanksgiving staples. First and foremost: rum ham.
If you think your neighbor’s a pain, meet 72-year-old Samuel Thomas from Florida. He’s setting the bar sky-high for neighborhood drama.
Thomas was arrested after making a wild (and false) call to 911 claiming someone was firing an AR-15 in the street. When police arrived, there was no gunfire, just a chill family barbecue with kids playing nearby. Several other neighbors confirmed there hadn’t been a single shot fired.
As it turns out, this wasn’t a one-time call. Thomas has allegedly dialed 911 a jaw-dropping 3,400 times in just the past year. And 647 of them were about that same neighbor’s house.
Over the last five years, he’s reportedly racked up a staggering 16,000 calls to emergency services.
The neighbor at the center of most of his complaints says he routinely yells obscenities at her family and has made a laundry list of unfounded accusations, including drug dealing and weapons violations. Despite ALL the nuisance calls, Thomas had somehow never been officially busted for abusing 911 services… until now.
He was charged with stalking, filing a false report, and resisting arrest, after allegedly putting up a fight when officers tried to cuff him.
Authorities didn’t find any signs of mental health issues… just an apparent passion for overusing emergency services.
Thomas has prior convictions for battery, DUI, marijuana possession, disorderly intoxication, passing bad checks, violating probation, and even failing to return rented merchandise.
So far, it’s unclear whether authorities can legally cut off his 911 privileges, but we’re guessing a lot of neighbors are hoping someone finds a way to block his number.
If you like ketchup on eggs, there’s a 1000% chance you’ve been shamed for it at some point in your life (Maybe many points.) But now Heinz wants you to start owning it and help them make “breakfast ketchup” a thing.
In a bold new move, Heinz is stepping in to defend ketchup lovers everywhere with a campaign that basically says: “Yeah, we do that. And shut up, it’s delicious.”
They teamed up with 100 Waffle House locations around the country to debut new “Breakfast Ketchup” labels. Their new line? “Ketchup at breakfast should be the norm, not the exception.”
Around 50 diners across the U.S. are also getting limited-edition bottles shaped like maple syrup containers. Because if syrup gets to sit on every breakfast table like royalty, why shouldn’t ketchup get a little shine too?
The ketchup itself hasn’t changed. It’s just a clever marketing gimmick. Heinz is simply hoping to extend their main offering to that all-important first meal of the day… because 🤑.
If they really wanted to push the envelope, they could have gone with some sort of ketchup/syrup hybrid. But does ketchup and syrup on eggs somehow seem even grosser?
If you’re a ketchup-on-eggs fan, you’re not alone.
According to Heinz, one in four people already reach for the ketchup bottle at breakfast. So in their eyes, this is already a thing. They’re just trying to normalize it.
Wait, 25% already use ketchup at breakfast?
Is it possible? Yes. But only because hash browns exist.
Eliminate potatoes from the equation, and I’d posit the real number of breakfast ketchup indulgers is closer to 1 in 20. There’s just no way a quarter of the country is putting ketchup on their eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, granola, or cereal on a semi-regular basis. (If you’re putting it on your Froot Loops, bravo. You’re a true original.)
Ketchup on potato chips too?!
This isn’t the first time Heinz has tried to convince us that their signature product belongs on more than burgers, dogs, and fries. Just months earlier, they tried to convince America that dipping potato chips in ketchup was a thing that should happen.
Dipping fries in ketchup isn’t weird. But what about chips? To find out, we asked people what they think of new HeinzChipDip. Try it for yourself and let us know what you think with #HeinzChipDipChallenge
Breakfast ketchup people need not be ashamed anymore.
Obviously encouraging people to use your product in more areas of their life is a solid marketing strategy. (Waiting for them to tell me it’s a great moisturizer too!) But will all the ad dollars actually make more people believe ketchup on eggs is a good idea? Or did they just see the hot-sauce-at-breakfast trend take off, and decide it was an in?
Either way, the fact that the largest ketchup brand in the world has your back is no small thing. So if you’ve ever been side-eyed for putting ketchup on your eggs (or bacon, or anything else on your plate), you’ve now got Heinz in your corner the next time you hear it from breakfast ketchup haters.
Just don’t start putting it on Cheerios, or I’m out!
Some cultural fads go out with a bang— while others choose an Irish goodbye. An online thread asked: What things quietly went away? The answers? A nostalgic, weirdly satisfying list of things we collectively outgrew, forgot, or pretended never happened.
Here are 10 former staples of everyday life that faded into obscurity:
1. Waterbeds Once considered the peak of bedroom luxury (and, somehow, sex appeal), waterbeds were bulky, hard to move, and prone to leaks. Eventually, we all collectively agreed: just… no.
2. Facebook Poke Wars There was a time when poking someone on Facebook was flirty, funny, or just a weird way of saying “Hey.” Now it feels about as current as logging into MySpace from a flip phone.
3. That Old TV Screen Shrink Effect Remember when turning off your TV made the picture collapse into a little white dot before fading to black? That tiny death spiral is now just a memory—thanks to flat screens and LED technology.
4. Flash Mobs For a few years, strangers bursting into choreographed dance routines in public was a viral sensation. Now, not even your grandma on Facebook is watching those anymore.
5. Traveler’s Checks Before credit cards worked internationally and apps made everything easy, people carried pieces of paper to “safely” convert cash. Now? Good luck even finding someone who knows what they are.
6. HQ Trivia Millions tuned in to shout “Savage question!” in real time. Then it fizzled out just as fast, proving that trivia apps—like most startups—are fragile.
7. “ROFL” Once an internet staple, “Rolling on the Floor Laughing” has gone the way of dial-up. These days, it’s LOL or LMAO—because nobody wants to imagine rolling around on a gross floor.
8. Planking The viral trend of lying stiff like a board on random objects came and went so fast, we’re still unsure why it started. Or why we ever thought it was funny.
9. Ringtones Remember when everyone had a custom ringtone and it was a huge deal? Now phones mostly stay on vibrate—because we’ve evolved into silent scrollers.
10. The Weird Plastic Soda Bottle Base Those weird crinkly “feet” at the bottom of 2-liter bottles? Phased out in favor of simpler, more recyclable designs. You didn’t miss them, but now you’re thinking about them again.
So if you ever feel embarrassed by your old online habits, viral obsessions, or questionable taste in mattresses—don’t worry. Culture moves on. And apparently, so do we. Quietly.
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.
If you’re planning to visit a nude beach for the first time, there’s more to it than just ditching your clothes. According to an 81-year-old woman who’s been a proud nudist for over three decades, there’s an etiquette to baring it all—and breaking those unwritten rules can make things awkward fast.
Here are her top five tips for keeping things respectful (and comfortable) when everyone’s in their birthday suit:
1. Give People Space Just like at any beach, no one wants a stranger’s towel parked a few inches from theirs. But at a nude beach, personal space is even more crucial. Keep a respectful distance when setting up your chair or blanket—because close quarters feel very different when you’re not wearing anything.
2. Don’t Gawk It’s not a zoo, it’s a beach. Staring is one of the fastest ways to make others uncomfortable. If you strike up a conversation, the key is simple: maintain normal eye contact.
3. No Body Talk Even if you think you’re being kind, commenting on someone’s appearance—positive or not—is a no-go. Complimenting someone’s body might seem friendly, but in nudist culture, it’s considered intrusive.
4. Keep the PDA to Zero Going with a partner? Keep things platonic in public. Affection that hints at anything sexual isn’t just frowned upon—it’s grounds for being asked to leave. Nude beaches are about freedom, not flirting.
5. Absolutely No Photos (Unless You’re Careful) Snapping selfies or scenic pics? Make absolutely sure no one else is in the frame. Consent is everything, and most nudist spots have a strict no-photos policy to protect people’s privacy.
And what if a guy finds himself, uh, reacting to the environment? According to this longtime nudist, it’s rare—but not unheard of. If it happens, just wrap up in a towel or go for a swim. The cold water usually takes care of the rest.
Bottom line: treat it like any public space, just with less clothing. Respect and discretion go a long way when you’re letting it all hang out.
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.
