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10 Things That Happened 10 Years Ago: Aug 10-16

Dad Bods, “farting carrots,” and love songs for face-numbing narcotics. Here’s what was in the news 10 years ago this week.

“Dad Bods” were coming into style

A student at Clemson named Mackenzie Pearson had just coined the term months earlier in an article called “Why Girls Love the Dad Bod.” A poll that August found overweight or plus-sized men were the best in bed.

Selena Gomez sang about “farting carrots”

A radio host in the U.K. asked Selena to clarify what the lyrics were to her new song “Good For You.” People thought (or hoped) the opening line was, “I’m farting carrots. I’m farting carrots.” It’s actually, “I’m a 14 carat. I’m 14 carat”… like a diamond. (Sure, Selena… if that’s the story you’re sticking with.)

An NFL player sucker-punched his own QB and broke his jaw

New York Jets defensive end IK Enemkpali was beefing with star QB Geno Smith, who supposedly owed him $600. On August 11, 2015, he sucker-punched Smith in the locker room and broke his jaw. Smith ended up having to cede the starting QB job to Ryan Fitzpatrick and only appeared in one game that season. Enemkpali was immediately released and signed with the Buffalo Bills, but never played in the NFL after that season.

Jimmy Carter announced he had cancer

He was 90 years old when he announced he’d been diagnosed with stage IV melanoma that had spread to his liver and brain. But the former president and peanut farmer would go on to beat cancer and live another decade. He passed away on December 29, 2024 at age 100.

Seth Meyers took a seat

He’d been hosting “Late Night” for just over a year when he opted to start doing his monologue from behind his desk instead of standing. Fans thought the standing monologues were awkward, and sitting behind his desk more closely mimicked his “Weekend Update” segments from “SNL.”

“Watch me nae nae” was ranked one of the worst lyrics of the year

The BuzzFeed community ranked Silentó’s “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” at #3. The top spot went to Chris Brown and Tyga’s “Ayo” for the line, “I’ma take her ass down if she bring her friend around / F*ck ’em both like ayo.” (Classy stuff from two classy guys.)

“Rolling Stone” ranked the 100 best songwriters of all time

They really went out on a limb and put Bob Dylan at #1. The rest of the Top 5 were Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Chuck Berry, and Smokey Robinson.

“Can’t Feel My Face” was the #1 song in America

The Weeknd topped the Billboard Hot 100 with his ode to cocaine. The #1 album in America was Luke Bryan’s “Kill the Lights,” and the N.W.A. movie “Straight Outta Compton” debuted at #1 in theaters that week.

Mexico said they wouldn’t pay for the wall

Then-candidate Donald Trump had been promising to build a wall across the southern border and make Mexico pay for it. A spokesman for Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto responded by calling the comment irresponsible and saying, “Of course it’s false.”

LeBron James offered college scholarships to 2,300 kids

He partnered with the University of Akron, offering $9,500 scholarships to up to 2,300 underprivileged kids if they decided to pursue higher education. Not all of the money came directly out of LeBron’s pocket, but the pledge was valued at nearly $90 million.

Addicted to ChatGPT? You “Slopper”!

Imagine if Clippy from Microsoft Word never went away… and instead became your life coach. That’s basically where we’re at, except Clippy had a glow-up and goes by “ChatGPT.”

And now, there’s a new term for people who rely on it way too much: “Sloppers.”

It’s the latest internet label for folks who ask ChatGPT to help with everything from writing emails to planning their social lives. The term started circulating on TikTok, where someone proudly announced, “A friend coined the word Sloppers for people who use ChatGPT for everything. That’s such a good slur.” (Social media: where insults go to thrive.)

One guy told a story about being on a first date with a Slopper… when the woman pulled out her phone to ask ChatGPT what she should order. Yep, she needed A.I. to choose her dinner. He was so thrown off, there was no second date. Probably a good call.

So why “Slopper”? It’s short for “A.I. slop,” a reference to the flood of weird, robotic, low-effort content generated by artificial intelligence. And it’s not just the content… it’s the idea that some people are letting A.I. do all their thinking for them.

Still, not everyone is sold on “Slopper.” Other nicknames being floated include “Botlicker” (ouch) and “Second-hand thinker” (double ouch). Honestly, they all sound like names your smart refrigerator would call you during an argument.

Of course, we’re still in the early days of this tech revolution, and our collective cringe vocabulary is just getting started. But if you find yourself whispering “Hey ChatGPT” more than you talk to actual humans, maybe take a breath. Step away from the algorithm. Go outside.

Or don’t. Just ask ChatGPT what to do next.

Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion” Tops List of 100 Classic Rock Songs by 100 Artists

Classic rock rankings usually feel like déjà vu, with the same handful of bands hogging the top spots. But UltimateClassicRock.com just gave the genre a fun shake-up by creating a list of the Top 100 Classic Rock Songs — with one important twist: only one song per artist.

That means no Beatles triple-play, no Led Zeppelin overload, and no Queen domination. Just one iconic track each, battling it out for rock supremacy.

And the crown goes to… Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion”. Released in 1975, it’s still one of the band’s most recognizable riffs and a permanent fixture on any rock radio playlist.

Right behind it at #2 is Led Zeppelin’s epic “Kashmir”, followed by The Rolling Stones’ gritty “Gimme Shelter” in third. The rest of the top five is just as stacked: AC/DC’s “Back in Black” at #4, and The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” rounding things out at #5.

Here’s how the rest of the Top 20 shakes out:

  1. “All Along the Watchtower” – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
  2. “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
  3. “Everybody Wants Some!!” – Van Halen
  4. “Comfortably Numb” – Pink Floyd
  5. “Paranoid” – Black Sabbath
  6. “Baba O’Riley” – The Who
  7. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses
  8. “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey
  9. “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
  10. “Fortunate Son” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
  11. “Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen
  12. “Crazy Train” – Ozzy Osbourne
  13. “L.A. Woman” – The Doors
  14. “La Grange” – ZZ Top
  15. “Hotel California” – Eagles

The full list spans decades of rock history, from psychedelic ’60s anthems to arena-shaking ’80s hits. And because of the one-song-per-artist rule, it’s a much more diverse playlist than the usual “Greatest Rock Songs” countdowns.

Fans online are already debating the rankings, questioning whether Bohemian Rhapsody should be higher, if Hotel California is underrated at #20, and whether it’s even possible to pick just one Pink Floyd song without starting a fight.

If nothing else, the list is a killer crash course in rock history — perfect for building a playlist that’ll keep you air-guitaring for hours without repeating the same band twice.

This Math Formula Can Determine If You Got Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed

Someone has created a ridiculously overcomplicated math formula to figure out if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

Of course, you probably don’t need a formula to tell you that… especially if it’s a Monday… since most of us already know by the time we’ve burned our toast or stubbed a toe.

This “morning mood” equation factors in all sorts of daily variables, like how long you spend eating breakfast, exercising, showering, doing your makeup, wrangling the kids, or whatever else qualifies as your “getting ready” routine. It also includes the number of hours you slept and the exact time you got up.

It looks intimidating, but it’s not actually that hard to do. You will, however, need a pen, paper, and the patience of someone who hasn’t been awake for only 20 minutes.

Here’s the breakdown:

  1. Take the number of minutes you spent eating breakfast. Double it.
  2. Add that to the number of minutes you spent exercising and showering. Write that total down for later.
  3. Now, take the number of hours you slept. Subtract it from eight, then add one.
  4. Multiply that by the number of hours your wake-up time was away from 7:12 a.m., PLUS one. (Yes, 7:12 specifically… don’t ask.) Write this number down too.
  5. Take the first number you wrote down, and divide it by your second number.
  6. Finally, add that result to HALF the number of minutes you spent on other “getting ready” activities.

If your final total is more than 37, congratulations: You woke up on the right side of the bed. If it’s 37 or less, well… maybe don’t talk to anyone until you’ve had coffee.

(Here’s video of a British mathematician explaining it, but it doesn’t make it easier to wrap your head around. For what it’s worth, I did it and got a 33, which means I got up on the wrong side today.)

The Top Everyday Things That Make Us Smile

According to an online report, the average person will run into about 11 little moments today (and everyday) that make them smile… and not just the polite “customer service” smile, but the real kind that sneaks up on you.

Here are the top 10 everyday things most likely to make that happen:

  1. Spending time with your family. (Yes, even that one cousin.)
  2. Waking up to a bright, sunny day.
  3. Making someone else smile.
  4. Finding money in your pocket. (The ultimate adult treasure hunt.)
  5. Scoring a great deal on something.
  6. Running into an old friend.
  7. Getting a surprise.
  8. Hanging out outdoors.
  9. Eating your favorite meal.
  10. Hearing a good joke.

Just missing the list at #11 was listening to your favorite song.

Rounding out the Top 15 were chocolate… watching your favorite show… getting a compliment… and hearing a baby laugh. (Which is always solid smile fuel… unless it’s 3 a.m. and that baby is yours.)

The Heinz Ketchup Smoothie Is Here… and People Don’t Hate It

Ketchup in a smoothie sounds like the culinary equivalent of wearing socks in the shower… but hear us out. Heinz and Smoothie King just teamed up to create the Heinz Tomato Ketchup Smoothie, and early taste testers are saying it’s actually… good?

The whole thing started when Smoothie King posted a cheeky teaser: “If tomatoes are a fruit… is ketchup a smoothie?” That opened the door for the most unexpected collab of the year.

Before you gag, it’s not just a cup of blended ketchup. The recipe combines strawberries, raspberries, apple juice, açai sorbet, and yes, Heinz’s signature tomato ketchup. According to a People magazine writer who tried it, the drink is “sweet and tangy” with a surprisingly smooth blend of savory and fruity flavors. In other words, it’s not a spoonful-of-condiment situation — more of a gourmet twist on the fruit-and-veg juice trend.

Food writers from multiple outlets have backed it up, saying the ketchup adds depth without overpowering the sweetness.

If you’ve ever added tomato to a fruit smoothie at home, you might get the idea… though it’s safe to say few people have done it with a squeeze bottle.

The catch? It’s only available for a limited time in select Smoothie King locations, and you’ll need to be in one of six metro areas to try it: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or New York City.

So yes, it’s part marketing stunt, part “what if?” experiment, but it’s also tapping into a growing trend of using savory flavors in sweet drinks. Think salted caramel, chili chocolate, or celery in your juice cleanse — only this one comes with a red squirt cap.

Will it become your new go-to breakfast order? Probably not. But for anyone curious (or just in it for the bragging rights on Instagram), the ketchup smoothie might be one of the least gross “weird food collabs” we’ve seen lately. And if nothing else, it proves that Heinz isn’t afraid to stir the pot… or, in this case, the blender.

Bad Apple: A Woman Set a Man’s Front Door on Fire Over $7

Most people will let it slide if you don’t pay them back for a sandwich, or your share of an Uber. But in Maryland, one woman apparently decided that $7 was worth going full supervillain.

Police say 51-year-old Janice Oney was arrested after she intentionally set a man’s front door on fire because he owed her… seven dollars. Not seven hundred. Not seventy. Seven.

The victim told authorities he’d known Janice for years. On July 3rd, she showed up at his home demanding the money. They argued, she left, and for a brief moment, it looked like that was the end of it. Spoiler: it was not.

A few minutes later, Janice allegedly returned armed with a bottle of gasoline. She poured it on his front door, lit it on fire, and then made her getaway… on a bicycle. (Because nothing says “criminal mastermind” like fleeing a blaze at 8 mph.)

Luckily, the man spotted the flames and managed to put them out before they caused serious damage.

Oney is now facing a laundry list of charges, including first- and second-degree arson, malicious burning, reckless endangerment, and destruction of property. Police didn’t say what the $7 debt was for… coffee, gas money, maybe a used lawn chair from Facebook Marketplace… but whatever it was, it clearly wasn’t worth a felony.

So the moral of the story? If Janice is on your Venmo request list, pay up immediately.

When Benny Blanco Misses Selena Gomez, He Wears Her Perfume

Benny Blanco is clearly head over heels for Selena Gomez, and he’s not afraid to smell like it. In a recent TikTok, the producer casually admitted that when Selena isn’t around, he spritzes her Rare Beauty perfume all over himself to feel closer to her.

Yep, that’s right—he wears her signature scent just to keep her “essence” nearby.

The confession was part of a promo for Rare Beauty’s new fragrance line, and while Selena didn’t seem weirded out, she did call him “so cheesy.” Which, to be fair, is kind of true. But is it cute-cheesy, or “this might be a red flag” cheesy?

Fans are split. Some think it’s a romantic gesture—like playing your partner’s favorite song on repeat when you miss them. Others say it’s a little too intense, bordering on a cologne-scented cry for help.

Still, it fits with the hyper-honest and quirky brand Blanco and Gomez have built as a couple. They’ve shared plenty of open, even cringey-in-a-good-way moments online since confirming their relationship. From silly videos to deeply personal tributes, their vibe seems to be “too real,” in a way that fans (and TikTok) love.

And while Benny might be catching side-eyes for borrowing her scent, it’s worth pointing out: celebrities have done stranger things in the name of love. (Remember Angelina and Billy Bob’s vial necklaces?)

In the end, it’s just perfume. And love is weird. So if dousing himself in Rare Beauty makes Benny feel close to his girlfriend, more power to him. Just maybe… take it easy on the spritzes.

Ash-Spreading Ceremony Interrupted by Constipation Ad

Spreading a loved one’s ashes is usually a deeply emotional, solemn moment. But for one family near Seattle, their heartfelt goodbye turned into something else entirely thanks to a poorly timed Spotify ad and one extremely unfortunate sound effect.

They gathered on a boat in the Puget Sound in mid-July to honor someone they’d lost and say farewell, and they queued up a touching soundtrack for the moment – Frank Sinatra’s soaring version of “The Impossible Dream.” And that’s where things took a sharp turn.

They had the free version of Spotify

The touching moment was ruined – or depending on your perspective, improved – because the person playing the song didn’t have the ad-free version.

Just as the final note faded out and everyone was no doubt holding back tears, an ad kicked in. And not just any ad.

Cut the fart SFX!

The ad was for some sort of constipation remedy and opened with a loud, prolonged fart sound. Because nothing says rest in peace like a digital toot echoing across the water.

What followed the fart wasn’t any better. The first spoken line of the ad was “This is the quickest way to clear out stuck poop.” 💩(Whoever wrote that ad copy is one classy individual.)

They had a great sense of humor about it

Everyone on board burst into laughter, and the guy who filmed it joked later that his mom “really needs to subscribe to Spotify Premium.”

The fact that they weren’t devastated makes the whole thing strangely beautiful in its own way. A serious ceremony with a totally unserious interruption – and a reminder that even in grief, laughter can still find its way in.

The natural question from people on social media is whose ashes were they – and would they find it funny? If so, maybe it was their parting gift.

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15 Unhygienic Habits We All Secretly Do (Even Though We Know Better)

Despite surviving a global pandemic and stocking up on hand sanitizer like it was gold, it turns out many of us are still out here living like hygiene is optional. Someone on Reddit recently asked, “What’s extremely unhygienic but everyone seems to do it anyway?” The answers were equal parts horrifying and relatable.

So before you go touching your face, let’s take a grimy little tour through the gross things we’re all probably guilty of.

  1. Sticky condiment bottles at restaurants. Yep, the ketchup is basically a community petri dish. Delicious.
  2. Licking your fingers while counting money or flipping pages. We know this one is bad, but the finger-lick-flip combo lives on.
  3. Placing tortillas on top of the packaging instead of the counter. Congrats, you just upgraded your clean countertop for plastic touched by 40 different hands in the grocery store.
  4. Eating while bowling. Everyone focuses on the rental shoes, but the real horror? Bowling ball finger holes. You’re basically marinating your mozzarella sticks in germs.
  5. Using your phone on the toilet. We all do it. Then we take that same phone to bed. Sweet dreams.
  6. Neglecting to wash your sheets regularly. If your bedding smells like “vintage sleep,” it’s probably time.
  7. Plopping your suitcase on the bed. That bag’s been rolling through airport bathrooms and taxi floors. And now it’s snuggling your pillows.
  8. Wearing outside shoes indoors. Basically a parade of public restroom bacteria, now starring in your living room.
  9. Trusting ice machines. Ever seen one cleaned? Exactly.
  10. Touching gym mats with your bare skin. Bonus points if you’re also sweating buckets onto them.
  11. Letting cats roam on the counters and dinner tables. To be fair, cats go wherever they want. But maybe wipe down that surface before prepping your sandwich.
  12. Sticking unwashed hands into shared snack bags. It’s not a party until someone’s fingers go elbow-deep in the Doritos.
  13. Showing up to work or school sick. Maskless and coughing in shared spaces? A modern classic.
  14. Not washing your hands after, uh, private activities. Not great. Please wash.
  15. Buffets. Self-serve food under a sneeze guard? Bold move in a post-pandemic world.

Basically, we’re all just a walking episode of Dirty Jobs. But hey, at least we’re in this mess together. Maybe give those hands a quick rinse after reading this? Just saying.

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