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Hate Running? Science Says Learn to Juggle

If the idea of lacing up for a run or squeezing into a crowded gym makes you break out in hives, here’s a fun alternative: try juggling. Yes, really.

According to a recent feature in The New York Post, juggling is more than just a party trick… it’s surprisingly good for your brain and body. Multiple studies are now pointing to real cognitive and physical benefits, even if you’re just juggling two balls (which, let’s be honest, is most of us).

Researchers say the act of juggling can improve hand-eye coordination, reaction time, posture, and even balance. One neuroscientist explained that it actually “changes how quickly you react to objects, how well you coordinate between two hands, and how you keep your posture under control.” Translation: you might not become a circus performer, but you will sharpen your reflexes.

And it’s not just a brain booster. Juggling counts as light physical activity. Apparently it can burn up to 280 calories an hour, about the same as a brisk walk. So yes, you can technically burn off that latte while throwing things at yourself in the living room.

What’s even more encouraging is that it doesn’t require Cirque du Soleil-level talent to see results. A 2022 study followed a group of seniors learning to juggle and found that every single one of them eventually managed to juggle three balls. It took practice, but no one was left out.

Aside from being a decent workout and a brain booster, juggling is low-impact, cheap, and can be done indoors (read: no weather excuses). Plus, it might even give you a cool party trick.

So if you’re over burpees and done pretending yoga is “relaxing,” grab a couple of tennis balls and start dropping them. Just remember: if you’re not chasing at least one ball under the couch, you’re not doing it right.

The Average Person Eats 21 Cookies a Month, and Chocolate Chip Is Our Favorite

This past Monday was National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day.

And a cookie-focused poll found they’re still our favorite type of cookie.

Our five favorites are chocolate chip, peanut butter cookies, double chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and shortbread. So, no love for that old clamshell package of frosted sugar cookies on the clearance shelf at the grocery store?

Here are a few more quick cookie stats:

1. The average American eats 21 cookies a month. One in four admit they eat more than that.

2. 41% of us think we’ve had enough of them in our life to call ourselves a “cookie expert.” The average person thinks you need to eat at least 319 cookies before you can say that. At 21 cookies a month, that would only take a little over a year.

3. According to the poll, the perfect chocolate chip cookie is soft and chewy… made with brown sugar… and just came out of the oven.

4. 61% say a really good cookie can turn your whole day around.

So next time you’re halfway through a sleeve of cookies and wondering if you’re being a little extra… just remember, you might actually be working toward a professional title. Keep going, Chef.

USDA Uses “Marriage Story” Argument and AC/DC to Scare Off Wolves

Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson have an interesting side hustle—fighting off wolves. Sort of.

In one of the strangest but most effective forms of wildlife management you’ll hear about today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is using drones, loud music, and… Hollywood drama to protect cattle from wolf attacks.

Specifically, they’re blasting the infamous fight scene from the 2019 film Marriage Story to send a very loud message to predators: humans are loud, chaotic, and best avoided.

It’s all part of a method called “wolf hazing,” which involves scaring wolves away from livestock using drones equipped with thermal cameras and mounted speakers.

When the drones detect a wolf, they blare unsettling sounds—fireworks, gunshots, and yes, that intense Adam-vs-Scarlett yelling match. If that doesn’t work, the wolves also get a dose of AC/DC’s Thunderstruck at full volume.

And while this might sound like the weirdest Spotify playlist ever, it’s actually working. In one Oregon hotspot where 11 cows were killed in just 20 days, hazing efforts cut the number of wolf kills to only two over the next 85 days.

A USDA official summed it up best: “I need the wolves to respond and know that, hey, humans are bad.”

Hollywood drama, classic rock, and thermal drones: it’s not exactly what you’d expect from the USDA, but it’s oddly effective.

Your “Body Count” Doesn’t Matter, as Long as You’ve Slowed Down

Ah yes, nothing spices up a budding romance like the inevitable conversation about your “body count.” Right between “What’s your love language?” and “Do you believe in ghosts?” comes: So… how many people have you slept with? A true bonding moment.

But here’s some good news for anyone whose romantic history reads like a casting call: According to a new study, it’s not your total number that matters. It’s your momentum. In other words, people are apparently less freaked out by a high number of past partners if your, uh, extracurricular activities have slowed down over time.

So go ahead and be honest: “Yeah, I had a wild phase… for about 15 years. But I’m totally chill now.”

The study surveyed thousands of people in 11 countries, and surprisingly, the results were pretty consistent… even regardless of gender. Basically, your romantic history is like a stock chart… people are looking for signs the market’s cooling off, not about to crash through the ceiling.

And let’s be real: most people don’t actually care what you were doing 10 years ago, as long as you’re not still doing it now. A high number from your past can come off as adventurous, experienced, worldly even. But if you’re still collecting stamps for your loyalty card, that’s where the red flags start waving.

Louisiana Law: You Can Now Get Ticketed for Driving 64 in a 65

In Louisiana, it is now legally possible to get pulled over for driving like your grandma… even if you’re going almost the speed limit. Starting this week, the state has declared war on left-lane lurkers who treat the passing lane like a slow parade route.

So if you’re the kind of person who sets your cruise control to 64 in a 65 and settles in with a podcast, congrats… you might now be eligible for a $150 fine and a confused conversation with a state trooper.

The new law targets drivers going under the speed limit in the left lane of multi-lane highways. Previously, you had to be driving at least 10 miles per hour under the posted limit to get cited. Now, going just one mph under is enough to get you busted. And yes, this includes Priuses and big rigs.

Fines escalate quickly: $150 for the first offense, $250 for the second, and $350 for the third… at which point you could also face jail time.

On most divided highways in the state, 65 mph is the standard speed limit, and this law applies to the left lane only. It’s meant to reinforce the idea that the left lane is for passing, not poking along and blocking faster drivers. But to be clear, this doesn’t mean you can speed… it just means you can’t drive slower than the limit in that lane.

The old rule allowed more wiggle room, only penalizing people going 10 mph below the limit. The updated version gives law enforcement broader authority to ticket drivers who are disrupting the flow of traffic, even slightly.

Will it be heavily enforced? That remains to be seen. But if you’re the type who likes to coast in the left lane with no one in front of you and a mile-long line behind you, it might be time to slide on over.

Americans’ 10 Favorite Ice Cream Truck Orders

Sadly, ice cream trucks aren’t as common as they once were. In fact, there was a poll a while back that found that 17% of Americans had NEVER bought ice cream from an ice cream truck. But it’s summer… so let’s make it happen!

So what to order? A survey listed Americans’ favorite ice cream truck orders, and here are the Top 10:

1. Crunch Ice Cream Bar

2. Drumstick

3. Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich

4. Twist Soft-Serve Cone

5. Klondike Bar

6. Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Bar

7. Vanilla Soft-Serve Cone

8. Neapolitan Ice Cream Sandwich

9. Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich

10. Chocolate Drumstick

Overall, they ranked 29 items. The PowerPuff popsicle came in last… just ahead of the SpongeBob popsicle.

You can find the full results, here. (And yes, the legendary Choco Taco is at #11, even though it was discontinued a few years ago. So you probably won’t be able to find that one right now… but that doesn’t mean it can’t live on in our frost-bitten hearts.)

Disturbing Screams in the Woods? Nope, It’s Just a Guy Singing Nickelback

If you’re hiking through the woods and hear someone yelling, your brain usually kicks into emergency mode. But in this case, it turned out to be slightly less urgent than it sounded.

Last Thursday, a pair of hikers exploring a remote climbing area in British Columbia, Canada, heard what they described as “repeated cries” echoing through the forest. Naturally, they assumed someone was in trouble and called search and rescue.

The response team rushed to the area and followed the sounds of faint yelling through the trees.

After narrowing down the source, they eventually discovered the culprit… a man camping alone, screaming Nickelback lyrics into the wilderness.

That’s right. There was no emergency, just an impromptu solo concert of Canadian rock classics. The man was, in the words of the search team, “belting out Nickelback’s greatest hits” with all the passion of a sold-out arena show.

Thankfully, the rescue team took it in stride. They thanked the hikers for doing the right thing and checking, just in case. After all, better safe than sorry. The search manager even got a little dig in, saying, “Our services are always free. And the money you save could be spent on singing lessons.”

While the situation turned out to be a false alarm, it’s a great reminder to always report suspicious or unusual sounds in the wilderness. It might be nothing… or it might just be someone butchering “Photograph” at full volume.

(For what it’s worth, Nickelback is from Canada — just not British Columbia. They formed in the neighboring province of Alberta. And their original band name was “Village Idiot.” Fitting, given all this.)

If you ever find yourself on a solo camping trip with nothing but the trees and your vocal cords, maybe give the rescue services a heads-up. (“AND THIS IS HOW YOU REMIND ME…!”)

A Zoo in Denmark Wants Your Pet—So They Can Feed It to a Lion

Move over, Disney. There’s a zoo in Denmark that’s rewriting The Circle of Life… and not everyone’s thrilled about it.

The Aalborg Zoo in northern Denmark just sparked a social media firestorm after a Facebook post invited the public to donate their pets – specifically so they can feed them to lions and other carnivores. Cue the outrage.

Seriously?? Who would do this??

Before you start clutching your dog or cat in horror, let’s clear something up: the zoo isn’t after Fluffy the golden retriever or Mr. Whiskers. According to its website, only healthy small animals are accepted, including rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, and – perhaps most eyebrow-raising – small horses. Yes, horses.

So what exactly is going on here? The zoo says it’s about giving their carnivores a more natural diet. Large predators in captivity, like lions, tigers, and lynxes, benefit from eating whole animals, fur and all, because it mimics what they’d consume in the wild. They argue it’s more enriching for the animals and reduces waste in the broader ecosystem. It’s not exactly a new concept in the zookeeping world, but advertising it to the public? That’s where things get a little… controversial.

Instagram is outraged

Understandably, social media users are losing it. Some are calling the policy “barbaric,” and others say they’re disturbed that anyone would part with their pet bunny or pony like it’s an expired can of soup. Memes, rage-posts, and lots of “What’s wrong with you?” comments are currently flooding the zoo’s social accounts.

But not everyone is upset

It’s not all outrage. Some folks are defending the move, calling critics “soft” and out of touch with how nature works. A few are even praising the zoo for being transparent and practical about food sourcing.

For the record, the zoo claims that any donated animals are “gently euthanized” before being offered as lunch to the apex predators, so it’s not exactly the Hunger Games happening behind the scenes.

Still, if you’ve got 10 surplus guinea pigs and you’re thinking about a donation run, be warned: the zoo has a four-animal limit per visit. You’ll have to schedule your pet purge accordingly.

The whole situation raises big questions about ethics, ecology, and the uncomfortable reality of what “feeding the animals” actually means. But one thing’s for sure: this zoo’s Facebook page is wild right now.

How Often Do You Wash Your Jeans? Depends How Brave (or Nose-Blind) You Are

If your laundry basket could talk, it would probably say, “Please… I’m begging you.” But since it can’t, plenty of us wait until there’s a sock crisis or we’re down to our emergency underwear before doing anything about it.

Laundry isn’t the worst chore out there, but let’s be honest… it’s nobody’s idea of a good time. Unless you’re one of the very rare laundry lovers out there (and yes, they exist), you’re probably just doing the bare minimum to avoid mildew and social shame.

Still, most people are taking care of it themselves. A new poll found 55% of Americans always do their own laundry, while 5% say someone else always handles it. Everyone else falls somewhere in between, depending on how desperate the wardrobe situation gets.

Now, do we enjoy laundry? Eh. Only 9% of people say they love it, and 23% say they like it. On the flip side, 12% dislike it, and 5% flat-out hate it. 49% are totally neutral… the Switzerland of household chores.

The survey also asked how many times people wear different types of clothing before washing them… and spoiler alert: the results range from reasonable to “I’m gonna stand over here.”

Underwear: 80% of people wash it after one wear (as any decent society should). But 5% of people wear the same pair four or more times before washing. Yes, that’s real. And yes, men are more likely to do it.

T-shirts: 55% wash after one use. 10% wear them at least four times, which might explain why some shirts are more vintage aroma than vintage style.

Non-jeans pants: 29% go one-and-done, but 21% say, “Eh, one more wear won’t hurt.” (It might.)

Sweaters: Only 19% wash after a single wear. A whopping 32% go four-plus wears, relying on the magical cleansing power of “airing it out.”

Jeans: Just 16% wash after one wear, and 36% stretch it past four. Men, once again, are more likely to live on the edge. (Or the edge of someone’s olfactory tolerance.)

So, next time you wonder if those jeans can go another day, just remember… you’re either part of the majority, or part of the reason Febreze exists.

“Ozempic Face” Is Sending More and More People to Plastic Surgeons

Losing weight quickly might be great for your waistline, but it’s not always great for your face lines.

Thanks to the rise of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, there’s now a new wrinkle in the weight-loss conversation—literally. It’s called “Ozempic face,” and according to some doctors, it’s driving a fresh wave of plastic surgery procedures.

While it might sound like a joke, the trend is all too real. The gist? People are dropping pounds fast on these GLP-1 medications, but their skin isn’t keeping up. The result is sagging, wrinkles, and an overall “sunken” or “aged” look that has some users sprinting from the pharmacy to the med spa.

Who coined the term “Ozempic face”?

New York-based dermatologist Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank claims credit for coming up with it. (Yeah, Paul?? We want receipts!!) But whether he actually coined the term or not, he’s definitely an expert on this stuff.

According to Dr. Frank, rapid weight loss can make facial fat disappear before the skin has time to bounce back. It’s especially true for people over 40. By the time you hit your fourth decade, your skin has lost some of its elasticity… or potentially gone full catcher’s mitt.

In other words, your body gets smaller, but your face suddenly starts doing a spot-on impression of a prune. And the solution for more and more Ozempic patients seems to be a follow-up appointment with a plastic surgeon.

Not everyone needs the scalpel.

Fillers can help restore some volume, and they’re often the first option newly skinny folks opt for. But Dr. Frank says more patients are now opting for full-on facelifts or skin-tightening procedures.

“You can only refill a deflated balloon so much.“

Yeah, Dr. Frank doesn’t mince words. Though he does admit sometimes fillers can be enough.

“You can only refill a deflated balloon so much, and often surgical intervention is necessary. [But sometimes], just upping the dosage of their volume replacement is more than enough. Someone who may have used one syringe of filler in the past is now using two or three.”

“Ozempic face” is just a trendy term.

To be clear, this isn’t just an Ozempic issue. Any rapid weight loss can do this, whether it’s from dieting, surgery, or a different medication.

But with drugs like Ozempic exploding in popularity, doctors say they’re seeing a noticeable uptick in patients seeking cosmetic fixes to go along with their slimmer bodies.

The Ozempic / facelift link is just a theory… for now.

There’s no conclusive data yet tying the rise in plastic surgery procedures directly to these weight-loss drugs, but anecdotally, experts say it tracks.

For now, it’s another example of how the path to looking better sometimes comes with unexpected detours—and in this case, sometimes a knife.