Month: December 2021

Dictionary.com has officially announced its 2021 word of the year, and that word is:

Allyship

Despite the plethora of divisive stories this year—debates about vaccines, gun safety, education, abortion, the validity of conspiracy theories—this word has prevailed in our collective consciousness. And that alone indicates something much more uplifting: What matters most to people is helping one another.

Stemming from “alliance” (meaning the “merging of efforts or interests by persons, families, states or organizations,” according to Dictionary.com) “allyship” had only been added to the platform a month before earning the 2021 title. And in this year alone, it was in the top 850 searches out of thousands and thousands of words, and its frequency of use has surged 700% since 2020.

📘 The word allyship combines the noun ally, “a person who advocates for or supports a marginalized or politicized group but is not a member of the group,” and -ship, a suffix denoting “status, condition.” (2/11) https://t.co/xo8qd7d8ox

— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) December 6, 2021

Dictionary.com gives two different definitions:

Allyship (noun)

1. advocates and actively works for the inclusion of a marginalized or politicized group in all areas of society but is not a member of that group, and acts in solidarity with its struggle and point of view and under its leadership.

2. the relationship of persons, groups or nations associating and cooperating with one another for a common cause or purpose.

“Vaccine” is Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year. The word was selected based on lookup data, notable spikes, and year-over-year increases in searches. https://t.co/NQLOsh6CNB

— CNN (@CNN) November 29, 2021

At first glance, “allyship” might appear better suited for 2020, following George Floyd’s death and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. And with searing headlines of political discord, pessimistic outlooks on the pandemic and an overall dismal public view of humanity, “allyship” seems … a less than optimal choice. Did they consider “vaccine” like Merriam Webster did? Or “variant”? How about “Delta”? Surely these options better reflect the times?

Content overseer John Kelly noted, “It might be a surprising choice for some,” but “in the past few decades, the term has evolved to take on a more nuanced and specific meaning. It is continuing to evolve and we saw that in many ways.”

Allyship has now extended to frontline workers, teachers and parents who have gained support and advocacy during the pandemic.

“This year, we saw a lot of businesses and organizations very prominently, publicly, beginning efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Allyship is tied to that. In the classroom, there is a flashpoint around the term ‘critical race theory’. Allyship connects with this as well,” Kelly said.

The site also noted how a theme of genuine, nonperformative allyship was at the center of many “defining new stories of 2021” that made a lasting positive impact, from Simone Biles and the mental health of athletes to the Great Resignation and workplace burnout.

“These events were notable not only in their own right, of course, but also because of the ways we largely reacted to and discussed them through the lens of who gets a voice, who deserves empathy, and who and what is valued. This was a lens of allyship,” according to Dictionary.com.

When the world is looked at through this lens, perhaps the path toward 2022 is more compassionate and collaborative than our fears would indicate. And perhaps we can take a more elevated view of what it means to be an ally. At the end of the day, we could all use a little more friends and a little less enemies.

The last week has not been good for Chris Cuomo. It began with a report that showed he was more involved than he’d claimed in helping his brother, now-former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, deal with accusations of sexual harassment. First CNN suspended him. Then they fired him altogether. Now he’s losing his other tool for mass communication: his SiriusXM show.

Cuomo said he was stepping away from the show, possibly permanently, in the wake of the scandal that put an end to his long-running weeknight news show Cuomo Prime Time.

“The way my time ended at CNN was hard,” Cuomo wrote in a statement posted on his Twitter account. “While I have a thick skin, I also have a family, for whom the past week has been extraordinarily difficult. So, right now, I have to take a step back and focus on what comes next. That means I will no longer be doing my SiriusXM radio show.”

Called Let’s Get After It, after his CNN catchphrase, the live show was launched in 2018. When it aired on Monday, it was without Cuomo. Instead, former ABC journalist Brian Ross took the reins.

During an investigation conducted by the New York State Attorney General’s office, Cuomo admitted that he used his connections to try and dig up dirt on some of his brother’s accusers. When CNN revealed they had let him go on Saturday, news also broke that he’d been accused of sexual harassment himself by a junior colleague at anther network. Cuomo has denied the accusation.

Though the last week has left him feeling down, he remained cautiously optimistic. “I will miss our conversations a great deal,” Mr. Cuomo wrote. “But I look forward to being back in touch with you all in the future.”

(Via NYT)

When it comes to bold, robust wintry beer flavors, few are more desirable than chocolate. Even without the addition of chocolate malts and flavorings (which can also be tasty!), chocolate is one of the main flavors found in porters, stouts, inky dark ales, and other winter brews. This is typically thanks to the malting process — sure to bring out tastes reminiscent of cacao.

While drinking dozens of beers to find the true chocolate bombs seems like a great afternoon activity, we actually don’t want to take a nap at two o’clock in the afternoon and wake up hungover around dinner time. That’s why we once again turned to the brewing professionals. We asked a handful of well-known brewers and beer experts to tell us the best beers for fans of chocolate and — as always — they delivered!

Keep reading to see all of the dessert-like, chocolate milkshake adjacent, and choco-filled choices that the pros passed our way.

Boulder Shake Chocolate Porter

Adriana Terron, brewer at LUKI Brewery in Arvada, Colorado

ABV: 5.9%

Average Price: $11 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Boulder Beer’s Shake Chocolate Porter has always been a go-to for me when I get the hankering for a tall glass of chocolate milk, but with alcohol, please. The chocolatey-ness is way up there without being overwhelming. It’s got a velvety smooth and rich mouthfeel, but it’s still very drinkable for what it is.

Boulder Beer has been through a lot as of late, so I feel good continuing to support the place that used to give one of the best brewery tours around.

Rogue Chocolate Stout

Jason Santamaria, co-founder and brewer at Second Self in Atlanta

ABV: 6%

Average Price: $7.50 for a 22-ounce bottle

Why This Beer?

Rogue’s Chocolate Stout is a great example of how to get a lush, rich, chocolate flavor into a beer. It’s also a great beer to mix with. Mix it with a spiced beer to get a sweet, chocolaty heat or a coffee beer to get a mocha beer.

Young’s Double Chocolate Stout

Manny Salvatori, lead brewer at The Bronx Brewery in Bronx, New York

ABV: 5.2%

Average Price: $11 for a four-pack

Why This Beer?

I immediately go Young’s Double Chocolate Stout. It’s a pretty classic Chocolate Stout, one of the first that I had ever tried, and a brewery that I have worked closely with in the past. It’s brewed with real dark chocolate and it is just incredibly silky. If you dig chocolate, find this beer.

Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout

Brad Bergman, director of brewing at Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte, North Carolina

ABV: 12%

Average Price: $17.50 for a four-pack

Why This Beer?

While there’s a lot more than just chocolate going on in this beer, this is one that everyone should try at least once. It’s super complex, laden with a ton of malty goodness like chocolate, coffee, caramel, honey, vanilla. It’s also paired with the oaky, spicy bourbon barrel character. It’s always been one of my favorite BBA offerings that also has a healthy chocolate backbone.

Copper Kettle Mexican Chocolate Stout

Brandon Proff, managing partner at Our Mutual Friend Brewing in Denver, Colorado

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $11 for a 22-ounce bottle

Why This Beer?

I don’t know how they do it, but it hits every note you expect from a beer with that name. A little heat from chili peppers, cinnamon spice, roasty bittersweet chocolate, and vanilla character all come through on the palate. They’ve been making it forever and it’s always solid.

Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter

Shaun O’Sullivan, co-founder and brewmaster at 21st Amendment Brewery in San Francisco

ABV: 4.7%

Average Price: $11 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

I didn’t know what to expect from Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter, but it delivers on all fronts. For the collaboration beer, this 100-year-old iconic brewery brewed a porter with Hershey’s chocolate syrup, cocoa powder, and cocoa nibs.

It’s quite tasty with chocolate milk flavors and a dark roasted character.

Moksa Indulgence Stout

Isaiah Mangold, innovation supervisor at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California

ABV: 12%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

Indulgence from Moksa Brewing Co. is loaded with big malty chocolate with layers of coconut. It tastes like a German chocolate cake in beer form. What could be more chocolatey than that?

Faction Nyx Stout

Matthew Barry, director of operations at Fieldwork Brewing Company in Berkeley, California

ABV: 12.5%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

This beer is aged for four whole years in St. George Spirits B & E barrels. It’s like a booze-soaked fudge brownie with a dry cocoa finish. The body is massive and feels like it has barely leaned out from all that time in the barrel. Exceptional.

Great Divide Yeti Stout

Charles McManus, head brewer at Phantom Canyon Brewing Company in Colorado Springs, Colorado

ABV: 9.5%

Average Price: $14 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Yeti from Great Divide is hands down one of the maltiest, chocolate-forward beers without having any actual chocolate added. It is rich and decadent and like a dessert in a glass.

Odell Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout

Max Shafer, brewmaster at Roadhouse Brewing Co in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

ABV: 8.5%

Average Price: $14 for a four-pack

Why This Beer?

With zero hesitation, I would pick Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout from Odell Brewing Company. I love the balance this beer has with the high ABV, milk sugar, and of course, milk chocolate. When I think of ‘milk stouts’ I think of beers that are overly slick and heavy on the lactose. Lugene does not present either of these things. The roasty malt backbone melds perfectly with the addition of lactose and chocolate.

I find myself sipping this beer while making dinner or enjoying a dessert heavy on the chocolate. Since they don’t make it often, I grab it whenever I see it and even let some of them cellar in my garage beer fridge.

North Coast Old Rasputin Stout

Mark Youngquist, founder of Dolores River Brewery in Dolores, Colorado

ABV: 9%

Average Price: $11 for a four-pack

Why This Beer?

This Russian imperial stout is so full of body and flavor, it’ll slow your drinking to a crawl. It’s so rich and creamy that you’ll want to savor every moment. It’s so chocolatey and sometimes otherworldly that if you’re pairing it with chocolate, you may have a hard time knowing where the bar ends and the beer begins. It’s definitely a one-and-done beer for me, but the journey is sublime, momentous, and introspective.

Burial Winnower Porter

Patrick Ware, co-founder and head of brewing ops at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, Arizona

ABV: 6.5%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

Burial’s dedication to artisanal chocolatiers is clear in this beer. I really appreciate the nuance of this offering as we (brewers, that is) tend to go over the top with syrupy sweet chocolate. Bright fruit notes from raspberries play really well with mindfully sourced raw cacao nibs that lend an espresso-like roast character to a sweet-ish base porter recipe. Well done.

Sunday night’s Succession was a barnburner, even for Succession. The eighth episode of the pandemic-delayed third season went to some extra-dark places, with each of Logan Roy’s children hitting new lows. Who had it worst? It’s a hard one to answer. Maybe it’s a four-way tie. (Or a three-way tie, since even Connor’s ill-advised marriage proposal was far from the worst thing to happen to the siblings.) But when the episode ended, there was one person people were talking about more than the others: On Sunday night, The New Yorker dropped an epic and at times bewildering profile of Kendall Roy himself, Jeremy Strong.

The piece paints a portrait of the thespian as rather intense, to put it mildly. He’s one of those actors who stays in character on set. He doesn’t like rehearsal. (“I want every scene to feel like I’m encountering a bear in the woods,” as he puts it.) He doesn’t consider what he does Method acting, referring to his approach as “identity diffusion.” When the reporter tells him he’s going to ask his Succession castmates what they think of his methodology, he admits, ominously, “I don’t know how popular the way I work is amongst our troupe.” (Kieran Culkin, who’s spoken about him before, seems skeptical, even vaguely dismissive, while Brian Cox, an old pro who can turn acting on and off like a switch, worries about him.)

Strong is so serious that he doesn’t seem to recognize one of the things that has made Succession so beloved: It’s very funny. It’s not a comedy (or at least that’s not how awards bodies, who place in the Drama category, see it). But it’s filled with clever insults, pitch black humor, and, of course, champion cussing. Strong, however, doesn’t seem to see that. Indeed, Culkin tells an anecdote about him:

“He said something to me like, ‘I’m worried that people might think that the show is a comedy.’ And I said, ‘I think the show is a comedy.’ He thought I was kidding.”

But perhaps there’s method (if not Method) to his madness. Adam McKay, executive producer, who directed the pilot, said Strong’s intensity is what got him the gig. “That’s exactly why we cast Jeremy in that role,” McKay told journalist Michael Schulman. “Because he’s not playing it like a comedy. He’s playing it like he’s Hamlet.”

The New Yorker’s profile of Strong became about as talked-about as the latest Succession episode itself. His methodology drew a mix of reactions. Some found him a little too intense.

Others remarked that he was humorless even when talking about the funniest thing that’s ever happened to Kendall.

Others dwelled on how his castmates saw him.

There were other amusing stand-out bits, too.

Others thought Strong simply came off like an actor.

Others praised his working methods, saying, effectively, whatever works.

Then again, maybe the real problem is allowing a reporter to hang around you for a lengthy New Yorker profile.

(Via The New Yorker)

In late 2019, shortly after Chicago rapper and activist Noname initially announced that Factory Baby, the follow up to 2018’s wildly praised 25, would be out in 2020, she started insinuating that perhaps her “heart isn’t fully in it anymore.” She tweeted back then about how she felt that “the relationship between ‘artist’ and ‘fan’ is really f*cking unhealthy. Yall like what y’all like and hate what y’all hate. And I don’t wanna be on either side. I’m just tryna read and organize. After factory baby it’s (peace sign emoji).”

After some delays and uhhhh…a freakin’ pandemic, she released the track “Rainforest” in early 2021, a sleek but pleading track that saw her voicing her displeasure for her mind state and the state of the world in general. It was presumably the first single from Factory Baby. But that’s been it from Noname musically ever since — and yesterday, she confirmed that it could very well be the last piece of music she ever releases.

In a post on her Instagram story, Noname opened up about how empty she feels musically and how it has become increasingly difficult to create. With a picture of herself, she posted a lengthy caption that read:

“Most days I’m not sure if I’ll ever make music again,” she said. “The last time I was consistently making songs was 4 years ago. It’s been so hard to find producers to link up with and who I genuinely connect with sonically. I’m truly grateful for the art I was able to release but that might be it from me. Like it shouldn’t be this hard. No like this shit actually makes me incredibly sad and I rarely leave the crib these days. I don’t want to keep lying and saying there’s an album on the way when there’s not. I’m sorry I’ve led y’all on. I wanted to believe things would change but they haven’t.”

https://twitter.com/siya_jpeg/status/1467579150890418183/photo/1

It’s a bummer. There’s really no other way to say it. Noname has been a welcome and vital voice out of the Chicago rap scene that surged in the mid 2010’s and blossomed big time from there. Her Noname Book Club helps raise POC voices with their picks and also uses funds raised to send books to incarcerated people. It secured a physical HQ earlier this year. It’s been a rough two years all around and here’s hoping that whatever Noname chooses to do moving forward, is something that makes her truly happy and fulfilled.

DeMar DeRozan is off to a career-best start to a season in his first year with the Chicago Bulls, as the wing is fresh off winning the NBA’s Player of the Week in the Eastern Conference after averaging 30.3 points per game in wins over the Hornets, Knicks and Nets.

On the season, DeRozan is averaging 26.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game on 49.8/33.3/88.8 shooting splits, which would give him the best true shooting percentage of his career and second-highest scoring output. He has, along with Zach LaVine, been the catalyst for the Bulls’ 16-8 start, pushing them to second in the East more than a quarter of the way through the season.

Chicago plays host to an up-and-down Denver team on Monday that has some significant absences, but they will have to do so without the services of DeRozan after he entered the league’s health and safety protocols after shootaround on Monday.

If DeRozan isn’t able to produce a pair of consecutive negative tests within 24 hours of each other (as LeBron James did last week), he could miss 10 days in the protocols, which would obviously be a big blow to a Bulls team on a hot streak. Without DeRozan, the scoring load will fall on LaVine, with the need for Lonzo Ball to take on a bit more of the on-ball creativity as well as a likely increase in post touches for Nikola Vucevic to try and replace the heavy usage load missing with DeRozan out.

Dictionary.com has officially announced its 2021 word of the year, and that word is:

Allyship

Despite the plethora of divisive stories this year—debates about vaccines, gun safety, education, abortion, the validity of conspiracy theories—this word has prevailed in our collective consciousness. And that alone indicates something much more uplifting: What matters most to people is helping one another.

Stemming from “alliance” (meaning the “merging of efforts or interests by persons, families, states or organizations,” according to Dictionary.com) “allyship” had only been added to the platform a month before earning the 2021 title. And in this year alone, it was in the top 850 searches out of thousands and thousands of words, and its frequency of use has surged 700% since 2020.

📘 The word allyship combines the noun ally, “a person who advocates for or supports a marginalized or politicized group but is not a member of the group,” and -ship, a suffix denoting “status, condition.” (2/11) https://t.co/xo8qd7d8ox

— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) December 6, 2021

Dictionary.com gives two different definitions:

Allyship (noun)

1. advocates and actively works for the inclusion of a marginalized or politicized group in all areas of society but is not a member of that group, and acts in solidarity with its struggle and point of view and under its leadership.

2. the relationship of persons, groups or nations associating and cooperating with one another for a common cause or purpose.

“Vaccine” is Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year. The word was selected based on lookup data, notable spikes, and year-over-year increases in searches. https://t.co/NQLOsh6CNB

— CNN (@CNN) November 29, 2021

At first glance, “allyship” might appear better suited for 2020, following George Floyd’s death and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. And with searing headlines of political discord, pessimistic outlooks on the pandemic and an overall dismal public view of humanity, “allyship” seems … a less than optimal choice. Did they consider “vaccine” like Merriam Webster did? Or “variant”? How about “Delta”? Surely these options better reflect the times?

Content overseer John Kelly noted, “It might be a surprising choice for some,” but “in the past few decades, the term has evolved to take on a more nuanced and specific meaning. It is continuing to evolve and we saw that in many ways.”

Allyship has now extended to frontline workers, teachers and parents who have gained support and advocacy during the pandemic.

“This year, we saw a lot of businesses and organizations very prominently, publicly, beginning efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Allyship is tied to that. In the classroom, there is a flashpoint around the term ‘critical race theory’. Allyship connects with this as well,” Kelly said.

The site also noted how a theme of genuine, nonperformative allyship was at the center of many “defining new stories of 2021” that made a lasting positive impact, from Simone Biles and the mental health of athletes to the Great Resignation and workplace burnout.

“These events were notable not only in their own right, of course, but also because of the ways we largely reacted to and discussed them through the lens of who gets a voice, who deserves empathy, and who and what is valued. This was a lens of allyship,” according to Dictionary.com.

When the world is looked at through this lens, perhaps the path toward 2022 is more compassionate and collaborative than our fears would indicate. And perhaps we can take a more elevated view of what it means to be an ally. At the end of the day, we could all use a little more friends and a little less enemies.

There are pop stars, and then there are singers. While recording studio technology can make people sound like amazing singers, the proof is in their live performances.

Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande took it a whole step further on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” delivering not only a jaw-dropping live performance but doing so in the form of revolving pop diva hits in an “impossible karaoke” showdown. In less than five minutes, they showed off their combined ability to nail pretty much anything, from imitating iconic singers’ styles to belting out well-known songs with their own vocal stylings.

Watch this and try not to be impressed:

give kelly clarkson and ariana grande an exorbitantly expensive 10-episode Netflix series where they just hang out and sing dueling pop covers for an hourpic.twitter.com/m5IJAZ2DYL

— alex (@alex)
1638284422

There’s a reason Kelly Clarkson won the first season of “American Idol” and went on to become a multiplatinum recording artist. What’s funny is seeing some people in the replies saying they didn’t know she could sing like that. Yes. Yes she can. And she has since the beginning.

Check out this performance of Celine Dion’s “I Surrender” during the first season of “American Idol.” At this point, she was an amateur singer and her vocal chords were stressed after weeks of rehearsing and competing, and she still knocked it out of the park. Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson both said they’d put her in the same league as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, and she’s shown she deserves that classification over and over again since.

And Ariana Grande has made a name for herself for her ability to impersonate different singers while also sounding freaking amazing. Jimmy Fallon has had her on his show multiple times doing musical impressions. Check this one out from when she was just 21 years old. I mean, singing “The Wheels on the Bus” as Christina Aguilera? The woman can sing. Period.

So of course, having Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande singing together is a real treat. And they’ve gifted us with a delicious duet for the holiday season with a live performance of “Santa, Can’t You Hear Me.” Their voices complement one another so beautifully, with Grande’s silvery sweetness and Clarkson’s rich resonance. The amount of talent pouring forth from these ladies is simply unreal.

As Jimmy Fallon said, “How?”

When my old dog Murray really wanted to tell me something and his barking or pawing didn’t get the job done, he would start making sounds that I swear mimicked human speech. Now, I’m not entirely sure that he was attempting to get through to me as a member of my own species would, but I don’t know how else to explain this quirky behavior.

It’s pretty amazing when we see our pets cross the imaginary line that separates the species by exhibiting human-like behaviors. But if you were to try to explain them to someone who’s never had a dog or cat (or parrot you will soon see) most of them would probably just shrug it off.

So, I never really talked to anyone about my dog’s strange but funny human impersonation.

Reddit user DMLorance created a safe space for pet owners to share their stories that no one believes on the AskReddit subforum.

“Pet owners of Reddit. What quirk does your pet (past or present) do that nobody believes when you tell them?”

Here are 16 of the best responses.

1. It’s time for bed

“Every night at around 10 pm, my childhood dog would tell me it’s time to go to bed. I could be in the living room watching TV and she would sit at the doorway and make little ‘boofs’ until I eventually got up and followed her to bed. This happened every night from my high school years until the day she passed at 15 years old. I miss that old sassy girl.” — Shibsmarie

2. The cat that sleeps like a human

“One of my cats legitimately sleeps in my bed. Head on my pillow, under the blanket, held to my chest like an actual baby. He will spend all night like this and get mad if I stop cuddling him at any point. We sleep with our noses almost touching, and I know when he boops my nose with his that he wants me to cuddle him tighter. It’s bizarre but adorable.” — Dominoodles

3. The picky drinker

“My dog refuses to drink from a bowl. We took him to the vet because he was sick, turns out he was dehydrated. My dog always has water next to his food, but wasn’t drinking it. We changed his bowl to a normal dish, the ones we use to eat soup. Now he drinks from it, if u change it back to a normal dog’s bowl, he will stop drinking water and get sick. Nobody knows why.” — O_Pacaba

4. The handstand bathroom

“My childhood dog had a weak rear right leg, so anytime he wanted to hike his leg on something off to the left he would just do a handstand rather than try to support his weight in the bad leg.

“But wait… there’s more. When he started getting older we brought home a puppy who absolutely idolized his big brother. Within about a month he had worked his way up to also doing handstands when he peed, but for this dog it was EVERY SINGLE TIME. I guess he thought that was just how you were supposed to do it.

“Nothing like having two dogs pissing down their own chest several times per day.” — LovelyShananigator

5. The cat who plays fetch

“I have a cat that plays fetch with his stuffed animals. He also gets annoyed when I don’t throw the stuffed animal far enough, and loves to chase it down the stairs into the basement.” — Upaupa212

6. The dog who spoke cat

“I had a toy poodle mix named Yoda who would meow like a cat if I said ‘Yoda go meow.’ It started as me saying it as a joke to him here and there and one day he actually started doing it. He was a good boy.” — T-Rocks

7. The literate hound

“My dog demands I read to him. Whenever I’m sitting reading something he’ll come over, put his head on pages, and paw at me until I start reading to him.” — rogettheboat

8. Doggie hall monitor

“We have a very unique dog that seems to have internalized a set of rules. He is friendly with our 3 cats however if he observes them doing something that we (the humans) have corrected them for previously he will then take on the responsibility for future occurrences by sitting beside the misbehaving cat and barking at them until they stop.” — ealoft

9. The feline plumber

“I have another cat of which in an old house he found out how to turn on the bathroom sink to get water (it was one of those that you push/pull not twist) and so I’d always walk in to find the sink on. If only he had learned to turn it back off.” — ashleyracheleee

10. Dog security

“My father’s dog designs elaborate alarm systems with his toys. At night before bed he arranges toys that squeak inside of doorways and at the top and bottom of stairs. If you move the toys he politely waits until you aren’t looking and then places the toy back. They don’t just end up in a spot they are placed there. It also seems that the toys are chosen for each location based on ease of squeak and volume. The loudest toys are inside the door of the bedroom.

“One final note on placement. If the door swings inward the toy is placed outside of the door’s arc. If it swings outward it’s right in the middle.” — [Deleted]

11. The canine binge-watcher

“Our dog likes to watch tv. No matter what’s on or who’s watching it, she actively pays attention to what we’re watching.” — crabgal

12. The exercise saboteur

“Whenever I do push-ups, my dog crawls under me and pushes up off the floor against my torso, trying to help me up.” — coturnixxx

13. Teach this cat to flush

“A long time ago we had a cat who potty trained himself. The cat was outside most of the time, so no cat litter box. He peed and pooped in my toddler’s small toilet. It still had to be cleaned tho. But still, I consider it cool.” — Fr3aky_Monded

14. Airborne kitty 

“I had a cat named Ninja (nailed it on the name). She loved playing fetch with a twist. She would bring me her toy mouse and set it in my lap. Then she would climb on to the top of the reclining chair next to me and get in attack position.

“I would say ‘Ninja! Are you ready?’ she would crouch and get ready and I would have to throw the mouse across the room, but she would spring and catch it mid-air every time. She would do it for hours.” — Ashwilliamsboomstick

15. “Let there be light!”

“I have a cat that knows how to turn a lamp on and off. It’s one of those twist knob lamps. He grabs it in his teeth and turns it.” — Fournote

16. The jazz parrot

“I had a parrot who would only whistle, but sometimes he would straight up compose songs. Nothing amazing, mostly splicing together bits of tunes he liked, but still songs that did not exist.” — JavierLoustanuau

It’s a good time for weird trials. Last month, the one for Kyle Rittenhouse went off the rails more than once. The ongoing one for Ghislaine Maxwell has had its share of shocking reveals. The trial of Jussie Smollett, the former Empire actor accused of fabricating a hate crime in 2019, started recently, and it’s already gotten weird. Indeed, on Monday, Smollett took the stand and admitted that he and his alleged attacker have a bit of a history.

As per Vice, Smollett testified that he’d had a couple nights on the town with Abimbola Osundairo, one of the two brothers he’s accused of paying to beat him up. During one trip, they went to an Boystown bathhouse, where they made out and did drugs. On another occasion, they went to a different bathhouse, in Atlanta.

“We went alone, we got a private room again,” Smollett testified. “We made out a little bit, and this time we masturbated together.”

Smollett also testified that he, Osundairo, and his brother, Olabinjo, drove around a few days before the incident, smoking blunts. Smollett denied that that was when he brought up the idea of staging an attack, which he says never happened.

Previously, Osundairo took the stand, where he denied claims, made by one of Smollett’s attorneys, that he had dated the Empire star.

Over the nearly three years since the incident, Smollett has maintained his innocence, claiming it was “no hoax.” His attorneys have been trying to argue that Osundairo and Olabinjo are untrustworthy and possibly homophobic. They claim the brothers beat Smolett up because they didn’t like him, not because Smollett paid them.

But the evidence against Smollett does not look good. His attorneys already tried to get a mistrial, claiming the judge sneered at one of them. The judge denied doing so.

(Via Vice)