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"Hilarious" number plate somehow slips past the censors

<p>In a world where innovation knows no bounds, one Perth driver has taken the art of personalised license plates to a whole new level, leaving us all wondering: is it plain rude, or just plain hilariously?</p> <p>The car in question, a humble Kia Sportage, seems innocent enough at first glance. But wait, what’s that? A custom plate that reads 37OHSSV? Seems harmless, right? Wrong.</p> <p>It turns out, if you dare to flip the plate upside down, you'll unveil a cheeky message that spells out none other than "a**hole" in bold, red letters. Yes, you read that correctly. Someone actually managed to sneak that past the scrutinizsng eyes of state transport officials.</p> <p>Unsurprisingly, the discovery of this plate sent the internet into a frenzy, with the post garnering over 2000 shares and nearly 1000 comments. And guess what? Almost everyone loved it!</p> <p>“This is so clever and hilarious,” exclaimed one amused user, echoing the sentiments of many.</p> <p>“That’s the best I’ve ever seen,” chimed in another, probably still laughing.</p> <p>“That is brilliant, I love it,” added a third, undoubtedly already planning their own witty plate.</p> <p>But amid the laughter and applause, there’s a serious question lingering: How did this driver manage to bypass the stringent regulations that typically govern custom plates?</p> <p>In the last financial year alone, nearly 1000 applications for personalised plates were rejected in Western Australia due to being deemed too offensive for the road. Among the rejected gems were GEN3CID, SAUC3D, and RAMP4GE. Clearly, the censors were not amused.</p> <p>And let’s not forget the demographics at play here. According to the stats, a whopping 71 percent of custom plate holders are men, with the average age hovering around 41. So, it seems that mid-life crisis isn’t just limited to buying flashy sports cars; it extends to personalised license plates as well.</p> <p>So whether you find this particular plate downright rude or ingeniously innovative, one thing’s for sure: it's got people talking. And in a world where monotony often reigns supreme, a little dose of humour and creativity on the road might just be what we need. So, hats off to you, mysterious Perth driver. You may be a bit of an a$$hole – but you’re our kind of a$$hole.</p> <p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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The funny reason Robert Irwin wants to hand over his citizenship

<p dir="ltr">Robert irwin has joined in the global outrage of Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig being <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/margot-robbie-snubbed-as-oscar-nominations-announced">snubbed</a> from the Oscar nominations. </p> <p dir="ltr">The wildlife warrior joined the panel of <em>The Project</em> on Wednesday night as a co-host of the show, where the conversation turned to the Aussie actress being snubbed by the Academy Awards. </p> <p dir="ltr">On Wednesday morning, it was revealed that Margot Robbie didn’t receive a Best Actress nomination for her role in <em>Barbie</em>, and nor did Greta Gerwig for Best Director, despite the movie breaking records when it was released in July. </p> <p dir="ltr">Around the world, <em>Barbie</em> fans shared their disgust in the snub, with Robert Irwin echoing their statements. </p> <p dir="ltr">“That's ridiculous. Come on,” he began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“[Director] Greta [Gerwig] and Margot made that movie. That's the reason why we have the Barbie movie, it's ridiculous.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Co-host Waleed Aly then asked if Robert would be renouncing his American citizenship over the injustice and was shocked by his response.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think it only makes sense,” Robert said. </p> <p dir="ltr">News of the snub went viral on Wednesday, with fans flocking to social media to share their thoughts. </p> <p dir="ltr">One particular tweet went viral, with over 109 thousand likes. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Ken getting nominated and not Barbie is honestly so fitting for a film about a man discovering the power of patriarchy in the Real World," the tweet read.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ryan Gosling, who received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Ken in the film, also shared a statement about the lack of recognition for the women he shared the screen with. </p> <p dir="ltr">In a lengthy statement, he said, “I never thought I’d be saying this, but I’m also incredibly honoured and proud that [the award] is for portraying a plastic doll named Ken.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no <em>Barbie</em> movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally celebrated film. No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-12395ffc-7fff-c7ac-e4b2-d185f404a16d"></span><em>Image credits: The Project</em></p>

Movies

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Eagle-eyed motorists spot funny typo on "confusing" new interchange

<p>The new interchange at Rozelle, in Sydney's inner west, has already copped backlash just days after its opening,  because of the confusing signage and changed traffic conditions causing chaos among commuters. </p> <p>Now, motorists have spotted another awkward blunder at the bustling "spaghetti junction", intended to improve traffic. </p> <p>Just metres away from the main intersection along Victoria Road and Darling Street, some poor road worker made the same typo twice, in a left-hand turn lane.</p> <p>Instead of saying  "buses excepted", they painted "buses expected", and now their mistake has gone viral on social media. </p> <p>"If I was a road, I'd expect buses too," one joked.</p> <p>"I get my bus near there and I'm constantly expecting buses that don't show, so seems accurate," another quipped. </p> <p>The interchange itself has been years in the making and opened up on Sunday. </p> <p>It was intended to connect drivers to the M4 and M8 tunnels, the City West Link, the Western Distributor and give access to the Anzac Bridge with a toll-free bypass of Victoria Road. </p> <p>While the aim of it was to improve traffic flow, just four days after its opening locals are still complaining about the chaotic strip, specifically it's poorly designed signage that has reportedly baffled drivers. </p> <p>One of the new signs suggested there was a toll from Iron Cove Bridge to Anzac Bridge, and while it is actually free, commuters are avoiding the tunnel and trying to switch across multiple roads to avoid presumed fee. </p> <p>Earlier this week, NSW Premier Chris Minns said: "Clearly it's confusing, that spaghetti junction is difficult to navigate and a lot of cars' GPS haven't caught up.</p> <p>"We'll change that sign and I understand the Minister for Roads is putting up those portable electronic signs to show people that you can use that road in particular and not pay the toll."</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter/ 9News</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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“How is this funny?”: Tourist slammed over “disrespectful” act at Graceland

<p dir="ltr">An arrogant traveller has been slammed online after blatantly disregarding signage at Graceland, and taking a dip in the pool. </p> <p dir="ltr">A woman posted a video from the late Elvis Presley’s iconic property in Memphis, Tennessee, as she travelled to the area with her husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">Capturing the moment and sharing it online as a joke, a video posted to the woman’s TikTok account shows her husband, dressed in shorts, shoes and socks climbing over a pool fence, marked 'RESTRICTED AREA'.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man is then seen walking towards the diving board as a security guard rushes towards him.</p> <p dir="ltr">After wobbling a bit on the diving board, he jumps into the water before the guard can stop him.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman captured the video, "My husband jumped into Elvis pool", adding a laughing emoji.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the couple’s jovial nature over the stunt, many people were quick to condemn the tourists and their video, which has been viewed over 14 million times. </p> <p dir="ltr">"How is this funny? People are so disrespectful and I hope he got arrested," one person commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">"As someone who has solid respect for Elvis Presley this is very disrespectful to him and his family," another agreed.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Travellers doing whatever they want as usual. Shame," another person commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the overwhelming condemnation, there were some who defended the man’s actions, with one person writing, "I think Elvis would have done the same thing lol."</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman also responded to the accusations that her husband's actions were disrespectful in another video, saying, "Elvis caught someone jumping into his pool once and he never stopped them. He never got them arrested. Told them to stay in the pool. That's what a pool is meant for is to jump into."</p> <p dir="ltr">One person quickly responded, "Whether people think 'Elvis would be laughing' or not it's all down to respect. There's a reason as to why certain areas are roped off."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"What were their parents thinking?!" Teacher releases list of hilarious student names

<p>In a world where coming up with a standard name seems about as trendy as using a landline phone, parents are unleashing their inner creativity by bestowing upon their offspring names that sound like they were created during a fever dream.</p> <p>We are clearly smack bang in the middle of the era of "Name your child after a random object you find in the pantry" – and teachers are the unsung heroes bravely navigating the choppy waters of these monikers. Specifically, how to spell (and pronounce) them properly.</p> <p>Now, let's not pretend this phenomenon is fresh off the naming press. Celebrities have been gifting their kids with names that could pass as WiFi passwords for donks. It was just a matter of time before the masses caught onto the fad like a catchy tune you can't unhear. But spare a thought for those noble educators who are more baffled than a cat watching a magic trick when confronted with these labels during roll call.</p> <p>Enter one valiant and anonymous teacher, armed with a class register that reads like a cryptic crossword puzzle. She unveiled her list of quirky names on the modern-day town square, aka Facebook, explaining that she merely gave the enrolment list a "blink and you'll miss it" glance. Because let's face it, no one has time to decode this kindergarten code on a Tuesday morning.</p> <p>So, brace yourself, because the highlights of this peculiar parade include names like Jaxen (apparently the 'x' gives it that extra pizzazz) and Aliyah, which sounds like a harmonious collision of Aladdin and Elijah. But the true gems are still to come.</p> <p>Hold onto your hats, for there's a Syakyra in the house! It's pronounced like "Shakira", because why make life easy when you can transform spelling into an extreme sport? Also on the roster of eccentricities are Rhydah, Presillar, Christisarah (which sounds like someone sneezed while naming their child), Anjewel'Lea (because apostrophes are the new vowels), and Biar Biar – quite possibly the sound of someone giving up mid-naming.</p> <p>The list goes on, unveiling Deklyn, Alarna (Is this a name or an exotic spice?), Aaryah (a name that looks like a typo in progress), Maz (likely short for Mazel Tov), Angel-Lee (a tribute to both celestial beings and two first names), and Karleb (a rebel in the world of traditional spelling).</p> <p>Social media users eagerly devoured this buffet of bewildering baby names, chiming in with their own comedic relief. One humorist quipped that some parents should enrol themselves in school, presumably for a crash course in 'Name Your Kid Without Making Them the Butt of Jokes.'</p> <p>Another jester added, "This really is tragic, at least none of them will get bullied because they're all so bad lol." A self-proclaimed comedian jibed, "These parents really aren't thinking it through."</p> <p>Yet amid the chuckles and facepalms, some thought the names were about as wild as a cup of herbal tea. One wise soul pointed out that among the chaos were rather mundane names like Diamond, Aliyah, Jaylene, Porsha, and Aalijah. Apparently, normality is now measured against the Syakyras of the world.</p> <p>Meanwhile, teachers everywhere collectively sighed in sympathy as they remembered their own quirky classroom encounters. One recounted an encounter with a "J'ley" (pronounced like Jaylee), a name that's the linguistic equivalent of a Rubik's Cube.</p> <p>A pupil named Pistol also made an appearance – because what kid doesn't want a name that guarantees zero playground conflicts? And lest we forget, a friend's teacher had the honour of teaching A'Blessyn. It's like the alphabet gipped, and the resulting letters spelled "Bless this child with an unforgettable name."</p> <p>However, the chaos isn't limited to the classroom. It's infiltrated even the most intimate corners of existence. Enter Reddit, where an expectant British dad took to the digital confessional to seek advice on his partner's fantastical name choices for their impending bundle of joy.</p> <p>The British bloke confessed that he'd prefer his offspring not be mistaken for an experimental rocket launch or a motor oil brand. He's opting for classic dignity, imagining a world where his kid doesn't have to explain why their name sounds like a weather forecast for Mercury. Meanwhile, the partner, a visionary in the field of avant-garde nomenclature, has pitched names like Fennix (for the spelling-challenged phoenix), Park (because nature reserves are inspiring, apparently), and Diesel (coming soon to a gas station near you).</p> <p>And so, as teachers practice their tongue-twister warm-ups and parents wage a war of wits over naming rights, we bid adieu to a world where names like John and Sarah were once considered bold.</p> <p>The age of the bewildering baby name is upon us, and the only certainty is that there's a whole generation of kids out there ready to conquer the world with names that defy both pronunciation and reason.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Family & Pets

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“Slay while I decay”: 93-year-old grandmother’s hysterical funeral plans

<p>A 93-year-old grandmother has taken the internet by storm after sharing a video she wants to be played at her funeral.</p> <p>Lillian Droniak from Connecticut — already a social media icon — with more than 10.1 million followers on her TikTok is known for posting very candid clips.</p> <p>She’s now revealed a series of events she’d like her family to put into action after she passes away.</p> <p>The clip, which has raked in more than 24 million views, shows Lillian talking to the camera as she lounges about in an armchair while wearing a pink t-shirt emblazoned with the slogan, “You’re not invited to my funeral”.</p> <p>The cheeky 93-year-old began, “Thank you for coming everyone. There's probably a lot of people here so have fun.</p> <p>“If you're crying, stop being a baby. Find a tissue and move on. Don't be sad, I lived a long time.</p> <p>“I slayed every day and now, I'm going to lay every day. I hope you slay while I decay.”</p> <p>The grandmother continued, “And Bertha better not be here. If she's here, kick her out right now. I'm going to haunt you Bertha.</p> <p>“And my ex George better leave. I know he's here, I'm going to haunt him too.”<br />She concluded, “I hope everybody gets drunk after this. You better take a shot for me. Love you all.”<br /><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7243826555644808491&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40grandma_droniak%2Fvideo%2F7243826555644808491%3Flang%3Den&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Fe292006686a3487bb3da94441b230627_1686584808%3Fx-expires%3D1687507200%26x-signature%3DbI%252BPoMCv2yA5KqPQ10NN1r%252FaolM%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>She uploaded the clip paired with the caption, “Play this video at my funeral or I will haunt whoever is in charge thank you.”</p> <p>Social media users flocked to the comment section to have their say on her playful piece.</p> <p>One commented, “I hope Bertha and George show up just so they can be told to leave in front of everyone.”<br />'We can't slay while you decay,” another said.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">“Why am I crying?” a third added.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Image credit: TikTok</em></p>

Caring

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Wacky pet laws that will make you laugh

<p>There are laws to protect people from harm, animals from cruelty and to keep the animal-human relationship harmonious. But then there are those wacky laws that will make you scratch your head and wonder how they became laws in the first place.</p> <p>1. In some areas of Oklahoma dogs must have a permit signed by the mayor in order to congregate in groups of three or more on private property.</p> <p>2. In Chicago, you cannot bring your French poodle to the opera.</p> <p>3. In Berea, Ohio, any pet that goes out after dark must wear a tail light.</p> <p>4. In Creskill, New York, all outside cats must wear three bells to warn birds of their approach.</p> <p>5. In Madison, Wisconsin dogs are forbidden from harassing squirrels in the public park next to the capital.</p> <p>6. In Denver Colorado an animal control officer must notify dogs of any impending impounds three days before it’s due to happen. They do this by posting notices on trees in the public parks and along the road running next to the park.</p> <p>7. In Memphis, Tennessee, if a frog's croaking keeps you awake at night, you can have that frog arrested.</p> <p>8. In Turin, Italy owners can be fined up to $650 for not walking their dog at least three times a day.</p> <p>9. In Reed City, Michigan, you cannot own a pet cat and bird simultaneously. </p> <p>10. In French Lick Springs, Indiana, all black cats must wear bells on Friday the 13th.</p> <p>11. In certain areas of Oklahoma it is against the law to make “ugly” or “mean” faces at a dog.</p> <p>12. In Honolulu, Hawaii, it’s unlawful to annoy birds at any public park. </p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Legal

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Adorable reason behind Chris Hemsworth’s red carpet cheat notes

<p>Chris Hemsworth has been married to Spanish actress Elsa Pataky for almost 13 years, and while she speaks fluent English, Hemsworth is yet to master her native tongue.</p> <p>On June 8, he was at the premiere of his Netflix film Extraction 2 and was caught with some Spanish words scrawled on the palm of his hand.</p> <p>The 39-year-old was then photographed with what appeared to be a cheat sheet, which he personally found hilarious.</p> <p>“After years of coming to Spain and being asked ‘has my Spanish improved’ I can safely say it’s in the palm of my hand,” he wrote on Instagram alongside the photo.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtOqVmTJ1sx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtOqVmTJ1sx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The actor revealed what was written on his hand during a guest appearance on local TV program El Hormiguero (Spanish for The Anthill).</p> <p>In the interview, Hemsworth also shared that his three children with Pataky - daughter India, 10, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, 9 - find it funny that he doesn’t speak nor understand the language.</p> <p>“I try, but I can’t. My children laugh at me when I try to have a conversation with them in Spanish,” he admitted.</p> <p>“Sh*t, f**k, what happened? … I know that, that’s what my wife yells at me. The more she gets angry, the more she speaks Spanish.”</p> <p>Speaking to <em>Today</em> in 2017, Pataky said she had pretty much given up on teaching Hemsworth her native language, focusing on teaching their children instead.</p> <p>“He promised me, he said, ‘I’ll be speaking Spanish in two months.’ There we go, we have been together for six years,” Pataky – who speaks five languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French and Romanian - told <em>Today</em>.</p> <p>“That’s important, that’s what my mum did to me, talked in Romanian. I start to speak in English, I’m like, ‘I don’t express myself great.’ I got used to making an effort to speak to [the kids] in Spanish.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Movies

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10 greatest dogs of the internet

<h2>Dog stars of the internet</h2> <p>You know what they say – dogs are a man’s best friend. In fact, with the boom of social media, dogs are celebrities, business moguls, and models too! Are you up to date with the four-legged good boys and girls of the internet? Buckle up because you’re in for an adorable ride.</p> <h2>Jiffpom</h2> <p>Can you believe that this famed Pomeranian has made a guest appearance in a Katy Perry music video? Well, he has. Known as the dog with the most Instagram followers, Jiff is so much more than just a teddy-like dog with neatly-trimmed hair.</p> <p>Jiff has Guinness World Records under his collar for being the fastest dog on two paws: one for the ten-metre run on his hind legs and five-metre run on his front paws. When he isn’t breaking records and filming music videos with celebrities, Jiff dresses up in comfy outfits showcased on his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jiffpom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>, adored by all of the internet.</p> <h2>Noodle the Pug</h2> <p>Better known as the “bones or no bones” dog, Noodle gained traction on TikTok. Nearly every morning, his owner, Jonathan Graziano, would wake Noodle by lifting him gently out of his sleeping position. If Noodle wakes up and stands on his paws, it is a “bones” day; if Noodle collapses right back into his bed, it is a “no bones” day.</p> <p>Don’t be shocked, as Noodle’s bones don’t just disappear overnight! Graziano and Noodle’s fanbase have agreed that a “no bones” day is one to lay low, avoid big risks, and treat yourself, whereas a “bones” day is one filled with ambition and determination to tackle your to-do list. Graziano has clarified that we must not mistake a “no bones” day for a bad day.</p> <p>TikTok users would seek out the wise sage of a pug every day to set the daily tone, with some sharing the courageous things they would do on “bones” days, such as proposing to their partners or buying a winning lotto ticket. Unfortunately, Noodle passed in late 2022, but he will be remembered for the joy he spread to millions online.</p> <h2>Doug the Pug</h2> <p>It seems pugs are having a field day with becoming media magnets! If you’re wondering why this gentleman looks so familiar, that’s because he has graced the pages of Cosmopolitan, TIME and Buzzfeed.</p> <p>Doug is no stranger to dressing up, venturing the world, and meeting the likes of Ed Sheeran or John Legend, all while maintaining a down-to-earth, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/itsdougthepug/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">relatable feed</a> for his fans. This pug even had his literary debut titled The King of Pop Culture (though it certainly would’ve been a great opportunity to call the book The King of Pup Culture), a board book serving photos of Doug with hilarious captions.</p> <p>Doug’s owners have also used his platform for good, kickstarting a non-profit foundation supporting children fighting life-threatening diseases.</p> <h2>Kabosu aka Doge</h2> <p>This is the very same doge whose expressive photos went viral as timeless memes and who became the face of a cryptocurrency. The name of this famous Shiba Inu is Kabosu, and she was adopted by a kindergarten teacher from a Japanese animal shelter fifteen years ago.</p> <p>The meme featuring Kabosu gained popularity after it <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/doge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surfaced on Reddit</a> in 2010, and people began creating their versions of the meme, further making Kabosu a widely-recognisable face.</p> <p>When two software engineers wanted to satirise the chaotic speculation around cryptocurrencies in 2013, they created Dogecoin featuring Kabosu’s face. Ironically, some began investing in Dogecoin seriously, and with a little help from Reddit, Dogecoin eventually amassed a market capitalisation of over $85 million in 2021.</p> <p>Kabosu, of course, has more to offer than her meme face on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/inspire/animals-pets/10-greatest-dogs-of-the-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">her Instagram</a>.</p> <h2>Maya the “Polar Bear”</h2> <p>Maya is a dog that resembles a polar bear and is what would make you say the word “floof”. Indeed, the Samoyed’s white fur will test your urge to hug her across the screen.</p> <p>While Maya doesn’t participate in dress-up like other internet dogs, her owner shares her daily life with fans on the internet. There are various videos of Maya going about her day like we do: celebrating Christmas, going to the vet, being clingy to her owner, and more!</p> <p>If <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mayapolarbear/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">her Instagram</a> doesn’t quench your thirst for wholesome dog content, Maya also has an outstanding <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/Mayapolarbear" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube channel</a> with 2.68 million subscribers.</p> <h2>Marnie the Shih Tzu</h2> <p>As much as our hearts melt for the big, fluffy dogs, smaller breeds that look like they can fit in a Starbucks cup have a special place in everyone’s hearts. The story of Marnie the rescue dog is a heart-warming one, beginning with the day she was adopted, which Marnie’s owner refers to as her “Gotcha Day”.</p> <p>Marnie’s owner, Shirley, had limited experience with dogs but knew she was fated to have one, and Marnie’s eyes called out to her via a photo on petfinder.com. In an Instagram post, Shirley recalled the distressing state of the shelter when she picked up Marnie in 2012, determined to give the pup a better life.</p> <p>What led to the internet’s fascination with Marnie was her innocent head tilts and a tongue so long that it would habitually hang out of her mouth, as is evident from almost every photograph on Marnie’s social media. Marnie, just like the other famous pets, had opportunities to meet celebrities who mimicked her adorable tongue placement (such as Demi Lovato in the pic above), giving fans wholesome selfies.</p> <p>Marnie led a happy and fulfilling life up to the age of 18, but when you miss her, you can always catch her head tilts and tongue pokes on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/marniethedog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> her Instagram.</a></p> <h2>Manny the Frenchie</h2> <p>It seems dog owners have an affinity for dog names that begin with M; next up on our list of internet sensations is Manny, the world’s most-followed bulldog on Instagram. A quick swipe of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/manny_the_frenchie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manny’s Instagram</a> would have everyone saying, “that’s relatable”, as there is a photograph of Manny taking a nap at least once every three rows.</p> <p>When he’s not getting some shut-eye, Manny also has a merchandise line and is quite the philanthro-pup being the face of <a href="https://www.mannyandfriends.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manny &amp; Friends Foundation</a>, whose mission is to help humans and pets alike. The foundation lends a helping hand to children battling serious illnesses and homeless pets who need saving.</p> <h2>Norbert</h2> <p>Just when you thought things couldn’t get cuter, let me introduce you to Norbert, the therapy dog that weighs under 2kg. If you visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NorbertDog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Norbert on Facebook</a>, you’ll see that this little guy is also a business mastermind, selling a line of enamel pins, playing cards, and wall calendars – you name it, he has it!</p> <p>Like Marnie, Norbert also sticks his tongue out in certain photos, making his one million followers fall head over heels for this pup you can hold in one hand. The best part? Norbert can style a bowtie like no other.</p> <h2>Tuna</h2> <p>No, not the fish. Tuna is a Chiweenie rescued by his current owner from a farmers’ market in California, and now he is an internet sensation with 2 million followers on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tunameltsmyheart/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>.</p> <p>What sets Tuna apart is his overbite and recessed jawline, which does not stop him from spreading love and joy to netizens. Tuna now encourages his following to adopt animals in need as an ambassador for animal rescue. When he isn’t caught up with his ambassador duties, you can find him travelling around the world via his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingtuna/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second Instagram account</a>.</p> <h2>Shiba-san</h2> <p>We saved the best for last. Did you know there used to be a tobacco shop in Tokyo run by a furry little clerk? Shiba-san ran the store alongside his owner and visitors would drop by to get a glimpse at the extraordinary dog. He would slide open the shop window when customers approached, greeting them with utmost professionalism.</p> <p>Sadly, the keyword here is “used to”. The store was closed in 2015 and Shiba-san has since retired, getting some well-deserved rest with his owner. Luckily, you can still catch the retired clerk on his<a href="https://www.instagram.com/doggy134/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> owner’s Instagram</a> now and then.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on<a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/pets/10-greatest-dogs-of-the-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Reader's Digest</a>.</em></p>

Family & Pets

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31-year-old joke from The Simpsons uncovered

<p dir="ltr">A hidden joke in The Simpsons has finally been revealed after 31 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">The popular animated TV series debuted way back in 1989 and professional video editor Ewzzy Rayburn has taken to social media to reveal a joke that has remained hidden ever since. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the season three episode titled “The Otto Show,” Homer reassures Marge that heavy metal concerts never had much of an impact on his hearing. When Marge responds, Homer (and viewers) hear nothing but his tinnitus.</p> <p dir="ltr">Through audio editing, Rayburn managed to isolate Marge’s voice and share her funny comments hidden by the ringing tone. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the isolated audio Marge can be heard responding to Homer, “Well alright, but make sure they don’t pick up any of the band’s attitude toward women, liquor, religion, politics, really anything.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I used my audio editing skills to recover a buried <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSimpsons?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheSimpsons</a> joke. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Simpsons?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Simpsons</a> <a href="https://t.co/H0gD1qO7vF">pic.twitter.com/H0gD1qO7vF</a></p> <p>— Ewzzy Rayburn (@ewzzy) <a href="https://twitter.com/ewzzy/status/1648706924425142272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">So, thanks to the internet’s curiosity, the professional video and audio editor has revealed a joke that has remained uncovered since 1992. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Twitter/Youtube</em></p>

TV

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Bluey toast takes the internet by storm

<p>While some have a hard enough time trying to make toast without setting off the fire alarm, others are always dreaming just that little bit bigger. </p> <p>Like the parents who call themselves the Bluey Mums on Facebook, who have found a source of endless entertainment in the form of Bluey toast - or more specifically, Bluey’s younger sister, Bingo. </p> <p>Their inspiration comes from a cookbook titled <em>Bluey and Bingo’s Fancy Restaurant Cookbook: Yummy recipes, for real life</em>. And with an ingredients list that seems simple enough on the surface - toast, some fruit, and a spread of their choice - many set to work trying to spoil their children with a fun-filled breakfast plate. </p> <p>However, as many soon came to learn, it can often be better to stick to what we know. Or at the very least to remember that practice makes perfect, and sometimes our first attempts are better served as a warning. </p> <p>And for the Bluey Mums, sharing became the theme of the day, with members finding bucketloads of amusement in posting their creations with each other. Some were spot on, and others were a little more abstract - but all were valiant efforts, and at the end of the day, came only from the best intentions. </p> <p>“Our ‘attempt’ at Bingo toast,' wrote one mum, Madison, alongside her images of what the toast should have looked like, and what she’d managed to come up with. Her masterpiece wasn’t far off the intended portrait, just a little off in proportion, but it was enough to draw laughter from the crowd, and some good-natured commentary at the shocked character on the plate. </p> <p>“Bingo has seen things,” someone declared.</p> <p>“Looks better than the picture I'd say!” wrote one supportive user. </p> <p>Meanwhile, others were happy just to know what it meant to their children, with one even getting a surprising - and welcome - result out of it all. </p> <p>“I have zero skills to do this stuff! But my daughter loved it and ate all the bread,” she wrote, before adding that her daughter had been “refusing bread for a while”. </p> <p>“My daughter loved it though,” another wrote of her own attempt, “and that’s all that matters.”</p> <p>One parent, who shared her creation to Reddit, was met with similar enthusiasm from commenters, with one writing “expectation vs reality … And the reality ain't that bad! Nice”.</p> <p>“Now do Muffin!” encouraged one, eager for another round of terrific toast.</p> <p><em>Images: Bluey Mums / Facebook, Reddit</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Hilarious hiring sign tells it like it is

<p>A restaurant scorched by unreliable employees has bluntly advertised what they’re searching for with an ad that reads, “Now hiring: non-stupid people.”</p> <p>Santino’s Pizzeria hung the all-caps banner outside its Columbus, Ohio, storefront in jest, according to local news outlet WSYX, but it’s just now come to the attention of the public after a customer posted a photo of it on social media.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/03/PIZZA-SIGN-FULL-HERO.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p>Jayden Dunigan, whose family owns the pizzeria, told WSYX that the sign was meant to be a joke, explaining the struggle of spending the time and money to train new employees only for them not to turn up.</p> <p>“A lot of the people we’ve hired just don’t want to work,” Dunigan said. “There is no work ethic behind them, so that’s the meaning behind the ‘non-stupid’.”</p> <p>The sign was backed by the online community, with the restaurant receiving plenty of support after the sign went viral on social media.</p> <p>“They are 100 per cent correct,” one person commented. “In addition they should add non-lazy, also!”</p> <p>Another comment read, “Honest hiring practices are always best.”</p> <p>There were a few users who did not see the humour in the sign.</p> <p>“If that’s the first impression you choose to make as a business owner, don’t complain when your employees leave,” one person wrote on Twitter.</p> <p>The restaurant has faced some costly backlash, with the Pizzeria getting calls and pranks. Dunigan told the news outlet than someone called the restaurant to place a fake. Order that was over $100 in response to the sign.</p> <p>“It was about 10 pizzas. We made the order, he called back, he talked down to one of our employees. He said our pizza sucks, and he’s cancelling the order,” Dunigan said about the prankster.</p> <p>Instead of letting the food go to waste, Dunigan said they donated it.</p> <p>“Since we don’t enjoy wasting food here, we always think that someone else in need can enjoy the food,” Dunigan said.</p> <p>Another manager at Santino’s, Heather Stockton, told WBNS, “Instead of judging our signs, why don’t you come judge our pizzas? Our pizzas are really good.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Twitter</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Wrapping presents leads to mother's cheeky Christmas discovery

<p>Queensland mother of four Nicole, was wrapping her Christmas presents early this year, when she had to take a second glance at a few images on what she thought was fairly innocent and cute wrapping paper.</p> <p>What she didn’t realise, was that after wrapping a few presents she accidentally selected something a little too inappropriate.</p> <p>The paper, innocently named "Christmas Wrapping Paper Roll" online actually contained X-rated cartoon images. One of an aroused snowman and another of a randy reindeer mounting another.</p> <p>I purchased them online and only noticed when I was wrapping my third present - thankfully the first two were for me and my partner!" she laughed.</p> <p>"When I first saw it I had to send photos to my friend and mother to see if they noticed anything off while wiping laughing tears from my face."</p> <p>Nicole said she wasn't planning on ditching the paper from Typo completely, but with her younger children, she wasn't keen on her kids asking about the birds and the bees over Christmas lunch.</p> <p>"I have only wrapped small presents in it now with strategically placed name labels," she said of her work-around.</p> <p>"I find it hilarious and have showed everyone. I put the post up on social media in case someone hadn’t noticed or may have left it too late to buy more paper ... and to give people a laugh!"</p> <p>Feeling the need to share, Nicole posted snaps of the paper in the Christmas Mums Australia Facebook group, and wasn't the only one to find it funny. Over 340 members of the group commented on Nicole's post.</p> <p>“This is the best!” one person commented.</p> <p>“That’s gold! I love it,” added another.</p> <p>As the laughter and jokes kept coming, many shoppers said that others shouldn’t be so surprised by the images, given Type, the store Nicole purchased from is known for selling cheeky items like this.</p> <p><em>Images: Typo</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Bewildering yet loveable" man farewelled in hilarious obituary

<p>A Brisbane man has been remembered in a hilarious obituary, with his loved ones describing him as "annoying", "trying", and "ever-entertaining".</p> <p>The tribute to Stephen Ralph Morris, who died at age 75, was published in the Courier Mail's death notices in Brisbane, before making the rounds on social media. </p> <p>The father-of-six was immortalised with a photo of him drinking a beer, as he was remembered by his siblings, friends and three wives. </p> <p>The obit reads, "Stephen Ralph Morris, April 23 1947 - September 10 2022: Trying yet loving son to Norm &amp; Gwen. Annoying yet protective big brother to Phillip &amp; Helen. Bewildering yet loveable husband to Valda, Joann and Rosemary."</p> <p>"Questionable yet ever-entertaining parenting methods to Stevie &amp; Sherry, Jodie &amp; Terri, Clare &amp; Liam + 7 grandkids."</p> <p>"Partner in crime to Daryl (AKA Dismal Dizzy). Mongrel to his many mates. Story teller, poet, larger than life, life of the party! Thanks for the memories, you crazy bastard." </p> <p>The tribute concluded with plans to remember Steven's life, exactly how he wanted it. </p> <p>"No funeral will held as per Steve's request. P**s-up at Stafford Tavern."</p> <p>The obituary ended with a poignant quote from Frank Sinatra: "I did it my way".</p> <p>The hilarious tribute quickly went viral after being shared on Reddit, with many describing it as "brilliantly written" and agreeing with Steve opting for having a party over a funeral. </p> <p>"That's what I want instead of a funeral - everyone have a party! The Janis Joplin approach," said one commenter. </p> <p>"I have already told my family I absolutely don’t want a funeral. I find them weird. I would allow a party but that’s it," said another. </p> <p>Others who were not known to Mr Morris said they were keen to attend the pub for the memorial party, thinking it's what Steve would've wanted.</p> <p>"If my current plans fall through this weekend, my backup will be Stafford Tavern at 2 pm wearing a fun shirt ... despite never meeting the bloke," one said. </p> <p>"I reckon Stephen would approve of us all turning up!" said another. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Reddit</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Shoppers stunned by hilarious labelling mistake

<p>Shoppers in the meat section of an Adelaide supermarket didn’t know quite what to think when they noticed an unfortunate typo on a packet of gourmet sausages.</p> <p><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Daily Mail reports</strong></em></span></a> the ‘fresh from the farm’ sausages were spotted by a woman doing her groceries in her local Foodland in Valley View, and she couldn’t miss the opportunity to take a photo and upload the unfortunate typo on social media.</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F3awbreakfast%2Fphotos%2Fa.132102302792.112368.116765482792%2F10155324010522793%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="516" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <p>The image has since been picked up by 3AW Breakfast and is now starting to do the rounds on social media, with many commenters poking fun at the labelling error.</p> <p>“I suspect that’s an honest listing of ingredients,” one person wrote.</p> <p>“At least we know where our food comes from,” said another.</p> <p>“They’re not bunnings, but sound exotic ... No wastage there!” one optimistic person said.</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Have you ever seen a funny labelling mistake?</p> <p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

Food & Wine

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“I will miss her forever”: Ivanka Trump pays tribute to “wickedly funny” Ivana

<p dir="ltr">Ivanka Trump has shared a heartbreaking tribute to her mother, Ivana Trump, who <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/ivana-trump-s-cause-of-death-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away on Thursday</a> at the age of 73.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 40-year-old took to Instagram to share a gallery of photos of her mum, including several of them together, writing that she was “heartbroken” by the news and that she will “miss her forever”.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-93e9c925-7fff-aae6-f6d4-9b5d82fc42dd"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Heartbroken by the passing of my mother. Mum was brilliant, charming, passionate and wickedly funny,” she wrote.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgAl6HjuNTO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgAl6HjuNTO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“She modelled strength, tenacity and determination in her every action. She lived life to the fullest – never forgoing an opportunity to laugh and dance.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I will miss her forever and will keep her memory alive in our hearts always.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-11f40045-7fff-fe12-0e13-c78f5451c9a5"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Along with shots of a young Ivanka with her mum, Ivanka shared a series of Ivana’s old modelling shots in her Instagram Stories.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/ivana-trump-ivanka.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Ivanka shared a series of throwback photos of her late mother Ivana on social media. Images: @ivankatrump (Instagram)</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Ivana, who is believed to have died of a heart attack, is survived by Ivanka and her two siblings, Donald Jr, 44, and Eric, 38, who she shared with Donald Trump.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3d8284ea-7fff-1dfb-82c0-f479d7f1dd89"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @ivankatrump (Instagram)</em></p>

Caring

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Do you have an instagram for your pet and love sharing funny animal videos?

<p>Was one of the last DMs you received on Instagram a video of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cuteduckrules/p/CHOhIy0DIAP/?utm_medium=copy_link">ducklings wearing flowers for hats</a>, or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNNUVy9L-a9/?utm_medium=copy_link">floating in a sink full of water</a>? An <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CXUJbaVDpEO/?utm_medium=copy_link">overly zealous cockapoo dancing</a> on the couch with his human? <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COaqbEhj0jr/?utm_medium=copy_link">A husky throwing a temper tantrum</a> because he couldn’t come indoors?</p> <p>If sharing cute animal content is your love language, you’re not alone — you are part of a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1461444820956345">bigger cultural phenomenon</a> called the <a href="https://doi.org/10.5204/mcj.782">cute economy</a>.</p> <p>The cute economy is not only a network of cute content that people participate in making, sharing and circulating but also a <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/11/6/18066056/dog-instagram-famous-pet-influencers">multibillion-dollar business</a> due to creators’ ability to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pet-owners-earn-thousands-dog-photos-instagram-influencers-2018-12">monetize their content</a>.</p> <h2>What is the cute economy?</h2> <p>Media researcher James Meese defines the <a href="https://doi.org/10.5204/mcj.782">cute economy as the creation and circulation</a> of user-generated content depicting entities (animals, babies, plants, objects, etc.) that are perceived to be cute.</p> <p>While <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/user/13980778/episode-10-pets">researchers</a> and <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-sept-14-2020-1.5722904">journalists</a> have shed light on this social media phenomenon, sharing cute animal photos is not new. Over 100 years ago, photographer Harry Whittier Frees was creating <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2016/01/06/462040450/the-sad-happy-life-of-harry-whittier-frees">novelty postcards of anthropomorphic animals</a>.</p> <p>Our research focuses on the specific but sizeable segment of the cute economy that circulates pet content. We find the cuteness of pet content is depicted through the following archetypes: goofy or silly animals, small (aka “smol”) or young animals, inter-species content, child-animal pairs, extreme sizes and ratios (very small or very big), unusual looks and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/jan/15/anthropomorphism-danger-humans-animals-science">animal behaviours that we construe as human-like</a>.</p> <p>While some pet accounts have more followers than politicians and celebrities to generate their own virality — like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jiffpom/">Jiff Pom at 9.9 million</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nala_cat/">Nala at 4.3 million</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/itsdougthepug/">Doug the Pug at 3.9 million</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/juniperfoxx/">Juniper at three million</a> — another catalyst for the circulation of cute pet content is meme or <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/instagram-101-what-are-fe_b_7714798">feature accounts</a> that display curated reused content like <a href="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20180730-the-man-who-makes-six-figures-rating-dogs">Matt Nelson’s omni-platform enterprise WeRateDogs</a>.</p> <h2>The creators and their inter-species families</h2> <p>Much like <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/considerations-starting-a-social-media-account-for-your-child/11524188">mom influencers who create social media accounts for their human babies</a>, pet parents have also been creating social media accounts to show off their domesticated companions.</p> <p>Given that people have been <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/209374">humanizing their pets since</a> <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2521389/The-LOLcats-yesteryear-Incredible-pictures-animal-meme-craze-actually-began-long-Internet.html">before the dawn of the internet</a>, a pet’s social media presence is a form of pretend play.</p> <p>Pet account managers humanize their fur babies visually by using <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210308005664/en/Pet-Humanization---A-Pivotal-Growth-Driver-for-the-Global-Pet-Accessories-Market---ResearchAndMarkets.com">clothing, accessories</a> or props. They also humanize their pets textually, by providing them with a human-like voice.</p> <p>The content creator will even add species-specific lexicon like catspeak, also known as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266078418000020">meowlogisms</a>, or infantalized speech such as lolspeak — the Internet slang originating from <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/05/are-lolcats-making-us-smart/256830/">lolcat memes</a>.</p> <p>Still, cuteness has a threshold. Several participants we interviewed for our research explained that while anthropomorphism can be cute, if it appears forced or inauthentic, it becomes perceived as the opposite of cute.</p> <p>And many content creators have caught on to this curation of cute and ensure their content doesn’t deteriorate into cringe.</p> <p>One of our interviewees (who manages an account for her tortoise) expressed her discomfort and uncertainty over creating captions. She says its hard finding “the balance there between, it being cringey and entertaining.”</p> <h2>What does consuming and sharing cute content do?</h2> <p>Nurturing relationships: Cute content is shared because it depicts a relatable experience to its appreciators. It also serves as a gift of care and a sign of closeness in a relationship.</p> <p>One of our interviewees knows her stepdaughter is a fan of horses, and specifically sends horse content to her. We find that this gesture signals that the sender truly knows what warms the receiver’s heart.</p> <p>Aspiring for a future: Consuming cute content can also be aspirational. For instance, one of our interviewees hopes to adopt a dog when she moves to a pet-friendly building. She is dedicated to following accounts that portray her aspirational lifestyle like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thegoldenratio4/">The Golden Ratio</a>.</p> <p>Vicarious interspecies connection: Cute content fulfils its consumers because it allows them to interact with animals from a distance, without the need to allocate any resources for taking care of them.</p> <p>For a cause: Cute content can also serve as a medium of change. A creator or appreciator may share content to <a href="https://www.inverse.com/science/how-petfluencers-can-be-a-force-for-good">increase awareness about a cause</a> or to change the opinion of others.</p> <p>For example, one of our interviewees manages her domesticated duck’s account which depicts her duck being friendly, loving and having a unique personality, much like any traditional domestic animal. Through her duck account, this pet parent aims to teach her followers about the <a href="https://www.peta.org/features/what-is-speciesism/">harms of speciesism</a>, and advocates for a cruelty free co-existence with all animals.</p> <h2>Cute for good</h2> <p>Research has shown that watching cute animal videos is <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/crazy-life/202007/pluto-the-talking-dog-is-good-your-mental-health">good for our own mental health</a>.</p> <p>Whether you are a creator, appreciator or both, cute content is a conversation starter and relationship facilitator: it breaks ice when people lack topics to discuss, or when they wish to let others know that they care.</p> <p>Given people’s inability to get together as frequently and intimately due to the pandemic, we’ve been able to share our love from a distance using these small tokens of care.</p> <p>Society is fortunate that technology enables people to strengthen connections. But, because we can’t have nice things, there exists a <a href="https://www.insider.com/pet-fail-videos-vets-danger-harmful-animals-abuse-health-2020-4">dark side of the cute economy</a> so be mindful of sharing content of <a href="https://theconversation.com/before-you-hit-share-on-that-cute-animal-photo-consider-the-harm-it-can-cause-126182">animals who might have been exploited</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/have-an-instagram-account-for-your-pet-love-sharing-funny-animal-videos-youre-part-of-the-cute-economy-173311" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Bridezilla or brilliant? List of wedding rules hits the spot

<p>Kennedy Marks is neither engaged nor expecting to be any time soon. However, that has not stopped her from devising a super comprehensive list of exactly what will and will not happen on her wedding day.</p> <p>The 22-year-old from Devon in the UK has posted a now-viral video to TikTok explaining the rules she will expect guests to observe. The list is reasonably lengthy, with 13 rules to be precise.</p> <p>The list includes rules such as “no phones,” “don’t stress me out, ask my mum,” and no children “unless pre-approved.”</p> <p>“I don’t want children screaming during the ceremony, I don’t want children running on the dance floor when I’m trying to do my first dance because you’re at the bar,” she says.</p> <p>No “boring” people will be allowed, and anyone who has the gall to step on the dance floor during the first dance will be “dragged off and never seen again.”</p> <p>Other rules on the list include: No-one else wearing white (otherwise “a bottle of red wine will be poured on you”); not to automatically expect you can bring a plus-one; and no-one to make any “big announcements.”</p> <p>“Please, for the love of God, do not take the attention away from me.</p> <p>In a follow up video, Kennedy explained some more of her rules.</p> <p>“No rudeness to staff or you’re out, I want them to dance, I want them to have fun, I want them to have a good shift,” she says.</p> <p>“No phones at the ceremony, I don’t want all of my photos to be on phones, I want to enjoy the moment, let’s all embrace it.”</p> <p>The clip has surpassed almost 700,000 views and the reactions have been diverse. Some have applauded Kennedy for knowing just what she wants, while others have of course branded her a “Bridezilla.”</p> <p>“This is the list I needed,” one follower wrote.</p> <p>The full rule list:</p> <p>1. No-one else wearing white.</p> <p>2. No children (unless approved).</p> <p>3. Don’t assume an invitation for a plus-one.</p> <p>4. No big announcements.</p> <p>5. No-one to use the microphone unless approved.</p> <p>6. Don’t stress me out, ask my mum.</p> <p>7. No boring people.</p> <p>8. If me or (boyfriend) Rhys have never met you, you aren’t coming.</p> <p>9. No rudeness to staff or you’re out.</p> <p>10. No phones in the ceremony.</p> <p>11. Anyone on the dancefloor on my first dance will be dragged off.</p> <p>12. Guests wear whatever you’re comfortable in.</p> <p>13. Full use of my photographer after my photos.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

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Why you do NOT ask your students what they think of you

<p>“I told them they couldn’t say ‘nothing’ and they delivered.”</p> <p>Those were the words from a Year 3 teacher who has revealed online that she asked her students what they would change about her – and the results were nothing short of savage.</p> <p>TikTok user Alex Jean shared the results in an hilarious video in which many of the kids went straight after her looks.</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@grade3withms.e/video/7079120207637335342" data-video-id="7079120207637335342"> <section><a title="@grade3withms.e" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@grade3withms.e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@grade3withms.e</a> Thank you @missnormansmiddles for this idea that humbled me very quickly 😅😅 <a title="teacher" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teacher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teacher</a> <a title="teacherlife" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teacherlife" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teacherlife</a> <a title="teachers" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teachers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teachers</a> <a title="teachertiktok" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teachertiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teachertiktok</a> <a title="teachertok" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teachertok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teachertok</a> <a title="teacheroftiktok" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teacheroftiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teacheroftiktok</a> <a title="students" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/students" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#students</a> <a title="whatwouldyou" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/whatwouldyou" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#whatwouldyou</a> <a title="♬ Originalton - AnnenMayKantereit" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Originalton-7076464112204614406" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Originalton - AnnenMayKantereit</a></section> </blockquote> <p>First up, one of the kids told her “one eyebrow is skinny and the other is fat” and another said she “tucks all her shirts in.”</p> <p>A third child also slammed her appearance and said “you smile a lot and it looks like your eyes are closed”. Another found her mannerisms annoying and said she “blinks too much”.</p> <p>One child took issue with her teaching style, and said “you make us do a lot of work”.</p> <p>However, one of the children was sweet with their answer, saying the only thing they’d change is that she won’t be their teacher next year.</p> <p>Many people found the video adorable, with one viewer commenting: “the eyebrows one made me laugh. children are so funny”.</p> <p>Another joked: “I’d be there consciously trying to blink less.”</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Grandma's hilarious ranking system goes viral

<p>Many suspect their grandma may have favourites, but one family knows for sure where they stand thanks to their grandmother’s brutally honest "leaderboard".</p> <p>US comedian Dan LaMorte posted on TikTok explaining the unique feature in his grandmother's house, where at any time family members can look to see how beloved they are in their matriarch's eyes – and heart.</p> <p>"At my grandma’s house she has a board of the ten grandchildren's faces on magnets, and she ranks us from one to ten. I'm eight," he says proudly before cutting the video off.</p> <p>The comedian's TikTok followers found the system hilariously honest.</p> <p>"I would kill for this kind of transparency in my relationships," said one commenter. "I would have told her that she my #2 grandma," added another.</p> <p>"My grandma used to rank us too. She would regularly tell us of our rankings. She's been gone for 4 years, but I talk about her a lot in therapy," said one commenter.</p> <p>"That was the basis behind this. She used to do verbal rankings so we made her a board to do it visually," revealed LaMorte.</p> <p>In a separate video, the comedian displays the rankings again three months on, explaining some of the reasoning behind the shifts in order.</p> <p>He reveals that the number one favourite grandchild lives next door so she moves her ranking herself and is therefore invalid, while number two is a dentist and number three is a doctor.</p> <p>He also adds that he moved up two places, now at sixth place out of the ten grandchildren.</p> <p>"The key is to coast and wait for the others to mess up. The long game," one commenter suggested.</p> <p>"My great-grandmother's favorite grandchild is my childhood dog, whose portrait takes center stage in her home," said another.</p> <p><em>Image: TikTok</em></p>

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