Love songs are where we get our passion, our soul — and most of our worst ideas.Throughout human history, oceans have been crossed, mountains have been scaled, and great families have blossomed — all because of a few simple chords and a melody that inflamed a heart and propelled it on a noble, romantic mission.On the other hand, that time you told that girl you just started seeing that you would "catch a grenade" for her? You did that because of a love song. And it wasn't exactly a coincidence that she suddenly decided to "lose your number" and move back to Milwaukee to "figure some stuff out."That time you held that boom box over your head outside your ex's house? You did that because of a love song. And 50 hours of community service later, you're still not back together.Love songs are great. They make our hearts beat faster. They inspire us to take risks and put our feelings on the line. And they give us terrible, terrible ideas about how actual, real-life human relationships should work.They're amazing. So amazing. And also terrible.Here are six love songs that sound romantic but aren't, and one song that doesn't sound romantic but totally is:1. "God Only Knows," by The Beach BoysYou can keep your "Surfin' Safaris," your "I Get Arounds," and your "Help me Rhondas."When it comes to The Beach Boys, "God Only Knows" is where it's at. A lush garden of soft horns and breezy melody. A tie-dye swirl of sound. A landscape of haunted innocence with some of the most heartrending lyrics ever committed to the back of a surfboard.Youth! Youth! Youth! Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images.Here's why it sounds romantic:I may not always love youBut long as there are stars above youYou never need to doubt itI'll make you so sure about itGod only knows what I'd be without youIf you're traipsing through a meadow in a sundress with your beloved and not playing "God Only Knows" on your iPod, you should really stop and start over.If you're lazily bumping a beach ball over a volleyball net and "God Only Knows" isn't playing somewhere in the back of your mind, you need to rethink the choices that got you to this point.If you're a video editor compiling footage of grainy hippies frolicking in the mud and you're not underscoring it with the opening chords of "God Only Knows," you are doing it wrong.It's a song that just feels like love. Pure love. Young love. Love with a chill, kelp-y vibe.What could be wrong with that?Here's why it's actually really, really unromantic:There's nothing wrong with loving someone. Sending them flowers. Leaving over-the-top notes in their P.O. boxes. Stroking their hair as they fall asleep while you whisper the complete works of Nicholas Sparks into their ear.But there is such a thing as loving someone a skosh too much.If you should ever leave meThough life would still go on believe meThe world could show nothing to meSo what good would living do me?Look, I get it. Breakups suck. There's no getting around that. But good God.There's a huge difference between saying: "Hey babe, you are my first and foremost everything and I'll be bummed if you go." And saying: "Welp, you accepted that job in Seattle, so I'm just gonna chug a bunch of nightshade and call it a life."But that's pretty much the gist here. Which makes this line...God only knows what I'd be without you...horror-movie creepy. Because the answer, apparently, is: "I'd be a corpse!"That's not love. That's codependency (to put it mildly). Oh, and hey! Threatening to kill yourself if your partner leaves isn't loving. It's a form of emotional abuse.Investing all your happiness and sense of self-worth in any relationship — one that, by definition, might one day end — is putting a lot of eggs in one basket. Sure, God may only know what you'd be without her, but God probably also hopes you have, I don't know, some hobbies. Take a yoga class. Google some woodworking videos. Try kite surfing.One person cannot be anyone's be-all and end-all. It's too stressful. And it prevents you from doing you, which is a thing that's gotta be done before you can do anything else.No wonder she took that job in Seattle.2. "Treasure," by Bruno MarsSure, it's a blatant rip off of every Michael Jackson song you've ever heard. But, we don't have Michael Jackson anymore, and as tribute acts go, you could do a lot worse than Bruno Mars.Here's why the song sounds romantic:Treasure, that is what you areHoney, you're my golden starYou know you can make my wish come trueIf you let me treasure youIf you let me treasure youPass those lyrics to anyone on a used napkin at an eighth-grade make-out party and you'll likely get an instant toll pass on the highway to tongue-town (ew).Pass them to your spouse and, chances are, date night is going to culminate in 47 minutes of chaste-yet-passionate frenching.Pass them to a cop who pulls you over for running a stop sign, and they will think you're weird — but probably still make out with you.In fact, Bruno Mars basically has a lifetime pass to make out with America because of this song.And I'm OK with that.But, here's why "Treasure" isn't as romantic as it seems:Everything about "Treasure" is retro. Everything.Including its attitudes about gender.Things start to go south right from the very beginning:Give me your, give me your, give me your attention, babyI gotta tell you a little something about yourselfAh yes. Nothing screams "respect" quite like a man lecturing a strange woman on the street about something she "doesn't know about herself."What could it be? Could it be that her jokes are funny? Could it be that she's got something in her teeth? Could it be that her nonfiction book about early modern German history is extremely detailed and informative?Spoiler Alert: It's none of those.You're wonderful, flawless, ooh, you're a sexy ladyBut you walk around here like you wanna be someone elseOh. It's that she's sexy. Cool, bro. Very original.Word of advice? Regardless of how she's walking, the lady knows she's sexy. Even if she doesn't, it really doesn't affect her day-to-day so much that you, a complete stranger, need to shout it at her (even over a funky disco snare).So what if she does want to be someone else? I'd love to be someone else! I think being Ryan Gosling would be quite nice. A good way to spend a three-day weekend.And then later, of course, the narrator can't help himself:Pretty girl, pretty girl, pretty girl, you should be smilingA girl like you should never look so blue.He respects her so much, he's actually straight-up telling her to smile! Much like Mars' character "Uptown Funk," who appears to get off on angrily exhorting girls to "hit [their] hallelujah." Which, you know, I guess everybody's got a thing.Yes, in the world of "Treasure," a healthy relationship is an unending stream of a man complimenting a strange woman and said woman being so totally flattered that she immediately dispenses "the sex."He then proceeds to talk to his potential lover like the world's creepiest pirate:You are my treasure, you are my treasureYou are my treasure, yeah, you, you, you, you areYou are my treasure, you are my treasureYou are my treasure, yeah, you, you, you, you areBy this point, in his mind, she's a literal thing. An object. Which is fitting.I suppose it could be worse, though. At least she's not just any thing.That's ... something, right?3. "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right," by Bob DylanFor as long as humans have been dating each other, humans have been breaking up with each other. And "Don't Think Twice" is a portrait of a relationship going down in flames. Glorious, poetic, acoustic flames.Here's why it sounds romantic:Well, it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babeEven you don't know by nowAnd it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babeIt'll never do somehowWhen your rooster crows at the break of dawnLook out your window, and I'll be goneYou're the reason I'm a-traveling onBut don't think twice, it's all right.Boom. Strummed on out of that friends-with-benefits situation like whoa."Don't Think Twice" is a raw song. An honest song. A powerful song. It's the song your older sister played on continuous loop for six months after her boyfriend left for college. The song that convinced your Aunt Roslyn to leave her bank-teller job, load her four Australian shepherds into the van, and open a wind chime store in Mendocino. The song your friend's cool dad always wants to play when he invited your high school band over to his apartment to jam.Sure, it's about the end of a relationship, but it sounds romantic. And at the end of the day, shouldn't that be enough?Here's why it's actually sooooo messed up:Relationships end. For a lot of reasons. And while there is no right way to call it quits with someone, when the dust settles, both parties can certainly benefit from a difficult, honest discussion about what went wrong.In "Don't Think Twice," that discussion basically boils down to: "It's your fault."Let's review the reasons the dude in "Don't Think Twice" is splitting with his lady friend:I gave her my heart, but she wanted my soulUgh, women, right? You're all like, "Babe, I just have so much unspecified love to give," and she's like, "Take out the trash!" And you're like, "But baaaaaaabe, shouldn't my heart be enough?" And she's like, "No, seriously. I already did the laundry, cleaned the whole house, fed the dog, did the dishes, and made both of our lunches for the week. All I need you to do is take out the trash." And you're like, "You're bumming me out. I'm gonna go play guitar." And then she gets all mad! What did you do? Why is she trying to change you? UGH!You could have done better, but I don't mindYes. You do mind! You mind! You wrote a song about it, you passive-aggressive prick.You just kinda wasted my precious timeAh yes. Your time is so precious! Think about all the hours you wasted plumbing the ocean-deep, ecstatic mysteries of human partnership when you could have been futzing around with that home-brew kit.The minute you start breaking it down, the message of "Don't Think Twice" suddenly starts to seem a lot less romantic. Like your sister's ex-boyfriend, who worked at the Bass Pro Shop in town for a while and now might be in jail. Like your aunt's wind chime store, which would have closed forever ago had she not received that inheritance from her mom in the '80s. Like your friend's cool dad, who wasn't exactly, technically, paying child support.Oh yeah, and the song's narrator also point-blank refers woman he's leaving as:A child, I'm toldThat's right. In addition to being a run-of-the-mill passive-aggressive jerk — turns out, he's also possibly a pedophile.Even if we are to accept that this is a metaphor and she's not actually a child — which there's no indication it is, but OK, Bob Dylan — the fact that Commitmentphobe Gunderson here would willingly choose an immature partner reflects way more poorly on him than it does on her.Breaking up with anyone in such a cruel, dismissive way is a recipe for sticking them with years of therapy bills.Which, I suppose, may be the point.4. "Leaving on a Jet Plane," by John DenverWho has two thumbs and wrote a bittersweet folk song about hurtling through the stratosphere in a giant aluminum tube at 600 miles per hour?Here's why it sounds romantic:"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a lovely song. And impressive in its loveliness because jet planes were still kind of new at the time it was written.'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet planeTo a modern ear, this would be sort of like singing, "I'm a scoooting away on my hoverboooooard," but in a way that's somehow still folksy and heartbreaking and singable by 9-year-olds at summer camp. Not easy to do!Oh babe, I hate to goYou see — he hates to go! He just hates it! We know this, because he tells us he hates it. And why would he hate to go if he didn't love his partner just that much?Why indeed?Here's why it's actually not that romantic at all:All the plaintive guitar, loping bass line, and twangy, melancholy warbling in the world can only distract so much from the fact that the song's main character is well, kind of a jerkweed.And in reality — surprise surprise! — it doesn't actually seem like he hates being away all that much:There's so many times I've let you downSo many times I've played aroundI tell you now, they don't mean a thing"Babe, I promise! All the movies I watched alone while you were home nursing the quadruplets. All the times I drained our life savings on Zoo Zillionaire. All the random sex I had with other women. Totally meaningless. Certainly fun to do! Really fun. Like, I had a fantastic time. But rest assured — completely empty, in an ontological sense."Yes, when you break it down, "Leaving on a Jet Plane," is less of a passionate tribute to love overcoming distance and more the deluded ramblings of a guy who needs to convince himself he's "good" despite all evidence to the contrary.And for all he claims to be broken up about having to part from his one and only, the dude seems pretty excited about the flight. Oh, you're leaving on a jet plane, are you? Are you Zone 1? Gonna humblebrag on Twitter about the "terrible" Cibo express salad you were forced to choke down as you sat waiting to embark on your fun, mysterious adventure?He continues:Ev'ry place I go, I'll think of youEv'ry song I sing, I'll sing for youAh cool. He'll think about her while strumming and making "my love is delicate as the morning dew" eyes at a waif-y grad student in the front row. That pretty much makes up for it all.Then he demands:So kiss me and smile for meTell me that you'll wait for meAfter all the betrayal and heartbreak, after basically revealing himself to be a grade-A sleaze who can't be trusted, he still has the gall to tell her to wait? To wait for him?And here's the kicker:When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ringAh yes. He'll put a ring on it. Finally.Unlike all the previous trips, where he's cheated a billion times, drained the family bank account, and just been a general screwup and disappointment.But yeah. This time he says he'll bring back a wedding ring.I hope she joins a polyamorous octad and never looks back.5. "When a Man Loves a Woman," Percy SledgeWhen you look up "soul" in the dictionary, the book plays you a recording of this song.Specifically, it plays you the very first line.Here's why it sound very romantic:When a man loves a womanSure, you can write the lyrics down, but it doesn't even come close to capturing the heartache. The yearning. The delicious, delicious pain-belting:WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMANCloser ... but still no.WHEN A MAAAAAAAN. LOVES A WOOOMAN!Yes! Sing it, Percy Sledge!It's an elemental lyric.It's a heart-shattering lyric.It's a lyric that demands you put your back into it.It's perfection.As long as you don't keep listening.Here's why the song is actually pretty horrifying:From the opening lines of "When a Man Loves a Woman," we know that, at least on occasion, a man loves a woman.Which raises the question: What happens when said man loves said woman?He'd give up all his comfortsAnd sleep out in the rainIf she said that's the wayIt ought to be.Whoa! OK. No. Back up. A man, no matter how devoted, no matter how selfless, no matter how in love, needs shelter. Otherwise, a man will die of exposure and hypothermia.Turn his back on his best friend if he put her down.No! Jeez. No. A man can't put up with that kind of isolating behavior. A man needs friends! Once a man's whole support system erodes out from under him, a man will be bitter, ungrounded, and alone. And a man's mental health will deteriorate.I gave you everything I haveTryin' to hold on to your heartless loveBaby, please don't treat me bad.This is not what happens "when a man loves a woman." It's what happens when a man loves a controlling, manipulative woman. An abusive woman. A woman who, in truth, only loves a woman. Herself.And that's not healthy.Run, Percy Sledge, run! We're here for you.(Side note: Lest it go unsaid, there is way more than one way for a man to love a woman. Maybe they spend every waking moment cuddling and bopping each other on the nose. Maybe they sleep in separate bedrooms. Maybe they dress up in large, plush cat costumes and refer to each other Mr. and Mrs. Kittyhawk. And when a man loves a man, I imagine it feels much the same. Or when a woman loves a woman. Or when a gender nonconforming person loves a gender nonconforming person.)Regardless of the depth of commitment, living situation, or combination of genders or sexual orientations, there's no one-size-fits-all love solution. Every relationship is a unique snowflake. Variety is the spice of life. Necessity is the mother of invention. There's more than one way to skin a cat. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. It doesn't matter if it's the right metaphor, as long as it's a metaphor.Point being: Generalize at your peril, Sledge. And please, seek help! You can do this! And if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, please give these people a call.6. "All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You," HeartHonestly, Heart could sing a list of the most popular AllRecipes ("Jaaaamie's Cranberry Spinach Saaaaalad/World's Best Lasaaaaagna/Sour Creeeeeam Cutouts") and it would make me want to bawl my eyes out in the arms of a tall, dark stranger at the end of a pier.This song is perfect. You should always be listening to it. If you're not listening to it now, smack yourself in the face and Google it. It's just that important.I am singing the phone book. You are weeping like a tiny baby. Photo by FatCat125/Wikimedia Commons.So much passion. So much pain. So much hair.Here's why it sounds romantic:Over pounding drums and a soaring melody, Heart sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson deliver a primal tribute to the one true romantic fantasy shared by every living being on Earth: picking up an unnervingly attractive man for one night of mind-blowing sex and then releasing him back into the wild to bone — but never quite as compellingly ever again.They sing:It was a rainy night when he came into sightStanding by the road, no umbrella, no coatSo I pulled up alongside and I offered him a rideHe accepted with a smile so we drove for a whileI don't have to go on because you know what happens next, and it's awesome.Now, here's why this song is not romantic at all:The relationship in "All I Wanna Do" seems too good to be true. And it is. Because it's not an equally loving ,or even equally lusty, pairing at all.It's a...It's a...Well. You know what it is:For a while, things are humming along just fine, like any wholesome, illicit, anonymous affair should:I didn't ask him his name, this lonely boy in the rainFate, tell me it's right, is this love at first sight?Sure, many of us might hesitate to pick up a strange leather-jacket-clad man standing on the side of the road for a no-strings-attached screw, but our narrator just has a feeling about this guy, and sometimes, you gotta go with your gut.I can respect that.We made magic that nightHe did everything rightGreat! Seems like it was a good decision. Bonking the hitchhiker is payin' off big time.But then, without warning, the song starts to sound less like an all-time great romance and more like a story men's rights activists tell each other as they vape around a campfire:I told him "I am the flower, you are the seedWe walked in the garden, we planted a treeDon't try to find me, please don't you dareJust live in my memory, you'll always be there"I'm not a poet. Symbolic language often eludes me. But unless "flower," "seed," "garden," and "tree," suddenly mean wildly different things in the context of human reproduction than they have since sex was first invented in the early-1970s, we're talking about a surprise, non-mutually-consensual pregnancy!Of course, metaphors are opaque, interpretations vary, etc., etc., etc. You might be tempted to think, "Maybe Heart meant something else by that."To that I say, no, they definitely meant it:Then it happened one dayWe came round the same wayYou can imagine his surpriseWhen he saw his own eyesThere are two possibilities here.One: The narrator of the song is recently-deceased Jerry Orbach from this creepy New York City subway ad from nine years ago:Or two: She totally conned a dude into whipping up a baby on the sly.I said, "Please, please understandAh, sure. Yeah. No worries.I'm in love with another manCool, so this all makes sense and is in no way the nightmarish scheme of a deranged sociopath who has now wrecked not one but two lives.And what he couldn't give me, oh, noWas the one little thing that you can"A HUMAN LIFE! A REAL SENTIENT HUMAN LIFE THAT IS NOT INCIDENTAL TO ALL OF THIS!The best you can say about that is that it's not technically illegal, and that leather-jacket man probably should have been responsible for his own birth control. Or, at the very least, asked more questions .But ... it's not cute. It's not romantic (even the Wilson sisters themselves agree).And at the end of the day, the shadiest character in this song is somehow not the rain-soaked hitchhiker wandering to nowhere in the night.Which... is saying something.But there is a love song that is truly, madly, deeply perfect. An unassailable track in a sea of problematic faves.A song that does everything right.A song that paints a portrait of a healthy partnership built to last.A song that can double as a manual for the ideal human romantic relationship.And that song is..."Candy Shop," by 50 Cent, featuring OliviaHere's why you might be — OK, almost definitely are — skeptical:As catchy as "Candy Shop" is, as fun it is to dance to, and as cathartic as it can be to scream in the middle of a crowded fraternity house at 2 a.m., there's no getting around the fact that the song begins like this:I'll take you to the candy shopI'll let you lick the lollipopI'll post that again, in case you missed some of the nuance:I'll take you to the candy shopI'll let you lick the lollipopWay to take one for the team, narrator of "Candy Shop"!At first glance, "Candy Shop" is nobody's idea of a classic love song.The lyrics are ... unusually forward. The beat is kinda basic. The hook is like the music they play when Abu Nazir sidles scarily by in "Homeland."It doesn't get played much anymore. When it does resurface, it feels ... kinda dated. Like watching that DVD of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" on your new Xbox 360.It's not a song you'd put on a mixtape for your crush. It's not a song you'd play for your spouse when the kids are at home with the babysitter and you've got nine hours to tear up the Piscataway Hampton Inn. It's certainly not a song you'd include on the video photo montage you made for your grandparents' silver anniversary.It's just not.But it should be.So here it is. Here's why "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent, featuring Olivia, is actually the perfect relationship song:The bass drum hits. The MIDI violins whine. The singer starts filling out his fellatio permission slip. It's only been 20 seconds, and you're already getting ready to hang it up with "Candy Shop."But then ... over the square thrum and the mewling strings, a miracle occurs — in the form of a female voice joining the track, cutting through the din like a clarion call.She sings:I'll take you to the candy shop (yeah)Boy, one taste of what I got (uh-huh)I'll have you spendin' all you got (come on)Keep going 'til you hit the spot, whoaIt's mutual! It's mutual! They're performing oral sex on each other!Ring the bells! Bang the drums! Release the doves!Go, cunnilingus doves, go!50 Cent himself may not be the world's greatest partner — for example, according to one of his exes, he's done some pretty unforgivable things.But the narrator of "Candy Shop"? He gets it:You could have it your way, how do you want it?Rather than simply imposing his desires on the person he's with — a la the dude in "God Only Knows ("I'm going to invest my entire sense of self-worth in you!") or the street heckler in "Treasure" ("I'm going to treat you like a chest full of gold doubloons!") or the sociopath in "All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You," ("I'm going to trick you into knocking me up!") — the "Candy Shop" guy actually asks his partner what she wants.Which, in the world of popular music, is good for about 50,000 trillion points.And where are they going to do it? The hotel? Back of the rental? The beach? The park?It's whatever you're into'Cause consent is sexy!I ain't finished teaching you 'bout how sprung I got yaThe narrator of "Candy Shop" is certainly ... assertive about his desires.But here's the key thing: the lady on the receiving end of those desires? She's clearly into it. And we know this because she says so.The lines of consent in "Candy Shop" are bright red, highlighted, and soldered into the weirdly sticky club floor.Meanwhile, Robin Thicke is outside trying to convince the bouncer that his uncle is a lawyer.Girl what we do ...And where we do ...The things we do ...Are just between me and youNo matter how nasty they freak, it will be intimate. It will be private. There will be no revenge porn (the epilogue to "Blurred Lines," to wit, would definitely be a protracted, emotionally devastating lawsuit).If you be a nympho, I'll be a nymphoSexual compatibility is key to the survival of any relationship, whether years, weeks, or (very possibly in the case of "Candy Shop") minutes long.She may have a high sex drive, but dude is graciously offering to accommodate her. What a gentleman! These crazy kids just might go the distance after all.And at the end of the day, what is a relationship but two nymphos, sharing health insurance?It's like it's a race who could get undressed quickerAgain, everybody is having a great time. And, critically, an equally great time.I touch the right spot at the right timeOf course, it wouldn't be a pop/hip-hop hit without a spot of random braggadocio, but if we're to take him at his word, "Candy Shop" guy is at least as good at "doing everything right" as the anonymous hitchhiker from "All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You" — except without all the creepy surprise baby nonsense.The "Candy Shop" guy is a keeper. Because he's not a hero or a stranger in the night or a funky, shimmering love god. He's a good partner."Candy Shop" is raunchy. It's dirty. It's not your grandmother's love song.But when you strip away the swagger, the back beat, and the weird strings from "Best of Public Domain Middle Eastern Music 1993," by the end of the song, both people are satisfied. And at the end of the day, isn't that what a healthy relationship is all about?Yeah.Uh-huh.So seductive.This article originally appeared on 12.21.22

Asexuality is often misunderstood. In general, it's believed to be the absence of any romantic interest, but asexual identity actually means that a person is not sexually attracted to anyone. Romantic feelings and the strength of those feelings can vary from person to person. Currently, about 1% of adults have no interest in sex, though some experts believe that number could be higher. For a long time, information on asexuality was limited, but researchers recently have found information that gives us more knowledge about asexuality. Being asexual can be tough, though — just ask the artists from Empathize This.To demonstrate, they put together a comic on asexuality, defining it as a sexual orientation, not a dysfunction:This article originally appeared on 5.16.16

Joey Grundl, a pizza delivery driver for a Domino's Pizza in Waldo, Wisconsin, is being hailed as a hero for noticing a kidnapped woman's subtle cry for help.The delivery man was sent to a woman's house to deliver a pie when her ex-boyfriend, Dean Hoffman, opened the door. Grundl looked over his shoulder and saw a middle-aged woman with a black eye standing behind Hoffman. She appeared to be mouthing the words: "Call the police.""I gave him his pizza and then I noticed behind him was his girlfriend," Grundl told WITI Milwaukee. "She pointed to a black eye that was quite visible. She mouthed the words, 'Call the police.'"When Grundl got back to his delivery car, he called the police. When the police arrived at the home, Hoffmann tried to block the door, but eventually let the police into the woman's home.After seeing the battered woman, Hoffmann was arrested and she was taken to the hospital for her wounds.Earlier in the day, Hoffman arrived at the house without her permission and tried to convince her to get back into a relationship with him. He then punched her in the face and hog tied her with a vacuum power cord."If you love me, you will let me go," she pleaded, but he reportedly replied, "You know I can't do that." He also threatened to shoot both of them with a .22 caliber firearm he kept in his car. The woman later told authorities that she feared for her life.An alert pizza delivery driver helped save a woman from her abusive ex-boyfriend, police say. A 55-year-old Grafton man now faces several counts of domestic ...A day later, Grundl was seen on TV wearing a hoodie from Taylor Swift's "Reputation Tour" and her fans quickly jumped into action, tagging Swift in photos of the hero. Grundl already had tickets to go to an upcoming Swift concert in Arlington, Wisconsin, but when Swift learned of the story, she arranged to meet Grundl backstage."She … she knew who I was," Grundl jokingly tweeted after the concert. "I'm thoroughly convinced Taylor gave me a cold.""This has been one of the most exciting weeks of my life," Grundl said. "I'm legitimately getting emotional and I almost never get like this. But as the likely most memorable week of my entire life comes to an end … I guess I can really say … I'm doing better than I ever was." See on Instagram This story originally appeared on 10.4.18

For those in the military, sleep can mean the difference between life and death. But shut-eye can be very hard to come by, especially during active conflict.According to Sharon Ackman, the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School developed a scientific method to help its pilots fall asleep. Through this technique, 96% of the pilots were able to fall asleep in two minutes or less.If pilots could fall asleep during war, you should be able to use it to knock out in the comfort of your bedroom.Here's how to do it:Step 1: Relax in your seatGiven the space restraints of a typical plane, the pilots were taught to sleep in a seated position. They put their feet flat on the ground, while relaxing their hands in their laps.Breathe slow, deep breaths while relaxing every muscle in your face and letting your forehead, cheeks, mouth, tongue, and jaw go limp.Step 2: Relax your upper bodyLet your shoulders drop as low as you can. Allow the muscles in your neck go lifeless.Starting with your dominant side, let your bicep feel like it's falling off your body. Then move to your forearm, hand, and fingers. If a muscle isn't relaxing, tense it first, then let it go loose.Slowly exhale your tension.Step 3: Relax your lower bodyTell your right thigh muscle to sink, then move down your leg, saying the same thing to your calf, ankle, and foot. Your leg should feel like it has sunk into the ground. Then move on to your left leg.The final step is to clear your mind for ten seconds. You can do this by paying attention to your breath as it moves through your nostrils or holding a static image in your mind.Once your body is relaxed and your mind quiet, you should slip away into darkness.For more information on this sleep technique, check out Ackman's Medium blog.This article originally appeared on 04.11.19

Life is full of transitions, but few are as challenging to navigate as menopause. This process can cause uncomfortable physical and psychological symptoms such as hot flashes, painful intercourse, and severe vaginal dryness. Thankfully, there are ways to relieve menopausal symptoms. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), dietary supplements, and lifestyle changes can help reduce hot flashes, relieve vaginal dryness, and mitigate other menopausal symptoms, allowing you to comfortably transition into the next chapter of your life.What Is Menopause?Menopause is a natural process that marks the end of a person’s monthly menstrual periods. This is caused by the loss of ovarian follicular function and reduced production of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), and testosterone. Doctors typically diagnose menopause if menstruation hasn’t occurred for at least one year. Hormonal birth control—including birth control pills and hormonal intrauterine devices—causes menstrual cycle changes and can mask symptoms of menopause, making it difficult to detect the start of perimenopause—the period before menopause during which the ovaries produce estrogen at a slower rate.Who Experiences Menopause?Menopause affects people with uteruses who are typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Some people experience menopause before the age of 40, which is often referred to as early menopause. Research indicates smoking is one possible cause of premature menopause. Anything that damages the ovaries or stops the body from producing estrogen (like hysterectomy, ovary removal, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy) will cause symptoms of menopause.How Long Does Menopause Last?The duration of perimenopause and menopause varies between individuals. Perimenopause can last between two and eight years.While most people experience menopausal symptoms for less than 5 years, they can last between 7 and 11 years for some. Genetics and lifestyle factors can influence the length of menopause.Menopause SymptomsMenopause symptoms usually start during perimenopause and can impact day-to-day life. Here are some typical symptoms of menopause:Menstrual ChangesDuring perimenopause, changes in the frequency and duration of menstrual periods are common. Additionally, some may experience spotting between periods.Hot Flashes and Night SweatsVasomotor symptoms of menopause (VMS), such as hot flashes and night sweats, are also common. Hot flashes are a sudden feeling of heat in the upper body. Red blotches and profuse sweating can occur during hot flashes, and you may experience chills afterward. Low estrogen levels also cause nighttime hot flashes, known as night sweats, which often disrupt sleep.You can relieve hot flashes by drinking ice-cold water, removing a layer of clothing, and using a fan when you feel a flash coming on.You can also treat hot flashes by identifying and avoiding triggers such as stress and spicy foods. Medical treatment can help manage severe hot flashes.Vaginal DrynessLow estrogen levels during menopause can cause vaginal dryness, resulting in discomfort, itching, and burning. Vaginal dryness can also cause small tears in thinner vaginal tissues, causing pain during sex.You can treat vaginal dryness with an over-the-counter vaginal moisturizer. Estrogen therapy in the form of low-dose vaginal preparations is also an effective treatment for many. Additionally, using a water-based lubricant can help prevent pain during intercourse. If you prefer natural remedies over vaginal moisturizers, low-dose vaginal products, and other medicines, then herbal supplements—like sea buckthorn oil—and vitamins D and E may be helpful. Mood ChangesMood swings can make you feel irritable one minute and teary the next. Getting enough sleep, staying active, and reducing stress can help mitigate mood changes and enhance your overall well-being.Depression and AnxietyMenopausal symptoms and hormonal changes can cause depression and anxiety. Adequate sleep, a healthy diet, and regular physical activity can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Talk with your healthcare provider if you experience severe depression during menopause, as this may require therapy, medication, or both.Urinary Incontinence Decreased estrogen levels can weaken the pelvic floor muscles and urethra, making it hard to hold in urine long enough to get to a bathroom; this is known as urinary urge incontinence. Some individuals also experience urinary stress incontinence, whereby sneezing, laughing, or coughing can cause a leak of urine.Physical therapy, maintaining a healthy weight, and doing Kegel exercises can help with these urinary symptoms. Products like incontinence pads, pessaries, and urethra caps can help contain urine leaks.Brain FogProblems with focus and memory affect about two-thirds of menopausal individuals. Simple practices—like getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, staying socially active, and engaging in mentally challenging activities—can reduce brain fog.How To Treat Menopause SymptomsMenopause treatment options—such as menopausal hormone therapy and vaginal estrogen—can help relieve hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and other symptoms associated with menopause.Hormone Replacement TherapyHormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or estrogen therapy, can alleviate hot flashes, painful intercourse, and other menopause symptoms by using bioidentical hormones to replenish estrogen levels.Progesterone hormone therapy may also be needed to protect the womb lining from the effects of estrogen hormone therapy. Taking progesterone and estrogen together is known as combined hormone therapy.Different menopausal hormone therapy mediums include:Skin patchesTabletsImplantsTopical gels and sprays.If you have a low sex drive that persists after systemic hormone therapy, your healthcare provider may recommend testosterone.Benefits of Menopausal Hormone TherapyWhile the effects of hormone therapy vary depending on individual factors, hormone replacement therapy is considered one of the most effective ways to treat menopausal symptoms and reduce the risk of conditions associated with menopause including osteoporosis, liver disease, uterine cancer, and heart disease.Health Risks of Hormone TherapyMenopausal hormone therapy is considered safe for most women, but that doesn't mean it’s without possible health risks—especially for those with pre-existing conditions or a family history of blood clots, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Menopausal hormone therapy may not be safe for some and should be discussed with your healthcare provider if you have a family or personal medical history of any of the following:Blood clotsStrokeHeart disease Heart disease risk factors (e.g., high cholesterol and high blood pressure)Breast cancerGallbladder diseaseThose undergoing menopausal hormone therapy may experience side effects including:NauseaBreast tendernessHeadachesHair lossBone lossDiarrheaLeg crampsDepressionAcneVaginal bleeding or spottingIncreased risk of blood clots and breast cancerNon-Hormone Menopause TreatmentAlternative therapies like non-hormone treatments can help ease the symptoms of menopause if you decide against hormone therapy. Antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can help manage depression and anxiety resulting from menopause. Clonidine, a blood pressure medicine, and gabapentin, an epilepsy medication are known to help with the vasomotor symptoms of menopause. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help with anxiety and low mood resulting from menopause.Lifestyle ChangesOn their own or in combination with hormone therapy, these lifestyle changes can make a huge difference in managing symptoms of menopause. Stop smokingReduce alcohol and caffeine consumptionEat a balanced dietExercise regularlyEngage in enjoyable activities to boost your moodMaintain a healthy weightSeek support from loved onesComplications From MenopauseDecreased estrogen levels can result in long-term complications from menopause.OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is characterized by bone loss and decreased bone density, which is caused by a lack of estrogen. Hormone therapy may help protect against menopausal bone loss. For those who can’t undergo hormone therapy, other approaches to decrease osteoporosis risk are encouraged (e.g., staying active, taking calcium supplements, and quitting smoking).Antiresorptive medications—like bisphosphonates—reduce the breakdown and absorption of bone tissue and can be used to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal individuals.Cardiovascular DiseaseThe decline in estrogen during menopause increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The rates of coronary heart disease are three times higher in menopausal women. To mitigate this risk, those experiencing menopause are advised to maintain a healthy and balanced diet and exercise regularly.ConclusionA decrease in estrogen levels during menopause can result in a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional changes in the body. Hot flashes, vaginal discomfort, mood swings, incontinence, and other symptoms can significantly impact daily life. However, there are ways to manage menopause symptoms. Hormone therapy has proved successful in treating symptoms by replenishing estrogen and progesterone levels. For those who are unable to receive hormone therapy for any reason, lifestyle changes, non-hormone treatments, dietary supplements, and other treatments can help alleviate symptoms. Discuss potential therapy and treatment plans with your healthcare provider so you can sail through menopause smoothly.

The world of pain management is changing quickly, and it's largely thanks to the benefits CBD cream offers. CBD cream is formulated with hemp oil and is applied topically to penetrate the skin and ease pain and swelling caused by arthritis, orthopedic injuries, or muscle overuse. Whether you're trying to avoid prescription pain relievers or are looking for a more natural and effective topical pain product, CBD creams are well worth considering.What Is CBD?CBD is one of many cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant and hemp plant. Unlike THC, it’s non-psychoactive and won’t make you feel high. CBD has a long list of potential benefits, including relaxation and sleep support.This compound is used to make various hemp products, including gummies, drinks, and CBD oil. CBD cream is the unsung hero of hemp products, and it can help to alleviate pain and inflammation. Unlike oral CBD oil, which provides general pain relief, CBD cream is applied topically and delivers targeted relief where it’s needed most. CBD oil, cream, and other infused products are federally legal if they’re derived from hemp containing less than 0.3% THC based on dry weight. Topical cannabis cream doesn’t enter the bloodstream, so even if a product is made with full-spectrum hemp extract and contains traces of THC, it won’t cause you to fail a drug test. Many customers use topical CBD daily and applaud its effectiveness, saying it relieves discomfort and swelling.Potential Benefits of CBD Creams and LotionsHere's a closer look at the key health benefits people often experience with hemp topicals.Pain ReliefCBD topicals may relieve both chronic and acute pain. People with arthritis often apply CBD cream to their joints, with many users claiming noticeable relief and improved mobility within minutes of application.Athletes use topical CBD products to relieve muscle pain after difficult workouts. CBD can also aid in recovery, allowing athletes to train harder and longer with shorter recovery periods in between.If you have an acute injury, such as a sprained ankle or stress fracture, applying CBD cream to the affected area may provide relief. People who prefer to avoid prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers often find topical CBD to be an effective, natural, non-addictive alternative.Reduced InflammationHemp cream not only relieves pain but also reduces swelling. Pain and swelling often go hand-in-hand, especially with chronic conditions like arthritis. By alleviating inflammation, topical CBD could further ease pain and enhance mobility.CBD's anti-inflammatory properties make it a good remedy for migraines and headaches, which often have an inflammatory component. Applying hemp cream to the forehead and neck can lessen inflammation, reducing nerve pressure and minimizing the severity and frequency of headaches and migraines.Softer, Healthier SkinMost CBD creams are formulated to be gentle and suitable for sensitive skin. They contain ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, and essential fatty acids with moisturizing and anti-aging properties. As such, you may notice an improvement in skin health after using a CBD topical like cream or CBD oil lotion. Some brands even make specialized CBD creams to help manage rosacea and other skin conditions.Stress ReliefPhysical discomfort can lead to stress, and high stress levels can further exacerbate pain. CBD cream works to soothe both pain and stress simultaneously.CBD topicals made with full-spectrum hemp extract typically contain additional active hemp compounds. These compounds—including terpenes, THC, and minor cannabinoids like CBN and CBG—work in conjunction with CBD to assist with stress relief. So, if you're seeking to manage both pain and stress, be sure to look for CBD cream made with full-spectrum hemp extract.Better SleepMany people take CBD oil before bedtime for sleep support, but CBD topicals can also promote relaxation and make it easier to fall asleep. They’re especially helpful if your discomfort frequently keeps you awake. Just apply some CBD oil lotion, and before long, you'll feel mentally and physically relaxed enough to drift off into dreamland.Again, if your goal is better sleep, a CBD product made with full-spectrum hemp extract is the best choice. The extra terpenes and cannabinoids in full-spectrum hemp extract enhance the sleep-inducing effects of CBD topicals. Furthermore, lavender oil can help promote relaxation, so look for creams made with this ingredient.How CBD Works for Pain ManagementResearch on how CBD relieves aches, soreness, and discomfort is ongoing. According to existing evidence, CBD interacts with your body's endocannabinoid system. It binds with CB1 and CB2 receptors, triggering the release of various neurotransmitters associated with pain relief.CBD also has anti-inflammatory properties. By reducing swelling in the body, it can alleviate pain. For instance, if inflamed tissues press on a nerve, taking cannabis oil or using topical CBD can reduce the inflammation, resulting in less pressure on the nerve.Finally, CBD seems to relieve pain by managing the stress that typically accompanies physical discomfort. This effect is especially pronounced in patients with conditions like fibromyalgia, who sometimes get stuck in a loop where their pain exacerbates their stress, and their stress worsens their pain.How To Use CBD Creams and LotionsUsing CBD cream, CBD lotion, or topical CBD oil is simple. Here are a few tips to help you use these topical products most effectively:Who Should Use CBD Topicals? If you struggle with chronic discomfort, inflammation, or achy joints resulting from arthritis, injury, or muscle overuse, using topical CBD daily can provide relief. If you have sensitive skin, make sure the cream you purchase is suitable for you and made with gentle ingredients. Aim for products free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial colors, and other potential irritants and formulated with all-natural ingredients like pure CBD oil from the cannabis plant.More research is needed on the safety of using cannabis cream while pregnant or breastfeeding. That said, many health experts currently recommend erring on the side of caution and avoiding all products containing hemp extract—including CBD oil and cream—while pregnant or nursing. PotencyCheck the product’s potency and usage recommendations. Some CBD oil creams are stronger than others, so it's important to follow the directions on the product label. Most topical products include detailed information on how to use them.IngredientsChoose CBD cream with moisturizing ingredients, like aloe vera and shea butter, to keep your skin from becoming dry.If you have sensitive skin, look for CBD products free from synthetic fragrances and artificial colors to reduce the risk of skin irritation. Those with natural fragrances like lemongrass or lavender oil tend to be better tolerated. Many CBD skin cream products contain peppermint oil or menthol extract for a cooling sensation and additional alleviation of discomfort. Lastly, some manufacturers cut corners and use inferior ingredients—like parabens and fillers—in their products, so purchasing your cream from a reputable supplier is crucial. Look for options made with pure hemp extract or hemp seed oil and other natural ingredients. Ideally, the product should be third-party lab-tested with the results available on the company’s website. This type of transparency is a good sign that a brand is trustworthy. ApplicationApply CBD cream topically to clean, dry skin. Don’t apply it over makeup or to sweaty skin, as this can lessen absorption. Rub the cream into your skin to ensure it absorbs fully. Wait about 10 minutes before covering the area with clothing. Check the label on your CBD lotion for instructions and application tips. Potential Side Effects of CBD TopicalsIt’s rare for users to experience adverse effects when using topical CBD oil or cream. However, the following side effects may occur: Skin IrritationSkin irritation is the most common side effect of topical hemp cream and CBD oil lotion. The CBD doesn’t necessarily cause this; it can be a reaction to other ingredients in the cream, such as synthetic fragrances or cetyl alcohol. If you experience skin irritation, try switching to a different formula or contact your doctor for guidance. Dry SkinSome users experience skin dryness after using CBD topicals. You can avoid this by choosing a topical CBD oil, lotion, or cream with moisturizing ingredients like cocoa butter or aloe vera.Drug Interactions CBD can interact with or reduce the efficacy of certain medications, including anticoagulants, seizure medications, and some antidepressants. If you’re taking medications or supplements, check with your doctor before using hemp cream or any hemp-infused products. ConclusionCBD topical creams are a great choice if you're looking for a natural way to manage physical discomfort. These CBD products are transforming the world of pain relief as more customers discover their benefits. They come in a wide range of formulas, many of which are cruelty-free. From roll-ons to lotions, there’s a CBD topical out there for everyone!

Some songs make people emotional. It may be because the song has special meaning for them or because the musical arrangement is so beautiful that it activates something within causing tears to flow. Babies are not immune to being moved by music but typically they don't request the song that brings them to tears. Jillian James posted a video to social media that shows her toddler son laying on her chest seemingly preparing for nap time. The little guys requests that his mom sing the lullaby, "You Are My Sunshine" but before obliging the request, James asks multiple times if he's sure. Apparently, the sweet song makes the toddler cry every time he hears it. Nevertheless, he persists with his request to hear "sunshine."James knows what the result will be and checks one last time to see if the little boy is sure he understands what will happen, "you already look like you're about to cry. Buddy, I don't want to sing it if you're going to cry."The additional warnings did not deter the persistent toddler. He assures his mom he's not going to cry but she has a sneaking suspicion that he won't hold up against the melody of the song and sure enough, waterworks before the first line is finished. Not just a little tear filled eyes, but full on crying and commenters don't disagree with his tears. @jillianjames31 Every single night he asks me to sing “sunshine” but this is also his reaction when I sing it to him… idk what triggers this response but it equally breaks my heart and makes me laugh at the same time ? #youaremysunshine #sunshine #son #toddler #mama #momlife ♬ original sound - Jillian James "you are my sunshine will always emotionally devastate me," someone admits."To be fair, You Are My Sunshine makes me cry too," another writes."Sometimes it feels good to listen to your favorite song and have yourself a good cry," one person shares."He wants you to sing sunshine for the same reason I like to watch military homecoming videos I guess. Same reaction," a commenter says.Many people were not expecting the level of crying that escaped from the little boy and suddenly understood why his mom didn't want to sing it. Maybe when he's older he will understand why he listens to music that makes him cry, though sometimes it's just a matter of needing an emotional release with no larger reason outside of that. Poor little guy, sometimes we all just need a cry.

Have you ever noticed that the majority of people in certain jobs seem to be a bit nicer that most other people? More solid? More honest? A little more high-level humans overall? While there's a wide range of personal diversity in every profession, there are some careers that seem to either attract or produce exceptional people. Exceptions to the exceptional exist, of course, but there are some jobs that people are calling out—with many people in agreement—as having the "coolest, most honest, most together people."Park RangersPeople who care about nature, protect our public lands and help educate the public about good stewardship? Not surprising that Reddit users would call those folks solid human beings."Park rangers are some of the coolest, most genuine people you'll meet. They care deeply about nature, are always willing to help visitors, and have fascinating stories about the wildlife and landscapes they protect." – Sexy-Ass18"Seconded. First thing I ever wanted to be was a park ranger, because the ones I knew were just the coolest." – belligerentoptimist"Can confirm all of this. One of my best friends from high school is a LEO ranger and actually now in a fairly major role at Yellowstone. She is seriously the coolest individual, absolutely one of the best humans ever. She went to school for wildlife education or something like that, but has gone to FLETC training and basically ran the internal prison at Yellowstone for a while. She is one of the most badass people I know. She told me once that they have millions of visitors per year. All of those visitors bring all of their problems (domestic abuse, drugs, alcoholism, theft, etc) to the parks with them, so.... the park had a prison for holding people until they could be turned over to other law enforcement. They also had particular people who would deal with visitors who died in the park, including liaising with families, helping arrange to get remains returned home, etc. And that happened regularly. Apparently national parks are a major suicide destination, which is incredibly hard on the rangers who have to deal with it. She told me stories about deaths at the Grand Canyon when she was there.... It was exactly as bad as you imagine it would be to deal with suicides at the Grand Canyon. They do not leave them there, so.... Yeah. And people have to clean it up. It's absolutely insane all that goes on in the major parks that nobody thinks about." – SpectrumDiva"One of my college friends is a park ranger. He's just the coolest guy. Always feel lucky when we get to hang out, get our kids all mixed up.That being said, he's raising fearless heathens. One picked up a snake and was like "it's ok, we have the antidote in the truck." while waving it at my poor, defenseless city kids. They just ran away haha. Park ranger friend made his kid put the snake back and gave him an earful about not harassing wildlife and city people." – ButtWhisperererLibrariansLots of love for librarians out there. "Honestly, from my anecdotal experience...librarians. Smart, consistently know how to deal with the greater public, great resources of knowledge, and live for the truth." – SirVeritas79"I have always loved the way they talk to me when I have a question. I never feel stupid or bad for asking. They really are a 'people person.'" – SillyGayBoy"YES! Agree! My wife and I have a couple of friends who are librarians and they are probably some of the smartest, most patient and kind people we know. And none of them are 280 years old, which used to be the stereotype I had of librarians because that was all I ever saw growing up. One of those friends is married to a childhood buddy of mine - they are both in their late 40s - been together since their 20s. When they first met I was shocked that someone so young was a librarian lol but also thought it was awesome. I’ve told them both many times that they can’t ever get divorced because we are keeping both of them ha ha"Seriously though librarians are community treasures and a way underrated profession. ?" – Intrepid_Detective"I worked at as a children's librarian assistant for 3 years. It was awesome. People there were so chill, easy to get along with. Best office environment ever. Good stable government job, no need to constantly apply for grants or hustle. And knowledge all around." – kathmhughes"As a librarian, I've often remarked that the best part of the profession is other librarians." – thatbobBass Players"Bass players in a jazz band...best job in the world I might add." – myobservationonly"Bass players in general honestly. Which is a tough thing to admit as a guitarist." – tintedwithrose"As a pianist who usually plays right next to them...agreed. Bassists are my homies." – Casul_Tryhard"As a drummer I totally agree. My bass player is probably the most talented member of our band, but he'd rather put everyone else in the spotlight. Also, even though he's super frugal he will gladly pay for dinner and drinks and buy us tickets to shows. He's a great guy and I'm really proud to say he's my friend." – Childish_Calrissian"Most of the bassists I've met are kind, selfless people. I think there's something about the role of the instrument itself that attracts the kind of people who enjoy holding it all together without needing the attention and adulation that comes with it.Of course, being a bassist myself, this could be complete bias lol." – the_alt_fright"Singer here. It’s true. Every bass player I’ve played with is an exceptional human. My wife is one and she’s my rock. The bassist I played with on Saturday has his own non-profit for homeless outreach. My main bass player makes incredible falafel wraps when we carpool, with sourdough pita from scratch." – cha-doToll Booth Operators (but only in certain places, apparently)Oddly enough, some toll booth operators in certain countries and specific places in the U.S. got a shout-out for being utterly delightful."In Japan, for some inexplicable reason, tollbooth operators. Everytime I take the freeway, those people are the friendliest, cheeriest, just overall nice people I meet in a month. Zero clue why." – festoon_the_dragoon"It's actually the same here in Ireland. Always wondered why but they are super friendly every time you go through." – 5Ben5"The toll booth operators on the Mackinaw Bridge are all super nice." – HalfaYooper"I’ve actually had pretty positive experiences for the most part while using tolls in the northeast US! Pretty shockingly friendly people. To the point where my partner and I were like, 'how do you think they stay so cheery while literally sitting in the middle of a highway for hours on end?'" – Outandabout2023"A few weeks ago I was driving to Topeka, KS and the toll booth operator was so friendly and asked me if I was doing anything fun in Topeka while I was there. I told her I was just picking up a movie from Vintage Stock but she was so friendly and the best part of my mini road trip from KC. I’ve actually never had an unfriendly Kansas toll booth experience." – i_n_c_r_y_p_t_oGeologists"Every geologist I ever met has been a pretty interesting, humble and enjoyable person to be around. Somebody who works in the field will probably reply back and disagree, lol." – LittleKitty235"My father was a geologist, in the 70s he quit working for (major US oilco) because they wanted him to falsify data. So, yeah, they're honest. My dad told me once that it was one of the most romantic of the sciences...it wasn't the study of rocks but of how planets are formed, and therefore life. I so miss him." – WorldBiker"Came here to say Geologist and surprised to see it near the top. We are awesome haha!" – Latchkey_WizzardThese responses also prompted a flood of geologist puns, which pretty much rocked:"They probably had a good foundation growing up.""Agreed. Very down to earth and grounded in reality.""I think they just don't try to find faults in people.""They're good at digging beneath the crust of a person and seeing what's on the inside.'"Generally speaking, rock solid people.""They focus on having good mantle health.""At their core, they accept the fluid nature of existence.""They’re really gneiss, and don’t take friendship for granite.""They’re truly sedimental people.""There has to be one or two who are full of schist though, right?""I bet they dig these comments!"Local Beat Newspaper Reporters"Print reporters who’ve covered the same community their whole lives are pretty amazing people. People like to glom together all media, but reporters with a civic drive are some of the most curious and honest people I’ve ever spent time around. If you want people who really want to get to the bottom of a story and operate from facts/evidence, these are people to pay attention to. We owe a lot of what we actually know for sure in society to the labor local reporters." – SenorSplashdamage"Very true, but they're all nearing extinction. The ones I know are just struggling to make it to retirement.I've been a media guy for nearly four decades. Print reporters are good people." – Lincoln_Park_Pirate"My uncle was a reporter in the Twin Cities his entire career. He wrote for the paper and local magazine. Extremely interesting guy who has a story about everything and seems to know the history of every patch of land and building in the area." – evilhomer3k"I live in a small-ish town (about 15,000 residents). For years, we had a local paper, but it eventually went under as it was not profitable as the world moved more toward internet news. So, for a few years, we had nothing. Then, a guy who didn't even live in the town (but it was where he grew up) started an "online newspaper" and covered everything that went on (good and bad) pretty much as a labor of love and in addition to his job as a reporter at one of the much larger local papers. He makes a little bit of money from banner ads and sponsored ads, but that pretty much only covers his costs. However, he spends his time covering things in town, interviewing people, going to meetings, writing obituaries, etc. Plus, of late, he has taken some high school and college students under his wing and sent them out to report on some things in town. He is not obligated to do ANY of it - he's not profiting from it in any way, it is of no advantage to him, but he does it anyway... That speaks volumes about his character to me." – Madeline73The human family is full of all kinds of people with a virtually endless array of personalities, characteristics, qualities and interests. But some simply stand out for their awesomeness and congregate in certain jobs, so here's to the park rangers, librarians, bass players and others who have earned a reputation for being solid human beings we can all appreciate.

Have working conditions really gotten better? On the one hand, with more work-from-home opportunities, more allowances regarding parental leave, more awareness around the importance of taking days off for mental health reasons, and more businesses adopting four day work weeks…you'd think yes, definitely, things are getting better! And yet, it definitely can feel like a one step forward, two steps back situation a lot of the time. Many people still woefully lament unlivable wages, having to take on extra work just to make ends meet, and somehow having most of their lives revolve around working. In many ways, all the progress we’ve made toward productivity hasn’t made the common person any freer. Rather, it only moved the goalpost further. Which, needless to say, is exhausting. It’s this phenomenon that inspired a “cheeky country music duo” named The Doohickeys to make a modern day revamp of everybody's favorite twangy anti-work anthem: “9 to 5.” The tune was made famous by Dolly Parton whose character in a movie by the same title bemoaned the common working man/woman’s curse of toiling day in, day out just to essentially be a cog in the corporate greed machine. Serious subject matter…but a very catchy song! The Doohickeys’ parody cover shows that things have changed a bit…the most notable change of all being that, as the new title suggests, “9 to 5” is out, and “9 to 6” is in. “Like everyone, we love Dolly’s song ‘9 to 5,’ but we realized that neither of us have ever actually worked those hours — 9 to 6 would be more accurate…Turns out that additional hour struck a chord with viewers ‘cause people started sharing their insane work schedules in the comments, and boy, some of those hours suck!” Doohickey vocalist Haley Brown told Upworthy. In this version, our singing hero still stumbles outta bed and tumbles to the kitchen. But instead of pouring herself a cup of ambition, she “checks her phone while she eats to see what she’s missin.’” There’s no time to yawn and stretch, or even take a shower, you see. This working gal has to rush out the door because “there aint no time when your job is 9 to 6.” Take a listen below. Holy cow, did Brown really nailed Parton’s signature airy twang. See on Instagram That’s Part 1. In Part 2, The Doohickeys hilariously sing about the foibles of racking up student debt in college. Surely nothing any Gen Xers and Millennials can relate to. Plus, again, the need to work an additional job…which is 8 to 1. See on Instagram All in all, the Doohickeys seemingly did the impossible by making their own unique version of a beloved, almost untouchable classic song, while still holding onto the original’s essence. It’s unfortunate that we still are having these issues, to be sure. But that’s another conversation. And while we might not see sweeping improvements to the workplace quite as fast, the Doohickeys did immediately fulfill the people’s request to make a full version of the song, which you can listen to on Spotify.But wait, there’s even more awesome ditties where that came from. Follow the Doohickeys on Instagram here.

The sun shining through the darkness. The post The album that got Jeff Beck through dark times: “A great support for me” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.