A Canadian hiker is on Vancouver Island with his father when he discovers a curious huge fresh footprint that seems to suggest that it was not human. Could it be a Sasquatch?The following account was forwarded to me:"I was hiking with my Dad in late September 2018 on the West Coast of Vancouver Island‚ which is usually when bears are fattening up for hibernation and most likely to be aggressive. Since we were a couple days walk from either trailhead (and medical attention) we were on high alert. It had rained constantly and we had only seen a single other hiker the whole time‚ he was traveling in the opposite direction as we were (he was heading North we were Southbound) and we had camped beside him 2 nights prior. So for the whole trip‚ the only tracks that we saw that looked remotely fresh were a single set of hiking boots coming left by a pleasant and solitary German tourist and we only saw them in places with extensive overhead cover. All other tracks were washed out and filled with rain water due to the days and days of constant rain that was doing the best it could to fuck up our vacation and make our packs even heavier.We were approaching a blackberry patch between ridges that hugged a small creek and smelled what we thought was a particularly stinky bear. Since the blackberries were on both sides of the trail with only about 3 metres between them‚ we had our heads on a swivel. There were no overhanging trees as this particular berry patch was dozens of metres across and two or more metres high. My Dad told me to hurry through as quick as we could and made a comment about how smart it was that we were wearing bear bells and how dangerous it is to startle a feeding bear. He was a couple metres ahead of me when I looked down and saw a footprint.It looked like a bare human footprint‚ except that it was two inches wider and at least two inches longer than mine‚ and I have size 14 feet. It also had dermal ridges and only had a couple rain drops in it. So whatever made it had stepped there literally moments before. The scariest thing about it was that there were no other prints‚ so whatever had made that track had stepped out of the eastern side of the berry patch across the trail (3-metres) and into the western patch in a single step. I was so startled. I looked around as much as I could before my Dad told me to‚ "hurry up." That was the only track there that wasn't now a small puddle‚ so before you discount it as a double-stepping bear paw print (where a bear's back paw steps into the print of its front paw) there is no way a black bear could have crossed that 3-metre distance without leaving more prints. Say what you want about bears‚ they are not at all graceful. There are also no Grizzlies on the Island‚ and a cougar wouldn't have left a print that looked anything like that‚ even if it stepped in its own track.It also couldn't have been a hoax because a person couldn't just stand in the berry patch with a pole with a footprint on it as they would be "interacting" with bears on a dangerously consistent basis. Also‚ why would someone sit in a berry patch in the relentless West Coast rain in the hopes of pranking people who might not pass by for days? It doesn't really make sense to go to that much effort‚ risk that much danger‚ and basically swim in a lacerating blackberry bush for multiple days.I didn't believe in Sasquatch before that‚ but now I don't know what to believe. I was a service plumber for years and that smell is still in my top five worst smells of all time. And I will never forget the image of the raindrops hitting that fresh track‚ as I stared in disbelief." MSBigfoot: West Coast Wild Men: A History of Wild Men‚ Gorillas‚ and Other Hairy Monsters in California‚ Oregon‚ and Washington state.Raincoast Sasquatch: The Bigfoot / Sasquatch Records of Southeast Alaska‚ Coastal British Columbia &; Northwest Washington from Puget Sound to YakutatBigfoot (Behind the Legend)Weird Winged Wonders: The Twilight World Of Cryptid CreaturesCops' True Stories of the Paranormal: Ghosts‚ UFOs‚ and Other ShiversWeird Washington: Your Travel Guide to Washington's Local Legends and Best Kept SecretsRegister a SNAP EBT CardTry Audible PlusPHANTOMS &; MONSTERS READING LISTHave you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonAccess Phantoms &; Monsters Posts on Twitter 'X'-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS-----ORDER THE AUDIOBOOK VERSIONORDER THE AUDIOBOOK VERSIONProject Threshold: Finale-----TODAY'S TOP LINKSRumors Circulating That James Webb Has Discovered Life on Another WorldArctic zombie viruses in Siberia could spark terrifying new pandemic‚ scientists warnWEREWOLVES‚ PORTALS‚ &; CRAWLERS NEAR THE LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES - LIVE Chat - Lon Strickler (Host)LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS REPORTS &; CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE‚ LIKE &; SHARESalvatore Pais' Mysterious 'UFO Patents': What Do They Really Mean?Tourist Returns Stones To Pompeii Explaining "I Didn't Know About The Curse"PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS READING LISTCONSIDER ADVERTISING ON PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS RADIOLET'S DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONSClick the link for our Media KitCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistPHANTOMS &; MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on Spotify**********Your financial support of Phantoms &; Monsters and our other pursuits is much appreciated. Please click the banner above. Thanks.Have you had a sighting or encounter?Contact us by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonAlso available with audiobooknarration by Terry Springs‚CBS-TV Las Vegas affiliate.The Dark Arts of MISTER SAM SHEARON - Original Prints &; MerchandiseThis blog and newsletter are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work 3.0 United States License.Registered trademark PHANTOMS AND MONSTERS ® / PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS ® - USPTO #90902480 - Lon D. Strickler© 2005-2024 Phantoms &; Monsters - All Rights Reserved

A Louisiana woman remembers‚ as a child‚ observing a small horse-drawn wagon with a tiny driver along the side of a road. She didn't say anything about it at the time.The following account was forwarded to me by my friends Cam &; Kyle at Expanded Perspectives:"This story took place in Louisiana back in the 1940s from the backseat of a car while looking out the window. I was about eight years old‚ and I was sitting in the back seat of the car while looking out the window. My father was a doctor and whenever there was an automobile accident‚ he always stopped to render aid. This was in the 1940s. There were only two-lane highways‚ so collisions were fairly common.The car might have been stopped for that reason‚ at the time‚ or we were driving very slowly‚ but I looked out my window on the left side‚ and on the shoulder of the highway in the opposite lane‚ was a tiny horse-drawn wagon with a tiny driver. The horse was about eight inches from nose to tail as I looked down on it‚ and the driver was in proportion. The wagon was kind of a dingy red‚ farm-type wagon. At the time I did not think the sighting was miraculous or even odd‚ and I didn’t say anything to my parents‚ but all I remember is that I wanted to take the tiny beings home to play with.Although I remember it vividly‚ I gave it little thought for years‚ but in later life‚ I started reading about elementals‚ and fairy beings and realized I’d had an actual sighting. I have had no sightings since. They seemed unaware of me or anything but what they were doing‚ which was a fairy man driving a horse-drawn wagon‚ the wagon and horse about the size that could fit in an apple carton.If seen what did the fairy/fairies look like? I saw a tiny (eight-inch) horse-drawn wagon being driven by a tiny man. The wagon‚ horse‚ and man all looked like real living beings‚ in perfect proportion. The wagon was a dingy red‚ the horse brown but I don’t remember anything specific about the driver. I heard no sounds.It was on a highway in Louisiana‚ and no one talked about fairies. I don’t remember even having heard about fairies at the time. I was about eight years old. Why do you think your experience was a fairy experience‚ as opposed to a ghost or an alien or an angel or some other type of anomalous experience?I was a child‚ wide awake at the time‚ and I knew nothing about ghosts or aliens and little about angels. I now believe that [fairies] exist and are basically soul-like beings that vibrate at a range of frequencies that humans can’t see unless certain circumstances allow it. I never read fiction or non-fiction stories about fairy beings until many years later‚ when I was around thirty years old‚ and I started reading about ‘elementals and other fairy beings in a book entitled 'The Secret Teachings of all Ages' by Manly P. Hall. Since then‚ I have researched more. The memory of my fairy sighting is still vivid‚ after over seventy years." MBigfoot: West Coast Wild Men: A History of Wild Men‚ Gorillas‚ and Other Hairy Monsters in California‚ Oregon‚ and Washington state.Raincoast Sasquatch: The Bigfoot / Sasquatch Records of Southeast Alaska‚ Coastal British Columbia &; Northwest Washington from Puget Sound to YakutatBigfoot (Behind the Legend)Weird Winged Wonders: The Twilight World Of Cryptid CreaturesCops' True Stories of the Paranormal: Ghosts‚ UFOs‚ and Other ShiversWeird Washington: Your Travel Guide to Washington's Local Legends and Best Kept SecretsRegister a SNAP EBT CardTry Audible PlusPHANTOMS &; MONSTERS READING LISTHave you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonAccess Phantoms &; Monsters Posts on Twitter 'X'-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS-----ORDER THE AUDIOBOOK VERSIONORDER THE AUDIOBOOK VERSIONProject Threshold: Finale-----TODAY'S TOP LINKSRumors Circulating That James Webb Has Discovered Life on Another WorldArctic zombie viruses in Siberia could spark terrifying new pandemic‚ scientists warnWEREWOLVES‚ PORTALS‚ &; CRAWLERS NEAR THE LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES - LIVE Chat - Lon Strickler (Host)LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS REPORTS &; CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE‚ LIKE &; SHARESalvatore Pais' Mysterious 'UFO Patents': What Do They Really Mean?Tourist Returns Stones To Pompeii Explaining "I Didn't Know About The Curse"PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS READING LISTCONSIDER ADVERTISING ON PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS RADIOLET'S DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONSClick the link for our Media KitCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistPHANTOMS &; MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on Spotify**********Your financial support of Phantoms &; Monsters and our other pursuits is much appreciated. Please click the banner above. Thanks.Have you had a sighting or encounter?Contact us by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonAlso available with audiobooknarration by Terry Springs‚CBS-TV Las Vegas affiliate.The Dark Arts of MISTER SAM SHEARON - Original Prints &; MerchandiseThis blog and newsletter are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work 3.0 United States License.Registered trademark PHANTOMS AND MONSTERS ® / PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS ® - USPTO #90902480 - Lon D. Strickler© 2005-2024 Phantoms &; Monsters - All Rights Reserved

2 cousins are outside playing on a trampoline when they both observe a shimmering‚ transparent humanoid moving through the woods near the house. Was it a 'Glimmer Man?'I received the following account:"This happened about 15 years ago in central Arkansas. For those unfamiliar with the general layout‚ there is Little Rock‚ and then a lot of trees surrounding various cities outside of it. My cousin lived in a log house located in one of those areas‚ aka the middle of the woods. He was around 11 and I was around 13.We were alone at his house and jumping on his trampoline while talking and playing when I had this really weird feeling I was being watched. It wasn’t a completely uncommon feeling‚ but I always stopped what I was doing and looked around when it would happen.The first thing I noticed was my cousin’s face. He had stopped jumping and was blankly staring into the woods with his mouth open. I quickly looked in the same direction and saw an outline of something moving slowly through the woods. When I say outline‚ I mean it literally. It was invisible. Like a shimmer slowly moving through the trees with a very clear humanoid outline.I slowly nudged him to the edge of the trampoline without taking my eyes off it before we both jumped and took off to the house. We locked every door and window before talking about it. When I asked him what he saw‚ he said it looked like a person but he could see through them.We called his mom‚ and she had a police officer show up and scan the surrounding area thinking it was just a hunter in their woods or something. They didn’t find anybody and chalked it up to kids getting spooked by a noise in the woods. I still have no idea what that thing was‚ but we still talk about it after a few drinks." CBigfoot: West Coast Wild Men: A History of Wild Men‚ Gorillas‚ and Other Hairy Monsters in California‚ Oregon‚ and Washington state.Raincoast Sasquatch: The Bigfoot / Sasquatch Records of Southeast Alaska‚ Coastal British Columbia &; Northwest Washington from Puget Sound to YakutatBigfoot (Behind the Legend)Weird Winged Wonders: The Twilight World Of Cryptid CreaturesCops' True Stories of the Paranormal: Ghosts‚ UFOs‚ and Other ShiversWeird Washington: Your Travel Guide to Washington's Local Legends and Best Kept SecretsRegister a SNAP EBT CardTry Audible PlusPHANTOMS &; MONSTERS READING LISTHave you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonAccess Phantoms &; Monsters Posts on Twitter 'X'-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS-----ORDER THE AUDIOBOOK VERSIONORDER THE AUDIOBOOK VERSIONProject Threshold: Finale-----TODAY'S TOP LINKSRumors Circulating That James Webb Has Discovered Life on Another WorldArctic zombie viruses in Siberia could spark terrifying new pandemic‚ scientists warnWEREWOLVES‚ PORTALS‚ &; CRAWLERS NEAR THE LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES - LIVE Chat - Lon Strickler (Host)LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS REPORTS &; CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE‚ LIKE &; SHARESalvatore Pais' Mysterious 'UFO Patents': What Do They Really Mean?Tourist Returns Stones To Pompeii Explaining "I Didn't Know About The Curse"PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS READING LISTCONSIDER ADVERTISING ON PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS RADIOLET'S DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONSClick the link for our Media KitCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistPHANTOMS &; MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on Spotify**********Your financial support of Phantoms &; Monsters and our other pursuits is much appreciated. Please click the banner above. Thanks.Have you had a sighting or encounter?Contact us by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonAlso available with audiobooknarration by Terry Springs‚CBS-TV Las Vegas affiliate.The Dark Arts of MISTER SAM SHEARON - Original Prints &; MerchandiseThis blog and newsletter are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work 3.0 United States License.Registered trademark PHANTOMS AND MONSTERS ® / PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS ® - USPTO #90902480 - Lon D. Strickler© 2005-2024 Phantoms &; Monsters - All Rights Reserved

A Pennsylvania resident takes their dogs outside in the yard when they notice a deer. Trying to move the deer along the resident yells at it. The deer completely ignores him. It doesn't phase it.I received the following account:"I’m just looking for others who have had similar experiences. I live in West Central Pennsylvania (Butler County) on a dirt road in the middle of the woods‚ so I’m well accustomed to deer and their behavior.At the time of writing this‚ I’ve just come in from taking my two dogs out about 30 minutes ago and then taking time to compose myself to write this. As stated earlier‚ I live in the woods‚ so there are naturally a lot of predators that I don’t want to get my dogs‚ so I only take them outside to do their business or go for a walk on a leash for safety reasons.The whole time we were outside‚ the Chihuahua was barking‚ which isn’t unusual for him because he’s more prone to random outbursts of yapping. The Pomeranian usually only barks when we have guests or when he wants something; he never barks at deer or things outside when I take them out. I thought nothing of it and kept walking them around our yard like I usually do. However‚ as I was walking past the small patch of barren ground that used to be my dad’s garden‚ I spotted a deer. Again‚ I thought nothing of it and shouted “GET OUT” at it so it would go away and stop sending my Chihuahua into a barking fit. It didn’t budge at all. I got closer‚ and my Pomeranian started barking. I thought it was a little weird‚ but maybe he just had some pent-up energy or this specific deer smelled particularly interesting or tasty to him. I thought the dogs’ barking would run the deer off‚ but that didn’t work either. Again‚ I didn’t think it was anything out of the ordinary; maybe this doe was just really stupid and/or deaf. So I shouted again‚ “GO ON‚ GET!” Again‚ nothing.And that’s when I noticed it. Its neck looked kind of weird? I don’t know how to describe it. Its neck just looked really muscular and long‚ disproportionally so to the rest of its body. Now‚ I’m no stranger to cryptids and whatnot; I’m actually really into this kind of stuff‚ I just didn’t think there was any merit to most of it until now.So‚ with that little nagging feeling in the back of my head‚ I become more determined to chase this thing off‚ be it a cryptid or an exceptionally stupid‚ stubborn deer. I start stomping my feet‚ flailing my arms‚ and screaming and carrying on. Still‚ the deer had no reaction. Not even a little step back. It just raised its neck up at me and looked me right in the eyes. I felt a chill go down my spine. I’m sure all of you know that look I’m talking about‚ the one you always hear about 'Not Deer' having‚ that weird‚ eerie look of intelligence absent from normal deer‚ and that off-putting‚ impossible stillness.I stepped closer‚ and amped up my screams; I was screaming at the top of my lungs at that point‚ and I was honestly half hoping my mother would come out of the house and ask me what was I doing just so I wouldn’t be alone with this thing. It stepped back‚ but only enough to cover itself in the shadows just outside of the reach of the porch lights‚ so I couldn’t see its head and neck but could still see part of its body in the light. I had the light from my phone’s flashlight on the whole time‚ but the light from the porch lights had been shining enough that there wasn’t any glare in the deer’s eyes. But when it stepped into the shadows‚ its eyes reflected yellow. Now‚ to anyone unfamiliar with deer‚ that might seem perfectly normal‚ but anyone who knows how animal eyes work would know that’s not the color a deer’s eyes are supposed to reflect; they normally reflect a whitish color. I’m not actually certain about that fact‚ so I disregarded it at the moment.I was getting frustrated and desperate to get rid of it at this point‚ so I pulled up the YouTube app on my phone and searched for predator sounds in the hopes that would finally deter it. Unfortunately for me‚ my phone ran out of power before I could even hit play on the coyote sounds. The deer stared me down in the awkward silence for a few moments‚ then stood up on its hind legs and walked off into the woods like a badly coordinated marionette learning to walk in heels for the first time.My dogs both calmed down and after I made sure it was actually gone‚ I booked it inside. I told my mom immediately‚ and she just brushed it off.I still don’t know what to think of it‚ but I do know I’m not going outside after the sun sets ever again in case that thing comes back. I just can’t fully accept that it was a cryptid. Chronic wasting disease is a thing in my area‚ so maybe that could explain it? Maybe it really was deaf‚ or partially blind‚ or something‚ and that’s why it didn’t react to me?" SBigfoot: West Coast Wild Men: A History of Wild Men‚ Gorillas‚ and Other Hairy Monsters in California‚ Oregon‚ and Washington state.Raincoast Sasquatch: The Bigfoot / Sasquatch Records of Southeast Alaska‚ Coastal British Columbia &; Northwest Washington from Puget Sound to YakutatBigfoot (Behind the Legend)Weird Winged Wonders: The Twilight World Of Cryptid CreaturesCops' True Stories of the Paranormal: Ghosts‚ UFOs‚ and Other ShiversWeird Washington: Your Travel Guide to Washington's Local Legends and Best Kept SecretsRegister a SNAP EBT CardTry Audible PlusPHANTOMS &; MONSTERS READING LISTHave you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonAccess Phantoms &; Monsters Posts on Twitter 'X'-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS-----ORDER THE AUDIOBOOK VERSIONORDER THE AUDIOBOOK VERSIONProject Threshold: Finale-----TODAY'S TOP LINKSRumors Circulating That James Webb Has Discovered Life on Another WorldArctic zombie viruses in Siberia could spark terrifying new pandemic‚ scientists warnWEREWOLVES‚ PORTALS‚ &; CRAWLERS NEAR THE LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES - LIVE Chat - Lon Strickler (Host)LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS REPORTS &; CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE‚ LIKE &; SHARESalvatore Pais' Mysterious 'UFO Patents': What Do They Really Mean?Tourist Returns Stones To Pompeii Explaining "I Didn't Know About The Curse"PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS READING LISTCONSIDER ADVERTISING ON PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS RADIOLET'S DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONSClick the link for our Media KitCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistPHANTOMS &; MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on Spotify**********Your financial support of Phantoms &; Monsters and our other pursuits is much appreciated. Please click the banner above. Thanks.Have you had a sighting or encounter?Contact us by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonAlso available with audiobooknarration by Terry Springs‚CBS-TV Las Vegas affiliate.The Dark Arts of MISTER SAM SHEARON - Original Prints &; MerchandiseThis blog and newsletter are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work 3.0 United States License.Registered trademark PHANTOMS AND MONSTERS ® / PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS ® - USPTO #90902480 - Lon D. Strickler© 2005-2024 Phantoms &; Monsters - All Rights Reserved

The Federal Reserve is the leading cause of inequality.

Recent air disasters and close calls have made many wonder if airline and aircraft manufacturing companies have made woke DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies–which emphasize hiring decisions on the basis of race, gender and sexual orientation–a higher priority than assuring passenger safety.

The sweet-faced‚ loveable Labrador Retriever is no longer America’s favorite dog breed. The breed best known for having a heart of gold has been replaced by the smaller‚ more urban-friendly French Bulldog.According to the American Kennel Club‚ for the past 31 years‚ the Labrador Retriever was America’s favorite dog‚ but it was eclipsed in 2022 by the Frenchie. The rankings are based on nearly 716‚500 dogs newly registered in 2022‚ of which about 1 in 7 were Frenchies. Around 108‚000 French Bulldogs were recorded in the U.S. in 2022‚ surpassing Labrador Retrievers by over 21‚000.The French Bulldog’s popularity has grown exponentially over the past decade. They were the #14 most popular breed in 2012‚ and since then‚ registrations have gone up 1‚000%‚ bringing them to the top of the breed popularity rankings. None — (@) The AKC says that the American Hairless Terrier‚ Gordon Setter‚ Italian Greyhound and Anatolian Shepherd Dog also grew in popularity between 2021 and 2022.The French Bulldog was famous among America’s upper class around the turn of the 20th century but then fell out of favor. Their resurgence is partly based on several celebrities who have gone public with their Frenchie love. Leonardo DiCaprio‚ Megan Thee Stallion‚ Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez‚ Reese Witherspoon and Lady Gaga all own French Bulldogs.The breed earned a lot of attention as show dogs last year when a Frenchie named Winston took second place at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and first in the National Dog Show.The breed made national news in early 2021 when Gaga’s dog walker was shot in the chest while walking two of her Frenchies in a dog heist. He recovered from his injuries‚ and the dogs were later returned.The French Bulldog's complicated past took them from brothels (yes) to royals.Listen to their full history and more in the Uniquely Urban podcast episode of Down &; Back: https://t.co/Jx2jPNCVMb pic.twitter.com/wBQd9fsRlt— American Kennel Club (@akcdoglovers) March 16‚ 2023 They’ve also become popular because of their unique look and personalities.“They’re comical‚ friendly‚ loving little dogs‚” French Bull Dog Club of America spokesperson Patty Sosa told the AP. She said they are city-friendly with modest grooming needs and “they offer a lot in a small package.”They are also popular with people who live in apartments. According to the AKC‚ Frenchies don’t bark much and do not require a lot of outdoor exercise.The French Bulldog stands out among other breeds because it looks like a miniature bulldog but has large‚ expressive bat-like ears that are its trademark feature. However‚ their popularity isn’t without controversy. “French bulldogs can be a polarizing topic‚” veterinarian Dr. Carrie Stefaniak told the AP.French Bulldogs have been bred to have abnormally large heads‚ which means that large litters usually need to be delivered by C-section‚ an expensive procedure that can be dangerous for the mother. They are also prone to multiple health problems‚ including skin‚ ear‚ and eye infections. Their flat face means they often suffer from respiratory problems and heat intolerance.Frenchies are also more prone to spine deformations and nerve pain as they age.Here are the AKC’s top ten most popular dog breeds for 2022.1 French Bulldogs2 Labrador Retrievers3 Golden Retrievers4 German Shepherd Dogs5 Poodles6 Bulldogs7 Rottweilers8 Beagles9 Dachshunds10 German Shorthaired PointersThis article originally appeared on 03.17.23

You know what they say…go big or go home. Well‚ the University of Minnesota Dance Team‚ aka The Gophers‚ certainly made no plans of going home during their epic dance routine at the UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships in Orlando‚ Florida (otherwise known as “The Dance Super Bowl”) last weekend.The Gophers absolutely wowed audiences with a perfectly synchronized performance to Aeromsith’s “Dream On” that quickly racked up millions of views on social media‚ not to mention a few headlines.Inspired by a routine to the same song made by the champions in 2004‚ the 24-person team executed bold‚ impressive turns and spins all in perfect unison. A two-minute video of their flawless choreography got overwhelmingly positive reviews online.“This is badass‚” Governor Tim Walz wrote on X while another commenter on Youtube marveled‚ “Not one person was off in this entire dance. Goosebumps!!” @laurasukowatey More beauty from @uofmdanceteam Best of the Best performance‚ before heading to UDA Nationals ✨ #udanationals #uofmdanceteam #minnesota #minnesotadance #mndance #udanationals2024 #uofm #collegedancenationals #onelove #minnesotajazz #udacollegenationals #minnesotadanceteam ♬ original sound - Laura Sukowatey Another viewer echoed‚ “I’ve never in my life seen a group this large perform such beautiful and perfectly synchronized turns. I didn’t think it was possible.”Many were shocked to learn that the Gophers actually got 2nd place behind Ohio State in that category. They did‚ however‚ score first place for their pom routine. Plus some major viral clout for their ingenuity."I have honestly never been so proud of [the] team‚" longtime head coach‚ Amanda Gaines told local station KARE11‚ sharing gratitude that their routine garnered more awareness and respect for the sport. "They are doing this because they are passionate about dance and Minnesota‚" Gaines said. "The more people can support these athletes‚ the better for everyone." Assistant coach Tia Tumbleson‚ who helped choreograph the performance‚ seconded Gaines’ sentiment‚ applauding her team for doing “this creative and innovative thing that people have never heard of.” “Dancers and non-dancers‚ [know] how hard that is. The love we’ve gotten from everybody‚ I can hardly speak on it. It’s just been incredible‚” she told local news station KSTP. Watch below‚ and be amazed.

Aging is a weird thing. From one perspective‚ it's something we should be grateful for. Few people would wish for the kind of short‚ uneventful life that would remove aging from the equation completely. The longer we live‚ the more we grow and learn and experience life‚ and "aging" is simply the mathematical sum of those experiences. All good‚ right?On the other hand‚ our society does everything in its power to hide the fact that aging happens. Especially when it comes to women. According to Statista‚ the global anti-aging beauty market is estimated to be worth $58.8 billion. People will try all manner of creams‚ serums‚ masks‚ acids‚ lights‚ technologies and surgeries to try to prevent wrinkles‚ lines‚ sagginess‚ spots and other signs that our bodies are changing with time. Most of us live our daily lives somewhere in the middle of these two realities‚ wanting to embrace our aging selves but also hoping to stave off some of the more obvious signs that we're getting older. It's natural to resist it in some ways‚ since the older we get‚ the closer we get to the end of our lives‚ which we certainly don't want to hasten—especially if we actually love living. It can be helpful to see people who are embracing their age‚ which is why it can be inspiring to see someone like former supermodel Paulina Porizkova confidently sharing photos of her 57-year-old self. In posts on social media‚ Porizkova shared a photo of herself in a bikini and a screenshot of a comment made by a person who felt the need to comment on her aging body. And phew‚ was it something. The commenter wrote:"You must be in so much pain to keep posting bikini pictures at your age. I've always thought that getting old and ugly is hardest on the pretty people. The fall from grace is so much farther when you were beautiful. Ugly people were always ugly so getting old and ugly isn't a change. In summary‚ I feel your pain. I pray you can come to terms with your mortality. We all get old and ugly…you just had to fall from a greater height than the rest of us. Tears Times Infinity!"So many things to unpack here.Porizkova shared her thoughts on the comment on Instagram. A thoughtful reader comment on IG need an equally thoughtful response.\nThank you for feeling my pain‚ rickaroo777. As you can see‚ I\u2019m suffering indeed.pic.twitter.com/mWijP55iAS — Paulina Porizkova (@Paulina Porizkova) 1651241361 "Here’s a good follower comment- echoing a few others‚" Porizkova wrote. "A woman of 57 is 'too old' to pose in a bikini - no matter what she looks like. Because 'Old' is 'Ugly.' I get comments like these every time I post a photo of my body. This is the ageist shaming that sets my teeth on edge. Older men are distinguished‚ older women are ugly.""People who believe prettiness equals beauty do not understand beauty‚" she continued. "Pretty is easy on the eyes‚ partly because it’s a little bland‚ inoffensive. It’s easy to take in and easy to forget. Not so beauty. Beauty can be sharp. It can wound you and leave a scar. To perceive beauty you have to be able to SEE.""This is why I believe we get more beautiful with age‚" she added. "We have earned our beauty‚ we understand what it is‚ and we can see it so much better. There is no such thing as ugly and old. Only shortsighted and ignorant."On Twitter‚ Porizkova was a bit more sarcastic‚ writing‚ "Thank you for feeling my pain‚ rickaroo777. As you can see‚ I’m suffering indeed."That tongue-in-cheek response prompted others to share their aging selves in photos‚ sharing how their "old and ugly" phase of life is going. The thread turned into a veritable celebration of middle-to-late age‚ with posts about how much more comfortable people feel in their bodies as they get older and the freedom that comes along with not caring what other people think. You suffer beautifully You suffer beautifully — Paulina Porizkova (@Paulina Porizkova) 1651291418 There are two big ironies with the original trolling comment. Most obviously‚ Porizkova obviously looks freaking amazing in a bikini‚ so the whole "ugly" and "fall from grace" line of thought is object and off base. The second is that if you look through Porizkova's Instagram feed‚ she doesn't pose in bikinis very often at all. It's not like she's plastering her bikini selfies all over social media trying to make herself feel better about herself‚ as the commenter implies. She just…sometimes wears a bikini. Whoop dee doo. Do it anyway! Every body is valid. Every body is a bikini body.pic.twitter.com/slDLHLWQo7 — \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8Noel Giger\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8Noel Giger\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1651248625 People don't have to wear bikinis if they don't want to. But to tell strangers what they can wear crosses a line. All bodies are bikini bodies‚ and if the person in the body wants their body to be in a bikini‚ more power to them. Wow! You\u2019re suffering for sure! — Paulina Porizkova (@Paulina Porizkova) 1651287653 The "suffering" and "pain" in the posts were so funny to see. Ah‚ so painful. also- frickin — Paulina Porizkova (@Paulina Porizkova) 1651288265 I'm 49 and I haven't yet put on a bikini. Steph‚ thanks for showing me it's not too late! Tho‚ somehow I feel like I won't fill it as well as you &; Paulina. But it's all about attitude‚ right? So let's the 3 of us hit the beach! (I'll stay in the shade of an umbrella‚ tho.) — Spark The Genius (@Spark The Genius) 1651262083 The thread brought inspiration to those who may fall prey to the idea that people shouldn't wear certain things after a certain age or that only people with certain body sizes or shapes should wear certain things. The hashtag #oldandugly started trending as people responded to Porizkova's call for a celebration of aging beautifully."Todays thread has been my absolute favorite of all time‚" Porizkova wrote on Twitter. "Thank you all you 'old and ugly' women (and a few men) showing the world how much we 'suffer' at in our old age. You’re all breathtaking!" The love continues! 57 and proud! Keep posting your wonderful beautiful selves and tag #oldandugly so we can keep sharing the pic.twitter.com/Veg72kQOqt — Paulina Porizkova (@Paulina Porizkova) 1651454555 May we all age beautifully and gracefully in whatever way those words are meaningful to us‚ and show those who think that aging means "suffering" and "pain" due to being "old and ugly" that they have no idea what they're talking about.(And here's an extra shout-out to Porizkova for using her beauty and her age to make an important point—not only about celebrating getting older‚ but also about how propaganda works. Brava.) See on Instagram This article originally appeared on 05.03.22

Many of us have comfort shows that offer a soothing respite from the harsher chapters of life. That beloved cast of characters‚ who in some ways feel like extended family‚ still somehow manage to make us crack a smile even when we’ve heard their jokes a million times. In fact‚ it’s that very familiarity that makes the world feel a little less uncertain‚ if only for a moment. For many‚ NBC’s workplace comedy “The Office” was that show.It certainly was for a flight attendant named Melanie‚ who saw actor Rainn Wilson (otherwise known as Dwight Schrute) at the airport and felt compelled to sneak him a heartfelt note of appreciation‚ cleverly written on a napkin.“I didn’t even see who dropped this on my lap at the PDX airport but I greatly appreciate the sentiment‚ flight attendant Melanie of Alaska Airlines‚” Wilson wrote on X‚ formerly Twitter‚ along with a photo of the note. “The Office got me through some of the darkest days of my life‚” it read. “I can’t thank you enough for that.”The actor went on to say how “humbled” he was “to be a part of a show that affected‚ touched‚ comforted and inspired” so many people‚ and that it continues doing so‚ noting how “rare” of an event that truly is.I didn’t even see who dropped this on my lap at the PDX airport but I greatly appreciate the sentiment‚ flight attendant Melanie of Alaska Airlines. So humbled to be a part of a show that affected‚ touched‚ comforted and inspired. And continues to do so! It’s so fucking rare. A… pic.twitter.com/5h8gxP5j8t— RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) January 20‚ 2024 And while the actor joked that his reaction to the exchange was “not an open invitation to give me notes on napkins!” he still went on to thank the “whole Office family‚ cast‚ writers‚ crew and especially AUDIENCE!”Funny enough‚ this is not the first time a fan has had a delightful run-in with Schrute. Back in April 2023‚ Wilson was sitting next to someone who had been watching “the Office” for five hours straight without ever recognizing him. When the actor finally did reveal himself‚ the two had a delightfully wholesome interaction. See on Instagram It just goes to show how big of an impact “The Office” made for so many viewers. So many have credited the workers at Dunder Mifflin for getting them through the pandemic‚ heartbreak‚ work doldrums‚ death…you name it. It also goes to show that no matter how the entertainment landscape evolves‚ one truism remains: create a story that people can relate to on an emotional level‚ and that story will endure.