All five answers to the questions below have something in common. Can you figure it out?

It seems like at least once a year, the topic of “BMI,” or “body mass index,” being a flawed measuring system for fat mass and health comes up in conversation. Experts will explain how BMI leads to an incomplete perspective at best—since it doesn't take into consideration several key factors that influence a person’s body composition—and at worst, actual health risks, affecting eligibility for things like weight loss medications, insurance rates, joint-replacement surgery and fertility treatment. And then life moves forward. And yet, despite the constant debunking, the belief in BMI still marches on. And this time, it was hurled at the USA rugby star and Olympian Ilona Maher.More specifically, someone commented “I bet that person has a 30% BMI” on one of Maher’s TikTok videos. Could this person have simply been pointing out the inherent flaw of BMI? Saying that Maher, an elite athlete, would be considered “overweight” using this system? Perhaps. But this is the internet we’re dealing with, so Maher (and others) interpreted it to be an insult. And under that context, Maher wasn’t having it, and chose "not to just ignore the haters." “Hi, thank you for this comment. I think you were trying to roast me, but this is actually a fact. I do have a BMI of 30. Well, 29.3 to be exact,” Maher said in response video…which became something of a roast itself. Maher talked about how she had been considered “overweight” her entire life, and even recalled being “so embarrassed” to turn in a physical form to the office which had “overweight” written on it. “I chatted with my dietician, because I go off facts, and not just what pops up here. You know, like you do.” she quipped while tapping her temples. See on Instagram Maher is 5-ft.-10-in. and 200 lbs, which is considered “overweight” by BMI standards. But as she explained, about 170 of those 200 pounds are “lean muscle mass.” “Do that math in your head…you probably can’t,” Maher said sarcastically. It’s easy to see through this example how bogus BMI really is, especially for athletes.Essentially, “BMI doesn’t tell you what I can do.”“It doesn’t tell you what I can do on the field. How fit I am. It’s just a couple of numbers put together,” she said. “It doesn’t tell you how much muscle I have, or anything like that.”Maher concluded by faux lamenting, “I do have a BMI of 30. I am considered overweight. But alas, I am going to the Olympics, and you’re not.” While Maher’s clapback was certainly satisfying, it also provided some much needed reassurance to folks. So many commented on how this outdated concept has affected (or still effects) their own body image of that of a loved one. “How can I get my teenage daughter with a high BMI (but fit!) to understand this?! She feels shamed even at the doctor for her BMI.”“Dancer here, I'll never forget at 13 being told I had the BMI of 24 of ‘overweight.’ I broke down and the nurse said it didn’t mean anything and all I could think was then WHY are you making me do this?!”“I had to ask the doctor’s office to put a note on my child’s file to not bring up/talk about BMI in her check ups. It isn't an accurate representation of health!”“Thank you for sharing your weight, bc seeing lbs numbers in different bodies has been so helpful in me loving mine. I’m nowhere near an athlete's body but damn, the numbers really do us in.”Until a more affordable solution pops up, BMI will continue to rear its ugly head in doctor’s offices and in our psyches. Maybe this is a reminder that our bodies are so much more than height and weight every now and again is a good thing. And if it comes from an Olympian…even better.

Odds are you’ve heard Wally de Backer, aka Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.” It’s the Australian musician’s biggest commercial hit, selling more than 20 million copies since its release in 2011, making it one of the best-selling digital singles of all time. Not to mention it inspired several amazing covers, which you might have also stumbled upon.The music video, in its poignant simplicity, is every bit as iconic.Gotye stands naked facing the camera, as featured singer Kimbra faces him. As they sing, they are slowly “painted” into and out of the background of geometric shapes using stop motion animation. There’s a very Wes Anderson feel to it that adds so much to the story told in the song, making it all the more memorable. All this to say…it would be a challenge to recreate the magic that’s so inherent in the original. And yet, one dance company has clearly understood the assignment.All this to say…it would be a challenge to recreate the magic that’s so inherent in the original. And yet, one dance company has clearly understood the assignment. Netherland based dance troupe CDK recently went viral for their highly stylized movement performance to the well known art pop ballad. As thousands of viewers were quick to note, it’s not just the incredible dance moves that make this performance so captivating. It’s a killer combination of choreography, camerawork and costumes that make the piece impossible to turn away from. “This is pure art,” one person wrote. While another added, “I think I’m going to watch it everyday for the rest of my life.” Take a look for yourself:CDK - Somebody That I Used To Know by GotyeThis group is clearly at the top of their game, by how easy they make it all look (like, I've already convinced myself that I can pull off those moves). But what’s more evident is that they enjoy what they’re doing to the nth degree.To find even more of CDK's performances, follow them on Instagram. Fun fact #1: Gotye allows small independent projects, like student films—and probably this dance piece—to use his music free of charge. "If someone wants to use it commercially I look at what the budget is and the creativity of the project," he said, according to News.com.Fun fact #2: CDK isn't the only group to have recently breathed new life into the song. A few weeks ago, an electronic remix of the song titled "Somebody (2024)," created by electronic music producers Chris Lake, Fisher, and Sante Sansone, debuted. Much like it's predecessor, "Somebody (2024) is topping the charts. This article originally appeared on 3.6.24

Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody has been covered dozens of different ways. But you've never seen it performed like this.As one of the most iconic songs in rock music, Bohemian Rhapsody is recognizable no matter how it's done. As children, my brother and I used to belt out Galileos and Figaros in the backseat of our parents' Volkswagon whenever the song came on (yes, just like in Wayne's World). While other kids learned about Beelzebub in Sunday School, I learned about him from Queen's perfect harmonies. If there were an anthem from my classic rock-filled childhood, it would be Bohemian Rhapsody.It's one of those songs that is hard to cover well, though it hasn't stopped people from trying. I've enjoyed some renditions, but nothing has caught my attention or delight more than this kapa haka version from New Zealand.A Māori choir in native garb sang the song live in the Māori language, and it is something to see.The group Hātea Kapa Haka performed the song on February 21 at New Zealand's national kapa haka festival, Te Matatini, in Wellington. The festival brings 46 kapa haka (Māori performing arts) groups together to compete against one another.Newshub reports that Hātea Kapa Haka collaborated with musical artist William Waiirua to create a "Bohemian Rhapsody" cover in the Māori language, both as a tribute to Freddie Mercury and to celebrate the Oscar-nominated movie about his life.The group had previously created a music video for their cover, but seeing it performed live is something else. The voices, the harmony, the presentation—everything—is wonderful.This kind of cultural mashup reminds us how small our world has become.The contrast between Queen's 1970s British rock and the Māori people's traditional kapa haka could not be more striking. And yet, the melding of the two totally works. Music has the power to bring people together, and this performance is a great example of how it can bridge cultures with beautiful results.Watch the live performance here:And if you want more, check out the music video too:William Waiirua got more help from Hātea Kapa Haka than he bargained for when his car broke down... For more Queen, check out this playlist: https://umusicNZ...This article originally appeared on 03.01.19

This one's for the girls who know you don't have to chose between sparkles and sports.For too long, girls have been sent the message that they have to be either/or. You're either a girly-girl or a tomboy. You're either into sparkly princesses or sports practices. From the early days of childhood, we're told in bold and subtle ways to squeeze ourselves into separate boxes. But those boxes are bullspit, and most of us know it. Girls don't have to choose between feeling beautiful and being badass. We can be both at the same time.Perhaps that's why a portrait shoot shared by HMP Couture Imagery showing girls dressed up in fancy dresses and sports equipment has gone insanely viral. The shoot is called "Because you can do it all," and in just a few days it has already been shared 175,000+ times. The woman who photographed the shoot says a comment from a fellow mom sparked the idea.Heather Mitchell, the photographer from Alabama who runs HMP Couture Imagery, told Upworthy how the portrait shoot came about."My youngest daughter is 8 and she is trying softball this year for the first time," said Mitchell. "We were at practice a few weeks ago and I was talking with the other moms. I was saying that I hoped Paislee learned to love the game because she was athletic. One of the moms told me that she was not athletic, that she was a girly-girl." "I couldn't sleep that night," Mitchell continued. "All I could think was, 'Why does she have to choose?' I played every sport my school offered and wore lipstick to every game. So the next day we went to the studio and created her shot."Mitchell says she only spent about three minutes shooting because she knew exactly what she wanted to create. After she posted the photos of Paislee to her personal Facebook page, she got a ton of requests from other parents for the same kind of shoot. After adding two days to the schedule, they sold out in an hour—and the requests just keep on coming.Mitchell hopes that girls see these photos and realize that they don't have to choose one identity. The idea that crinoline and cleats can't exist in the same mental space is silly, but common. Girls (and boys for that matter) can love pretty things and kick butt at sports. They don't have to be one thing or the other. "My parent taught me that I could be anything I wanted growing up," Mitchell told Upworthy. "I didn't realize till I was much older that everyone is not that blessed." These photos are an excellent reminder to questions our assumptions and not place unnecessary limits on anyone—and an empowering example for girls who don't fit neatly into a socially constructed box."I hope that every little girl that sees this series can see that there is no box," says Mitchell. "Whatever their dreams are they can achieve." This article originally appeared on 4.17.19

When I saw these incredible photos Angelo Merendino took of his wife, Jennifer, as she battled breast cancer, I felt that I shouldn't be seeing this snapshot of their intimate, private lives.The photos humanize the face of cancer and capture the difficulty, fear, and pain that they experienced during the difficult time.But as Angelo commented: "These photographs do not define us, but they are us."This article originally appeared on 11.5.13

These are called "anti-homeless spikes." They're about as friendly as they sound. As you may have guessed, they're intended to deter people who are homeless from sitting or sleeping on that concrete step. And yeah, they're pretty awful.The spikes are a prime example of how cities design spaces to keep homeless people away.Not all concrete steps have spikes on them, but outdoor seating in cities like Montreal and Tokyo have been sneakily designed to prevent people from resting too comfortably for too long.This guy sawing through a bench was part of a 2006 protest in Toulouse, France, where public seating intentionally included armrests to prevent people from lying down.Of course, these designs do nothing to fight the cause or problem of homelessness. They're just a way of saying to homeless people, "Go somewhere else. We don't want to look at you," basically.One particular set of spikes was outside a former night club in London. And a local group got sick of staring at them.Leah Borromeo is part of the art collective "Space, Not Spikes" — a group that's fed up with what she describes as "hostile architecture.""Spikes do nothing more than shoo the realities of poverty and inequality away from your backyard — so you don't have to see it or confront what you can do to make things more equal," Borromeo told Upworthy. "And that is really selfish.""Our moral compass is skewed if we think things like this are acceptable."The move by Space, Not Spikes has caused quite a stir in London and around the world. The simple but impactful idea even garnered support from music artist Ellie Goulding."That was amazing, wasn't it?" Borromeo said of Goulding's shout-out on Instagram."[The project has] definitely touched a nerve and I think it is because, as a whole, humans will still look out for each other," Borromeo told Upworthy. "Capitalism and greed conditions us to look out for ourselves and negate the welfare of others, but ultimately, I think we're actually really kind.""We need to call out injustice and hypocrisy when we see it."These spikes may be in London, but the U.S. definitely has its fair share of anti-homeless sentiment, too.Spikes are pretty obvious — they're a visual reminder of a problem many cities are trying to ignore. But what we can't see on the street is the rise of anti-homeless laws that have cropped up from sea to shining sea.Legislation that targets homeless people — like bans on panhandling and prohibiting people from sleeping in cars — has increased significantly in recent years.For instance, a report by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty that analyzed 187 American cities found that there's been a 43% hike in citywide bans on sitting or lying down in certain spaces since 2011.Thankfully, groups like "Space, Not Spikes" are out there changing hearts and minds. But they need our help.The group created a video to complement its work and Borromeo's hoping its positive underlying message will motivate people to do better."[The world] won't always be happy-clappy because positive social change needs constructive conflict and debate," she explained. "But we need to call out injustice and hypocrisy when we see it."Check out their video below:This article originally appeared on 07.24.15

South Carolina's statehouse boasts some two dozen statues honoring individuals from statesmen to "heroes" of the Confederacy, but there's a glaring omission from the lineup. Up until now, the former Confederate state—where the Civil War began at Fort Sumter and where approximately 1 in 4 residents is Black—has never erected an individual monument of a Black American.In a unanimous bipartisan decision led by Republican Rep. Brandon Cox, Robert Smalls will become the first to be honored in this way, and his heroic life certainly earned him the accolade. As Cox told the Associated Press, "We’ve got a lot of history, good and bad. This is our good history."Smalls was born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina, in 1839. He and his mother lived together in a small cabin behind their enslaver's mansion until Smalls was sent to Charleston at age 12 to be hired out. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, he was in his early 20s and soon found himself an enslaved crewmember of a ship that was contracted out to the Confederate Army. There he was, an enslaved man sailing a steamboat for an army that was fighting to keep him enslaved. Robert Smalls, S.C. M.C. Born in Beaufort, SC, April 1839Library of CongressLate one night, when the white crewmembers had all gone ashore, Smalls and the other enslaved crewmembers stole the ship with Smalls as pilot. They sailed to a wharf where they picked up their family members, then they made their way north. The sixteen enslaved people aboard managed to sail right on past Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie, where Confederate forces were stationed, thanks to Smalls donning a captain's hat and knowing the proper signals to give as they passed. He steered the ship to the naval blockade and turned the ship over to the U.S. Navy. The enslaved crew and their families were now free Americans. But Smalls didn't stop there. He provided valuable intelligence to the Union since he knew the Confederate waters well and served for the remainder of the war. He became the first Black person to serve as a pilot for the U.S. Navy and fought 17 Civil War battles as the captain of the very ship he has stolen. His status as war hero was solidified. But he didn't stop there, either. Robert Smalls' house in Beaufort, South CarolinaPublic Domain He returned to Beaufort in 1864 and used the reward money he's received from turning over the Confederate ship to buy the home of his former enslaver at a tax auction. In just three years, Smalls had gone from enslaved man to war hero and owner of his former owner's property. And he became well known for it. He started his own business and advocated for public education. The people of Beaufort saw him as a leader and he began to rise politically. He served as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention in 1868, then as a state representative, then state senator, then as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, and finally as a representative in the U.S. Congress. He ended up serving five terms in the House of Representatives during the Reconstruction Era, when Black Americans voted in large numbers for the first time and were elected to government positions. According to the National Parks Service, Beaufort was viewed as a symbol of successful Reconstruction policies, with formerly enslaved people engaging in education, politics, and land ownership in the former Confederate county. - YouTube youtu.be However, the glory of that era didn't last as white Southerners regained political power. By the time Smalls died in 1915, segregation laws were widespread and the freedom that had been so hard won for Black Americans in the South had been curtailed. Even Smalls' incredible life story was largely forgotten by the "Lost Cause" rewriting of Civil War history. However, the 21st century has seen historians setting the record straight and uplifting heroes like Robert Smalls who have not gotten the national recognition they deserve. After years of lobbying by the community of Beaufort to have Smalls and the reality of the Reconstruction Era recognized, January 2017, President Barack Obama issued an executive order establishing Reconstruction Era National Monument (now known as Reconstruction Era National Historical Park) in Beaufort County in January 2017. And now South Carolina will erect a statue in Smalls' honor on the grounds of the statehouse. It's worth noting that the idea has been floated for years with bipartisan and biracial support, but had always faced some quiet opposition. Now it looks like everyone's on board, so it's just a matter of working out the exact design and location for the statue. It's been a long time coming, but South Carolina is finally highlighting history we can all be proud of—a historic step in the right direction.

Strap what appears to be a giant ball on your back and go for a long walk. Chances are, you'll wind up with a dog following you. That's just common sense. So when a map view worker put on their backpack with its orb of cameras at the top to capture the walking paths of an island in South Korea, they probably weren't surprised to find they had an adorable stalker. The results are over 1,000 images of the island of Jukdo featuring a delighted Golden Retriever. Jukdo Island: a scenic and eco-rich paradise This Golden Retriever followed a Google Map Snapper and appeared in over 1000 photos by u/-TheMidpoint- ininterestingasfuck Situated just off South Korea’s coast, Jukdo Island is known for its scenic coastline and eco-rich environment, making it a popular destination for tourists who arrive by daily ferry service. Jukdo’s landscapes, already a treat, become even more delightful when accompanied by the golden retriever, who seemed determined to keep the photographer company at every stop. The internet can’t get enough of this Golden Retriever Reddit user TheMidpoint shared the story on r/interestingasf***, where it quickly went viral with more than 90,000 upvotes in just a few hours. The heartwarming thread struck a chord with other Reddit users. eisme reminisced, “I had a lab who was like this Golden. He would follow anyone, anywhere. He figured everyone loved him like we did. He was right.” "Golden having his golden moment. ? ? ?" — **717_valkyrie** TikTok users were just as enchanted by the canine travel companion. A video on the platform wracked up over half a million likes, with one user, αмєℓια, calling it “the most golden retriever thing ever.” Just the latest in a long line of scene-stealing critters The scene-stealing Golden of Jukdo is among the most recent in a long line of photogenic animals ready for their close-ups. Dixie the fox might just be the most notorious thief on the internet, with a hilarious viral video showing her snagging her owner’s phone and sprinting off, trying to bury it along the way. Posted by SaveAFox, the video has racked up over 16 million views, thanks to Dixie’s playful—and oddly cinematic—antics. Fans of the video were quick to admire Dixie’s “cinematography skills,” joking that her escape feels like a Disney chase scene. One commenter even wrote, “I’m amazed at how we got three different angles when Dixie was running away with the phone ?.” In another viral video that captured the hearts of Reddit’s r/MadeMeSmile community, a dog owner decided to get creative by strapping a camera to a stick and giving it to his pup, giving the world a new “dog POV” experience. The results? Pure canine charm. Viewers got to see a dog's-eye view of the world—scenes of scampering, sniffing, and, of course, curious pauses for squirrels—all from the perspective of a four-legged friend on an adventure. The Reddit post earned over 19,000 upvotes, as viewers praised the joyful simplicity captured in the video. MAN GIVES CAMERA TO HIS DOG AND CREATES THE GREATEST DOG POV VIDEO IN HISTORY by inMadeMeSmile The comments were flooded with praise, with one Redditor writing, “Could literally be having the worst day ever, watch a dog video like this, and I suddenly get reset for the rest of the day. Dogs are such a blessing.” "The dog has a face like, 'what am I supposed to do with this?!'" — @PeacefulCouch Another commenter joked that the dog’s expression when handed the camera was priceless, saying, “They know it’s not something to be in their mouth but then realize it’s okay.” Through this adorable POV video, it’s easy to see why dogs continue to be some of the internet’s favorite scene-stealers. via GIPHY Whether it’s a Golden Retriever in South Korea, a clever fox on a mission to hide a phone, or a camera-toting pup capturing the world from their view, these moments are reminders of the simple joy animals bring to our lives. In a world that can feel chaotic, a dose of humor and heart from our furry friends has a way of connecting us all, one adorable adventure at a time. And who knows? The next viral pet star might be right around the corner—or maybe just wagging its tail in your own backyard.

A masterpiece. The post “In my top five”: The John Lennon album Roger Waters has always adored first appeared on Far Out Magazine.