Coffee Talk Archives

---

A 70-year-old New York Yankees fan got to live out her life-long dream Monday night — by serving as the team’s bat girl. Gwen Goldman initially sent a letter to the team in 1961, asking if she could be a bat girl for one game. The general manager of the Yankees at the time sent her a response that said, “In a game dominated by men a young lady such as yourself would feel out of place in a dugout.”

Goldman held on to the letter for all these years and earlier this year her daughter, Abby, sent a copy to the Yankees current general manager, Brian Cashman. He invited Goldman to be a bat girl and throw out the first pitch and said it wasn’t “too late to reward and recognize the ambition you showed in writing that letter to us as a 10-year-old girl.”

---

Speaking of women being recognized in sports … Former soccer star Mia Hamm broke her share of records during her playing career, and although she retired in 2004, the Hall of Famer still managed to set a new record last weekend. Her 1992 rookie card, which was made available in an issue of Sports Illustrated For Kids after her first World Cup appearance, sold at auction for $34,440 — making it the most expensive female sports card ever. Goldin Auctions founder Ken Goldin says, “It validates that there’s a legitimate market for women’s sports.” (ESPN)

---

Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s some doctors would wire patients’ jaws shut to help them lose weight. Sounds barbaric, right? Well, there’s a new version of that weight-loss method. New Zealand and U.K. researchers have developed a device called DentalSlim Diet Control that uses magnets affixed to the back teeth to restrict the person’s jaw from opening more than 2 millimeters, allowing for only a liquid diet. Volunteers who’ve tried the new gadget say they’ve lost 14 pounds in two weeks.

Waffle Iron Day: A good day for some waffles.

---

As we all continue to dive deeply back into our pre-pandemic routines, a new survey found that nearly 70% of respondents said they are excited to:

It may sound strange that people wanted to get back to their daily commute, but the survey found that people wanted to be able to listen to their favorite radio and podcast shows in the car again and to just have that alone time.

---

Last year, it was hard to resist the urge to adopt a puppy during the pandemic — when people wanted the companionship and knew they’d be home for housebreaking. However, the training seemed to stop there — and that’s led to a population of pups with bad manners. According to Today, approximately 23 million households in America adopted dogs in 2020, but now that we’re returning to work, the dogs are in desperate need of behavior modification. Pet owners are being encouraged to enroll their dogs in obedience training, but they are also suggesting “enrichment” toys and activities that keep their brains and bodies engaged. And don’t forget dog-walking services to get your pet out and about while you slave away to provide kibble.

---

A vacation weekend is coming, and according to a new survey, it’s not just being on vacation that makes you happy – that joyful feeling starts about a week before you leave. 70% of people in the new survey said they get into vacation mode several days before they leave. And 10% said their vacation glow lasts up to a month after getting back from their trip. 54% said they felt lost if they didn’t have a vacation to look forward to and 70% said they need to book a vacation “now more than ever.”

---

If you saw the movie Nomad last year, you might understand the appeal of this particular story a bit more. Because of climbing housing costs and the ease and increasing acceptance of remote work, more people are getting out of their houses and apartments — and living in vans. To be clear here … they’re customizing cargo vans into homes and living a simpler, more adventurous life — on wheels, stopping wherever they can and setting up shop wherever the wind takes them. With a good wifi or cell phone signal, of course. (The Colorado Sun)

---

Speaking of living in a van … A new survey found that 70% of Millennials are living paycheck to paycheck. And we’re not talking people struggling by on minimum wage jobs. The survey found that 60% of Millennials making more than $100,000 a year said they’re still living paycheck to paycheck. (Business Insider)

---

When it comes to women’s sports, what’s stopping people from watching isn’t lack of interest — it’s lack of coverage. A new YouGov poll found that it’s not the caliber of play that keeps people from following women’s sports less than men’s sports. it’s the fact that there is little media coverage of women’s sports — and games/events aren’t readily found/available on television.

---

When you think of bucket lists, you think of exciting things you want to do or exotic places you want to see. Those are definitely still up there on people’s bucket lists, but post-pandemic, there is a different thing topping the list of things people want to do before they, well, kick the bucket. According to a new YouGov poll, the top 10 things on people’s bucket lists include:

---

Fido or Facebook? A bunch of heartless pet owners picked social media over their pets. Yep, a survey found that 40% of respondents would give up their pets rather than social media. It’s not just pets. That same 40% said they would give up their TV and even their car before deleting their social media accounts. Even cash didn’t sway them. More than 70% said they would not give up their social media accounts for less than $10,000. (Reboot)

---

There’s great news regarding a cure for hiccups. A new product is scientifically proven to do what holding your breath, swallowing three times, or standing on your head can’t do. It’s called HiccAway. It’s an L-shaped plastic straw with small holes on each end that makes it harder to suck water through. The designers say that the effort it takes to sip the water causes a contraction of the diaphragm and activates a nerve that shows a 92% effectiveness in stopping hiccups. (The Guardian)

---

Is it possible the pandemic took years off your life, even if you never got covid?  According to a new poll, most Americans say YES. 55% think that dealing with all the stress from the pandemic . . . and sitting on their couch so much . . . made them age faster than they would have.  And 46% say they’ve had more aches and pains because of it. 76% of people admit they need to be more physically active going forward, so they can start “aging better.”  Our top reasons are to avoid chronic issues like back pain . . . to live independently for as long as possible . . . and to make sure we can still be physically active well after the age of 50.

---

Christina Clemons clinched her spot on the U.S. Olympic team with her performance in the 100-Meter Hurdle trials. But it was something on her ears that got people’s attention: a pair of dangly mini Cool Ranch Doritos chips earrings. In an interview posted to her Instagram story, Christina explained why she wore the earrings, which are something of a good luck charm: “I love Doritos, so why not? And they match my uniform, and my husband calls me Dorito because I have broad shoulders and small hips so it was just fitting.” No doubt Doritos will be following Christina’s performance at the Olympics. In the meantime, if you want a pair of the earrings, there are a number of options available on Etsy. (Delish)

Let It Go Day: Grudges? Regrets? Anger? Guilt? Today is the day to let it go …

---

It’s been a long tough year for some companies’ workers that never stopped working at 110% since the pandemic began … But could you imagine being so burned out that all of your employees need time off? Dating app Bumble has decided to give its entire staff the week off, with pay, so that they can rest and recharge. All 750 employees, located in Austin, Moscow, London, Barcelona, Sydney and Mumbai, were given off until June 28th. The company hopes the paid time off will avoid employee burnout. (NBC News)

---

Over the past few years there’s been a lot of talk about being fat but fit. Well, doctors say that really isn’t a thing. Researchers at the University of Glasgow in Scotland say obese people, even those with a healthy metabolic profile, are still at a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and respiratory disease than non-obese people with a healthy metabolic profile.

---

You never forget your first … concert. A new survey by JBL found that 60% of respondents said they remember every second of the first live concert they went to, and 56% remember how happy they felt. No surprise then that 58% of people said going to a concert or festival was the number one thing they want to get back to once restrictions are relaxed.

---

Tele-health is here to stay … Seems people really like seeing their doctor or therapist … virtually. A survey found that 75% of those who used tele-health during the pandemic said it’s easier than in-person checkups. Not only that, but 49% said their doctor paid more attention to them over video chat. 48% said they plan to continue using tele-health post-pandemic.

---

This show basically runs on coffee.  So this is good info to have . . . A team of researchers in Scotland looked at how late in the day you can drink coffee, and not have to worry about all that caffeine keeping you up at night. And the answer is . . . stop drinking stuff with caffeine SIX HOURS before bed.  After that, it can mess with your internal clock. The study also found that drinking four to five cups a day is totally fine as long as you stop early enough.  But some people metabolize caffeine more slowly, so keep that in mind. In other coffee news:  A big study in the U.K. just found that drinking three to four cups a day can lower your risk for liver cancer. It tracked a half-million people for more than a decade.  And coffee drinkers were 49% less likely to die of chronic liver disease.

---

Are some first-date meals safer than others? Apparently so. A survey found that the “safest” meals for a first date are pizza (24%), burgers (21%), and salad (21%). Foods to stay away from on a first date? Oysters (19%), mussels (18%), and sushi (17%). The survey found that it takes at least four dates before people are comfortable with “riskier” food choices.

And, of course, the way someone eats can be a first-date deal breaker — with chewing loudly, eating messily, and asking to take home leftovers being the biggest dining deal breakers.

And this is interesting … According to the survey, steak is the meal of choice when proposing to someone … as well as the top choice when breaking up with someone.

---

Speaking of food … Good cooks are sexy. A new survey found that 43% of single respondents said someone being a good cook is a turn-on when looking for a partner. 40% said they are looking for someone who is as passionate about food as they are.

---

What if you moved into a new house and found a bloody imprint of a human body on the floor? Would you leave? A woman in New Jersey tore out the carpeting in her new home and claims she found what appears to be an old crime scene. There’s even an outline in marker and a ‘crime scene’ number written next to it. It was probably a prank by the guys who installed the carpet, but she insists its real. Either way, her TikTok video has been viewed more than 5 million times.

---

When it comes to divorce, custody can be a touchy subject, even when it comes to the pets. Who gets the dog? The cat? Or even the parrot? Yup, it’s all been brought up during divorce proceedings. There are options before getting married. Like a prenup, “petnups” are meant to iron out the “what if” before the “I do.” Some states including California and Illinois have divorce laws giving judges leeway in considering what is in the best interest of the pet. New York state has a similar law pending.

---

Good news! The COVID death rate dropped below 300 a day for the first time since the start of the pandemic. As of today, 150 million Americans are now fully vaccinated! Last year, the coronavirus was the third leading cause of death in the U.S…only heart disease and cancer claimed more lives.

---

Vacation on our minds … A new survey by Hilton Hotels found that more than 75% of respondents plan to take the “vacation of a lifetime” this year. 64% said they are in desperate need of a vacation after the stress of the last year and a half. 49% said they used the pandemic as an opportunity to save money for a dream trip.

---

Twitter is going crazy over a butcher shop that sells hots dogs – in the shape of a hamburger. Yep, you can eat a hot dog – on a hamburger bun. Rastelli’s butcher is selling the hot dog patties on their website in a pack of four for $10. “Run out of hot dog buns? No problem,” says the product description on their website. “Our Round Dog is everything you love in a hot dog in the shape of a burger.” Twitter users say it looks like a thick piece of bologna. (Insider)

---

You weren’t imagining things … everybody was drinking more in 2020. The International Wines and Spirits Record (IWSR) released its annual report – and alcohol sales in 2020 were at their highest levels in nearly 20 years. Alcohol consumption increased by 2% last year over the year before – that’s the biggest yearly increase since 2002.  And it looks like 2021 is going to be just as boozy. Alcohol sales are still surging – and IWSR research predicts 2021 will end with a 3.8% increase over 2020. (Food & Wine)

---

And, when our relationships get rocky, if we truly love each other enough, we’ll do just about anything to save it. A couple from the Ukraine made a final attempt to save their relationship … by handcuffing themselves together. After 123 days of doing everything together … they’re breaking up. Yep, the cuffs came off and they decided to go their separate ways. Seems instead of bringing them closer together, the experience brought them even further apart. (Reuters)

---

Married … Without Children … According to a new study, 25% of coupled adults have no interest in having kids. And researchers from Michigan State University found that child-free couples were just as happy and satisfied as their peers who had kids.

---

Think earthquakes won’t happen around here? Well, Indiana just had one yesterday. The 3-point-8 magnitude rumbler hit about 60 miles outside of Indianapolis and shook houses in the middle of the afternoon. Earthquakes in Indiana aren’t unheard of but they can’t remember the last time they felt one in the middle of the state like yesterdays.

---

If you have a dad bod, you’re the current sex symbol of society, it would appear. According to a new survey by Planet Fitness, 72% of women and 68% of men not only accept the dad bod as the norm … but 65% of women and 50% of men said dad bods are sexy. And most women (59%) said they would rather be with a man who has a dad bod than someone really muscular. 48% of women and 44% of men even say that dad bods are the new six-pack.

That said … Men still feel judged for having them. 50% of men with dad bods feel judged by others for their bodies, and 47% of guys who don’t have dad bods said they would probably feel judged if they had one.

---

A new survey found that 50% of respondents said the COVID-19 pandemic was so stressful for them, they don’t think they’ll ever be able to de-stress … even when it’s over. 25% said they are so stressed they want to escape to a cabin in the woods by themselves to get away from it all. 15% said a cabin in the woods didn’t go far enough — they want to go a deserted island, alone, to get away from everyone. For how long? The survey found that respondents would need 10 days away, by themselves, to completely de-stress.

---

Have you become an “outdoor” person since the pandemic? A new survey found that 60% of respondents said they had transformed from “indoor people” to “outdoor people” during COVID. One of the biggest reasons? 67% said it was to get away from the people they were stuck indoors with. The survey found that people took their workouts outdoors over the last year as well, with those surveyed said they now prefer outdoor workouts like walking, hiking, running, and biking to indoor workouts like yoga and Pilates.

---

Don’t throw your banana peels in the trash — turn them into bacon! A growing foodie movement aimed at reducing food waste has discovered an unexpected use for discarded banana peels. You could actually make banana peel bacon. People say it’s pretty good — and much healthier than real bacon. Just scrape off all the banana remnants inside the peel. Then, marinate it in soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Then fry it up and enjoy your new smoky, crispy snack while feeling good about producing less waste. Click here for the recipe.

---

Never waste cookies … it’s not the Girl Scouts’ way. There are at least 15 million boxes of unsold cookies sitting in Girl Scout warehouses. This surplus is largely due to declining sales and memberships during the pandemic. But the troops aren’t letting that spoil their mission. The Girl Scouts are pledging to donate boxes to various food banks, first responders and others deserving of some delicious cookies. (People)

---

Are simple things like going out to dinner with friends making you downright giddy? You may be experiencing post-pandemic joy. Mental health experts say the happiness people are feeling as they head out into the world again is very real. Reconnecting with people – and being out and about without worrying you might get sick – is releasing a whole lot of the feel-good hormone oxytocin in the brain — and making people downright euphoric. (Healthline)

---

Get ready for a shortage of teachers … A new survey found that 25% of teachers said they may leave their jobs at the end of the school year. That’s up from before the pandemic, when about 17% of teachers said they wanted to leave their jobs. Seems teachers were already stressed before the pandemic, and that stress increased during COVID. The survey also found that teachers were twice as likely to experience job-related stress than other working adults and three times as likely to experience symptoms of depression. (Market Watch)

---

Can’t sleep? Try lettuce water. The latest trend sweeping TikTok is drinking lettuce water to help with insomnia. Seems you boil some lettuce leaves and then drink the water – and it’s supposed to make you sleepy. Can it be true? Maybe. According to Dr. Christopher Winter, of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and author of the book, The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix It, lettuce contains something called lactucarium, which can make you feel drowsy. Lactucarium is that milky substance you see at the base of some types of lettuce – like romaine.

“It has a similar structure to opium, and has some sedative properties,” Dr. Winter says. That said, you would need a “tremendous” amount of lettuce to get the effects, according to the doctor. “The amount of lactucarium you’re getting from four to five lettuce leaves is unlikely to do much,” he says. But he does say that the warmth of the water could help make you sleepy – not to mention the placebo effect. If you do decide to try it, the good news is that drinking the water of boiled lettuce isn’t harmful. (Health)

---

How important is astrology to you? Do read your horoscope every day? Do you do or not do certain things based on your sign? How about planning when your baby will be born? A new survey found that 20% of respondents said they would consider planning when their child is born – to make sure they are a certain sign. Millennials, in particular, are concerned with the sign their baby will be (31%), followed by 25% of Gen Z, who said they were concerned about their future baby’s zodiac sign. What signs are particularly popular? According to the survey, if people could choose their signs, they would pick Scorpio, Aquarius or Taurus.

The survey found that the average American checks their horoscope twice a week – with Taureses being the most likely to check their horoscope. 42% of those surveyed said they feel luckier after checking their horoscope and 44% said they would check their horoscope before making a big decision — especially Geminis (52%). The number one thing people have turned to astrology for? Their love lives, with 49% saying they consulted their horoscope for matters of romance.

---

Do we live in a fun state? WalletHub compared all 50 states using key fun metrics, including number of restaurants, theaters, gyms, golf courses, marinas, and casinos per capita — as well as accessibility to national parks and amount of state funding for parks and recreation areas. These 5 states are the most fun, according to the data:

Michigan, by the way, is fairly far down in the list at the #19th placement.

---

Do you ever feel like you are more productive in the summer? According to a study from the University of Liege in Belgium, our brains actually work better in the summer. Researchers found that brain activity was higher in the summer, particularly when it came to focus and retaining information. Seems like the summer is the perfect time to tackle that project you’ve been wanting to accomplish … (Best Life)

---

How much are we looking forward to this summer? So much so that a new survey found that 50% of respondents said they are going all out this summer, thanks to being vaccinated. In fact, 45% said they plan to spend more money this year than the past two summers combined. More numbers: 40% can’t wait to go to their favorite restaurants and bars for happy hour again, 22% can’t wait to go to a sporting event, and 21% can’t wait to go to a concert.

---

Way back in the early days of the COVID pandemic, wait staff and delivery people were considered “essential workers” and given a little more respect – and a little boost in tips. Well, times have changed. According to a new study, customers have pulled back on heavy tipping and gone back to their old habits – with some even cutting back on the gratuities completely. The New York Times scanned figures from payment services Square and Toast and found that folks upped their average tip to nearly 25% in early-to-mid 2020, but have gradually fallen back to pre-pandemic numbers of 18 to 19%. In bigger cities, some restaurants are battling back by eliminating tips altogether and raising wages — which means a hike in the price of some menu items. (Eater)

---

It looks like the future of communication is in your clothes. Researchers at Purdue University have figured out a way to add wireless capabilities to clothing – and it won’t get wrecked when you do the laundry. Your clothing will then be able to communicate with your phone, computer, car, etc. The smart clothing can also monitor your health and even call for help if you’ve had an accident. (EurekAlert)

---

Speaking of clothes … Guys, if you’re looking for a successful summer of dating, you may want to eliminate these things from your wardrobe. According to dating app Plenty of Fish’s “Steamy Summer Report,” women said these are the worst summer looks for men: socks and sandals (33%), the bro tank/tank top (20%), Speedos (14%), cargo shorts (14%), and tropical shirts (7%).

For women, the summer fashion looks guys said are turn-offs include: High-waisted shorts and pants (27%), heels with a bathing suit (26%), bad fake tan (17%), saggy bathing suit (15%), and Crocs (9%).

---

An Italian shoe designer has found a way to do the impossible — fusing the ugliness of Crocs with the discomfort of stiletto heels. Balenciaga’s Spring 2022 collection spotlights a knee-high Croc-boot as well as the three-inch heeled Crocs, both of which come in black and eye-popping lime green. So much for pandemic comfort wear. (Complex)

---

You can now tell the world how you feel about getting back in the swing of post-pandemic life without saying a word. A growing number of businesses and gathering places are handing out color-coded wristbands modeled on traffic lights to explain your vibe. According to the Wall Street Journal, places like Chesterfield, Virginia’s Chamber of Commerce are using Red to mean “no contact” with “no exceptions.” Yellow to mean “elbow only,” as in stick to the elbow bump, pal. Folks wearing a green band are letting you know that “hugs are welcome.”

---

Lightning does strike twice. A man in Massachusetts won his second $1 million lottery – 21 years after he won his first million. Michael Rocca of Pittsfield chose to take the full amount, for a payment of $650,000. But the first time he won, he chose annual installments for the $1 million – and he received his final installment last May. (UPI)

---

Cicadas aren’t just keeping you awake all night, one is now being blamed for a car accident. A driver in Cincinnati says one of the bugs flew into the window of his Chevy Cruze and got up in his face. It freaked him out so much, he ended up crashing into a utility pole. The driver wasn’t hurt and we can pretty much assume the cicada is dead somewhere.

---

Well, this will get you running to a mirror. A new study claims that people with large eye pupils are more intelligent than those with small pupils. Pupil size was monitored by an eye-tracking device while participants ran through different tests and activities. The people with larger pupils performed better in attention, memory, and reasoning tests, which the researchers think comes from better regulation of brain activity linked to intelligence and memory.

---

A new survey found that 69% of respondents said they can’t sleep if they know there’s a bug in their home, and 60% have even gone so far as to say that they want to burn their home down if they came across a bug. And which bugs, in particular, do people hate? 39% said they can’t stand cockroaches, followed by spiders (37%), ants (29%), mosquitos (28%), termites (28%) and ticks (25%).

---

Next time you’re planning on a few summer cocktails, you may want to add some asparagus to your pre-drink routine. According to new research, asparagus may prevent hangovers and even protect your liver. Your pee may smell like asparagus all night – but it seems like a small price to pay for no hangover. (Well and Good)

---

There’s new hope for the overweight. On Friday the FDA approved a diabetes drug as a treatment for obesity. It’s called Wegovy and it contains a synthetic gut hormone that curbs appetite. Study participants using it lost 15-percent of their body weight when combined with diet and exercise. No word yet on the cost. More than one in three Americans are considered obese.

---

Stubble is sexy … as long as it’s the right kind of stubble. A study from New Zealand wanted to know what facial hair on men women found most attractive. The answer: Women found men with heavy stubble on their faces the most attractive. But not all stubble is equal – the women in the study found men with light stubble to be the least attractive. Men who were clean shaven and had full beards were found to be the second most attractive, according to the study. And this is interesting … men with beards were perceived to be better parents. (Best Life)

---

We’ve talked about “revenge bedtime procrastination” before … but as a refresher, it’s the phenomenon of staying up late looking at TikTok videos, scrolling through Twitter, playing Words With Friends, etc. – even though you’re tired – because you want to recapture some “me time” after a long day. Well, it seems the problem is getting worse – especially as many people working from home have been working more (and longer) hours. It seems the phenomenon has become so prevalent, experts have actually identified three components that must be present to qualify your behavior as “revenge bedtime procrastination”: 1) Staying up late has to reduce your total sleep time; 2) You can’t be up late for an external reason (like taking care of a baby or because you’re not feeling well); and 3) You have to understand that staying up late will lead to negative consequences. (Self)

---

They’re loving. They’re adorable. And it turns out that puppies can understand you from a very young age. A new study says that by eight weeks old, they’re willing and able to lock eyes with people they don’t know and take visual cues, like if you point to their food bowl. And they can do it without any training — which suggests that they are born with innate social skills. Maybe this explains why they’re just so stinkin’ irresistible … even when they pee on the rug. (NBC News)

---

Well this is … bad … A new survey found that 1 in 2 people in relationships say their current partner is the worst sex they’ve ever had. That’s right – half of the people surveyed said the person they are with is lousy in bed. Sounds like the next step here is for these people to communicate better…

The same survey asked respondents if they’d ever injured themselves during the act. 57% of those who had injured themselves while doing it said it happened while trying to do it in the shower.

---

Guys, do you think you know what women want? A new study of more than 60,000 women from all over the world found that there is one thing that women overwhelming want in a partner. Here’s a hint – it’s not six-pack abs or a seven-figure salary. 90% of the women surveyed said that kindness is the most attractive trait a significant other can have. (PS I Love You)

---

The CDC says that if you’re vaccinated, you’re basically OK to go about “normal” life without worrying about masks, social distancing, avoiding crowds, etc. But not everyone is ready yet.

Some folks are still really worried about getting COVID, even though the odds are very, very low for vaccinated people. Experts say that’s natural, especially for people who generally have a low tolerance toward risk. They also note that all the media coverage and fear-based messaging of the past year has left people feeling anxious.

If you’re one of those people, there are ways you can cope:

The important thing to remember is that feeling this way doesn’t mean you’re weak or that there’s anything wrong with you. (Medical News Today)

---

You can add “Karens” to the endangered species list. Thanks to the popular meme describing entitled white woman asking to speak to the manager, 2020 saw a sharp drop in the number of newborn babies named Karen — according to the Social Security Administration. Although the name’s popularity has been in a steady decline for decades, last year saw the name drop 171 spots on the name popularity list to number-831. There were only 325 baby girls named Karen last year. Karen is on a pace to fall off the top 1000 names list in 2021. (Yahoo)

---

Have you ever had a crush on a co-worker? According to a new YouGov poll, that puts you in the majority of Americans. 54% of us admit to having the hots for a colleague. More guys than women have had a co-worker crush. Nearly 60% of men and just under 50% of women admit to it.  The pollsters didn’t ask people if they ever acted on those crushes.

---

Forget mama bears … It’s a teen dog mom you have to fear. A teenager in California has gone viral after physically pushing a bear off the wall of her backyard, in order to save her dogs. The security camera video shows the bear and two cubs on the wall. The cubs run off when the dogs start barking but the mama bear is seen attempting to claw at one of the four dogs. 17-year-old Hailey then ran over, shoved the bear back, then grabbed her dogs and went inside. Her cousin posted the video to TikTok. (Newsweek)

---

NBC says cicadas have stopped making noise in certain parts of the country because temperatures have dipped below 70 degrees. Cicadas don’t like cold weather and stop singing and mating when temps dive into the 60’s. However, our temps locally will be rising in to the 80s by week’s end, so the noise could return quickly.

---

It’s June … which, of course, means it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Forget iced tea and ice cream – over on the Hallmark Channel it’s all about hot chocolate and gingerbread. Hallmark will be airing Christmas movies every Thursday and Friday night starting this Thursday. (BHG)

---

Seems like a no-brainer – especially this year – but a survey has found that warm weather makes us want to do more. According to the survey, the average person is 31% more social in the summer than in the winter. And 50% say summer is their busiest time of year.

---

Sometimes it is incredibly important to pay close attention to the instructions your gym trainer gives you. A woman has gone viral on TikTok, after revealing how she sent pics of herself in her underwear to her trainer. But this wasn’t a case of sexting to the wrong person – or even the right person. Seems her trainer told her to take “before” pics of herself in her bra and underwear so she could see her transformation. But she mistakenly thought she was supposed to send the pics to him. In the video, which she titled “How do I go back?” she shared screenshots of their text chain, including where he lets her know the pics were actually meant for her, not for him. He even shares that he was out to dinner with his girlfriend when he got the text. Oops. (Independent)

---

Is working from home here to stay? Every week there are more surveys coming out showing how people want to keep working remotely. The latest is a survey by FlexJobs, which found that 65% of people surveyed said they want to continue work from home full-time. 56% went so far as to say they would quit their jobs if they had to go back to the office. Reasons people want to keeping working from home? No commuting hassles, they save money by working from home, and greater flexibility and work-life balance. (Well and Good)

---

Here’s something to consider as we approach the holiday weekend … You’re not imagining it — time really does fly when you’re having fun. A study from Ohio State found that our brains perceive time as going by faster during positive activities. And, of course, when it’s a negative activity – like a dreaded work meeting – the brain perceives time as going more slowly. In other words, your three-day weekend is going to feel like it lasted one day. So stop and enjoy it!

---

Want to go vegan or vegetarian but just haven’t been able to quit meat? Here’s an easy (and healthy) middle ground – eat a plant-based meal for dinner. Researchers in China found that having a plant-based meal at dinner can reduce the risk of heart disease by 10%. Seems it’s all about timing – because people who eat too many refined carbs and fatty meats at dinner have a greater risk of heart disease than those who eat that way in the morning. So … have that bacon for breakfast if you want, but skip it at dinner.

---

I’ve told you in a past edition of Coffee Talk about “geriatric millennials.” Now those millennials have more to worry about related to their geriatric status! Too much TV during midlife can put your brain at risk for dementia. New research shows watching TV each day during adulthood can age the brain faster. Screen time apparently affects the “grey matter” in your brain. That’s the stuff that helps coordinate muscle control, seeing, hearing, decision-making and other important brain functions. Studies show a zero-point-five percent decline in grey matter volume for every additional hour of TV viewed. So go on and pop open a book.

---

When you hit the road, do you make a road trip playlist? You’re not alone. A new survey found that 60% of people taking a road trip make a play list to set the mood. How essential is the perfect playlist? 35% of those surveyed said they would turn the car around if they didn’t have the right tunes. What are some of the must-have songs on the perfect road trip playlist? Here are the Top 5, according to the survey:

47% of those surveyed said they have a road trip memory tied to a particular song.

---

Do you want to live to 150? Researchers think it’s possible. Scientists in Singapore developed an iPhone app that uses artificial intelligence to estimate biological aging. Using blood samples from hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. and U.K., the app found that people have the capacity to basically double their life expectancy. The catch? You have to be healthy.

---

Memorial Day Weekend is fast-approaching … and that means so is grilling season. According to a new survey, American cheese, bacon, and lettuce are the toppings that make for the perfect burger. And when it comes to condiments, people like it simple. Ketchup (46%) and mayo (43%) were the top choices for a “perfect burger.” Sesame seed was the top choice when it came to bun options. And no surprise – fries (70%) were the top side.

How important are the right toppings? 78% said toppings could be make or break for a burger.

---

Speaking of Memorial Day Weekend … You may be attending some outdoor BBQs – and those BBQs will probably involve some beverages in red solo cups. Some of you seasoned solo-ers may know this, but if not, a TikToker named Lindsay Roggenbuck, known for her popular household hacks, has gone viral for letting everyone else know. You know those lines outside the cup? They are actually measurements for beverages. The top line is equivalent to a pint of beer. The line below it holds a standard 12-ounce bottle or can. The second-to-last line measures 5 ounces, a typical serving of wine. And the very last line on the cup is 1 ounce – for shots. (In the Know)

Blake Shelton is making sure nobody ever calls him a “Groomzilla” — by taking a totally hands-off approach to his wedding to Gwen Stefani.

The country superstar tells USA Today that Gwen is at the controls of every detail surrounding the ceremony. He says “I want her to do all of that stuff and handle it because it’s going to be great. She’s in the middle of planning the thing, and she’s always so mindful of me. She’s like, ‘Hey, I don’t want to just take this thing over.'”

Blake’s particularly sure that his California girl bride has a better handle on what to serve guests. As he puts it, “If I was picking our meal, it would just literally be everything fried. French fries, chicken tenders—you know, all of that stuff. I think she knows that it would be a pretty classless wedding if I was in control.”

---

Last year, when Sam Smith released their latest album Love Goes, touring was shut down, so they performed their new songs as a streaming event, live from London’s legendary Abbey Road studios.  But if you missed it then, you can now stream it on Netflix.

“This was such a special night for me. Getting to play in one of the most historic studios with my incredible band…was magical,” Sam writes in a note to fans.

“Love Goes is the celebration of me coming home to myself,” they add. “Performing some of the songs for you all for the first time was an unforgettable experience, and I’m so happy we get to relive it. Get comfy, make yourself a cuppa and enjoy.”

In addition to new material from Love Goes, the performance features Sam performing previous hits like “Stay with Me,” and a cover of Cyndi Lauper‘s “Time After Time.”

Love Goes: Live at Abbey Road Studios is available for streaming, and is also available as a live album on Sam’s website, along with special merchandise commemorating the event.

---

Over the years, Katy Perry has worn some eye-popping outfits: Just her American Idol wardrobe alone is pretty vast, not to mention some of the get-ups she’s worn on stage.  And Katy says one day, she hopes to pass some of those clothes onto her daughter, Daisy Dove.

“I think about it all the time,” Katy told POPSUGAR, noting that Daisy will get “carte blanche” to raid her closet. “I do a lot of cleanups, but I do have some stuff always that I’m thinking about.”

Daisy will turn a year old in August.  In December, Katy will have even more outfits for her to choose from, as she kicks off her highly anticipated Las Vegas residency, PLAY.

---

Would you continue to work from home or take a $30,000 pay increase instead? Blind, an app where people can make anonymous career-related posts, surveyed employees from a bunch of big-name companies like Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan. The survey asked workers if they’d rather work from home permanently or get a $30,000-a-year raise. A whopping 64% said keep the 30k – we’d rather work from home. Some companies – like Apple and Salesforce– had an even higher percentage saying they wanted to keep working from home rather than get a $30,000 bump in pay – 69% for Apple and 76% for Salesforce. Just two companies of the 45 whose employees were surveyed – JP Morgan and Qualcomm – had a higher percentage of workers wanting the money over being able to work from home. (Forbes)

---

Women have worn engagement rings as long as engagements have been around — but what about guys? Well, there’s a growing movement to have grooms-to-be put a ring on it, too. Tiffany has just launched its first line of “mengagement” rings for dudes, and the company is marketing them to both straight guys looking to show their commitment and gay men who plan to get hitched. According to shopping platform Lyst, demand for “male engagement rings” is up 39% this year, while the search term “men’s diamond rings” has increased 30% over the last 3 months. (Evening Standard)

---

Want a date? Get a shot. A survey found that more than 50% of Gen Zers will only go on dates with people who have been vaccinated. And Tinder wants to help with that. They’ve teamed up with the White House to help members find a vaccination site near them. Members can also add stickers to their profile like “I’m Vaccinated” or “Vaccines Save Lives.” And from June 2nd through July 4th, members who add a sticker to their profile will get a free Super Like. Other dating apps, including Bumble, Hinge, Match, OKCupid, BLK, Chispa, Plenty of Fish, and Badoo are also participating in the vaccine promotion. (Tech Crunch)

---

Lots of people plan to get in touch with nature this summer. According to a new survey, being inside for so long has people yearning to spend some time in the great outdoors. So where is everyone going? 51% said they want to drive to the nearest lake or river, 49% want to go to a national monument, and 47% want to visit a state park. And — no surprise — camping (41%), swimming (40%), and fishing (38%) were the top things people wanted to do.

---

And, no, you’re not the only one sweating more than usual. In much of the country, May is feeling like July or August. Almost a month before official summer, over a dozen heat records are being set. Record temps are moving south for today and tomorrow. We could be seeing our first 100 degree reading of the year in Georgia. And then by the middle part of the week, the high-temp records move up to the northeast. 70 percent of the west is covered in drought – the driest it’s been in 127 years.

---

Are you open to an open relationship? … A new YouGov poll found that 25% of respondents said they would be interested in having an open relationship. Men were more likely than women to be interested in the arrangement — 32% vs. 19%. Among married couples, men were also more open to the idea than women — 30% of husbands vs. 21% of wives. Millennials were the generation most receptive to a non-monogamous arrangement. 41% of Millennials said they would be interested, compared to 29% of Gen Zers, 23% of Gen Xers, and 12% of Baby Boomers.

---

The country is finally opening up again . . . and one of the FEW negatives is that “pandemic hair” is going out of style.  Fast. So now that you’re going back to the barber, will you go with the pre-pandemic same-old-same-old . . . or take this opportunity to try something new? A new poll asked men what “classic hairstyle” should be brought back . . . and the #1 answer was:  The ’80s MULLET.  20% want it to be popular again. 15% of men would like to see the “curtain bangs” look from the ’90s make a comeback, and 10% would revisit the “undercut” look from the past decade. Also, Jason Momoa is the #1 “celebrity hair inspiration” for men.  Harry Styles is second, and James Dean is third.

---

Want your significant other to propose? Make them some roasted chicken. Seems Meghan Markle was making a roasted chicken dinner when Prince Harry popped the question. There’s even a growing myth surrounding the chicken dish, coined engagement chicken, because other women have said that once they made the same meal, their partner proposed. Meghan didn’t reveal the exact recipe she made that night, but people are speculating that it was dish by chef Ina Garten, that Meghan had praised before. “There is nothing as delicious (or as impressive) as a perfectly roasted chicken,” Meghan told Good Housekeeping in 2016. “If you have an Ina Garten-level roasted-chicken recipe, it’s a game changer. I bring that to parties and make a lot of friends.” (Insider)

---

The next time you fly, you could be asked to step on a scale before boarding the plane. Airlines need to calculate an aircraft’s weight and balance when boarding passengers. Unfortunately, the data that’s been used by airlines to guess the total weight of the passengers is outdated. In other words, Americans have gotten fatter and the FAA doesn’t know exactly how much we’ve plumped up. Therefore, passengers may soon be asked to check their weight before boarding a plane so that the FAA can collect new data. It’s all in the interest of safety. (Fox News)

---

This is difficult news as we head in to Pride Month. More than 40 percent of LGBT teens in America say they’ve considered suicide in the past year. The new research (by the Trevor Project) surveyed more than 35-thousand gay teens and young adults and found that about 70-percent of them suffered through ‘poor’ mental health during the pandemic, with LGBT kids also reporting feeling a lack of safety.

---

And, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the return of the Cicadas. This is one way to soften the noise a bit. According to some chefs, why not kill them and eat them? The Chicago Sun-Times says cicadas can be cooked into many unique dishes. The infamous bugs are consumed in many countries because they are full of protein. Experts recommend removing cicada wings and legs to reduce their crunchiness. They are best enjoyed while they are still soft and chewy. Cicadas can be used as pizza toppings or shrimp replacements in any recipe.

“Bug chef” David Gordon says, “We really have to get over our dislike of insects, which is really strong and deep-seated in most people in our culture. You could make stir fry. You can mix them into dough to make  banana bread, let’s say. You can batter them and deep fry them, which I think would be my favorite way.”

May Ray Day: A good day to grab some rays.

---

Good news for toilet paper hoarders! A company in Japan has developed the world’s most compact roll of toilet paper. They’ve managed to cram nearly a thousand feet of two-ply ’TP’ onto a single, regular-sized roll. You can buy a 24-pack online for about 40 bucks, but that should be enough to last the average family 8 months! (No word on how ‘scratchy’ or flimsy it is)

---

According to government health officials, when it comes to colon cancer screening, 45 is the new 50. For years, they’ve been telling us to get checked at age 50. Well, it seems that more and more people have been dealing with colon cancer at a younger age. So, if you’re in your mid-40s, experts are now suggesting that that you get that checked out earlier instead of later, so be sure to ask your doctor before they ask you. (ABC News)

---

Get your noise-cancelling headphones ready and find your happy place…the cicadas are back. The bugs have now been spotted in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and Georgia. They’re emerging from below ground for a loud, month-long mating process (that will make you yearn for the soothing sound of a jackhammer). Trillions of the bugs are supposed to burrow to the surface between now and the end of June. The last time they popped up was in 2004.

---

Naomi Campbell just announced on Instagram that she just welcomed her first child, a baby girl … at the age of 50. Naomi is now one of the thousands of older women having kids that have been defined as “geriatric mothers” – people who are having babies at 50+. According to the CDC, 1,073 babies were born to women over the age of 50 in 2019. (NY Post)

---

Time to ditch the “wicked stepmother” label … A new study found that the ‘wicked stepmother” myth is the stuff of fairy tales. The study found that stepchildren did just as well as other kids in the family. “The idea of a stepparent, especially the stepmother, as being an agent of evil seems to be a story as old as time,” says anthropologist Dr. Ryan Schacht of the University of East Carolina.