We wrote about “Obama orphans” not too long ago-the legion of now-unemployed (or underemployed) people who devoted their lives to the Obama campaign, only to discover that there weren’t enough jobs in Washington for all of them come election day. The author, Michael Ames, made the point that Obama and his team created perhaps the most effecient and inspiring machine for doing good in the history of the country, and used it for one excellent but ultimately limiting purpose: to elect our current president.He should lament no longer. Today, President Obama announced United We Serve (housed at another of the administration’s excellent URLs: https://serve.gov), an “extended call to service challenging all Americans to help lay a new foundation for growth in this country by engaging in sustained, meaningful community service.” The purpose is to channel the energy and passion-and considerable expertise-of the people who helped elect him (which is to say, most people) into a sustainable culture of participation. Oh, and if all goes according to plan, it could stimulate the economy.[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGkUoBDYnrg&feature=player_embeddedFrom June 22, when things officially kick off, through September 11 (which you may recall is already a federally recognized National Day of Service), the initiative is asking people to look around in their communities for things they can… wait for it… change, with a focus on four areas: education, health, energy, and the environment. The website will act as a hub for starting projects, funding opportunities, and sharing experiences, with the ultimate goal of getting people to build service into their lives.All in all, sounds like an excellent New Deal x Kennedy mashup.
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Man’s dog suddenly becomes protective of his wife, Internet clocks the reason right away
The online community came through in a big way.
Reddit user Girlfriendhatesmefor’s three-year-old pitbull, Otis, had recently become overprotective of his wife. So he asked the online community if they knew what might be wrong with the dog.
“A week or two ago, my wife got some sort of stomach bug,” the Reddit user wrote under the subreddit /r/dogs. “She was really nauseous and ill for about a week. Otis is very in tune with her emotions (we once got in a fight and she was upset, I swear he was staring daggers at me lol) and during this time didn’t even want to leave her to go on walks. We thought it was adorable!”
His wife soon felt better, butthe dog’s behavior didn’t change.
Otis knew before they did. Canva Girlfriendhatesmefor began to fear that Otis’ behavior may be an early sign of an aggression issue or an indication that the dog was hurt or sick.
So he threw a question out to fellow Reddit users: “Has anyone else’s dog suddenly developed attachment/aggression issues? Any and all advice appreciated, even if it’s that we’re being paranoid!”
The most popular response to his thread was by ZZBC.
Any chance your wife is pregnant?
ZZBC | Reddit
The potential news hit Girlfriendhatesmefor like a ton of bricks. A few days later, Girlfriendhatesmefor posted an update and ZZBC was right!
“The wifey is pregnant!” the father-to-be wrote. “Otis is still being overprotective but it all makes sense now! Thanks for all the advice and kind words! Sorry for the delayed reply, I didn’t check back until just now!”
Redditors responded with similar experiences.
Anecdotal I know but I swear my dog knew I was pregnant before I was. He was super clingy (more than normal) and was always resting his head on my belly.
realityisworse | Reddit
So why do dogs get overprotective when someone is pregnant?
Jeff Werber, PhD, president and chief veterinarian of the Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles, told Health.com that “dogs can also smell the hormonal changes going on in a woman’s body at that time.” He added the dog may “not understand that this new scent of your skin and breath is caused by a developing baby, but they will know that something is different with you—which might cause them to be more curious or attentive.”
The big lesson here is to listen to your pets and to ask questions when their behavior abruptly changes. They may be trying to tell you something, and the news may be life-changing.
This article originally appeared last year.
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14 images of badass women who destroyed stereotypes and inspired future generations
These trailblazers redefined what a woman could be.
Throughout history, women have stood up and fought to break down barriers imposed on them from stereotypes and societal expectations. The trailblazers in these photos made history and redefined what a woman could be. In doing so, they paved the way for future generations to stand up and continue to fight for equality.
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Why mass shootings spawn conspiracy theories
Mass shootings and conspiracy theories have a long history.
While conspiracy theories are not limited to any topic, there is one type of event that seems particularly likely to spark them: mass shootings, typically defined as attacks in which a shooter kills at least four other people.
When one person kills many others in a single incident, particularly when it seems random, people naturally seek out answers for why the tragedy happened. After all, if a mass shooting is random, anyone can be a target.
Pointing to some nefarious plan by a powerful group – such as the government – can be more comforting than the idea that the attack was the result of a disturbed or mentally ill individual who obtained a firearm legally.
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Bank of America foreclosed on a couple’s home by mistake. So they got a court order and showed up to foreclose on the bank.
Humans nearly vanished 800,000 years ago, revealing a quiet truth: most family lines disappear
A millionaire swapped lives with a struggling family for a week on a $230 budget. The money wasn’t what broke him.
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