Smithfield Foods has a lot to answer for after a drone recently exposed the vile environmental practices happening at one of its pig farms in North Carolina.
Filmmaker Mark Devries flew a drone over the hidden farm to see what was happening behind the thick forest cover surrounding it. Next to the warehouses packed with thousands of pigs, the drone spied a massive cesspool the size of four football fields.
According to a former local farmer, Don Webb, “It is a cesspool that you put feces and urine in a hole in the ground that you dump a toxic waste in.” All of the pig waste is collected in the warehouses and flushed into the giant pool large enough to accommodate the waste needs of a small city. What happens with the waste is even more disturbing.
The waste is emptied from the pool into gigantic garden sprayers strewn about the premises that spew a toxic mist into the air. When it catches the wind, pellets of fecal matter and urine contaminate the neighboring communities. According to local resident Elsie Herring, “You think it’s raining. We don't open the doors or windows, but the odor comes in. It takes your breath away and then you start gagging, you get headaches.”
[h/t Farm Drones]
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.