Last summer, as gas prices seemed like they would never stop rising, there was a trumpeting of statistics that people were saving money by taking public transportation. In fact, that increase in ridership has continued despite the plummeting gas prices of the last few months. With that in mind, let me relate a little story of my trip to New York from scenic New Haven, Connecticut last night; a trip that was supposed to take approximately an hour and a half, took about 6 hours, due to massive train engine failure that left us sitting in the middle of nowhere with no lights and no heat until another train could come to tow us to the next station, where we then had to wait for the next train. Good times! (You can read a longer piece on Amtrak’s problems from our Travel issue here.) I relate this story because it is the danger in all the excitement about our ramping up of ridership of public transportation. Outside of the New York City subway system (and even that is not doing so hot) public transportation doesn’t work that well, and its failures certainly stick in your head way more than its successes. If, as ridership increases, the government doesn’t add some sort of massive funding to make people think “Wow, this bus/train/light rail system works perfectly and is easier and cheaper than my car,” then this will just be a little bubble that disappears once some more money starts flowing through the system. It’s a lot like electronic voting, which the Coleman/Franken saga in Minnesota clearly illustrates we need, but which, when it had its moment in the 2000 election, was so botched that it will be decades before anyone is willing to trust it again. Here’s to hoping Obama’s massive infrastructure bill, which for the most part has been mentioned in conjunction with cars and roads, will be throwing a lot of money at Amtrak and municipal public transport (we know he and Joe Biden like trains). And interesting to see who gets named Transportation Secretary. That could say a lot.
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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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Benefits of mindfulness meditation go far beyond relaxation – here’s what it is and how to practice it
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