TikToker freezes their dead cat so they could be 'together forever'
A TikToker has gone viral for freeze-drying their dead cat so they could be "together forever". Soren High, 35, from Oregon was heartbroken when their 16-year-old feline Loki passed away from a traumatising accident. Soren, who goes by they/them pronouns, told Insider they instantly knew they wanted to have the cat preserved "the day I took her home." Soren shared each step of the $3,000 (£2,400) process, from packing up Loki with ice and flowers for shipping to learning how to maintenance of the cat. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter One clip, which racked up millions of views showed Soren unboxing Loki. "My cat arrived in the mail today if you're ready to meet her," they said. @teapourn Remembering Lokicat the only way she deserved ❤️ having a pet preserved is a personal decision and one that many may never understand. When i got Lokicat as a kitten, I knew this was how i was going to deal with ber death. I knew i never wanted her to be gone, and that I wanted to always have her with me. Her death was sudden, even though she was 16. We never expected this would happen and especially by a dog we had been fostering. This situation broke us into a billion pieces. After finding a home for the dog, we had Loki preserved through @Animal Family Pet with help through donations and raising funds with memorial fabrics and pieces. Her preservation cost nearly $3k and it was worth every Penny. . . #petmemorial #petpreservation #taxidermy #petsoftiktok #freezedriedpets #fypシ #foryou #grief #loss #memorial Soren also shared how they had Loki's heart frozen. "She is actually fully intact, meaning she was never skinned, and all her bones are actually still inside," Soren explained in one of her clips. "Remembering Lokicat the only way she deserved. Having a pet preserved is a personal decision and one that many may never understand." Many of their 45,000 TikTokers believed the process to be taxidermy, before Soren corrected them. "Taxidermy is completely different and freeze drying has less impact on the body tissues, making the preservation much more ideal," they said. "There's very little chance that she wouldn’t look like herself through freeze-dry. Taxidermy can lead to some unsatisfactory outcomes if not taken absolutely seriously." @teapourn Replying to @☀️ taxidermy is completely different and freeze drying has less impact on the body tissues, msking the preservation much more ideal. Theres very little chance that she wouldn’t look like herself through freeze dry. Taxidermy can lead to some unsatisfactory outcomes if not taken absolutely seriously. #freezedriedpets #petmemorial #petpreservation #foryou #fypシ TikTokers, who have followed the intriguing process, flooded Soren's videos with heartfelt messages. "What a beautiful thing to do. Rest in peace Lokicat," one person wrote, while another added: "It feels like such a morbid topic and thing to do, but seeing Loki cat in your arms… I just can’t imagine how that must feel. Sending love." Meanwhile, a third user emotionally wrote: "Oh, I cried with you. She looks perfect." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
What does 'yellow car' mean on TikTok?
It seems the rest of the world has been left rather baffled by the classic British “yellow car” game after it has gone viral on TikTok. If you didn’t grow up in the UK, chances are you think nothing of it when you see a yellow car drive by you. But, for Brits who did, seeing a yellow car meant you were oftentimes giving or receiving a beating from someone else. What is the significance of yellow cars? In the game, which is typically played on long car journeys between young people, if you are the first to spot a yellow car, you have to shout “yellow car” and are then allowed to hit someone else near you. The punch to the arm is not intended to hurt the other person but is a fun game to pass the time and keep you on your toes. The rules of the game are that only yellow cars are allowed, so any vans or buses spotted don’t count. If you receive the hit, you are also not allowed to hit back thanks to the “no returns” rule. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter @your_sammy.wammy Its just rules my guy ?♀️#funny#fypシ #yellowcar#relatable In order to hit your partner back, you must be the first person to spot a yellow car and call it out. The origins of the game are unknown, but many people in their 20s and 30s and beyond will certainly remember the game from their childhood. @kehnim Tag them ? #yellowcar #yellow #car #uk #schoo #ukschool #uktiktok #godofwar #gaming #godofwarragnarok #friends #friendship The game has been going viral on TikTok, with people hilariously remembering the semi-violent childhood game. @_.dunnx._ It really is like this tho icl #yellow #car #yellowcar #punch #aggresive #be #aggresive In the comments, someone asked what “yellow car” means. The creator replied: “You punch someone when you see a yellow car and they can't punch you back (guessing you’re not from the UK?).” Others simply commented the classic line: “Yellow car, no returns.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Professor roasted by Gen Z for 'wild take' on how long to spend at home each day
Gen Z has labelled one man's advice a "wild take" after saying younger generations should "never be at home" if they want to be successful. During the Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Summit, New York University Professor Scott Galloway, 58, offered his candid advice. And well, Gen Z didn't take to it lightly. "You should never be at home. That is what I tell young people," he said, before suggesting that home is exclusive for "seven hours of sleep." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “The amount of time you spend at home is inversely correlated to your success professionally and romantically. “You need to be out of the house.” The clip was soon shared on TikTok, where it was inundated with reality checks from Gen Z. "One of my measures of success is how long I can stay in my home without talking or meeting with other people," one person joked, while another hit back about the cost of living: "Nah bro I'm paying 2,100 a month. IM GOING TO MAKE USE OR THIS HOME." "I found my people in this comment section. Carry on. lol," a third joked. Many more commented on how "expensive" it is to be outside. @wallstreetjournal “If you're not working, you should be with friends, trying to find a mate or working out,” said Scott Galloway, NYU marketing professor and host of The Prof G Pod podcast, at the #WSJCEOCouncil Summit on Wednesday. To be successful, he said, it takes 110%. #scottgalloway #success #howtobesuccessful #careeradvice #jobs #worklifebalance #hustleculture #dating #wsj #thewallstreetjournal #wsj During his chat, he also mentioned that a work-life balance doesn't exist if people wanted to to be in the "top 10 per cent." "You can have it all. You just can’t have it all at once," he suggested. "While we all know that guy or gal who has a great relationship with their parents, is in amazing shape, has a food blog, donates time at [animal welfare group] the ASPCA and is a DJ on the weekends, assume you are not that person. "If you expect to be in the top 10 per cent economically, much less the top 1 per cent, buck up. Two decades plus of nothing but work. That’s my experience." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Viral moose running on water video explained
A moose has been dubbed as "Jesus" and "Moses" (or "Mooses") after a resurfaced viral clip shows the animal running on water. In the video posted by Kristy Paniptchuk (@kristy_234) back in 2020, the video shows the scenery in Alaska as she cruised in a small boat up a river. She spotted the sizeable animal as it bolted across the river and managed to capture the moment as it make its way through the shallow waters at some speed. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The cow moose can then be seen crossing paths with the boats, determined to get to the other side of the water. Paniptchuk said at the time that the video is not fake and that the moose was moving across the shallow river that is just five meters deep in order to travel up stream, as per Metro.co.uk. @kristy_234 Cow moose #fyp #alaska To explain: The moose appears to seamlessly sprint through the water due to its shallow depths - it's so shallow in fact that the boat is believed to be a jet boat since a boat with propellers could cause damage if it hits the bottom. Since sharing the clip, the video has gone viral, as it received over 706,000 views, and plenty of comments from people who were fascinated by the video. One person joked: "Moses but a moose. Mooses" "Our lord and savior Jesus Moose," another person quipped. Someone else added: "Today I learned that I couldn't outrun a moose even if I wanted to." "I am so confused how is this possible," a fourth person commented. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Navigating the two sides of Somalia's capital Mogadishu
Journalist Soraya Ali travels to Somalia to see if it really is how her mother remembers it.
1970-01-01 08:00
Chrissy Chlapecka is 'turning toxic masculinity on its head'
What comes to mind when you hear the word “bimbo” in 2023? Forget the derogatory connotations of the past as Gen Z is redefining what the term means to them, all thanks to #BimboTok. Instead, a “bimbo” is someone who is “actually a radical leftist who’s pro sex work, pro Black Lives Matter, pro-LGBTQ+, pro-choice, and will always be there for her girls, gays and theys." Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter At least that's what it means to 23-year-old Chrissy Chlapecka whose video definition went viral with 11.1m views. She alongside fellow TikTok pal Griffin Maxwell Brooks, is one of the founders of #BimboTok. Chlapecka has amassed over 5.2m followers on the social media platform with their witty relationship advice to their pro LGBTQ+, anti-capitalist and anti-Trump views. @chrissychlapecka who is the gen-z bimbo? here’s ur answer ? luv y’all xoxo #bimbo #ihatecapitalism #ily These themes are evident in their music, tying a neat bow in their artistry that includes their latest single, Alpha. With their bright hair, bold makeup, breathy voice and daring fashion sense (also not forgetting a love for all things pink) Chlapecka is unapologetic with their hyper-femininity online because it’s for themself – not the male gaze. The social media personality, musician and activist – who uses she/they pronouns - told Indy100 the term “bimbo” is something they “definitely resonated with” since their youth. “I think growing up I was always seen as like this ditzy, dumb blonde type stereotype like I was never I never excelled in school,” Chlapecka said. Rather, music was their best subject as well as other important character qualities that did not fit into the academic mold. “I myself knew my intelligence comes from very many things like street smarts, music and emotional intelligence.” For them, bimbo doesn’t have to mean the stereotypical scene of a man shaming a woman, instead Chlapecka embraces an alternative meaning that she lives by – “it could just be like, ‘yeah I’m a bimbo and maybe the intelligence that you see, in me isn't what you want in society, but it's how I roll.’” “Emotional intelligence is just as important to me,” she added. “Reclaiming your body and being body and sex positive and claiming your sexuality in those ways are extremely important things - especially to people like me who have been through a lot and have experienced very difficult things and needed a way to reclaim themselves.” This journey for Chlapecka began, like most popular TikTok creators, back in 2020 at the height of the Covid pandemic and quickly saw that their videos of “the super silly, fun version” of themseld were going viral. “It totally took me by surprise,” the social media star admitted. “I mean I was really posting for like the 10 friends from high school that were following me on there,” she added and was “very shocked” at the algorithm’s ability to share their videos to such a large audience. This came at a transformational point of Chlapecka’s life, as their growing online presence improved their self-confidence. “I was definitely in the midst of a lot of like changing myself at the time to like I had just gotten out of a really, you know, abusive relationship at that time. “So I started posting online and being confident in myself and so it was a very validating thing for me to get a lot of love, and learning to love myself because that's a very important thing.” Part of Chlapecka’s audience appeal is the humorously unhinged advice she gives to their followers on how to deal with men. She most recently went viral with the soundbite: “He is not the love of your life, he’s literally just a guy. Hit him with your car,” which gained 10.3m views, and for the TikToker, the attention from the clip was unexpected. @chrissychlapecka LISTEN. “So I filmed that in [the] three seconds it took to say and I was like ‘oh, this will not do numbers’, but I need something to put out. I really didn't think it would go viral and it did which was incredible. “I love seeing what people are doing with the sound and now I'm doing my own little spin on it. You know, we brought a train into the mix, I'm telling them to steal their ex’s money.” “It's like don't tell anyone I told you to do that. And I'm not condoning it,” they added as a disclaimer that it's all a bit of “fun.” While Chlapecka entertains their audience with their humour and silliness, as a queer creator who is outspoken on political issues, she “always wants to be an advocate and to be a safe place for people to land.” She believes “a world of difference” can be made by sharing a single post that you are an ally or to say you care about certain matters – “I think it's important and to do as much as you can.” @chrissychlapecka #greenscreenvideo important talk. we need to protect trans people. The current political climate in the US has seen the ban of most abortions in 14 states since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, along with a wave of anti-trans bills this year which no doubt affects a number of their 5.2m followers. “I think like that is the most important reason why I post is to be like a safe space for people for anybody - especially with everything going on in the world right now,” Chlapecka said. “I'm very honoured to be like, a space for people to go to and just to feel like they get to smile for a second even if I'm being silly or if I'm being serious, maybe resonate with some of the things I'm saying or listen to my music.” “I do think it's very important for anybody with the big platform to speak up about these things.” Music is another way Chlapecka is getting this message across, effortlessly making the transition from content creator to pop artist with their “exciting, campy but meaningful” hyperpop sound, and this singing career has always been the dream. “Since I was a little, that [music] was really my form of therapy as a kid,” she said, being a member of musical choirs, bands, orchestras, musical theatre, you name it, at school and so sharing this side of herself online has been a “fun, vulnerable experience.” With their first single “I’m So Hot,” released back in February, the singer makes a punchy statement of self-love, as the lyrics declare “I’m so hot I’d f*** myself.” This tune gives serious early noughties club night nostalgia, comparable to the style of Lady Gaga and Britney Spears who are two of Chlapecka’s biggest musical inspirations. “Gaga is a major icon of expressing herself in ways that you know others may think are strange and weird, but she does anyway and I really resonate with that.” @chrissychlapecka i’m so hot by chrissy chlapecka ? “I’m So Hot” also earned a viral moment with the track being used in over 15,000 TikTok videos. “Yeah, I mean, it's been crazy,” Chlapecka said, recalling how “anxious” they were of sharing the new music that they had been working on since last year to their followers – so much so after posting a video with the song, they couldn’t look at the reaction until the next day. “I was astounded the next day looking and seeing like a flood of comments and people just being excited, loving the message of the song for ‘I'm So Hot,’ and doing their own videos.” Now that she has hit the ground running, Chlapecka is back with a second single 'Alpha' where she does not shy away from addressing their haters. “Alpha is kind of like turning toxic masculinity on its head,” they said of their latest single released back in April. “To me, a lot of my biggest haters online have been men who probably call themselves an alpha male or maybe a self-proclaimed incel or someone who calls himself an alpha male who was really an incel.” “Men of that type are not big fans of me. So I figured, ‘hey, why not write about my experience I've had’ especially online and also experiences I've had with men in my personal life that brought me to the lyrics I've written.” In January this year, Chlapecka put this idea to their producer David Burris and cowriter Evangeline Miele believing it could be a “powerful message,” given the rise of Andrew Tate, a self-proclaimed “misogynist” who went viral with his controversial views. “Especially with the whole like Andrew Tate stuff being all over the internet and the horrible abusive messages that men like him just spew to everybody,” she noted, and emphasised the harm this is doing to young boys who look up to him and inflict this onto young women in a “toxic cycle.” The trio then noted all of the things they know about alpha males and did some background research on social media. “We pulled up a Google Doc and were just writing down funny little things about alpha males like I've learned the term ‘soy boy’.” (Soy boy is “slang used to describe males who completely and utterly lack all necessary masculine,” according to Urban Dictionary). “We would go on Twitter and search some of these guys’ names, read their tweets and put them in the doc just for inspiration to go back to and it was really one of the funniest sessions I think I've ever had because the song, it's so ironic.” Chlapecka’s personal experience with online trolls is clear to hear in the lyrics: “It’s just a little ironic you say ‘f*** you’ in my comments/But in my DMs you keep begging to f*** me (that’s embarrassing).” Experiencing online hate was certainly a “learning curve” for the singer and social media personality. “I think I got to a point where if men like what I sing about in my songs, they comment on my posts and say something. I'm gonna read that and most likely laugh like it doesn't bother me the way I think they think it does.” “I know who my haters are; they already know that my account isn't for them. The content I make isn't for them and it's for people that I care about.” Chlapecka was recently named one of "The Brightest Pop Stars to Watch in 2023" by Rolling Stone Magazine, as well as one of TikTok’s LGBTQ+ “Trailblazers." The singer believes now is the “most pivotal moment” in their career and is excited that people see their future as a “pop girly” and “full-time pop star,” and has recently made the big move from Chicago to LA. “I'm gonna like keep releasing music, keep feeding my audience and just keep growing like, like I said, like music is my number one thing that I have wanted to do forever and I am just so excited to continue that journey,” they explained. Chlapecka’s latest single Alpha is out now on music streaming platforms. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Mother destroys her own gender reveal party after learning the baby's sex
A mother has destroyed her own gender reveal party after not wanting another girl. Gender reveals have long been the centre of controversy and debate. From extravagant reveals causing environmental damage, as well as some saying they enforce the gender binary. There have also been instances of parents storming off when the gender of the baby doesn’t turn out to be what they had wanted. And it appears as though this mum had a similar reaction. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The mum drew criticism after pulling down party bunting, tearing her sash off and pushing tables and chairs after finding out she was having another daughter. In a video uploaded to TikTok the mum can be seen pulling down party bunting, tearing her sash off and pushing tables and chairs after finding out she was having another daughter. The TikTok features overlay text that reads:”‘POV: When you destroy your own gender reveal because you didn’t want another girl.” @aintyoukyb Yall I’m still in shock. #fyp #genderreveal #chicago #idkanymore The video has over 1 million views and many have weighed in on their opinions in the comment section and with some of the discussion even taking place over on Twitter. Some users said that the gender shouldn’t matter as long as it’s a “healthy baby.” Others said they felt bad for the unborn child, and some said they would have left the event if they were there because of the mum’s reaction. “The way my mouth just dropped!” Commented one user. Another added, “I’d grab my gift and walk straight to my car. That is ridiculous. However, some said they also had similar reactions when they faced gender disappointment, with one user commenting: “I acted a fool as well. It’s ok sis.’” “I have 3 girls and was wanting a boy so bad but truthfully I wouldn’t change it for anything,” said another user. Viewers shared their opinions on the matter on Twitter too: Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Bola Tinubu - the 'godfather' who has been sworn in as Nigeria's president
After fighting military rule in the 1990s, Bola Tinubu feels entitled to become Nigeria's president.
1970-01-01 08:00
How to make the viral cinnamon roll from TikTok
TikTok trends are often as random as they come and one current obsession on the video app revolves around a rather delicious-looking cinnamon roll. The roll, which contains a heavy serving of cream, was actually created by chef @marleysrose back in May 2022 but has since gone viral again and the recipe has now been viewed more than one million times. This is hardly the first time a cinnamon roll has gone viral on TikTok but this heavily cream-drenched version is the one currently doing the rounds. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter If you are wondering why there is so much cream it's because it makes the dough less dry compared to the traditional icing topping that usually accompanies the dessert. That being said, less of the technical stuff and let's just find out how to make them. @marleysrose Cinnamon Roll hack with heavy whipping cream #cinnamonrolls #cinnamonrollhack #breakfast #brunch Obviously, you'll need a few things to start with such as a baking tray, an oven and all the necessary ingredients. Recipe: Put your pre-made cinnamon rolls in a baking dish. Then pour half a cup of whipping cream on top of the rolls. Put the rolls and the cream for the amount of time that it says on the packet. Once ready top with the icing of your choice. And that's it. Bon appetite and enjoy. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Make-up artist's Kobe Bryant 'blackface' tribute sparks controversy
A TikTok make-up artist is facing backlash after recreating herself in blackface as the basketball legend Kobe Bryant. The NBA icon died in a tragic helicopter accident in 2020 and has remained an important figure in the basketball world ever since. In the video the make-up influencer @easy_baobo, who has recreated herself as other famous faces such as Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth Olsen and Tilda Swinton, wears a Los Angeles Lakers basketball jersey and applies a fake nose and facial hair to mimic Bryant's look. The video was actually first shared twice back in May 2022 and has 190,000 and 28,000 views respectively. In the second video, she added a caption that read: "Kobe is forever in my heart. Limitation makeup not imitating people just respect." Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Although the video is now 12 months old it has since resurfaced on Twitter where it was shared by the account Daily Loud, where is has received more than 43 million views. As you can imagine the story has sparked quite a debate as to whether this recreation of Bryan is acceptable or not. One person on TikTok wrote: "I see the vision but no." Another added: "No no no. I understand the reason, but no." A third said: "Why is this still up?" However, people were more receptive to the idea on Twitter and recognised the talent involved. One person said: "I feel like this is just a form of art with zero malicious intent." Another wrote: "I feel like she’s just displaying her makeup art talent. Blackface is really a reach here….” A third added: "I call it talented make up artist that’s all I see … we need to stop . Good job." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Ship captain brilliantly shuts down 'sexist' who questioned how a woman could do her job
What’s the best way to deal with ignorance? Get angry? Ignore it? Try and educate someone? Well, here’s a lesson in elegantly dispatching trolls, courtesy of Captain Kate McCue. McCue is a cruise ship captain with big social media followings on Instagram and TikTok. She’s the first American woman to captain a giant cruise vessel. But that hasn’t stopped people from sending her ignorant comments. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Like the anonymous troll who recently replied to McCue’s content by asking: "How can you be a captain? Your [sic] only a woman." McCue decided, for once, to dignify them with a response – with a twist. In a video posted to her TikTok she said: @captainkatemccue Reply to @seamus272 #yourewelcome #fyp #foryou #captain "Normally as I’m scrolling through comments and I see something like this, I totally ignore and move on with my life. But I think it’s about high time I address this because it’s 2020. And in this day and age, I am shocked that someone still doesn’t know the difference between ‘your’ and ‘you’re’. "A quick reference: ‘you’re’ as in ‘you are’, like ‘you are sexist’. ‘Your’ is something possessive, because it belongs to you, like ‘your ignorance’. But don’t worry, I’m here for you. If you need any more clarification, you can find me here. In my captain’s chair." The clip ends with a shot of McCue reclining in her captain’s seat. And the smart takedown is being praised by many. “Brilliant,” one viewer said, adding that they “did not expect” the way McCue cleverly chose to dissect the ignorance on display. Grammar lessons and dispatching trolls in under one minute? Now that’s a skill. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
How to do the Taylor Swift mathematically ranking album trend
It feels like Taylor Swift is everywhere at the moment. Every day there is a new story from one of her sell-out Eras tour concerts or a new fan theory about what her next release will be. Then there is all the news about her supposed new boyfriend Matty Healy of The 1975. With all this in mind it's easy to forget that Taylor Swift is one of the biggest and most talented musicians of the last 20 years and she has a plethora of songs in her back catalog. This is why a new TikTok trend has emerged around Swift's 10 albums to date and oddly involves maths. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The trend is simple but you might need a calculator to take part in it. All you need to do is rate each song on all of Swift's 10 albums out of 10 (it's up to you which versions of the albums you want to rank). Once you have done that add up the scores for each song and then divide it by the amount of songs on the record and it will give you the average score for that album. @lizwizdom Mathematically proven cuz i’m a mastermind #greenscreen #greenscreenvideo #taylorswift #swiftie The results are mystifying some Taylor Swift fans who are discovering that their favourite Swift album was not what they originally thought it was. @laurneliastreet mathematically calculating your album ranking is so overrated?????? #taylorswiftalbumranking #taylorswiftmathematicalranking #mathematicalranking #taylorswiftranking #taylorswift #shocking #devastating #imsosad #whyme @Taylor Swift @Taylor Nation In essence, you can pretty much do this with any artist and their discography. On that note we're off to find out which Slipknot album is our favourite. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00