Customer Service Wins!

It’s a bittersweet tale from Video Stop in Pocatello, Idaho.

The last video rental spot in town shut down recently (early 2025) after years of hanging on while streaming took over. But there’s a twist: the owner, Matt McPherson, kept a piece of it alive for one loyal customer named Christina. She’d been renting there forever, even as the world moved on to Netflix and chill.

So, instead of liquidating everything, he saved about 800 DVDs (her favorites) and set up “Christina’s Corner” in what’s left of the store. It’s not open to the public, just her, like a private movie vault.

The social media buzz around this story calls it a feel good relic of a bygone era. No hard science here, just human stubbornness and nostalgia.

Video Stop was a holdout, the kind of place where you’d still find dusty VHS tapes and a guy who knew every plot twist. Christina gets to keep that vibe, while the rest of Pocatello’s stuck with Wi-Fi speeds and buffering wheels.

STORY IS HERE

Gladiator Fights?

There’s a mess unfolding at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, Los Angeles County.

Thirty probation officers got slapped with charges (child endangerment, abuse, conspiracy, and battery) after allegedly letting, and sometimes egging on, nearly 70 “gladiator fights” between July and December 2023.

We’re talking 143 kids, ages 12 to 18, caught up in this, with video evidence showing officers standing by, some laughing or shaking hands with the attackers, while a 17 year old got pummeled one by one. California AG Rob Bonta called it out as planned chaos. The officers basically set the stage for these brawls instead of stepping in.

The footage, leaked in January 2024 and splashed across the Los Angeles Times, sparked the DOJ probe. One clip even has an officer checking her watch like she’s timing rounds.

All 30 officers are on unpaid leave, with 22 arraigned Monday and the rest due April 18th. The Probation Department’s cheering the charges, claiming they pushed for the investigation.

STORY IS HERE

Tossing Some Coffee!?

A Florida couple’s Cancún dreams has crash landed hard.

On March 2, 2025, Rafael Seirafe-Novaes, 40, and Beatriz Rapoport De Campos Maia, 29, rolled up late to Miami International Airport for American Airlines Flight 2494.

Denied boarding around 8:35 a.m., they didn’t take it well. They allegedly shoved past staff, with one of them chucking coffee at an employee’s face.

Video from the scene shows chaos: multiple cops wrestling Seirafe-Novaes to the ground, cuffs snapping on, while Rapoport De Campos Maia gets pulled aside.

STORY IS HERE

It’s A Battle!

The thermostat wars are a classic clash of science, comfort, and stubbornness. There are many key factors fueling those central heating arguments, rooted in physiology, psychology, and physics.

Data from ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) suggests 68 to 74°F (20–23°C) satisfies most people most of the time. Split the difference at 71°F (22°C), layer up or strip down as needed and call it a truce. Or, get a dual zone system and let science win. You can have separate temps AND separate peace.

Follow the link below to read more about thermostat tyrants in the house!

STORY IS HERE

What’s That Smell?

We all have our quirks, right? Those little things about us that make people raise an eyebrow or tilt their head in confusion. Mine? I secretly love the smell of gasoline. Yes, that pungent, chemical whiff that wafts around gas stations. It’s the one most people recoil from like it’s a personal attack on their senses. To me, it’s weirdly delightful, and I’m here to explain why.

I know, I know, gasoline doesn’t sound like a contender for “favorite scent.” It’s not exactly lavender fields or fresh baked cookies. But there’s something about that sharp, tangy bite that hooks me every time I fill up my tank. It’s not like I’m sitting there sniffing the pump (let’s not get carried away), but when that faint vapor hits, I catch myself taking an extra breath. It’s crisp, bold, and oddly invigorating. It’s like a shot of espresso for my nose.

Maybe nostalgia is doing the heavy lifting. Growing up, I’d tag along on road trips where the gas station stop was a ritual. We would stop and stretch our legs, grab snacks and listen for that glug-glug of the pump. Or maybe it’s from watching my dad tinker with lawnmowers and old cars, the garage steeped in that unmistakable aroma. Whatever it is, gasoline’s scent has a pull that’s hard to shake.

I’m fully aware most people disagree. To them, it’s a noxious, headache inducing stench. For most people, it’s something to escape, not embrace. I’ve seen friends grimace and wave their hands like they’re fending off a swarm of bees when we’re near a fuel spill. “How can you stand that?” they ask, as if I’ve just admitted to liking moldy socks. And fairly admit it’s not a “pretty” smell. It’s raw, industrial and tied to fumes most associate with pollution or car exhaust. But to me, that edge is part of its charm.

I can’t be the only one with a soft spot for a “gross” smell. Some folks swear by the earthy funk of rain soaked dirt or the briny tang of fish markets. Others confess to loving the sweaty, lived in smell of a gym bag (okay, that one’s a stretch for me). Point is, our noses are weirdly personal. What’s revolting to one person can be comforting to another. Gasoline just happens to be my oddball pick.

So, I’ve spilled my secret and now it’s your turn. What smell do you secretly enjoy that makes other people gag? Maybe it’s wet dog fur, burnt popcorn, or that funky cheese that clears a room. Drop those answers in the comments!

Life’s too short to pretend we all love roses and vanilla, right?

Music History Tuesday!

The Year: 1993

Melanie Chisholm, Melanie Brown and Victoria Adams are among 400 hopefuls at a London dance studio auditioning for producers who are forming a new group. They are selected, and along with Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton, become the Spice Girls.

Bonus Slice +++

The Year: 1984

The Police play the final concert of their Synchronicity tour in Melbourne, Australia. It is their last show, except for a few special events together, until 2007.

Catch That Kangaroo!

On February 28th, 2025, a deputy from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office wrangled a kangaroo spotted hopping around near Farek Loth Road and Farm to Market 609.

The kangaroo, stylishly dressed in a red jacket, turned out to be a local pet named Jack.

After a bit of a stir (and a social media post from the sheriff’s office asking, “Is your kangaroo missing?”) Jack was safely reunited with his owner.

STORY IS HERE

Emergency Donuts?

Here’s an adorable story about Bennett from Moore, Oklahoma!

This little guy got his hands on an old cell phone that couldn’t do much else but still had that emergency 911 feature active.

Naturally, he decided to put it to good use and called in his urgent request for “emergency donuts.”

The Moore Police Department shared the hilarious audio of his exchange with the dispatcher, who played along, asking if he’d share his donuts (spoiler: Bennett said no).

The next day, the police made it even sweeter by showing up at his house with a box of Dunkin’ goodies.

The dispatcher probably had a good laugh and I’d bet the officers delivering those donuts were grinning too. Could you resist a toddler with that kind of determination?

STORY IS HERE

Watch For Scorpions!

Picture this: you’re fresh off a flight, jet lagged and just trying to grab your suitcase from baggage claim. Suddenly a scorpion stings you out of nowhere.

That’s exactly what happened to a 40 year old woman at Boston Logan International Airport over the weekend, turning a routine trip into a nightmare.

The incident went down Sunday night around 7:30 p.m. in Terminal E’s customs area, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The woman, who’d just flown in (possibly from Mexico, per some reports) was retrieving her luggage when the unwelcome arachnid struck. She was rushed to a local hospital, though no word yet on how she’s doing.

Scorpion stings can pack a punch (think intense pain, swelling, maybe some numbness) but they’re rarely fatal for healthy adults, says the Mayo Clinic. Still, not the souvenir anyone’s hoping for.

STORY IS HERE