Georgia Teacher Sets Up “Fart Corner” For Her Students

When nature calls in one Georgia classroom, students have a designated place to answer: the fart corner. Candy Sydney-Browning, a second-grade teacher in Atlanta, created a “gas station” where students can discreetly step away to pass gas without leaving the classroom or disrupting the lesson. The 36-year-old marks the spot with a neon-yellow “gusty winds area” traffic sign and keeps plenty of air freshener nearby. The unconventional setup has social media in a frenzy, with many calling it genius, while others wondered whether a room full of second-graders could really ignore a classmate making a trip to the fart corner. One commenter pointed out that it creates comfort around normal bodily functions and reduces the shame associated with passing gas. Other said they would be mortified to use such a setup. Sydney-Browning said the idea is less about farting than keeping students focused and making them comfortable handling a normal bodily function appropriately. The designated area means students don't have to raise their hands or wait for permission. They can simply get up, walk to the back of the classroom, use the area, and return to the lesson.

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Judge Orders Farmer to Destroy His Nectarine Orchard After He Gave Away 180,000 Pounds of Free Fruit

In 2017 California fruit grower Cesar Mora signed a contract with Giumarra Brothers Fruit Company to grow nectarines. Then Mora discovered something troubling. He alleges that about half of his nectarine crop was being rejected and thrown out at the packing house because of minor blemishes, cutting his income significantly, even though he was growing exactly what he contracted to grow. So, he stopped delivering fruit to Giumarra and began selling to a different buyer. Giumarra sued him for breach of contract, claiming he broke their agreement. Unable to legally sell his fruit while the lawsuit dragged on, Mora decided to give it away to his community. Last week, a Fresno County judge ruled against Mora, siding with Giumarra and ordering him to remove every nectarine tree on his property. His attorneys immediately filed an emergency request to pause the order while they appeal. Mora says this situation is more about control than about the money.

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Doctor Wakes Up With a Bat Attempting to Burrow Into Her Mouth

Dr. Krista Edelman, a gastroenterologist from Richmond, Virginia, was having a strange dream about a small mouse trying to get into her mouth, when she suddenly awakened to something even more frightening. She was met with the horrifying realization that there was, in fact, a bat burrowing between her lips. Her husband grabbed a t-ball bat to take care of it, but from her training Krista knew that wasn’t the right move. “I knew we were supposed to try to catch the bat so it could be tested to see if there was rabies in its brain,” she said. There are more than 40 bat species across the U.S., and healthy bats avoid humans if it all possible. Summertime is when homeowners most often find bats in their homes. The mammals often roost in the attic, and if it gets too hot, they’ll leave to find a cooler spot. Bats can infect humans with a number of dangerous diseases, including rabies. Untreated, rabies travels slowly through the body over months without symptoms, then causes serious brain and nervous system damage that can lead to coma and death. Luckily, the rabies vaccine is very effective and can be given to people shortly after they’ve been exposed. It helps the body kill the virus before it reaches the brain. In Edelman’s case, the bat tested negative for rabies, but she still took action to be on the safe side. Most importantly, she wanted to share a PSA: “If you live in an older home, check those attics and chimneys. If you wake up with a bat in the room and aren’t sure whether you had contact with it, don’t assume you’re fine. It’s worth getting medical advice right away.”

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Cottage Cheese Pancakes

A cottage cheese pancake recipe might sound like a health-food workaround, but that’s not what these are. The cottage cheese does add a boost of protein, but it also does something genuinely interesting to the batter: it adds a subtle tang and richness you won’t get from your usual pancake recipe. It also helps give the pancakes their soft, custard-like centers and crisp edges. Best of all, the batter comes together in one bowl without any fuss. Serve them with maple syrup and a pat of butter, or pile on fresh berries if you’re feeling ambitious. Either way, don’t be surprised if they become your new weekend default.

Servings: 3-4

Ingredients:

 

• • 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or low-fat; small curd preferred)
• • ¼ cup milk, plus a bit more if needed
• • 2 large eggs
• • 2 tablespoons sugar
• • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• • 1 cup all-purpose flour
• • 1¼ teaspoons baking powder
• • ½ teaspoon salt
• • Vegetable oil and unsalted butter, for cooking
• • Maple syrup, for serving

Directions:

• • In a medium bowl, whisk together the cottage cheese, milk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla until well combined.
• • Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, and stir until just combined. If the batter seems too thick, add 1 to 2 tablespoons more milk, a little at a time.
• • Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat and add a tablespoon of oil and a small pat of butter. 
• • Once the butter is melted and sizzling lightly, drop the batter by ¼-cup portions into the pan.
• • Cook until the bottoms are golden and the edges look set, about 3 minutes. 
• • Flip carefully and cook for another minute or so, until golden and just cooked through in the center. Wipe the pan clean with a paper towel between batches.
• • Serve warm with maple syrup.

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