“Kittenfishing” Is the Latest Dating Term You Need to Know

Online dating is hard enough without having to wonder whether the person you’re chatting with is exactly who they say they are. We all want to make a good first impression, but somewhere between choosing flattering photos and crafting the perfect bio, some people start veering into a trend known as "kittenfishing." Kittenfishing is basically the baby version of catfishing. While catfishing refers to someone creating a completely fake online identity, kittenfishing involves making yourself appear more desirable in online dating apps, especially through the use of old or edited photos and inflated profile descriptions. Even though it may feel like the latest Gen Z slang, the term kittenfishing actually dates back to 2017. The term was coined by the dating app Hinge and popularized by its relationship expert Meredith Golden as a way to describe the little white lies people tell on dating apps. Maybe someone adds a couple of inches to their height or says they attended a prestigious university when they really just took a course there. Maybe they shaved a few years off their age or used heavily edited photos or pictures that were taken when they were in high school. That, my friends, is kittenfishing. How can you avoid being kittenfished? Watch for inconsistencies. If photos seem strangely dated, the stories don’t quite add up, or someone is weirdly reluctant to video chat or follow you on social media, those can be red flags. If you want to make sure you’re not accidentally kittenfishing yourself, honesty really is the best policy. Use recent photos, be truthful about your age, height and interests, and don’t undersell or oversell who you are. Overall, it’s part of proper dating etiquette.

 

 

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The Crinkle-Crankle Wall Explained

What comes to your mind when you think about the United Kingdom? The Queen? Tea? Driving on the other side of the road? How about wiggly walls? Wiggly walls, also known as “crinkle crankle” walls, is a type of garden wall that's built in a unique snake-like shape. They're quite popular in the UK and often leave visitors wondering why on earth the walls were built in such a distinctive shape. Well, apart from looking rather funky, there’s actually a rather simple explanation — it takes less bricks to make a wavy wall than it does a straight one. If you’re wondering why, it’s because a “crinkle crankle” wall can be built one brick wide without toppling over like a straight wall would. Wavy walls was a technique known to the Egyptians some 4,000 years ago, but it wasn't introduced to England until the 17th century. Conditions in the UK are challenging. The ground is notoriously soggy, wet, and unstable, making it difficult to build on. The wavy walls proved more adaptable to the conditions, and with their series of alternate convex and concave curves, they offered less of an exposed target to the winds. The bonus is that it takes fewer bricks to build a wavy wall because a curvy wall gains all the support it needs from its winding shape, while a straight wall needs to be strengthened using buttresses in the form of a wide footing. There you have it………the crinkle-crackle wall explained!

 

 

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A New Life For America's Abandoned Railway Stations

Train stations were once the centerpieces of many U.S. cities. After decades of neglect, many are now being revived in new and creative ways. Take, for example, Union Pacific Depot in Salt Lake City, Utah. Trains don’t stop at Union Pacific Depot anymore, but that’s because it’s now a hotel. The Asher Adams was built in the former train station, opening in October 2024. Refreshed with white and gilt detailing and long wooden benches interspersed with plush seats, the resulting space pulls a bit of a mind trick: are you lingering in a lobby or waiting for a train to arrive? The Asher Adams is just one of a host of recently restored train stations across the country that are being reclaimed as hotels, restaurants, museums and more. As automobiles, and later planes, became more fashionable than trains, many of these railways consolidated or stopped running, leaving these once-bustling centerpieces of urban life empty. While many abandoned stations were torn down, for Salt Lake City, tearing down the Union Pacific Depot wasn't an option. The public had an emotional connection to it, which led to the restoration. It's also one of the oldest buildings in Salt Lake City, originally built between 1908 and 1909 as a bustling hub to merge multiple railway lines connecting the Northwest to the Southwest.

 

 

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Norway Agrees to Build the World's First Ocean Ship Tunnel

The Norwegian government has greenlit a project to carve a mile-long tunnel directly through a rocky peninsula. So why is Norway so keen to bore a tunnel through the mountainous rock of the Stad Peninsula and spend almost $1 billion to connect two fjords across a distance of just 1.4 miles? On the surface, it seems like an enormous investment for a relatively short stretch of water. However, the Stad peninsula projects into the Norwegian Sea, creating treacherous conditions for maritime traffic due to its relentless weather and unpredictable currents. As a result, marine traffic is frequently delayed because fishing vessels and cargo ships have to wait out the storms. To address this problem, the new tunnel will link the two sides of the peninsula and will be large enough to handle regular traffic from vessels ranging from fishing boats to ferries and small cruise ships. The expectation is that the tunnel will boost Norway's fishing and salmon-farming industries, encourage the movement of goods away from roads and rail, and expand tourism in the region. The government also estimates that the project could reduce fuel consumption and emissions by as much as 60%. With an estimated speed limit of 8 knots (9 mph), it will take vessels approximately 10 minutes to pass through the tunnel.

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