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I am a huge hockey fan. Let's go, Predators!

Yes, the fights are fun for fans, but they happen for a reason. Hockey is fast-paced and dangerous. Highly skilled players are targeted, and it's not difficult to cheap shot a hit and put a valuable player on the injured reserve list. Enforcers are players whose main job is to bring a physical presence and protect their teammates. Fights most often happen as a response to a questionable hit. If you are the type of person who wants to rough up another player, you may think twice about it if that team has a big dude who will punch your face in for being dirty.

It's also a morale thing. Sometimes when a team is getting pounded and underperforming, a fight will ignite and inspire the rest of the team to continue that energy. Sometimes teams simply hate each other due to rivalry or history, and their players are more likely to take offense to something.

Love it or hate it, it is a cultural norm in the game. The NHL made moves years ago to try to phase it out, but it seems lately to have come back with a vengeance. I'd personally rather see fighting than cheap-shotting, as injuries very rarely result from a fight.

Plus, if you really hate a player, it's so satisfying seeing them get punched in the face.

I will admit I love introducing people to it, but I always preface it as the worst tasting liqueur for most people. I have a wonky palate, and I love bitter and herbal flavors. I have introduced it to some people who enjoy strong herbal flavors that hadn't heard of it and were pleasantly surprised.

I usually have a bottle of Malort at home, and I especially love it when my stomach is unsettled. I sip it neat or on the rocks.

Fun aside, it's also a great way to add some complexity and balance to an overly sweet sparkling wine. It has its place in making cocktails, but I get why most people don't like it.

I saw the South Park Bigger, Longer, and Uncut movie in theaters as a kid. I lived in a small town adjacent to a small city, and there weren't many other people in the theater. During the scene where the boys are watching the Terrace and Phillip movie and the theater-goers walk out, so did everyone else in our real life theater. It was surreal. We had a great time watching the rest of the movie by ourselves.

I'm sorry to be this person, but that's an albatross chick. They are struggling to reproduce because of this problem. 😞

Also, natural variations in ingredients are a thing.

For some people this works well. I am an introvert, and my alone time is necessary. Having a part of the day only for me is helpful. My partner feels the same way. Our schedules are mostly dictated by work, so we sometimes move closer together schedule-wise on the weekends. It's a good balance for us, and we complement each other more because of it.

I am a very casual gamer, but my partner is much more invested and skilled when it comes to gaming. I ended up really enjoying watching him play Returnal, to the point that I'd be annoyed if he played without me. It was visually beautiful, the story was movie-like, and I was even helpful in watching where the monsters were so they didn't sneak up on him.

I hope he wants to replay it, because I'd love to watch it again. Highly recommend!

What a shame your mother missed her opportunity to experience it

I work in veterinary medicine, and it's alarming how many calls we get like this. Just last night a potential new client called saying their breeder told them Ragdoll cats can't get the rabies vaccine without later developing cancer. The client point-blank told us the breeder was more knowledgeable than our doctors. What do you even say that wouldn't get you fired?

"And the behaviour of the cat was somewhat peculiar. It was soon noticed that when there was work to be done the cat could never be found. She would vanish for hours on end, and then reappear at meal-times, or in the evening after work was over, as though nothing had happened. But she always made such excellent excuses , and purred so affectionately , that it was impossible not to believe in her good intentions."

I start when they're kittens. They're easier to manage if they tantrum at that size, and options for gently restraining them are more varied. Once they get used to the feeling it's routine for them, even if it's not their favorite thing. My oldest cat took the longest to get comfortable with it. I had to wrap her in a towel, pulling out one foot at a time for almost two years. Now she'll sit in my lap like a baby and let me trim her nails. That's my preferred way of doing it, but it requires training that can take a lot of patience.

Nail trimming is not something I have to do very often, because the most important thing in cat claw maintenance is providing them with plentiful and diverse scratching options. Different cats like different surfaces. Giving them a variety of choices keeps them away from things you don't want them scratching on. It also helps them manage their own nails, which most cats are very good at. Two of my cats are so meticulous about their claw condition that they'll pluck their own nail sheaths off when they're too long for their liking. Cats are generally hygienic and good with grooming, so if you provide your cat with the opportunity to maintain their nails through grooming and scratching opportunities, you may find you rarely have to trim your cat's nails at all.

I have three cats. They have carpet, sisal rope, and corrugated cardboard options in various forms. Some scratching spots are vertical, some horizontal, some perchable, and some loungable. The most important thing is to figure out what your cat likes and follow their lead. If you have a multiple cat household this can get expensive and crowded. It's too important for the cats not to do it, though.

Trimming an adult cat's nails when they're not used to it can be difficult. The towel method still works, but if your cat gets especially fractious they could seriously hurt you. If that's the case, visit your veterinarian for a nail trim, and if they're a quality establishment they'd be happy to try to show you how to cut your cat's nails yourself.

Every animal is different, so we have to deal with these things to the best of our ability in managing them. Nail trimming is important, and there is nothing wrong with asking for help from your vet if you find you can't manage your pet's nails yourself. Getting nail trims done at the vet isn't cheap, but if that's your only option then use it.

Side note to this novel I just wrote, OP asked a question about cats, but referenced having a dog. There's a growing trend of people making scratching boards for their dogs out of lumber and sandpaper. They encourage their dogs to dig and scratch at the board. As easy as I have it with trimming my cats' nails, I admittedly suck at trimming my German Shepherd and mastiff's nails. I take them to work and I let the professionals handle it. I haven't tried the board method yet, but I intend to.