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There are celebrity scandals, and then there are stories that feel like they fell through a trapdoor in the American attention economy and landed somewhere far darker than the usual tabloid swamp. The arrest of Tony McCollister—once a blink-and-you-miss-it reality-TV figure—belongs firmly in the latter category. According to reporting, McCollister, a former participant on A&E’s short-lived 2015 series Neighbors With Benefits , has been charged in Ohio with pandering obscenity involving a minor and sexual conduct with an animal. Authorities confirmed that pets were confiscated during the investigation and are currently being cared for. McCollister has posted bail, been ordered to have no contact with children or animals, and is due back in court. His former spouse has stated they are no longer married. Those are the facts as publicly reported. Everything beyond that remains for the courts to determine. But the facts alone raise a more uncomfortable question—one that goes far beyo...

1. Welcome to the Age of the Brain Optional Humans like to think that thinking is our thing. We invented philosophy, cryptocurrency, and TikTok dances—clearly signs of a powerful intellect at work. But then along comes the box jellyfish, a squishy translucent balloon with no brain, showing up to the party doing associative learning like it’s no big deal. Suddenly, all those mindfulness apps feel less impressive. Clarissa Brincat’s Live Science feature asks the deceptively simple question: Can brainless animals think? Spoiler alert — if you’ve ever had a coworker who manages to forget where the coffee filters are every single day , the answer might sting a little. Because apparently, yes, some brainless animals are capable of learning, recognizing, adapting, and, in a few cases, making better life choices than people with entire frontal lobes. 2. Neurons Without the Drama Let’s start with a revelation from neurobiologist Simon Sprecher: “Brainless does not necessarily mean neuron...

It’s hard not to gulp when you hear a wildlife center owner has been charged with felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty after animals were seized from his property. But alas, that is precisely where we are, with Steve Kroschel, owner of Kroschel Films Wildlife Center, facing serious allegations in Haines, Alaska. The arraignment is set for October 8. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com Let’s unpack what’s alleged, what’s being claimed, and whether Kroschel sounds more like a misunderstood wildlife hero... or someone who let things slip past basic decency. What the State Says Here are the charges, loosely summarized (so I don’t get stuck in legalese): Felony counts and misdemeanor counts alleging animal cruelty. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com A pattern of neglect going back more than a decade , involving repeated violations noted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, USDA, veterinarians. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com Specific incidents: Porcupine death (Nov...

Ah, Florida. The state where alligators crash pool parties, hurricanes RSVP uninvited, and apparently, “farms” double as nightmare fuel for the SPCA. This week’s guest star in the Sunshine State’s endless reality show of bad decisions is none other than Robert Lee Hoover , the proud—or should we say loudly defensive—owner of Family Farms in Davie. You know, the kind of guy who thinks tossing a few carrots and a lettuce leaf counts as veterinary care. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. The Arrest Heard Around Broward Let’s set the scene. Police execute a search warrant at 14950 SW 14th Street—Hoover’s personal empire of neglect—and what do they find? Emaciated cows that looked like they’d just walked off a famine documentary, a pig whose sunburn was so severe it was “raw and bloody,” and a horse sporting an untreated eye injury. If you’re wondering whether this horror show came with a side of paperwork—vet records, feeding schedules, anything resembling responsibility—the answer is a big, f...

You’ve seen it. A viral video of a dog “talking” with those big, sad eyes and pressing a button that says “outside.” Or a dolphin squeaking in just the right way to make someone claim it’s singing the blues. Or Kanzi the bonobo using symbols to ask for bananas like he’s applying to Harvard. Well, grab your linguistics degree—or at least your common sense—because it’s time for a reality check. The grand hunt for language in animals has led us straight into the land of projection, where our desperate need to feel like Dr. Dolittle has overshadowed the actual science. Spoiler alert: Animals aren’t talking. They’re barely texting. The Myth of the Chatty Chimp Let’s start with the usual suspects: chimps and bonobos. These are our evolutionary cousins, and like that cousin who insists on telling you they “almost got into med school,” we love to imagine they’re just like us —but with more hair and fewer hang-ups about nudity. Recently, two high-profile papers tried to convince us that chi...