Latest news with #Catfish
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"Relationsh*t" Host Kamie Crawford Thinks You Should Stop Manifesting a Rich Partner
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. If you need relationship advice, just ask Kamie Crawford. On her podcast, Relationshit, the 32-year-old fields questions from callers and Instagram DM-ers about dating, friendships, and family—and offers her signature BFF-style guidance in response. On this week's episode of the Marie Claire podcast "Nice Talk", Crawford gives listeners a taste of that wisdom and opens up about her career, from Miss Teen USA to TV host. One topic she doesn't hold back on? People who put 'rich' at the top of their dating wishlist. Crawford says that financial imbalances in relationships are "difficult, very difficult. This is why I tell everyone to stop manifesting a rich man, because that's not going to do anything for you." Instead, the former Catfish host encourages people to manifest something else entirely. "There are a lot of rich people who are very cheap and very close-fisted and will not buy you a damn thing—and will actually put you on an allowance. I've seen it happen. So, I tell everyone to manifest a generous partner." And generosity, she adds, isn't just about money. "Generosity is like—who is this person when I'm six months pregnant and I want an Oreo McFlurry? He's going to go out there and source it for me,' Crawford says. 'He's going to drive 45 minutes, if that's where the next McDonald's is, and he's gonna go get it for me. … Generosity is: I'm folding my laundry, but I'm gonna fold yours too, because it's right here." Of course, generosity can also mean material gifts (beyond McFlurrys). But Crawford warns that if you're only focused on a partner's income, you might not end up with the kind of thoughtfulness you actually want. "Sometimes they're getting you gifts that they like for you. Doesn't mean it's something you actually want,' she says. 'Doesn't mean they're actually paying attention to what you like." While Crawford doesn't believe in manifesting a rich partner, she does think it's fair to look for someone financially responsible. "I've also dated people who were frivolous with money that they maybe didn't have, and you don't want that either," she says. "You also don't want the person who's been working on their business plan for the past 30 years and hasn't made it happen." Crawford learned a lot about relationships during her six years as the co-host of the MTV docuseries Catfish, and from countless conversations with her five sisters and close friends. She sees Relationshit as a natural extension of those chats. "I love to yap. I'm a yapper by nature," the Ex on the Beach presenter says. "I love to talk about these things, and I'm not here pretending like I'm some expert in every single facet of relationships. I didn't study it in school. This is not something that I have a degree in. But the messages that I get from people—all kinds of different people from all different walks of life—saying that listening to you has made me realize my worth, has made me leave that bad relationship, has made me leave that toxic job. I couldn't have imagined that I would have that impact on someone." For more from Crawford—including her advice on making friends as an adult and what competing in pageants is really like—check out this week's installment of "Nice Talk". The episode is available everywhere you listen to podcasts.
Scottish Sun
04-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Former Lord Provost of Glasgow banned from going near ex-lover he hounded
SHAMED POLITICIAN Former Lord Provost of Glasgow banned from going near ex-lover he hounded Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER Lord Provost of Glasgow who bombarded his ex-partner with texts and social media messages in a bid to win her back has been banned from going near her for five years. Philip Braat was also ordered today to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work and fined £840. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Philip Bratt was sentenced today at Glasgow Sheriff Court Credit: Alamy The 49-year-old, of the city's Broomhill, was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court. He had earlier pleaded guilty to a single charge of stalking. The court heard how he had contacted the woman 122 times between July and September 2024. The pair started dating in 2021 and went on to live together. The woman told Braat that she was ending the relationship in July 2024. She received an email the next day from the councillor which included an apparent resignation letter to his employer sent from his professional account. Fiscal Paige Phillips said: "The woman thought that this was fake and to get her attention as well as to make her feel guilty." She later contacted Braat to emphasise the end of their relationship during a "very emotional and distressing" call. The woman also stated that she did not love him and wanted to get on with her life. Braat attempted to persuade her that the pair should be together and stated that he could "not live" without her." Listen to chilling audio as creepy Catfish stalker uses voice-change app on dating scam victim He said: "You better visit my parents and you better keep my legacy alive." The woman believed that this was in reference to Braat ending his life and he said: "I don't want to live without you." When asked if it was in reference to ending his life, Braat replied: "Maybe." Between July and September, the woman received 18 emails, 51 Instagram messages, 15 text messages, 37 WhatsApp messages and a LinkedIn message. Some of the emails contained "goodbye" letters to the woman and Braat's own family. The woman contacted the police, and Braat was traced to his parents' address, where he was found "safe and well." Braat's LinkedIn message, congratulating her on a professional award she received, resulted in the woman going to the police. She stated that the messages were not nasty but there was "no escape" from Braat and she could "not cope any longer." Braat gave a "no comment" interview to police after his arrest. Solicitor advocate Andrew Seggie, defending, told the court: "He was at a low point and felt suicidal and his focus was on winning the woman back during the period of the charge. "As a result of the passage of time, he accepts his behaviour overstepped the mark. He is genuinely remorseful. "He was the Lord Provost during the pandemic and he said he felt additional pressure to assist those who lost loved ones as a result of the pandemic together with his own constituents. "He was trying to manage this and juggle his own family issues and the end of the relationship caused him to suffer a mental health breakdown during this period." Sheriff Owen Mullan today imposed the five non harassment order banning Braat from approaching or contacting the woman for the next five years. The unpaid work must be completed within six months. Sheriff Mullan said Braat's behaviour had 'overstepped the mark' and that it would have been 'stressful' for the woman. Braat has represented the Anderston/City/Yorkhill ward since 2007 and is subject to an investigation by Scottish Labour. Braat was the deputy Lord Provost in 2017 before taking on the senior role in 2020 until 2022. He left the position after the 2019 resignation of Eva Bolander amid criticism of her expense claims. Braat was also the former convener of the Strathclyde Police Authority (SPA) and represented Glasgow at COP26. Braat was a member of the Law Society of Scotland, an honorary captain in the Royal Navy Reserves, and a member of the Glasgow Tree Lovers' Society.
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I tried best FREE TV apps with 1,000s of channels, films and shows – my top pick is worth killing your £220 Netflix for
I LOVE telly – but there are so many apps asking for a chunk of my change every month, my bank can hardly keep up. So I've tried five of the best TV streaming apps out there, in a bid to save you from 16 The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach dives into the world of free telly – and finds some massive bargains Credit: Sean Keach 16 Even paid-for apps are showing ads these days – so you might as well be watching telly for free Credit: Sean Keach The catch is that all of these apps will show you ads – either during live telly or midway through on-demand content. But regular TV has been showing ads for decades, and the entry-level memberships for Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video So here are some of the best free TV app options out there right now. Maybe you can even Free TV app #1 – Pluto TV What is it? Pluto is one of the big names in free streaming, and it's got a vast library of content. It's also available on plenty of devices. How easy to get set up? You're asked to accept or reject some privacy settings with one click – and that's it. I was watching telly within seconds. You don't need to create an account or add a credit card, and you're whisked straight into the TV guide. You can scroll through channels or head into the menu for on-demand telly. How much content is there? In the UK, Pluto TV has somewhere between 100 and 150 channels – and upwards of 20,000 hours of on-demand telly. What are the best bits? You're throwing away money on Netflix – I found three common mistakes sending your bill soaring but the fixes are easy For live channels, there's reality TV (Geordie OGs, Catfish, Teen Mom), sports (UFC, Fifa+), and great kids options including channels for Teletubbies, Bob the Builder, and Arthur . You also get some classic American telly channels focused on shows like South Park, Judge Judy, and CSI. Plus there's an entire 'paranormal' section. Spooky. On-demand is a mixed bag, but for TV you've got Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen and horror Halloween. Parental Controls 16 Pluto TV has a decent selection of live TV channels and on-demand telly Credit: Sean Keach 16 Your viewing will be interrupted by ads – that's the price you pay for free TV Credit: Sean Keach It's not very granular. There's simply a kids mode that blocks content, locked behind a four-digit PIN. It's workable but could be better. Verdict: The live channels are great. On-demand has some gems, but there's a lot of rubbish to wade through. We tried it on an Apple TV box. Free TV app #2 – Xumo Play What is it? 16 Xumo Play is a good option for background telly Credit: Sean Keach Xumo is an American TV company based in California and part-operated by Comcast – but it's available for Brits too. How easy to get set up? The app was already right there on my Sky Stream box – and it took seconds to get in and start watching. How much content is there? Xumo Play has north of 75 channels in the UK, with a claimed catalogue of over 15,000 movies and TV shows. What are the best bits? There's a good selection of reality TV channels, including Cheaters, Homes Under the Hammer, World's Wildest Police Videos, and Mythbusters. And sports fans might enjoy World Poker Tour or Sky Sports Classics. 16 The app is even available on Sky TV platforms Credit: Sean Keach 16 The selection of movies isn't exactly inspiring – but you might find some cheesy fun Credit: Sean Keach For on-demand viewing, the catalogue of movies is very obscure. I struggled to find a single movie that I recognised – but that might make for a laugh if you've got pals round. TV was slightly better with 12 seasons of Unsolved Mysteries , plus five seasons of Andromeada for sci-fi fans. But the mix isn't great. Parental Controls I couldn't find any parental controls in the app. That's something to keep in mind if you have kids. NETFLIX 2025 PRICE HIKES REVEALED Here's what you're now paying (and what you get)... Netflix Standard with Ads Price: £5.99 (up £1 from £4.99) Ad-supported, all but a few movies and TV shows available, unlimited mobile games Watch on 2 supported devices at a time Watch in 1080p (Full HD) Download on 2 supported devices at a time Netflix Standard Price: £12.99 (Up £2 from £10.99) Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows, and mobile games Watch on 2 supported devices at a time Watch in 1080p (Full HD) Download on 2 supported devices at a time Option to add 1 extra member who doesn't live with you Netflix Premium Price: £18.99 (Up £1 from £17.99) Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows, and mobile games Watch on 4 supported devices at a time Watch in 4K (Ultra HD) + HDR Download on 6 supported devices at a time Option to add up to 2 extra members who don't live with you Netflix spatial audio Picture Credit: Netflix Verdict: Xumo Play is perfectly fine for a bit of background telly. It's the sort of thing you stick on with friends round while you chat. Just don't plan your Friday night around it. We tried it on a Sky Stream box. Free TV app #3 – Tubi (TOP PICK FOR FILMS) What is it? A major US player that recently launched in the UK, Tubi is the best option for movies – so it's the Netflix killer on the list. 16 Tubi is a movie lover's dream – especially if you're on a budget Credit: Sean Keach How easy to get set up? You make a privacy setting choice, and the app loads up straight away. You don't need to sign up, log in, or add any financial details to start watching. How much content is there? In the UK, Tubi serves up somewhere in the region of 40,000 movies and TV episodes. 16 You'll want Tubi loaded up for movie night Credit: Sean Keach That's impressive since the launch roster was half that when Tubi debuted in Britain in July 2024. What are the best bits? You've got some movie night classics like Memento, Elysium, The Girl Next Door, and several Resident Evil movies. There's also Bad Neighbours 1 and 2, the 2016 Ghostbusters, District 9, and '90s cult classic Cruel Intentions. THere's some captivating reality telly, including Masterchef UK, Cheaters, Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, and Jerry Springer. And as a bonus treat, you'll also find The I.T. Crowd and all nine seasons of Peep Show on Tubi too. Parental Controls You can set up parental controls on the website, allowing you to choose specific content levels. It's a rare level of detail for parents, so this is a big upside. 16 Tubi is constantly adding new content to its library Credit: Sean Keach Verdict: This is the movie night app. It's quick to start, has loads of top flicks, and a decent selection of on-demand binge-worthy TV too. Just keep in mind there are no live telly channels (unlike in the US). We tried it on an Apple TV box. Free TV app #4 – Rakuten TV What is it? Owned by a Japanese tech giant, Rakuten TV has both live channels and on-demand telly too. 16 Rakuten is where you'll be able to find The Graham Norton Show re-runs Credit: Sean Keach How easy to get set up? Once you pick your privacy settings, you're straight in. No sign up or credit cards – just instant telly. How much content is there? In the UK, Rakuten offers more than 150 channels, plus over 10,000 movies and TV episodes. What are the best bits? For on-demand, you've got some fun content for kids, including Postman Pat The Movie, Barbie Dreamtopia: Festival of Fun, and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. There's also After Earth , Gone Girl, and Mile 22, which tick the action or thriller boxes. There are Baywatch, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Ninja Warrior channels. 16 Gordon Ramsay fans will be able to enjoy Hell's Kitchen USA on Rakuten too Credit: Sean Keach But the highlight is probably the dedicated The Graham Norton Show channel. Parental Controls There weren't any parental controls in the version of the app that I tested. Verdict: Great for Graham Norton re-runs, and some good child-friendly movie options too. TUBI SUPPORTED DEVICES – WHERE CAN YOU WATCH? Here's the official list for the UK... Android via Google Play Store Android TV iOS via App Store Apple TV LG TV Web OS Samsung TV Sony TV (Android) Web via Roku Chromecast (Android, iOS and web) Sony PS4 Amazon Fire Tablet Hisense Vidaa PS5 Xbox Series Windows Picture Credit: Tubi We tried it on an Apple TV box. Free TV app #5 – Plex TV (TOP PICK FOR LIVE TV) What is it? Plex began life as a way to stream your own saved media files (like a home movie) to your TV. But now it offers free telly supported by ads. How easy to get set up? 16 Plex started out as a home streaming app – but it's now a free Netflix rival Credit: Sean Keach I click the app open, choose my ad privacy consent, and then free telly materialises before my very eyes. How much content is there? Plex promises more than 600 TV channels in the UK, plus north of 50,000 on-demand movies and TV shows. What are the best bits? There are loads of live TV channels, including Fear Factor, Pointless, Fifa+, and Baywatch – plus Arthur, Mr Bean, and Smurf TV for the kids. It's live TV where Plex has the edge. The on-demand selection is OK: you get Hell's Kitchen, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers , and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on the telly front. And on-demand movies include The Boondock Saints, Big Momma's House, and Jumper. 16 Plex has plenty of movies and TV shows on offer Credit: Sean Keach Parental Controls I couldn't find any parental controls on the TV version of the app. Verdict: Plex has a top-notch selection of live TV channels – but the on-demand library is extremely forgettable. We tried it on an Apple TV box. 16 I tested the TV apps using Sky Stream and Apple TV plug-in boxes Credit: Sean Keach 16 Sky Stream is just one way to watch free TV apps – but most smart TVs and streaming gadgets offer the same selection of services too Credit: Sean Keach
Cosmopolitan
17-06-2025
- General
- Cosmopolitan
What It's Like Being a Teenage Catfish
I grew up in the early 2000s, during the Y2K run of a brand of diet culture that is, unfortunately, enjoying a 2020s resurgence. Not unlike life in the age of SkinnyTok today, it was a time when we glorified skinny bodies to the point of putting our health and well-being at risk. The infamous Kate Moss-ism, 'Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,' was one of the many phrases my mother and aunts would casually throw around while talking about whatever new fad diet they were trying that week. None of them were even fat to begin with, but the obsession with shrinking their bodies was still ever-present. I, however, was fat; I've been fat for most of my life, actually. Growing up in that environment, I used to think the way my body looked meant I wasn't worthy of love. For most of my life, that's pretty much the only message I got: from my parents, from my friends, from my extended family, from the media. The books I spent hours reading and the movies I loved so much all featured skinny women finding the loves of their lives and getting that 'happily ever after' I so desperately wanted for myself. This, as far as I could tell, meant that before I could even dream of someone being remotely attracted to me, I'd have to lose weight, no matter the cost. At the time, probably around 9th grade, I was what we'd now call 'midsize.' However, at a size 16, I was still the fattest girl in my class—and even then, I could tell I was treated differently by guys. I got used to being the sweet, funny friend—never the girlfriend. I was deemed worthy enough to keep a secret, but not worthy enough to take on a date or sleep with. Back then, it shaped the way I viewed and understood the world and my place in it. Even now, at 30, I'm struggling to unlearn all of those things I was programmed to believe about myself because of the way my body looked. Sure, things are better now, in a way. Fat women get some representation here and there in mainstream media. We finally have fat icons to look up to and celebrate. But the reality is, things haven't changed all that much. It's still hard to find sex and relationships content that is focused on the experiences of fat women, written by and for fat women. I still can't find advice columns or essays that help me come to terms with the darker and more shameful parts of what growing up fat meant for me. It's always things like: 'Here's my weight-loss journey! It changed my life for the better!' (as if being skinny is the only possible way to be happy), 'I can't find clothes,' or 'I was bullied as a kid,' but never anything that goes deeper. So, I decided to write it myself. I'm going to assume we've all seen (or at least heard of) the infamous MTV show Catfish. You know, the one where folks who'd fallen hard and fast for internet strangers enlisted the help of Nev Shulman and Max Joseph to find out if their online lovers were who they said they were. There were really no winners in this show—we'd all end up making fun of the person who misrepresented themselves online and lied to strangers for attention, as well as the person who was naive enough to fall for the ruse. In the early days of social media, however, leading someone on with a fake online persona was fairly easy. You'd create a fake email, a fake Facebook or MySpace, add a couple of photos of your hot friend, and wait for the friend requests to roll in. I know this because I did it. Hi, yes, I was a teenage catfish. I must've been around 13 years old when I created my first fake profile. At the time, I truly believed something was wrong with me and my body. I longed to be like the other girls in my class: thin enough to feel confident wearing bathing suits in public, with no hips and no boobs. I was tired of not getting attention from boys and tired of being made fun of for liking the hottest boy on the soccer team while other girls laughed and told me he'd never like me back. So I did what my young, body-shamed brain thought was best: I became someone else—at least while I was online. I carefully curated a new online persona—the perfect mix of someone else's looks, another friend's talents and hobbies, and my personality. In my mind, this was the winning combo that would finally make me worthy of love and attention; I really thought this just might be the way to finally get a boyfriend. I'd go on full-fledged like and poke sprees (remember Facebook pokes?), sending friend requests to anyone who would send a poke back or message me after I'd liked some of their posts. Friend requests turned to Facebook messages, which turned into texts, which turned into hours-long phone calls (always phone calls, never Skype video calls). I'd tell these people about my day, vent to them when things went wrong (as wrong as things can go when you're in your teens), flirt and get compliments, and I'd listen to them tell me about their lives and plans for the future. I loved hearing them tell me how beautiful 'I' was. I know they weren't aware of how I really looked, but when you rarely hear the words 'you're beautiful' from people who know what you actually look like, a second-hand compliment feels good enough. They'd tell me I was their perfect girl and how happy they were to have found me. It never lasted, of course. Eventually, I'd slip and my story wouldn't match up to something I'd previously said. I'd either get caught or ghost them when I realized the illusion was no longer sustainable. Once it happened, it was time to start over again; I'd block the person and start from scratch, hoping to find some new source of dopamine and 'love' to make all my dreams come true—at least for a little while. I really thought this little scheme would give me the confidence boost I needed to be myself (ironic, I know). I was sure that in these interactions, I'd find whatever piece had been missing that would make me 'good enough.' Spoiler alert: I didn't. Even now, with all the work I've put into loving and accepting myself, I don't always feel good enough; now and then I still feel like I need to change who I am to be worthy of everything I want. In hindsight, pretending to be someone else probably wasn't the best thing to do, and it probably hurt my confidence more than it helped. But it felt like the only way out of the dark hole I'd built for myself. Pretending to be someone I wasn't felt like my only escape from the fears and insecurities that plagued my younger self. After a while (and after a few too many fake profiles), I stopped doing it. I'm not exactly sure what changed or how I decided to stop. I like to think I finally realized it was doing more harm than good, but I wasn't quite so self-aware at the time. It was probably the rise of dating apps—those beautiful-yet-exhausting, bottomless pools of potential matches. It was a numbers game, and I just knew that someone on there had to like me for me. I decided to start putting myself (the real one) out there—no more masks, no more fake profiles. Even now, as a mostly confident adult woman who knows full well how attractive and valuable she is, I find myself still feeling guilt and shame for my catfish past—I never want to go back to it. My dating apps are carefully curated to show my whole body in the 'least flattering' angle possible (by which I mean photos where I'm not trying to trick the camera into perceiving me as smaller than I am). The words 'I'm fat' are right there in my bio, and I make a point to tell people I'm fat before any first dates—not because I owe anyone an explanation or a warning about my looks and my body, but because I'm only interested in people who will appreciate and admire me exactly as I am. Every now and then, I'll remember my past life as a teen catfish and cringe—partly because of how 'pathetic' it was, but mostly because I wish I could tell my younger self that she was enough, just as she was. I still struggle with hiding my body sometimes, but age has given me the confidence and wisdom to know that those who can't accept my perfect fat body and my sparkling personality are not worth my time or energy. I now refuse to change who I am or mold myself into something or someone I'm not just to get romantic attention. I don't need to be someone else to make people look at me with awe and admiration; I can do that all on my own—no matter how large my body is. This story was originally published online on February 3, 2023.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Fish endure intense pain up to 24 minutes when killed, study reveals
Source: Every year, wild and farmed fish are killed in great numbers to feed humanity. A new study discovers that some of the fish suffer between two to twenty minutes of intense pain, once they are killed for food. Even stuffing fish in ice slurry after catching them could cause severe pain. According to the researchers found that rainbow trout- a species of fish consumed across the globe- experience around 10 minutes of moderate to intense pain when killed through 'air asphyxiation', a common method used in fish farming and commercial farming. A new study led by researchers sheds light on this pain and suggests ways to reduce it, as animal welfare groups state that it is an inhumane process, given the amount of time it takes for them to lose consciousness. Fish suffer for long minutes of pain after being caught When fish are pulled out of water, they experience a prolonged and stressful decline, lasting up to 24 minutes. The process of air asphyxiation involves removing the fish from water, leading to oxygen deprivation, panic, and a slow decline into unconsciousness. Their gills collapse, they gasp in panic, their blood chemistry spirals, and oxygen disappears as carbon dioxide builds. To quantify this suffering, scientists developed the Welfare Footprint Framework, which measures pain in minutes. Applying this framework to trout slaughter, researchers found that fish endure about 10 minutes of severe pain, including hurtful and disabling suffering,with some cases extending beyond 20 minutes. When adjusted by weight, that translates to 24 minutes of such pain per kilogram of fish killed. The researchers analyzed behavioral, neurological, and physiological responses to understand the fish's experience, highlighting the need for more human slaughter methods. Why fish suffer even before they're killed The suffering of fish often begins before the actual slaughter, with stressors like crowding, transport, and handling causing physical injury and hours of distress. Methods like air asphyxiation and ice exposure can prolong suffering, with the latter risking tissue damage and thermal shock. Regulations often overlook these pre-slaughter stressors, despite the significant impact on fish welfare. Fish slaughter pain is not limited to Trout, experts warn Although the study mainly focused on Rainbow trout, other species may suffer in similar ways during air exposure. Some species tolerate low oxygen better, while others may react more strongly to ice. Salmon, Catfish, Seabass, and Tilapia are a few of the species. Dr. Wladimir Alonso from Welfare Footprint Institute noted, 'The Welfare Footprint Framework provides a rigorous and transparent evidence-based approach to measuring animal welfare, and enables informed decisions about where to allocate resources for the greatest impact.' Making fish farming more humane The study suggests that improved stunning methods and worker training can significantly reduce fish suffering . This research provides a scientific basis for policymakers to reform laws, ensuring more humane slaughter practices. For consumers, it highlights the importance of considering the welfare of fish when making food choices. Improving slaughter methods can have a substantial impact, given the large number of fish affected Also read | Scientists spot 'superorganism' in the wild for the first time — and it's made of worms
