Reveling in the Chaos of It All
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Author: Theodore Lee

Theodore Lee is the editor of Caveman Circus. He strives for self-improvement in all areas of his life, except his candy consumption, where he remains a champion gummy worm enthusiast. When not writing about mindfulness or living in integrity,  you can find him hiding giant bags of sour patch kids under the bed.
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Linkage

5 Historical Photos That Speak Volumes – Ned Hardy

This is great because it’s a compact, powerful spot-cleaner that easily removes tough stains and messes from carpets, upholstery, stairs, and car interiors without needing a full-size carpet cleaner. – Amazon

A New Video Game Traps Players in an Online Scam Center – Archive.ph

I Test Drove a Chinese EV. Now I Don’t Want to Buy American Cars Anymore. – Archive.ph

The 100 Best Rap Albums of All Time – Pitchfork

What to know about the Nipah virus – CNN

This 661-mile Scenic Route Was Just Named the ‘Road Trip of the Year’—and It Includes National Parks and the ‘Loneliest Road’ – Travel And Leisure

A Heavy Metal Dose of Awesome To Help You Celebrate Friday – Ned Hardy

Really good toothpaste if you want to avoid fluoride – Amazon

Catherine O’Hara, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and ‘Home Alone’ Star, Dies at 71 – Variety

Pregnant woman murdered after Facebook Marketplace sale – Abc7

Justice Department says it’s releasing 3 million pages from its Jeffrey Epstein files – AP News

How to be a neighbor, one dish at a time – Salon

How to Make Friends as an Adult – NYTimes

‘ChatGPT saved my life.’ How patients, and doctors, are using AI to make a diagnosis – NPR

Advice Column

“My girlfriend’s “depression” is just a lifestyle choice and I’m finally done being her ATM”

We have been together for two years and I have paid for every single bill, every meal, and every rent check. She claims she is too depressed to work or even do basic chores around the house. I felt bad for her at first and did everything to support her.

But lately I noticed she has plenty of energy to spend 10 hours scrolling TikTok or going out for drinks with her girls. The second I suggest she gets a part-time job to help with the debt she put us in, she starts crying and says I don’t understand mental illness.

I’m tired of being the only adult. I realized I’m not her boyfriend, I’m just her personal servant. I’m moving out this weekend and I don’t even feel guilty.

Read the rest: “My girlfriend’s “depression” is just a lifestyle choice and I’m finally done being her ATM”
Advice Column

“I just found out my girlfriend is pregnant and I am not ready to be a father. What do I do?”

Yesterday my girlfriend(19f) told me she is pregnant, and since then I(22m) have been struggling with what to do next. I care about her and I am not trying to avoid responsibility, but I honestly do not feel ready to be a father. I am still trying to figure out my life financially and mentally, and this situation feels overwhelming. We have not made any decisions yet.

I am trying to be calm and supportive with her, but inside I feel lost and scared. I do not want to make a selfish choice, and I also do not want to make promises I cannot keep. I am looking for advice from people who have been in similar situations or who can offer a clear outside perspective. How should I approach this situation, and how do I have this conversation with her in a mature and honest way

Read the rest: “I just found out my girlfriend is pregnant and I am not ready to be a father. What do I do?”
Advice Column

“Almost 40, still living with parents. I can’t get out!”

I’ve been living with my parents my whole life, and I feel stuck. Financially, it’s like having golden handcuffs. They don’t charge me rent, don’t mind if I eat their food, and there are no real house rules. They mostly leave me alone, except when they need help with tech. The house is messy because they’re too old to care about organizing, and while it frustrates me, it’s not something I can fix on my own without their participation. Honestly, I can’t complain too much about the setup—it’s free, easy, and low-stress.

Read the rest: “Almost 40, still living with parents. I can’t get out!”
Life Advice

When You Stop Trying to Control How Others Think or Feel About You, Something Amazing Happens

At some point—usually after you’ve bent yourself into a human pretzel trying to keep everyone happy—you realize something uncomfortable:

You’re exhausted.

Not because life is hard.
Not because people are cruel.
But because you’ve been running a nonstop PR campaign for yourself.

You’ve been carefully choosing words.
Softening opinions.
Smiling when you don’t mean it.
Saying “it’s fine” when it absolutely is not fine.

And here’s the ugly truth: none of it works.

Read the rest: When You Stop Trying to Control How Others Think or Feel About You, Something Amazing Happens
Links

Linkage

AI Music Is Here to Stay. How Do We Reckon With It? – Pitchfork

27 Photos That Will Scratch That Nostalgic Itch – Ned Hardy

This is my favorite brand of underwear, they are super comfortable and durable. 5 years of wear and I still havent loss a pair to holes or anything! Might find it cheaper somewhere elese but they are quality – Amazon

China executes 11 members of Myanmar-based group in crackdown on scam operations – NBC News

Claude has an 80-page “soul document.” Is that enough to make it good? – Vox

TikTok Creator Khaby Lame Makes $975 Million Deal For His Brand – Hollywood Reporter

Massive AI Chat App Leaked Millions of Users Private Conversations – Archive.ph

Lets Take A Stroll Through The Art Museum – Ned Hardy

This hot sauce is pretty dang tasty. Goes with about anything and has a nice amount of kick to it – Amazon

How Iran’s Revolutionary Guard became a powerful force within the country’s theocracy – AP News

Elon Musk says Tesla will stop producing its S and X models as it shifts to making robots – NBC News

A Waymo hit a child near an elementary school. The NHTSA is investigating – CNBC

Ranked: The Biggest Risks Facing the World in 2026 – Visual Capitalist

Smart shoppers share the 15 habits that saved them the most money in 2025 – Upworthy

A Tier-by-Tier Guide to Backup Power: How to Keep Your Home Running When the Grid Goes Down – Art of Manliness

11 Most Powerful Rock Ballads Of All Time, Ranked – ScreenRant

Advice Column

“I wish my daughter just died instead”

Four years ago, my now-16-year-old daughter was in a car accident with a friend’s mom. She broke her neck and is now paralyzed from the waist down and in her left arm—she can only use her right hand. Watching her live like this destroys me every day. I love her more than anything, and every time she cries about her situation it feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest.

Every day I help her with everything—getting around, putting her to bed, taking her out, sometimes even showering her, dressing her, doing her hair and makeup. I never complain. She’s my baby, and I’ll take care of her as long as I physically can.

What terrifies me is what happens if I’m gone. I have serious health issues, heart problems run in my family, and the men in my family don’t live long. My dad and grandpa died in their 50s, my brother died of cancer at 56, and I’m 48 now. I’m scared I might be next—and I’m terrified of leaving her behind.

Read the rest: “I wish my daughter just died instead”
Advice Column

“My wife makes more than me and doesn’t respect me”

My wife is a doctor and earns 2-3 times more than I do. Last year, I made $150k, and this year, I’m on track to make between $175k-$200k. Despite this, she constantly accuses me of “living off her.” The other day, she even said it loudly at Costco, calling me a leech and making it sound like I’m some kind of loser with a sugar mama. She didn’t just say it—it was loud enough for others to hear.

At first, I stayed calm and didn’t react, but she wouldn’t stop. Eventually, I told her I was about to leave the store if it continued.

Read the rest: “My wife makes more than me and doesn’t respect me”