Sorry Adele, youve officially become a TikTok trend
2023-03-24 23:05:16author：dointy.com
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Sorry Adele, youve officially become a TikTok trend
It's been a wild week on the internet with the release of Spotify's annual Wrapped experience, and even TikTok was not immune to the Spotify Wrapped discourse.
Of course, that wasn't the only thing trending on TikTok, not with Adele's 2015 song "Water Under the Bridge" going viral upon the singer's latest album drop. Surprisingly, it was also a big week for reality TV stars with both Wendy Ostefo and Kylie Jenner having a moment on the app.
Adele not making music for TikTok is water under the bridge
Three weeks ago Adele's anticipated album 30 came out. In an interview with Zane Lowe(Opens in a new tab), the British songstress pointedly said she didn't make this album for TikTok. "If everyone is making music for the TikTok, who is making music for my generation, who is making the the music for my peers? I will gladly take that job," she said.
But it turns out Adele had a TikTok song in her arsenal. "Water Under the Bridge," a track off her 2015 album 25, went viral on the app this week.
Last week, @ramsthulani(Opens in a new tab) tweeted, "How come Adele never has any back up dancers?"(Opens in a new tab) In response, @motivatefenty replied with an edit of Megan Thee Stallion(Opens in a new tab) and her dancers grooving to "Water Under the Bridge." Of course, Megan Thee Stallion's dance has since become a TikTok trend. So far, over 57,000 videos have been made to Adele's "Water Under the Bridge."
What appears to be the first "Water Under the Bridge" video on TikTok was posted by @treclements on Nov. 29(Opens in a new tab) and featured the text "my audition to be Adele's back-up dancer." The caption reads, "saw this on Twitter and have been hollering ever since." Clements's video has over 4.2 million views and almost 950,000 likes.
Another example of the trend is Julian Burzynski's TikTok posted on Dec. 1(Opens in a new tab) that has garnered over 3.5 million views and 121,000 likes.
Look how fun this Megan Thee Stallion choreography is! Credit: TikTok / julianburzynski
The trend is a perfect combination of a beloved Adele classic and Megan Thee Stallion's high-energy moves, so needless to say, it took the app by storm.
The dance is so fun that for the first time ever, I am considering learning a TikTok dance.
Are you a Nicki fan?
Another popular trend this week pulls the audio of an interview between Michael Rapport and Wendy Ostefo of Real Housewives of Potomac fame on The Wendy Williams Show. During the interview, Rapport asked Ostefo a simple question: "Are you a Nicki [Minaj] fan?" To which Ostefo replied, "What? Am I a Nicki fan? Pull up in the Sri Lanka."
In an attempt to prove that she's a Nicki fan, Ostefo gets the lyrics to the rapper's iconic "Monster" verse wrong. The actual bars are, "Pull up in the monster / automobile gangsta with a bad bitch from Sri Lanka."
The audio has produced over 320,000 TikToks and counting. You might expect that TikTokkers are using this audio to make jokes about being a poser, and some are, but most creators are using the snippet to show that they are, in fact, something — so there is a confusing discrepancy between the audio and the trend.
In one popular video posted by @ozzythedoxie(Opens in a new tab), a wiener dog is told to sit. The text reads, "Are you a good boy?" Then, "Am I a good bOy??" Followed by the dog sitting. The TikTok has over 1.2 million likes. In another clip that's more true to the audio, @probably.drew(Opens in a new tab) writes "do you skate?," "what? do i skate?," "i wear thrasher." Then, @probably.drew tries to do a skate trick and falls. The video has over 1.7 million views.
Stormi, you look like Mommy, baby
Ostefo isn't the only reality TV star to have a viral TikTok sound this week. An audio of Kylie Jenner saying "Stormi, you look just like Mommy, baby," has taken over my FYP.
The sound has over 88,000 videos made to it and was first posted on TikTok back in September by @stormiibabii(Opens in a new tab) in a video with photos of Stormi dressed like her mom Kylie at the 2019 Met Gala. The original video has 17.2 million views and 2.3 million likes.
The trend has since evolved into users sharing what things their future children will do that's just like them. It's a classic TikTok trend where users roast themselves and, as always, the more relatable the roasts are, the funnier the content. One example is @notkaelynwilkins' video(Opens in a new tab) that reads, "When my future daughter starts googling her symptoms on WebMD and sends herself into a panic attack." Another TikTok from @user272637386(Opens in a new tab) says, "when my future daughter is so socially awkward she can't form a sentence around people she doesn't know."
A little too relatable for my taste. Credit: TikTok / user272637386
Spotify Wrapped
The first week of December is coming to a close, and 'tis the season to analyze our annual Spotify Wrapped results. On Dec. 1, Wrapped conquered social media, and people were quick to take to Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to react to their top songs and artists.
Before this year's Spotify Wrapped dropped, users on TikTok were expressing their anticipation with audio edits of Ariana Grande's "Can You Stay Up All Night." When the song cuts out, users then show the song or artist that ruined their Wrapped. For example, @jae.tpwk(Opens in a new tab) made a TikTok that shows "Man or Muppet" from The Muppets Movie soundtrack on their list.
Credit: TikTok / jae.tpwk
Credit: TikTok / jae.tpwk
I wouldn't want the Muppets soundtrack coming up in my Spotify Wrapped either. Credit: TikTok / jae.tpwk
Two additional audios used in response to Wrapped were English TV personality Gemma Collins saying "I am not ashamed to admit it, it's hell in there. It's horror. You have to be a certain type of person to survive" and an audio posted by @thereal_becca(Opens in a new tab) that goes, "fun fact about me is that no guy has ever met me and said you're not like other girls because I am exactly like other girls."
TikTokkers used Collins's quote(Opens in a new tab) to react to having artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Fiona Apple, and Elliott Smith in their top artists. People who had popular artists with primarily female fanbases like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and BTS used the second audio.
And if you see Taylor Swift's "All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version)" at the top of my Wrapped next year, no you didn't ♥️.
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The internet made sooooo many jokes about Trumps fake news trophy tweet
Perhaps the biggest bummer about Twitter's new 280-character limit is that it allows the current president to compose tweets like this one:
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On Monday morning, President Donald Trump hit Twitter to suggest a "FAKE NEWS TROPHY" for whichever news network he deems produces "the most dishonest, corrupt" coverage of his presidency. As usual, Fox was excluded from Trump's media rage.
In the same tweet, Trump referred to himself as the American people's favorite president with a parenthetical "(me)." According the most recent Gallup(opens in a new tab) poll, the self-described "favorite" president's approval rating currently sits at 37 percent.
Naturally the internet jumped all over Trump's first tweet of the day. Some even have a solid suggestion for Trump's proposed "FAKE NEWS TROPHY":
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Project Entrepreneur expands accelerator program to help more women entrepreneurs build scalable companies
Since launching in 2015, Project Entrepreneur(opens in a new tab) — a media partner of Mashable — has trained more than 1,200 aspiring entrepreneurs representing 131 U.S. cities. Its annual venture competition has yielded an alumnae community of nearly 400 women entrepreneurs, with the 2016 finalists reporting $10+ million raised in seed and pre-seed funding.
Now entering its third year, Project Entrepreneur (PE) — an initiative from the Rent the Runway Foundation and UBS Elevating Entrepreneurs(opens in a new tab) — is expanding the number of winning companies in the accelerator from three to five.
“We are so excited to continue working with UBS in providing women with the tools they need to create high-growth companies, and see their visions through,” said Jennifer Hyman, CEO and Co-Founder of Rent the Runway. “Past participants in our accelerator continue to inspire us with their incredible progress, including closing rounds of funding. We are eager to provide the next class of talented female founders with the tools and support they need to scale, and to see the disruption their companies bring to various different industries.”
PE's annual venture competition is open to female founders who are in the prototype or beta stages, have their first paying customers, or are generating revenue. The top 200 applicants will be invited to attend the PE Intensive in New York City on April 13-14, 2018, a free two-day event comprised of in-depth workshops, expert speakers and a pitch competition. The five winning founders will each receive a $10,000 grant, a spot in the five-week accelerator program at Rent the Runway’s New York office and mentorship and engagement with UBS executives, entrepreneurs, and investors. Founders interested can apply online(opens in a new tab); but don’t wait, as the deadline is December 1st!
Last year’s winning companies included: New York-based LOLI Beauty(opens in a new tab), the first BIY (Blend It Yourself) clean and green beauty brand; Scottsdale-based The Touchpoint Solution(opens in a new tab), a neuroscience wearable that alleviates stress by altering the body’s stress response in as little as 30 seconds; and San Francisco-based Lace & Liberty(opens in a new tab), merging direct-to-consumer convenience with luxury bespoke bridalwear. Two additional New York-based companies were hosted by The Knot/XO Group Co-Founder Carley Roney and designer Rebecca Minkoff: Repeat Roses(opens in a new tab), a sustainable floral waste removal business that gives back to people and planet, and Reboundwear(opens in a new tab), athleisure wear with a purpose, respectively.
“The caliber of companies we're seeing through Project Entrepreneur further validates what we've always believed — that there is an incredible population of talented female founders in cities and towns across the country,” said Lori Feinsilver, UBS Head of Community Affairs & Corporate Responsibility, Americas. “Being able to reach these women and provide them with access to resources and support that will help fuel their growth gives us confidence that we can indeed level the playing field.”
Visit projectentrepreneur.org/apply(opens in a new tab) for details on Project Entrepreneur’s Venture Competition, and check out PE’s resources including #theTools podcast(opens in a new tab), blog posts(opens in a new tab) and educational modules(opens in a new tab).
This article is part of a media partnership between Mashable & Project Entrepreneur. For more information, visit here(opens in a new tab).
Two people trying to run the same government agency makes for a really awkward first day
Revolutionaries, take note -- if you're planning a government takeover, please use high quality breakfast pastries.
That's a lesson that White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney(opens in a new tab) apparently hadn't learned when he stepped into the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau today. He was there to take on an additional job as the agency's director.
The only problem? The agency's acting director, Leandra English, refused to cede it to him, in the workplace drama of the decade.
As a Trump appointee, Mulvaney wasn't exactly welcomed at at the job, so he brought crappy Dunkin' Donuts as a way to "ease" himself into an agency he's expected to destroy.
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On Friday, Director Richard Cordray(opens in a new tab) stepped down, leaving English to serve as acting director. Last night, English filed a lawsuit claiming that she is the "rightful acting director" of the agency. English has asked the court to impose a temporary restraining order to prevent Trump from appointing anyone, arguing that she is entitled to her position under the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform Law(opens in a new tab).
Mulvaney brings donuts to his first day at CFPB. Couldn’t hurt. pic.twitter.com/BpKJ2nd1L0(opens in a new tab)
— Katie Rogers (@katierogers) November 27, 2017(opens in a new tab)
None of that stopped Mulvaney. On Monday, the Budget Director stepped into the CFPB, ready to take on his new job.
This is how English responded in an email sent to 1,600 staff.
"I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving. With Thanksgiving in mind, I wanted to take a moment to share my gratitude to all of you for your service,” English said(opens in a new tab), signing the note with her title, "Acting Director."
And that, my friends, is what we call a death drop.
Via Giphy(opens in a new tab)
Here's how Mulvaney responded:
“Please disregard any instructions you receive from Ms. English in her presumed capacity as acting director.” Mulvaney said(opens in a new tab). “I apologize for this being the very first thing you hear from me. However, under the circumstances I suppose it is necessary. If you’re at 1700 G Street today, please stop by the fourth floor to say hello and grab a doughnut.”
If Mulvaney, a budget hawk, thinks he can sway members of an agency whose jobs he's poised to eliminate with Dunkin' Donuts, he's out of his mind. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau(opens in a new tab) was explicitly designed to protect consumers from banks and credit card companies. Mulvaney once famously called the agency "sad" and "sick." He is not, as members of the agency likely know, their friend.
And dude, if you're going to try and win your staff over with breakfast pastries, at least go for something slightly more delicious than Dunkin'. Some suggestions:
Krispy Kreme
Entenmann's Coffee Cake
Savory bacon cheddar scones
Literally anything else
The case is currently being decided. In the meantime, here's Twitter's majority opinion on the issue:
We actually have two people claiming to be the CFPB acting director and this is *not* a romantic comedy where they fall in love at the end. pic.twitter.com/R80kPJdQrN(opens in a new tab)
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) November 27, 2017(opens in a new tab)
Donuts were a big hit at cfpb. Like they always are. @MickMulvaneyOMB(opens in a new tab) pic.twitter.com/zgX5Y1Rlt3(opens in a new tab)
— john czwartacki (@CZ) November 27, 2017(opens in a new tab)
If there's a Trump strategy here, it's to sideline her as a CFPB messenger by starting round 10,000 of the stupid "Pocahontas" story
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) November 27, 2017(opens in a new tab)
what if i went to the cfpb with bagels and was like "i am your new king, follow me"
— Matt Levine (@matt_levine) November 27, 2017(opens in a new tab)
we should find out who is the real acting director by threatening to cut the CFPB in half
— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) November 27, 2017(opens in a new tab)
Chef José Andrés, the man who single-handedly served 3 million meals to Puerto Rico post Hurricane Maria, had the best response of them all.
@CFPB(opens in a new tab) team members! i know is confusing. To have two bosses? Please bring a proof you work there to any of our DC restaurants and first drink is on us...
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) November 27, 2017(opens in a new tab)
Woman posts video of crocodile attack, and it is heartstopping
Welp, this is a close call.
A tourist was bitten on the leg by a crocodile on at Cape Tribulation in Queensland, Australia on Monday night, while standing on a creek bank close to the waters edge.
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A Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) spokesperson said in a statement the crocodile was estimated to be 2 to 2.5 metres (78 to 98 inches) long.
A video posted on the Facebook page of Ally Bullifent shows the crocodile attack, which comes out of nowhere. It'll be sure to give you a shock.
The EHP said it would carry out a site assessment of the area on Tuesday, and will possibly target the crocodile "for removal" as it has displayed dangerous behaviour in a designated area. This means it'll be moved to a crocodile farm or a zoo, according to the Cairns Post(opens in a new tab).
For authorities, it also serves as a reminder about staying safe in areas where crocodiles might be around. Earlier this year, an 18-year-old boy was attacked by a crocodile while reportedly trying to impress a girl.
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Town crier who announced Prince Harrys engagement to Meghan Markle is 100% fake
England, with its quirky traditions and old-fashioned customs, is a land of endless fascination for outsiders, nominally for people from the former colony of the U.S.
SEE ALSO:
The most adorable revelations from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first interview
So it's understandable why a town crier -- with his elaborate, red and gold robed dress and tricorn hat -- attracted people's attention on social media when he was depicted in an ABC News video as he announces the news of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement outside of Buckingham Palace:
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"Oyez, oyez, oyz!" He yells in the video. "Buckingham Palace is proud to announce the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. God save the Queen!"
It can't get any more British than this.
Business Insider posted a similar video, calling him "the Royal Town Crier":
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However, it turns out the eccentric guy is not officially appointed by the Queen, nor is he a real town crier. His real name is Tony Appleton, from Romford, east London, and he's been making royal announcements for years, bell and scroll on hand.
In 2013, he fooled prominent American broadcasters(opens in a new tab) including Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper when he announced the birth of Prince William and Kate's firstborn, Prince George, outside St. Mary's Hospital.
"I'm a royalist. I love the royal family," he told (opens in a new tab)AP(opens in a new tab), while acknowledging he had no official royal role. "I came unannounced."
Still, many Americans fell for it:
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Cheeky theory is the best explanation yet for the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle engagement
News of the engagement between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle caught Americans' imagination just like any other story about the British royals -- births, anniversaries, celebrations, jubilees, and so on.
SEE ALSO:
'Town crier' who announced Prince Harry's engagement to Meghan Markle is 100% fake
But what if behind the jolly facade of a couple in love wishing to declare their commitment before God and the nation there's an actual conspiracy to reclaim a former colony, lost in a never-forgotten, embittered war?
That's the joke Greg Pollowitz, editor at Twitchy.com, dug up to explain the royal announcement:
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Meghan Markle is American, so the future offspring will be Americans! Da-daam! Boom! Mic drop!
via GIPHY(opens in a new tab)
It was just a cheeky tweet, but it went absolutely viral and people just loved it:
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There was the obvious Brexit reference:
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As well as the Trump one:
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Some conjectured a crossover between two incredibly popular TV shows:
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But in general the tweets reacting to the joke were just hilarious:
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While someone took it a bit too seriously:
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Dog, sick and tired of waiting in car, slams his paw on the horn
It will be a long time before America finally grants dogs the right to drive.
Until then, dogs will have to do what they can to keep themselves entertained. Take this pup, who was recently left alone in a parking lot in " target="_blank">Nanaimo, British Columbia(opens in a new tab), and slammed its paw on the car horn out of exhaustion. And then it kept it there. For a long time.
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The video was captured by Joris Wiggers and posted on Facebook by Elizabeth Herman(opens in a new tab). It's not entirely clear that the dog knows how to get his paw off the horn, but no problem, doggo, that's what driver's permits are for.
Arbys bought Buffalo Wild Wings, so heres what a combined menu would look like
On Tuesday it was announced that Arby's owner Roark Capital will acquire(opens in a new tab) Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.4 billion (or roughly(opens in a new tab) 162,271,805 orders of BWW House Samplers).
Per Reuters(opens in a new tab), though the wings restaurant will become property of Arby's, it'll still operate on its own.
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This edible Alien Facehugger chicken will haunt your dreams
We think this is a huge mistake.
Consider the disturbing menu possibilities a marriage of Arby's meats and BWW wings might afford us.
Our suggestions for this menu full of abominations below:
A half-pound Beef 'N Cheddar sandwich dipped in Bourbon Honey Mustard sauce, rolled in Desert Heat seasoning and deep fried
An entire smoked brisket coated in Blazin' hot sauce and served whole on a bed of deep-fried Cheddar Cheese Curds
Potato cakes drenched in Wild sauce
Beer-battered roast beef tacos
An Arby's House Sampler, featuring 12 classic Roast Beef sandwiches stacked in a pyramid
A Crispy Chicken Farmhouse Salad dressed with Hot BBQ sauce
Boneless Wings coated in Cheddar Cheese sauce
A Corned Beef 'N Cheese Slider cut up into pieces and sprinkled over Buffalo Mac & Cheese
A Cheese Curd Bacon Burger with a Pizza Slider speared on top
Every Arby's slider stacked in a tower and adhered to each another with smears of Parmesan Garlic sauce
The pastry shell of an Apple Turnover, filled with the B-Dubs Blender shake flavor of your choice
A large Ultimate Chocolate Shake blended with a slice of Chocolate Fudge Cake and drizzled over a plate of Dessert Nachos
Cheesecake Bites
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Cops share photo of a driver that went a little too hard with their Christmas tree
Look, if you want to cut down a massive Christmas tree, and stick it up inside your two-story living room, go for it. But maybe don't endanger anyone's life in the process.
Police in Massachusetts put up a post on their Facebook page on Friday, reminding people to please transport their Christmas trees safely. They really shouldn't have to do this, but here we are.
SEE ALSO:
Upside down Christmas trees are trending, and the internet is outraged
"One of our officer's stopped this vehicle on Route 20 today," the cops said on Facebook(opens in a new tab), posting a photo of what appears to be a Prius topped with a Christmas tree.
The tree is so large, it completely obstructs the view of the side and rear windows. It's not clearly visible, but we're also guessing that it wasn't tied down very well.
While the tree transport was outrageous to say the least, most people in the comments were upset that the police decided to call the tree a "holiday tree" instead of a Christmas tree.
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2017 was the year Congresswoman Maxine Waters was elected president of All in With Chris Hayes.
From the moment she declared that the director of the FBI had "no legitimacy" and then death dropped in front of a gaggle of shellshocked reporters, 79-year-old Auntie Maxine has had our blood loyalty. Every floor she walked on in 2017, whether it was in the Capitol or at the MTV Movie Awards, became her stage and ultimately, a property in her empire.
More so than any other "deplorable" president with a Ziploc bag of fleas for a brain, Maxine Waters was the de facto leader of the free world/MSNBC in 2017.
SEE ALSO:
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Congresswoman Waters gave us so many viral gifts in 2017. Here are just a few of them.
1. The time she accused James Comey of having no credibility and then just walked on out
2. When she revealed that she was "never going to go" to Trump's Inauguration because, "I don't honor him, I don't respect him and I don't want to be involved with him."
3. The time she was asked what she would do once she was done impeaching Trump, and she replied: "Impeach Pence."
4. When she delivered MTV's first ever "Best Fight Against the System" award, did a plié, and got a standing ovation.
5. When she tweeted that it was time for our "racist throwback" Attorney General to go back "to the plantation"
Sessions doesn't remember what he said, when he said it, & where he was when he said it. Don't blame him. Time to go back to the plantation.
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) November 3, 2017(opens in a new tab)
6. Her "Bye, Felicia" moment
Tillerson's plans are backfiring. Russia sanctions still in place, State is in shambles, & he discovered his boss is a moron. Bye Felicia!
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) October 6, 2017(opens in a new tab)
7. When she busted out this stunner of jean jacket, rose pants ensemble at the Tax March
Credit: tom williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc.
8. When she started railing against Trump and told a room full of supporters, "We've got to stop his ass"
9. The moment she just said it:
Maxine Waters on Trump: "I think he's the most deplorable person I've ever met in my life" https://t.co/25utCvqtAh(opens in a new tab) pic.twitter.com/pLADTiE9l1(opens in a new tab)
— The Hill (@thehill) August 4, 2017(opens in a new tab)
10. And the tweet that did it too:
Trump asked what Blacks had to lose. It was apparently healthcare, housing, college admission, & freedom after Sessions locks everyone up
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) August 2, 2017(opens in a new tab)
11. That day Bill O'Reilly tried to humiliate Auntie Maxine and just ... lol, sorry bro. She can't be intimidated.
12. When she "reclaimed her time" from Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin
13. So the internet did too
14. And the Women's March made "Reclaiming my time" the theme of a whole convention
Credit: rachel woolf/The Washington Post/Getty Images
15. When Congresswoman Maxine Waters finally passed on her torch to the generation that needs it the most.
These kids dressed up as Maxine Waters for Halloween to #ReclaimTheirCandy(opens in a new tab)https://t.co/BbSP1haf5c(opens in a new tab) pic.twitter.com/8jI1fHSw6W(opens in a new tab)
— Mashable (@mashable) October 31, 2017(opens in a new tab)
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Thursdays Superstore was part of a pivotal Hollywood moment
To any viewer, Thursday's episode of Superstore ("Cloud Green") was nothing overtly out of the ordinary. It had a classic sitcom structure and a humorous take on a timely topic, and took place entirely within Cloud Nine superstore as usual. Quite frankly, it was like any other episode.
That's what makes it remarkable.
"Cloud Green" was directed by newcomer Heather Jack, who has years of production and direction experience but had never helmed an episode of a major network TV show before this. Jack is part of the inaugural class of NBC's Female Forward(Opens in a new tab) initiative, a program that gets female directors on-set with experienced mentors and then puts them behind the camera.
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Jack is one of 10 finalists who have directed episodes of everything from Brooklyn Nine-Nine to Law & Order: SVU this season, after shadowing established directors on their respective series for three episodes. Jack and other candidates met with NBC, producers, and showrunners before being assigned to a show last summer. She has already been asked to return for an episode next season.
"It was pretty amazing to work at this high level where the cast and crew, the writing, everything’s kind of at the top of its game," Jack told Mashable in a phone interview.
"I think there are skills from working with really talented people that you pick up, and because I was shadowing great directors I got to pick best practices from each one and learn a lot about how they work and what works for them. They’re kind of favorite directors of the show, and that’s part of the way the program is designed."
Heather Jack on-set with Nico Santos for 'Superstore' Season 4, episode 18.Credit: Trae Patton/NBC
Superstore has a distinct style and sensibility, with the quick zooms and awkward pauses that distinguish modern TV comedy. It's something Jack was familiar with as a fan of the show but kept a close eye on while shadowing and directing. In addition to shadowing multiple directors, Jack worked closely with the shows two editors to prepare for the script's sharpness to translate on-screen.
"You want to feel like you’ve matched the tone of the show, and I think a lot of that is in the writing," Jack said. "They have this specific way that they want things to look and feel, and you’re kind of following the patterns and guidelines of the show, but then hopefully you’re adding something of your own taste and perspective. For me, that’s in the details ... There’s part of it where you’re kind of following the pattern of the show and part of it where you sort of add your own flavor to it."
Female Forward is entering its second year, and while similar programs exist, Jack said that directing as well as shadowing made a huge difference.
"Shadowing is valuable, but if I didn’t have the guaranteed episode, I think it would be very difficult to become a good, unobtrusive shadow but also convince people that you are prepared to take on the role of director," she said. "I think the program really sets you up for success."
Director Heather Jack and star America Ferrera (who has also directed episodes of the show) on the set of 'Superstore.'Credit: Trae Patton/NBC
Jack has now worked in the industry for over 10 years, and she says she noticed a significant discrepancy between the gender breakdown at film school and festivals compared to working directors. Unsurprisingly, the latter category is overwhelmingly male, even though her classes and festival seasons were relatively equal.
And rarely is gender the only thing at play.
"I’m also half-Asian, I look young – there’s a lot of intimidating things about walking on to a set and not knowing how people will respond to you," Jack said, noting that the Superstore team was welcoming from the start. "Another director that’s also a minority mentioned to me that you just have to rise above it and do the best work that you can. And that was my outlook, was to try to keep working and keep proving myself, that I was capable and that the work I was doing was good."
Like many of her peers, Jack is no stranger to the industry's challenges, but she hopes Female Forward will pave the way for more female directors to just get their work out there.
"The movement that’s happening and the push that’s happening to hire more women directors is only going to improve," Jack said. "Obviously I personally benefited from this, but I’m hoping that, along with the women who have come before me, that we can all keep working toward that goal, bringing more women into the fold, having it feel more equal."
Applications for the next round of Female Forward will open later in the year. Superstore airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on NBC.
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Queer Eyes Antoni Porowski ends up in very relatable meme with Pete Davidson
Ever have to sit beside a new couple playing a little tonsil hockey?
Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski has, and his relatable reaction has been made into a meme.
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Attending an ice hockey game in New York, Porowski sat beside new couple Pete Davidson and Kate Beckinsale, who appeared to be pretty keen to show anyone who cares that they're Together.
Gettin' their smooch on during the New York Rangers-Washington Capitals game, the pair engaged in some textbook new romance PDA, while Porowski watched the game with a worried look.
More than a few folks identified with the Queer Eye foodie in this awkward moment, and honestly, same.
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But the best reaction was saved for last, with Poroswki himself sharing a meme directly linked to the upcoming third season of Queer Eye, which lands on Netflix on March 15.
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But while we were distracted by all that public snogging and unintentional third-wheeling, another beautiful moment was happening in the arena.
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Which led to even more memes...
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Ah, we're tired. Time to watch the Queer Eye Season 3 trailer again.
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Learn from Bobbi Brown how to let go of your success and start over
"The easiest thing to do as an entrepreneur is step away from the business you helped grow from the ground up," said noone ever.
Iconic entrepreneur Bobbi Brown found herself in a situation where she walked away from her nearly $2 billion, self-named makeup brand to start a new venture and hasn't looked back since.
Since that time, she's embarked on a new journey steering her ship to a new kind of consumer experience called: JustBobbi(opens in a new tab), a lifestyle and wellness shop that immerses customers in a 360-degree world to purchase a curation of her favorite products ranging from jeans to jewelry and everything in between.
Brown stopped by Mashable to break down five tips any entrepreneur needs to know to re-invent themselves and start over.
For the full interview and more discussion, check out the above episode of #BizChats.
1. Walk away from what you're doing
"You just gotta do it. You have to actually one day just do it. Take a chance, do it. That's number one, walk away. You can't do it while you're there. There's no side hustle, you gotta walk away."
2. Build a mini-team. You can't do it alone
"As I said, know what you're good at, know what you're not good at -- I hired a girl right out of the Apple Store, brought together a few people that; by the way don't just do one thing, do many things -- build a mini team because you can't do it by yourself. Okay? Or you're going to be hitting your head against the wall."
3. Be scrappy and move quickly
"Don't waste time, don't waste energy, don't waste money. What happens often when you're in a really big company, is that you have to have meetings and meetings and meetings for the meetings and meetings for those meetings when really all you needed was a 60-second phone call. So, be scrappy, figure it out and be quick."
4. Be open to changing the marketplace. Re-invent not only what you do, but how you do it
"Because you don't know what you don't know. You don't know who you're going to meet, you don't know who you're going to talk to, who you're going to be introduced to, just be open. Don't think you know everything. It's a new world, Goldie. Learn what's happening. Everything is different right now."
5. Have no fear
"And this is probably the hardest part for most people, 'cause people have to buy milk (well, you might want to buy coconut milk), but you have to buy food, you have to pay rent, you have to do these things. Sometimes, you might have to get a waitressing job, you might have to live with your parents, you might have to get a roommate, but have no fear because if you're fearful, you will not get anything done."
This video of a man destroying a hotel reception with a digger has gone massively viral
Police are appealing for information after footage of a digger destroying the front of a building branded with the Travelodge logo went viral on Monday afternoon.
The video below, which was shared by Joe Fearon on Twitter, shows a man in an orange digger rolling up the steps towards the reception area of a new Travelodge in Liverpool, UK.
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"That's what happens when people don't pay their wages, mate," a man can be heard saying as the digger smashes its way into the building.
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In another video(opens in a new tab) taken from a different angle inside the hotel, the person driving the digger can be heard yelling about money.
"600 fucking quid!" shouts the man. "All you had to do was pay me my fucking £600!"
A final video(opens in a new tab) filmed outside the building shows the driver fleeing the digger and running into the distance.
Merseyside Police confirmed in an online update(opens in a new tab) that they'd received a report of the incident shortly before 3pm on Monday.
"One man experienced eye irritation due to exposure to diesel and was treated at the scene by North West Ambulance Service," reads the police update. "It is not believed anyone else was injured during the incident."
Mashable reached out to Travelodge, who said they're unable to comment as the incident is a live police investigation. They also clarified that the site is not yet a Travelodge property.
Mashable reached out to a member of the development team who currently own the site, and will update this article if we receive a response.
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Mike Bloomberg met a dog and decided to shake its mouth
Listen, there's technically no wrong way to pet a dog but the way presidential candidate and ultra-billionaire Mike Bloomberg pet a dog on Monday was downright bonkers.
Bloomberg passed through Burlington, Vermont this week, where he was fortunate enough to meet a dog that seemed quite Good. CBS News reporter Nicole Sganga(Opens in a new tab) posted a video of the candidate's canine encounter and well, you've just got to see it.
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SEE ALSO:
Bloomberg's campaign tried to work with the El Bloombito parody account but got shut down
Let's take a second and break down what happened there. Bloomberg approaches the person sitting with the dog and shakes hands. Normal stuff. Nothing to see here.
But as that's happening the pup lets out an adorable little yawn/whine and turns toward the 8th richest person(Opens in a new tab) in the world. The dog lifts its head up and — here's where things take a turn —Bloomberg proceeds to shake its snout. Not satisfied, the Democratic candidate then gives the dog's mouth a few solid tugs.
Ultimately, Bloomberg relents and does something normal and pats the pup on a head.
Granted, if Bloomberg knew this dog, the mouth-shake might be a friendly roughhouse, but this hardly seems like the way to greet a random pup you come across in Vermont. It's a true sign of the dog's benevolence that it allowed this whole scene to play out without snipping at Bloomberg.
The low-polling Democrat's visit to Burlington on Monday included speaking to a crowd of about 300, according to(Opens in a new tab) CBS, and touting his credentials for "people who think this country should evolve rather than have a revolution."
The weird snout-shake isn't out of character for Bloomberg, who famously isn't fond of dogs. The New York Times (Opens in a new tab)reported(Opens in a new tab) in 2011 that while the then-mayor of NYC had two dogs — Bonnie and Clyde — with his longtime girlfriend Diana Taylor, Bloomberg did not like them or consider them his own. The paper reported that he was known to correct people who asked about his dogs with the answer, "Diana's dogs."
Five ways to give your home a makeover during lockdown
With the whole country on lockdown, many of us are stuck at home all day, staring at the same four walls. As the days and weeks pass by, you might be getting a little tired of the sight of your own home and longing for a change. Think you can’t do anything about it? Think again.
With a little creativity, you can tackle anything from small design projects and room revamps to an entire home makeover while on lockdown. The best part is that you can do it with a very limited budget and with items you already have in your home. Check out these five ways to give your home a makeover and a new outlook on lockdown.
Salvaged furniture
Upcycling, the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products, has been a hot trend for a few years now. Not only is it a great way to add unique and personalized pieces to your home, but it’s also eco-friendly. Although you can’t visit flea markets and salvage yards at the moment, chances are you have pieces in your garage, basement, in storage or in use right now in your home that can be reimagined as something more than their current incarnation.
Anything from chairs to coffee tables, cabinets to plant pots, mirrors to frames, scrap metal, or reclaimed wood can be cleaned up and refinished to create a new look or a bit of splash for your space.
Country Living has some easy salvaged furniture project ideas for your home(Opens in a new tab). For those who are ready to tackle more difficult projects, Salvaged Inspirations(Opens in a new tab) has an extensive DIY furniture painting gallery with instructions on how to achieve each look.
DIY “wallpaper”
Transform a room easily by using anything from paint, stencils, sponge, sharpies, stickers, fabric, maps and even magazines to create beautiful and fun accent walls. If you are not a risk taker when it comes to home décor, try temporary options like fabric or contact sheets that can be removed without leaving a trace when you tire of the look or start to regret your choice.
You can find art supplies like paints, sponges, stencils and contact paper on Amazon.ca. For DIY wallpaper design ideas and tutorials(Opens in a new tab), check out Craftoholics Anonymous. You could effectively change your “wallpaper” every month, if it suited your mood.
DIY artwork
If woodworking and painting seem a bit too daunting, consider smaller artwork pieces for your wall. Just about anyone can tackle a small print, wall hanging, or décor piece, including kids. This presents not only an opportunity to add a personal touch to your home but to create memories around this historic and unprecedented time that you will talk about with friends and family for years to come.
The best part is you can use just about anything you find lying around the house to inspire an art piece, from scrap paper and magazines to string, fabric and boxes. Check out this Lifehack article for ideas on easy DIY art projects for your walls(Opens in a new tab). You can also find frames for your artwork for less at stores like Winners.
Decorative pillows, throws, andrugs
Let’s face it, some of us just don’t DIY and that’s okay too. Adding a bit of punch to a room, even on a slim budget, can be as easy as adding a decorative pillow to a sofa or chair, a throw over the edge of a bed, or a new rug under a table. You can find a great selection of home décor(Opens in a new tab) items like these and more at the Hudson’s Bay.
If buying new décor isn’t in the budget at the moment, try switching up items you already have to different rooms. Put a living room accent chair in your bedroom for a reading nook, switch the decorative pillows on your bed for the ones in your family room, or swap rugs to change things up a bit.
Earn rewards for future projects by paying your bills
Even though many of us are not working right now, the bills keep rolling in. In these tough economic times, it is prudent to find new ways to earn money and cover your expenses. The bill payment app Paytm(Opens in a new tab) gives you the flexibility to pay your bills using multiple payment options, including credit and debit, bank account and Patym cash. It can make juggling bills easier and help ensure you don’t incur any late fees.
You will also collect rewards points that can be used towards discounted gift cards from popular brands like Amazon.ca, Hudson’s Bay, Winners, Grocery Gateway, and many more. That means you can use them towards future home décor purchases or other living expenses.
None of us really know how long this lockdown will last. With any luck, we will flatten this curve soon and get back to a new normal of living beyond the confines of our own homes. In the meantime, enjoying the space we are in and the people we share it with is the best thing we can do to get through this thing together.
Air frying french toast sticks makes no sense. Just use a pan.
If you don't have a stovetop — say you're a college kid in a dorm or you live in a studio with a kitchenette — I could understand cooking French toast sticks in an air fryer. Otherwise, I don't see why you would ever make a viral TikTok recipe(Opens in a new tab) promising great French toast in an air fryer.
Hear me out...just use a pan instead.
That's not say the air-fried French toast I tested out was bad. On the contrary, it was pretty tasty. But I didn't see any added value in using an air fryer. If anything, it created more of a mess and a slightly worse product than your standard pan method.
Regardless, here's what you need to know about the recipe, which has racked up 7.5 million views.
Ingredients
Bread, Texas toast, or other thick-cut slices of bread
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp, plus 1 tsp of cinnamon, divided
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
Syrup for dipping
Directions
Using a knife, cut the crusts off your bread, then cut each slice into three equal sticks.
Air fry the sticks at 385 degrees Fahrenheit** for three minutes.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, 1 tsp of cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar.
In a separate mixing bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 tbsp of cinnamon.
Once the sticks have cooked for three minutes, dip into the egg mixture and air fry for 10 minutes at 385 degrees**.
Once the sticks are fully cooked, dip them in the sugar/cinnamon mixture. From there, dip in the syrup and enjoy.
The details
**An important first note: Unless you are using the world's thickest bread I do not think there is any reason whatsoever that you need to cook your French toast for so long at such a high temperature. The recipe(Opens in a new tab) from @arimonika(Opens in a new tab) must either have a mistake, or they used incredibly thick bread, or their air fryer is weak, or some combination of all of the above. I used thick-cut brioche and it was ready in a couple of minutes. So please, you almost certainly need to adjust your cook time down and probably lower the heat as well. As always with an air fryer, check on your food as it cooks.
Otherwise the recipe is pretty self explanatory. It's your standard French toast procedure, with the added step of a post-cook, cinnamon-sugar dip. Just, if you can, try to get the thickest bread possible so your French toast doesn't dry out. Plus a thick stick is better for dipping.
Otherwise...just follow directions. Here's how the process looked for @arimonika(Opens in a new tab).
French toast sticks, in just a few easy steps. Credit: Screenshots: TikTok / @arimonika
My final product looked a little different. My bread wasn't quite as thick and the directions, frankly, call for way too high of heat for way too long. What piece of French toast takes 13 total minutes to cook? So here's what I got while taking my French toast sticks out after just a few minutes of cook time,
Not bad!Credit: Mashable
The verdict? Not bad! The outside was crunchy with a light coating of cinnamon-sugar. The interior of the French toast left something to be desired. It was a little dried out for my taste, but it was in no way bad. How bad could it be bad? It's French toast coated in cinnamon and sugar. But I couldn't help but think...why did I create more of mess when I could have just used a pan?
At the end of the process, I had to wash the air fryer trays, the air fryer itself, and store the big device. If you used a pan meanwhile, you'd simply just wash the pan. Sometimes things are best left as is.
Midnights lyrics that scream written by Taylor Swift
Babe, wake up! #TS10 is here, and Taylor Swift remains our modern-day Shakespeare. Her catchy hooks, and creative, lyrical turns of phrase always seem to work their way into our vernacular (see: "Sad, Beautiful, Tragic" and "casually cruel"). She continues to evolve musically, but we can always count on her for poignant lyrics that only Swift can pen. Expertly articulating the overlooked minutiae of daily life and interior thoughts of a millennial is her signature style.
Midnights is full of these intimate moments. They run the gamut of Swift's three song categories(Opens in a new tab), described last month in her acceptance speech for Songwriter-Artist of the Decade at the Nashville Songwriter Awards — the peppy, not-too-serious "glitter gel pen" songs; the poetic, personal stories of "fountain pen" songs; and the old-fashioned, transportive "quill pen" songs.
But some stand out from the rest as being just so Taylor. Bonus points were awarded for her strong suits: self-referential lyrics, lyrics that mention a color or time of day, lyrics that mention cats, lyrics that mention New York, and lyrics about her main muse, Joe Alwyn.
SEE ALSO:
Taylor Swift's 'Midnights' promo was weird, right?
Here are the top 10 most quintessentially "Taylor" lyrics on Midnights:
"And I lost you. The one I was dancing with in New York. No shoes." - "Maroon"
A double whammy in this line from "Maroon" with both a New York mention and an allusion to dancing with your beloved. Not to mention the very Swiftian detail of "no shoes."
"I picked the petals. He loves me not. Something different bloomed, writing in my room." - "You're On Your Own, Kid"
This is in the running for the top lyric on the album. A three-line summation of her career and an ode to her origin story, all while using lovely floral imagery.
"My boy was a montage — a slow-motion, love potion." - "Midnight Rain"
Add this to the Taylor Swift Hall of Fame of metaphors describing the men she loves.
"'Cause I don’t remember who I was before you painted all my nights a color I’ve searched for." - "Question...?"
Swift excellently makes sweeping declarations of love and its impact on her worldview, and she's particularly fond of using colors and painting as a metaphor to portray that cosmic shift.
"Draw the cat eye, sharp enough to kill a man." - "Vigilante Shit"
The opening lines of "Vigilante Shit" are quintessential Reputation-era Taylor and nod to her go-to make-up style. The red lipstick is implied.
"So put me in the basement, when I want the penthouse of your heart." - "Bejeweled"
Domestic bliss and conflict is always a theme in Swift's music, whether literally or most often, metaphorically. Make that house metaphor an aspirational plea for unconditional love directed at your beau? It's an award-winning Swift line!
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"Karma is a cat, purring in my lap ‘cause it loves me." - "Karma"
Meredith, Olivia, and Benjamin know this best. If there’s one thing Swift is going to do, it’s remind us that she’s a proud cat lady!
"Spider boy, king of thieves, weave your little webs of opacity.” - "Karma"
It’s giving "Mean." It’s giving "King of My Heart." It’s giving "The Archer." It’s giving Swift lyricism at its finest.
"I’m only cryptic and Machiavellian 'cause I care." - "Mastermind"
Swifties are whipping out their dictionaries again for this "quill pen" song that combines her love for obscure vocabulary and playfully winking at the listener.
"Sip quiet by my side in the shade. And not the kind that’s thrown, I mean, the kind under where a tree has grown." - "Paris"
This lyric is a trifecta of Taylor: romantic plant language, a callback to earlier lyrics about the cultural definition of "shade" ("You Need to Calm Down"), and drinking.
We're approaching the 2020 finish line, and I just have to say: I think we all deserve a freaking reward.
It's been a heartbreaking, tragic year filled with loss, chaos, and immeasurable stress, but through it all we persisted, and we've earned the right to close out the year with a small amount of extremely relatable comic relief.
In addition to every "My Plans vs. 2020" meme online, here are 20 tweets that have absolutely gigantic 2020 Energy. They touch on everything from protesting during a pandemic and having emotional breakdowns, to struggling on video chats and feeling like the world is on fire.
Go forth, you strong, tired souls, and laugh/cry at this perfect summation of our hell zone year.
1. The commemorative scent, or stench, of 2020.
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2. Please do not have an emergency at this location.
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3. ThE nEw NoRmAl.
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4. TFW you're going through a little bit of a rough patch.
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5. We love an awkward Zoom call.
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6. We must have seriously pissed off Thanos.
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7. Whatever you do, don't drink bleach.
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8. We're so flexible.
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9. Good luck, rocks.
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10. Checks out.
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11.
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12. A real hot girl bummer of a year.
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13. Having generously buttered noodles, sprinkled with just a quarter cup of 🥺 for dinner.
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14. We're nothing if not flexible.
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15. Evergreen.
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16. :(
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17. Donald Trump losing again.
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18. Joe Biden winning again.
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19. The real star of the election cycle.
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20. Realizing March madness is on deck once again.
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Stay strong, everyone. The year's almost over.
Editor's note: This piece was originally published in June of 2020, and was updated December 8, 2020.
If you’re cracking a political joke, make sure women and LGBTQ people aren’t the punchline
When the punchline of your joke is portraying a politician dressed in women's clothing or kissing a same-sex partner, you're telling on yourself. Same applies to anyone laughing or sharing that joke too, for that matter.
So, why, in 2018, is the internet chortling away at images of a balloon depicting Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wearing a yellow bikini?
SEE ALSO:
Giant Trump Baby blimp flies over London and it's making Donald feel 'unwelcome'
This weekend, the 29ft-long balloon will be flown over London's Parliament Square as a response to the Donald Trump baby blimp erected to protest his UK visit. Khan is wearing a yellow bikini, which is a statement about his response to a series of controversial "beach body ready" ads on the London Underground which were eventually banned(opens in a new tab).
"Free speech" activists behind the Khan balloon say(opens in a new tab) the event "marks the fight back for free speech in our country." Yanny Bruere, the organiser of the stunt, is reportedly a "far right" supporter but claims (opens in a new tab)to have no political leanings.
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Funnily enough, they didn't have much of a fight on their hands when it came too exercising their right to free speech. Khan — who allowed the Trump blimp to fly over London in the name of free speech — happily granted permission for the balloon to fly. "If people want to spend their Saturday looking at me in a yellow bikini they're welcome to do so — I don't really think yellow's my colour though," Khan told(opens in a new tab) ITV London.
3,400 contributed to a crowdfunder for the event, which its organisers say(opens in a new tab) aims to make sure Khan loses his job as mayor at the next election in 2020. What's not clear is how Khan dressing in a bikini makes him any less fit for office.
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As journalist Flora Gill pointed out, there's a crucial difference between the Trump balloon and the Khan counterpart. The former portrayed Trump as a crying baby "because no one wants to be compared to a crying, whining infant." But, "it shouldn't be ridiculing to dress Sadiq Khan in women's clothes," wrote(opens in a new tab) Gill on Twitter. "Women are awesome — dressing as one isn't embarrassing!"
This isn't free speech, this is rank misogyny dressed up as a political statement.
So, what precisely is the message behind showing Khan — a cisgender, heterosexual male politician — dressed in women's swimwear? That the worst insult you can hurl at a male politician is that he's a woman? This isn't free speech, this is rank misogyny dressed up as a political statement.
Perhaps the real question we should ask the organisers is not what they think of Khan, but what do you think about women?
It would be something of an understatement to say we're living through politically divisive times where many turn to humour and satire as a means to cope and escape.
But one thing that seems to be cropping up more and more is caricatures of male politicians dressed up as women or kissing other male politicians. We've seen dresses painted onto Donald Trump (opens in a new tab)following his directive to White House staff that female employees should "dress like a woman." We've seen a pregnant Trump being cuddled(opens in a new tab) by Putin projected onto buildings. And most recently, we've seen the New York Times publish a cartoon animation of Trump and Putin's relationship presented as romantic, rather than political.
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As HuffPost's James Michael Nichols stated(opens in a new tab) at the time that this type of supposed humour had been circulated since the months preceding the 2016 presidential election. "LGBTQ people have been confronted with a curiously offensive idea that we’ve been told to accept as humour: that the strange relationship between President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could in some way be romantic or sexual," writes Nichols.
The New York Times animation prompted widespread criticism, with many pointing out(opens in a new tab) that these attempts to mock and deride Trump are actually just plain homophobic.
Protest art and political humour has become a fixture of this political era. But, through these caricatures, people are not only expressing their political views, they're revealing other beliefs they hold -- whether unconscious or ignorant. Namely, how they view LGBTQ people and women.
In the cold light of day, these so-called jokes about Trump being gay, or Khan being a woman, are nothing more than a thinly veiled statement that seems to say: anything that's not a white heterosexual male is therefore weak and/or ridiculous.
Note to everyone: if you're cracking a political joke, make sure women and LGBTQ people aren't the punchline. It doesn't look good.
UPDATE: Sept. 2, 2018, 11:08 a.m. BST This post has been updated with additional background information.
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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No. It's an inflatable Trump baby flying around London
