Todays best deals: 50% off Paramount+ subscriptions, a 27-inch iMac, and record-low Amazon device deals
2023-03-19 06:17:22author：dointy.com
Views:
Todays best deals: 50% off Paramount+ subscriptions, a 27-inch iMac, and record-low Amazon device deals
We've rounded up all of the best deals on Nov. 18 — here are our top picks:
BEST STREAMING DEAL: One year of Paramount+(Opens in a new tab) — starting at $24.99 (save 50%)
BEST COMPUTER DEAL: 2020 Apple 27-inch iMac (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)(Opens in a new tab) — $1,199.99$1,799 (save $599.01)
BEST AMAZON DEVICE DEAL: Echo Dot (3rd Gen) 2-Pack(Opens in a new tab) — $14.99$79.98 (save $64.99 with code FREEDOT22)
The countdown is on — Black Friday is a mere seven days away, dear friends. That means the deals are truly popping off.
Amazon officially dropped its device deals and they are epic. Most devices are even cheaper than they were during last month's Prime Day 2 — and that's saying something. You can get the brand-new Echo Dot (5th Gen)(Opens in a new tab) for half-off or the new Fire 7 tablet(Opens in a new tab) for 33% off. And that's just the jumping off point. There's plenty more deals worth adding to your cart on Nov. 18.
From half-priced Paramount+ subscriptions to the lowest prices ever on Mac devices and Ninja Foodis, you don't need to wait until Black Friday proper to score the best deals. Start checking off your list today — we've rounded up all the deals worth shopping on Nov. 18.
Best streaming deal
Opens in a new tab
(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Paramount+
One year of Paramount+
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
starting at $24.99 (save 50%)
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Why we like it
Whether you're looking to get in on the Tulsa King hype, watch your local team crush its opponents via NFL ON CBS, or set yourself up to watch Criminal Minds: Evolution the day it premieres, you're going to need a Paramount+ subscription. And lucky for you, now's a great time to get on the train, since annual subscriptions are 50% off for both new and returning subscribers. You can join as an Essential member for only $24.99 (reg. $49.99) with limited ads or cut ads out all together (and get even more content) with a Premium subscription for $49.99 (reg. $99.99). After the year is up, your membership will renew at full price — so be sure to cancel ahead of time if you don't want to be charged. Hurry, as this deal is only live until Nov. 19.
More streaming device and subscription deals
Four months of Amazon Music Unlimited(Opens in a new tab) — free with select purchases at Best Buy (save $39.96)
One year of Grubhub+(Opens in a new tab) — free for Prime members$119.88 (save $119.88)
First month of Xbox Game Pass(Opens in a new tab) — $1$14.99 (save $13.99)
Four months of Audible Premium Plus(Opens in a new tab) — $5.95/month$14.95/month (save $36)
Paramount+ Essential(Opens in a new tab) — free with Walmart+ membership ($12.95/month or $98/year)
Chromecast with Google TV (HD) Streaming Device(Opens in a new tab) — $18$29.99 (save $11.99)
Roku Streaming Stick 4K Streaming Device(Opens in a new tab) — $24.98$49 (save $24.02)
Roku Ultra LT Streaming Device 4K/HDR/Dolby Vision(Opens in a new tab) — $30$80 (save $50)
Apple TV HD 32GB (2nd Generation)(Opens in a new tab) — $59 $149.99 (save $90.99)
Best computer deal
Opens in a new tab
(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Apple
2020 Apple 27-inch iMac (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
$1,199.99 at Amazon (save $599.01)
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Why we like it
A device for creators or a family computer? Why not both? The 27-inch iMac from 2020 wasn't a major game-changer, but does include a more powerful processor, more storage options, and a high-quality webcam (finally). The base model — which houses a 3.1GHz six-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and 256GB of SSD storage — is a solid choice as "your family computer for schoolwork, Zoom calls, and streaming movies," Mashable's Brenda Stolyar wrote in her review. She also noted that there's not much to complain nor rave about with this computer. But with the $1,199.99 price tag ($599 off its usual cost), we're definitely raving now.
More computer, tablet, and monitor deals
HP 11.6-inch Chromebook (AMD A4, 4GB RAM, 32GB eMMC)(Opens in a new tab) — $79$98 (save $19)
Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) 8-inch Tablet (MediaTek Helio P22T, 3GB RAM, 32GB eMCP)(Opens in a new tab) — $79 $119 (save $40)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite 8.7-inch Tablet (WiFi, 32GB)(Opens in a new tab) — $99.99$159.99 (save $60)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 10.5-inch Tablet (WiFi, 32GB)(Opens in a new tab) — $139$199 (save $60)
HP 14-inch Touch Chromebook (Intel Celeron N4120, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC)(Opens in a new tab) — $179$299 (save $120)
Lenovo 10.1-inch IdeaPad Duet Chromebook Touch 2-in-1 Tablet (MediaTek P60T, 4G RAM, 128G eMCP4x)(Opens in a new tab) — $189$299 (save $110)
LG 32-inch UltraGear QHD (2560x1440)165Hz HDR 10 Monitor with FreeSync(Opens in a new tab) — $200$399 (save $199)
2022 Apple 11-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi, 128GB)(Opens in a new tab) — $729$799 (save $70)
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 2-in-1 (Intel Evo Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)(Opens in a new tab) — $899.99$1,349.99 (save $450)
2021 Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro chip, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)(Opens in a new tab) — $1,999.99$2,499 (save $499.01)
2021 Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (Apple M1 Pro chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)(Opens in a new tab) — $2,199.99$2,699 (save $499.01)
Amazon device deal
Opens in a new tab
(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Amazon
Echo Dot (3rd Gen) 2-Pack
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
$14.99 at Amazon (save $64.99 with code FREEDOT22)
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Why we like it
Not only is the third-generation Echo Dot at its lowest price ever, but you can also grab a second one for free when you enter the code FREEDOT22 at checkout. That means you get two Echo Dot smart speakers for just $15 — a $65 discount — and create a stereo sound experience in your home. Or, of course, you can gift one to someone else this holiday season without spending a dime. While the 2018 Echo Dot doesn't have the most advanced sound on the market, former Mashable tech editor Pete Pachal found that it "turns its entry-level Alexa product from a merely passable audio experience into something much more pleasing to the ear."
Related Stories
We've rounded up the best Cyber Monday tech deals
Amazon's best Black Friday TV deals include Samsung's The Frame and Fire TVs, of course
The best laptop deals of the weekend include a *ton* of Apple MacBook discounts
More Amazon device deals
Fire TV Stick Lite(Opens in a new tab) — $14.99$29.99 (save $15)
Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen)(Opens in a new tab)— $19.99$39.99 (save $20)
Fire TV Stick 4K(Opens in a new tab) — $24.99$49.99 (save $25)
Echo Dot (5th Gen)(Opens in a new tab) — $24.99$49.99 (save $25)
Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release)(Opens in a new tab) — $34.99$84.99 (save $50)
Fire TV Stick 4K Max(Opens in a new tab) — $34.99$54.99 (save $20)
Fire 7 Tablet(Opens in a new tab) — $39.99$59.99 (save $20)
Echo Show 5 Kids (2nd Gen)(Opens in a new tab) — $39.99$94.99 (save $55)
Echo Dot (5th Gen) with clock(Opens in a new tab) — $39.99$59.99 (save $20)
Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) with Blink Mini(Opens in a new tab) — $49.99$119.98 (save $69.99)
Echo (4th Gen)(Opens in a new tab) — $49.99$99.99 (save $50)
Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) Kids with Echo Glow(Opens in a new tab) — $50.99$124.98 (save $73.99)
Fire HD 8 Tablet(Opens in a new tab) — $54.99$99.99 (save $45)
Ring Video Doorbell(Opens in a new tab) — $59.99$99.99 (save $40)
Fire TV Cube(Opens in a new tab) — $59.99$119.99 (save $60)
Blink Floodlight Camera(Opens in a new tab) — $64.98$129.98 (save $65)
Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet (Opens in a new tab)— $64.99$119.99 (save $55)
Ring Video Doorbell with Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen)(Opens in a new tab) — $69.99$184.98 (save $114.99)
Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) (Opens in a new tab)— $69.99$129.99 (save $60)
Echo Buds (2nd Gen) With Wired Charging Case(Opens in a new tab) — $69.99$119.99 (save $50)
Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet (Opens in a new tab)— $79.99$149.99 (save $70)
Fire HD 8 Kids Pro Tablet(Opens in a new tab) — $79.99$149.99 (save $70)
Echo Buds (2nd Gen) With Wireless Charging Case(Opens in a new tab) — $89.99$139.99 (save $50)
Ring Spotlight Cam Plus(Opens in a new tab) — $139.99$199.99 (save $60)
Echo Show 15(Opens in a new tab) — $169.99$249.99 (save $80)
Amazon Fire TV 43-inch 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV(Opens in a new tab) — $229.99$369.99 (save $140)
Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV(Opens in a new tab) — $249.99$469.99 (save $220)
Amazon Fire TV 55-inch 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV(Opens in a new tab) — $299.99$519.99 (save $220)
Audio deals
Google Nest Mini (2nd Generation)(Opens in a new tab) — $18$49 (save $31)
JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker(Opens in a new tab) — $59$99 (save $40)
Google Pixel Buds A-Series(Opens in a new tab) — $64$99 (save $35)
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live(Opens in a new tab) — $69$169.99 (save $100.99)
Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)(Opens in a new tab) — $89.99$159 (save $69.01)
VIZIO V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar(Opens in a new tab) — $148$199.99 (save $51.99)
Google Pixel Buds Pro(Opens in a new tab) — $149.99$199.99 (save $50)
Klipsch Reference Series 5-1/4-inch Passive 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers(Opens in a new tab) — $199.98$399.98 (save $200)
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)(Opens in a new tab) — $229.99$249 (save $19.01)
Home deals
Kitchen deals
Instant Pot Duo (6-Quart)(Opens in a new tab) — $50$99.99 (save $49.99)
Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven(Opens in a new tab) — $75$349 (save $274)
Ninja Foodi 4-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer (8-Quart)(Opens in a new tab) — $99$199.99 (save $100.99)
Ninja Supra Kitchen System 72-ounce Blender and Food Processor(Opens in a new tab) — $99$149 (save $50)
Nespresso Coffee and Espresso Machines(Opens in a new tab) — starting at $118.30 (save up to 30%)
Blackstone Adventure Ready 22-inch Propane Griddle Gift Bundle(Opens in a new tab) — $127$279 (save $152)
Ninja OL501 Foodi XL 14-in-1 Pressure Cooker (6.5-Quart)(Opens in a new tab) — $129.99$279.99 (save $150)
Ninja OL601 Foodi XL 14-in-1 Pressure Cooker (8-Quart)(Opens in a new tab) — $149.99$329.99 (save $180)
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Toaster Oven(Opens in a new tab) — $279.95$349.95 (save $70)
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro(Opens in a new tab) — $319.95$499.95 (save $180)
Floor care deals
Hoover MAXLife PowerDrive Swivel XL Bagless Upright Vacuum(Opens in a new tab) — $59$119 (save 60)
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum(Opens in a new tab) — $98$199 (save $101)
eufy Clean by Anker RoboVac G32 Pro Robot Vacuum(Opens in a new tab) — $119$299 (save $180)
Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum(Opens in a new tab) — $144$259 (save $115)
iRobot Roomba 676 Robot Vacuum(Opens in a new tab) — $174.99$269 (save $92)
Shark EZ Robot Vacuum with Self-Empty Base(Opens in a new tab) — $258$449 (save $191)
iRobot Roomba i1+ (1552) Wi-Fi Connected Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum(Opens in a new tab) — $288$529.99 (save $241.99)
eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid Robot Vacuum and Mop(Opens in a new tab) — $319.99$649.99 (save $330 with clipped coupon)
Dyson V10 Absolute Cordless Vacuum(Opens in a new tab)— $399.99 $599.99 (save $200)
Website of this article：https://dointy.com/?m=home&c=View&a=index&aid=65091
A guide to getting off to your own sexual fantasies and imagination
They say the mind is the biggest, most powerful sex organ in the body. But, uh, don't try visualizing that mental image too vividly or literally, unless you're into that sorta thing?
Instead, imagine your favorite fictional crush pressing you up against a wall, or think back to the hottest sex you ever had in your life. Now stop imagining, because this magical place where all your desires are possible and acceptable exists. And literally anyone can tap into it.
While sexual fantasies are by definition not "real," their effects on your sex life (especially when explored during masturbation) are — shall we say — palpably physical.
"Engaging your imagination rather than relying on visual porn for example helps to build, enhance and strengthen your erotic mind," said Dr. Britney Blair, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of the sexual wellness Lover(Opens in a new tab) app. "You can bring that imagination to life when you want to prime the pump on your desire or push yourself over the edge to climax while solo or with a partner."
"It's incredibly liberating, recognizing our own power to design the scenes and situations that turn us on."
To be clear, there's nothing wrong with porn or other forms of erotica. But there's something especially powerful in orgasming to smut that couldn't be more personally tailored to what you like.
"In our minds we're not confined to our studio apartments or our current sexual partners. There are no rules or judgments. Not even the laws of physics apply," said Gina Gutierrez, co-founder of the popular audio erotica app Dipsea(Opens in a new tab). "It’s incredibly liberating, recognizing our own power to design the scenes and situations that turn us on and to scrap the ones that don’t work for us."
Don't take our word for it, though. There's science to show exactly how real the effects of a healthy erotic imagination are.
In a landmark 2016 study(Opens in a new tab), Dr. Nan Wise — neuroscientist, sex therapist, and author of Understanding the Neuroscience of Pleasure for a Smarter, Happier, and More Purpose-Filled Life(Opens in a new tab) — mapped the brain's response when subjects merely imagined pleasurable stimulation on their genitals. Just by thinking about it, the pleasure centers in their brains "lit up like a Christmas tree," Wise said.
"The mind is really the recipient of all the body's sensations. So there's this empirical evidence of a huge connection between the mind and pleasure," she said.
While everyone can benefit from using their imagination as a sexual aid, it's an especially potent practice for women and others who society has conditioned to feel ashamed about their sexuality.
"We have to do more work to lay down the connections, the neural pathways, between the genitals and the brain's sensory reward regions," said Wise. "Using your imagination to masturbate not only gives us the information about what stimulation we need, but also actually strengthens the connections between our genitals and the brain."
SEE ALSO:
Why some people masturbate about people they hate
Beyond that, getting off to our own sexual fantasies tackles another negative effect that patriarchy can have on women's sexuality.
"We're socialized to think of ourselves as the objects of other people's desires, like we need to borrow someone else's idea of pleasure" said Wise. That's why learning how to be the subject of our own desires, to embody the pleasure we conjure up in our own mind, can be so empowering.
Everyone with a brain, genitals, and desire is already equipped to masturbate to their own sexual fantasies. And while the practice does come more naturally to some, it only takes little guidance and patience to unlock the endless possibilities tucked inside your erotic mind.
Set the right environment
Set that phone to night mode, but make it sexy.Credit: bob al-greene / mashable
A major key in setting your mind up for erotic success is to ensure your environment allows your brain to feel fully relaxed, safe, and free from distraction.
Pick a time and place where you'll have full privacy without needing to worry about any interruption, whether from roommates or notifications. For most people, that place will naturally be the bedroom. But put some effort into also making it a true fortress of sensual solitude, like by locking the door, setting your phone to airplane mode, putting on an eye mask, or maybe even using some essential oils and putting on your favorite sexy playlist.
Blair even recommends purposefully scheduling these more exploratory kind of session and making them habitual. So maybe it can be something you add to your nightly ritual before bed: Brush your teeth, do the skincare routine, put on some pajamas, then let your mind wander as you touch yourself.
Create a safe space in your mind
Of course, priming yourself with the right mindset is vital to unlocking your brain's full fantasy potential.
One of the biggest hurdles to exploring our erotic imaginations is actually the engrained social shame many of us have picked up (even subconsciously) through sexism, homophobia, social stigmas, religion, etc.
"It’s important to know if that is coming up for you, you’re not alone. But there is no such thing as a wrong or right fantasy." said Blair.
SEE ALSO:
Am I the only one who's horny for podcasts?
Treat your imagination as a judgement-free zone. To be fair, clearing or redirecting your mind away from feelings of shame is easier said than done. But certain exercises can help (which we'll get into more in the mind-body connection section below).
Blair suggests that, while exploring sexual fantasies in your mind, try to distinguish between when you're having a reaction versus a judgment to a certain scenario. Judgments often come from values imposed on you by something or someone else, while visceral reactions can be an indication that your mind wants to explore it further — especially if it's something your never thought you'd be into.
It's easy to get scared off by an intense response to a fantasy, and write that off as being too weird or outside the norm for your taste. But if you give yourself a second to assess where that response is coming from, you might actually find that the intensity comes from a part of you that you've never tried tapping into before.
"Everything is okay in the world of fantasy. No fantasy is a crime."
Or maybe not, and that's fine too. The point is, if you feel safe doing it, just try leaning into parts of your erotic mind that feel challenging and see where it goes.
"Everything is okay in the world of fantasy. No fantasy is a crime," said Blair. "Whatever turns you on in your mind is totally healthy. Your fantasy doesn’t say anything about you except that you are lucky to have a rich imagination that you can use to have an exciting and enduring erotic life."
That's another major benefit of sexual fantasies versus traditional porn, too. You don't have to worry about any ethical concerns, because your imagination can't hurt you or anyone else. You're in total control.
"You imagination is a completely safe space," said Dipsea's Gutierrez. "We can play out fantasies that are risky or illicit that we would never actually want to happen in real life. In our minds we’re free to experiment without consequences."
Familiarize yourself with (but don't feel limited by) common sexual fantasies
While the whole point is to tap into the unique potential of your own mind, a good jumping off point is to explore whether the most common sexual fantasies(Opens in a new tab) spark your interest. Researchers have labeled them into different categories, though there's a world of possibilities within those labels as well.
Dr. Blair described these categories as multi-partner sex like group sex or threesomes; power, control, or rough sex; novelty, adventure, and variety; taboo and forbidden sex; partner sharing and non-monogamous relationships; passion and romance; and erotic flexibilitylikehomoeroticism or gender-bending.
Jess O'Reilly is a sex educator, author of The New Sex Bible(Opens in a new tab), and Astroglide's resident sexologist. She explained that through each of these fantasy categories you can help identify the specific core erotic feelings that get you into a heightened state of arousal.
"Oftentimes, they relate to fantasy, escapism or subverting otherwise 'negative' emotions. You might find that sex is really hot when you feel powerful, submissive, challenged, mindful, or playful," she said. "You may also find yourself aroused by feelings that you don’t naturally associate with pleasure, like jealousy, inadequacy, fear, and even humiliation can be exciting."
What our brains often gravitate to most is pure novelty. What gets you off in a fantasy can actually be the total opposite of your real-life sexual orientation or even completely removed from you, as an abstract scenario happening to someone else entirely.
Let your spank bank be a place where your freak flag flies.Credit: vicky leta / mashable
So don't be weirded out if you learn that you're as horny for that fish-god monster from The Shape of Water as the Academy Awards were in 2018. Or maybe you're one of the many women who enjoys a rape fantasy — which, as Dr. Wise points out, in a fantasy context is the opposite of a real-life rape since, "you're choosing to have the fantasy and who's overpowering you. You're in complete control."
One other general rule of thumb Wise found is that while men tend toward more visually-oriented fantasies centered around preferred body parts, women tend to focus on overall scenarios. However, it's impossible to distill the endless possibilities of human sexuality into neat categories. Which is why you also shouldn't get discouraged or ashamed if none of these common fantasies do it for you.
"Our capacity for imagination is limitless," said Wise. Don't feel pressure to confine yours to a specific label.
Related Video: I built my own vibrator at CES
Start building your erotic imagination through fiction, porn, memories... anything!
The truth is that, while other obstacles might make it hard initially to give yourself permission to explore sexual fantasies, using your imagination is a very natural and innate part of being human. Who doesn't fantasizing about getting up from their desk in the middle of a hard work day and quitting, or spend time daydreaming about how they'd furnish their dream apartment?
"We make Pinterest boards and save Instagram photos, collect and catalog all these things that we like. I recommend starting to do that for your sex life," said Gutierrez. "Become more mindful observing what attracts you to someone. The moments where you feel sexiest. What you want to say out loud during sex but hesitate to. Then the next time you want to use your fantasy for pleasure, you know exactly where to draw from."
Everything in your life can become part of your horny mood board.
Everything in your life can become part of your horny mood board.
We all have that one fictional character or public figure — whether from books, tv, movies, video games, or even politics and the internet — that just does it for us. Begin there, expanding into a specific sexy scene that got you going or whatever comes to mind when you think of that person. Heck, maybe you're like me and realize that a silky, authoritative voice is actually your kink, leading a bunch of non-erotic popular podcasts to become your go-to spank bank material.
Audio erotica can be a great place to start if you don't want to take the training wheels off yet to explore sexual fantasies of your own making. Unlike visual porn, audio erotica still exercises the muscles of your erotic imagination, asking you to fill in the details and paint the full picture. While we always recommend Dipsea, there's also plenty of free ways to try audio erotica like r/gonewildaudio(Opens in a new tab) and Girl on the Net(Opens in a new tab).
Once you're ready to bring yourself more to the forefront of the fantasy, begin with a memory of the hottest, most visceral sex you've ever had. Really ground yourself back in that moment by recalling your senses: What position were you in? What did the person's lust feel like? Were you sweating? How exactly did they touch you?
Touch yourself while pulling from all the erotic mental material you've curated, and don't be afraid to really get your whole body involved in mimicking the sensations you're creating through your mind. Maybe that means masturbating while you're on all fours, or matching the tempo of the fantasy, or even dry-humping a pillow. Don't put any pressure on yourself to orgasm throughout any of this, though, and instead just zero in on embodying the experience of your imagination.
"It's about giving yourself full permission to explore all our internal pleasure places, and how we experience them in both our minds and bodies at the same time," said Wise.
It's like writing fanfiction, but in real-timeCredit: vicky leta / mashable
Try these exercises to strengthen your mind-body connection
Through her research and other studies in the field, Wise has ultimately found that, "This distinction we make between the mind and body is really a very arbitrary one."
One of the best ways to embrace this in a way that engages your erotic fantasy life in is through something called mindful sex.
This increasingly popular branch of sex therapy describes a bunch of different practices and exercises that add a layer of sexuality to mindfulness, to help you stay present in your body while experiencing pleasure, train your mind to focus on whatever arouses you, and engage in a non-judgmental curious sexual mindset. Try out basic exercises like pleasure mapping (which Dipsea has a guide for), mindful masturbation (which you can read about here), and sensate focus (which you can read about here).
Wise also suggests a very simple exercise for getting your imagination more connected with your genitals on a neurological level: Just start by tapping or pleasurably touching your genitals, then stop, then think back on the sensations you felt while touching them. Try to recall and summon them back in your body: What did it feel like in your body when the stimulation was building, then dissipating?
At first, it might not feel like much at all and the pleasure may be pretty mild compared to what you're used to while using more immediate erotic visual aids like porn.
“But you’ll slowly start to develop a better connection to that pleasure sensation channel in your brain,” she said.
Use your imagination during partnered sex
While sexual fantasies are a great way to enhance self-love, learning how to engage with them during partnered sex can also do wonders to get people over the edge and into orgasm.
At this point though, you might be wondering: Is it even OK to fantasize about other situations — or maybe even other people — while having sex with a partner?
“It doesn't matter where you get your appetite, as long as you'd come home to eat.”
“Yes, it’s an unequivocal yes! Because thinking about stuff is not the same as doing it,” said Wise. As the famous saying goes, “It doesn't matter where you get your appetite, as long as you'd come home to eat.”
It’s totally normal for your mind to desire novelty, especially if you're not in a new relationship anymore. In fact, Wise found that one of the best ways to ensure a couples’ longevity is precisely this kind of openness and understanding that people need to fuel their erotic imagination with new stuff.
“If we can get over these kind of hang ups, get past this fear of our partners having a fantasy about somebody else while they’re with us, and instead use it as an opportunity talk about: What would you like? What haven't we tried? What are you afraid to tell me? Because that's hot. That's really hot,” said Wise.
Or maybe instead of thinking about someone else, you'd simply rather use your imagination during partnered sex to transport you both to a setting or scenario that heightens your arousal even more.
In the end, what you do with your erotic imagination is up to you. You can share it if you'd like — or keep it all to yourself. That’s what’s so great about sexual fantasies you cut from your own cloth: They’re all yours, and no one else's.
Childish Gambino warned us in 2018. This is America, right?
It's been a brutal week for anyone who doesn't live with their eyes closed. The proof is right there on Twitter and other social platforms. It used to be that we relied on police bodycams to hold officers accountable for their actions. But in this difficult moment, citizen journalism is carrying that bucket instead.
Something snapped in the United States as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against George Floyd's neck until he died on May 25. Floyd was black and Chauvin is white. It was a sadly familiar scene of what looks to rational observers like a clear case of police brutality.
But this time, we hit a breaking point. The gruesome reality of Chauvin's actions as captured on camera is certainly part of it. He held his position on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes, until after the restrained man died. The camera captures it all in vivid, horrifying detail. Add to that the ongoing pandemic, and historic levels of unemployment. People's nerves are frayed and the callous inhumanity of Floyd's death was a last straw.
So cities exploded over the weekend with widespread protests and grim scenes of violence. Even as much of the country outside of major cities continues to hunker down behind stay-at-home orders, social media has brought all of us to the front lines through citizen journalism and shared news reports.
These ongoing protests are about stopping racial violence and police brutality, and they're hundreds of years in the making. I think the images and videos, and the actions of the people portrayed therein, tell the whole story. Thank you to all of the protesters and members of the press who are out there doing your part to make sure the realities of this moment won't soon be forgotten.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
It hasn't all been as completely terrible as the above visuals suggest. Protesters are out in force and many of them are skipping the violence in favor of working to send a message, lift up the people in their community, and generally just keep the peace. Many others are just doing the best they can to peacefully work through the days, weeks, months, decades of pent-up anger they've been carrying.
They've even been joined in a few cases by police officers and departments that have managed to maintain a level of trust with their local communities.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
SEE ALSO:
How to demand justice for George Floyd and support Minneapolis protesters
I don't know what else to say. Take care of yourselves, folks. And please, keep on documenting this moment in any way that you can.
Police scanner app catapults to the top of the App Store
Protesters just made a police scanner the most popular paid iOS app in the country.
On Monday, 5-0 Radio Police Scanner(Opens in a new tab), which costs $5, was the number one paid app in the App Store. A pared-down version with ads was the number two paid app, surpassing TikTok and second only to the suddenly popular Zynn app. Vice first reported(Opens in a new tab) on the app's rise.
Protesters clashed with police in Minneapolis, Louisville, Los Angeles, Philadelphia(Opens in a new tab), and other U.S. cities over the weekend. They are demanding an end to police brutality after George Floyd was killed by a police officer.
A look at the top paid apps.Credit: screenshot / mashable
Also popular as a free app.Credit: Screenshot / mashable
Scanner apps let protesters listen to live police radio feeds. App analytics firm Apptopia found the top five police scanner apps, such as 5-0 Police Scanner(Opens in a new tab) and Police Scanner(Opens in a new tab), were downloaded 213,000 times over the weekend. That's a 125 percent increase from the weekend before — a record for police scanner apps. 5-0 Police Scanner was downloaded 40,000 times between Friday and Sunday in the United States.
Other related apps saw download surges as well, like the encrypted messaging app Signal. It was downloaded 37,000 times this weekend, a record for the app. Same for community alert app Citizen, which was downloaded 49,000 times during the same period, according to Apptopia(Opens in a new tab).
Elizabeth Warren and her very good dog Bailey joined the Washington D.C. protests
Less than half an hour before the official curfew started in Washington D.C., thousands of protesters were still walking peacefully in the streets of the capital. Among them were Sen. Elizabeth Warren, her husband Bruce Mann, and their dog Bailey.
Dressed in sensible beige shorts, sneakers, and a basic blue face mask, the last female candidate to suspend her campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination was quickly spotted by her fellow protesters as she joined the throng in Lafayette Square. Many were clearly thrilled to see her, cheering as she told reporters President Donald Trump had been "wrong" to deploy the National Guard in the city.
"He is imposing violence on our people," she told one reporter(Opens in a new tab). "People are here to protest peacefully.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Warren also called for Attorney General Bill Barr to resign after reports that he had ordered the violent removal of protesters near the White House, and tweeted her support for her colleague Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's bill to criminalise the use of chokeholds by police. Gillibrand was also in the presidential race until last August.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Widespread protests have emerged in cities across the U.S. in a furious response to the death of George Floyd — who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes — as well as other recent police killings, including Louisville woman Breonna Taylor and Florida man Tony McDade. These names are only the latest to be added to a shamefully long list of black Americans killed by police.f
Trump's response to the protests, in particular the order to disperse peaceful demonstrators near the White House using tear gas and rubber bullets for a Trump photo op, has drawn criticism from members of both parties(Opens in a new tab).
Other politicians who have appeared at protests include Reps. Ayanna Pressley(Opens in a new tab), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(Opens in a new tab), and Joyce Beatty, who was pepper sprayed by police at the Columbus, Ohio event(Opens in a new tab), as well as Sen. Kamala Harris (Opens in a new tab)
Every police department should have to hear our rage via Zoom call
Yesterday, the Los Angeles Police Commission held a Zoom call with citizens — of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, as well as some former residents — and watched with blank faces as citizens berated them mercilessly for eight hours.
The call came not only after several nights of protests in Los Angeles, but also after LAPD chief Michael Moore blamed the death of George Floyd(Opens in a new tab) on the city's protestors and looters. (Moore walked back on the comments(Opens in a new tab) after backlash.)
But that's just the tip of the iceberg: LAPD has a long history of violence against black people — next year will be 30 years since LA officers beat Rodney King(Opens in a new tab).
After many people were initially left out of the call(Opens in a new tab) because it capped at 500 people — and after the boomers on the commission figured out how to work Zoom — the commission said their statements.
Then, the real show started. The public unleashed their fury on the LAPD for hours on end. They demanded Moore's resignation or firing, as well as to defund the LAPD and support the people's budget(Opens in a new tab). Some spewed incredible insults(Opens in a new tab), while others broke down in tears. Several impassioned callers, like this one, went viral:
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
After watching this call, I'm convinced that every police department needs to have a Zoom call like this one.
While the LAPD is notorious for its racism, so are many other departments across the country — including the Minneapolis police(Opens in a new tab), who are responsible for the killing of George Floyd. He died after three police officers pinned him down, one kneeling on his neck for nearly 9 minutes.
Police departments across the nation should be subjected to people's rage. In many cities, they're beating up peaceful protestors who they are sworn to protect, all while we — the taxpayers — pay their salaries. Police commissions are supposed to be working for us, the civilians, and we should be able to scream and cry and drag our cops just like the residents of LA did yesterday. (And then I think we should defund the police(Opens in a new tab), but that's a different story.)
Public meetings with police departments aren't new. As some activists mentioned on the call, they've been raising the same concerns about the police for years. But now thanks to technology not afforded previous generations, these meetings can be online (and the current pandemic pretty much mandates that, anyway). Virtual meetings can not only be more accessible to people who can't make them in-person, but allows these meetings to go viral and be seen by thousands, both in the department's jurisdiction and beyond.
The total impact of the LAPD call has yet to be seen. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti didn't make any promises about changing the budget(Opens in a new tab), and as of publication the LAPD chief has not resigned.
But that doesn't mean this call didn't have an impact. Hundreds of people were able to express anger that has possibly been pent up for years. People around the country — like me, in New York — stayed tuned for hours and are now inspired to tell our police departments our similar demands (and probably insults). Like protesting, donating money, and calling our reps, being able to rip into our respective police departments can be just another action to elicit change, and it's a cathartic one at that.
Police commissions and departments have a duty to their citizens to let their voices be heard. We are all owed a more modern-day public forum. Americans everywhere should be able to call out their police chief's racist eyebrows.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Mashable has reached out to LAPD for comment and will update if received.
Even Piers Morgan thinks Rudy Giuliani sounds completely barking mad
Listen, let's not give Piers Morgan — a British TV presenter who's dabbled in racist tropes(Opens in a new tab) and transphobia(Opens in a new tab) — a gold star. But even he has realized Rudy Giuliani seems a little off.
Giuliani, the former NYC mayor and current personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, appeared on Thursday on ITV's Good Morning Britain, which Morgan co-hosts. The appearance, which took place in the middle of the night in the U.S., turned into a shouting match between two old white guys about who was more discredited.
The fight began when Morgan criticized Trump's tweet about "when the looting starts the shooting starts" in regards to the protests surrounding the police killing of George Floyd. But the argument soon devolved into a barrage of personal attacks.
"You sound completely barking mad, do you know that?" Morgan said.
Giuliani fired back, "No, I don't. You sound like a big liar."
But Morgan kept going after the former mayor, firing off wonderfully British insults.
"You've lost the plot. And it's sad to see," the host said.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Taking a page from his boss's playbook, Giuliani stumbled through a few insults about Morgan's failed CNN show and its poor ratings. At some point, Giuliani either tells Morgan he "sucked up" or "fucked up" — it's tough to tell because Giuliani's words are a bit slurred — but either way Morgan apologizes for the language before twisting the knife further into his guest.
"When I used to interview you, you were an intelligent, reasonable man and you've gone completely mad," he said. "And you sound deranged. You're abusive. And it's really sad to see what's happened to you."
A viral clip from the interview goes on in a similar fashion for a few more minutes. It does represent a shift from Morgan — a former winner on Celebrity Apprentice who had a largely friendly (if bonkers)(Opens in a new tab) interview with Trump this time last year.
But definitely watch the entire clip from Thursday, if only to see co-host Susanna Reid deliver an absolutely perfect, "OK," to end the wild segment.
Fox News host says John Lennon — who was killed in New York — wouldnt be safe in the city right now
Days after an NYPD car floored it into a group of protesters(Opens in a new tab) — just one of many instances of police violence in the city(Opens in a new tab) — New York City mayor Bill de Blasio responded with...John Lennon lyrics.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
"I don't mean to make light of this but I'm reminded of the song 'Imagine' by John Lennon," said de Blasio, according to journalist Jack Mirkinson. He went on to say that defunding the police, a rallying cry of the George Floyd protests, was "not the way forward."
De Blasio was subsequently roasted by social media(Opens in a new tab) and traditional(Opens in a new tab) media(Opens in a new tab) outlets(Opens in a new tab), and then Fox News got ahold of the quote. On Fox & Friends Thursday morning,Brian Kilmeade thought he was delivering a brilliant zinger about the mayor:
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
"John Lennon wouldn't be safe in this city right now," said Kilmeade. "He'd be hiding in his apartment."
For those who are unaware (like Kilmeade, apparently), John Lennon was murdered in New York(Opens in a new tab) in 1980. His killer, Mark David Chapman, shot him four times outside his luxury Manhattan apartment. He's still in prison and his eleventh parole hearing is scheduled for this August(Opens in a new tab).
Maybe Kilmeade should do some fact-checking. Imagine that?
Singer performs Bunker Boy, a catchy tune about Trumps time in the bunker
There's a new song inspired by Donald Trump's recent and somewhat confusing trip to the White House bunker, and honestly? It's catchy as hell.
On Monday, days after it was reported that Secret Service rushed the president to the White House bunker(Opens in a new tab) amidst D.C. protests, singer Courtney Jaye (@TropicalJaye(Opens in a new tab)) penned and performed the tune, titled, "Bunker Boy."
Jaye shared a video of herself performing the song to social media, and on top of her gorgeous guitar playing and sweet-sounding vocals, the lyrics are truly something.
"Bunker Boy, don't lie. You got scared and hid in the basement in the middle of the night," Jaye sings. "You're not so tough, no. It's a sorry sight. So take your bible, shove it up your ass, and turn on the fucking lights."
Jaye ends the song with the lyrics, "Bunker Boy, Bunker Boy, November's coming and we hope you're terrified, Bunker boy," before taking a big exhale and letting out an exhausted eye roll. A real mood.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
SEE ALSO:
Stephen Colbert slams Trump's hypocritical Bible photo op
For those who haven't been closely following Trump's bunker saga, let's recap.
On Friday night, hundreds of people gathered outside the White House gates to protest racism, police brutality, and the death of George Floyd, a black man who died on May 25, after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes.
Reports stated that when protests escalated Friday night, Secret Service ushered Trump — along with Melania and their son Barron — to the underground presidential bunker, where they allegedly remained for nearly an hour(Opens in a new tab).
After Trump received some backlash for retreating to the bunker amidst a national state of unrest, he said that he didn't go to the bunker to get away from the protests, rather he was merely inspecting the bunker.
"I was there for a tiny, short little period of time," Trump told Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio. He then stated his bunker visit was "more for an inspection," and that he'd been been to the bunker previously. He said he's gone "two and a half times," whatever that means.
Trump's bunker comments sounded a bit absurd to many people, including Jaye, which is why she decided to use the gift of song to hilariously call the president out on his suspicious story.
Jaye tweeted her video and made sure to tag Trump's Twitter handle — and the song has been quite a hit since. At the time of writing this piece, Jaye's tweet had more than 60,000 likes, and celebrities like Sophia Bush have even praised the blunt and catchy tune.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Jaye is no stranger to writing songs about President Trump. On June 1, she also shared another potential hit, called "fuck this fucking president," which has been viewed 174,000 times.
In it, Jaye shares her true feelings about the president, and urges people to get out and vote for the November election.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
I only wish Jaye had been cranking out these political hits back in 2018, when former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer was hiding in (or among) bushes. I bet "Bushes Boy" would have been a real banger.
Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian, resigns to make room for a black board member
The co-founder of Reddit just put the rest of the tech world on notice.
Alexis Ohanian announced Friday(Opens in a new tab) that he was resigning his Reddit board seat, and "urged" the rest of the board to fill his spot with a new black board member. He will also be donating all future gains on his Reddit stock to "serve the black community," and is immediately giving $1 million to Colin Kaepernick's racial justice charity.
Yes, take that in. Ohanian just set the bar for using power and privilege for racial equity by transferring not only resources, but also power to people of color.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
The tech world has been looking for ways to support racial equality amid Black Lives Matter protests across the world. The leaders in efforts to promote diversity in tech say that one of the best ways tech leaders in particular can help is by investing in black businesses and venture funds, hiring black employees, and putting black people in positions of power within the tech world.
"Tech companies should be hiring [people of color] at all levels, from the board room to the boiler room," Rodney Sampson, a leader in tech diversity and founder of the accelerator OHUB(Opens in a new tab), said. "If you’re a venture-backed tech company, you should be looking to put someone black on your board of advisors."
Ohanian called his move "long overdue." He explained that he had made his decision so that he could answer his black daughter (Ohanian's wife is Serena Williams) when she asked: "What did you do?"
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Williams expressed support for her husband in a tweet that may have made this reporter choke up.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
In the background of Ohanian's actions are the stark realities of Reddit, which Ohanian said he founded "to help people find community and a sense of belonging." Anyone who has spent even a passing moment on Reddit knows that it can be a quagmire of divisive vitriol. Amid the protests, some Reddit communities protested what they see as Reddit's failure to take stronger action against hate speech on the platform by making their communities private. Ellen Pao, a former VC, and one-time interim CEO of Reddit who now runs a tech diversity organization, called out Reddit's hypocrisy on Twitter:
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
There is, of course, no guarantee that Reddit leadership will take Ohanian up on his request to fill his seat with a black board member. But this is an opportunity to set an example for the rest of the tech and business world. Currently, around 11 percent of Fortune 100 board members are African American, according to a recent study(Opens in a new tab) by the Alliance for Board Diversity.
Mashable has reached out to Reddit to learn whether it intends to follow through with Ohanian's call to action, and Reddit said it would be responding "later today."
Trump lies about elderly protester injured by police, hits another new Twitter low
Every time you think Donald Trump has hit a new moral low, he manages to outdo himself.
On Tuesday morning, Twitter users saw yet another exceptionally distressing and unpresidential display from Trump. The president tweeted outlandish lies about Martin Gugino, the injured protester who was shoved to the ground by Buffalo police officers last week. Even for someone prone to spreading false conspiracy theories, this was a shocking thing to say.
After video of the Buffalo police officers pushing the 75-year-old man to the ground went viral, public outrage led to the suspension of two officers directly involved and the resignation of the 57 other officers(Opens in a new tab) from Buffalo New York's emergency response team. Those officers who resigned from the team remain on the force.
As Gugino — whose head could be seen smacking the pavement in the video and then was bleeding from his ears — remains in serious but stable condition, Trump suggested to nearly 82 million Twitter followers that the 75-year-old man was "an ANTIFA provocateur" who was trying to tamper with police equipment and exaggerated the severity of his fall.
"Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?" Trump tweeted.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
SEE ALSO:
Protesters turned Donald Trump's #BabyGate fence into something beautiful
The tweet not only publicly targets a citizen, but also attempts to destroy his reputation as a peaceful activist(Opens in a new tab). And though Trump continually flings insults and spreads misinformation on Twitter, many people were genuinely taken aback by the harmful nature of this conspiracy theory.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Trump seems to have gotten this conspiracy theory in his head from One America News, the conservative, far-right news network that previously claimed Dr. Fauci had ties to the Deep State, George Soros, Bill Gates, and the Clintons(Opens in a new tab).
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Trump has proven time and again that he's not above lying to rile up his base and change the conversation. So it's imperative now more than ever that you research whatever he says before you even consider believing it.
19 best tweets of the week, including Jazz slander, Tim Allen, and a Hyundai Sonata
It's Friday! I think. Who could be sure?
*Checks calendar.*
OK, yes, it's Friday. We made it through another week of the pandemic! You simply love to see it.
Around these parts — please excuse the random Western-movie-parlance, it's been a long week — we mark Fridays by collecting some of our favorite tweets of the week. Why? Because laughing is good and because why not?
So here they are, our 19 favorite tweets of the week.
1. But most importantly to yourself
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
2. “Fuck a stranger in the all new 2021 Hyundai Sonata”
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
3. Holy shit...I...I do this too?
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
4. OK this for NBA people, but it's a really good joke if you know what's going on here and what LeBron James said at the All Star Game(Opens in a new tab) draft
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
5. This whole Lola Bunny thing(Opens in a new tab) proves people have been cooped up way too long
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
6. More Space Jam 2 jokes
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
7. Perfect
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
8. Only right this is number eight on the list
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
9. Obligatory dril tweet
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
10. OK, we've definitely been cooped up too long
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
11. And yet again with the cooped up too long
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
12. As someone who spends far too much of their life on Twitter, I hate how true this is
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
13. Do the kids still call things mood? I don't know. But if they did, this is one of those.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
14. Old top-hat-ass Lincoln would be LOST and I would simply sign the pdf
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
15. That is a LOT of allowance
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
16. Every part of this is gold but the Tim Allen bit? That shit is space gold. No, I don't know what space gold is but it's like better than regular Earth gold.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
17. The best Trump impression. Hands down. Not even close.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
18. Ladies and gentlemen, my wonderful friend and colleague Nicole Gallucci
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
19. And finally, this
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that Zoom meetings get very tiresome, very fast. Apparently, famous politicians are feeling the hurt as well.
In a Politico profile of Elizabeth Warren(Opens in a new tab) published Thursday, the Massachusetts senator revealed she cannot stand video meetings. Politico described her as someone with "boundless energy [who] scorns Zoom, preferring to pace endlessly on telephone calls."
“That’s what I hate about Zoom. You’ve got to plunk your fanny in a chair,” she said.
As someone who gets a strange urge to pace on calls, I totally get it.
Zoom has, of course, taken over our lives in 2020, with no signs of relenting. Holidays, therapy sessions, happy hours, yep, it's all on Zoom now. It's gotten pretty rote, but you do what you have to do. Even if you're a senator, apparently.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
The piece from Politico focused largely on Warren's path forward, after failing to secure both the Democratic nomination in 2020 and a spot in President-elect Joe Biden's cabinet.
Not for nothing, Warren's beef with the tech industry goes way beyond her dislike of Zoom (and presumably Google hangouts and every other video chat platform). She spent a good portion of her campaign promising to break up Big Tech (companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon). Her plan even included specific ideas(Opens in a new tab) such as unwinding mergers like Facebook scooping up Instagram and Amazon's Whole Food buy.
It remains to be seen how much of that she'll be able to pursue in the Senate going forward, but at least we have the pleasant visual of her pacing back and forth on her phone as she tries to persuade her fellow politicians to get on board.
Ted Cruz and Ron Perlman are in a strange Twitter fight about ... wrestling?
Times are strange. Just look around.
So it shouldn't be that much of a shock that Ted Cruz — a sitting U.S. senator — is doing his best to win a pissing match about wrestling with the actor who played Hellboy.
But still... it's pretty strange.
It all started with actor Ron Perlman tweeting out an insult of Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, basically calling him ugly.
Now, for those who need a refresher, here's a quick one. Jordan was a standout wrestler in college and went on to coach at Ohio State, where — according to allegations from a half dozen former wrestlers(Opens in a new tab) — he knew about, and ignored, a sexually abusive doctor at the university. Jordan denies he knew about the widespread abuse.
So anyway, when Perlman called Jordan ugly, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz jumped in to challenge the actor to wrestle the former NCAA champion .... for some reason.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Perlman was quick to shoot back at Cruz, alluding to the allegations against Jordan related to former OSU physician Richard Strauss, who was found(Opens in a new tab) to have abused at least 177 wrestlers over multiple decades.
"I tell you what teddy boy, since mentioning jim jordan and wrestling is... problematic, why don’t we say fuck him and just make it you & me," Perlman wrote on Twitter. "I’ll give 50k to Black Lives Matter and you can keep all the tax payer money you were thinking of spending."
He also reminded Cruz that the senator didn't exactly push back against President Donald Trump for cruelly insulting his loved ones.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Amid the global coronavirus pandemic — while representing a state with a record number of new cases(Opens in a new tab) — and widespread protests, Cruz seemingly felt it a good use of time to continue this internet spat with an actor.
"I get it, you’re rich. But, apparently, soft," he wrote(Opens in a new tab) to Perlman. "You sure seem scared to wrestle Jordan (whom you keep insulting). Can’t take the heat? Need to get a manicure?"
Predictably, the insults kept coming. Perlman didn't hold back.
"Teddy, Teddy, what kind of a muthafucka offers to have another guy, probably asleep at the time, kick another guy’s ass?" he posted(Opens in a new tab) to Twitter.
At the time of this writing, it appeared Cruz finally walked away from the weird fight and had not responded, but we'll update this post if he does.
Anti-work subreddit implodes after rough Fox News interview
The anti-work subreddit(Opens in a new tab) went private Wednesday following a lousy Fox News interview(Opens in a new tab) between anchor (and notorious tool) Jesse Watters and one of the subreddit's moderators, Doreen Ford. Watters and other Fox News hosts(Opens in a new tab) have argued that the subreddit is helping to fuel the Great Resignation, in which millions of workers nationwide have left their jobs.
The interview was not a great look for the burgeoning online movement.
"There are some misconceptions about the movement," Ford said on Jesse Watters Primetime after the first question. "We're a movement where we want to reduce the amount of work that people feel like they're forced to do. And so we want to still put in effort. We want to put in labor, but we don't want to necessarily be in a position where we feel trapped."
Watters then asks Ford why supporters of the movement don't simply quit their jobs, and wonders if Ford is "encouraging people to be lazy."
"I think laziness is a virtue in a society where people constantly want you to be productive 24/7," Ford said. "And it's good to have rest. That doesn't mean you should be resting all the time or not putting effort into things that you care about."
Despite the movement's name, she said that the concept of 'not working' isn't really the central focus. Ford herself is currently employed as dog walker, working about 20 - 25 hours a week. When Watters asked what she might ideally want to do professionally, Ford said she'd like to teach philosophy and critical thinking. The interview mostly focused on Ford instead of the movement as a whole, and it makes the movement look like, well, a joke.
SEE ALSO:
Screenshots of texts with your freaking boss are taking over Twitter
In the subreddit OutOfTheLoop(Opens in a new tab), which helps users keep track of what is going on with Reddit, Reddit user Potatolantern said that people on the anti-work subreddit are "indignant" and frustrated that Ford was chosen to represent the movement and decided to do an interview with Fox News at all. A post on the subreddit (preserved by the Wayback Machine(Opens in a new tab)), however, shows Ford explaining how the other moderators decided she'd be best to do the interview because of her past media experience.
Wednesday morning, the anti-work subreddit was still public but as Ford's interview gained traction, it went private. According to user luciagrace in the OutOfTheLoop subreddit, many of the posts and comments on r/antiwork were locked. Users were, allegedly, getting banned for discussing the interview. Eventually, the page released an FAQ thread about the Fox News incident, according to one user on r/OutOfTheLoop, but that was later deleted.
By Thursday morning, r/antiwork was made public again. In a statement(Opens in a new tab) the moderators said they "are planning to remove" Ford from her duties as a moderator.
"We thank her for building up the anti-work movement, but regarding the past incidents, we decided as a majority to remove her," the statement read.
As for the state of the subreddit now, people are still upset. In one thread, user Inevitable-Currents(Opens in a new tab) called out the irony that moderators have "some authority" and "exerted it incorrectly and then immediately refused to acknowledge it or correct it on this sub which is literally dedicated to holding those who do exactly what you did accountable." They encouraged people in the movement to put in the work by starting a union, donating to striking workers, and volunteering at local orgs.
"If your way of 'helping' is by thinking workers need 'better messaging' than you’ve already lost the plot and are likely doing more harm than good," Inevitable-Currents wrote.
As Reddit user mrSFWdotcom said, the entire segment was designed to make Ford and the anti-work movement look bad. Mission accomplished.
UPDATE: Jan. 27, 2022, 11:27 a.m. EST This article has been updated with a statement from r/antiwork's moderators and additional community comments.
13 best tweets of the week, including Skittles, a spooky aunt, and Werner Herzog
We all deserve a good laugh right now, what with the ongoing pandemic and the constant the political shitshow.
What better way to catch a few laughs than some good tweets? We've been collecting our favorite tweets for, well, countless weeks now because hey, a little humor never hurt in the end-times.
So here they are, 13 of our favorite tweets.
1. Not me though
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
2. Even the best laid plans
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
3. "...the fact that he is now in full beast mode suggests to me he's not doing cheap reps."
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
4. "Sir, you can't be sus in here."
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
5. Some people just want to watch the world burn
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
6. SpOo0oky aunt
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
7. This answer is just...it's a ride
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
8. What could go wrong?
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
9. I accept, and agree with, the results of this vote
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
10. Obligatory dril tweet
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
11. Drone, innnit
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
12. Aggressive computers
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
13. And finally, I could use this
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Refresh your home appliances with up to 40% off at The Home Depot
The following content is brought to you by Mashable partners. If you buy a product featured here, we may earn an affiliate commission or other compensation.
You’ve probably made over your house at least once over the last year, and now it’s your chance to go all out: The Home Depot is offering up to 40% off of appliances. From now through Feb. 24, The (Opens in a new tab)Home Depot is hosting a President’s Day sale(Opens in a new tab), where you can get significant savings off of select appliances large and small, from refrigerators to ovens to vacuum cleaners.
Here are a few picks worth peeping.
Sharp Plasmacluster ion air purifier with HEPA filtration(Opens in a new tab) ($179.99, normally $199.99)
Plasmacluster Ion Air Purifier with True HEPA FiltrationCredit: sharp
Air purifiers(Opens in a new tab) were hard items to find last year, but here’s one on sale and in stock — and that isn’t an eye sore. Breathe easy.
Samsung Family Hub french door smart refrigerator(Opens in a new tab) ($2,878, normally $3,199)
You know you’ve always secretly wanted a fridge with an LCD screen(Opens in a new tab). So go ahead and make your kitchen feel fresh and tech-forward.
Galanz 1.2 cu. ft. Countertop ToastWave 4-in-1 convection oven, air fryer, toaster oven, microwave(Opens in a new tab) ($299.99, normally $499.99)
If you don’t have a convection oven, you’re missing out on the best way to cook food directly from the freezer. This all-in-one countertop appliance(Opens in a new tab) saves you the space of storing four different appliances.
NewAir Beers of the World 19 in. freestanding beverage cooler(Opens in a new tab) ($318.84, normally $354.27)
Beers of the World 19 in. 126 (12 oz.) Can Icy Cold Down to Frosty 37° Freestanding Beverage Cooler - Custom DesignedCredit: newair
Looking to upgrade your home bar situation? Beer drinkers, this uniquely designed fridge(Opens in a new tab) can show off your beverage collection and also become a statement piece in your living room.
bObsweep PetHair robotic vacuum cleaner and mop(Opens in a new tab) ($179.99, normally $279.99)
Sitting in your own mess was fun for a few months, but by now it’s gotten old. Why not buy something that will clean up after you(Opens in a new tab)? This robot will not only vacuum your floors, but mop them as well.
RCA 1.6 cubic foot top load portable washer(Opens in a new tab) ($209, normally $257.49)
If you don’t have a washing machine in your apartment, doing laundry can feel like a drag. Why not get a portable washer(Opens in a new tab) that can help lighten the load (pun absolutely intended)?
Opens in a new tab
(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: THE HOME DEPOT
Take up to 40% off appliances at The Home Depot’s President’s Day sale through Feb. 24
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Who is writing Spotify Wrappeds cringe copy? I just want to talk.
There's a lesson I learned in eighth grade, back when I thought buying aggressively colorful, collared shirts from Aéropostale was going to make me cool. That lesson? There are very few things less cool than trying to being cool.
That's what comes to mind when I look at Spotify's latest campaign for its annual year-end product, Wrapped. The music service had its big day on Wednesday, Dec. 1, when it dropped its 2021 Spotify Wrapped, a personalized in-app experience that tells people their top songs and artists for the year.
And, listen, like everyone else I took my precious little screenshots and obligatorily tweeted them out like a good internet soldier, addicted to signaling my taste.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
But there was something oddly off-putting about Wrapped this year. Spotify's copywriting tried so hard to be trendy and cool that it ended up being incredibly corny. This joke from reporter Astead Wesley hardly feels like a joke at all.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
The main product of Wrapped is a playlist of your most-played 100 songs of the year. But to see the data, Spotify makes you tap through an Instagram Story-esque presentation of loud graphics, personality-driven observations, and this year, interactive games. And while that's all clever in theory, the execution of its copywriting sounds like a parent's attempt at rattling off phrases they didn't quite understand in 2021. Or the personification of the "how do you do, fellow kids(Opens in a new tab)" meme.
You've got all the hits: main character, NFTs, and understood the assignment. Basically, it's like a parent overheard their child watching TikToks then made a PowerPoint presentation out of it. Here's a sampling from my Wrapped:
Why are we bringing up NFTs?Credit: Screenshots: Spotify app
Here are a few more screenshots. I know skincare routines are like a thing now, but Spotify my skincare routine infamously includes dish soap. You don't know me like that! Why are we wasting time here? Just give me my songs.
No single podcast lives in my head but thank you.Credit: Screenshots: Spotify app
In their larger global marketing campaign, Spotify even dropped references to Bones or No Bones days. Because, of course, how could Spotify miss hopping on even a single trend?
Spotify, enough.Credit: Spotify
The weird thing is that Wrapped is already cool and popular. It's the single-most talked about thing on the internet for a whole 24 hours. Like I said, it's almost obligatory to tweet your results every year and rub it in the faces of Apple Music subscribers. There's no need for Spotify to force-feed us trendy internet phrases from 2021 when they already have an influential product.
As you can see, people online are pretty tired of it.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Spotify: Please learn the lesson taught to me the hard way in eighth grade. Let's stop trying to be cool and just... release the playlists in 2022. Wrapped is a product people like, and we really don't want to have to fight through 10 TikTok references to get to the good soup stuff.
Weve got a lot of questions about these Big Red Boots
If you have questions about the big red boots all over your feeds you're not alone.
For one, they're officially called Big Red Boots, and yes, they are real and available to buy. MSCHF, the art collective that created the Big Red Boots, was cheekily cryptic about its latest product, but here's what we know.
What are the Big Red Boots?
The Big Red Boots are oversized cartoonish boots recently spotted on influencers and other fashion folk that have gone viral for their ridiculous look. Much like Crocs' evolution from dorky dad shoes to an ironic fashion statement, the Big Red Boots are both trendy and a subversion of trends.
The short answer is that they're big cartoony boots. The long answer is that they're a critique of capitalist mass consumption and the impermanence of trends. More on that below.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Who is the creator behind the Big Red Boots?
The Big Red Boots are made by the art collective MSCHF. According to its website, MSCHF "subverts mass/popular culture and corporate operations and tools for critique and intervention."
The collective was also behind the "Satan Shoe" collaboration with Lil Nas X, a.k.a. the Nike Air Max 97 sneakers that contained a drop of blood in the air bubble. Nike sued(Opens in a new tab) MSCHF for the unauthorized sale of its Nike Air Max 97 sneakers.
No word yet on how Boots(Opens in a new tab) from Dora the Explorer feels about his boots being copied.
Why is MSCHF selling Big Red Boots?
"The aesthetic Overton Window continues to stretch open towards the unreal," said the description on the product page. In other words, this aesthetic reflects the increasingly merging worlds of virtual and reality. "The continued blending of virtual and IRL aesthetic has us chasing supernormal stimuli. When half the sneakers we see on social media are renderings, we come to expect a baseline of unreality. Big Red Boots are VR chat boots."
Hopefully, that clears things up.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
What are the Big Red Boots made of?
The Big Red Boots are made of TPU, which is what many phone cases are made of, rubber, and an EVA foam outsole and midsole. EVA is the same stuff Crocs are made of. So yes, the boots are bouncy, a little bit squishy, and might be fun to chew on(Opens in a new tab).
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
How much do the Big Red Boots cost?
They cost $350, which depending on your interest in fashion is decently priced for a pair or boots, or ridiculously expensive for novelty rubber boots.
Where can I buy the Big Red Boots?
You can buy them on MSCHF.com(Opens in a new tab) and the MSCHF Sneakers app.
When are they available?
The Big Red Boots go on sale to the public on February 16 at 11 a.m. EST.
Help, how do I get the Big Red Boots off?
Good question. Some people have been struggling(Opens in a new tab) with this. Try enlisting a friend or two to help. Also, maybe wear some kind of grippy sock underneath to help the rubbery suctioned boots slide off.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
How do I style the Big Red Boots?
Another good question! Wear with baggy pants and loud colors like IMG model Wisdom Kaye(Opens in a new tab). Or tuck pants into them and complete the outfit with an American flag sweater, like Jannik Diefenbach a.k.a. @jaadiee(Opens in a new tab)'s grandpa. With cartoonish big red boots, the possibilities are beyond your imagination.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
8 gifts for aspiring Instagram and TikTok influencers
We all have that friend or relative who aspires to be a social media influencer. They're always keeping up with the latest trends, they're always filming or taking pictures, and they have the ruthless ambition of a reality show contestant.
They've got the raw talent, they just need the right tools. And that's where you come in. Help them achieve the polished influencer look and impress them with your influencer savvy all at the same time.
1. Elgato Stream Deck MK.2(Opens in a new tab)
For those who are serious about taking on the influencer game, look no further than the stream deck. Think of it as an extension of a keyboard, but with completely customizable buttons to control apps, tools, and platforms. Basically, everything you need for a livestream or studio-level production is at the push of a button.
You can even connect it to smart lighting systems.Credit: Elgato/Amazon
2. Green screen backdrop(Opens in a new tab)
With your own green screen backdrop, anything is possible. Use it to transport yourself to a picturesque locale or to present data and information in a visually interesting way. TikTok already has its own green screen effect, but using a physical backdrop gives you a sharper outline.
It's like having your own in-house production studio. Credit: Neewer/Amazon
3. Tiny microphone(Opens in a new tab)
Last spring, tiny microphones took over TikTok and they’ve dominated FYPs (“For You" pages) ever since. Part gimmick, part genuinely useful (they are functioning microphones after all) creators started using them as a way to catch people’s attention. Gifting someone a tiny microphone will not only help them get followers, but demonstrate your TikTok knowledge.
Don't drop this mic, because you might not be able to find it. Credit: Uniwit/Amazon
4. LED light strips(Opens in a new tab)
Give the gift of colorful mood lighting that you can change on command. Stick these lights anywhere and use your phone or voice control to change the hue, brightness, or sync it with music. Perfect for creating the right video vibe.
So they can set the mood for their unboxing video.Credit: Philips Hue/Getty
5. Smart tracking phone holder(Opens in a new tab)
This gadget is basically your own personal cameraperson. Not only does it hold your phone, it tracks your horizontal movements and rotates to wherever you go. This is the gift to give for that special someone who is always asking someone else to film them.
Basically designed with TikTok dance videos in mind.Credit: MOYOON/Amazon
6. Ring light with tripod(Opens in a new tab)
Good lighting is the key to achieving that professional influencer look on Instagram or TikTok. This ring light has multiple light settings for warmth and brightness so you can discover what’s most flattering. It’s also a tripod that can hold a phone or a camera and comes with a wireless remote. Basically an all-in-one studio for the giftee.
Never underestimate the power of good lighting.Credit: UBeesize/Amazon
7. Kaleidoscope window decals(Opens in a new tab)
It’s like a filter, but in real life. Give these window decals to someone who is always trying to capture light and shadow in artsy ways. The decals are removable and reusable, so they can create high concept projections wherever they go.
8. What Do You Meme? TikTok Edition(Opens in a new tab)
SEE ALSO:
The best webcams for boosting your video quality
Test the meme knowledge of an aspiring influencer with this card game. Every round a new judge chooses the funniest caption that accompanies the selected TikTok meme. Plus, each photo card has a QR code that links to the original TikTok video.
This game is all about playing to the judge.Credit: What Do You Meme?/Getty
A fish with thick lips and teeth has the internet disturbed
Listen: We're all a little bored and going a little stir-crazy, what with much of the world locked down amid a global pandemic.
So yes, people did get really fascinated with a fish that had nice lips.
Specifically, people really enjoyed this lipped and toothed fish posted by the Twitter user Raff_Nasir earlier in July.
"Her lips are hotter than mine," the tweet reads in Indonesian.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
The post with the odd fish — identified by Vice(Opens in a new tab) as a triggerfish — went viral, racking up more than 14,000 likes. While yes, the a triggerfish can have human-like teeth(Opens in a new tab), they aren't typically this, well, nice.
The New York Post(Opens in a new tab) even went as far as to say it... aroused... social media. The internet, of course, responded by meme-ing the hell out of the be-lipped fish and making lots of jokes. Here are a few:
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Well.... alright then. There is your fish with teeth news for the day.
