Quordle today: Here are the answers and hints for November 18
2023-03-19 06:17:27author:dointy.com
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Quordle today: Here are the answers and hints for November 18
Qurodle is a reliable, daily activity in an otherwise unpredictable world. So what happens when Quordle is harder than you predicted? It can throw your life into disarray!
If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for hints. There aren't just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you'll get what you need.
What is Quordle?
Quordle is a five-letter word guessing game similar to Wordle, except each guess applies letters to four words at the same time. You get nine guesses instead of six to correctly guess all four words. It looks like playing four Wordle games at the same time, and that is essentially what it is. But it's not nearly as intimidating as it sounds.
Is Quordle harder than Wordle?
Yes, though not diabolically so.
Where did Quordle come from?
Amid the Wordle boom of late 2021 and early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free, in-browser, once-a-day word guessing games, creator Freddie Meyer says he took inspiration from one of the first big Wordle variations, Dordle — the one where you essentially play two Wordles at once. He took things up a notch, and released Quordle on January 30(Opens in a new tab). Meyer's creation was covered in The Guardian(Opens in a new tab) six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it attracts millions of daily users. Today, Meyer earns modest revenue(Opens in a new tab) from Patreon, where dedicated Quordle fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running.
How is Quordle pronounced?
“Kwordle.” It should rhyme with “Wordle,” and definitely should not be pronounced exactly like "curdle.”
Is Quordle strategy different from Wordle?
Yes and no.
Your starting strategy should be the same as with Wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite Wordle opening word, there’s no reason to change that here. We suggest something rich in vowels, featuring common letters like C, R, and N. But you do you.
After your first guess, however, you’ll notice things getting out of control if you play Quordle exactly like Wordle.
What should I do in Quordle that I don’t do in Wordle?
Solving a Wordle puzzle can famously come down to a series of single letter-change variations. If you’ve narrowed it down to “-IGHT,” you could guess “MIGHT” “NIGHT” “LIGHT” and “SIGHT” and one of those will probably be the solution — though this is also a famous way to end up losing in Wordle, particularly if you play on “hard mode.” In Quordle, however, this sort of single-letter winnowing is a deadly trap, and it hints at the important strategic difference between Wordle and Quordle: In Quordle, you can't afford to waste guesses unless you're eliminating as many letters as possible at all times.
Guessing a completely random word that you already know isn't the solution, just to eliminate three or four possible letters you haven’t tried yet, is thought of as a desperate, latch-ditch move in Wordle. In Quordle, however, it's a normal part of the player's strategic toolset.
Is there a way to get the answer faster?
In my experience Quordle can be a slow game, sometimes dragging out longer than it would take to play Wordle four times. But a sort of blunt-force guessing approach can speed things up. The following strategy also works with Wordle if you only want the solution, and don’t care about having the fewest possible guesses:
Try starting with a series of words that puts all the vowels (including Y) on the board, along with some other common letters. We've had good luck with the three words: “NOTES,” “ACRID,” and “LUMPY.” YouTuber DougMansLand(Opens in a new tab) suggests four words: “CANOE,” “SKIRT,” “PLUMB,” and “FUDGY.”
Most of the alphabet is now eliminated, and you’ll only have the ability to make one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases you’ll have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without any wrong guesses.
If strategy isn't helping, and you're still stumped, here are some hints:
Are there any double or triple letters in today’s Quordle words?
One words has a letter occurring twice.
Are any rare letters being used in today’s Quordle like Q or Z?
No.
What do today’s Quordle words start with?
S, A, S, and R.
What are the answers for today’s Quordle?
Are you sure you want to know?
There’s still time to turn back.
OK, you asked for it. The answers are:
STOKE
APART
STEAD
ROUGH
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Billie Eilish is absolutely fed up with people saying All Lives Matter
Billie Eilish isn't afraid to speak out against injustice.
On Saturday, the 18-year-old singer posted a blunt and lengthy statement to her 63.3 million Instagram followers to address the death of George Floyd.
Since Floyd died on May 25 after a Minnesota police officer pressed his knee against Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, protests against racism and police brutality have taken place across the United States.
Celebrities such as Taylor Swift have started using their giant platforms to help raise awareness and amplify an urgent need for change in America, and now Eilish is joining in. Eilish posted a statement written in her Notes app that detailed a plea for white people to understand their own privilege and use it to help those in need.
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"I've been trying to take this week to figure out a way to address this delicately," Eilish wrote. "I have an enourmous [sic] platform and I try really hard to be respectful and take time to think through what I say and and how I say it… but holy fucking shit I'm just gonna start talking."
Eilish went on to slam anyone who uses the slogan "All Lives Matter" instead of "Black Lives Matter," especially after publicized acts of police brutality, and explained why the slogan is so upsetting.
SEE ALSO:
Nike urges people to stand against racism in striking new ad
"No one is saying your life doesn't matter. No one is saying your life is not hard. No one is saying literally anything at all about you… all you MFs do is find a way to make everything about yourself. This is not about you. You are not in need. You are not in danger," she wrote.
The singer proceeded to use several metaphors to explain why the phrase infuriates her so deeply.
"If your friend gets a cut on their arm are you gonna wait to give all your friends a bandaid first because all arms matter? No you're gonna help your friend because they are in pain because they are in need because they are bleeding!" the teen wrote. "If someone's house was on fire and someone is stuck in the house, are you gonna make the fire department go to every other house on the block first because all houses matter? No! Because they don't fucking need it."
Eilish then called out white privilege and urged those reading her statement to think long and hard about how the color of white people's skin does not make their lives harder.
"If all lives matter why are black people killed for just being black? Why are immigrants persecuted? Why are white people given opportunities that people of other races aren't?" Eilish wrote. "Why is it okay for white people to protest literally being asked to stay at home while carrying semi-automatic weapons? Why is it okay for black people to be called thugs for protesting the murder of innocent people? Do you know why? White. Fucking. Privilege."
Eilish concluded her four-photo statement with the hashtag #justiceforgeorgefloyd, and her words left quite an impression on followers. The singer's post has received more than 2.5 million likes since it was posted around early on Saturday morning, and celebrities such as SZA, Chloe and Halle Bailey, Zoë Kravitz, and more have thanked her for speaking up.
Earlier in the week Eilish also shared a photo of Floyd(Opens in a new tab) on Instagram and highlighted several ways people can take action. You can find additional ways to demand justice for George Floyd and support protests here.
Chrissy Teigen promised $200,000 for bail funds after Trumps MAGA night tweet
Chrissy Teigen once again proved why she’s the unofficial queen of Twitter.
When Donald Trump responded to nationwide protests against police brutality and the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by tweeting that it was "MAGA NIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE," no one quite understood what he meant. The tweet falsely stated that protests around the White House had "little to do with the memory of George Floyd" and made less sense from there.
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One of the Twitter users confused at what "MAGA NIGHT" meant was Chrissy Teigen, who didn't bother to parse Trump's tweet before committing to donate $100,000 to bail funds for protesters arrested in the course of exercising their rights.
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Another Twitter user, who has since deleted his account, must have said something to egg Teigen on, because shortly after tweeting her pledge, she quote-tweeted his currently unavailable response with a decision to double her donation.
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After posting her pledge to donate, Teigen tweeted that her mentions were a "maga shit show" but appeared unbothered by all accounts. Several other Twitter users attempted to criticize her for supporting the protests, but if there is one unspoken rule of Twitter (besides never becoming the main character), it's don't mess with Chrissy Teigen.
Seriously, she has just shy of 13 million followers, zero filter, and most importantly the time today.
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After smacking down a few of her louder MAGA-aligned critics, some of whom Teigen claimed were bots, Teigen sent a final message of support to those protesting.
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Teigen has not posted confirmation of her donation yet, but she and her husband John Legend have a history of donating in support of social justice organizations like the ACLU, Time's Up, and a North Carolina woman's remaining beauty school tuition.
YouTube has its faults, but it's also one of the few brands that stepped up swiftly with a tangible response to widespread protests against police brutality.
On Friday, the company tweeted a pledge to donate $1 million "in support of efforts to address social injustice." It was a vague promise at the time, motivated by what the company described as a desire to "stand in solidarity against racism and violence."
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More clarity came on Sunday in the form of a brief YouTube post, bearing the title "Stand Against Racial Injustice." The video(Opens in a new tab) is basically the same as a Nike ad that ran in response to the protests – just white text on a black background, set to soft piano music – but it reveals the beneficiary of YouTube's donation pledge as the Center for Policing Equity(Opens in a new tab).
It's a non-profit research center that embraces the idea of using "data science for justice." The website(Opens in a new tab) describes the Center's staff as "research scientists, race and equity experts, data virtuosos, and community trainers" who use "data as tools to build more fair and just systems."
It looks like much of the work they do takes the form of consulting with police departments and using their data science wizardry to improve local policing efforts, with a particular eye toward reform and eliminating racial biases. The idea of using data science to improve police effectiveness isn't new(Opens in a new tab) (and has faced criticism in the past), but this non-profit seems to have the right philosophical approach, at least.
SEE ALSO:
How a remix of 'This is America' became a TikTok anthem for protesting police brutality
And hey. Look. It's something. There's been a lot of empty, nothing statements around the protests from brands that were seemingly looking for an easy PR win. Whether or not you think YouTube is partnering with the right organization, this is at least a tangible action aimed at improving the world.
That's the kind of behavior we should be applauding, and trying to emulate. There are plenty of ways we can all do our part to help during this difficult moment.
In the week since the death of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes, protests continue to spread across the country. Many people, brands, and popular influencer accounts are using social media to publicly condemn racism and police brutality, and among them lies a somewhat surprising furry ally: Marnie The Dog's sister, Phyllis.
Marnie, the beloved internet-famous Shih Tzu, died back in March, but her owner Shirley Braha vowed to keep the dog's social accounts up and running. Now, Braha posts updates about Marnie's sister, a senior rescue named Phyllis, who apparently really does not like the cops.
On Tuesday, Phyllis' account changed its display name to "marnie the dog (sister phyllis) ACAB(Opens in a new tab)" (All Cops Are Bastards) and posted a photo with the caption,"Breaking curfew don't tell the pigs." On Instagram(Opens in a new tab), Phyllis' post also included the hashtag, #dogsagainstfascism. Pig is a derogatory name for law enforcement.
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SEE ALSO:
Nike urges people to stand against racism in striking new ad
It was somewhat surprising for fans of Marnie — who was known for adorable, silly, and generally very peaceful posts — to see Phyllis' human use the platform to take such a blunt, anti-cop stance. But it doesn't look like Braha regrets the social strategy one bit.
On Tuesday when a Twitter user replied to the photo of Phyllis saying, "That is not language befitting a celebrity dog Marnie," Braha tweeted, "Oh sorry I meant fuck the police."
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Though the' bold statements appear to have made several loyal followers of Marnie's handle uncomfortable, many people are praising Braha (and Phyllis) for using the large platforms to speak out against injustice. Even the popular @dog_rates account(Opens in a new tab) offered some high praise. (The Marnie accounts currently have 1.8 million Instagram followers and more than 115,000 Twitter followers.)
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On Tuesday night, Braha posted a second photo of the pup out on the street in front of armed forces, alongside the caption, "The militia took over my town howbowdat."
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It's unclear if Phyllis' accounts will continue sharing police-focused updates as protests proceed, but Mashable reached out to Braha for comment and will update this article when we hear back.
#Babygate trends after Trump surrounds the White House with fencing
As protests continue in Washington, D.C., Donald Trump seems to be seeking out all the protection he can get.
On top of Secret Service agents that have the president's back 24/7 and a line of law enforcement officers stationed outside the White House, there's now a hideous black fence surrounding Trump's residence.
The fencing along the White House perimeter was added(Opens in a new tab) on Thursday morning, and is expected to remain there until Wednesday, per NBC News(Opens in a new tab). Though White House spokesperson Judd Deere told the outlet that "The White House does not comment on security protocols and decisions," the Secret Service explained that "the closures are in an effort to maintain the necessary security measures surrounding the White House complex, while also allowing for peaceful demonstration."
Since the White House already has deep layers of security measures in place, many people feel that barricading the presidential residence in with a tall black fence is a pretty severe step.
Twitter users have even started mocking Trump by calling the fence a "baby gate."
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On Friday morning, #Babygate(Opens in a new tab) started to trend on Twitter and at the time of writing this article the hashtag has been used nearly 28,000 times. Some people are comparing the fence to the gates used to hold in toddlers, while others are drawing parallels between the White House barricade and Trump's border wall.
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Since the police killing of George Floyd on May 25, large groups of people have been protesting racism and police brutality around the world. Protests in D.C. have particularly escalated, however, and last Friday night Trump — along with Melania and their son Barron — were reportedly taken to the underground presidential bunker for safety(Opens in a new tab).
Trump also received criticism for his trip to the bunker, and singer Courtney Jaye mocked him in a viral song called "Bunker Boy."
The White House may just be preparing for additional protests that are planned in D.C. over the weekend, but whatever the reason for the excess fencing, it's an undoubtedly bizarre sight to behold.
Virtual internships and the Zoom skills you dont learn in college
With the spread of the coronavirus, summer internships — once a staple of collegiate and post-grad life — have dried up(Opens in a new tab). Now, like many jobs, they've gone virtual.
A survey(Opens in a new tab) of more than 400 companies conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that around 80 percent of employers were making some kind of change to their internship programs, which included things like pivoting to remote work or shortening the length of the program. (Other programs have been canceled or postponed.)
For most students and recent grads, though, a loss of internships might be just one of several other concerns. Young people entering the workforce right now, whether as graduates of the Class of 2020(Opens in a new tab) or as current students, are encountering a job market(Opens in a new tab) in which more than one in five(Opens in a new tab) Americans are unemployed. (Analysis from payroll platform Gusto(Opens in a new tab) found(Opens in a new tab) that those under 25 are experiencing a job loss rate 93 percent higher than those 35 and older.)
To make matters worse, many seasonal jobs at restaurants and coffee shops have disappeared(Opens in a new tab) because of COVID-19 lockdowns. That makes internships one of the few employment options left for many young people.
And for students who come from less privileged backgrounds, internships can provide a ladder to higher-paying work down the road, said Carlos Mark Vera, co-founder of Pay Our Interns(Opens in a new tab), a nonprofit centered on the rights of interns.
"Internships work as a pivot point. For working class students, it gives them a foot in the door," Mark Vera said. "[With cancellations], you're impacting folks who don't have the same networks as other folks. This is hurting everyone, but it's hurting some students more than others."
"This is hurting everyone, but it's hurting some students more than others."
Shawn VanDerziel, executive director of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), predicts the summer of 2020 will serve as a watershed moment for virtual internships.
"[This] summer is a big test," VanDerziel said. "If I had to predict, there will be many more virtual internships moving forward."
Goodbye, career center listservs
For some people, virtual internships aren't a new concept.
Back in 2017, the gears were already turning for Ahva Sadeghi and Nikita Gupta, the co-founders of Symba, one of the few platforms out there that helps companies find and manage virtual interns.
Students can find virtual internships on the platform. Once they send in their resumes and answer job-specific questions, Symba's team analyzes them, and then sends qualified candidates to companies
Additionally, for employers implementing a virtual internship program, Symba’s team designs onboarding and orientation materials, as well as feedback and performance metrics specific to the internship.
When they launched, back in 2019, Sadeghi says employers were largely hesitant.
"It was like that line from Mean Girls," Sadeghi said, in reference to Regina George's iconic zinger(Opens in a new tab). "Like, 'Stop trying to make virtual internships happen.'"
The coronavirus pandemic changed quickly that.
"This is the future of work," Sadeghi said. "People don't need to put on a suit, go to a cubicle, or wait until summer to [do an internship.] We're preparing people for what work looks like now."
Symba's not alone. Chuck Isgar and Megan Kasselberg, two students from Brown University, co-founded Intern From Home(Opens in a new tab), a portal for employers and potential interns to connect.
The platform, which their team initially built in 48 hours after being told to leave campus(Opens in a new tab) because of COVID-19, compiles job listings, not unlike Indeed or Glassdoor. Students can look for internships by job category, role, and internship type (current or exclusively summer; paid or unpaid).
This means that rather than slogging through general online job hubs or relying on listservs, students can come to Intern From Home with one goal: Find a virtual internship.
"This is the future of work. We're preparing people for what work looks like now."
Intern From Home primarily posts internships from startups, including some from Y Combinator(Opens in a new tab) and Snap’s accelerator program(Opens in a new tab), which typically reach out to the site to get their internship positions listed. Students then submit applications, all of which are managed through Google Forms.
Unlike Symba, Isgar and Kasselberg's team sends all applications to employers. (Intern From Home is free for both employers and students, unlike Symba, which makes money by charging corporations for its services.)
Isgar claims students can find a job on Intern From Home much faster than on traditional career sites. Some students were able to find an internship "in a couple of days," he said, which is a "big plus to people."
Miryam Rudolph, a student at Duke University who found her current summer internship through Intern From Home, noted that when she first started applying to positions in March, she was looking on generic job boards and email blasts that her school was sending out.
"The big problem at that stage was that companies were so overwhelmed about what to do with their own employees that they weren't really thinking about [hiring] interns," Rudolph said.
It was frustrating, in Rudolph’s telling, to put so much energy into finding (seemingly) open positions, writing cover letters, and polishing up her resume, only to find that the company was on a hiring freeze, or had terminated their internship program entirely without conveying that information on their website. (She's still getting emails saying positions she applied for in March now don’t exist.)
Rudolph called Intern From Home a "lifesaver."
"It was the only site where I actually heard back from companies," Rudolph said.
Related Video: Here’s how to change your Zoom background
No cubicle needed
If the current uptick in virtual internships holds, it could shift a generation’s relationship to work.
Depending on a student’s background, an internship might mark their first encounter with an office setting, Vera from Pay Our Interns notes. For many, a formal internship can serve as an introduction to the basics of office life, such as how to interact with co-workers and dress for work. Should virtual internships remain popular, it could become more difficult for students — particularly those who are first-generation or from low-income backgrounds — to learn the ins and outs of working in an office.
VanDerziel, executive director of NACE, highlighted several skills that are especially important to an intern’s success in a virtual setting.
First, interns need to be proactive about communicating. It's easier to disappear from your boss' radar when you're just a name on a screen. They also need time management skills, since there is nothing stopping them from wasting a couple of hours watching Netflix each day. For those with chaotic home lives, carving out the time and space to work could prove especially challenging, VanDerziel notes.
Additionally, interns need a level of tech savvy and adaptability to adjust to unfamiliar situations. Even students acclimated to a semester of remote schoolwork might not be totally comfortable in a more formal work environment.
He notes that some personality types might be at a disadvantage: It’s easier for interns who are quiet to isolate themselves, which makes it more difficult for them to become "known."
It’s also important to note that many (virtual) internships are shortening(Opens in a new tab) their duration, potentially giving interns less time to make connections at their workplace.
"We found that 41 percent of employers were reducing the length of the internship for the summer," VanDerziel said. "What that says to me is that companies are being creative and careful."
Though in some cases existing programs are just shortening their usual in-person program to adapt to remote work, VanDerziel also points to the emergence of what he calls "micro internships," shorter, project-based internships, which can be a way for interns to gain specific skills.
Rudolph notes that the structure of her internship, which is project-based rather than a traditional nine-to-five, has allowed her to explore other interests this summer as well. (She’s also helping out a local nonprofit near her house, and working for a lab from her school remotely.)
"It’s something I didn’t expect, but it’s helped me to work on other projects as well," Rudolph said.
Location, location, location
Requiring students to move to major metropolises, like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, has long prevented students unable to relocate from accessing otherwise valuable internship opportunities. (As a point of reference: The average rent in Los Angeles is over $2,500, according to the listing service RentCafe(Opens in a new tab).)
"Unless you can afford to temporarily move, you're not going to be able to get those good internships," Vera said.
Thus far, the virtual internships being offered this summer have largely circumvented this: Technology permitting, students living at home in Michigan could complete an internship "in" New York, and vice versa.
When Rudolph went looking for internships, back in March, she largely ignored the locations posted alongside them (that is, if they even listed one), assuming that most of them would be moved online. (Rudolph lives in Dallas, but her fellow interns are all in different time zones.)
That’s a major plus for interns living in less urban areas, for instance, as well as those financially unable to relocate — but it’s only useful insofar as interns have broadband access(Opens in a new tab), a living situation conducive to work, and other essential tools at their disposal.
Though VanDerziel notes some internship programs are able to provide laptops and iPads for their interns working remotely right now, it could be a barrier for many interns, particularly those in financially harder-hit industries, or those working for small companies.
Virtual mixers
At big companies, internships typically include educational and social interaction among interns, VanDerziel points out, which is something that has had to pivot online as well.
"One of the things that is really important is the ability to interact with [employees] regularly," VanDerziel said. "[This regular interaction can be] used as a pipeline for future employment."
In the past, though, networking events, like industry-specific happy hours, were cost-prohibitive for many interns, Vera points out. Now, plenty of virtual internship programs have remote happy hours and mixers, which Vera acknowledges could help those unable to afford in-person meetups.
In some instances, outside groups might be able to step in as well. Isgar and Kasselberg’s team at Intern From Home launched a discussion-based program called "Cohorts(Opens in a new tab)" in which students can apply for live sessions with peers and experts to learn about work-related topics. (Sample "Cohorts" topics include "The Power of Data Visualization" and "Competitions, Acquisitions, and Monopolies in Big Tech.")
When students left his school’s campus in March, Isgar felt as if the main thing missing from remote learning was stimulating in-class discussions. "Cohorts" is meant to recreate that in an internship context.
"The mission is to replicate those discussions," Isgar said. "It’s challenging to be networking [remotely]. You can’t get coffee."
It's likely, though, that interns down the road won't be fetching coffee either, like so many internships of yore. With the disruption to internships already brought on by the summer of 2020, it's likely that changes to the working world for young people are just starting.
Alicia Keys strong commencement speech recognizes the most powerful time to be coming of age
Alicia Keys has levelled with graduating students who might not feel like celebrating right now, but should honor themselves nonetheless.
Students are graduating across America, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and after weeks of protests for racial justice and against police brutality, following the police killing of George Floyd, who died after an officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
It is a unique time in history to be finishing school or college, to say the least.
On Sunday, as part of a YouTube Original series of virtual commencement events called Dear Class of 2020(Opens in a new tab), celebrities and public figures including Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, and Keys addressed newly graduated students in heartfelt speeches from home — and they all recognised the significance of what a time it is to be graduating right now.
"Let's be honest, it's been a hard week," Keys began. "A hard week and a hard month and a hard year, and I know right now, it might not feel like there's a lot to celebrate — and that's OK. It's OK to not be OK right now.
"I know so many of you are not thinking about your time at school, you're thinking about what's happening right now in the present. You're thinking about marching and protesting and making sure that your voices are heard in a time that we cannot be silent," she said.
Keys commended the collective action of those who have joined the fight for justice in whichever way they can. "You're taking your heartbreak and your outrage and you're putting into into action and you are showing that your generation is the one that's going to heal this."
She also took a moment to reflect that "the world feels broken" right now, and that this moment of action, outrage, and uprising has been a long time coming. "The pain we're experiencing right now, it's not new. But it feels different this time, right? I think for the first time, all of us, no matter what we look like or where we're from, we can see so clearly what injustice looks like and now we all can choose how to respond.
"But change only happens if all of us educate ourselves, if we hold each other accountable, when we register to vote(Opens in a new tab) in November, when all of us recognise our biases and we find ways to empathise with people that look different from us or seem different from us on the surface. That's the key right there," she said. "So, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the inspiration, for inspiring the world to see our collective humanity."
Keys ended with a call for students to take the moment to celebrate their accomplishments, and to take whatever hat they have and throw it in the air, to honor themselves "in the most powerful time to be coming of age."
It's just under four minutes, but it speaks loud and clear. Mandatory viewing for students who no longer have to answer to anyone telling them something is mandatory viewing.
While you're at it, why not spend a moment with the Schitt's Creek cast thanking your teachers. (There's a performance in it for you, don't roll your eyes.)
On Tuesday, Paramount Network announced it would no longer produce Cops, a half-hour reality series that takes camera crews on police ride-alongs and investigations. On Wednesday, A&E announced(Opens in a new tab) that Live P.D. would not be returning either.
The news comes after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 25. Former officer Derek Chauvin, who has since been charged with second-degree murder, kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe. Floyd was 46.
Cops, which first premiered on Fox in 1989, ran for a total of 31 years before its cancelation, making it one of the longest standing reality programs in history. Amid national protests against police brutality and systemic racism, Paramount Network pulled the program(Opens in a new tab) from its schedule last week as A&E took similar steps with Live P.D.
"Cops is not on the Paramount Network and we don’t have any current or future plans for it to return," a spokesperson said, per The Hollywood Reporter(Opens in a new tab). Cops had been part of the Paramount Network since 2013.
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“This is a critical time in our nation’s history and we have made the decision to cease production on Live PD,” A&E told Deadline(Opens in a new tab). “Going forward, we will determine if there is a clear pathway to tell the stories of both the community and the police officers whose role it is to serve them. And with that, we will be meeting with community and civil rights leaders as well as police departments.”
Sources familiar with the matter told The Hollywood Reporter and Deadlinethat Paramount had pre-existing plans to move away from unscripted programming. However, Cops had been scheduled to debut the first episode of Season 33 on Monday. Reality shows Ink Master, Bar Rescue, Battle of the Fittest Couples, and more remain with Paramount.
Cops has been repeatedly criticized for wrongfully glorifying police work(Opens in a new tab), as well as been accused of targeting poor people of color(Opens in a new tab), abusing the individuals being arrested(Opens in a new tab), staging crime scenes(Opens in a new tab), and supplying camera crew members(Opens in a new tab) with weapons to use in case of a violent arrest. Footage from Cops has been admitted in multiple defense cases to argue around matters of police misconduct. In 2014, Cops audio technician Bryce Dion and suspect Cortez Washington were shot and killed(Opens in a new tab) by officers during the filming of a robbery at an Omaha Wendy's.
Live P.D. also reportedly captured, but later destroyed,(Opens in a new tab) footage of the death of a black man, Javier Ambler, in custody of Texas law enforcement in March 2019.
UPDATE: June 11, 2020, 12:03 p.m. AEST This story has been updated to include the announcement that 'Live P.D.' will not be returning from hiatus.
New meme has some great ideas for what to put up instead of Christopher Columbus statues
It's way overdue, but America is reckoning with some of the darker parts of its history.
As the fight to remove Confederate monuments continues, lots of folks were also wondering why the nation still displays statues of Christopher Columbus across the country. The famous explorer, after all, carried out horrific atrocities, including mass genocide of the indigenous people in the Americas.
Still, some Italian Americans hold onto the idea that he represents something bigger, including New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who defended having a statue of the explorer in NYC on Thursday.
"The Christopher Columbus statue in some way represents the Italian American legacy in this country and the Italian American contribution in this country," he said at a press conference(Opens in a new tab).
Setting aside the fact that Columbus sailed for Spain and never set foot(Opens in a new tab) in the United States, some helpful folks online came up with a great meme about who might prove a suitable replacement for the explorer. Things took a turn toward the absurd and, honestly, it was wonderful.
1. Not a bad idea
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2. I need to see this statue in person
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3. Keeping with the Sopranos theme
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4. Could get behind this
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5. I support any and all efforts to have more statues of corn
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6. Please find me a better Italian American icon. You cannot.
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Danny DeVito a true Italian America icon.Credit: Shutterstock
7. In case you didn't know, this is Bigtime Tommie(Opens in a new tab)
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8. You don't even need to change that many letters!
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9. More Willie in the world is definitely a good idea
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10. A litany of options
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11. I don't know who Mr. Pickle is but I really, really support this
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12. Kind of thought we were past the Baby Yoda moment, but sure why not?
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Paint-by-numbers should be your next relaxing self-care hobby
When it comes to self-care these days, your efforts to wind down don't always have to be ambitious.
You should mediate, tackle a reading list, or set out to complete a challenging home improvement project if those things soothe you. But perfect self-care activities can also be as simple as playing with sidewalk chalk, coloring with crayons, or doing a puzzle.
In the spirit of reclaiming beloved childhood activities as a means of de-stressing in adulthood, we have a suggestion for your new self-care hobby: Paint-by-numbers. Next time you need to relax, give it a try.
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The allure of losing yourself in methodical tasks
Some of you may remember making paint-by-numbers artwork when you were younger, but for those who've never tried it, or who have simply forgotten what it's like to immerse yourself in the mundane task of filling in little numbered areas with colorful paint, let's review.
A paint-by-numbers kit comes with a piece of paper or canvas that features a numbered, outlined design. You'll also receive small containers of different colored paints, and a variety of different size brushes.
Paint-by-numbers in action.Credit: Getty Images / iStockphoto
The directions that come with each DIY kit will break the paint-by-numbers process down for you, but essentially, your job is extremely simple: You fill in the areas of white space on the page with paint. You'll be able to determine exactly which color goes where by matching the numbers on the top of each paint container with the corresponding numbers on the paper. Depending on the difficulty of your project you might be asked to mix some paints together to form new colors, or occasionally wash some brushes, but otherwise the activity is mostly straightforward and mindless.
SEE ALSO:
10 ways to make your work from home desk less depressing
For several minutes or hours you can give your brain a rest from worrying about the world and take solace in thinking solely about which paint color goes where. You can train your eyes to scan the canvas in front of you for numbers like "5" or "29," and let yourself feel a small sense of accomplishment as the once bleak page before you transforms into an eye-catching masterpiece.
Doesn't that sound nice? And one of the best things about paint-by-numbers is that they help even the least artistic people to create professional-looking depictions.
A perfect quarantine craft
Completing paint-by numbers, especially more complex ones, often requires some time. Which is why the guided painting projects are a perfect quarantine craft.
If you're looking for a way to keep your hands and mind busy while staying at home, something to fill your empty social schedule, or a delightful distraction from social media, consider investing in a paint by numbers kit. And if you have old paint-by-numbers that you haven't yet used, now's the perfect time to dig them out.
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People of all ages are falling in love with paint-by-numbers in quarantine, and since you end up with a nice picture to show for your time, it's truly becoming a self-care hobby worth sharing with the internet.
Where to find paint-by-numbers kits
If you're looking to get into this very low stakes hobby, there are a bunch of places to shop for kits online. Try Etsy(Opens in a new tab), JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores(Opens in a new tab), Michael's(Opens in a new tab), Herrschners(Opens in a new tab), and Artsool(Opens in a new tab), among others. You can also transform your own photographs into a paint-by-number activities, too.
Here are a few of the many paint-by-numbers templates that are just waiting to be filled in.
Mountain Spring River(Opens in a new tab)
A gorgeous mountain and river scene.Credit: OurPaintAddictions / etsy
Price: $27 on Etsy(Opens in a new tab).
Pink Vespa Roses(Opens in a new tab)
If you wish you were traveling.Credit: paintathomestore / etsy
Price: $30 on Etsy(Opens in a new tab).
Houseplant Set(Opens in a new tab)
Wall plants!Credit: NotablyPaperCompany / etsy
Price: from $10.00 on Etsy(Opens in a new tab).
If there's a specific subject you'd like to paint, such as animals, plants, scenery, or food, be sure to include it in your search terms. And when you're seeking out your perfect paint-by-numbers template, keep in mind the level of difficulty you want to take on. Consider starting with a more basic version and then see if you want to move on to more intricate ones.
If paper and paint isn't your style, have no fear. You can always download a paint-by-numbers app — like Paint By Number(Opens in a new tab), Happy Color(Opens in a new tab), or Colors by Number – No.Draw(Opens in a new tab)— on your phone or tablet for a soothing virtual experience.
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Whichever method you use, we're sure paint-by-numbers will add some serious variety and color to your daily unwinding routine.
What is brown noise? TikTok suggests its better than white noise.
White noise has been a trustworthy aid for a variety of reasons, such as meditation, studying, sleeping with insomnia, and helping young children (and their parents) fall asleep faster. After stumbling across #brownnoise TikTok, however, I may never go back to white noise again.
Credit: TikTok / hannahemaute
Whereas white noise encompasses sounds from all over the spectrum, including low, mid-range, and high frequency notes, brown noise uses only low frequency and bass-heavy notes. This makes brown noise much deeper in sound than white noise and more ideal for those who find the high frequency notes in white noise uncomfortable. Both can occur naturally in nature: Gentle rain showers and crashing waves are examples of white noise, while thunder and strong winds are examples of brown noise.
TikTokkers, especially those with ADHD, have been raving about the benefits of brown noise as opposed to white noise. While previous studies have shown the benefits of white noise on cognitive performance(Opens in a new tab) and verbal working memory(Opens in a new tab) in ADHD, the effects of brown noise are relatively understudied. Some people find that brown noise is more effective in quieting thoughts, allowing for better focus and productivity. Others prefer it to white noise for sleeping, or simply for the calming effect.
Credit: TikTok / htizz
I suffer from bouts of tinnitus and the high frequency notes in white noise can often make it worse. So far, brown noise has helped distract me from uncomfortable tinnitus sounds. And I’m not the only one who finds comfort in brown noise: I’ve found that my cats seem to prefer it for the low frequency rumbles as well.
If you’re not a fan of brown noise or white noise, don’t despair! There’s also pink noise, blue noise, violet noise, and gray noise, all of which operate on different frequencies. Ready to hear what all the hype is about? Here are a few apps you can use to play noise:
1. Noise Generator(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Rizwana Zafer
Noise Generator allows you to choose sounds from the whole spectrum. Users can customize sounds based on color, low and high cuts, and balance. For those who are sensitive to frequencies, this app allows you to pick and choose which frequencies sound the most comfortable to you.
2. Noise Machine - Brown, Pink(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Rizwana Zafer
Noise Machine allows you to filter by white noise, pink noise, and brown noise. Although the initial app is free, the sounds have a time limit of 5 minutes. Users can pay $10 to unlock the app for life and play all three sounds without a time limit.
3. White Noise(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Rizwana Zafer
Although titled “White Noise,” this app allows you to choose from a variety of sounds. Users have the option to mix sounds and control the fade, oscillator, and timer for each sound. In the free version, sounds are limited to eight hours.
Whats the story behind the Instagram Little Miss meme?
This time last year we were singing sea shanties and being constantly reminded just how important the value of family is to Vin Diesel. Now in the year of our lord 2022, the trend taking over our Instagram feed and TikTok FYP is Little Miss and Mr. Men?
Yes, that's right, the colorful and boldly drawn cartoon drawings from the children's book series by British author and illustrator Roger Hargreaves have become an unimaginable source of emotional catharsis for people across the internet, as users share their most personal insecurities and red flags. Similar to the American Girl doll memes from last month, the "Little Miss" memes are fill-in-the-blank style memes with a highly specific but sometimes incredibly relatable description. With examples like “Little Miss Wants Her Ex Back” and “Mr. Letterboxd,” this decades-old, kid-friendly media property has taken on a new form, and is once again connecting with Gen Z, one of the audiences it helped raise.
So how did these come to be and why are they way too loud?
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How "Little Miss" started in the first place
The illustrations of the Little Miss memes date all the way back to 1971 when Hargreaves was asked by his son Adam to describe what a tickle looked like. Mr. Tickle, a yellow, squiggly man donning an adorable blue top hat, spearheaded the Mr. Men series which went on to sell over 100 million copies worldwide, including the spinoff series Little Miss in 1981, along with multiple TV shows on the BBC. Roger Hargreaves died in 1988 with his son Adam taking over Mr. Men with new drawings and stories.
The series itself serves as a day in the life of each Mr. Men or Little Miss character and how their lives are affected by their personalities. The series even extends to real-life figures such as the Spice Girls, Prince William and Duchess Kate. The most recent edition in the series is titled "Mr. Bolt," and is inspired by Olympic gold medalist and world-record-holding sprinter Usain Bolt.
Is @juulpuppy Little Miss Meme Originator?
The origin of the current Little Miss trend, however, is a bit hard to pin down. According to Know Your Meme, the first use of the Little Miss meme format as we know it right now was posted in June 2021 by Tumblr user "notyourgaybestie." Upon further inspection, this may be wrong as the post date for the Little Miss meme dates June 17, 2022, with 2021 more than likely coming from the copyright date located on the bottom right of the image.
Multiple outlets in the past few weeks have credited Instagram meme creator @juulpuppy(Opens in a new tab) as the originator of the Little Miss meme, with their first image being posted April 19, 2022. However, Twitter user @dreamgirltat(Opens in a new tab) posted their Little Miss meme on April 17, 2022, which gained over 36,000 likes. And while the virality of the trend can be credited to @juulpuppy, who's first dump of memes generated over 52,000 likes on Instagram, we can trace similarly formatted Little Miss/Mr. Men to at least 2014. Here you can see Millennial-style Mr. Men and Little Miss parodies by illustrator and former Mashable writer Max Knoblauch.
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On TikTok alone, the hashtag #littlemiss has generated over 65M views with many giving user @starbuckslayqueen the credit for getting the meme viral on the app for characters like “Little Miss Forgets To Eat” and “Little Miss Depression Nap.” Besides the personal vulnerability and occasional red flags, users on TikTok have even used the Little Miss memes to call out others whether it be friends(Opens in a new tab) or exes. Creators also began to make Mx. and Little Mx characters to be more gender-inclusive, like “Mx. Scrolls IG Instead Of Reading(Opens in a new tab)” and “Mx. Can’t Be Too Honest With Their Therapist(Opens in a new tab).”
The Little Miss memes may be a little too close to home, (I hate how much I relate to "Mr. Loves to Cook but Orders Delivery Every Night") but given how popular the trend has been these past few weeks, they're here to stay for a bit. At least until the next meme goes viral.
Police claim violent extremists exploit coronavirus to defeat facial recognition, leaked files show
As the coronavirus continued to ravage the country into the late spring and early summer, the Department of Homeland Security realized it had a problem on its hands: Masks worn to limit the virus's spread had the unintentional side effect of impeding law enforcement's facial-recognition technology.
The fear, that "violent extremists" would exploit public health recommendations in an effort to combat digital surveillance, was laid out in a leaked May 22, 2020, DHS "intelligence note" published by Distributed Denial of Secrets(Opens in a new tab), an organization — co-founded by journalist Emma Best(Opens in a new tab) — specializing in the publication of leaked documents. The document, one of hundreds of thousands in the so-called BlueLeaks files(Opens in a new tab) (cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs confirmed(Opens in a new tab) the leak was authentic late last month), depicts law enforcement scrambling to warn police across the country that a common sense health measure was instead a sign of something potentially sinister: violence.
With a historic wave of Black Lives Matter demonstrations on the horizon, this warning both set the stage for, and helps contextualize, law enforcement's sometimes violent response(Opens in a new tab) to the largely peaceful protests. While vandalism did take place at some protests, police also attacked peaceful protesters(Opens in a new tab). If police are told that wearing a mask presages physical violence, then they may be more likely to see people wearing masks as criminals waiting to strike.
"We assess violent extremists and other criminals who have historically maintained an interest in avoiding face recognition," cautioned the DHS note, "are likely to opportunistically seize upon public safety measures recommending the wearing of face masks to hinder the effectiveness of face recognition systems in public spaces by security partners."
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And then, on May 25, Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd. At the time, Floyd's videotaped death marked the latest — but not the last(Opens in a new tab) — in a long history of brutality and discrimination against Black people in the U.S. by law enforcement.
Police, already primed by the May 22 DHS document, were then sent a second warning.
"[Law enforcement officers] should be aware of the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) employed by criminally-minded actors to devolve peaceful protests into violence," cautioned the Joint Regional Intelligence Center bulletin, dated (confusingly) both May 29 and May 31. "The COVID-19 guidance from public health authorities to wear face coverings makes it difficult to identify violent individuals and, later, bring them to prosecution. The wide-spread use of face coverings may embolden some individuals to escalate violence."
A JRIC bulletin.Credit: Joint Regional Intelligence Center via Distributed Denial of Secrets
To make the warning more explicit, the same JRIC bulletin reiterated the point that the efforts of "violent actors" to obscure their identity at peaceful protests "is now facilitated by the COVID-19 guidance from public health authorities to wear face coverings." Mashable has reached out to the DHS for comment about the guidance.
As demonstrators across the U.S. continue to protest police brutality and targeted violence against Black people, and federal troops terrorize peaceful protesters in American cities like Portland(Opens in a new tab), the leaked DHS intelligence note and JRIC bulletin provide an invaluable window into the messages being sent to law enforcement behind closed doors.
SEE ALSO: Police are worried about white extremists organizing on Gab Chat, leaked documents show
In the eyes of police, the simple act of wearing a face covering to a peaceful demonstration — a necessary precaution during a pandemic — signifies a precursor to violence. It is perhaps no wonder then that we repeatedly see law enforcement, armed to the teeth, beating and arresting nonviolent protesters. Even the moms protecting protesters from federal officers are wearing masks, after all.
The best astronomy apps for stargazing this summer
The Webb and Hubble telescopes blessed us with breathtaking new images of the cosmos earlier this month, leaving many folks inspired to learn more about space.
Thanks to these astronomy apps, you can use your phone to see which stars and constellations are above you in real time, day or night. Whether you’re planning on stargazing, are curious about which constellations are in your location, or simply want to flex on your family and friends around the campfire, the following apps can show you what you’re seeing in the sky.
1. Stellarium
Credit: Rizwana Zafer
Stellarium has been my app of choice for years. It’s very user-friendly, and the filters allow you to customize your stargazing experience. You can opt to have gridlines, constellations, a landscape, atmosphere, and labels. There’s also a night mode option, which tints your phone screen red. This feature lets you use the app at night without disrupting your night vision, which is essential for stargazing.
You can download Stellarium on the Apple App Store(Opens in a new tab) or the Google Play Store(Opens in a new tab).
2. Star Walk 2
Credit: Rizwana Zafer
Like Stellarium, Star Walk 2 is a multifunctional app for beginners and astronomy enthusiasts alike. The augmented reality feature connects to your phone’s camera, so that you can see a real-time, mapped out version of your night sky. Star Walk 2 not only tells you which celestial objects are visible at the moment, but also keeps you up to date on the latest astronomy news with its news section. The app also features a night mode option for in-person stargazing.
You can download Star Walk 2(Opens in a new tab) on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store(Opens in a new tab).
3. Sky Guide
Credit: Rizwana Zafer
True to its name, Sky Guide provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the stars and constellations. You can customize your night sky viewing on the app, and can also click on each individual celestial object to learn more about it. While both Stellarium and Star Walk 2 offer this feature as well, Sky Guide offers more detailed descriptions. Sky Guide also has a news section, a calendar for upcoming astronomical events, and a night vision mode.
You can download Sky Guide on the Apple App Store(Opens in a new tab).
4. SkyView Lite
Credit: Rizwana Zafer
SkyView Lite is your basic sky viewing app. Simple and intuitive, you can use SkyView Lite to either use augmented reality to apply the sky map to your sky in real-time, or the sky map and compass as they are. You can also click on various celestial objects to know what they are and where they’re located in space. SkyView Lite also has a night vision mode, and the option to add your favorite celestial objects to a list.
You can download SkyView Lite on the Apple App Store(Opens in a new tab) or the Google Play Store(Opens in a new tab).
5. Sky Live: Heavens Above Viewer
Credit: Rizwana Zafer
A sister app of Sky Walk 2, Sky Live technically isn’t a stargazing app. However, it’s an incredibly useful app to consult before going stargazing, as it tells you the viewing conditions of a specific location. Sky Live gives you a percentage of how well the viewing conditions are at the time, so that you’re better prepared on your stargazing mission.
You can download Sky Live: Heavens Above Viewer on the Apple App Store(Opens in a new tab).
6. SkySafari
Credit: Mike Pearl
If you’re willing to spare a couple of bucks, SkySafari is a beloved stargazing app that lets you explore the solar system in detail, almost as if your phone were a telescope. You can download SkySafari on the Apple App Store(Opens in a new tab) or the Google Play Store(Opens in a new tab).
Spotify Wrappeds latest feature reads Your Audio Aura
Your 2021 Spotify Wrapped is finally here, and it’s one of the first attempts to create colorful cohesion out of a disjointed year.
According to Spotify, the theme for this year's Wrapped is "the soundtrack to the new normal." So what does that new normal look and sound like for the app's estimated 400 million users around the world? Spotify is embracing the mercurial mood swings of 2021 with new features that will make you feel like the main character in your very own movie.
As per usual, starting today, Dec. 1, each Spotify user will get a personalized Wrapped experience that reveals their top songs and artists of the year, categorizing that data into interactive stories. But this year, the app is rolling out a host of new Wrapped features that help users better understand their listening habits while also capturing the zeitgeist.
Rolling out with Wrapped 2021 is a nontraditional approach and allows users to see their "Audio Aura." Yes, your Audio Aura.
Rather than genre, the Your Audio Aura feature focuses on the mood of the music you listen to. Maybe you gravitate toward bold, confident tracks, or perhaps you rely on wistful and energetic sounds to get you through the day. With Your Audio Aura, Spotify — with the help of an aura expert — will "map the high-level moods of people’s listening into colors," Ziad Sultan, Spotify's Senior Director of Product for Personalization, revealed during a press preview of this year's Wrapped on Nov. 30.
Spotify Wrapped 2021 is rolling out to users today, Dec. 1, with new features like "Audio Aura."Credit: Spotify
Your customized Audio Aura is a vibrant visualization of your top two moods in 2021. Each Audio Aura is a combination of the auras, or colors, of that represent these moods. For example, if you went on a lot of hot girl walks(Opens in a new tab) this summer, then that confidence will be reflected in your Audio Aura as purple; meanwhile, wistfulness is blue. The combination of these two auras will appear as an ambient graphic that, of course, you can share on social media.
Auras capture energy. It's a reflection of the energy emitting from your body at any given time, and to an aura reader, these energies are projected as colors. In order to make Your Audio Aura as accurate as possible, Spotify consulted aura experts.
Still, you may be thinking: How does the music you listen to influence your aura?
Music is the perfect vehicle for transporting an aura because music was created from an artist’s aura and mood.
"Every song creates a mood and that correlates to how auras work because people are moods," Megan Michaela Firester, a celebrity psychic medium and aura reader known professionally as Mystic Michaela(Opens in a new tab), told Mashable. "Music is the perfect vehicle for transporting an aura because music was created from an artist’s aura and mood."
And according to Firester, it's that connection between an artist's aura and your own that makes Your Audio Aura even more transcendent. "You’re sitting in other artists' auras and seeing how they speak to your own aura, and that’s the Audio Aura experience," she added.
Aura reading is often seen as a way to read someone's personality(Opens in a new tab). People love to define themselves through the kinds of music they listen to. From the early days of MySpace to adding music to your Instagram Stories, sharing what's on your playlist is the definitive way to show off your personal brand — to tell the world how you wish to be perceived. So correlating auras with music is an innovative way to meet Spotify users' desire for their listening habits to define them.
The Audio Aura feature arrives amidst a year where spiritual practices such as Tarot card readings and manifestation have gained popularity on platforms like TikTok and Tumblr. Now, it's Spotify's turn.
SEE ALSO: Claiming tarot in the age of social media
Wrapped 2021 is also tapping into the "main character" trend with a "2021: The Movie" story feature that pairs your top songs with typical scenes from a movie — like the opening credits, the training montage, and the climactic dance-off. Finally, you can feel like the main character you were actually born to be.
Wrapped allows you to be the main character.Credit: Spotify
The audio "you have to start romanticizing your life / you have to start thinking of yourself as the main character" blew up on TikTok back in May 2020. Ever since, main character energy has been all over social media, with young people emboldening themselves to embrace their inner protagonist.
Spotify clocked this trend in March 2021 with the creation of their playlist "my life is a movie" which has over 860,000 likes. The description of the playlist reads "every main character needs their soundtrack." So it makes sense that Spotify Wrapped is giving users the ability to curate the soundtracks of their lives with the "2021: The Movie" feature.
This year's Wrapped will also feature a data-driven two truths and a lie card game you can play to see how well you truly know yourself and what you listened to this year. You can then share these cards with friends and see how well they know you. Another integration you can do with friends? The introduction of Wrapped Blend, the year-end take on the app's Blend playlists that combine your top songs with a friend's.
Now, you can see how well your 2021 tastes really match up.
How well do you know yourself? This new Spotify Wrapped feature puts you to the test. Credit: Spotify
2021 is also the first year you can share your personalized Wrapped card directly to TikTok, so prepare for your FYPs to be inundated with peoples' top songs, most-played artists, and Audio Auras.
To access your Spotify Wrapped all you need to do is open the Spotify App on your mobile device.
If you haven't seen Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, I won't spoil it. I did plenty of that in my explanation of what the film says about Elon Musk. But let's just say the cast did a fantastic job.
That's become a hallmark of a Knives Out movie. There's Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc, a compelling mystery story, and a cast loaded with stars. The latest film, Glass Onion, featured Craig, Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Edward Norton, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Dave Bautista, and Madelyn Cline, among other fun cameos.
With Glass Onion finally available to stream on Netflix, folks are already moving on to the next installment in their minds. People really want to cast this movie. And frankly, some people on the internet have some really good ideas.
For instance, now I NEED Jack Black in a Knives Out film. He'd absolutely ham it up to the perfect campy degree.
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Ditto with Jennifer Coolidge.
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For all those steeped in the drama within the Don't Worry Darling extended universe, this is a perfect idea.
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There are so, so, so many great suggestions online(Opens in a new tab).
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It's fun to dream cast new Knives Out films for a few reasons. Of course, one reason is that any actor is a reasonable get. Chris Evans, Kate Hudson, Ana De Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ed Norton, Janelle Monáe have all said yes to these movies. And both installments were well-received by critics and audiences. So, presumably, lots of stars would sign on for the third movie.
But it's also fun to dream cast these movies because director Rian Johnson really lets the actors cook in his films. They are full of camp and fun. Glass Onion shows that. Craig is a hammy revelation. Hudson is dialing it up to 11. Hahn steals every scene.
Johnson's deal with Netflix guarantees(Opens in a new tab) we'll get at least one more Knives Out mystery, and the writer-director has expressed interest in going even bigger in the future. Craig has said he'll play Blanc as long as he's asked, but the rest it up to our imagination.
Only in the year of our lord 2022 could Liam Payne and Kate Bush be trending the same week on TikTok.
All pain, no Liam: Liam Payne internet drama, explained
Just weeks after rumors circulated that former One Direction member Liam Payne allegedly cheated on his on-again, off-again fiancé, Maya Henry, he stripped down his time in the band on Logan Paul's Impaulsive podcast (no, this is not a Mad Lib from 2015), lighting a fire in the Directioner fandom. Clips of the interview and fan reactions were all over TikTok this week.
Key viral moments from Payne's interview include him sharing the many things he dislikes about former bandmate Zayn Malik, revealing that a member of the band threw him up against a wall, and Payne claiming that his solo debut single "Strip That Down" had over a billion streams and outsold his bandmates. In reality, it has 886 million streams on Spotify — less than Harry Styles and Malik's respective debut singles. "I used to be in 1D, now I'm out terrorizing the internet and my former bandmates" are the lyrics right?!
SEE ALSO:
'Harry's House' album leaks are a lesson in fandom politics
While Malik, who infamously left the band ahead of One Direction's indefinite hiatus, has spoken candidly about his qualms with his time in the band, Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson have gone to great lengths to preserve the fantasy that One Direction was just five lads that were best mates that could someday reunite.
Thanks to Payne, for the first time in years scattered, dormant Directioners had a reason to come together to do what they're best at: defend, theorize, and make incredibly layered jokes about these five men on the internet. The fandom pulled from a decade of content and in jokes to come for Payne's ass and was strangely heartwarming to see.
An example of the type of Payne centric content is @idtpwk's video(Opens in a new tab) that reads, "Me after watching Liam's Logan Paul podcast." The TikTok shows a clip of spoons being manufactured and is set to a sped up version of Malik's track "PILLOWTALK." The spoons are a reference to a fandom famous comment Payne made in 2011(Opens in a new tab) that he has a strange fear of spoons. The TikTok received over a million likes. Another TikTokker, @zaynsside(Opens in a new tab), resurfaced an early clip of the band where Tomlinson shakes everyone's hand except for Payne's.
Payne said he was afraid of spoons in 2011, keep up!Credit: TikTok / idtpwk
It isn't just Directioners that are getting involved. YouTuber Bryce Hall tweeted, "Fuck it I'm down to fight Liam Payne." Payne's ex-fiancé, Maya Henry, posted a TikTok (Opens in a new tab)using a sound that was popular last year where internet personality Tana Mongeau voiced her support for Bryce Hall in his fight with TikTokker Austin Mcbroom. Two of Payne's other ex-girlfriends, Cheryl Lloyd(Opens in a new tab) and Danielle Peazer(Opens in a new tab), also made TikToks. It's a circus and the Directioners are shaking!
These TikToks have layers!
Stranger Things, the internet still loves you!
Phew, now that that's out of the way! Stranger Things Season 4 came out last week and it remains the internet's darling. The new season spawned much discussion, multiple trends and popularized several songs on TikTok.
Thanks to the best scene of the season, where "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" by Kate Bush saves Max's (Sadie Sink) life from the supervillain of the season Vecna, the 1985 track has been used in over 500,000 TikToks. The other song featured prominently in Season 4, "Pass The Dutchie" by Musical Youth has racked up 11,000 TikToks.
SEE ALSO:
Vecna is the viral star of 'Stranger Things' Season 4
In the spirit of Max, TikTokkers are also sharing what songs would save them from Vecna. For example,@soph2day.org posted a video(Opens in a new tab) captioned, "POV vecna is about to possess and kill me but the I Know The End bridge starts playing," in reference to the Phoebe Bridgers song.
What's your Venca song?Credit: TikTok / soph2day.org
That's not the only Vecna inspired trend. When Vecna possesses his victims they begin to have traumatic visions of a grandfather clock. TikTokkers are playing with the grandfather clock imagery and posting videos of grandfather clocks in the wild, clips of a blank wall asking if anyone else seeing the clock, and making clock jokes(Opens in a new tab). For example, @stranger_life.4 posted a sped up video(Opens in a new tab) of people disassembling a grandfather clock with the caption, "POV: People who have grandfather clocks after watching Stranger Things 4."
Finally, it wouldn't be a new season of Stranger Things without some Steve Harrington love. The fan editors are hard at work and posting many a thirst edit. Treat yourself to the "Steve Harrington" tag(Opens in a new tab) after a hard week!
Mei Xiang the panda gives birth to healthy cub in a joyful twist we all needed
Pandas are notorious for not getting it on — or at least, not successfully mating(Opens in a new tab). While breeding pandas in captivity is more successful now than it was in the mid-20th century, according to National Geographic, a birth of a healthy cub is always cause for celebration.
On Friday night, 22-year-old panda Mei Xiang gave birth(Opens in a new tab) at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. She immediately began nursing and cuddling her newborn, staff told Reuters. The chances of a successful pregnancy and birth were low due to Mei Xiang's age, especially because she's had several failed pregnancy attempts.
SEE ALSO:
This is what a pregnant giant panda ultrasound looks like
While Mei Xiang and the father of the new cub, Tian Tian, have already parented three other cubs, the zoo wanted to try again before she was too old to reproduce. Zoo director Steve Monfort told Reuters in a written statement that they knew the chances were slim. "However," he said, "we wanted to give her one more opportunity to contribute to her species' survival."
While pandas are no longer considered endangered(Opens in a new tab) by the World Wildlife Fund, they are still a vulnerable species — so any new healthy birth is a win. "We are thrilled to offer the world a much-needed moment of pure joy," Monfort said.
The National Zoo celebrated the birth on Twitter with photos and updates:
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As of this writing there's no news on the sex or name of the new cub, but the National Zoo is updating fans on their social accounts. Merely hours old, Mei Xiang's cub is about the size of a stick of butter(Opens in a new tab) according to the WWF.
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Some people expressed concern that Mei Xiang and her baby were in such a seemingly small space:
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While the room does look small, you can rest easy: Wild pandas give birth in small dens(Opens in a new tab), and even stay in the den for the cub's first 100 days of life.
Others, however, were joyful — and anxious! — about the new arrival, going so far as making cakes to celebrate:
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Fans of Mei Xiang and her baby can keep up with developments on the ever-popular panda cam(Opens in a new tab). Mazel tov!
Woman saved from hostage situation after leaving plea for help on GrubHub order
Employees at the Chipper Truck Cafe in Yonkers, New York received an odd delivery order through GrubHub on Sunday. And that order led to the rescue of a woman who was being held hostage in the Bronx.
The order looked normal at first. But, along with an Irish breakfast sandwich and a hamburger, there was a note left by a customer through the online food ordering and delivery service that's popular in the city.
"Please call the police his going to call me when u delivered come with the cones please don't make it obvious," the note read, left in the "additional instructions" section of the GrubHub order.
Usually, those additional instructions provide the establishment with custom details for an order or delivery drivers with specific information on where to leave the food. This one was asking(Opens in a new tab) for the restaurant to send help.
The workers called the owner of the restaurant and made them aware of the situation before calling 911. The GrubHub order was placed at 5 am ET, according to a Facebook post(Opens in a new tab) by the Chipper Truck Cafe. Police arrived at the location and a 24-year-old woman was saved from the apartment she was being held in about an hour after the GrubHub order was placed. NBC News reports. The woman met Royal online and was taken captive after the two met for a date.
According to NBC News(Opens in a new tab), the police arrested 32-year-old Kemoy Royal on charges of "rape, strangulation, criminal sex act, unlawful imprisonment, menacing, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and sexual abuse." Royal was also charged with "attempted rape, sexual abuse and assault" of another woman.
"Every time we see a simple but extraordinary act like this, we are amazed by how our partners positively impact their communities," GrubHub said in a statement provided to Mashable.
GrubHub tells Mashable that company COO Eric Ferguson reached out to Chipper Truck Cafe on Thursday morning and offered $5,000 to the restaurant as a way to recognize them for their quick thinking.
You cant go wrong with these air fryer ham and cheese biscuits
Things don't always need to be fancy. Sometimes you just shove ham and cheese inside of a biscuit and air fry it. And it's delicious.
That's the viral TikTok recipe(Opens in a new tab) from @blind_momofboys(Opens in a new tab) that I tested this week for Mashable's AirFryDay. And it was good! Because what could be bad about a ham and cheese biscuit? It's salty, melty goodness tucked inside of buttery carbs. It's a perfect lunch for kids or a delicious midnight snack.
Sure, it's not gourmet, but here's what you need to know to make it.
Ingredients
1 tube of biscuits
1 package of American cheese slices
1 package of deli ham
Directions
Pop open your biscuits and choose how many you want to make.
Split each biscuit in half.
Fold 1 piece of cheese and 1 piece of ham into small squares.
Place the ham and cheese inside of the biscuit.
Press the edges of the biscuit together to seal it.
Air fry at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes, flipping about halfway through.
SEE ALSO:
Air fryer mozzarella sticks are tasty and easy to make
The details
This is not difficult. It's making a little ham and cheese pocket. Here's how @blind_momofboys' process looked.
Fold it in! Credit: Screenshot: TikTok/@blind_momofboys
There's ham and cheese in there. Credit: Screenshot: TikTok/@blind_momofboys
Legitimately, the most difficult part for me was opening the biscuit tube. I can never get those damn things open.
Other than that it's remarkably straightforward. The ham and cheese is pre-cooked. The biscuit air fries for just ten minutes. And in the end you have a homemade, hot-pockety bite that's tasty in a way that's almost shameful. Processed cheese and ham inside of a tubed biscuit shouldn't taste this good, and yet it does. The original TikTok has racked up 6 million views, so clearly people like it.
Here's what my result looked like.
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Melty, fake cheese. Yum.Credit: Mashable
If you have kids, hold onto this recipe. You can make it into whatever you like. A bit of pasta sauce and cheese? Boom, it's a pizza pocket. Turkey and cheese? Of course. Just cheese? Sure, it's a grilled cheese biscuit.
Sometimes, you just want tasty stuff, well, stuffed inside of a biscuit. Treat yourself.