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Donald Trump will run for president again in 2024, and the internet isnt thrilled

2023-03-19 06:18:53 author：dointy.com
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Donald Trump will run for president again in 2024, and the internet isnt thrilled

Donald Trump has announced that he is running for U.S. president again. We may technically be in 2022, but in practice 2016 never really ended.

Donald Trump will run for president again in 2024, and the internet isnt thrilled(图1)

"I will ensure that Joe Biden does not receive four more years," Trump said in a rambling hour-long speech(Opens in a new tab) from his Mar-a-Lago resort on Tuesday night. "We will make America great again."

All that needs to be said about Trump has already been said during the four(Opens in a new tab) long(Opens in a new tab) years(Opens in a new tab) he was the U.S. president — as well as during the formal investigations(Opens in a new tab) into said presidency. Understandably, many people are less than thrilled by Trump's renewed bid for relevancy, and apprehensive of the further damage he could inflict upon the world if given a second term in office.

SEE ALSO: Do not inject yourself with bleach to cure coronavirus, holy crap

Of course, there are still many who remain convinced that Trump has done nothing wrong, ever, in his life. Yet even some of his most ardent followers were reportedly unhappy with his announcement for various reasons, including Fox Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch(Opens in a new tab).

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Trump has proven long ago that he will continue to bloviate and spread disinformation for as long as he has a platform. Considering his public profile and net worth(Opens in a new tab), it's unlikely we'll be rid of him in the public sphere any time soon. The only question is how big Americans allow that platform to be, how much power they'll hand to him, and how far the rot will reach.

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  • A guide to getting off to your own sexual fantasies and imagination

    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?

    (图1)

    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 flexibility like homoeroticism 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-time Credit: 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.

  • Social media is the new bodycam

    Social media is the new bodycam

    Childish Gambino warned us in 2018. This is America, right?

    (图1)

    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.

    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.

    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

    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.

    (图1)

    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

    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.

    (图1)

    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.

    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.

    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

    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.

    (图1)

    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:

    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.

    Mashable has reached out to LAPD for comment and will update if received.

  • Even Piers Morgan thinks Rudy Giuliani sounds completely barking mad

    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.

    (图1)

    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.

    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

    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.

    (图1)

    "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:

    "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

    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.

    (图1)

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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

    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.

    (图1)

    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.

    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?"

    Williams expressed support for her husband in a tweet that may have made this reporter choke up.

    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:

    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

    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.

    (图1)

    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.

    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.

    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).

    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.

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  • As protests spread, misinformation in Facebook Groups tears small towns apart

    As protests spread, misinformation in Facebook Groups tears small towns apart

    There’s an outsider in town. Charlie Farnsworth and his neighbors are sure of it. Something strange is happening. Cars won't start, appliances stop working. A local boy tells the group that aliens must be responsible. Everyone in town panics. Charlie notices a strange, shadowy figure approaching in the distance. It must be the extraterrestrial. Charlie picks up his shotgun and fires.

    (图1)

    That’s the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” which originally aired in March 1960. Fast-forward to 2020, throw in some social media, and you basically have Facebook Groups.

    In Facebook Groups, where locals in suburbs and small towns across America hang out, news is spreading about paid antifa agitators being bussed into their community and bringing protests, looting, and rioting along with them.

    This isn’t true, of course. But you might not know that if you spend too much time on Facebook.

    The Monsters Are Due In Facebook Groups

    “We see a lot of [misinformation] that starts locally,” said LeadStories(Opens in a new tab) editor-in-chief Alan Duke. The outlet, which debunks online hoaxes, is an official third-party fact-checker for Facebook.

    Payette County, Idaho(Opens in a new tab). Toms River, New Jersey(Opens in a new tab). Klamath Falls, Oregon(Opens in a new tab). Sioux Falls, South Dakota(Opens in a new tab). Milan, Michigan(Opens in a new tab). Media outlets all over the U.S. have reported on similar hoaxes, usually about buses or vans full of paid protesters affiliated with antifa coming to their town.

    "The way you spread disinformation is by getting it to spread through Groups."

    Fact-checking on Facebook isn't exhaustive. Fake news still goes viral. But at least on Facebook's News Feed, shared stories are public. It's a little more complicated with Groups.

    There are more than 10 million Facebook Groups, according to a report(Opens in a new tab) released by the company last year. The company says more than 1.4 billion people use them. They can be public, so anyone on Facebook can read what's posted in them. Or they can be set to private, which means a user must be approved by the group's administrators before they can see what other members posted.

    “If it's a closed group, I can't look at it,” Duke explained, pointing out how misinfo that starts in these local Facebook communities often goes unscrutinized. “Private pages, private groups: fact-checkers don't see.”

    Facebook Frenzies and Real Vigilantes

    Rumors about buses full of antifa protesters have spread through several communities via Facebook. And those kinds of rumors can have real consequences.

    In Forks, Washington — that’s right, the real-life town where the sparkly vampire series Twilight takes place — a vigilante group of gun-toting locals ran a school bus out of town(Opens in a new tab) last week.

    They heard rumors about protesters being bussed(Opens in a new tab) in to burn down the town. Of course, there were no buses full of protesters, looters, or rioters. There wasn’t even a protest. There was(Opens in a new tab), however, a multiracial family of four driving their bus to a nearby campground.

    A group of armed locals organized online, followed the bus to a parking lot during a trip detour and accosted them, demanding to know(Opens in a new tab) if they were “antifa protesters.” The family was forced to abruptly end their trip when the vigilantes continued to harass them later at the campsite.

    Just one day earlier, on the opposite side of the country, a man with knives wrapped around his arm confronted(Opens in a new tab) a small group of protesters in Whitestone, a town in the New York City borough of Queens. After threatening to kill the protesters, he drove off in his vehicle and then made a U-turn, jumping the curb and chasing(Opens in a new tab) down the protesters with his car on the sidewalk. Numerous videos of the encounter were shared on social media.

    At the time, threads about violent out-of-town protesters were being spread in local Facebook Groups.

    "They're trying to set it off in Whitestone," said a since-deleted Facebook post(Opens in a new tab) by the man who attacked the protesters. "Everybody get your guns and let's protect our neighborhood."

    Other threats of violence remain(Opens in a new tab) on the Whitestone man's personal page, along with content shared from pro-Trump Facebook Groups and conservative fan pages.

    Unlike in Forks, where the campsite incident occurred, there was an actual protest in Whitestone. However, the misinformation found in Facebook Groups for both towns was very similar: “outside agitators” were invading their turf.

    Some in the Whitestone Groups defended the man’s actions, saying outsiders instigated the confrontation. As a lifelong Queens resident, I saw some of these posts myself. Over the weekend, I went down to the protest site in Whitestone, where activists are now gathering on a daily basis. I spoke with some protesters. I saw some people I knew back from when they used to watch my old punk band in high school and college. From what I could tell, the protest was made up of locals, mostly teenagers and young adults from the area.

    Recently, the AP analyzed(Opens in a new tab) records of more than 200 people arrested during the protests in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. It found that more than 85 percent of the arrestees were local residents, not outside agitators. A few were self-identified leftists, others were right wing Trump supporters. Only one was a self-described anarchist.

    A protest supporter in one of the Whitestone Groups made a remark that stuck with me. Some people in town were so blinded by rage over the protests, they didn't even notice who was protesting. The protesters were their neighbor's kids. Those "outside agitators" lived right next door.

    In that The Twilight Zone episode, the person Charlie shoots and kills turns out to be his neighbor, Pete van Horn. So caught up in the frenzy, Charlie didn’t even recognize him in the distance.

    A scene from The Twilight Zone's "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street." Original airdate on March 4, 1960. From left: Claude Akins as Steve Brand, Mary Gregory as Sally, Jan Handzlik as Tommy, Jack Weston as Charlie in "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street". Credit: CBS via Getty Images

    The Misinformation Zone

    Facebook's misinformation problem isn't new. For Jean-Claude Goldenstein, founder and CEO of CREOPoint, a company that monitors disinformation and helps organizations manage fallout from them, the spread of fake news about the protests is reminiscent of what happened with coronavirus misinformation(Opens in a new tab). Facebook Groups were integral in spreading COVID-19 conspiracies during the height of the pandemic.

    "These are unprecedented times and social media platforms have a responsibility for accountability," he said over email. “We are witnessing in real time how the boundaries between truth and lies become so blurry as to cause real damage to people."

    Researchers from George Washington University recently found(Opens in a new tab) that Facebook Groups were more successful at influencing vaccine skeptics than healthcare professionals. If people trust memes over doctors about their own health, imagine the power of Facebook disinformation about politically charged protests.

    "The way you spread disinformation is by getting it to spread through groups."

    According to Facebook, the company does take action against Groups. It says that Groups that spread misinformation will have their distribution in users' News Feeds reduced. The company also limits how widely a Group is recommended to users on other Group pages.

    Fact-checked fake news articles that are shared within Groups are labeled as "false." However, as LeadStories' Alan Duke explained, if the misinfo starts in a private group, fact-checkers can't see it, and therefore can't fact-check it.

    As Black Lives Matter protests spread in the U.S., misinformation follows on Facebook Groups.

    “It starts with a local claim and then it starts to spread nationally,” Duke told me. “That's how it happens.”

    “Groups are very instrumental in making something go viral,” he continued, providing me with a specific example of how that works.

    Combine the viral power of Groups with say... the president of the United States of America, and you have a perfect storm for spreading misinformation.

    The Disinformation Pipeline

    Last week, the official White House Twitter account posted a video compilation claiming the footage was proof that “antifa and professional anarchists” were leaving caches of bricks around the country for looters to utilize.

    One clip included video of a stack of bricks in front of a synagogue in Los Angeles. The synagogue later debunked the claim, saying that that the brick pile was actually a security barrier it set up more than a year ago. The White House later deleted(Opens in a new tab) the video.

    And then on Tuesday, Trump tweeted a conspiracy theory alleging that a 75-year-old protester who was injured by Buffalo police in a viral video was an "antifa provocateur."

    “This is something that started locally and then it goes all the way up to the White House Twitter feed,” said Duke. “It’s a false claim that suggests that there are people on the left who are trying to make this all go violent to make the president look bad... and it's just nonsense.”

    The Outside Agitator Next Door

    It’s not just happening in Facebook Groups, either. The hyperlocal social networking app, NextDoor has also played a major role in the spread(Opens in a new tab) of misinformation among small town residents.

    NextDoor calls itself a "neighborhood hub." It's basically a mini-social network for people just in your community, ostensibly so you can share local news and recommendations with your neighbors. However, it's notorious for being home to racist posts(Opens in a new tab) — essentially, a place where paranoid white people go to report on black people walking through their neighborhood.

    When I put out an open call(Opens in a new tab) to my Twitter followers to share the local misinfo they were seeing about the protests, just as many users sent me screenshots of NextDoor as they did Facebook.

    One post making the rounds in these communities on Facebook and NextDoor shortly after the protests began was a tweet from an account called @ANTIFA_US, which called for violence in residential communities. Twitter soon suspended the user and, in a statement to NBC News(Opens in a new tab), explained that the account was actually connected to the white nationalist group, Identity Evropa.

    And what about antifa, who are supposedly invading small towns across the country? According to Zignal Labs, which analyzed(Opens in a new tab) 873,000 piece of misinformation about the George Floyd protests, antifa was mentioned in 575,800 of them.

    First, antifa is not an actual organization, let alone an organized “terrorist” group like Trump claims. The term describes people who consider themselves antifascist.

    And they’re not plotting riots. In Washington, D.C., The Nation(Opens in a new tab) reported that federal law enforcement found no evidence of organized antifa involvement in the city’s protests. In fact, out of the 51 people facing federal charges over the protest, a total of zero(Opens in a new tab) have ties to any antifa movement.

    "Groups are very instrumental in making something go viral."

    In Las Vegas, however, three men who are part of the far-right Boogalo movement were arrested(Opens in a new tab) and indicted on federal charges for conspiracy to cause destruction at the city's Black Lives Matter protests.

    CREOPoint's Goldenstein explained how important Groups are to boosting misinformation. When protesters outside the White House were cleared out by the police's tear gas, the president spun the news reports(Opens in a new tab) as fake news. Facebook Groups, including pro-Trump communities, quickly spread an ABC News article that included Trump's "fake news" declaration in the headline.

    On social media, where so many don't bother to read past a headline(Opens in a new tab) before angrily commenting and clicking share, even real news can spread fake news.

    "[The report] was shared over 190,000 times on Facebook," Goldenstein said. "On multiple Facebook Groups."

    A World Full of Maple Streets

    So, who's responsible for spreading these hoaxes? Duke wouldn’t be surprised if there were some elements of foreign influence sowing discord among Anytown, USA Facebook Groups.

    But, from what he's seen, as far as agitators are concerned, he thinks they're mostly domestic. Fake news websites, political operatives, partisan provocateurs — all looking to cause a little trouble(Opens in a new tab) in the midst of an already tumultuous election year.

    For example, a 2018 study(Opens in a new tab) on disinformation highlighted how fake profiles swarmed a local Facebook Group in an attempt to sway a mayoral election in the Philippines.

    “The way you spread disinformation is by getting it to spread through Groups,” he tells me.

    At the end of "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street," the camera pans to reveal two alien beings in the distance, looking down on Maple Street as it descends into chaos. They reveal that they were responsible for the weird occurrences happening in the town below.

    “Throw them into darkness for a few hours and then you just sit back and watch the pattern,” one says to the other. “They pick the most dangerous enemy they can find... and it's themselves.”

    “Then I take it this place... this Maple Street... is not unique,” inquires the second.

    As the two ascend back to their spaceship, he replies “by no means, their world is full of Maple Streets. And we'll go from one to the other and let them destroy themselves."

  • These TikTok scams are very real

    These TikTok scams are very real

    TikTok is a multifunctional social app if there ever was one. The hub of short video content has been designed to entertain, has become a search engine for Gen-Z users, and has even been harnessed for social good and activism.

    (图1)

    But the app is no stranger to controversy, likely because it wields unprecedented levels of power(Opens in a new tab). This power is derived from a colossal user base, immense popularity with influencers and brands alike, and rising dominance over rival platforms(Opens in a new tab). So this castle of content, with billions of users(Opens in a new tab), has inadvertently developed into an ideal starting point for scams(Opens in a new tab), which are increasingly taking over.

    SEE ALSO: TikTok's search suggests misinformation almost 20 percent of the time

    Across social media, the regularity of TikTok scams is well-documented. The subreddit r/Tiktokhelp(Opens in a new tab) features dozens of inquiries and posts about scams of TikTok posted in the last 10 months alone. A scroll through the forum shows just how commonplace scams or alleged scams are on the platform: Users warn of scam accounts(Opens in a new tab), share emails(Opens in a new tab) they've received that appear suspicious(Opens in a new tab), and disclose various instances(Opens in a new tab) in which money-making scams have taken place.

    Over on Twitter, people outline scams they've witnessed and meme-ify the ubiquity of them. When I posted a call on Twitter to find out if people have actually faced such scams, I got a DM from someone who wished to remain anonymous — but told me that she lost $24,000 over the course of two hours in a TikTok scam.

    TikTok itself has a wealth of information on scams(Opens in a new tab), making the company's "stance" clear: "At TikTok, we prize user safety and content authenticity." Last October, during Cybersecurity Awareness Month(Opens in a new tab), the company launched the #becybersmart(Opens in a new tab) campaign to "foster a culture of cybersecurity." Videos under the hub are dedicated to learning from cybersecurity experts and enhancing awareness around staying smart online.

    Suffice to say, TikTok scams are a real, ongoing trend, and something to note if you count yourself as one of the app's many loyal users. Here are five prominent scams to look out for on your feeds.

    Job scams

    In June 2022, Singapore-based paper Today(Opens in a new tab) looked into the job scam. A journalist was offered SGD$200 per day for a social media-esque job, one he did not apply for or know anything about. Messages from recruiters across TikTok began increasing, with many asking said journalist for bank account details and even sending threats.

    This isn't an isolated story. There's been an uptick(Opens in a new tab) in seemingly prestigious and well-paying job offers via TikTok. The subject "job scam"(Opens in a new tab) has 5.3 million views on TikTok, with videos narrating the many job offers people have received, with attractive stipulations and for companies that largely don't exist.

    The app says that these scams will likely include a "registration fee," which "victims never recover." Like many cyber-scams, these exchanges also involve providing personal information.

    Pyramid and ponzi schemes

    In 2021, TikTok banned "investment schemes with promises of high returns," like Ponzi schemes. They also forbid pyramid schemes(Opens in a new tab), or the business model in which additional investors are periodically recruited. Such schemes are prominent on TikTok, so much so that the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warned users(Opens in a new tab) to beware of high-risk investments on the app, investing advice from TikTok users, and promises of high returns.

    Mobile game scams

    If you're a gamer and a TikTok user, you've likely come across the many game scams that have plagued the app. These have largely been situated around Roblox, with frequent(Opens in a new tab) and "baffling" Roblox-centric scams(Opens in a new tab) taking place. In fact, "Roblox scam"(Opens in a new tab) and its corresponding videos on TikTok have 8.9 million views and counting. Many of these sorts of scams, whether for Roblox or other apps, are in the shape of in-app purchases at cheaper rates or no cost at all. They often involve clicking a link — which can then expose users to various losses.

    Romance scams

    TikTok's #BeCyberSmart included warnings against romance scams. Credit: TikTok.

    Ahead of Valentine's Day this past February, TikTok released a statement(Opens in a new tab) from Lloyd Temple, financial crimes investigator at the company. Temple and TikTok warned against rising romance scams, in which "so-called suiters" obtain private information, ask for funds, offer cryptocurrency deals — you name it. If anyone's watched Netflix's The Tinder Swindler, you know that the consequences of this sort of scam can be multilayered and piercing.

    Recommendations for discerning these sort of scams include taking it slowly and looking out for red flags or anything that seems amiss.

  • In the market for a pickle-shaped vibrator? You now have at least 2 options.

    In the market for a pickle-shaped vibrator? You now have at least 2 options.

    Do we need to have multiple choices when purchasing a pickle-shaped vibrator?

    (图1)

    This is the question that came to mind upon hearing the news that Lox Club, the Jewish dating app that might not actually be all that Jewish, would be releasing its very first pickle vibe(Opens in a new tab).

    Make sure you read that carefully. Lox Club's release is not the first ever of this specific sex toy, but merely the first one that it, as a company, is releasing. Formerly, Emojibator's(Opens in a new tab) pickle vibrator was the leading brined cucumber in the sex toy space. Incidentally, the two toys look basically identical, but according to a Lox Club spokesperson, they bear no relation beyond their appearance.

    "To pay homage to Lox Club's deli roots, Lox Club worked with its own fabricator to make it exclusive," the spokesperson clarified.

    On the left, the Lox Club vibrator staged in a way the company should face fines for. Emojibator's vibrator (right) bears a striking resemblance, though it looks like it might be a bit smaller.. Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / Lox Club and Emojibator

    So now, we must reckon with the reality that we live in a world where not one, but at least two vibrators that look like pickles are out there. We must reckon with the reality that Lox Club calls this toy a "dill-do" in its product description. And with this reckoning, we must stand strong and remember that though pickles got the "hot girls eat" treatment(Opens in a new tab), we don't necessarily have to feel hot for pickles insofar as we use them for sexual pleasure.

    The cost of pickle vibrators

    Really and truly, I don't want to yuck anyone else's yum. If a literal pickle gets you off, more power to you. But it's clear the intent behind these toys is to make you laugh at how ridiculous they are.

    As for Emojibator's take? Well, there isn't even a pickle emoji(Opens in a new tab). But at least the Emojibator pickle's product page(Opens in a new tab) lets you know that it's waterproof, is made of silicone, and has ten vibration settings. Also, with a name like Emojibator, it's clear the brand is going for niche and novelty, and so it has priced its pickle in the gag gift range at $34. (OK, maybe at the high end of that range.)

    Lox Club's version is almost double the price, a disrespectful $65(Opens in a new tab). The product page gives no information as to what the vibrator is made of, how big it is, whether it's rechargeable or battery operated, or if it has any variation in its vibration settings. It does however, have tongue-in-cheek copy about using a pickle as a sex toy, so there's that.

    Side note: There are so many good vibrators and sex toys that cost less than $65! They may not look like pickles, but you'll actually want to use them, and we promise that they will bring more of a smile to your face than the oh-so-funny joke of "ha-ha pickles are kind of phallic."

    Do you have to agree with one writer's opinion about how you should spend your money? You certainly dill-don't. Buy the pickle vibrator if it speaks to you, because at the end of the day, whether or not a company wants to sell a "funny" sex toy is up to them. Gag gifts are meant to be gags.

    It's just interesting that Lox Club, a dating app that seems to take itself at least somewhat seriously(Opens in a new tab), had the opportunity to bring a top-tier sex toy to its audience. Instead, they made an overpriced vibrator with no information about how it works, making a joke that treats actual pleasure as both a punchline and an afterthought. But hey, at least we have plenty of options for sex toys out there.

  • No, Joe Bidens climate plan isnt taking away your precious burgers

    No, Joe Bidens climate plan isnt taking away your precious burgers

    You may have heard about President Joe Biden's plan to tackle climate change and how he wants Americans to stop eating red meat. One problem: what you may have heard isn't true. In fact, Biden didn't say anything about meat consumption.

    (图1)

    At a virtual climate summit last week, President Biden discussed a goal: to get the U.S. to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by the year 2030(Opens in a new tab). He discussed moving to clean energy jobs in his speech as a way to achieve this. He also discussed building more electric vehicles and rolling out more charging stations across the country.

    Red meat consumption was not mentioned at all. And this falsehood has already been debunked(Opens in a new tab) numerous(Opens in a new tab) times(Opens in a new tab) already.

    Yet, Republican members of Congress and right wing media pundits pounced on the meat narrative.

    "Joe Biden’s climate plan includes cutting 90% of red meat from our diets by 2030," tweeted(Opens in a new tab) GOP freshman Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. "They want to limit us to about four pounds a year. Why doesn’t Joe stay out of my kitchen?"

    Donald Trump Jr., the oldest son of former President Trump, boasted(Opens in a new tab) about eating 4 pounds of meat yesterday. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene retweeted(Opens in a new tab) a Photoshopped photo sent to her on Twitter portraying Biden as the Hamburglar.

    "Not gonna happen in Texas," said Texas Governor Greg Abbott in a Twitter post which included a graphic from a Fox News segment.

    The Fox News image provides bullet point information claiming "Biden's climate requirements" include cutting "90% of red meat from diet" and a limit of "one burger per month."

    However, if you take a look at the bottom of the Fox News graphic, which claims Biden is "up in your grill," you'll find a citation listed as the University of Michigan.

    That's the source of where all this disinformation is coming from: a report from the University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems(Opens in a new tab) which was published in January 2020.

    The report from more than a year ago simply looked at how dietary changes could affect greenhouse gas emissions and has nothing to do with Biden's climate plans which he announced last week.

    The UK tabloid the Daily Mail also seemed to use the University of Michigan report(Opens in a new tab) to spread the same falsehoods.

    A screenshot of the Daily Mail article that's helped spread falsehoods about Biden's climate plan. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / matt binder

    "How Biden's climate plan could limit you to eat just one burger a MONTH," begins its headline on the story. However, the article later concedes that "while Biden hasn't released details, experts and recent studies have laid out what would need to change by 2030 to reach the goal."

    So, while you'll undoubtedly continue to see this lie spread on Twitter, Facebook, and every other social media platform, just know that it's not true. Biden didn't mention red meat consumption at all when discussing his climate plan recently. And the source is a scientific report published a year before Biden was even inaugurated as president.

    Related Video: How to recognize and avoid fake news

  • The 15 best tweets of the week, including some calamari

    The 15 best tweets of the week, including some calamari

    Another week of quarantine down, baby.

    (图1)

    Time is a construct, not much is funny, but hey there are still some good tweets.

    We've been collecting the best posts of the week for a while now to pass the time and hopefully lend you a few laughs. So anyway, here are the 15 best tweets of the week.

    1. This actually makes perfect sense

    2. Not gonna get in the cab and put on For Emma, Forever Ago

    3. Can't wait for this one, seems like a neat project

    4. Wow, will be big news

    5. I'm gonna be sick

    6. Rest stop with a combination KFC & Pizza Hut

    7. God won't let me die!!!

    8. Harriet Potter? I'm sorry... I hate the joke, too.

    9. Listen, the news does move fast

    10. Some of us were ready

    11. Feels like an extra respect kind of night

    12. New bullying

    13. Relatable

    14. Obligatory dril tweet

    15. And finally, a good DNC meme

  • Twitter can’t stop dunking on Metas Horizon Worlds

    Twitter can’t stop dunking on Metas Horizon Worlds

    It has been a rough week for the metaverse, my friends. Meta launched their Horizon Worlds platform in Spain and France and reception was… frigid. That's mostly thanks to the unimpressive graphics and awkward, lifeless avatars, all of which might be forgiveable if Meta had not spent a significant portion of a reported $10 billion(Opens in a new tab) developing them.

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    SEE ALSO: Meta has a sweet vision for VR, but it's a long way from reality for the rest of us



    I'm no stranger to critiques of Meta, but it gives me very little pleasure to see the metaverse being misunderstood in such a massive way. And that's not the public’s fault—it’s Meta’s.

    Anyway, here are the best tweets dunking on Horizon Worlds.

    Wonderful stuff

    Is the metaverse just Sims for Web3?

    Sigh I miss the real Mii

    New fear: unlocked

    Throwback!

    POV: Your best friend is suing you for $600 million

    Oops

    Yeah...

    Zuck is baby

    The world is so big and beautiful, can't wait to explore it from the comfort of my own home!

  • China could punish people for liking social media posts

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    China could punish people for liking social media posts

    China is continuing to crack down on internet use against its citizens amid massive protests that have been sweeping the nation.

    The Cyberspace Administration of China published a new set of guidelines, going into effect on Dec. 15, that would make internet users in China liable for simply liking posts that the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission chaired by leader Xi Jinping deem illegal or harmful, according to CNN(Opens in a new tab).

    SEE ALSO: Protests erupt at Foxconn's iPhone factory in China over working conditions, pay

    This comes as street protests erupted in cities across the nation over the weekend against the "dynamic zero COVID" policy. The anti-COVID measure include strict lockdowns imposed by local authorities, mass testing, forced isolation and quarantines, closing businesses, shops, and schools, and maintaining lockdowns until there are no new infections reported, according to the BBC(Opens in a new tab). Tens of millions of people are living under some kind of lockdown, and some workers have been forced to sleep inside factories so they can continue to work while being quarantined.

    A social media post that was forwarded widely quoted former Chinese leader Xi Zhongxun, the late father of Chinese President Xi Jinping, as saying "the people should be allowed to speak and encouraged to care about state affairs," NPR reported(Opens in a new tab). The country has two options, according to the news outlet: dropping the policies altogether and triggering an increase of COVID cases, or to double down on their zero-COVID policies, escalating lockdowns and political repression.

    As a result of the zero-COVID policies, China has been stepping up internet regulation because of the online public anger against the policies. According to The New York Times(Opens in a new tab), users "are also flipping videos on their side, using filters on them, or recording videos of videos" in order to evade algorithms made to flag content and take it down.

    The new guidelines are similar to guidelines published in 2017, but these now regulate "likes" of public posts and other types of comments. It's making people fearful that the nation might begin to crack down on social media even more than it has in the past. 

    "The authorities are very concerned with the spreading protest activities, and an important means of control is to stop the communications of the potential protesters including reports of protest activities and appeals of joining them," Joseph Cheng, a retired professor of political science at the City University of Hong Kong, told CNN. "This cyberspace control is an important lesson absorbed from protest activities like the Arab Spring."

  • 4 of the top dating trends for 2022, so far

    4 of the top dating trends for 2022, so far

    Folks, we're nearly halfway through 2022. I know — some days, it feels like we're stuck in 2020 purgatory. But no, that's merely our "new normal," if anything about the current state of the world could be called normal.

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    For two years, change has upended every aspect of life, including dating. Both 2020 and 2021 made way for an unprecedented slow-down, causing us to connect with others in new ways (like virtual dates) while also taking time to self-reflect. The result…isn't half bad, actually. Here are this year's dating trends so far, according to experts.

    Choose your priority

    The pandemic forced us all to reevaluate our priorities. This isn't a new revelation: From coming out to breaking up, COVID's figurative or literal jolt to our systems made us rethink what we really want in life. 

    "What was important to us two, three years ago simply isn't anymore," said OkCupid's associate director of global communications, Michael Kaye. 

    Considering all we've been through in the past two years even beyond the pandemic — like the threat to reproductive rights — we're less concerned about superficial qualities like looks, and more concerned about values like where a date stands on climate change, Kaye explained.

    "What was important to us two, three years ago simply isn't anymore."

    During the brunt of quarantine especially, many of us had the space to reflect on who we are and what we want, perhaps for the first time in our lives. This caused daters to be both more honest and intentional when meeting new people.

    Before COVID, dating coach and eharmony relationship expert Laurel House(Opens in a new tab)'s clients had a laundry list of traits they wanted in a partner. Now, people are homing in on what really matters to them.

    House calls this shift "prioridating." She encourages her clients to go after a single priority with potential partners. This can be anything, but one House sees a lot is safety, whether physically, emotionally, or financially. 

    Prioridating is one of the year's big dating trends. Credit: Vicky Leta / Mashable

    This trend aligns with the data, as well. Eighty-six percent of singles want a partner of equal or higher income, according to Match's latest Singles in America, a survey of 5,000 Americans aged 18 to 75. This is a jump from 70 percent who wanted the same back in 2019.

    Shallow desires, meanwhile, are on the decline: More singles (83 percent) want an emotionally mature partner rather than someone physically attractive (78 percent) according to the same survey.

    "Many [daters] are looking for someone who inspires them to be their best selves," Kaye said. "Someone they are proud to date. It's less about superficial characteristics and more about those deeper, more meaningful traits."

    Increased vulnerability and mindfulness

    Prioridating engenders the next trend: an increase in openness. This increased communication (or want for such) has occurred since 2020, when we had to be honest about our COVID preferences. Daters found themselves having deeper conversations quicker amid the pandemic. We didn't have time for small talk or situationships; we got down to the nitty gritty. This is still true in 2022.

    "People are having these real scary — historically scary — conversations," House said. "Now it's not scary because now it's like, 'Well, I know me. I know my needs. I'm confidently, vulnerably, unapologetically aware of my needs.'"

    In an interview at the end of 2021, Hinge's director of relationship science, Logan Ury, called this trend "hardballing": being upfront about what you want out of dating. This can look like, say, telling your first date that you want kids someday and asking them what they want. 

    SEE ALSO: How to start dating again after a break

    In addition to vulnerability, prioridating is supported by mindfulness while dating. House suggests checking in with yourself while on dates. If your priority is safety, for example, and someone makes fun of a vulnerability, check in at that moment. House modeled how the thought process can look: "Does that make me feel safe? It doesn't. OK, well, what am I going to do with that information? Either I'm going to say 'thank you, goodbye,'" she said, "or I'm going to voice my priority and make it clear what my priority is."

    While you may want to know if your date wants kids someday, it's not necessary to project into the future and dream up your whole life together now. Knowing you have the same beliefs and goals is valuable information, but you can focus on this one date, this one moment.

    Virtual dates haven't gone anywhere

    Another trend House noticed traces back to earlier in the pandemic: phone and video dates. These virtual dates have entered some people's repertoire, especially if they still don't feel safe dating in person. Another reason people may do this, House said, is saving time and money (getting ready, commuting, sitting there on the date).

    "Now people are much more protective…of their time," she said. 

    If people are comfortable meeting in-person but still want to be close to home, House has noticed people having more dates at a nearby park or even in their backyard or patio if they have one.

    When meeting IRL isn't an option, try a video date. Credit: Bob Al-Greene/Mashable

    Sober (curious) dating on the rise

    Given the rise in alcohol consumption(Opens in a new tab) during the pandemic, more people are now sober curious(Opens in a new tab), a concept of limiting drinking but not going completely sober. This is in tandem with a rise of zero-proof mocktails. This has led to a rise in sober (curious) dating as well.

    In 2022, daters are more mindful about their drinking: 74 percent of single daters restricted their alcohol use in the last year, according to eharmony's 2022 Happiness Index(Opens in a new tab), a survey of 3,000 adults over 21. A whopping 94 percent said "they'd be interested in someone who doesn't drink at all."

    SEE ALSO: How to date while sober (curious)

    Like other facets of life, some people may have realized alcohol isn't a priority anymore, so they've chosen to be sober (or curious, anyway).

    Given these trends, House is optimistic about relationships. She believes this slower, more intentional dating will lead to longer relationships and marriages. The pandemic disrupted everything — but in terms of dating, it actually may have been for the better.

  • First date at their house: Red flag or the new normal?

    First date at their house: Red flag or the new normal?

    You swipe, you match, and before you know it, your match wants to meet IRL. But there's a catch: they want you to come to their house. So, is this an automatic red flag, or are there some circumstances where it's OK?

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    First, let's take a look at the current state of play in the dating world. Recent research revealed(Opens in a new tab) that seven in 10 single U.S. adults looking for a relationship say dating is harder after COVID. It makes sense: the list of questions for how to date, always lengthy, has become endless over the enduring pandemic. For instance: How do you seem interesting on a first date when you’ve basically been stuck in your house for two years? Are we still doing video dates? In the middle of the cost of living crisis, how do you plan an affordable and considerate date? And after two years of taking dates for a walk around a park during lockdown, what do we now consider "normal" date location? So, when a date suggests their house as a first-date location, is that OK? Is it the new normal?

    SEE ALSO: 'Beige flags' are the TikTok dating trend that could ruin your love life

    This has been a popular question in discussion threads in Reddit(Opens in a new tab) in recent months as people talk about their anxiety in this new stage of COVID and how it has led to them feeling more comfortable in their homes than the typical first-date location. (Many of us did stay in them for almost two years, after all.) But just because one person feels comfortable in their home doesn’t make it a suitable first-date location for both parties. Like many things that have to do with dating, it’s complicated.

    Know your boundaries

    A first date requires a conscious effort on both sides to discover each others likes, dislikes and boundaries, which often means there may be unintentional mistakes made along the way as you get to know each other. 

    Your own safety on a date should be your number one priority. So, when your date offers their home as a first date location, dating experts advise against doing this. Jessica Alderson, relationship expert and co-founder of SO SYNCD(Opens in a new tab), a personality type dating app, tells Mashable: "More often than not, there isn’t any malicious intent behind the offer," she explains, but she advises against doing it.

    "You just shouldn’t take that risk in terms of safety. It’s completely acceptable to say that you would prefer to meet at a public place such as a bar or restaurant."

    "You just shouldn’t take that risk in terms of safety. It’s completely acceptable to say that you would prefer to meet at a public place such as a bar or restaurant." She adds: "When it comes to relationships, it’s much better to be clear about your boundaries from the very beginning. If you don’t, it can have negative impacts on your mental health and self-esteem."

    While she advises that in most cases you say no to a date in the home of the person you’re meeting for the first time, there can be exceptions (more about that below). Either way, the question and its answer are valuable as a way to get to know your date. If they respond negatively to you setting your boundaries, that’s a clear red flag and you should end communications. But, stating what you want or need — even when it might not be what your potential date wants — is a way to set the foundation for a good relationship.

    SEE ALSO: How to set boundaries in the early stages of dating

    "Sharing what you are comfortable with early on when dating helps minimise the risk of resentment building up. It goes without saying that it works both ways, and when you are on the receiving end of someone setting boundaries, it can actually be comforting to have such clarity from a date or a partner," Alderson explains.

    So, what do you do instead?

    If you feel uncomfortable but still want to explore your connection with your date, it doesn’t hurt to think of some options for a first date that do make you feel comfortable, like dinner in a restaurant, a picnic, or meeting up in a bar. That way, you can be empowered about determining what you do want to do, and see how your date responds.

    SEE ALSO: How the cost of living crisis is impacting the way we date

    Crystal Cansdale, dating expert at global dating app Inner Circle(Opens in a new tab), tells Mashable that for a first date, she’d recommend meeting on neutral ground, such as meeting up for a coffee or a walk in the park to create an atmosphere of safety. She’d also question them on why having a date at their house is so important as a "first date is going to leave a lasting impression — and that shouldn’t be feeling unsafe or as though they can’t be bothered."

    What if there's an exception to the rule?

    Of course, there could be a genuine reason behind a "first date at home" offer, such as anxiety about being out in public or lack of money. We are in a cost of living crisis and according to dating app Bumble, the cost of living crisis has made people consider low-key dating, and for us to be more open about our financial situations early on in the relationship. So perhaps a "first date at home" doesn't always automatically come from a place of bad intentions.

    "Dates at my house were a little weird and came with some level of presumption, but I had safeguards in place."

    This was the case for Tilly, who requested only her first name be used, who had to have dates at her house during university because she was a broke student and having dates at home was much cheaper. "Dates at my house were a little weird and came with some level of presumption, but I had safeguards in place," she said. "Like my four housemates who were [each in couples] would be in their rooms, and if I needed them, I’d just text them and they’d suddenly join us in the living room and ruin it."

    Having first dates at home is still something she does now because it’s convenient — her job as a journalist means she has a lot of her own commitments and it's sometimes hard to fit dates in — and it saves money. While some people may find it odd, it has worked for her and she’s had some nice dates this way, minus the Batman-obsessed guy who was covered in Batman tattoos and made her listen to the Batman movie soundtrack one by one to "understand the themes." Some dates have presumed that they’re going to get lucky but that’s why she emphasises the importance of safeguards. 

    Related Stories

    • How to safely meet up on a Tinder date
    • When an online match wants to meet up immediately, it’s OK to say no
    • How to set boundaries in the early stages of dating
    • The best dating apps and sites in March 2023
    • Which dating app should you use? This guide can help you figure it out.

    Like Tilly, Sharon — who wanted to remain anonymous — also had a date at her home, almost three years ago. "I invited my now partner to stay at my home overnight. We had met online and talked on Zoom but never met. So we slept in separate rooms." Because she felt a level of safety with him and felt a deep level of trust so she invited him over to her home. The fact they were both musicians and could relate to a love of music and also create music together (no pun intended) factored massively to her feeling safe with him. Sharon added, "A home-cooked meal is a lovely date, and not every man will assume an invite to your home means you’re instantly available for sex."

    Trust is a must-have

    There’s nothing wrong with going on a date just to hook up at the end, but if you feel uncomfortable about going to someone’s home, you should consider alternatives. Opting for a hotel gives you the option of making an easy getaway, should you need to —  know where the exits are, and you can call down to the front desk. However, again this comes with a level of trust with the person you are hooking up with as you’ll still be in a hotel room alone with them. 

    But, also, a first date doesn’t necessarily mean the person is a stranger. It could be someone you’ve been friends with for years, with whom you’re now wanting to explore a relationship. That, Alderson agreed, would be an exception to her rule of not going to a date’s house on the first date.

    SEE ALSO: Why affairs are on the rise in the cost of living crisis

    Two women I spoke to explained that they had met their now-partners for a first date at their homes, but they had mutual connections and had talked beforehand, so they felt safe. "I had met him once through mutual friends, who knew where he lived and that I was going there," Mary said. 

    Callisto Adams(Opens in a new tab), a certified dating and relationship expert, says to consider both sides of the offer, the reason why your date may be asking as well as why you may accept or why you may not accept as it "can lead to a bonding experience due to the privateness of the space which allows you to feel freer when it comes to expressing yourselves."

    A date suggesting their house on a first date is not automatically a warning sign or a red flag. There can be genuine reasoning behind their decision, and there are times in which it might be the right thing to do. But it’s crucial when dating to consider your safety, to know your boundaries, and to be strict with yourself about what is stretching them too far. After all, the purpose of a first date is to see who this person is. If you feel that they don’t respect you and your boundaries, then that is a warning sign.  

  • Tinder launches Vibes to give matches a chance to check their compatibility

    Tinder launches Vibes to give matches a chance to check their compatibility

    No corny chat-up lines, just vibes.

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    That's the idea with Tinder's new feature, Vibes, which is a new way to test compatibility and find out if a match is on your wavelength.

    The dating app announced Vibes on Wednesday, describing it as "an in-app event that gives members a new way to express their opinions on everything from whether it's normal to wear socks in bed to what's happening in pop culture."

    So, how does it work? Tinder users will be informed when Vibes has kicked off in their area via push notification or when they open the app.

    SEE ALSO: How the pandemic made our personal lives feel like one daunting to-do list

    You'll be asked to answer a series of questions on any number of topics like pop culture, personality traits to see whether you'll, well, vibe with a possible match.

    You'll be able to see a match's Vibes within the chat window when users are participating in the feature. If a person is a Vibes match for you, a "mutual vibes" icon will appear in their profile. Vibes will be displayed in people's profiles for 72 hours.

    "This is the first of many things we're creating for the Tinder community this year so they can show off more of their personalities on the app," Udi Milo, VP of product at Tinder, said in a statement.

    Tinder has released a number of new products and features during the pandemic to shake up users' dating experiences, from Tinder Swipe Night to the (somewhat belated) launch of video dating.

    Vibes will be rolling out globally in late May.

    Related Video: How to go on a virtual date during the coronavirus pandemic

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