Twitter is dead, maybe: The 9 best tweets the week
2023-03-19 06:20:10author：dointy.com
Views:
Twitter is dead, maybe: The 9 best tweets the week
Things for Twitter have gone from bad, to worse, to awful, to... What's worse than awful? Everything is borderline apocalyptic on the app.
Well, guess what? Hop in losers, we're posting at the end of the world. OK, not the end of the world, but the (maybe) end of Twitter. Thanks to new Chief Twit Elon Musk, Twitter is currently a mess. Users who purchased the new Twitter Blue for a verified blue check mark are posting fake news disguised as notable people or organizations. Features are rolling out and then rolling back an instant later. Musk is futilely trying to dig out of a massive hole, $8 at a time.
But the people kept posting, anyway. Because who on Twitter could resist the urge to document this car crash? So we collected the best the platform had to offer.
Here are the nine best tweets from this week as Twitter is further decsends into chaos.
1. Folks, he said ALLEGEDLY. There is nothing wrong here.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
2. An unholy trio of things going poorly.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
3. Gee whiz, I wonder who this could be about??
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
4.This is totally serious and not sarcastic.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
5. We're all just waiting to sober up and go home now.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
6. This guy exists and he is struggling with what to do next. Pray for us all.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
7. Get it?
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
8. Things got so strained on Twitter that dril broke character.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
9. And finally, an attitude we should all have about Twitter these days.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Website of this article：https://dointy.com/?m=home&c=View&a=index&aid=65120
TV cops call for other TV cops to step up and donate
You have to either be foolish or actively part of the problem if you fail to recognize at this point that there's a policing problem in the United States.
You know who isn't a fool? Griffin Newman, star of The Tick and co-host of the Blank Check podcast(Opens in a new tab). He also played a cop on TV in a couple episodes of Blue Bloods, and came to the unfortunate revelation that since we can't necessarily rely on IRL cops to do the right thing during this fraught moment, maybe the fictional police can step up to help instead.
So he made a tweet. And he accompanied that tweet with proof of a tangible action taken, a donation to the Community Justice Exchange through ActBlue(Opens in a new tab).
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Stephanie Beatriz saw the tweet and passed it along. The actor who plays no-nonsense cop Rosa Diaz on the NBC sitcom followed Newman's lead and did the same thing: an $11,000 donation to the Emergency Release Fund(Opens in a new tab) and another tweet calling on TV cops to step up.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
As of 11:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday morning, Newman and Beatriz were the only two actors who have publicly made the pledge using the template laid out(Opens in a new tab) in the original tweet.
Around 9:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Beatriz' co-star Melissa Fumero tweeted in support of the protests, adding that the cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and showrunner Dan Goor had made a $100,000 donation to the National Bail Fund Network and encouraged others to do the same.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
And hey, you don't need to be a current or former TV cop to donate. There are real people out in the world right now who need help that extend beyond concern-tweeting and other forms of performative allyship(Opens in a new tab) on social media. If you're financially able, write the check. Want some ideas? Start here.
UPDATE: June 3, 2020, 11:45 a.m. AEST This story has been updated to include the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast's donation.
Snapchat stops promoting Donald Trumps account in Discover
UPDATE: June 3, 2020, 2:37 p.m. EDT
President Trump's team has apparently not taken kindly to Snapchat's actions. According to the New York Times(Opens in a new tab), Trump's 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said(Opens in a new tab) "Snapchat is trying to rig the 2020 election." OK, Brad.
The social media dominoes are falling for President Donald Trump.
As protests over the killing of George Floyd and police brutality continue across the country, Trump is doing things likes having protesters teargassed for a photo op and raging against Twitter. Now tech companies are taking action.
Snapchat says that it won't promote the president's account in the Discover section anymore. Axios(Opens in a new tab) first reported the decision, and Snap confirmed the news to Mashable via email. Snapchat made the decision over the weekend.
“We are not currently promoting the President’s content on Snapchat’s Discover platform," a Snap spokesperson said. "We will not amplify voices who incite racial violence and injustice by giving them free promotion on Discover. Racial violence and injustice have no place in our society and we stand together with all who seek peace, love, equality, and justice in America.”
The decision comes after controversy around Trump's tweets that many view as inciting violence against protesters. Twitter affixed labels to two of Trump's recent tweets: one that spread false news about voting by mail, and another that glorified violence, which Twitter blurred out. Meanwhile at Facebook, despite internal protests from employees, Mark Zuckerberg has stuck by the company's decision to allow the content on its platform.
Snapchat's stand is a bit different. Trump's account will remain on Snap, searchable and available to subscribers, and there's no specific content that it is fact checking, removing, or censoring. The change comes in its Discover tab, a section in the app that Snap employees curate. The company's thinking is that people can say what they want on Snapchat as long as it doesn't violate community guidelines. But users are not entitled to the "free promotion" of Discover, which has always been curated. Snap does not want Discover to be a place that amplifies messages of hate.
SEE ALSO:
How tech leaders can do more for racial justice than just tweet
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel alluded to the decision in a memo(Opens in a new tab) sent to employees, which was made public by the company.
As for Snapchat, we simply cannot promote accounts in America that are linked to people who incite racial violence, whether they do so on or off our platform. Our Discover content platform is a curated platform, where we decide what we promote. We have spoken time and again about working hard to make a positive impact, and we will walk the talk with the content we promote on Snapchat. We may continue to allow divisive people to maintain an account on Snapchat, as long as the content that is published on Snapchat is consistent with our community guidelines, but we will not promote that account or content in any way.... we will make it clear with our actions that there is no grey area when it comes to racism, violence, and injustice – and we will not promote it, nor those who support it, on our platform.
Trump lashed out at Twitter's actions by signing an executive order meant to make it easier to sue social media companies for the content posted by their users.
There's no word from the president yet on Snap's actions. But if the situation plays out like the Alex Jones bans, more social media companies could be taking away Trump's megaphones for hate.
Mayor of D.C. has city workers painting Black Lives Matter on street to White House
Washington, D.C. has taken some very visible action to support the Black Lives Matter protests around the country.
On Friday morning, a group of people were seen painting the words "Black Lives Matter" in large yellow letters down two blocks of 16th Street, a two-lane road which leads to the White House.
The painters were commissioned by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser(Opens in a new tab), per CNN, and when New York Times writer Emily Badger happened upon the city workers on Friday morning, they casually said they were "just paintin' the streets."
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Badger noted that the 16 eye-catching letters, which span the full width of the street, will "be a real middle finger to any federal forces flying overhead."
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
If you're curious as to what the statement looks like from above, check out this video that Mayor Bowser shared on Twitter alongside the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. The video was taken from a roof and music can be heard playing in the background.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Badger also added that the yellow paint is not temporary by any means — it appears to be the same paint city officials use to stripe road lanes.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
"Black Lives Matter" paint on 16th street near the White House.Credit: DANIEL SLIM / AFP via Getty Images
The lettering comes as protests continue to spread throughout the city and hundreds of people gather each day outside the White House gates to condemn 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.
After protests outside the White House escalated last Friday night, the Secret Service reportedly ushered Trump — along with Melania and their son Barron — to the underground presidential bunker, where they were said to have remained for nearly an hour(Opens in a new tab).
On Friday morning, Mayor Bowser shared additional tweets that related to the Black Lives Matter paint. The first was a letter she wrote requesting that President Trump "withdraw all extraordinary federal law enforcement and military presence" from the city.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
And the second was a video that showed a "Black Lives Matter" street sign being added to a lamp post in the city. "The section of 16th street in front of the White House is now officially 'Black Lives Matter Plaza,'" Bowser wrote in her tweet.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Mashable has reached out to the D.C. Mayor's office for comment and will update this article if we receive a reply.
UPDATE: June 5, 2020, 10:55 a.m. EDT Updated to include a tweet from D.C. mayor, Muriel Bowser.
UPDATE: June 5, 2020, 12:13 p.m. EDT Updated to include two additional tweets from Mayor Bowser.
Related Video: How to donate to support the Black Lives Matter movement
In TikTok protest, witches cast spells to hex cops
Under the light of this week's full moon, a group of witches of TikTok — or WitchTok, if you will — are casting protection spells for protestors and hexes for cops.
With the U.S. a week into protests against police brutality after the killing of George Floyd, a surprising array of subcultures have stepped up to help. K-pop stans flooded police reporting platforms with fancams so informants couldn't snitch on protestors. Even Mennonites showed up(Opens in a new tab) to protest in Minneapolis. And now covens are redirecting their power to protestors.
Organizing under the #witchesforblm hashtag, practicing witches are teaching each other how to cast simple spells, draw sigils, and manifest intentions.
The movement seems to have started with a comment from TikTok user beckydoeslife. This was in response to a TikTok by venxm.exe, in which the practicing witch filmed herself casting a protection spell for protestors rallying against police brutality.
In just five days, the tag #witchesforblm garnered a collective 10 million views on the app.
The tag started when a TikTok user suggested using #witchesforblm to organize.Credit: tiktok / venxm.exe
The tag started when a TikTok user suggested using #witchesforblm to organize.Credit: tiktok / venxm.exe
WitchTok users aim to protect protestors and hex law enforcement, who have been escalating violence against peaceful protestors nationwide all week.
In some videos, like this one from rue.the.day, users act out what they predict will happen to cops after WitchTok casts its spells.
TikTok users are acting out what'll happen to cops after they cast their spells.Credit: tiktok / rue.the.day
In a video for beginners, jes.tkidding suggests a simple hex: write down the names of police officers and use a black candle to burn that paper, and then let the candle burn all the way through. In a video for more experienced practitioners, sorciereverte demonstrates how to write protection sigils that spell out "PROTESTORS ARE PROTECTED FROM POLICE BRUTALITY" and "BLACK LIVES MATTER TODAY AND ALWAYS."
A TikTok user demonstrates simple spells beginner witches can cast.Credit: tiktok / jes.tkidding
A TikTok user demonstrates writing a sigil that says, "PROTESTORS ARE PROTECTED AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY."Credit: tiktok / sorciereverte
Of course, casting spells probably isn't enough to really make change to a historically racist and unjust system. So in addition to recommending meditating, burning candles, and making "moon water," TikTok user earthytiana suggests(Opens in a new tab) using the power of the full moon to sign petitions, donate to the Black Lives Matter movement, and attend protests.
Enjoy watching as Brits tear down a slavers statue and dump it in the river
If you happen to be looking for the Edward Colston statue in Bristol, England, try finding it at its new location: in the harbor, at the bottom of the river.
If you’re not sure exactly where, you can try checking Google Maps. It’s been updated with the statue’s new underwater location. (It may be changed back when you go to look, though; keep reading.)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
An estimated 10,000 people showed up in Bristol, England on Sunday for a Black Lives Matter protest in solidarity with the hundreds of cities across the United States which have been protesting the police killing of George Floyd.
During the protest, some attendees tied a rope around the memorial of Edward Colston in Bristol, where the bronze statue has stood since 1895. Colston was a 17th century English slave trader and former member of Parliament. He was responsible for transporting more than 100,000 slaves from West Africa.
Some were quick to point out how Colston was a well-known philanthropist, supporting schools, hospitals and various other charities. A number of city landmarks and establishments bear his name. However, what needs to be mentioned along with these charitable efforts is how he funded all this with money he made from the slave trade.
The demonstrators proceeded to topple the statue. One protester kneeled down on its neck after it fell, in a nod to Floyd, who was killed when former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes while three other officers both looked on and, in two cases, helped.
Protesters then dragged the statue to the harbor and pushed it over a guardrail, where it fell into the Avon River, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Shortly after, as word spread, many users on social media platforms like Twitter had noticed that a Google Maps search was now showing the statue’s new location: at the bottom of the river. The statue was later updated with additional info, obviously crowdsourced by users, like how the memorial was “permanently closed.”
I checked Google Maps to confirm. However, at the time that I looked, the updated location of the statue had reverted back to its original spot... where the statue is no longer located.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Local law enforcement have condemned the toppling of the statue. An investigation has been opened to find out who was responsible for taking it down.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
The Colston statue has been a point of contention in the Bristol community since well before the current police brutality protests. In 2018, the Lord Mayor of Bristol removed(Opens in a new tab) a portrait of the slave trader that hung in city hall. A petition to remove(Opens in a new tab) the statue already existed, garnering 11,000 signatures.
Protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd continue to spread across the United States and around the world.
14 Harry Potter things to love that have nothing to do with J.K. Rowling
On Saturday, J.K. Rowling posted her latest string of transphobic tweets, in which she suggested that only women can menstruate and that gender inclusivity erases the female experience. As an ardent Harry Potter fan myself, with a network of friends in the community, I saw my Twitter timeline fill up with exactly one sentiment in response to these tweets:
Fuck that.
This isn't the first time Rowling has been transphobic; previous likes and tweets have followed the line of thought demonstrated on Saturday. I personally expressed my disappointment in her December 2019 tweets, but wrote them off. I assumed she was oblivious and disconnected from the right resources due to shoddy PR, her own ignorance, and that bubble away from reality that most of the ultra-rich and famous seem to occupy.
But again, fuck that.
Saturday's tweets are further evidence of Rowling's ignorance, but there can be no doubt now that it is willful. Even Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, couldn't remain silent and issued a statement in solidarity with the queer and trans community(Opens in a new tab).
For a generation that grew up on the Harry Potter values of standing up to power and bigotry, the irony is not lost and the heartbreak is real. It's been a long time coming for some but totally new for others who might not be able to stop loving Potter as easily as they turned on its creator.
Harry Potter has been around long enough that its influence spreads far beyond a certain writer. Songs have been written, merch designed, organizations launched, and discussions furthered far beyonds the limits of what Rowling could ever have imagined. Those of us who read Harry Potter as children are writers, artists, and activists now, equipped to enjoy the wizarding world without her.
So now that you've accepted the Death of the Author(Opens in a new tab), here are 14 places to direct your Harry Potter love that have nothing to do with You-Know-Who.
Note: The author (I mean myself now) knows individuals involved with several items on this list.
1. The Harry Potter Alliance(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Launched in 2005, the HPA is a social justice organization that works toward gender equity, LGTBQIA+ equality, racial justice, climate change activism, education, and more. It has partnered with groups like the American Library Association, ACLU, and Hank and John Green's DFTBA. In 2010, the HPA raised enough money through fan campaigns to send five airplanes of medical supplies to earthquake relief efforts in Haiti(Opens in a new tab). They have a handy guide on how to advocate for trans people right here(Opens in a new tab).
2. Black Girls Create(Opens in a new tab)
This multifandom resource for black creators encourages fans to recognize that you can love something while still being highly critical of it. They raised $16,000 in a week for organizations helping Black Lives Matter through a Hogwarts house-themed points competition. Through podcasts(Opens in a new tab) like #WizardTeam(Opens in a new tab) and the Doctor Who-themed TARBIS(Opens in a new tab) (Who Watch: Time and Relative Blackness in Space), the BGC community promotes intersectional representation, especially for black women.
3. Hermione Granger and the Quarter Life Crisis(Opens in a new tab)
This breezy web series what would have happened if 25-year-old Hermione Granger didn't marry Ron and become a cop, but questioned it all and hightailed to California to hang out with former classmate Parvati Patil. Created by Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael and starring Ashley Romans, the series imagines how wizardry looks for millennial adults and how the magical and muggle worlds collide. It's even brave enough to suggest Hermione go to therapy, something that would certainly have helped all the adults in Cursed Child. And speaking of that nonsense...
4. StarKid(Opens in a new tab)
Filmed in a 100-seat basement theater at the University of Michigan, A Very Potter Musical became an early viral sensation in 2009. It expertly pokes fun at its source material and expands upon the canon, as with Harry's obvious desire to be the center of attention or Draco's inability to stand still. The cast and characters are more diverse in race and sexuality than any Harry Potter content ever distributed by Warner Bros. or Universal, a statistic that will probably hold up for a very long time.
AVPM spawned a sequel ("There is literally no way forward from this point") and a threequel, but its creators have created over a dozen non-Potter productions since then, including Holy Musical, [email protected]!, Ani: A Parody, and originals like Firebringer and Black Friday.
5. The Gayly Prophet(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Two Harry Potter fans (Jessie Blount and Lark Malakai Grey) host this weekly podcast that examines the books through a queer feminist lens. They were quick to note after Rowling's comments that this person was being openly transphobic during an uprising in a pandemic and that there is truly no weirder or worse flex.
6. Sorted(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: simon & schuster
Jackson Bird(Opens in a new tab)'s 2019 memoir about coming out as trans is inextricably linked to his experiences in the Harry Potter fandom. Bird's writing is thorough and informative yet never overwhelming. He takes you on his journey through childhood and adolescence, weaving in the boy wizard's influence and the community that ultimately helped him accept who he was and offered support when he declared it. The title refers to the Sorting Hat, but especially to Dumbledore's musing in Deathly Hallows that "I sometimes think we sort too soon." Once again, the fans understand Rowling's message more than it seems she ever could.
7. Man Up Apparel(Opens in a new tab)
View this post on Instagram
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
This clothing brand started as a part-time source of cheer apparel and now provides some of the swaggiest HP clothing Warner Bros. could only dream of. The house face hoodies give mascots as much a chance to shine as colors, and the varsity jackets will be the envy of every former high school athlete you meet. Best of all for this Ravenclaw: The Ravenclaw colors of blue and bronze and the house eagle are resplendent, putting that hideous blue-gray raven gear from the movies to shame.
8. Mark Reads Harry Potter(Opens in a new tab)
Writer Mark Oshiro(Opens in a new tab) has made a career of watching and reading things(Opens in a new tab) (and is now an author(Opens in a new tab) too) because their voice is so utterly entertaining. They started Harry Potter for the first time in 2010(Opens in a new tab) with little to no prior exposure (the podcast Potterless(Opens in a new tab) started a similar journey in recent years) and there is nothing quite like experiencing the joy of a grown adult becoming obsessed with Rubeus Hagrid for the first time.
9. Carry On(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: St. Martin's Griffin
Rainbow Rowell's YA fantasy novel is a spinoff of her own Fangirl, but the characters are undeniably influenced by Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy as they occupy a slightly different magical realm. Simon Snow is his world's Chosen One, guided by "the Mage" and anointed by a prophecy — and as if that's not enough, he finds it harder and harder each day to deny the attraction he feels to his so-called enemy Basilton (a.k.a. Baz). Carry On and sequel Wayward Son (yup) are the Drarry fic you crave on ink and paper, and a beautiful example of how joyous and easy it is to write a queer magical story.
10. Puffs(Opens in a new tab)
The now-closed off-Broadway play about "a certain school of magic and magic" tells the story we all know through the eyes of Hufflepuff students — sometimes confused, often endangered, and always nice even in the face of certain danger brought upon them by the Boy Who Lived. It may not be running anymore, but the show lives on digitally(Opens in a new tab).
11. Vegard(Opens in a new tab)
This European YouTuber happily declares "Harry Potter (minus JKR)" in their Twitter bio(Opens in a new tab), and has a wonderful time exploring the books, movies, spells, and more in video form regardless. Vegard proves there is no end to answers to the question of how one can manifest one's Harry Potter love, whether it's explaining the story drunk, editing oneself into scenes, talking about it to Siri, and so much more.
12. Wizard rock
The musical genre launched in the early 2000s now boasts hundreds of musicians and bands who sing about the series, including to challenge its heteronormativity or ridiculousness wherever they can. The wizard rock community has long been a haven for queer fans, and the growing roster of artists(Opens in a new tab) means more diverse talent joining its ranks every day.
13. The Wizard Tailor(Opens in a new tab)
@thewizardtailor(Opens in a new tab)
Get in the car, looser, we’re going to Beauxbatons 🦋 ##tiktokprom(Opens in a new tab)##harrypotter(Opens in a new tab)##passthebrushchallenge(Opens in a new tab)##passthebrush(Opens in a new tab)##beauxbatons(Opens in a new tab)##french(Opens in a new tab)##hp(Opens in a new tab)##hpcosplay(Opens in a new tab)##hpcos(Opens in a new tab)
♬ Theme from "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (Potter Waltz) - Movie Sounds Unlimited(Opens in a new tab)
This TikTok creator and cosplayer known as Michael is doing the ridiculous and yet very important work of recreating popular TikToks with a Harry Potter spin(Opens in a new tab). Apologies in advance to all your friends for the slew of links you're about to send them.
14. Binge Mode: Harry Potter(Opens in a new tab)
Though it does occasionally praise the author, The Ringer's Binge Mode podcast hosted by Mallory Rubin and Jason Concepcion provides exceptional analysis and raucous commentary as they reread the Harry Potter books. No amount of Fantastic Beasts movies (and we hope there are no more) could conceive of anything as brilliant as "McGalleon," a headcanon about McGonagall's aggressive sports betting and how it clouds her objectivity as a teacher. You'll learn to turn down the volume when Jason yells, and you'll love it.
Its OK to post on social media even though you havent replied to texts
I don't know who needs to hear this, but it's perfectly OK for someone to post on social media even though they haven't replied to your text messages yet.
Sure, it's polite and respectful to respond to messages and answer questions as soon as possible, but taking a few hours — or even days — to do so doesn't always mean someone is actively trying to be rude or disrespectful toward you.
It's easy to get annoyed with people who take a while to respond to messages — especially if you see them tweeting, sharing articles to Facebook, or posting Instagram stories in the meantime. Trust me, I get it.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
I used to make every effort to reply to texts within seconds of receiving them, so I often got frustrated when others took a while to respond to me. When people would leave my texts unanswered and I'd see them post on social media, I'd admittedly wonder, "What the hell?" But then, something changed.
I grew increasingly overwhelmed with work, life, and all the chaos going on in the world, and my anxiety made it impossible to text anyone back. I started having to wait until it subsided to reply to people, and that's when I realized delayed responses aren't always what they seem.
SEE ALSO:
13 mental health resources for black people trying to cope right now
Sending a text seems like one of the simplest tasks in the world. You tap your phone screen to form words and smash the send button, right? Most of the time I do consider texting to be an extremely low-energy task, but much like in-person conversations, communicating digitally sometimes requires real effort, vulnerability, and thoughtfulness. That's not always easy to give.
Texting and using social media require different levels of effort
At some point over the past few years, I began staring at light gray iMessage bubbles that read things like, "How are you?" or "How was your week?" in absolute terror. My thumbs became paralyzed at the sight of daunting questions that required deep levels of introspection or explanation on my part, so I'd put off responding until I felt up to the challenge.
I occasionally let my text messages pile up unanswered, but I kept living my life and posting to social media. It seemed like a good system, until one of my friends called me out.
"Hi, remember me???" a friend replied to my Instagram story one Saturday. She had texted me the day before, and I hadn't forgotten to respond. I'd had a truly horrible week and wanted to take the weekend to recover. I had every intention of replying to her non-urgent text on Monday, but because she saw me using Instagram, she felt I should have texted her back already.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Unless the person you message has read receipts turned on, you likely won't be able to tell when, or if, they've had a chance to read your texts. If you picture someone being too busy to stop and look at their phones — as I'm sure my friend was doing with me — it's easy to rationalize delayed responses. But if a person you've messaged posts to social media before replying to you, their silence in DMs is often taken as a slap in the face.
The common thought process here is that if someone has the time to casually be online, then they must have time to reply to your text. If they're on social media, they're clearly using technology, so why can't they take a few extra minutes to answer you?
On the surface, this logic makes sense. But it's not always as simple as someone failing to carve out time. People might be posting to social media during a quick break from work, they could be using social media to distract themselves from daily dread, or they might quickly post something in the presence of other people and not have the time to devote to texting. There's also the chance that they just might have forgotten to reply.
When my friend called me out for not answering her, I replied honestly. I explained that for me, posting on social media requires much less effort than engaging in a personal conversation. I told her I was taking the weekend to recharge my social batteries, and she was super understanding. We ended up having a really productive conversation about how texting isn't always as easy as it sounds.
Sometimes self-care means not texting back right away
Depending on the conversation topic and where you're at in life mentally/emotionally, chatting with people can be challenging.
Reminding myself that texts like, "How are you?" can demand significantly more detailed responses than than texts like, "Have you watched Better Call Saul yet?" helps me understand and justify delayed responses. And acknowledging that mindlessly scrolling through Twitter or posting photos of food can be easier than talking about your life helped me accept that it's perfectly fine to use social media in between receiving and answering texts.
How have I been? What a stacked question.Credit: screenshot / nicole gallucci
Sometimes self-care means not texting back right away, and that became extraordinarily clear to me this year amid the coronavirus pandemic and George Floyd protests.
When my mind was racing to grapple with all the new coronavirus social distancing guidelines, medical research, and death tolls, I had trouble replying to texts in a timely manner. I did, however, find some semblance of calm on Instagram, and I continued sharing informative updates on Twitter.
And after George Floyd died on May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes, I barely texted anyone for days. I took time to watch protests spread around the world; to read books and articles, and to watch films to further educate myself on the history of racism and police brutality. I made an effort to donate to organizations, sign petitions, and support black-owned businesses.
Though I didn't feel ready to reply to non-urgent texts for a full week, I felt it was imperative that I continue to use my social media platforms to help raise awareness on the issues at hand and share invaluable resources.
Exceptions to the rule
If you're not in the right mindset to reply to text messages immediately, you shouldn't. Prioritizing your mental health is important. But you should also choose which texts to leave hanging on a case-by-case basis.
Always keep a message's content and urgency in mind. If someone's asking a question that requires an immediate response, do your best to respond in a timely fashion. And if someone needs help, you obviously shouldn't ignore them.
Wait a bit, but don't ghost people forever.Credit: vicky leta / mashable
If you wait to text back, be sure to acknowledge and apologize for the delay when you do get around to it. You can even be upfront with people and let them know upon receiving their message that you need a day or two to get back to them — that way you can relax without the unanswered text lingering in the back of your mind. Be honest with people if you're too overwhelmed to chat, but please avoid using that viral text reply template.
And remember, there's definitely a difference between waiting until you feel emotionally ready to text someone back and straight-up ghosting them. Don't ghost people, that's rude as hell.
Be kind to yourself and others
Ultimately, it's crucial to keep in mind that you never know exactly what someone is going through when they receive your text messages.
Cut yourself, and others, some slack, and try not to read too much into text delays — even if you see people posting on social media before they've replied. (If the wait really bothers you, you can always confront them about it. And you might end up having an eye-opening talk like I did with my friend.)
As someone who's avoided replying to family members and friends I absolutely adore because of sheer emotional exhaustion, I can tell you that delays aren't always ill-intentioned. Sometimes people are just overwhelmed.
Now you can identify plants and pooches right in Snapchat
Have you ever seen a dog so adorable or a plant so lush out in the wild that you had to know what it was right then and there?
Snap announced new partnerships on Thursday with the apps Dog Scanner(Opens in a new tab) and PlantSnap(Opens in a new tab) that will allow Snapchat users to do just that. Snapchatters can identify dogs or plants they encounter in the real world by scanning them right in Snapchat.
When you press and hold on the camera screen in Snapchat, lenses that are relevant to what the camera is pointing at are unlocked. For example, if I point and hold the camera on my dog right now, lenses that put sunglasses or heart eyes specifically formatted for the shape face of a dog appear.
Now, if you point the camera at a particularly Good Boy you see, you can access a lens that tells you what breed the dog is, using the data and A.I. of Dog Scanner, which recognizes nearly 400 dog breeds (my dog would get 100 percent purebred mutt). And if you focus your lens on a tree, bush or bud that catches your eye, you'll be able to identify 90 percent of known plants and trees with the PlantSnap integration.
Gotta snap that plant!!!Credit: snap
Snap announced the new features at the Snap Partner Summit, which it held virtually Thursday.
The ability to identify two of earth's best things — dogs and plants — through your smartphone, of course already exists; Dog Scanner and PlantSnap are standalone apps. But it's helpful that the capability comes within Snapchat itself if you're either someone who uses the app frequently already, or doesn't want to have to download a new app for each object you want your smartphone to help identify.
Plus, more categories are coming soon. An upcoming integration with the food and cosmetics scanning app Yuka(Opens in a new tab) will let Snapchatters unlock nutrition facts when they point and hold the camera at a food item. Snap already lets you point and hold to identify a song through Shazam, solve math problems with Photomath, and identify (and shop for) products sold on Amazon.
The dog and plant integrations are the sort of typically playful and fun feature that Snapchat is known for. However, the lens product also holds opportunity for further monetization for the company, as Snap CEO Evan Spiegel pointed out during a Q&A with reporters. For example, Snap unveiled a partnership with Louis Vuitton that allows users to point and hold on the monogram logo, which then takes users to content about their new collection. It's easy to see how — similar to the Amazon integration — this could lead to not just brand content and awareness, but shopping.
Snap made some other announcements around lenses for both developers and users Thursday. It's making more lens development templates available, such as ways to interact with — wait for it — feet (this could enable experiences like virtually trying on shoes).
On the user side, pointing and holding in a neighborhood will now unlock "local lenses," which lets users actually decorate buildings and other landmarks in AR. It's kind of like a shared street art experience, in which users build on each other's creations, that anyone in the physical space can access.
Snapchat's innovation in AR has helped the company keep its creative edge, even as companies like Facebook continually try to copy it. The biggest trouble with Snapchat's AR products is keeping track of all the things the app can do in a sometimes difficult to navigate lens ecosystem. But with a new voice search feature and a souped up Activity Bar, also announced Thursday, Snap's working on that, too.
Fox News used doctored images to, uh, report on Seattle protests
A protest against the police killing of George Floyd and police brutality in Seattle has been mostly characterized by drum circles, speakers(Opens in a new tab) and movie screenings. But if you only tuned into Fox News for coverage of these demonstrations, you might think it was full of burning buildings and armed guards.
On Friday, Fox News published several digitally altered images of the demonstrations on its website, which the Seattle Times caught(Opens in a new tab). It's not clear who is responsible for tweaking the images.
One photo, shown on Fox's homepage on Friday, placed a man with a rifle standing in front of a sign that reads "You are now entering Free Cap Hill." The street scene and the man who appears in it come from two different photos, taken more than a week apart.
The sign in that photo refers to the newly-dubbed Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, a stretch of six blocks set up by protesters in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood to create "a police-free" independent zone, The Guardian reported(Opens in a new tab). It was established after the Seattle police abandoned a precinct in the neighborhood(Opens in a new tab) and converted the area into a festival-like space.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
The conservative outlet also published a photo of a person running past a fiery building and car to accompany stories on the Seattle protest. The headline read "CRAZY TOWN." The photo is actually from St. Paul, Minn. and was taken on May 30, according to the Seattle Times.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
After the Times reached out to Fox News about the photos, they were removed. But a Fox News spokeswoman also said the following, "We have replaced our photo illustration with the clearly delineated images of a gunman and a shattered storefront, both of which were taken this week in Seattle’s autonomous zone.”
The Times pushed back on this statement writing in its article that "the gunman photo was taken June 10, while storefront images it was melded with were datelined May 30 by Getty Images."
Though, as the Times reports, the demonstration has seen armed protesters it is nothing like the scene Fox attempted to purport with its misleading use of images.
As a photojournalism ethics educator told the Times, "I think it’s disgraceful propaganda and terribly misrepresentative of documentary journalism in times like this, when truth-telling and accountability is so important,” said Kenny Irby. “There is no attribution. There is no acknowledgment of the montage, and it’s terribly misleading.”
On Saturday, Fox News appended an editor's note to the stories featuring altered images expressing regret for "these errors."
A FoxNews.com home page photo collage which originally accompanied this story included multiple scenes from Seattle’s “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” and of wreckage following recent riots. The collage did not clearly delineate between these images, and has since been replaced. In addition, a recent slideshow depicting scenes from Seattle mistakenly included a picture from St. Paul, Minnesota. Fox News regrets these errors.
UPDATE: June 13, 2020, 4:06 p.m. EDT Added the editor's note that's been appended to stories on the Fox News website featuring the misleading images.
In honor of Trumps birthday, people tweet praise for Obama
Donald Trump turned 74 on Sunday. So, naturally, people celebrated the occasion by tweeting about the person who perhaps gets under his skin the most: Barack Obama. (Sunday was also Flag Day, but we feel like that wasn't the impetus here.)
The former president trended on the platform(Opens in a new tab) for much of the day, frequently under hashtags like #BarackObamaDay, #ObamaDayUSA, and #ObamaDayJune14th. Users tweeted corny praise for the former president alongside statements about Trump's incompetence. Some were oblique: "Smart intelligence leadership. I miss that every day," one person wrote. Others were more pointed: "Best president in my lifetime. Right @realdonaldtrump? You're the worst," wrote another(Opens in a new tab).
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Still others made references to Saturday's ramp fiasco, when Trump stepped gingerly down a ramp after his West Point graduation speech, got made fun of, then lied about it being slippery in a later tweet. One user, for example, tweeted a photo(Opens in a new tab) of Obama walking down a "slippery wet sidewalk."
SEE ALSO:
Michelle Obama to 2020 graduates: 'Finish the work the generations before you have started'
While not explicitly related to Obama, #AllBirthdaysMatter — a troll-y reference to the dismissive slogan "All lives matter,"(Opens in a new tab) which is often employed in attempts to discredit the Black Lives Matter movement — also trended briefly above Trump's birthday. Of course, the K-pop fans participated.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Like most Resistance Twitter(Opens in a new tab) trends, the tweets skewed largely corny, were very reductive, and suffered from an overuse of hashtags. But Trump also takes the bait on this kind of thing all the time, so perhaps it genuinely bothered him. In any event, we're sure the Krassenstein brothers(Opens in a new tab) would be proud.
Apple Watch 7 to get redesign, but big health updates may be coming later
Apple Watch 7, which is due to be launched later this year, will have a different look and a speedier processor than its predecessor, the Apple Watch 6. However, the rumored, big health updates are likely to come in 2022 or later, Bloomberg reported(Opens in a new tab) Monday.
According to the report, which cites people with knowledge of Apple's plans, the Apple Watch 7 will likely have a thinner display with reduced bezels compared to last year's model. Interestingly, the Watch 7 will be "slightly thicker," which may indicate a bigger battery, but the report doesn't mention battery life.
The Apple Watch 7 will also feature ultra-wideband functionality, as seen in Apple AirTags, as well as a faster processor.
Apple Watch 6 was launched in September 2020, a month ahead of the iPhone 12 launch, so it's likely that the Apple Watch 7 will launch in the fall as well.
SEE ALSO:
How to change fitness goals on Apple Watch
Things get a bit more interesting when we look ahead, into 2022. According to the report, that year's model will likely have a body temperature sensor. As for the rumored blood-sugar sensor, it's unlikely to be ready for a commercial launch for a few more years.
Apple considered adding the body temperature sensor into this year's model, but the report claims it's "more likely" to happen next year. It would be a pity — a body temperature sensor on a wearable makes a lot of sense in times of the Covid-19 pandemic. As for the blood-sugar sensor, it could help people with diabetes monitor their glucose levels.
Bloomberg also says Apple is working on an "extreme sports" variant of the Watch, likely to be released in 2022. There's no word on features for that one, though a previous report said it would have better impact and water resistance than the standard versions.
Finally, Apple is also likely to launch a successor to the cheaper Apple Watch SE in 2022.
Hey girl, drop everything and look at Ryan Gosling as a shirtless Ken doll
We got a first look at Ryan Gosling as Ken in Greta Gerwig's upcoming Barbie movie. On June 15, the official Warner Brothers' Twitter account dropped a sneak peek of Gosling in his acid-wash Ken garb. He's dressed denim, his washboard abs on full display and his faux-Calvins are poking out. Predictably, the internet is awash in thirst.
If that description wasn't clear enough, here's the image for you to see for yourself.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
So, yes, the internet is thirsting over this. Big time. Like big, big time. In a way in which I cannot include some social media posts in this story because of the graphic nature of the memes. But the memes I can share are delightfully hilarious and thirsty.
Memes like this.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
And this.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Or this.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Let's not forget this gif from Community.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
SEE ALSO:
Uh oh, the internet is thirsting over Chris Evans again
Even the not-so-horny memes were funny, too. Like this Godfather yassification mashup.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Or this Disney, denim observation.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Or even this pretty common realization folks had about an old Scooby Doo actor.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
And this quite strange, wonderful Vecna meme I can neither unsee nor forget.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Let's not forget one of the original Gosling memes.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Anyway, the new Barbie movie hits theaters on July 21. Margot Robbie will star as the titular icon in the film directed and co-written by Gerwig, whose previous works include Little Women and Lady Bird. So the odds of it being an instant classic are high, which bodes well for the future meme-ification of Gosling's Ken.
Authors tweet about a disappointing book signing snowballs in the best possible way
Forging a career as a writer is no easy feat, whether it's finding an agent, getting a publishing deal or trying to make a name for yourself as a new author.
The bad news is that all that can lead to plenty of rejection and, as debut novelist Chelsea Banning discovered recently, some pretty disappointing events.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
"Only 2 people came to my author signing yesterday, so I was pretty bummed about it," wrote Banning, who recently published Of Crowns and Legends(Opens in a new tab). "Especially as 37 people responded 'going' to the event. Kind of upset, honestly, and a little embarrassed."
SEE ALSO:
10 of the best Stephen King book endings
It wasn't long before the retweets, and the messages of support, began to pour in. And pretty soon something else became clear — every writer, including the most successful ones, had been through something similar when they were starting out.
Featured Video For You
Revisiting the website that shaped the internet
Related Stories
Netflix's 'The Sandman' teaser brings Neil Gaiman's dark fantasy world to life
5 ways Netflix's 'The Sandman' is different from the comics
Stephen King has another very blunt response to Elon Musk's Twitter plans
Tired of Twitter? Check out these 5 alternatives like Hive and Mastodon
Stephen Colbert explains free speech as simply as possible for Twitter CEO Elon Musk
Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, and Neil Gaiman among literary legends who offered support
Here are just a few of the replies Banning's tweet received:
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
While the responses might not completely take the edge of the book signing disappointment, they'll almost certainly have helped. Plus it's nice to know you're in good company.
In praise of going back to bed after taking a shower
Morning rituals take many forms. Some people pore over a dog-eared newspaper with a steaming mug of tea. Some go for a run to get the blood pumping. Some meditate to enter their day with a sense of calm.
My morning ritual is a little different to that, however. Every morning without fail, I take a hot shower, towel myself dry before donning a terry cloth robe and — crucially — climbing back into bed.
You read that correctly, dear reader. I wake up, shower, dry myself thoroughly before diving back under the covers for an extra five minutes. And to be completely honest, it feels like the height of luxury sitting in bed in my white bathrobe with my hair twisted up in a towel, knowing full well I should be up and about and starting my day.
After reading that last paragraph, you've likely experienced one of several possible reactions. You might have done a double-take and sputtered out an involuntary "what on Earth?" Or you might be thinking, "Congratulations Rachel on your delightful, restful morning routine!" You may have some logistical questions about the practicality of getting back into bed after standing under a stream of water mere moments before — won't that make your sheets all wet? Au contraire. If you towel dry yourself properly and then envelope yourself in the fluffy warmth of a bathrobe (or as we Brits call them: a dressing gown), you won't encounter any, err, soggy bottoms (sorry).
SEE ALSO:
How to 'commute' when you're working from home
I've been doing this since high school. Back when I was spending most of my free time playing The Sims in a darkened room while Ashanti's self-titled album played on repeat, I'd wake up with the distinct feeling that being a teenager was the most exhausting thing on the planet and I deserved rest. First of all, lol. Second of all, I was patently mistaken — in a very big way. Despite shaking off those woefully naive misconceptions, I've managed to retain the only good thing from those years: my five-minute shower-2-bed window. This habit came in very handy when I was living in freezing cold student accommodation at university and flatshares in my 20s. Hiding under the covers while your teeth are chattering isn't so much luxurious, but necessary.
Back when I commuted to the office (remember that?), I'd factor in an extra five to ten minutes in my getting-ready-time-budget to allow myself this little luxury. I try not to use this time to doomscroll through social media — I saved that for my commute instead! But in all seriousness, I just sit in the warmth of my cosy bed and give myself a moment of peace and stillness before getting into my day. If I'm feeling particularly anxious, I use that time to figure out what I need from my day — whether that's a long walk to clear my head, or a phone call with my mum, or perhaps a proper lunch break to make sure I'm taking time away from screens.
Past boyfriends and sex partners have informed me of their belief that going back to bed after showering is "I dunno, man...just like...kinda weird?" Which....fair enough! But also, these men chose to run to work. Frankly, nothing on Earth would induce me to do such a thing. This mismatch in morning rituals may explain why I'm single.
I am aware that the privilege of being a child-free woman has afforded me this luxury. And I do not take that for granted. I also acknowledge that my circumstances may one day change and this morning routine will have to be a thing of the past.
For now, I plan to enjoy this little pocket of bliss each day while I can. And if you have time, I encourage you to give yourself the gift of an extra five minutes in bed. You won't regret it.
Before my entire FYP caught COVID, there were some pretty gorgeous trends going viral on TikTok this week. If that makes no sense to you, then you're in the right place.
Before things get so bad that I want to give them a zero, let's get into this week’s biggest TikTok trends.
It is so bad
It’s only fitting that in this Omicron-filled week the audio "it is so bad I want to give you a zero, but that's not possible, so I give you a one" was omnipresent across the platform. This audio was pulled from an episode of America's Next Top Model in which supermodel Tyra Banks is rating Cycle 21 contestant Lenox Tillman's spider-themed shoot. The original episode aired in 2014, but the snippet is experiencing a second life on TikTok.
The America’s Next Top Model clip was first posted on TikTok on Oct. 9, and over 350,000 videos have been made to the sound since. TikTok users are using the audio — and its dramatic background music — to showcase particularly cringey outfits or regretful life decisions. The trend has TikTokkers mouthing along to the audio before revealing an embarrassing photo.
For example, @tierneylcrieghton posted a video (Opens in a new tab)with the text, "When there were bomb threats in hs and my first thought was to dm Harry Styles on Twitter." At the end of the video the long Twitter DM to Harry Styles is bared in all its glory. Another masterpiece is @shakursw0rld's TikTok(Opens in a new tab) that reads, "me to my self awareness when taking a picture at the 9/11 memorial." The end of the video shows @shakursw0rld dabbing in front of the 9/11 memorial. Um. Yikes!
Credit: TikTok / tierneylcrieghton
Credit: TikTok / tierneylcrieghton
Tillman even got in on the trend by posting the original clip(Opens in a new tab) and also making a few follow-up videos that show what went down before the viral moment happened.
TikTokkers have no shame and absolutely love to share embarrassing stories and past fashion disasters, so it's unsurprising that this trend has taken off.
Gorgeous, gorgeous girls
You're probably familiar with the original "gorgeous, gorgeous girls" audio: "Gorgeous, gorgeous girls love soup. Soup girls are the most popular girls in the chicken coup." It was first posted by @fishdress on Aug. 23 and has inspired more than 13,000 videos. The "gorgeousgorgeousgirls" tag has accumulated over 14 million views.
Gorgeous, gorgeous girls is one of those TikTok phrases that made its way into the vernacular of the internet and then, via osmosis, entered our regular speaking. Prepare for gorgeous, gorgeous girls to be the next bestie.
Lately, people have been making all kinds of audios inspired by the gorgeous, gorgeous girls phenomenon, and I’m loving it. One example is @sandysgigitaldiary's video(Opens in a new tab) of her putting on sunscreen. In the video, she says "gorgeous, gorgeous girls wear sunscreen everyday. Gorgeous, gorgeous girls always slay." Another TikTok made to this trend is @imansamone's video(Opens in a new tab) of her putting on blush. She says, "gorgeous, gorgeous girls always over blush. Gorgeous, gorgeous girls are always in a rush." These TikToks are basically poetry!
Gorgeous, gorgeous girls post TikToks.Credit: TikTok / imansamone
This is similar to other internet trends like the feminine urge and the hot girl meme, in which TikTok users repackaged normal behavior as "hot girl shit" to Megan Thee Stallion's "Girls in the Hood." And I think we can agree that gorgeous, gorgeous girls, the feminine urge, and hot girl shit all have a common ancestor: just girly things(Opens in a new tab). Say thank you to just girly things.
PLEASE stop asking for…
Just a week away from the day itself, and we finally have our first Christmas trend — and it's super goofy. The trend is set to "Jingle Bell Rock" and shows TikTok users crawling on the ground pretending they're being dragged away to be someone’s present.
Each video includes a specific caption, like @makingemi, who writes(Opens in a new tab), "guys PLEASE stop asking santa for a super jacked lesbian cowboy with an unlimited stash of dad jokes for christmas." Another example of this trend shows a cat and reads(Opens in a new tab), "Guys PLEASE stop asking Santa for a nocturnal red head with anxiety who tries to eat plastic and only likes two people."
PLEASE stop asking for a TikTok journalist for Christmas.Credit: TikTok / makingemi
The same audio is being used for a handful of other holiday trends like "my very unrealistic Christmas list" and gift ideas, but none of those are as fun as this one.
Omicron infects TikTok
It wouldn't be a weekly roundup of TikTok trends if I didn't mention all the videos documenting waiting in line to get tested for COVID, getting test results back, and just generally reacting to living with Omicron.
In one video, @christaguz(Opens in a new tab) shows the line of an urgent care at 7 a.m. on a Wednesday morning in Brooklyn. Another clip posted by @demilovato666 (Opens in a new tab)documents a friend group doing at-home COVID tests. The video is set to a sped up version of "Anaconda" by Nicki Minaj, which perfectly captures the anxiety of a new COVID outbreak.
Stay safe out there!
Featured Video For You
TikTok doctors debunk the most viral COVID vaccine myths
IKEA Canada made an ugly, judgemental bisexual couch
Today in corporate attempts at allyship, IKEA Canada has unveiled a series of 10 "Love Seat"(Opens in a new tab) slipcovers for Pride — including an eldritch abomination based on the bisexual flag. It's ugly and you can't buy it. You're welcome.
Each based on a different LGBTQ Pride flag, IKEA's "Love Seat" two-seaters will be on display at IKEAs across Canada throughout summer. Each of the 10 couches was created by one of four designers, three of whom are queer(Opens in a new tab), in collaboration with people who identified with each flag, ensuring the furniture reflected someone's real story.
"Each designer had the freedom to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art," said IKEA Canada's Claudia Mayne.(Opens in a new tab) "This partnership is our way of helping artists in different communities express themselves on a large platform in a way that’s been tricky during COVID-19."
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
It's certainly one way of showing support for the LGBTQ community. Supporting artists is a good cause and taste is extremely subjective, so there will definitely be people out there who love these couches. However, at least one of these couches has largely been met with bemusement, confusion, and mild horror: the Bisexual Flag Love Seat.
Covered in pink, blue, and purple fabric hands, including long limbs clawing at the armrests, the Bisexual Flag Love Seat's backrest is adorned with text that reads "When you change 'or' to 'and', nobody believes you." (Or depending on how you read it(Opens in a new tab), "When you change nobody, 'or' to 'and' believes you.")
SEE ALSO:
The 'queer aesthetic' is deeper than rainbow merch
Many Twitter users have noted that the couch's negative text isn't exactly uplifting or celebratory, and that it looks more like a condemnation of bisexuality than a message of support.
Bisexual people are frequently erased from the queer community, as others refuse to believe a person could be attracted to multiple genders. They don't need that kind of energy from a couch too.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
The Bisexual couch was designed by Charlotte Carbone, previous winner of Canadian design show Stitched, in collaboration with slam poet Brian Lanigan. According to Lanigan, the couch makes much more sense in context.
"The line 'when you change 'or' to 'and', nobody believes you' is from a poem I wrote in high school about bisexual erasure I experienced from an ex-partner and others," Lanigan explained on Twitter(Opens in a new tab), stressing that he was 15 years old at the time. "I'm a spoken word poet and the hands are meant to represent the audience reaction, especially those of other bisexual folks who would approach me after performances and share their story with me."
It's a sweet story full of wholesome intentions that has unfortunately wrought something truly unspeakable. So often, we question if the ends justify the means. Today we must ask ourselves, does the means justify the ends?
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
In some ways, IKEA Canada's Bisexual Love Seat is actually a very bold, avant-garde work. I do not pretend to be a connoisseur of textile design, but it seems to me that this couch fills a gaping need, pushing our society to progress and evolve for the better. After all, we can never achieve true equality until queer designs are allowed to suck just as much as cis-het designs.
If you managed to make a new year's resolution this year, I applaud you. If you haven't, it's not too late. May I suggest more self-care? Maybe a little more self-love? Are these veiled ways of saying you should resolve to masturbate more? Perhaps, but regardless of what you want to achieve this year, orgasming certainly won't hurt.
Whether you're browser-window shopping or looking to treat yourself right this second, here are 11 popular luxury sex toys (priced from low to high):
1. Deux mini vibrator(Opens in a new tab)
le wand deux mini vibratorCredit: le wand
This vibe has a twin motor, which gives the Deux its rabbit-ears look. While it's a mini vibrator, it boasts 15 vibration modes and six intensity levels. It's USB chargeable and actually self-charging: The base detaches and can fit into a standard USB Type A port. A full charge lasts for one hour. According to Le Wand, the Deux is "whisper quiet" and it comes in two colors, rose gold and black.
Price: $125 from Le Wand(Opens in a new tab)
2. Gold Vesper(Opens in a new tab)
crave gold vesper vibratorCredit: crave
The Vesper is a combination vibrator/necklace. For those in the know, spotting a Vesper in public could be an instant inside joke — but it also stands alone as an elegant piece of jewelry. Its beauty doesn't mean it doesn't function well as a vibrator, either. The Vesper has a 4.6 out of 5 rating on Crave's site out of over 900 reviews. For those who want a more budget option, the silver and rose gold options are cheaper than the gold.
Sex tech brand Smile Makers calls The Ballerina "a luxurious vulva vibrator," and its price reflects that. With a similar blob-like shape to toys such as Dame's Pom(Opens in a new tab) and Lelo's Sona 2 Cruise(Opens in a new tab), The Ballerina is designed to fit in the palm of its user's hand and on the vulva. The toy has four speeds and three pulsation modes and what Smile Makers call an "innovative texture" — silicone gel — for a more real-life sensation.
Price: $200 from Smile Makers(Opens in a new tab)
4. Womanizer Duo(Opens in a new tab)
womanizer duo suction vibratorCredit: womanizer
The Womanizer is a suction vibrator; different variations have been praised by Wirecutter testers(Opens in a new tab) and sex educators alike. Gigi Engle(Opens in a new tab), ACS, certified sexologist and author of (Opens in a new tab)All The F*cking Mistakes: a guide to sex, love, and life(Opens in a new tab), told Mashable of the Womanizer Liberty, "The Womanizer looks like a decorative piece of modern art." The Duo is the suction vibrator coupled with an internal G-spot stimulator. The dual-stimulation toy comes in four colors: blueberry, raspberry, black-gold, and bordeaux-gold.
Price: $219 from Womanizer(Opens in a new tab)
5. Doxy Die Cast(Opens in a new tab)
doxy die cast massagerCredit: doxy
The Doxy Die Cast looks like the Hitachi's younger, sleeker cousin. This wand vibrator has around 20 percent more intensity than the original Doxy, which was a Wirecutter runner-up(Opens in a new tab) for best vibrator and recommended by sex blogger Girl On The Net(Opens in a new tab). Every element of Die Cast is customizable: the body, which comes in a choice of eight colors; the buttons; collar; and head. It also comes with a ten-foot long cable, so you don't have to worry about needing to stay close to an outlet.
Price: $219 from Doxy(Opens in a new tab)
6. Contour(Opens in a new tab)
le wand contour dildoCredit: le wand
There are some dildos that look like art, and the Contour is one of them. Made of stainless steel, this toy is roughly 11 inches long. It has a wider end for direct stimulation and smaller ridges for more intense sensations. The plus side of stainless steel is that it works with all types of lube and can be heated up or cooled down for temperature play. Le Wand insists that the Countour "will become every size queen's favorite toy."
Price: $225 from Le Wand(Opens in a new tab)
7. JJ Apex 24K(Opens in a new tab)
jj apex 24kCredit: jimmyjane
At the tip, the JJ Apex 24K looks like many an internal stimulator. Go farther down, however, and you'll realize that's absolutely not the case. A flicking "tongue" with a textured sleeve (and a vibrator inside, of course) is at the other end of this toy. The user attaches one of two different cups, designed for the vulva or the nipples, to this part for suction. If you're especially missing oral sex under quarantine, this may be the toy for you.
Price: $230 from JimmyJane(Opens in a new tab)
8. Soraya Wave(Opens in a new tab)
I reviewed LELO's Soraya Wave myself, so I can attest to how good it is. It's my favorite dual stimulator I've tried; granted, I haven't tried the others on this list. Not only does it look silky (and available in several jewel-toned colors), but the internal base makes a "come hither" motion that mimics fingers. LELO's Ina Wave(Opens in a new tab) has similar tech, but the Ina is longer and has a different look. The Ina is also cheaper, so, choose what factor matters most to you and go forth.
Price: $249 from LELO(Opens in a new tab)
9. The (Opens in a new tab)Eleven(Opens in a new tab)
njoy eleven dildoCredit: njoy
The Eleven has a similar design to the Contour (larger, smooth end and a smaller end with ridges), and it's also made with stainless steel. The main difference, however, lies in size: The Eleven is a bigger toy. The larger end of the Eleven is 2 inches, while that of the Contour is 1.92 inches. The smaller end of the Eleven is 1.75 inches; the Countour's is 1.53 inches. That may not seem like a huge difference to your brain, but it is to your body.
Price: $400 from njoy(Opens in a new tab)
10. Eroscillator Gold(Opens in a new tab)
eroscillator gold vibratorCredit: Eroscillator
The Eroscillator looks more like a gilded electric toothbrush than a vibrator. It comes with several tips for external or internal stimulation (or both). They have eclectic names like "French Legionnaire's Moustache" and "Grapes and Cockscomb." The Gold also comes with its own handcrafted carrying case. Despite its clinical look, this toy is absolutely beloved. In 2009, sex toy blogger Piph of Hey Euphoria (called the "Ars Technica or Wirecutter of adult products"(Opens in a new tab) by VICE) said in her Eroscillator review(Opens in a new tab), "Everyone with a clitoris should own this sex toy. Hell, everyone with a soul should own it." If that's not enough to pique your interest, I don't know what is.
Price: $469 from Eroscillator(Opens in a new tab)
11. The (Opens in a new tab)Cowgirl Sex Machine(Opens in a new tab)
cowgirl sex machine vibratorCredit: the cowgirl
This toy isn't for your first rodeo (...sorry). Its saddle shape allows the user to comfortable sit on the machine, which can be controlled by a smart phone or corded remote. The "rawhide" attachment is textured silicone made for grinding, while the "wild west" attachment includes a dildo for added internal stimulation. More attachments are available for a multitude of experiences — the "lone ranger" G-spot/prostate stimulator, to name one — but are sold out as of publication. If you want a completely new experience, this sex machine aught to provide one for a cool $1,500.
Price: $1,500 from The Cowgirl(Opens in a new tab)
Are we dating the same guy? This Facebook group might know.
When you apply for a new job or for a spot at university, a reference letter is a common ask. We are prepared to have other people vouch for us, and other people's opinions and experiences have immense power on the decisions we make. In fact, even while choosing a new concealer, we often rely on TikTok reviews to get the low-down on others' experiences. References and reviews wield the power of personal approval, especially when it comes to people's character. It's no surprise then, that at a time when over 320 million people worldwide(Opens in a new tab) use dating apps as their primary avenue to meet new people, some daters are seeking reviews of their dates. Enter: 'Are We Dating The Same Guy?(Opens in a new tab)', a Facebook group where women who date men can verify if their male partners are seeing other people and warn each other of glaring "red flags".
The group started in New York in March 2022, only a couple months after the dreadful West Elm Caleb debacle. Early last year, several women on TikTok shared their interactions with a 26-year-old furniture designer who notoriously lied and mass-dated on Hinge only to ghost them soon after. While it is common in the dating world to explore a connection with multiple people at the same time — and dates often inevitably build to the "are we exclusive" conversation — lies continue to run wild on these apps. Often, individuals falsely promise monogamy while seeing other people on the side. Catfishing is another common problem — every now and then, women on the Facebook group spot fake dating app profiles and flag them to members. Clearly, online dating can be tricky to navigate when people aren't always truthful. The Facebook group emerged as a response to these theatrics, typically for women who date men monogamously and can't seem to tell their partners' facts from fiction.
SEE ALSO:
What does 'casual dating' mean these days?
This idea of digital stealth checks has now been adapted for major cities across the globe. There are versions for Chicago(Opens in a new tab), Los Angeles(Opens in a new tab), Dubai(Opens in a new tab), London(Opens in a new tab), Paris(Opens in a new tab), Glasgow(Opens in a new tab), Sydney(Opens in a new tab), Brisbane(Opens in a new tab), Vancouver(Opens in a new tab), and specific groups for Brown(Opens in a new tab) and Black girls(Opens in a new tab). While the original New York(Opens in a new tab) group currently has 75,000 members, the London counterpart started a few months back already has over 25,000. The groups have a robust pre-screening survey to ensure new members are committed to the cause and all posts must follow a laundry list of rules. Members are allowed to post anonymously and while they can share photos of men from the dating apps, no personal information or last names can be revealed.
Want more sex and dating stories in your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's new weekly After Dark newsletter.
Additionally the group prohibits doxxing (publicly exposing any identifying information about a person online), taking screenshots, bullying, victim blaming, or commenting on anyone's physical appearance. In fact, the women aren't even allowed to use words like 'ghosted' or 'weird' while describing their experiences. And the most important order of them all — no man is ever allowed to know that he was posted on the group. Of course there's no way to ensure this as members are taken in on faith and a digital promise of compliance that they agree to when entering the group. A typical post includes a date's photo with the caption "any tea" or "any red flags?" and members share personal experiences with the featured man in the comments.
In one story, a wife discovered her husband was seeing three other women across the U.S. — all of whom posted about him on the group after having an odd "gut feeling".
Despite the group's comprehensive list of rules, its existence, and the nature of the posts raises questions about the privacy and safety of the men being discussed, as well as that of the poster. Even if members refrain from sharing last names, it is all too easy to find someone on social media using reverse image searches, their first name, or any other details like a place of work or the city they live in. Not only could this be damaging for the person in question, but these men have not consented to be discussed and dissected on a forum with thousands of strangers.
A quick scroll through the NYC and London groups reveals a buffet of flagged dates with at least 30-40 comments on each post. In one story, a wife discovered her husband was seeing three other women across the U.S. — all of whom posted about him on the group after having an odd "gut feeling". In another, a woman was warned against dating a man who allegedly fetishises curvy bodies and is on the "prowl for fat girls on Hinge."
Em Rina, the London-based author of dating memoir Girl Get The Wine(Opens in a new tab), heard about the group on TikTok and joined out of curiosity, hoping to find some entertainment. She was single for about five years and uses Hinge and Tinder quite often so it seemed like a win-win situation. After months of passively scrolling, Rina decided to verify a man she met online and was surprised by the comments.
SEE ALSO:
How to move on after a situationship ends
"About four or five different women came forward and shared similar stories about dating this man. He seems nice on the first date but would get scarily possessive and dominating right after, often screaming and verbally abusing people," she explains. While Rina may have dodged a bullet, she confirms there are also serious testimonies on the group of women who allege experiencing sexual abuse and rape threats.
Per a 2022 study conducted by the Australian Institute of Criminology, 72.3 percent of their female respondents(Opens in a new tab) have experienced threats of sexual violence, harassment, or aggression while engaging with men on dating apps. Given the prevalence of violence against women and girls in society, it's understandable that groups founded on female solidarity are gaining traction online. Dr. Sarah Bishop(Opens in a new tab), a London-based clinical psychologist believes the power of these groups also lies in forming a community, as an important support base when experiencing abusive behaviour or simply going through a negative dating ordeal. "To know that you aren't the only one to have been cheated on or lied to can add perspective to a situation that is otherwise shameful or a huge ego-blow," she says.
"To know that you aren't the only one to have been cheated on or lied to can add perspective to a situation that is otherwise shameful or a huge ego-blow."
In fact, it's this feeling of sisterhood that keeps Whitney King active in the North Carolina group(Opens in a new tab). While the 37-year-old has flagged dates who pressure and coerce women for nudes in the past, she loves seeing how the members support and uplift each other. "Even when two women realise they're dating the same man, there's no hostility, it's just everyone hyping each other up in the comments," she says.
The Facebook groups have also become a space to seek advice on broader dating questions: what to wear to a first date, how to feel more confident, or where to meet new people. But as the members grow in number and the groups find fame on TikTok(Opens in a new tab), Twitter(Opens in a new tab), and Reddit(Opens in a new tab), they are quickly evolving into spaces for voyeuristic scrolling. Some posts called it an "entertaining wild ride(Opens in a new tab)" while others claimed "no men are safe anymore(Opens in a new tab),” implying that such spaces should scare men into staying true to their word or they would eventually be exposed. As a result of this growing online clout, several women began joining the groups just for fun content(Opens in a new tab). This not only dilutes the purpose but also makes it unsafe for the members who share their personal narratives, especially as several stories have found their way back to men who have been mentioned in the groups. "One of the guys found out he was being posted and sent the girl a really abusive and threatening message which she then shared on the group," confirms Rina.
SEE ALSO:
What to do when body image is affecting your sex life
There is no way to verify what a member posts, and these public accusations can have an impact on a person's reputation. This seems to be the whole point, for better or worse. Additionally, phrases often used like "red flag" or "toxic" can be highly subjective — for one person it could mean not splitting the bill at dinner while for another it could be pressuring into sex on the first date. At a time when therapy-speak infiltrates everyday conversation, loaded labels are used all too lightly. Instead of calling an impolite, arrogant, or uninterested date just that, people use terms like "narcissist," "gaslighter," or "abusive" to describe them. These words often incorrectly categorise sloppy dates as abusers and dilute real stories of abuse and trauma by using powerful descriptors in frivolous conversation.
Related Stories
The best sex and dating apps for hooking up
What does 'casual dating' mean these days?
What are romance scams and how can you avoid them?
How TikTok is breaking us up
The best dating apps and sites in March 2023
This is why Dr. Jess Carbino(Opens in a new tab), a former sociologist at Tinder and Bumble believes the groups could do more harm than good. "People could be seeking retribution or fabricating the whole story; there is no way to discern the truth. Also, this isn't the right place to air stories of abuse, authorities, and people who can make real change need to be involved," she says, suggesting that reporting abuse directly to dating apps is a more constructive action.. Dating apps are constantly updating their platforms with new features, tools, and monitoring systems to detect abusive behaviour and make it easier for users to report sexual harassment. In 2022, Tinder partnered with RAINN, an American anti-sexual assault organisation to redevelop its trauma reporting process in order to give survivors more agency.
A Facebook post may not enforce necessary action and if members feel comfortable, they could issue complaints to the authority or employ in-app features created by dating apps. Of course, statistics(Opens in a new tab) (and experience) show that reporting issues of rape and abuse rarely result in conviction — especially for survivors of colour — so the hesitance to approaching the authorities is understandable, to say the very least. While the groups hold the power to behave as modern day whisper networks, they also feed into the ever-growing surveillance culture in the digital world. Every tweet you share or TikTok you post has the power to go viral and make you popular, but it can just as easily get you cancelled on the internet with longstanding consequences. Extending the same scrutiny to romantic relationships or even friendships can be tricky. Most of us have made mistakes in past relationships that we learn from as we grow, but very few people would want their exes to weigh in on future dates.
SEE ALSO:
What if someone is my BFF but I'm not theirs?
Similarly, the need to confirm your partner's loyalty through a Facebook group also reveals a bigger struggle with communication. Ali Ross(Opens in a new tab), a London-based psychotherapist says, "Being in a relationship implies you trust someone with your vulnerability and that can be scary. If you doubt your partner, speak to a therapist to understand how you can communicate instead of relying on strangers online for the truth." While there's no doubt that 'Are We Dating The Same Guy?' can create a supportive community and has indeed warned people about abusive dates or serial cheaters, in its current form, it doesn't hold the capacity to bring real change in the online dating space.
But perhaps its function does not have to be that far reaching, and is already served by its very existence. Taha Yasseri,(Opens in a new tab) an associate professor of sociology at the University of Dublin researches content moderation and online dating. While he agrees that these groups cannot bring direct intervention, he sees them as a powerful tool for advocacy. "The emergence of such groups should alert dating companies, policymakers, and other stakeholders to take the issue of dating safety and domestic abuse more seriously," he explains.
Flawed as it is, 'Are We Dating The Same Guy?' brings to the forefront issues many women and marginalised genders face with online dating. Whether you have shared your live location with a friend or done an Instagram deep dive of a date before meeting them, there's always a little voice in the back of our head screaming, "I hope he's not a serial killer." Instead of trying to classify the group as an empowering movement or a toxic internet phenomenon, maybe it should be seen as a reminder to demand for safer structures and as a call for action from larger institutions.
The rumors are true: Timothée Chalamet used to mod Xbox controllers
Not only was Timothée Chalamet a rapper in his former life, but he was also a gamer.
In an interview with pro Fortnite player Nate Hill, posted Oct. 22, the actor confirms that he used to have a YouTube channel dedicated to customizing Xbox controllers. He was known as ModdedController360.
If you, like me, aren't familiar with the concept of "modding," it is essentially the act of modifying controllers. In Chalamet's case, he spray painted them and sold them for $10 a pop. It's not a bad side hustle for a 15-year-old.
SEE ALSO: Best gaming laptops under $1,000
The channel, which currently has 15,000 subscribers, only has three videos, and all of them were uploaded in 2010. In these short clips, he shows off the customized Xbox controllers he modified for his clients.
Each video is about a minute in length, but they contain some real gems and give insight into what Chalamet was like pre-fame.
But Chalamet clearly isn't ashamed of his past life as a YouTuber. While promoting Dune alongside his co-star Zendaya, the 25-year-old excitedly recounted his enterprising youth to Hill.
"I had a YouTube channel people found. YouTube.com/moddedcontroller360(Opens in a new tab). I used to paint mod controllers," he confessed.
But his days as a teenage modder were short-lived. "My parents were like, 'You're getting spray paint all over the house, you can't do this anymore,'" added Chalamet.
This morning I stumbled upon Vice(Opens in a new tab)'s i(Opens in a new tab)nvestigation(Opens in a new tab) into the channel. They consulted with "open source war investigators" and analyzed Chalamet's voice, scars, and childhood bedroom to argue that ModdedController360 was indeed the Oscar-nominated actor. But fans have known about Timmy's past as ModdedController360 since 2018 — due to the actor's signature raspy voice.
Studmuffins, if you're out there: Do you still have the controller Chalamet modded for you?
Related video: Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya on bringing a sci-fi epic back to the big screen
It's Red Cup Day at Starbucks! You know what that means: Starbucks is handing out limited-edition holiday reusable cups to folks willing to cross the picket line.
On Thursday (Nov. 17), more than 1,000 Starbucks employees — many of whom are members of the Starbucks Workers Union — went on strike on one of the coffee giant's busiest days of the year, according to NPR(Opens in a new tab). It's a joyous day for Starbucks loyal customers, because the cups are considered collector's items; some customers line up before the store even opens to get one. But, this year, if you do decide to get your hands on one of those cups, you'll also be crossing a picket line. If you want to know if your Starbucks location is participating in the strike, you can check out the map(Opens in a new tab) created by the Starbucks Workers United, the union representing Starbucks workers.
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
Crossing a picket line means moving through people who are striking in order to get onto their employer's land. That includes walking through a building, across a parking lot, or, in this case, into a Starbucks to buy your morning coffee. More than 100 Starbucks stores across the nation have staged picket lines today, according to Starbucks Workers United(Opens in a new tab).
The walkout is one of the most recent attempts to convince Starbucks to bargain with workers in good faith as they try to work out contracts. Starbucks lawyers have walked out on bargaining sessions, made last-minute rescheduling requests, and CEO Howard Shultz has been accused of illegally union busting and firing workers for organizing.
"Mr. Schultz, it is time to recognize the stores that unionized and negotiate with workers in good faith," Sen. Bernie Sanders tweeted(Opens in a new tab) in support of the #RedCupRebellion(Opens in a new tab).
Related Stories
Starbucks wants to sell you NFTs with your Frappuccino
Coffee delivery: Starbucks announces partnership with Uber Eats
Volvo brings fast EV charging to Starbucks locations
Experts found fecal bacteria in Starbucks drinks and the internet is going crazy
Italy's first Starbucks serves cocktails, ice cream, and a side of augmented reality
Tweet may have been deleted
(opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab)
If you do want a red cup, and don't want to cross a picket line, there's good news! Starbucks Workers United is offering a union-designed red cup with the Starbucks Workers United logo on the front, according to CNBC(Opens in a new tab).
