11 racial justice documentaries to further your education
2023-04-02 10:25:42author：dointy.com
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11 racial justice documentaries to further your education
As nationwide protests continue in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery, the Black Lives Matter movement remains as important as ever and an invaluable resource to those in and outside of the Black community.
For non-Black people, this is a time to listen, learn, donate, and activate. One way to do that is by seeking out the many films and series about civil unrest and racial inequality. 2020's protests and curfews are not new; they are the latest boiling over of systemic issues that date back to this country's creation and beyond.
In order to make change, we must first understand how we got here. Here are 11 racial justice documentaries you can stream right now to learn more.
1. LA ’92(Opens in a new tab)
Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin’s 2017 documentary would be chilling enough without its 2020 context. It recounts the stories of Rodney King, who was brutally beaten by police officers, and Latasha Harlins, a teenager who was fatally shot in a convenience store. King’s attackers were found not guilty despite damning video evidence, and in the days after, fires, riots, and looting ravaged Los Angeles. The film frames the 1992 unrest with footage of the 1965 Watts riots, highlighting the disturbing parallels.
Where to watch: Netflix(Opens in a new tab)
2. 13th(Opens in a new tab)
Ava DuVernay's searing documentary traces the origins of the prison system to the institution of slavery, which remains legal in the United States as punishment for a crime. The 13th amendment led to slavery's modern manifestation, in which Black Americans are imprisoned disproportionately, often for minor offenses.
Where to watch: Netflix(Opens in a new tab) or YouTube(Opens in a new tab)
3. 3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets(Opens in a new tab)
Marc Silver’s 2015 documentary recounts the 2012 death of teenager Jordan Davis, who was shot multiple times in a parking lot while listening to music with friends. His attacker was found guilty of first-degree murder, but only after a mistrial and extensive media coverage, which the film follows along with Davis’ friends, family, and trial proceedings.
Where to watch: HBO(Opens in a new tab)
4. I Am Not Your Negro(Opens in a new tab)
From the civil rights movement to Black Lives Matter to representation in Hollywood, I Am Not Your Negro examines the modern Black experience in America through the last writings of James Baldwin and his correspondences with Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Medgar Evers.
Where to watch: Amazon(Opens in a new tab)
5. Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland(Opens in a new tab)
When 28-year-old Sandra Bland was arrested for a traffic violation and subsequently found hanged in her jail cell days later, a two-year legal ordeal began. Filmmakers Kate Davis and David Heilbroner document the family’s battle with law enforcement while sharing Bland’s own video blogs and history of activism. Though her death was ruled a suicide, it remains surrounded by questions and the undeniable fact that it can’t be undone.
Where to watch: HBO(Opens in a new tab)
6. Baltimore Rising(Opens in a new tab)
The Wire’s Sonja Sohn documents protests and unrest in Baltimore after Freddie Gray died due to injuries sustained after an arrest. While the six officers who arrested Gray await a verdict, the eyes of the nation fall on Baltimore, where lines of division become clearer than ever.
Where to watch: HBO(Opens in a new tab)
7. Whose Streets?(Opens in a new tab)
Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis direct this 2017 documentary about the death of Michael Brown and subsequent uprising in Ferguson, Missouri. The officer who shot Brown was not indicted, and eventually cleared of all charges and ruled to have been acting in self defense.
Where to watch: Hulu(Opens in a new tab)
8. True Justice: Bryan Stevenson's Fight for Equality(Opens in a new tab)
Director Peter Kunhardt spotlights Alabama attorney Bryan Stevenson (also the subject of Warner Bros.’ Just Mercy, streaming for free(Opens in a new tab) for the month of June), who has made it his life’s mission to highlight and combat racial inequality in the U.S. justice system. Stevenson regularly advocates for clients who are socially or economically disadvantaged or already unfairly affected by incarceration. In interviews, he himself outlines the United States’ history of racist legal inequality and his own efforts to challenge it.
Where to watch: HBO(Opens in a new tab)
9. Time: The Kalief Browder Story(Opens in a new tab)
This six-episode docuseries recounts how 16-year-old Kalief Browder was accused of stealing a backpack, but went on to spend three years in prison because his family couldn’t afford his bail and the system had no place for him. Browder spent two of his three years in solitary confinement on Rikers Island without ever being convicted of a crime, and died by suicide two years after his release. Each episode focuses on a different aspect of the incarceration, from the system to the witness to Rikers itself to what life looked like for Browder after his release.
Where to watch: Netflix(Opens in a new tab)
10. Teach Us All(Opens in a new tab)
Decades after the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, Sonia Lowman’s documentary covers how segregation, though illegal, persists in the American school system through demographic inequality, specifically in Little Rock, New York City, and Los Angeles.
Where to watch: Netflix(Opens in a new tab)
11. (Opens in a new tab)Strong Island(Opens in a new tab)
Strong Island is director Yance Ford's examination of his own family and the murder of his brother William. William Ford was unarmed when he was shot by a white employee at an auto shop and dead before even reaching a hospital. His shooter was not indicted, and Ford's film examines the family's ongoing pain over 20 years after justice failed William.
Where to watch: Netflix(Opens in a new tab)
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Tiffany Haddish had the distinct honor of teaching Barbra Streisand all about Cardi B
The best way to get a conversation started at a party is to always bring up your favorite artist.
Tiffany Haddish posted a selfie with the iconic Barbra Streisand at a party on Saturday and they had a lot to talk about. But the conversation mostly revolved around the art of Cardi B.
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"Just so y'all know I taught my big sister about @CardiB_ today," Haddish tweeted(opens in a new tab).
The brave woman apparently took it upon herself to teach Babs everything about the chart-topping rapper. Sometimes even big sisters can learn a lot from little sisters.
The Girl's Trip actress even mentioned in a reply(opens in a new tab) to a fan that she taught Streisand a few verses and many are hoping to see a remix to "Bodak Yellow" very soon.
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Some fans are even looking for just the two actresses to collaborate with or without Cardi. A possible comedy in the making?
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No word from Barbra Streisand or Cardi B yet, but rest assured we'll be waiting for the reveal of a new remix (or a possible musical number) very soon.
The Trump family might not love Dictionary.coms word of the year
To say 2017 has been a rough year would be an understatement. If you need some proof of the struggle look no further than Dictionary.com's word of the year: Complicit(opens in a new tab).
On Monday the online dictionary announced(opens in a new tab) that the not-so-reassuring adjective is 2017's standout word because it's "indicative of larger trends that resonated throughout the year."
🙃 🙃 🙃 🙃 🙃
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Defined as "choosing to be involved in an illegal or questionable act," Dictionary.com said the word is associated with everything from Russia's involvement with the U.S. election and Trump's decision to opt out of the Paris Climate Agreement to the ever-growing sexual harassment allegations in today's society.
While the word could surely be applied to several 2017 events, many remember the word "complicit" making waves back in April after Ivanka Trump sparked a debate about whether or not she understood the meaning of the word.
In an interview with CBS, Gayle King asked Ivanka(opens in a new tab) about media reports calling her and her husband Jared "complicit." Ivanka casually replied, "I don't know what it means to be complicit," and naturally the internet had a field day.
"If being complicit is wanting to be a force for good and to make a positive impact, then I’m complicit," Ivanka went on.
FYI, girl — that's definitely not what the word means.
Credit: dictionary.com
After Ivanka's comments, Merriam-Webster Dictionary shared that "complicit" had become the top on-site lookup(opens in a new tab), referencing an SNL sketch from March that showed Ivanka (played by Scarlett Johansson) promoting her new perfume, called, "Complicit."
In the months since, the word has been associated with other aspects of Russia's involvement in U.S. politics — from Facebook ads to email scandals and more.
Complicity outside of Russia
“Lookups for the word complicit increased by nearly 300 percent in searches in 2017 as compared to 2016," Liz McMillan, CEO of Dictionary.com, said in a press release. But the curiosity wasn't solely pegged to the Trump administration and Russia.
Dictionary.com noted that by pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement and not taking enough action against climate change "many feel that we are all directly complicit in the worsening extreme weather patterns that continue to impact people across the globe."
In the entertainment industry and beyond, as more and more sexual assault allegations come to light, complicity of those who aided in the longtime coverups is being discussed. And as tragedies like the opioid epidemic(opens in a new tab) and mass shootings(opens in a new tab) raise important discussions, many argue that complicity can no longer be an option.
Though complicit isn't exactly a positive word, Dictionary.com also revealed some feel-good terms that trended throughout the year too.
Earlier in 2017, the world "intersex" trended thanks to model Hanne Gaby Odiele's open discussion(opens in a new tab), "shrinkage" trended because of a Seinfeld episode, and "tarnation" gained popularity from that famous meme(opens in a new tab), to name a few.
It seems not everything is bad.
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Outlander can teach other shows a valuable lesson about sex
This story contains spoilers for Outlander Season 3, episode 11, titled "Uncharted." To refresh your memory of where we left off, check out our episode 10 recap.
Period dramas often have an uncomfortable relationship with consent; whether the setting is fantasy or historical, creators have always used the subjugation of women as a way to emphasize the danger of the time or the irredeemable villainy of an antagonist (exhibit A: Game of Thrones).
But, as Variety's Mo Ryan points out in this searing essay on how TV treats rape(opens in a new tab), it has also become a narrative shortcut to provide drama and character development across genres, regardless of the setting.
Outlander isn't immune to this -- Claire Fraser can barely enter a building without some leering fiend trying to assault her – but in addition to being refreshingly sex-positive(opens in a new tab), the show has always tried to show the physical and emotional cost of sexual violence while also emphasizing the systemic inequality that created rape culture in the first place. It spends a lot of narrative real estate exploring the difficulties that women have always faced because they're treated as objects instead of equals, and the anxiety that some men feel (regardless of the time period), when women express opinions that conflict with their own, whether that's the Porpoise's crewmen side-eying Claire over her superior medical knowledge or Frank's colleagues scoffing at her political views.
Episode 11 explores that tension in fascinating ways; the (coco)nutty Father Fogden objectifies Claire in a manner that's not overtly threatening, but carries a subtle undercurrent of menace that any woman can immediately recognize. At first he seems sympathetic (if eccentric) because he's clearly never gotten over the death of his wife, but he soon starts projecting those protective and possessive urges onto Claire, dismissing her knowledge as a doctor (and her simple desire to leave) and prioritizing his own feelings – a classic sign of emotional abuse.
Credit: starz
It's telling that the other woman in Father Fogden's life, Mamacita, immediately senses the danger when he becomes too proprietary and, in her own subtle way, offers Claire an assist by demanding that she leave. Whether it's because she fears her daughter being replaced or, by womanly intuition, simply knows that no good can come of Father Fodgen fixating on Claire, she makes herself into an ally even when disguising herself as an enemy, utilizing the power she knows she has over the grieving priest to create the only escape route available to Claire in that moment.
Thankfully, fate and shallow shoals bring Claire and Jamie back together soon after, and, taking a page from Diana Gabaldon's book, their reunion presents another welcome opportunity to explore respect and consent.
First, Jamie balks at the prospect of administering a dose of penicillin to Claire when she's feverish – hesitant to do anything that would hurt her, and displaying clear deference to her superior skills as a doctor. Given that the whole season has been full of men trying to undermine Claire's knowledge, this moment is a refreshing sign of how far Jamie's come since Season 1, when he gave his new wife a spanking(opens in a new tab) rather than treating her as an equal – now he's perfectly secure in himself and his relationship, happy to acknowledge that there are plenty of things Claire knows more about than he does.
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This isn't the first time the show has gone out of its way to emphasize Claire's influence on Jamie; in Episode 8, when Jamie and Claire returned Young Ian to Lallybroch, Gabaldon's book saw Jamie flogging Young Ian as punishment (for both nephew and uncle -- since Jamie then asked Young Ian to flog him in return), but the show took a different tack, with Jamie suggesting that Ian do a menial chore instead.
"It was really to reflect Claire's influence on Jamie because yes, kids were beaten back then, but so were wives," executive producer Toni Graphia tells Mashable. "And when Jamie tried that on Claire, it didn't work. She ended up telling him, 'Don't lay a hand on me again. That's the only way we can stay together.' Jamie's learned something from Claire. Even though this was done to him as a child, and that was the way back then, she's shown him that maybe there're other ways to handle things, and this isn't the best way ... And so we chose that scene specifically to reflect Claire's influence on him."
It's a welcome reminder that Jamie and Claire are partners, and he's not prepared to perpetuate the same damaging behaviors that his forebears did, even if that behavior is expected from a man of his time. (It also speaks to the adaptation process, since some things that might be more tolerable on the page would almost certainly not land in the same way on screen, especially in today's pop culture climate.)
The same is true of how the show treats sex – in "Uncharted," Jamie initially tries to dissuade Claire from being intimate when it's clear that she's feverish, injured and a little drunk from the copious quantities of sherry in Mr. Willoughby's turtle soup, insisting that he doesn't want to "take advantage" when she's not in her right mind.
While plenty of shows have romanticized, laughed off or outright ignored drunken hook-ups between its characters, having Jamie vocalize the fact that Claire's faculties may be a little compromised is a way for Outlander to subtly emphasize the importance of consent(opens in a new tab), especially while someone's under the influence of alcohol. The script has him check in with her several times to make sure she really wants to have sex, lets her drive the action to emphasize her enthusiasm, and demonstrates that she has the presence of mind to physically bolt the door herself to give them privacy.
As The Daily Beast's Lauren Sarner pointed out in her review of Episode 4(opens in a new tab), Outlander always has consent on its mind in ways that other shows don't (and it certainly doesn't hurt that the show employs so many female writers and directors while many others don't). In that episode, Jamie also went out of his way to gain consent from Geneva Dunsany, even after she had blackmailed him into bed and was clearly taking advantage of the power imbalance between them.
That scene also featured both Jamie and Geneva asking permission to touch each other, with Geneva reclaiming her agency by admitting that she wanted her first time to be with a partner like Jamie, not the grotesque old man to whom she was being married off against her will.
As Caitriona Balfe said of the Jamie/Geneva scene in an interview with Marie Claire(opens in a new tab), "I think they approached it from the way of, 'This is a young woman who has decided she's going to take the decision into her own hands about who's going to be her first. I liked it that way because it gives all the power to her. I think that's possibly the only way that scene could have been written and worked out."
And when Claire and Jamie finally reunite in episode 6, even after 20 years apart, Jamie's first instinct isn't to treat his wife like his property and grab her as most men of his time would -- he specifically asks if he can kiss her, leading to one of the most romantic and well-earned moments in the show.
While the TV adaptation of Game of Thrones has added rape scenes(opens in a new tab) – and encounters with dubious consent – that didn't exist in George R. R. Martin's books, it's refreshing that Outlander is here to remind us how vital consent is, especially when so many famous men desperately need that reminder.
Outlander airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on Starz.
Watch: 'Outlander' gave its opening credits a makeover
The United States of memes has something everyone can relate to
State pride is something we can all relate to -- except when you're actually home.
As millions of people traveled back home for Thanksgiving, people started to get real nostalgic for their home state. A far-too-relatable trend began, and eventually people of the United States realized that we all hate to love and love to hate our home state.
Here’s a little bit of hometown pride from all 50 states.
WeWork acquires Meetup as acquisition spree continues
UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2017, 8:03 a.m. EST This piece has been updated to reflect WeWork's official announcement that it acquired Meetup
WeWork's global empire continues to expand.
The $20 billion coworking startup is reportedly set to acquire social networking service Meetup, according to Crunchbase(opens in a new tab).
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Meetup CEO Scott Heiferman reportedly told employees about the acquisition on Monday, and mentioned a $30 million figure, but it's not clear "if that was an acquisition price, or a reference to expected investment into his company from the acquiring entity," according to Crunchbase.
WeWork confirmed the acquisition on Tuesday morning. The company said Meetup would continue to operate as a standalone company for now.
Launched in 2002, Meetup is a social networking service that allows users to organize meetings offline related to their shared interests and passions.
It's a logical union, seeing as WeWork offers rentable space for like-minded people to work on projects.
WeWork has been expanding steadily since launching in 2010 in New York City. Within seven years, WeWork has achieved so-called decacorn status — a startup worth more than $10 billion. In August this year, WeWork raised a whopping $4.4 billion in a funding round from SoftBank.
Between a $32 million investment in women's coworking space The Wing and plans for a private WeWork elementary school in New York, the company certainly isn't sitting on its hands.
WeWork currently has 150,000 members(opens in a new tab) across 171 locations in 18 countries. Meetup, on the other hand, boasts 32.3 million members(opens in a new tab) in 182 countries.
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Starbucks reveals an all new holiday cup, says it had nothing to do with that weird controversy
Here we go again people, Starbucks is back with a whole new holiday cup for your pleasure and enjoyment this season.
What is this? Like the third holiday cup this year?
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On Tuesday, the popular coffee chain revealed to the world its newest cup design right on the heels of an odd controversy regarding their previous red cup which showed two people holding hands.
Media outlets speculated that the hands belonged to a lesbian couple and apparently pushes a "gay agenda" onto consumers, according to Business Insider(opens in a new tab).
Credit: starbucks
Credit: starbucks
Starbucks had another holiday-colored ace up its sleeve and redirected the attention onto this new cup design. It sheds a deserving light on their continuous charity efforts for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
"The new red cup is one of the many surprises we’ve had in store for our customers this holiday season," a Starbucks spokesperson told Mashable. "There have always been two cups planned for this holiday season. This year, we intentionally designed our cups so our customers can interpret them in their own way."
Credit: starbucks
According to the spokesperson, by introducing this new cup, Starbucks is encouraging costumers to recognize those who embody goodness during the holiday season by writing the person's name in the heart of the cup.
Starbucks also plans to give away $25,000 grants to 27 lucky winners of a new "Upstanders Challenge" contest. The contest recognizes benevolent individuals and groups who selflessly give back to their communities.
Additionally, on World Aids Day, Dec. 1, Starbucks will also donate 25 cents to the Global Fund for each holiday-themed beverage sold including the Peppermint Mocha, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte and Eggnog Latte.
"This year marks the 20th anniversary of Starbucks holiday cups and it’s a ritual for many that’s as beloved as that first sip of Peppermint Mocha," the spokesperson said.
No one could make sense of the optical illusion dog. Can you?
The eye can often be fooled by simple things like the manipulation of light, a change of angles, or a beloved pet.
Even a photo of what looks like a wildly-deformed dog can mess with your mind.
And it can also send the web into a frenzy.
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Reddit user, chadwalk(opens in a new tab) posted a photo last week with the title, “Optical Illusion Dog”.
Credit: via Reddit user Chadwalk
At first its hard to decipher what exactly you’re supposed to be looking at. There's a dog at the front of the picture and the dog in the back looks like its in position that couldn't possibly make any sense.
Comment(opens in a new tab) from discussion Optical Illusion Dog(opens in a new tab).
Comment(opens in a new tab) from discussion Optical Illusion Dog(opens in a new tab).
The folks over at Reddit decided to dive deep into the rabbit hole that is the, optical illusion dog.
What the people eventually discovered was the pup actually had its head tilted. One user uploaded a photo diagram to try and make sense of the illusion.
CARD ID: 297025, CARD TYPE: Imgur
Comment(opens in a new tab) from discussion Optical Illusion Dog(opens in a new tab).
Someone also made a gif to try and help people who might have still been a bit confused.
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The people came together to finally figure out the dog illusion. We can now rest.
Parks and Rec couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullallys Twitter exchange is what true love is
That's right, Ron and Tammy are still going strong.
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Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally may play a monstrously dysfunctional couple in Parks and Recreation, but in real life they have been together for 18 years -- a fact they both celebrated yesterday on Twitter.
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Eighteen years is a long time, but going by Megan Mullally's current pinned tweet (which went up two years ago) that doesn't mean they've stopped adventuring as a couple.
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Unsurprisingly the Parks and Recreation fandom expressed their joy at the news.
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So congratulations to Offerman and Mullally, may your love never resemble your on-screen romance.
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The Weeknd finally deleted Selena Gomez from his social media
Just as one relationship blooms in England, another disastrously crumbles right here in America.
We're sad to announce that the The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) and Selena Gomez are now, for real, no more - both romantically and on social media, according to E! News(opens in a new tab). They broke up just about a month ago, but we all know that a relationship isn't really over until one person scrubs all proof of it from your Instagram.
Star Boy has officially done just that and also pressed the unfollow button.
Tragic.
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Selena Gomez and The Weeknd have allegedly ended their relationship after 10 months
The couple began their romance back in January of 2017 and announced their split after rumors swirling regarding Gomez and Justin Bieber getting back together and rekindling their relationship. Those rumors, of course, turned out to be true.
Obviously the Weeknd didn't take too kindly to the news and began his unfollow spree quickly and quietly unfollowing not only Gomez but her friends and family as well.
Meanwhile, Selena still has plenty photos of them together during their 10-month relationship.
A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez)(opens in a new tab) on
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Gomez might erase the photos once and for all and replace them with her former ex and new beau, Bieber. But, as of now, it seems as though The Weeknd is completely over and done with no sign (or photo) of looking back.
His next album will most likely have us all in our feelings mourning over the loss of such a great musical duo.
Although, if there's one thing we know it's that all of this is just very exhausting.
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All American Airlines pilots got Christmas off thanks to a computer glitch
For American Airlines, a holiday scheduling fail is a nightmare before Christmas.
With Christmastime travel one of the busiest times of the year(opens in a new tab), it's not a good look when all your pilots are taking a holiday break. But that's exactly what happened when a computer glitch for scheduling left thousands of flights pilot-less during the holiday period.
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The American Airlines pilot union, Allied Pilots, said(opens in a new tab) in a statement that American "disclosed a failure within the pilot schedule bidding system" on Friday. This week American is reportedly offering 1.5 pay to make up for the dearth of pilots.
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The union wrote in its statement(opens in a new tab) that the premium pay on offer isn't guaranteed, and the group charges that the "solution" is a contract violation.
We've reached out to American Airlines for comment about the glitch.
For passengers, this could mean a lot of cancellations if pilots aren't lured by the higher pay. Looking at last week's Thanksgiving numbers, that could spoil a lot of holiday cheer.
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Ah, this really is the most wonderful time of the year.
UPDATE Wednesday, Nov. 29, 12:34 p.m. PT: American Airlines said in a statement it expects to "avoid cancellations" during the holidays despite the scheduling glitch. Between reserve pilots and paying pilots 150 percent of their hourly rate, the airlines hopes to fill open trips.
Here's the full statement: “We are working diligently to address the issue and expect to avoid cancellations this holiday season. We have reserve pilots to help cover flying in December, and we are paying pilots who pick up certain open trips 150 percent of their hourly rate – as much as we are allowed to pay them per the contract. We will work with the APA to take care of our pilots and ensure we get our customers to where they need to go over the holidays.”
UPDATE Thursday, Nov. 30, 9:26 a.m. PT: In an updated statement American Airlines assured passengers that scheduled flights throughout December are not likely to be canceled. As of Thursday morning the airline said "only a few hundred" flights were still unassigned to pilots -- out of 200,000 December flights.
Here's the company's full statement:
Out of the 200,000 flights American will operate in December, only a few hundred are currently unassigned to pilots. That number of open flights continues to decrease thanks to our pilots who are stepping up to the plate and picking up trips to ensure customers are taken care of. It’s another example of why we are thankful to have such an incredible team. In addition, we have more reserve pilots on hand in December than normal months and they provide us with the ability to fly many of the trips that are currently uncovered. We have not canceled any scheduled flights in December and will continue to work to ensure both our pilots and our customers are cared for.
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Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stones love story involves a slightly creepy third party
There's a third character in the friendship tale of Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone: John the Orchestra Guy.
Who is John? An orchestra guy, that's who -- an orchestra guy who used to constantly, "accidentally" text both Stone and Lawrence.
"He wasn't really a stalker. He's just this guy who has a lot of people's phone numbers," Stone said in an interview for W'(opens in a new tab)s Best Performances feature(opens in a new tab). "He must have worked at a studio or something."
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According to Stone, John would often text both women to inform them he was running late to the "soundstage." He'd then asked them to "warm up the orchestra" for him. (Now you see where the "orchestra" part of the name comes from!)
Weird, right? But no harm done.
An issue arose, however, when Lawrence and Stone -- who had never met in person, nor talked on the phone -- decided to finally hang out IRL. As Lawrence drove to Stone's house, a fear emerged. What if this wasn't Emma after all, but a trap from John the Orchestra Guy? What if this was a John the Orchestra Guy setup?
Waiting at home, Stone had the same fear.
Spoiler: neither of them was John the Orchestra Guy. They had a nice hangout and are still friends. Once they even went to dinner with Adele!
So, John the Orchestra Guy, thanks (we think) for bringing two great friends a little closer. Hope the orchestra ended up being ready for you after all.
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Apparently, a poo cake is the key to a perfect apology
Everyone has their own idea of what helps keep a marriage alive, and, for one Redditor, it seems the key is, well, poo cake.
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Not an actual cake made out of poo, no. That's just ridiculous.
Rather, Redditor "ManLikeSloth" shared a simple story of love and redemption between he and his wife that involved a loud poop and an apology cake.
I had a loud poo, wife laughed, got home from work to find this.(opens in a new tab) from r/funny(opens in a new tab)
To any couple who has lived in close quarters, you know that this struggle is real, and it's worth pointing out the good smells associated with the cake and a few open windows could do wonders for any lingering embarassment.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to forward this story to my wife.
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Kamala Harris reactions to Mike Pence at the VP debate are all you need to see
Kamala Harris' face has gone on QUITE the journey.
On Wednesday night, Senator Harris and Vice President Mike Pence met up at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City to go head to head in the first and only vice presidential debate of the 2020 election, and over the course of the evening Harris flipped through an entire Rolodex worth of facial expressions.
While listening to Pence respond to questions about everything from the coronavirus and healthcare to climate change and Trump's income taxes, she couldn't help but react to statements she disagreed with...which were pretty much all of them.
She pulled out the side-eye, the stern Momala face, the "I'm tired of men not letting women speak" gaze, and the "Oh sweetie, no" smirk. Occasionally Harris had to outright laugh at Pence's comments, and she certainly didn't shy away from confronting him whenever he tried to interrupt her.
During the disastrous presidential debate on Sept. 29, Joe Biden let some remarkable facial expressions loose. But Harris definitely one-upped her running mate tonight. Pence and his red eye(Opens in a new tab) didn't stand a chance against Harris' looks.
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Pence, if you're reading this you might want to spend some time practicing facial expressions in front of the bathroom mirror when you get home so you don't look like an emotionless robot next time you're on stage.
You can celebrate Groundhog Day with a $80 Cameo from Punxsutawney Phil
Punxsutawney Phil isn't just looking for his shadow this Groundhog Day. He's looking to make some cold hard cash on Cameo(Opens in a new tab), too.
Yes, the "World Famous Groundhog" who comes around every Feb. 2 to help predict whether we'll be moving onto spring or bracing for six more weeks of winter joined the growing list of animal creators on Cameo(Opens in a new tab), which means you can book your very own video...for a price. For those who aren't familiar with Cameo, it's a video-sharing platform that allows people to pay for customized videos from actors, musicians, athletes, political commentators, and of course, animals.
Punxsutawney Phil is currently charging a whopping $80.00 per Cameo — $10.00 more than he was just a week ago. To put that price in perspective, Sopranos actor Ray Abruzzo, Bridgerton's Ruby Barker(Opens in a new tab), The Parent Trap's Elaine Hendrix(Opens in a new tab), and Friday Night Lights star Scott Porter(Opens in a new tab) — to name a few — are all charging less than the iconic rodent.
In other words, this groundhog thinks he's the shit. And you know what? He's not wrong.
Punxsutawney Phil is getting a head start on Groundhog Day celebrations.Credit: screenshot / cameo
If you're thinking $80 is a great price for a personalized video of a talking groundhog, I regret to inform you that Punxsutawney Phil isn't the one speaking in his Cameos.
Your video will feature "the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators, and the only true weather predicting groundhog," however, Punxsutawney Phil will be accompanied by his handler and Inner Circle member(Opens in a new tab) A.J. Dereume (aka the Rainmaker) who delivers your personalized message. Phil just sort of sits there, looking cute and cozy as hell.
For those who aren't familiar with the Cameo process, when you book a video you'll be asked to include some details so the creator can deliver a recipient-specific message. The personalized video will be sent to contact you provide within a week of placing the order, and if for some reason the request can't be fulfilled you'll be notified and refunded.
According to Punxsutawney Phil's page, the account typically responds in 15 hours and has already received eight glowing 5-star reviews from satisfied fans.
A look at what Phil and AJ have to offer.Credit: screenshot / cameo
You can check out sample videos on the page to get an idea of what you'll be receiving, and there's also an option to "Chat" with Punxsutawney Phil for $0.99 if that's a little more in your price range. (Though I'm not really sure what "chatting" with a groundhog entails. Maybe he'll sit on the keyboard or something.)
Cameos have really taken off in quarantine and make perfect birthday(Opens in a new tab) and Christmas gifts, so why not go all out for Groundhog Day, too?
If you know someone who's a "Phil Fanatic," has a Feb. 2 birthday, or is just really going to miss their IRL Groundhog Day celebration this year, this Cameo is a delightful, expensive, absolutely ridiculous gesture.
Very soon, you won't find Will Ferrell on Facebook.
The comedian declared on Tuesday he would be deleting his account within 72 hours, following revelations of Cambridge Analytica's misuse of personal data from the social network's users.
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In a Facebook post(opens in a new tab), Ferrell wrote that he "always had an aversion to social media," but used it to promote projects from himself and colleagues. The data scandal, it would appear, was the final straw.
"I know I am not alone when I say that I was very disturbed to hear about Cambridge Analytica’s misuse of millions of Facebook users’ information in order to undermine our democracy and infringe on our citizens' privacy," he wrote.
"I was further appalled to learn that Facebook's reaction to such a violation was to suspend the account of the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower."
Ferrell added he could "no longer in good conscience, use the services of a company that allowed the spread of propaganda and directly aimed it at those most vulnerable."
Ferrell's departure from the social network comes after Elon Musk deleted the Facebook pages for SpaceX and Tesla, later declaring on Twitter(opens in a new tab) he did so not out of political motivation, but rather the platform made him nervous.
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Superstar Cher has also said she's deleted her Facebook account, saying although the platform has helped her with her charity work, "There are things more 'important' than 💰💰." Cher's official page is still active on the social network, but perhaps she's referring to her own personal account.
KFCs Virtual Influencer Colonel is pretty damn hot
We've been through a lot of iterations of the KFC Colonel (Opens in a new tab)over the years, but the latest version might be the weirdest.
Instead of hiring a famous celebrity to play the Colonel, the chain created a computer-generated "Instagram influencer" Colonel, which the company has labeled a "Virtual Influencer Colonel.(Opens in a new tab)"
Say what you will about KFC, fried chicken, or Instagram influencers, you have the admit that the new Colonel is at least a little bit attractive. I'm basically a lesbian separatist, and I can say that.
Virtual Influencer Colonel" could totally sell me on corporate mass-produced chicken. He's just that urbane and sophisticated.
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"Virtual Influencer Colonel" has all the stereotypical hallmarks of a handsome metrosexual man: high cheekbones, Warby Parker-style glasses, a smug smile, absolutely phenomenal skin, perfect posture, and salt and pepper hair.
And a bunch of people on Twitter agree that the new Colonel is at least kinda hot.
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"Virtual Influencer Colonel," please tell me how I should live.
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In a viral TikTok, user Jennifer Mock (@jlmock4.0) performs as a 1950s woman meeting a 2022 woman.
"So I get to work outside the home?" the 1950s woman — Mock, donned in an apron — asks the modern woman.
"Totally, you can just sit in a cubicle all day while you stare at a computer screen chugging coffee," says the modern woman, Mock in a purple wig. "So liberating."
Mock goes on to bash other aspects of modern life, like the birth control pill and dating apps. The video(Opens in a new tab) part of a wider trend of TikTok tradfems and tradwives, groups of people who are against modern feminism and for a Christian, "traditional" view of womanhood. These people, many of them women online, denounce feminism in turn for the "more fulfilling" life of submitting to a man(Opens in a new tab). It goes without saying that people longing for the 1950s are, by and large, white.
While, outwardly, these people are anti-feminists, it's clear that tradfems and tradwives are actually raging against capitalism. They say that feminism is what ruined women's lives, that the fact that we have to work to survive is somehow at the fault of women gaining rights.
They're wrong.
Feminism isn't the reason women work in cubicles then go home to do their "second shift" — all the invisible labor at home, like cleaning and making doctors' appointments. Feminism isn't the reason that women can't afford to stay at home, why many people can't even afford children(Opens in a new tab) to caretake for or homes(Opens in a new tab) to homemake in at all. That's capitalism.
Feminism also isn't the reason women are still disproportionately saddled with childcare duties, why they took on as much as three times additional childcare hours during the pandemic than men.
Feminism also isn't the reason women are still disproportionately saddled with childcare duties, why they took on as much as three times additional childcare hours(Opens in a new tab) during the pandemic than men. That's patriarchy, babes — not feminism.
This clip of Mock, who didn't respond to Mashable's request for comment, also went viral on Twitter when it was posted by media personality Brittany Martinez, who also goes by her maiden name Hugoboom depending on the social platform. It's no surprise that Martinez posted this; she's the editor-in-chief of Evie Magazine(Opens in a new tab), a conservative women's magazine.
Both Martinez(Opens in a new tab) and Evie as a whole claim that feminism is a "scam"(Opens in a new tab) made by "our overlords" in order to…tax women's income. An article on Evie's website says that feminism is a psyop in order for women to pay more taxes to the government(Opens in a new tab) — claims that are only sourced by other Evie articles. Nowhere does it mention decades-long wage stagnation(Opens in a new tab) and increasing income inequality(Opens in a new tab). Martinez hasn't responded to Mashable's request for comment.
Disillusionment after girlboss-era feminism is understandable. "Hustling" to be the "SHE-E-O" won't bring you fulfillment, as many of us learned in the past few years. But that's not because girlboss feminism is feminism; it's because it's capitalist. We were so conditioned since birth to want a career, a "dream job," that we believed that's what we really wanted. Just like how women before us were conditioned to want to be a housewife; the reality, however, wasn't like the picturesque, vintage ads you may see on TikTok.
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Shattering the tradwife fantasy
Life for actual 1950s housewives was lonely and boring — if you were "lucky." Others suffered abuse; domestic violence was considered a "private family matter"(Opens in a new tab) until the women's liberation movement of the 1960s and '70s. Marital rape was only outlawed(Opens in a new tab) in all 50 states in 1993, and still today between 10 and 14 percent of women are raped by their husbands, according to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.
When states adopted no-fault divorce(Opens in a new tab), female suicide rate dropped a staggering 20 percent. Rates of domestic violence and spousal murder also dropped.
Women in the mid-century dealt with the "problem that has no name"(Opens in a new tab) — anxiety, depression, boredom, and sometimes psychosis associated with being a housewife — with sedatives. In 1960, five years after the tranquilizer Miltown(Opens in a new tab) was introduced to Americans, women were twice as likely as men to be prescribed "mother's little helper."
Not only did ads and media push this drug onto women in order to better care for their husbands — so did doctors. As Heather Radke wrote in Topic(Opens in a new tab), "In a 1956 article in Cosmopolitan, one doctor reported that after taking the drug, 'frigid women who abhorred marital relations reported they responded more readily to their husbands’ advances.'"
Those who weren't advertised to take tranquilizers were advertised to drink(Opens in a new tab). (Funny, that you don't see those ads on tradwife fantasy TikTok.)
Women aren't "natural" caretakers
One of the other arguments of the tradfem set is that women are "meant" to be homemakers and mothers. Take another Evie article that states that women are the "heart" of the household and men are the "head,"(Opens in a new tab) that women are "emotional" and can multitask, thus are better suited for housework.
The reality is, the maternal instinct is a myth(Opens in a new tab). This centuries-old idea reemerged after World War II when the "nuclear family" was the ideal, but it's inconsistent with neuroscience. There aren't inherent differences in gender(Opens in a new tab) that make women better suited for this labor. Studies show that it's the amount of time spent bonding and caretaking for a child(Opens in a new tab), not the gender of the parent, that determines one's closeness with them.
What there is, however, is societal expectations instilled since birth that women should want to be mothers and take care of the house. Indeed, some men perpetuate this myth and weaponize incompetence(Opens in a new tab) in order to get out of housework they absolutely can do.
When you peel back the layers of tradwife arguments, you see the cracks.Take Mock's TikTok as an example:The 1950s wife wants to know if she has a butler or a robot who cleans for her. It's not that she just wants to leave the house; she also wants help with the housework. What if her husband helped her? What if a husband and wife were a true team and divided labor equally? That's…that's feminism.
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Capitalism in casual sex
Mock's TikTok goes onto another topic that tradfems rail against: hookup culture. "You can have sex with whoever, whenever you want," says the 2022 woman.
"That sounds kind of gross actually," the 1950s woman replies.
"The answer to dissatisfying casual sex isn't reverting back to the pre-pill 1950s."
Casual sex can indeed be unsatisfying, but that's not because of feminism. Hookup culture has been fueled by dating apps, and those are the result of our on-demand capitalist culture. Just like we have Seamless and Netflix, it makes sense that we'd want dates or sex in an instant like we want food or entertainment.
The answer to dissatisfying casual sex isn't reverting back to the pre-pill 1950s; it's comprehensive sex education. Among the slew of benefits, comp sex education delays sexual initiation(Opens in a new tab) (one's "first time"), leads to fewer sexual partners, and fosters healthy relationships.
Further, anyone who tells you the youngins these days just can't stop fucking doesn't know what they're talking about. Study after study show that we're having less sex, including young people.
Anti-pill exaggerations
Arguments against the birth control pill, which enabled women to have sex without worrying about pregnancy, are another cornerstone of tradfeminism. The birth control pill is far from perfect, but it's disingenuous to claim, as Evie Magazine does, that "the pill is destroying our bodies."(Opens in a new tab) Some people on the pill do have side effects, but others have none at all.
Evie Magazine and its editor-in-chief Martinez have a stake in being anti-pill. Martinez just partnered with Peter Thiel(Opens in a new tab) to start 28, a "cycle-based wellness company." The announcement(Opens in a new tab)for 28 says that those taking the pill and with irregular cycle can use 28 without explanation as to how, and without acknowledging how the birth control pill can benefit some people.
Martinez isn't the face of the anti-feminism movement, but she's emerging as a vocal proponent. Martinez prides herself as an entrepreneur, calling herself a "2x founder" on her social media. She is allowed to flourish as such, to work outside the home.
Coca-Cola is releasing a new flavor, and people are nervous
When you're feeling risky, but not too risky, Coca-Cola's got you covered.
The brilliant minds that brought us New Coke are back at it again with a flavor concoction that is sure to win hearts, minds, tastebuds, dollars, and possibly doctor visits. Say hello to Orange Vanilla, which a press release(Opens in a new tab) tells us is the first new iteration on that classic Coke flavor in over a decade.
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The flavor blast from your Creamsicle past will be available in the U.S. starting Feb. 25, but that Orange Vanilla is, at this moment, kept out of reach by Time's evil grasp hasn't stopped soda fans from speculating on the sheer possibilities offered by the new flavor.
Yum.Credit: coca-cola
And while some are keeping an open mind, others... well, not so much.
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Irrational exuberance aside, one does perhaps wonder why now and why Orange Vanilla? Thankfully, Coca-Cola brand director Kate Carpenter filled us all in.
“We wanted to bring back positive memories of carefree summer days,” she is quoted in the aforementioned press release as explaining. “That’s why we leaned into the orange-vanilla flavor combination – which is reminiscent of the creamy orange popsicles we grew up loving, but in a classically Coke way.”
Ah yes, now does seem like the right time to wax nostalgic about carefree summer days. Coca-Cola, you know us better than we know ourselves. I'm still not drinking this Orange Vanilla nonsense, though.
Ryan Reynolds just tweeted 12 words to describe his gin, and theyre ridiculously perfect
If the whole acting thing doesn't work out, Ryan Reynolds definitely has a backup career as either a) a social media manager or b) a poet. The guy just has a phenomenal way with words.
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This time, fresh of the back of a horrendous drinking game with Jimmy Fallon, he took to Twitter to talk about his company Aviation Gin.
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Soon, other members of the brand were getting involved.
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The company's brand manager got involved...
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As did the finance manager...
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It didn't stop there, though. Ever the professional, Ryan Reynolds then did his best to answer this question from a potential customer.
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"If heaven and laughter made a baby while watching Titanic. But wetter."
Looks like we have to add "advertising' to Reynolds' never-ending list of talents, too.
What a man.
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So you want to use the trickster voice effect on TikTok? But maybe you've never used it or it's not showing up for you. Here's the good news: We can probably fix that.
First things first. The first thing to try is to just...pull up your effects as you create a TikTok. And look for it there. But if you're reading this post that means you probably don't have it available. Here are some ways to troubleshoot.
Now first, let's say you want to use the trickster voice as a text-to-speech narrator. It's pretty simple. All you have to do is create a TikTok, then write out text using the normal text tool. Click the little face speaking, then scroll over to the trickster voice effect. It looks like this.
There's the text to voice icon.Credit: Screenshot: TikTok
There's the trickster voice effect icon.Credit: Screenshot: TikTok
Now lots of folks have posted online saying they haven't access to trickster and other voice effects. If you find yourself in that boat, the internet has come up with some solutions to fix it.
User samxnthx_(Opens in a new tab) walked people through the process of fixing the issue(Opens in a new tab) if they have an iPhone. They said to go to settings on your phone, go to storage, scroll down, then offload TikTok. Now a key point: Save any drafts of TikToks you want to post before this because it will delete your drafts. They said to wait about a half hour, download TikTok again, log in, and you should be all set with voice effects. Basically, this seems to be a hard reset to get the latest voice effects.
If you're having issues with the effect on Android, unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a good fix yet. But just hold out and usually these things get fixed with time.
