California has just taken your Skittles away! NEWSOM JUST SAID “F*CK TASTING THE RAINBOW!”
Only… not really. In fact not at all. Not even kinda.
On Saturday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 418 into law which will prohibit food products from being manufactured, sold, delivered, distributed, held, or offered for sale in California if they contain the chemicals brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, or Red Dye 3.
This move puts thousands of products, including cereals, sodas, and candies at risk. Ironically, Skittles is not one of those candies. But this is a big deal because of the sheer population of California which, according to the last US census in 2021, consists of 39,237,836 people (that’s a big market!), which likely means this bill will affect you even if you live outside of the state.
The likelihood of us living in a world where thousands of food products are simply not sold in California is unlikely, meaning this will directly affect all cereals, sodas, and candies that contain the four chemicals. So why is this bill known as the Skittles ban and what does this mean for your favorite snacks and candies?
Let’s break it down.
Why Is It Called ‘The Skittles Ban?’
Because the media is lazy. According to USA Today, when AB 418 was first authored the original legislation also banned the coloring agent titanium dioxide, which is found in Skittles, M&Ms, and some dairy products like Kraft fat-free shredded cheddar cheese. No wonder that pre-shredded cheese is so delicious! (We’re kidding of course, that shit is trash)
The version of the bill that was eventually signed into law does not, in fact, include titanium dioxide but people haven’t stopped calling it “The Skittles Ban” because that sounds way sexier than AB 418.
Why Is California Banning These Four Chemicals In The First Place?
When it comes to food safety regulations, the United States is living in the past. Brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, or red dye 3 have all been banned in Europe since as far back as 2008 due to various health concerns.
One in particular, red dye 3, has been found to cause cancer in animals according to the National Library of Medicine, though there are currently no studies that link the chemical to cancer in humans. Still, red dye 3 has been banned from use in cosmetics for over 30 years, so if it’s not good enough to put on your face do you really want to eat it?
We don’t!
So… Which Of My Favorite Snacks Are Banned And When Does The Law Go Into Effect?
Likely, nothing!
In a statement to Consumer Reports, the author of AB 418, Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, clarified that “This bill will not ban any foods or products — it simply will require food companies to make minor modifications to their recipes and switch to safer alternative ingredients that they already use in Europe and so many other places around the globe.”
On top of that, Ab 418 doesn’t go into effect until 2027, which should give companies enough time to revise their recipes and ditch the banned chemicals.
Anything Else I Should Know?
Not really, if you want to get really in the weeds, a single violation of the bill will impose fines up to $10,000, which means this isn’t likely something that big food brands will ignore. As we said, California is a big state, so that means it’s in food brands’ best interest to just change their recipes or risk losing millions of dollars in sales.
This isn’t a change you’re likely going to notice but we’re almost positive brands will use this as a justification to raise prices. That sucks, but shelling out some extra cents on your Skittles (again, not affected) is a hell of a lot cheaper than cancer treatment, so we’ll take it.
Yours And Ours festival returns to Wollongong, Australia for its ninth iteration this coming weekend. Boasting a line-up of performers like Flight Facilities, Earl Sweatshirt, Lil Tjay, and Oliver Tree, Yours And Ours will draw in an eclectic, diverse crowd of music fans to the University Of Wollongog Grounds for two full days of festivities.
Festivalgoers can witness a variety of musicians across five different stages. We’ve put together a nifty schedule, ensuring music fans will get to see their favorites at the right spot, and the right time.
You can see the set times below and purchase tickets here.
Saturday, October 14
Tangela at 12:00-1:30 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
Bronte Alva at 12:05-12:25 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Pirra at 12:10-12:40 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Kloker at 12:15-12:35 (Rad Stage)
JJJ at 12:15-12:45 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Charbel at 12:45-1:05 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Steve Bourk at 12:55-1:15 p.m. (Rad Stage)
King Mala at 1:10-1:40 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Tia Gostelow at 1:15-1:45 (Owls Stage)
Blue Vedder at 1:25-1:45 (La La La Stage)
DJ PGZ at 1:30-3:00 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
The Sweaty Bettys at 1:35-1:55 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Wigz at 2:05-2:25 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Redhook at 2:10-2:40 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
The Morning Star at 2:15-2:35 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Broods at 2:20-2:50 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Hallie at 2:45-3:05 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Ricky’s Breath at 2:55-3:15 (Rad Stage)
Lauren Hanson B2B Mike Who at 3:00-5:00 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
The Grogans at 3:10-3:40 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Hobo Johnson at 3:20-4:00 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Greatest Hits at 3:25-3:45 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Major Arcana at 3:35-3:55 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Stumps at 4:05-4:25 p.m. (La La La Stage)
The Terrys at 4:10-4:40 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Tawny Port at 4:15-4:35 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Masego at 4:30-5:15 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Club Angel at 5:00-7:00 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers at 5:10-5:45 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Stevan at 5:25-5:45 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Chimers at 5:35-5:55 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Ocean Alley at 5:45-6:30 p.m. (Owls Stage)
YB at 6:05-6:25 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Our Carlson at 6:15-6:35 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Phony Ppl at 6:15-6:50 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Go-Jo at 6:45-7:15 p.m. (La La La Stage)
The Empty Threats at 6:55-7:25 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Lil Tjay at 7:00-7:45 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Luca Lozano at 7:00-9:00 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
The Vanns at 7:20-8:00 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Rum Jungle at 7:35-8:05 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Flowertruck at 7:45-8:15 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Hilltop Hoods at 8:15-9:15 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Daily J at 8:25-8:55 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Bakar at 8:30-9:10 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Dust at 8:35-9:05 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Kornel Kovacs at 9:00-11:00 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
Shag Rock at 9:15-9:45 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Full Flower Moon Band at 9:25-9:55 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Descendants at 9:40-10:40 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Golden Features at 9:45-10:45 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Dice at 10:05-10:30 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Posseshot at 10:15-10:45 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Sunday, October 15
Cleo at 12:00-1:00 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
Lizzie Jack And The Beanstalks at 12:05-12:25 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Kid Pharaoh at 12:05-12:30 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Circadia at 12:15-12:35 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Wallace at 12:30-1:00 p.m. (Owls Stage)
J.Rumz at 12:45-1:05 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Plastic Bath at 12:55-1:25 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Jon Wats B2B LGL at 1:00-2:30 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
Archie at 1:25-1:45 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Vera Blue at 1:30-2:10 p.m. (Owls Stage)
MFV at 1:35-1:55 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Forrest Claudette at 1:45-2:15 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Busty at 2:05-2:25 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Sesame Girl at 2:15-2:35 p.m. (La La Stage)
Seb Wildblood at 2:30-4:00 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
Ekkstacy at 2:40-3:10 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Meg Mac at 2:40-3:20 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Gut Health at 2:45-3:05 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Lucy Sugerman at 2:55-3:15 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Drift at 3:25-3:45 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Phoebe Go at 3:35-3:55 p.m. (La La Stage)
The Rions at 3:40-4:10 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Earl Sweatshirt at 3:50-4:35 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Object Blue B2B TSVI at 4:00-6:00 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
Garage Salt at 4:05-4:25 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Towns at 4:15-4:35 p.m. (La La La Stage)
James Marriott at 4:40-5:15 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Babyface Mal at 4:45-5:05 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Fazerdaze at 4:55-5:15 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Chet Faker at 5:05-5:50 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Nerve Damage at 5:25-5:45 p.m. (Rad Stage)
RVG at 5:35-6:05 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Teenage Dads at 5:45-6:20 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Skatebard at 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
Girl & Girl at 6:05-6:35 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Oliver Tree at 6:20-7:05 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Lazywax at 6:25-6:55 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Peach Pit at 6:50-7:25 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Terminal Sleep at 6:55-7:25 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Old Mervs at 7:15-7:45 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Pendulum at 7:35-8:20 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Big Wett at 7:45-8:15 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Pacific Avenue at 7:55-8:35 p.m. (Farmer Stage)
Sam Alfred at 8:00-10:00 p.m. (Das Schmelthaus Stage)
Royel Otis at 8:05-8:35 p.m. (La La La Stage)
These New South Wales at 8:35-9:05 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Flight Facilities Decade DJ Set at 8:50-10:00 p.m. (Owls Stage)
Sorry at 8:55-9:40 p.m. (La La La Stage)
Angel Dust at 9:25-9:55 p.m. (Rad Stage)
Anthony Davis has been dreadful shooting the basketball from the perimeter over the past three seasons for the Lakers, which has limited the ceiling for their offense because teams simply don’t feel they have to guard Davis away from the basket. Given his hot shooting in the Bubble was a big reason they won a title, getting Davis back to being a threat from the perimeter is pretty important for L.A.
Over the past three seasons, Davis is shooting 23.8 percent from three and has scaled back his forays to the perimeter considerably, dropping to just 1.3 attempts per game a year ago. That was in part due to Davis shifting to playing the five more, which allowed him to stay inside and dominate in the paint. However, he prefers to play the four and is expected to do that more this season, which means there is a need for him to be a bit more of a threat to shoot or else it will condense the floor some for the L.A. offense. The Lakers recognize that and Darvin Ham has gone so far as to challenge his star big man to let it fly from deep, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“I want him, if he can — I know he won’t do it, but maybe he’ll shock me — but I’ve requested to see six 3-point attempts a game,” Ham said after practice Tuesday. “Three per half, at least. I wouldn’t put that on him if I didn’t think he was capable.”
Six is a lot of threes and even Ham doesn’t expect Davis to do that, but the message is clear. As McMenamin notes, Davis spent this offseason working on his shot form with assistant Chris Jent in an effort to clean up his mechanics and become a more reliable shooter, but as Davis even explained, he won’t know if the work has paid off until the Lakers start playing under game pressure. The concern with asking Davis to shoot more from the outside is that likely means he is spending more time on the perimeter where he isn’t as effective. That said, if he’s moving to the four that’s almost a necessity at times (depending on who he’s partnered with in the frontcourt), even though it might drive Lakers fans insane on nights where the shot’s not falling if he continues taking them to limited success.
This is the conundrum with Davis, as he has stated his preference is being a power forward, but his skillset offensively is far better suited to playing center. The more you ask him to do the things a modern power forward needs to do in terms of spacing the floor, the more you’re taking him away from the things that he absolutely dominates at. The tradeoff is on the other end, where he gets banged up defending other centers (even though, again, he’s very good at it).
We’ll see exactly how close he gets to Ham’s request, as his career-high is 3.5 per game in that 2019-20 season. If he can unlock that ability, the Lakers will be truly terrifying, but this isn’t the first time a Lakers coach has issued this challenge — Vogel asked for 5 per game before the 2021 season — and that did not end up working out.
Great Divide/Saison Dupont/Threes/Great Lakes/istock/Uproxx
Choosing the right beer for a fall day isn’t a particularly easy task. Not unless you simply have your favorite fall beer style and plan to drink it rain or shine. Otherwise, a fall beer choice is likely dependent on the weather that day. Colder days call for brown ales, stouts, porters, and dark beer; warmer days call for saisons, amber ales, and lighter beers.
Damon Chilcott, bar lead at The Red Barber in Denver is all about the festbier during the fall months.
“It’s a popular choice for fall due to its historical association with Oktoberfest,” he notes. “Its moderate alcohol content serves as a bridge between the light beers of summer and the heavier ones of winter.”
We don’t want you to worry about feeling overwhelmed when picking which fall beers to buy. That’s why we asked the professionals, who spend their days pouring pints, to tell us the best overall beers for all fall weather conditions. Keep reading to see all of their seasonal selections!
Duke’s Cold Nose Brown Ale from Bold City Brewery is a mild brown ale well-suited for fall weather. I also love that the name comes from the creator’s late beloved Boxer, Duke. Who doesn’t love a great story with a great beer?
Tasting Notes:
It includes flavors of chocolate and warm caramel, with a smooth nutty finish. All in all, a great beer for a cool fall day.
It might seem on the nose, but Marzen, Vienna, and any Oktoberfest-style beers are always perfect heralds of fall. Their roasted maltiness makes me think of crunching leaves, changing colors, and impending snow. One of my all-time favorites is Odell Brewing and their Oktoberfest.
Tasting Notes:
Biscuit-like malts, caramel Munich malts, and floral, gently spicy hops make this one of the best Oktoberfest-style beers on the market.
My fall beer choice is Logical Conclusion IPA. As autumn rolls in, we recommend the Logical Conclusion IPA as the perfect beer for the season. Its robust and meaty profile makes it an ideal companion for cozy fall evenings.
Tasting Notes:
This hazy IPA offers a tantalizing mix of flavors, including papaya, cantaloupe, hop candy, pine, orange peel, and even subtle hints of carrot juice.
Samuel Adams Octoberfest
Samuel Adams
Jared Bailey, bar manager at Soho Cigar Bar in New York City
It may seem like a cheat code, but Sam Adams’ Octoberfest is to the Boston brand what Pumpkin Spice lattes are to Starbucks. It’s synonymous with Fall. Only released in the Fall and with good reason. Nothing compares to it.
Tasting Notes:
Loaded with noble hops sourced from Germany, this Marzen-style lager is known for its mix of bready, caramel malts, and floral hops.
AnimA Leonardo
AnimA
Martin Guiterrez, bar manager at Joia Beach in Miami
ABV: 6.7%
Average Price: Limited Availability
The Beer:
I’m not a big beer drinker, but I love beers with personality. On a nice fall day, I recommend trying an Italian beer called AnimA Leonardo. It’s a Blond Ale beer with a beautiful character and scents of fruits. It’s the perfect beer to enjoy with food.
Tasting Notes:
This is a great beer for fall because of its mix of caramel malts, fruity flavors, and crisp, floral hops. It’s a very well-balanced beer.
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Alex Barbatsis, head bartender at The Whistler in Chicago
Fall time means one thing— start saving money for holiday gifts and traveling. So, what should you be drinking in the meantime while you save away your pennies? PBR. This award-winning beer has been there for us through thick and thin, and it will be there when you have to travel across the country to your in-laws’ house. Keep your wallet safe with Pabst Blue Ribbon. It helps that it’s a crisp, refreshing beer that’s suitable any time of year (especially in autumn).
Tasting Notes:
Surprisingly inexpensive, this classic beer is known for its mix of flavors including sweet cereal grains, sweet corn, light fruity body, and floral hops. It’s crisp, refreshing, and always there for you.
The best beer for fall is Submission by BoomTown Brewery, based in DTLA. This Belgian-style golden ale is made using locally grown jasmine flower, and carrot blossom honey, along with the Belgian yeasts that are perfect for an autumn beer.
Tasting Notes:
Honey, jasmine, funky yeast, all with a dry, crisp finish. This is a unique beer that pairs well with the ever-changing fall weather.
Saison DuPont
Saison DuPont
Alex Fitzgerald, beverage director at Paseo in Louisville, Kentucky
Saisons are great for that initial shift from summer heat to the light chill of early fall. Saison Dupont, an unfiltered Belgian farmhouse ale, is my pick for the season. I like to sip these in a frosty glass while I daydream of the days to come when I can break out my collection of sweaters and toboggan.
Tasting Notes:
It offers white fruit notes – apricot and pear – paired with light baking spice, clove, and a light hoppiness.
Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest
Hacker Pschorr
Steven Dinsmore-George, bartender at The Pembroke in Washington, DC
Hacker Pschorr’s Oktoberfest Marzen is the best beer to drink this fall. This beer is legendary. it has the highest honor of being one of six beers served in Munich for Oktoberfest. It is brewed under the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516, which stated that only water, barley, and hops were allowed to be used in the production of beer. Available from mid-August to October, it is the perfect beer for a fall day.
Tasting Notes:
This beer is classic Marzen through and through. It is light and refreshing, yet filled with rich caramel malts, freshly-baked bread, and floral, lightly bitter hops.
Great Divide Titan
Great Divide
Suman Pradhan, director of food & beverage and Wine Director at Viceroy Snowmass in Snowmass Village, Colorado
Titan IPA from Great Divide. It’s not as heavy as Stout but fuller than a lager. It’s a classic, well-balanced American IPA that has just the right amount of hop bitterness to cut through the lightly chilly fall air.
Tasting Notes:
It begins with a caramel malt backbone and then moves into citrus peels, stone fruits, and dank, resinous, pine. The finish is a nice mix of sweet malts and bitter hops.
Great Lakes Oktoberfest
Great Lakes
Anne Becerra, beverage director at Treadwell Park in New York City
I love dark, malty lagers so when Fall rolls around and the Marzens and Oktoberfest-style beers start coming out, I try to soak them up as much as I can. Classic German versions are always great but there are some American options I love just as much like Great Lakes Oktoberfest. At 6.5% ABV, it’s just warming enough for the chill in the Fall air. Just like a comfy hoodie.
Tasting Notes:
It’s a little toasty, has a ton of caramel, is a touch spicy, and the sweetness is perfectly balanced by a crisp, refreshing finish.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Teachers deserve all the kudos, high fives, raises, accolades, prizes and thanks for everything they do. Even if they just stuck to academics alone, they’d be worth far more than they get, but so many teachers go above and beyond to teach the whole child, from balancing equations to building character qualities.
One way dedicated educators do that is by developing relationships and building rapport with their students. And one surefire way to build rapport is to dance with them.
A viral video shared by an assistant principal at Sumner High School & Academy in Riverview, Florida shows a group of students gathered around one student as he challenges a teacher to a dance-off.
“Our 8th grade Stingrays having a well deserved exam dance break,” wrote assistant principal Natalie McClain. “Of course our teachers are ending 2022 with a win.”
The teacher, Ms. Yolanda Turner, took the challenge—and the students went wild.
Watch:
u201cOur 8th grade Stingrays having a well deserved exam dance break. Of course our teachers are ending 2022 with a win. Love my Stingrays ud83dudc99ud83dudc9a Happy Holidays @HCPS_SumnerHSu201d
The student really thought he had her, didn’t he? It looked as if his soul left his body when he tapped her shoulders and then realized what he’d done. But to her credit, she took it in stride and took him out with her dance moves.
“The music was on, all the kids were pumped,” Turner told Fox 13. “So it was like, let’s have a dance challenge. So I’m like, okay, all right, so everybody’s having fun. And I said, ‘I’m going to tap in. I’m going to tap into the dance.'”
“I really try to emphasize for kids to be their authentic selves and to really never be afraid to express who they are no matter who’s watching,” she told the outlet.
This dance-off video is a prime example of how schools can be places of joyful connection in addition to academic achievement. Gaining students’ respect doesn’t require being a stuffy authoritarian hard nose, and students generally respond better to teachers they genuinely care for. Meeting them where they are is one of the best ways to reach kids and creating experiences that include for silliness and fun is one of the best ways to keep them engaged.
Plus, who doesn’t need to blow off a little steam in between exams? What a lovely example of striking a balance between academic rigor and modeling healthy stress relief. Well done, Ms. Turner.
The way we come across long-lasting friendships is often unexpected. But when you’re part of a military family. You learn to grab hold of the good people you meet and carry those friendships across states and oceans. You mark your friendships based off of what base you were stationed at when you met them and know those friendships can withstand just about anything because they’ve been tried.
So for an American family stationed in Japan, there was no doubt at least one lifelong friendship would be made. It just may have been surprising that the friend wasn’t affiliated with the military. Instead, the friend was an older Japanese man who didn’t speak English and lived next door to the young family in Yokosuka, Japan.
But this isn’t the first time this unique story went viral. In 2013, Reddit user Theresa52 posted a picture of a note that she received from her neighbor-turned-friend. People loved the letter and sweet story attached. Theresa explained that after moving to their new neighborhood in Japan, she and her husband passed out beer and chocolate to their neighbors. A few hours later, they met, Hiroshi Yamashita, their new neighbor and one of the recipients of their gift.
When Yamashita knocked on the family’s door, he presented them with gifts of his own—toilet paper, stuffed animals and a note. In the thread Theresa noted, “Things that are consumable and household necessities are popular gifts. We have heard lots of stories about people getting laundry soap,” after someone asked if toilet paper was a common housewarming gift in Japan. The stuffed animals were for their infant daughter at the time.
But the note is what keeps going viral. It starts out, “I can’t speak English. Thank you for the present. My name is Hiroshi Yamashita. I’m 52 years old. [I’m divorced] and I live alone.” Since Yamashita didn’t speak English, the note had some spots that were difficult to understand but the intent was clearly pure.
Theresa wrote in the comments of the post that it appeared that he was asking if her husband was in the Navy. While the sentences are out of order a bit, if you reorganize them a little, it seems Yamashita is attempting to say, “I have stuffed animals and toilet paper. You can use it if you’d like.”
The man concludes the letter with “Thank you for your friend operation.” It seemed that he was thanking the family for their hospitality, but Reddit users surmised that he was referring to Operation Friendship in 2011 when the United States aided Japan after an earthquake. Either way, it was still friendship operation because what says friendship like taking time out of your day to write in a language you don’t speak just to make sure your neighbors feel welcomed?
“It was adorable! We had brought him a six pack and some chocolate and tried to introduce ourselves to him. A couple hours later he brought over this letter with a pack of toilet paper and some stuffed animals for our daughter,” Theresa wrote in the comments while joking that their initial introduction probably amused Yamashita.
Further explaining within comment threads, Theresa said that they used pointing and Google Translate when they initially met Yamashita, and in turn, he used a translator app to write the note.
Theresa shared an update in the comments about six years after the story originally went viral saying, “We all exchanged gifts and food regularly for the four years I lived there. We would go to neighborhood festivals and have dinners together as well. I miss them all and think about them often.”
You never know when being kind will turn into a life long friendship. We certainly hope Yamashita and Theresa are doing just as well today and are continuing to spread their kindness around.
You might be the most awesome person in the world—kind, thoughtful, pleasant, funny—and still not make a good first impression on people. The immediate, unconscious judgments our brains make based on body language aren’t always accurate, but they happen whether we want them to or not.
First impressions are especially hard for people who struggle with social anxiety or with understanding the nuances of social interactions. When we’re nervous, our body language can misrepresent us, making us appear to be more closed off and less approachable than we might be if we were feeling like our true, relaxed selves.
Thankfully, there are some specific ways we can consciously shift our body language to avoid people getting a wrong first impression.
A video from Charisma on Command breaks down seven common mistakes people make with their body language that gives people a negative impression and explains what to do instead. Some of these things are subtle behaviors we might not give a second thought. Others are things we do out of nervousness. With some simple, conscious practice, we can make a difference in how we come across to people we’re socializing with.
Watch:
So, to recap:
1. Don’t scan the room when talking with someone.
2. Don’t let someone interrupt you when you’re in a conversation with someone else.
3. Lean against a wall, chair, bar, etc.
4. Keep your hands out of your pockets.
5. Use precise and expansive gestures at the right times.
6. Keep your head up.
7. A brief eyebrow raise lets people know you’re glad to see them (but might not be something you want to try to control).
Some people in the comments pointed out that scanning the room is an automatic safety behavior for some and that trying too hard to do some of these things could come across as stiff or disingenuous. Others, however, appreciated the specific advice. Body language is not intuitive for everyone, and pinpointing behaviors to pay attention to can help even the playing field with those who have more social skills and charisma naturally.
Several people on the autism spectrum expressed their gratitude for this kind of clear, direct instruction.
“Man, I so appreciate this channel,” shared one commenter. “Being on the Autism Spectrum makes it really difficult to have social interactions and sometimes I don’t act “appropriately” but I’m extremely good at mimicking and learning principles. These sorts of videos have made it easier for me to integrate into social situations to the point that people don’t realize that I’m on the spectrum … in fact, people are shocked when they learn that I am. Thanks for making life a little easier for me.”
“I agree 100%,” shared another. “It’s taken me years to simulate neurotypical behaviors, but I’m mostly so good at it now that most folks have no clue. Charisma on Command has helped me hone that to a new level and I am very glad of it.”
Body language makes up a lot of our communication, so it’s helpful to learn how it works and how we can make adjustments to improve our chances of positive interactions with others. See more of Charisma on Command’s videos here.
Imagine you order salmon and green beans at a restaurant and the server brings you steak and potatoes. You’d say something, right? Tell them they got your order wrong? Expect them to fix the mix-up?
Not if you were dining at The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders in Tokyo, Japan, where part of the dining experience is not knowing whether you’re going to get what you order. You have about a 1 in 3 chance that you won’t, but those odds are in place for the best reason.
The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders employes people with dementia as servers, fully knowing that sometimes they’re going to get customers’ orders wrong. Customers who eat there know this fact as well. It’s all just part of the adventure of dining at a restaurant designed to increase kindness and reduce isolation for people with cognitive impairments.
The pop-up restaurant is a collaboration between creator Shiro Oguni and a group home for people with dementia.
“Like everybody else, my awareness of dementia at first tended towards negative images of people who were ‘radically forgetful’ and ‘aimlessly wandering about,'” Oguni shared with Japan’s government website. “But actually, they can cook, clean, do laundry, go shopping and do other ‘normal’ things for themselves.”
Oguni was worried at first that people might criticize the concept of the restaurant, as if people with dementia were being treated as a carnival show or being made a laughingstock. But he says that when people see the smiles on the faces of the servers and how much joy and confidence they gain from having a purpose and being viewed as still capable, they are moved.
“The restaurant is not about whether orders are executed incorrectly or not,” noted Oguni. “The important thing is the interaction with people who have dementia.” It’s a win-win. The people with dementia aren’t as isolated, and 99% of the people who visit The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders leaves feeling happy.
“Dementia is not what a person is, but just part of who they are,” said Oguni. “People are people. The change will not come from them, it must come from society. By cultivating tolerance, almost anything can be solved.”
People love the idea of creating a space where people with dementia can work have other people to interact with.
“Kindness, inclusion, and compassion are the hallmarks of making someone feel like a human being despite adversity in their circumstances,” shared one commenter on Instagram. “These people are sweet human beings who deserve not to be given up on by society.”
“Instead of sticking them in a home and avoiding them, they are including them and giving them the ability to live, a sense of purpose, a reason to smile. I think it’s a beautiful concept,” wrote another.
“The beauty of a community choosing to meet people where they are instead of forcing them into a mold they no longer fit. Change the mold, change the result. Love this idea,” shared another.
Many people pointed to the collectivist mindset in Japan, where societal well-being is more important than individual ambition, as something to aspire to. But even in Japan, The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders is a novel experiment that has proven to be a success.
“The image of ‘Cool Japan’ is recently gathering much enthusiasm, but I think ‘Warm Japan’ is just as important,” said Oguni. “I want to promote a Japan that cultivates a warm, comfortable environment, so people will return home with smiles and a glow in their hearts.”
A beautiful goal for any nation to have. Learn more about The Restaurant for Mistaken Orders here.
Tom Izzo has been a college basketball coach for a long time. While he has brought plenty of success to the Michigan State basketball program — he’s made eight Final Fours and won one national title — Izzo has always had a bit of a … let’s call it a thorny disposition, I think that’s correct.
Like the rest of the basketball coaches in the Big Ten, Izzo addressed the media at the conference’s media day and gave this whopper of a quote.
“You know what, what’s wrong with being unhappy?” Izzo said, per Myron Medcalf of ESPN. “I’m unhappy most of my life. Unhappy drives you. Unhappy pushes you. Unhappy makes people realize, ‘You know what? I’m not good enough. I’ve got to get better.’”
Now, Izzo was saying this in the context of players leaving teams via the transfer portal. Were his comments on the portal great? Not really — Izzo essentially said athletes shouldn’t be allowed to move around freely like coaches can, because of buyouts and also because coaches have apparently paid their dues, and essentially deserve to be able to do that? I don’t know, man, I think that kind of stinks, but Tom is free to think what he wants.
Anyway, he got to that point after saying “Most coaches will be doing that at 35 and 40 and 50, not at 20 when one guy tells you to leave because you’re unhappy.” Essentially, Izzo believes in the power of wallowing in misery, and that being in a bad headspace makes you better. Perhaps this mentality is why he has won one national championship in his time in East Lansing, and he should consider reevaluating his approach.
Mike Lindell hasn’t been doing so hot for a few years now, specifically since he started pouring his extensive MyPillow wealth down the drain to get Donald Trump back in office. Not only hasn’t that worked, but it’s also gotten him in massive legal trouble. Last week he hit a new bottom, revealing that after years of financial mishegoss, he’s finally run out of money. The news caught the attention of Stephen Colbert, who lamented Lindell’s woes by dressing up like him to put his company out of its misery.
On Monday night’s iteration of The Late Show, Colbert brought up that, after fending off billion dollar lawsuits from voting machine companies he’s smeared, Lindell is claiming he’s “lost everything, every dime.” Colbert then showed video of him pleading for mercy.
“I can’t pay the lawyers. We can’t pay, there’s no money left to pay them,” Lindell told viewer in the video. He then asked for money to pay his attorneys, who he praised as “great” and “who have families, too.” But he also has to “protect” his pillow company.
When Colbert returned, he was wearing a fake mustache, posing as Lindell with one of his patented pillows, which are definitely not “lumpy.”
“I have to protect my company. No, no, no I mean it. I have to protect my company, even if it means killing it,” Colbert said in the guise of Lindell. He then grabbed a second pillow, which he used to snuff out the other pillow. “Pillow, don’t worry, the pain will be over soon.”
You can watch Colbert’s entire opening monologue from Monday night in the video above. The Lindell business begins around the nine-minute mark.
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