Nurse and mom Jinny Schmidt wants parents to be aware of a game that’s circulating amongst tweens right now, because it’s not a game at all.
In a PSA posted to her TikTok, Schmidt shared that her daughter informed her that boys in her class were beginning to play what she called “The Firetruck Game.”
As Schmidt begins to describe what the “game” entails, it’s easy to see why she’s concerned. All parents should be.
Here’s how the game works: a boy puts his hand on a girl’s lower thigh. And he tells her “my hand is a firetruck” as he slowly moves it up her leg. When the girl gets uncomfortable, she is supposed to say “red light.” Except for when the girl says “red light,” the boy responds with “sorry, firetrucks don’t stop for red lights.” And so they run their hand all the way up the girl’s leg, Schmidt explains, and sometimes they “touch the girl’s crotch.” Yikes.
Many viewers noted growing up with the Firetruck Game, or a version called “The Nervous Game,” or “Red Light Green Light.” Suddenly The “Squid Game” version of “Red Light Green Light” doesn’t seem so bad.
No matter what it’s called, though, it’s touching without consent, and is inappropriate on so many levels, not least of which being that it’s an excuse for sexual assault. Hence Schmidt’s alarm.
“I know that kids will be kids and kids will do some stupid shit, But we’ve got to do better teaching our boys to keep their hands off of other people and teaching our girls that it’s okay to have boundaries,” she says, before asking parents to “be aware” if they hear their kids talking about it.
And she is, of course, absolutely right. Folks who watched her video wholeheartedly agreed that the behavior should not be tolerated, and many shared some pretty intense, although warranted, reactions to it.
“We’d be playing a game called Ambulance next,” one person wrote.
“Press charges,” said another.
“We have a game also. It’s called ‘oops I broke your finger,’” a third added.
But many also chimed in to say that they would be talking to their kids immediately about it, which is probably the best route overall. That way kids can protect themselves, and others around them.
Middle school years in general are pretty rough. They can be just as difficult to navigate for parents as they can be for the kids going through it. It’s painful to watch your still baby-faced child go through many of the same awful pains that you did, many of which are unavoidable. But some things, like terrible and abusive games, can be avoided. So make sure to have those important conversations when you can.
On a planet with nearly 8 billion humans living on it, the uniqueness of every single person feels like a bit of a miracle. And yet here we are, each with a distinct personality and life story made up of our own experiences, perspectives, relationships and purpose.
We encounter countless other people during our lifetimes, some of whom we build bonds with and some of whom are just split-second flashes in our line of vision. And then there are occasional precious moments of connection with a perfect stranger, the mysterious magic that happens when two people share a brief interaction that makes a mark in our memories forever.
This is one of those moments.
Artist Samalia Swan was strolling the Saturday night market on Thailand’s Koh Phangan island when she saw a sweet, elderly woman selling banana cakes. She sat down across the way and surreptitiously sketched a picture of her.
After approaching the stand and buying one of her banana cakes, Swan gave the woman the picture she drew. Her reaction is sheer surprise and delight—a true testament to the power of being seen.
There’s something about watching a face that has lived a long life light up, isn’t there? The video has been viewed over 18 million times on Instagram, with nearly 2 million likes and over 15,000 comments. People loved seeing the joy in her face and the way she kissed both the money and the drawing with such tenderness.
“How do I buy all the banana cakes?” asked one person.
“Warning should have been ‘onions cutting in progress,'” wrote another.
“I don’t think some people understand how powerful it is to make others feel seen,” shared another. “You definitely made her day and she’s going to remember that for a long time.”
Someone else wrote, “I love kind humans doing kind human things. It makes my eyes tear up and my heart feel like bursting.”
“This is so precious,” offered another. “Her smile and loving old eyes. She was so surprised. Elders need a purpose and these banana cakes are her purpose.❤️”
People asked if there was a way to raise funds for the woman so she didn’t have to work, but others pointed out that she might actually enjoy selling her cakes at the market once a week. Others said it looks like she could have issues with her eyes that could be solved with a simple surgery. Swan shared that she’s going to visit again with the woman and find out more about what needs, if any, she has.
“It all began four years ago when I picked up a pen and sketched a stranger in a café,” she shared. “The act of giving away that drawing brought me immense joy – a joy of unconditional giving. Since then, drawing strangers has become my cherished hobby, and I do so with the sole intention of giving.✨”
Even if nothing more comes of her interaction with woman selling banana cakes, this beautiful example of human connection is one that Swan, the woman and the millions who witnessed it will remember and cherish.
In a world where both parents usually have to work to support a child, it’s rare that a parent can spend the entire day with their kids. So, as parents, we have to do our best to be there when they need us the most.
TikTokker Sara Martinez says there are 3 key moments a day when a parent should be with their child: the three minutes after they wake up, the three minutes after they get home from school or daycare, and the three minutes before they go to bed.
Affective neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp is widely credited with the 9-minute theory. “It’s a common thread among parents, from those who stay at home and juggle countless tasks to working parents who face their own unique challenges,” Martinez told Newsweek.
Joanna Seidel, MSW, RSW, the Clinical Director and Founder of Toronto Family Therapy & Mediation Inc., says that the 9-minute practice is probably related to attachment theory. “The times the mother is referencing in the video are all significant—they are times of routine and transition—therefore moments where critical parenting is involved,” Seidel told Parents.
I always struggle with mom guilt and questioning if i was present enough. If this is true or not, I do find setting aside specific time to be present with my toddler (no phones out, etc) has made a positive impact. #raisingkids #parenting #parentingtips #parentingtip #childpsychology #raisingtoddlers #toddlerparents #toddlermom #presentparenting #toddlermama #raisingchildren
She adds that being present for children during these 3 key moments helps foster “security, consistency, and a meaningful presence—all of which is done to form a secure (emotional and physical) foundation for your child(ren).”
The 9-minute theory resonated with many of the moms who watched the video. “This is such a comforting theory for a working mom,” Marisa wrote. “I’m not perfect but I can try to be in THOSE 9 minutes,” Emmy added.
Today’s kids are busier than ever, which means parents are often feeding them something quick on those days. A quick go to has been Lunchables, a prepackaged kid-friendly meal with a sweet treat inside. Some are just made to be snacks and those contain crackers, cheese, luncheon meat and cookies or candy. But the other Lunchables come complete with full sandwiches, pizza, chicken nuggets or hot dogs and include a drink.
They made the perfect thing to grab in a pinch and fit perfectly into lunch boxes. But parents are getting a jolt as a new consumer release reveals that these solutions to a quick meal or snack actually contain large amounts of lead. Yes, lead. Turns out there isn’t really a regulation on how much lead can be in foods in America outside of California. One dad took to social media to express his dismay at the discovery of this information.
Pearlmania500 says in a shocked tone, “oh my God, Lunchables have lead in them? They got 74% of the maximum allowable dose. We have a maximum allowable doses of lead? On no, that’s in California because there is no federal limit so you can just put–THERE’S NO FEDERAL LIMIT TO HOW MUCH LEAD YOU CAN PUT IN A LUNCHABLE!”
Consumer reports research is out there for all concerned parents to see #parenting #schoollunch #moms #dads #grandparents #PTA #pizza #pearlmania500 #news getting harder to trust these food companies
The more he reads the consumer report, the more shocked he becomes at the staggering amount of lead found in these products our children consume. Parents in the comments are just as flabbergasted as he is.
“Thank goodness it’s not in paint anymore so paint chips are now safer to eat than luncables,” someone writes.
“WAIT IS THAT WHY THE CEO OF THE COMPANY SAID HE WOULDN’T FEED THEM TO HIS KIDS,” a commenter questions.
“Well thank God they took the lead out of the paint and made sure the kids eat it in their lunch,” another writes.
“My daughter has high lead levels and we couldn’t figure out why. We changed everything except eating lunchables,” someone else says.
One commenter wrote a multi-comment response to the video explaining that his college professor warned them of the high levels of lead in foods. Others were now suddenly thankful their parents couldn’t afford to buy Lunchables when they were children. This will likely be something that spurs change, but in the meantime parents are probably going to toss out these quick meals just in case.
It’s mu-fu-‘ Lunchables, man 5 dollars a pack We gon’ make… | Flickr
The “sandwich technique,” also known as a “compliment sandwich” or “feedback sandwich,” has been a tool for delivering criticism since the 1940s. But it really became something of a workplace staple after 1984, thanks to Mary Kay Ash’s book “People Management.”
The idea seems sound enough. The deliverer of the criticism would first offer a compliment to the recipient, followed by the actual feedback, then another bit of praise. This should theoretically allow the criticism to be received without bruising any ego or hurting any feelings. Everybody wins.
But according to organizational psychologist and bestselling author Adam Grant, the compliment sandwich “doesn’t taste as good as it looks.”
One being that people are simply too familiar with it. So whatever compliment is given, no matter how genuine it may be, people know what’s coming next and they begin “waiting for the other shoe drop.” Knowing the compliments are obligatory can actually make someone take the criticism ever more personally.
Two: the opposite can happen. Because people tend to remember the first and last parts of a conversation, the criticism might be downplayed or outright buried underneath the positive feedback. This goes especially for narcissists, Grant notes.
Luckily there is a kind, yet efficient way to give some tough love. And it all boils down to one simple sentence:
“I’m giving you these comments because I have very high expectations and I know that you can reach them.”
The phrase comes from a 2013 study conducted by researchers at Stanford,who were able to increase a student’s openness to criticism by at least 40% just by using those 19 words.
As Grant explains, this strategy works because it conveys an intention to help a person become the best version of themselves. “It’s surprisingly easy to hear a hard truth when it comes from someone who believes in your potential and cares about your success.”
Of course, using the exact words isn’t mandatory. The point is focusing on helping someone improve, rather than attacking or patronizing them.
To that point, Grant also has a few other helpful pointers, like not assuming a position of superiority, asking if the person is open to feedback first (Grant attests they usually welcome it) and lastly, keeping the language transparent, not manipulative.
At the end of the day, most people want to grow, become better people, and live up to their potential. Remembering that one little truism can go a long way.
Dr. Karan Rajan, a super popular TikTok user who creates videos about health and medical mysteries, posted a video about the dangers of flushing the toilet with the lid open and it will definitely change how many people use the restroom.
It will also make those who’ve always flushed with the lid open recoil in fear and shiver with regret. According to the doctor, every time you flush the toilet, an invisible raging sewage volcano flies out of the bowl, contaminating everything in the bathroom.
“Your puny human eyes can’t see this, but there’s a tidal wave of microscopic particles that fill the air after a flush,” Dr. Rajan says before sharing a video that appears to have been filmed with an infrared camera. The video shows that when a toilet is flushed, particles from the bowl are projected into the air at 2 meters (6.5 feet) per second.
“The same droplets can reach 15 meters (49 feet) above the toilet bowl within 8 seconds. Toilet soup goes everywhere,” Dr. Rajan says in the video.
(Note: The audio appears to have been disabled on the video.)
Dr. Rajan ends the video by sharing some basic hygiene tips: “Close the lid, wash your hands, stop touching your eyes so much and maybe move your toothbrush.”
While the video may upset those who have flushed with the lid open for years, one commenter made a horrifying observation. “So flushing whilst still sitting down is a bad idea then,” Kevin Wilson wrote in the comments. “This is the first thing that I thought when I watched this,” Mr Unknown added.
Dua Lipa’s third studio album, Radical Optimism is almost here. And tonight (April 12), the pop powerhouse has given us a new taste from the long-awaited album. Her new single, “Illusion” features Lipa with a sharper lens, and won’t be easily swayed by any man’s tricks
Written and produced alongside Caroline Ailin, Danny L. Harle, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Kevin Parker, “Illusion” is a punchy track, as Lipa rises to the top her fierce, confident game.
“Ooh, what you doin’? / Don’t know who you think that you’re confusing / I be like, ‘Ooh, it’s amusing / You think I’m gonna fall for an illusion,’” sings Lipa on the song’s chorus.
“‘Illusion’ was the first song Caroline, Danny, Tobias, Kevin and I worked on together, and it really broke the ice for the record,” said Lipa about the song in a statement. “It’s about knowing what you’re getting yourself into, but staying for the hell of it. The joke’s on them, it’s the fun of playing someone at their own game because ultimately you won’t fall for an illusion.”
In the song’s accompanying video — directed by Tanu Muino — Lipa delivers some of her most elaborate choreography yet, as she dancers along high divers and synchronized at the Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc in Barcelona.
You can see the video for “Illusion” above.
Radical Optimism is out 5/3 via Warner Records. Find more information here.
Drake has reportedly been dismissed from all Astroworld lawsuits, according to TMZ. The publication shared that the “First Person Shooter” hitmaker was granted a motion for summary judgment and as a result, all the claims against him were dismissed.
Court documents obtained by TMZ noted that a judge in Harris County, Texas heard the Astroworld-related arguments and chose to dismiss all claims against Drake with prejudice.
Drake had been previously named a defendant in some lawsuits related to the Astroworld Festival tragedy of 2021. Plaintiffs had reportedly alleged that Drake, who performed on stage at the festival as a guest of the founder and creator, rapper Travis Scott, helped incite the crushing frenzy, which resulted in several deaths and injuries.
Drake reportedly argued that him showing up as a guest of Scott shouldn’t be grounds for legal action. Evidently, he added that he shouldn’t be held responsible for any injuries or casualties, as he wasn’t involved with planning the festival.
Scott, along with Apple, also reportedly asked to be removed from the lawsuits, suggesting that safety measures were not his responsibility. However, a Harris County judge denied both Scott’s and Apple’s request.
The Astroworld trial is scheduled to begin in May.
Being a fan of great tequila can be an expensive hobby. While you can find a lot of great bottles between the $30 and $50 price range, there actually is something special about those “over $100” bottles. Yes, that’s right, I’m sorry to say it because I love a good deal as much as the next person, but expensive bottles can provide an experience that a lot of the cheaper bottles just can’t match.
But, and this is important, don’t fall into the assumption that just because a bottle is expensive, it’s great. I don’t want to name any names here, but many of the most popular brands out there charge a premium because of extravagant bottle design or name recognition. And it straight up sucks to shell out a whole lot of money on a bottle only to end up thinking “What’s the big deal?” when you take a sip.
To help guide you to some truly great bottles, we’re pointing you in the direction of our favorite tequilas over $100 and ranking them from great to outstanding. Believe it or not, there is a tier even higher than this once you get into the $200-$300 range, but we’ll save that for another day. Let’s drink!
Jose Cuervo, despite being the best-selling tequila brand in the entire industry, has a less-than-stellar reputation amongst tequila enthusiasts. That’s a shame because of the Reserva De La Familia line, the brand’s top-shelf expressions, are all pretty damn amazing.
For this line, Jose Cuervo uses only the inner portions of hand-harvested agave that is planted in the estate’s rich volcanic soil and cooked a La Rojeña for 40 hours before its roller mill extracted and twice distilled in copper pots. The tequila is then aged for three years in American and French white oak barrels and blended with vintage reserves.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: More oak than anything here, with some sweet vanilla and cinnamon peering through. Let this one breathe for a while after you pour it.
Palate: Toasted almonds with some bitter coffee notes, a rush of sweet vanilla, cinnamon, and dark and rich molasses.
Finish:Toasty and leathery with some oak and caramel.
The Bottom Line:
Toasty and rich, this is the sort of aged tequila that comes across as heavy and decadent.
For a time Volcan De Mi Tierra’s XA was a bottle-service exclusive that could cost your table well over $1000 a bottle. Thankfully, those days are over as the XA has hit the retail space in recent years giving us a much more manageable price.
This XA additive-free tequila is crafted at NOM 1523, Agrotequilera de Jalisco, and features a blend of reposado, añejo, and extra añejo tequilas made from agave cooked in a high-pressure autoclave that is rested in American White Oak barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A mix of rich chocolate and roasted agave. Sweet and inviting.
Palate: Devil’s food chocolate with some nutty coffee tones, dark cherry fruitiness, and delicate floral honey. Very pleasing and easy to drink.
Finish: Super smooth with a gentle spice.
The Bottom Line:
Smooth and remarkably easy to drink. It’s not heavy on the agave brightness though, so if that’s what you’re looking for you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Cierto is a multi-award winning tequila picking up nearly 100 awards in its brief life including Tequila of the Year 2019 at Intl. Spirits Competition NYC, Best Reposado at Craft Distillers Spirits Competition in 2022, and Double Gold at both the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the SIP awards in 2023.
So if you’re coming to this bottle with high expectations, you should, and luckily, it delivers. The tequila is produced at NOM 1146, Tequileña. It is an additive-free tequila using agave cooked in a low-pressure autoclave that is then roller mill extracted, fermented in open-air fermentation fibers, twice distilled in copper pots, and aged for 18 months in French oak casks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Warm roasted agave notes dominate the nose but there is the slightest hint of chili pepper lingering. It’s inviting and sweet.
Palate: Bright mango notes mixed with chili powder with a balance of vegetal qualities and the more mellow notes of oak.
Finish: Chocolate and oak, this tequila finishes with that barrel-aged flavor but doesn’t come across as too woody, there is a lot of sweetness here that owns the finish.
The Bottom Line:
Bright and spicy with a lot of agave character and a subtle mellow finish.
By far Mijenta’s best expression, the añejo is premium sipping tequila through and through.
This additive-free tequila is produced at NOM 1412, Destiladora de Los Altos, Magenta’s agave is cooked in low-pressure autoclaves before being roller mill extracted and fermented in stainless steel tanks, double distilled in a stainless still pot and aged for a minimum of 18 months in French Oak, American White Oak, and Cherry barrels and Acacia casks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: I’m getting prominent chocolate notes over shifting caramel, roasted agave, cinnamon, and anise qualities. A real bouquet of sensations.
Palate: The flavor begins in juicy sweet cherry territory before morphing into slightly bitter roasted black tea and caramel and a gentle dusting of nutmeg.
Finish: A mix of oak and coffee with a warm melted chocolate flavor that rests on the tongue and grows in intensity between sips.
The Bottom Line:
Deeply complex and delicious, this tequila leans into rich tones with dark fruit character.
Valor is the only blanco on our list, which might give you pause considering paying over $100 for a blanco is rare. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Produced at NOM 1599, Familia Landeros, Valor’s blanco tequila is additive-free and made from agave cooked in a low-pressure autoclave that is roller mill extracted, fermented in open-air fermentation tanks and twice distilled in a stainless steel pot.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A medley of cooked agave, rosemary sage, and citrus, with a tiny hint of rainwater.
Palate: Agave at the forefront with some orange citrus and salt and an earthy dustiness, like fresh crushed black peppercorns.
Finish: Lots of citrus on the backend, with some green pepper, herbs, and a strong minerality.
The Bottom Line:
Agave forward and earthy. A simple pure tequila with a deep flavor worth exploring.
3. El Tesoro — Mundial Knob Creek 2023 Edition Añejo
Dropped at the tail end of 2023, this special release from El Tesoro was overseen by master distiller Carle Camarena and was aged for 12 months in charred oak whiskey barrels from Knob Creek.
Those barrels provide a palpable whiskey character, so if you’re a whiskey fan dipping your toes into the world of aged tequila this is a great choice for you. But drink sparingly, this is a limited release so once it’s gone it’s gone.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich cinnamon and dew hover over a roasted agave body.
Palate: Very delicate with a buttery quality, black pepper, citrus zest, more of the cinnamon from the nose, and a floral sweetness.
Finish: Smooth with high minerality, soft oak qualities, and an all-spice aftertaste.
The Bottom Line:
A tequila truly worth savoring and one that never gets boring for your tastebuds to explore.
I might’ve given Cascahuín’s Extra Añejo the top spot if it wasn’t so hard to find right now. Hopefully, that’s remedied soon (it’s readily available in Mexico) but if you do manage to come across this bottle pick it up without question. Not convinced. Fine. This additive-free aged expression hails from NOM 1123, Tequila Cascahuin, and is aged for four years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: So peppery it tickles the nose! I’m getting delicate vanilla tones, dried cranberries, and caramel with oak hovering over it all. A lot going on here!
Palate: Caramelized agave mixed with a bit of cocoa bitterness and berries and a gentle kiss of cinnamon.
Finish: A bit spicy and fruity with a lot of oak.
The Bottom Line:
A rich fruity and spicy aged tequila perfect for slow sipping and savoring.
G4 is beloved by tequila enthusiasts for its high quality and relatively affordable blanco. The blanco is additive-free, under $40, and has a wonderful agave-forward flavor that is bright and spikey. So if all you’ve had is the blanco, I don’t blame you, why spend more money when the cheapest bottle is capable of being your favorite? But trust us, if you love tequila you need to try the other expressions because they’re worth the higher price tag.
With this Extra Añejo you still get all of the bright grassy agave forward flavor of the blanco, with just a bit more complexity and a silkier mouthfeel thanks to the three years it spends aging in Tennessee whiskey barrels/
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Really lush tones at the nose, a mix of caramelized agave, delicate jasmine flowers, cracked black pepper, wet earth, and vanilla.
Palate: The agave bite and grassy flavor of the blanco is here joined by a mix of dessert tones like sweet vanilla, spicy cinnamon, and baking spices.
Finish: Silky smooth with a very light barrel influence.
The Bottom Line:
An añejo that still comes across as bright and grassy with some dessert-like complexity and surprisingly light barrel influence. For me, a person whose favorite expression is blanco, that’s a welcome rarity.
Despite what you might think, there is a hierarchy of possessed dolls. Chauncey, M3GAN, and that weirdo little boy are the new kids on the block, but they wouldn’t be anywhere without the sacrifices made by their ancestors, like Billy the Puppet or Annabelle. And then there’s… Chucky.
Chucky doesn’t “play by the rules,” which is funny because he is literally a doll, but the little menace has been taking jabs at other demonic dolls for a while now, which is honestly pretty low. They should not be pitted against each other when there is so little representation as there is. And yet, Chucky has continued his feud with M3GAN, the It-doll of the moment in the new season of his TV show.
In season three, episode five of Syfy series Chucky, the titular doll is channel surfing when he comes across M3GAN. Who even cares if that movie isn’t on cable? Chucky is immediately disgusted by her and begins to yell curse words that a child doll should never have heard in the first place.
“Little bitch, she stole my moves!” he says before adding, “F*ck you, M-‘Three’-gan.” That’ll show her.
Chucky saying this about Megan was probably my favorite part about this episode pic.twitter.com/wt4D3osZns
It didn’t stop there: Chucky also tuned into The Boy, which he called “a joke” and laughed at the puppet in Dead Silence, saying, “This one didn’t even get a franchise.” All the little possessed dolls and puppets around the world who dreamed of leading their own movie were crushed.
Unfortunately, it seems like this won’t be the last from them. Jason Blum, the producer of M3GANthinks Chucky wouldn’t stand a chance. “There’s no question that M3GAN would definitely win. She’s much smarter than Chucky,” he told Syfy last year. Forget Godzilla X Kong, why are we not funding M3gan X Chucky? There seems to be more potential there.
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