Movies are made to entertain! It’s exactly why there are so many Shrek sequels. So, yes, even though all the sequels, reboots and revivals have been popping up on the scene, as long as someone enjoys it, the movie is serving its intended purpose. Nobody specifically asked for Bad Boys: Ride or Die, but it has been gifted to us despite all of the setbacks, so we might as well take it.
The fourth installment in the franchise brings back Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as two Miami detectives who must investigate when their late Captain is posthumously being accused of working with a drug cartel. Vanessa Hudgens, Eric Dane, Alexander Ludwig and Paola Núñez also star.
The sequel is set to hit theaters on June 7th, but early screeners took place across the country last night, so we finally have a little bit of insight on the sequel. Turns out, it’s a lot of fun, which is exactly what we want from a movie called Bad Boys.
People who attended the screening are praising the flick for being “a total blast” and the funniest film yet. Here’s what they are saying:
Just saw @BadBoys#badboys Ride or Die! The action is just as good as you’d expect, and it might be the funniest yet? Biggest applause(s) in my screening went to Dennis Greene as Reggie for reasons I’ll let you see for yourselves!
I love the Bad Boys franchise. This one raised every bar. It’s nonstop hilarious. Innovative action beats. So much chemistry with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
#BADBOYS RIDE OR DIE is a total blast. It’s crazy how Adil & Bilali have tapped into the strong emotional core of this series without sacrificing any of its insane fun. Smith & Lawrence bring their A-game, the supporting cast step it way up (REGGIE!), & shit blows up real good. pic.twitter.com/BYcEehBLmy
The #BadBoys agenda is alive & well, long & strong
It feels good to have FUN movies in theaters, ya know? It has its serious moments when it needs to but its overall goal is to ENTERTAIN. Bring some escapism..
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are still great at busting each others’ balls, the new mystery is compelling (Eric Dane is a great baddie) and Adil & Bilall’s action sequences are loaded with inventive staging and camerawork.
When is Billie Eilish’s new album, Hit Me Hard And Soft, available to stream on Apple Music? The singer’s third studio album was announced on April 8, and although she hasn’t officially released any singles for it yet, the teases she’s given fans ahead of its release have produced plenty of anticipation for the full project.
Fortunately, fans won’t have to wait long to hear it in its entirety; with a due date of May 17, Hit Me Hard And Soft will be available to stream in just a few hours from this writing, at midnight Eastern time, 9 PM Pacific.
During her listening party for the album at Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn, New York last night, Billie graphically professed her own excitement, saying, “I could sh*t myself right now! Do we wanna hear something? Alright, dudes, so I’m gonna play you the entire album — front to back — and I’m not gonna pause it in the middle, and I’m not gonna talk. Well, I don’t know. Maybe I will. But I’m trying not to talk. I’m doing my best.”
No one could blame her for overflowing with enthusiasm; Billie’s last album, Happier Than Ever, was released nearly three years ago. With its follow-up just hours away, she’s more than justified in bursting with anticipation.
NIKI entitled her last single “Too Much Of A Good Thing.” Her fans would probably argue that there is no such thing as too much NIKI, and that theory will be put to the test this year.
Earlier this week, NIKI announced her 2024-25 world tour. The tour will begin in North America before weaving through Europe and Asia, and then wrapping up with an Australian/New Zealand leg.
The North American, UK, and European pre-sale began on Wednesday, May 15, and additional pre-sales are running until the general on-sale this Friday, May 17, at 10 a.m. local time. Because of the pre-sales, we can give an estimate as to how much tickets could cost.
According to Ticketmaster, tickets run between $83.50 and $127.50 (before fees and taxes) for NIKI’s opening date at Budweiser Stage in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on September 5. Tickets begin around $78 for NIKI’s show at MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, Massachusetts on September 7. There are also VIP packages available, ranging between $164 and $271.
Find more ticketing information here, and see all of NIKI’s Buzz World Tour dates below.
Buzz is out 8/9 via 88rising. Find more information here.
The impending arrival of NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony And Ziva meant that CBS’ naval-criminal-investigative procedural franchise had been riding a new high. And then came the announcement that Paramount had opted to ax NCIS: Hawai’i and, to add further frustration in fans’ eyes, they did so after a cliffhanger season finale.
There will be no closure for those who watched three seasons revolving around NCIS Pearl Harbor, and that has disappointed a vocal group of viewers. Unlike with NBC’s Law & Order: Organized Crime, as well, there will be no streaming-service move for an additional season(s), and that has left a bad taste in some viewers’ procedural-loving mouths after “financials” was the reason given for the cancellation. Apparently, not even moving LL Cool J over from NCIS: Los Angeles had fixed the situation.
As noted by Daily Express, there’s now a blame game going around with viewers suggesting that Origins is the true reason for the Hawai’i cancellation: “This is why NCIS Hawaii was cancelled… budget for this show & NCIS Origins (think that’s the name) about Gibbs in his younger years leading up to him becoming a NCIS agent.” That led to calls for a boycott that are ongoing. Will this make an impact on Origins‘ viewership?
“NCIS: Hawaii fans threaten to ‘boycott’ new franchise addition following cancellation”…..of course we are because #CBSIsStale and the shows aren’t worth watching #SaveNCISHawaiihttps://t.co/u3Wl15Aaln
I don’t usually watch procedurals, I really don’t like copaganda, but I made an exception for NCISHI because of all the things that are special about it. So no, @CBS, I’m not going to watch your new show. It’s #SaveNCISHawaii or nothing. #WeAreOhanahttps://t.co/xPCqYGR4ma
— this user is in her villan era `°` (@qelaay) May 15, 2024
This is ridiculous. Such an amazing show and there is no good reason to cancel it. I honestly would boycott all CBS shows at this point if it weren’t for Liv in NCIS Sydney. TV stations and streaming services need to stop this $hit now! https://t.co/eTOibQ5RUw
— Katie Drury the self-appointed co-co-captain (@forgottenone324) April 27, 2024
The Hangout Music Festival returns for its 14th year this weekend with headliners Lana Del Rey, Odesza, and Zach Bryan. The festival runs from Friday, May 17, to Sunday, May 19, at Alabama’s Gulf Shores. You can see the set times for this year’s festival below.
The Hangout Music Festival was launched in November 2009, with the first festival in 2010. It has run every year since, except for 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, and also provides a full size roller rink, beach volleyball, and an in-ground pool at the main stage.
Friday, May 17
Hangout Stage: The Stews (1:30-2:15), David Kushner (3:00-4:00), A Day To Remember(5:00-6:00), Dominic Fike (7:15-8:15), Lana Del Rey (9:30) Shoreline Stage: Brenn! (2:15-3:00), The Beaches (4:15-5:00), Del Water Gap (6:15-7:15), NLE Choppa (8:30-9:15) Mermaid Stage: Linka Moja (1:15-2:00), Laci Kaye Booth (3:30-4:15), G Flip (5:45-6:30), Matt Maeson (8:00-9:00) Monster Beach Club: Madds (1:00-2:00), Coco & Breezy (3:00-4:00), LF System (5:00-6:15), Eliza Rose (7:15-8:15) Boom On The Beach: Bunt (2:00-3:00), Daily Bread (4:00-5:00), Troyboi (6:15-7:15), The Chainsmokers (8:15-9:30)
Saturday, May 18
Hangout Stage: Knox (1:30-2:15), Chappel Roan (3:00-4:00), Jessie Murph (5:00-6:00), Cage The Elephant (7:15-8:15), Odesza (9:30) Shoreline Stage: Dasha (2:15-3:00), Dylan Gossett (4:00-5:00), Qveen Herbie (6:00-7:00), Koe Wetzel (8:15-9:15) Mermaid Stage: Willow Avalon (1:15-2:00), The Taylor Party (3:30-4:30), Alana Springsteen (5:45-6:30), Flyana Boss (8:00-8:45) Monster Beach Club: Darius (12:30-1:15), Sommer Ray (1:15-2:00), Brandi Cyrus (3:00-4:00), Vnssa B2B Nala (5:00-6:15), Le Youth (7:15-8:30) Boom On The Beach: Westend (2:00-3:00), Disco Lines (4:00-5:00), Sexyy Red (6:30-7:15), Alison Wonderland (8:30-9:30)
Sunday, May 19
Hangout Stage: Little Stranger (1:30-2:15), All Time Low (3:00-4:00), Nelly (5:00-6:00), Renée Rapp (7:15-8:15), Zach Bryan (9:15) Shoreline Stage: Hemlocke Spring (2:15-3:00), Dexter And The Moon Rocks (4:15-5:00), Megan Moroney (6:00-7:00), Doechii (8:25-9:10) Mermaid Stage: Jaime Wyatt (1:15-2:00), Tanner Adell (3:30-4:15), Paul Russell (5:45-6:30), Wyatt Flores (8:00-9:00) Monster Beach Club: Absnth (1:00-2:00), Inji (3:00-4:00), Austin Millz (5:00-6:15), Chromeo (DJ Set) (7:15-8:15) Boom On The Beach: Odd Mob X Omnom Hyperbeam (2:00-3:00), Kasbo (4:00-5:00), Dom Dolla (6:15-7:15), Subtronics (8:15-9:15)
Each week our staff of film and television experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish shows available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.
If you’re going to do unadulterated nostalgia, at least make it as fun (and occasionally devastating) as X-Men ‘97. The Disney Plus animated series is a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series, which aired from 1992 to 1997, and follows the team of mutants as they do mutant-like things. Do we really need to explain what the X-Men show is about? It’s about the X-Men.
The last time Park Chan-wook directed a limited series, it was The Little Drummer Girl. That turned out pretty good. Now, the Korean filmmaker is back with another excellent addition to his filmography.
Based on author Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel of the same, The Sympathizer is described as “an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over.” The cast is led by Hoa Xuande and Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr., who plays multiple characters.
Fallout is an adaptation of Bethesda’s behemoth franchise, a story set within the retro-futuristic world that’s captivated console users for years and years. Yes, there are delightful little nods to in-game storylines – Pip-Boys and Nuka-Cola and Radaway, but they either serve a larger purpose or don’t linger for too long, ensuring that the show stands on its own two feet. Long-time gamers should have little to gripe about while those craving better genre fare amidst the streaming glut should come away satisfied. Whether you know its history or not, Fallout is a f*cking blast of a sci-fi show that defies expectations in the most unconventional of ways (and turned Walton Goggins into a sex symbol).
There’s no Keanu Reeves (yet), but Knuckles should delight the lil’ Sonic fans in your home. The Paramount Plus series has Idris Elba reprising his role as the red echidna from the movies, while the rest of the cast includes Adam Pally, Cary Elwes, Edi Patterson, and Stockard Channing. Over the course of six episodes, Knuckles goes on a “journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train [Pally’s character] Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior.” Is it too much to hope for a Big the Cat cameo?
The less you learn in advance about Baby Reindeer, the better. Just know that it’s one of the most talked-about shows of the year so far, and it’s getting favorably compared to I May Destroy You and Fleabag. Don’t waste your time speculating, as requested by creator and star Richard Gadd. Watch it.
Apple TV’s breakout hit The Big Door Prize returns for a second season, which follows “the residents of Deerfield as the Morpho machine readies them for the mysterious ‘next stage.’ As everyone’s potentials are exchanged for visions, new relationships form and new questions are asked,” according to the official plot synopsis. Chris O’Dowd is back, as is Josh Segarra, in case you’re missing my dude Lance from The Other Two. I know I am.
The spy thriller from creator Steven Knight stars Elisabeth Moss and Yumna Marwan as “two women who play a deadly game of truth and lies on the road from Istanbul to Paris and London. One woman has a secret, the other a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost.” You had me at Elisabeth Moss.
To quote Kimberly Ricci’s glowing review: “Through a skillful turn from the Hacks writers, the third season does something different than its two predecessors and succeeds mightily. Is the power struggle completely over? No way, but there is no question that these two women are meant to be together, and that they enhance each other professionally. As well, they somehow begin to really connect on a personal level and — wait for it — make each other better humans. It sounds sappy, but it rolls well.”
Black Twitter: A People’s History is a three-part documentary series from Insecure showrunner Prentice Penny that “charts the rise, the movements, the voices and the memes that made Black Twitter an influential and dominant force in nearly every aspect of American political and cultural life.” Those interviewed include author Roxane Gay, comedian W. Kamau Bell, and journalist Jemele Hill.
An actually sexy romantic-comedy, what a concept! The Idea of You stars Anne Hathaway as a single mom who attends Coachella with her teenage daughter. While there, she meets Hayes Campbell, played by Bottoms breakout Nicholas Galitzine, the lead singer of the boy band August Moon. The two begin a romance that definitely (wink) isn’t inspired by Harry Styles. The Idea of You is getting rave reviews, as it should: Anne Hathaway rules.
Zac Efron gives an Oscar-worthy performance in this A24 drama from writer and director Sean Durkin about the Von Erich family of wrestlers. The Iron Claw, which also stars Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons, Holt McCallany, and Lily James, is definitely worth watching, but fair warning: it’s a heartbreaker. If you were waiting to watch it at home because you didn’t want to ugly-cry in public at a theater, now’s your chance.
Have you heard? He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died. Is Madame Web a good movie? No. In fact, it’s one of the worst comic book movies of all-time. But that’s why it’s a perfect watch on Netflix. Slip into your comfiest Spider-Man pajamas, grab a bottle of wine, and enjoy Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney sleepwalking their way through this entertaining disaster.
Doctor Who is separated into two eras: the original run from 1963 to 1989 and the relaunch, which began in 2005 and continues to this day. The new season is the 14th since it was revived, but it’s officially referred to as “Doctor Who Season One.” Got all that? If you’re a Doctor Who fan, of course you do. But to everyone else who is probably very confused, it’s never been easier to watch the iconic British series now that it’s on Disney Plus with Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Millie Gibson as his companion, the wonderfully-named Ruby Sunday. Is it too soon to dream of a TARDIS at Disneyland?
Season 1 of Outer Range careened down an illogical hill with abandon, but it did so gracefully. It’s such a delicate balance that I wondered if a second season could maintain that same feat. Fortunately, my worries were unfounded. Outer Range is still kind-of a mess and sometimes feels like a full-on identity crisis, but the package is skillfully combined. It also considers enormous questions about human existence but doesn’t take itself seriously by claiming to have every answer (you can our full review here).
One of Netflix’s most popular shows is back for a new season (well, a new half season) of high society drama, “f*ck you” nude scenes, and orchestral covers. Season 3 of Bridgerton will focus on Penelope, who “has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin after hearing his disparaging words about her last season,” according to Netflix. “She has, however, decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters.” There’s already one scorching scene to look forward to.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Please Don’t Cry isn’t just Rapsody’s most personal and vulnerable album – it’s also her best. It’s often been said that music is therapy, but sometimes, going to therapy leads to making better music. For as much has been made of authenticity in rap over the past several weeks, just what that means has become increasingly debatable. Thankfully, Rapsody’s latest, in addition to being one of those timeless projects that will stick to listeners’ ribs long after the last song has played, is a refreshing palate cleanser for a month of vitriol – as self-love tends to be.
Self-love is also the centerpiece of the conversation Rapsody and I had about the new album and the positive growth she’s experienced since we last spoke. The album had been in the works since then, but Rapsody withheld it all this time to ensure that it would be perfect – or at least, as close to that ideal as any art can ever get. The time was well spent; while a prototype version of this project could have been a top release in anyone else’s catalog, the four years Rap spent tweaking the sound and evolving as a person resulted in an album that stands alongside all-time classics like The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill and Mac Miller’s Swimming, albums that have also sparked the sort of emotional reaction and introspection Please Don’t Cry does.
Please Don’t Cry, what a title.
That’s what it is, you should. You should allow yourself to feel. Whatever that feeling is — and it may not be sad — allow yourself to be human. That’s the core and the root of what that statement means. It’s ironic because no, but please do. Laugh when you cry. Laugh when you’re in love so much, your eyes drool. Rinse your soul of the pain. Don’t hold it. Release it so you can feel lighter.
And I did a lot of releasing in that way, during my healing. I cried a lot. I allowed myself to feel a lot. I got angry a lot. I allowed myself to feel all the things, but I also found my joy again. And that’s why the title meant so much to me. I was on Pinterest and I found the title within a quote, and it said, “No, please don’t cry. You won’t always feel so broken.” And that’s what it is. It’s all temporary. It doesn’t last forever. But the grace is, allow yourself to feel it, but don’t sit in it. That’s all.
Interestingly enough, this was one of those albums that brought me to the point of tears. Most recently, Tierra Whack’s “Two Night” did that for me; before that, it was Rexx Life Raj. What are the albums in hip-hop that have done that for you?
Definitely, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill — “Tell Him” [and] “Zion.” Mac Miller’s “2009.” The whole album because of his situation, but particularly, “2009” brings it out. Jay-Z’s “Lost Ones.” Ghostface [Killah], “2nd Childhood.” I want to throw [Erykah] Badu in there because she’s hip-hop to me, so “Time’s A Wastin.” I know it’s not rap. It’s not rapping, it’s hip-hop.
Tell me about working with Erykah on “3:AM.”
I knew, in the beginning, I didn’t want to have a lot of rap verses because it was so personal. I wanted to have a lot of singers on it to evoke that emotion in what soul music does, and I can’t sing. So every song, I would do the song first, and we would sit and really live with the record and say, “Whose instrument, as far as voice, do we hear to complete the story and what we’re trying to say?” So Badu was the first name that came to mind. I listened to it, and that’s who I heard. And I’m thankful that she was so graceful and said, “Yes.”
We worked on “3:AM” for about 10 months. And I appreciated the process of watching how she crafts her records, and that’s how I grew in that way.
Why did you want to use this group of people, especially Baby Tate, who was one of Uproxx’s first cover artists?
I love Baby Tate as a rapper, but even more as a singer. But I originally wanted “A Ballad For Homegirls” to feel like a conversation amongst several women. I told her how much I appreciate her singing voice, and I just thought it would be dope. But I love that she gave us a little rap and a little singing. She’s so gifted and talented. She knocked it out the park.
Lil Wayne, I’ve been wanting to work with Wayne. I’ve been listening to him since I was 13. So he’s been on my list for a very, very long time, but I’ve never ever sent him a record because I’ve never had one. I never want to force it. So when we did, “Raw,” it felt good. And I was like, “I know he would kill it. I would love to hear his perspective on this particular topic. He’s who I hear.”
“Whose tone fits it? Whose frequency?” That was how I approached this cast. Badu taught me how to slow down.
I don’t want to bring up beef while we’re talking about love, but we’re in this place where the narrative of always seems to be, “He’s got 24 hours to respond.” Everything is very right now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now. And you’re like, “Mmm, let me wait. Let me chill.” Why was now the perfect time for this album?
I first started this project in March of 2020. And the first weekend I started, me and Eric G did 12 songs in two days. And I told him, I said, “We only need three more records, and we’re done.” I remember going to 9th Wonder and playing it for him at that time, and he was like, “This is your best work. It’s heavy. It’s really heavy, but your best work.” And I went back, and it was good, but I said, “I don’t know if I want a record so heavy, that is good, but people don’t want to revisit it because all it is heavy.”
So, I just kept recording. And it’s the best thing that I did because I got to really go through the healing process and not just start it, do some songs, and this is it. No, go through the whole process of healing. And I learned so much more about myself, why I do the things I do. I got to reintroduce myself to me. And I just started pouring out, pouring out, pouring out. Having a conversation with friends, they were like, “Just show everything about you; the good, the bad, the ugly, the emotional, the anger.” And so that’s what I did.
I poured out until I was like, “I’ve covered everything. I’ve covered everything.” Sometimes, four or five times over again on different beats, right. And I said, “I have nothing else to say.” And then it was about getting the right records and telling the story.
Speaking of that pouring out, when you’ve done that, what comes after that? Because now, it feels like you’ve raised the bar so high. How do you top yourself?
I really think, for the most part, projects are somewhat a snapshot of your life and where you are. So right now, I’m just kind of living. I’ve started to live by this Andy Warhol quote, which says, in a nutshell, “Just do the art. Put it out and let the people decide if it’s good or bad. And while they’re deciding, you’re onto the next thing.” My goal with every project I’ve done is to grow in some way. One might be like, “Get your cadence.” One might be, “Get your voice and inflection right.” This one was to be vulnerable, fearless, to have a deeper connection with people. I have three or four ideas of albums I want to do.
I started 2020, working on three. So I have so many ideas in my head. If I could drop four in a year, I’d be like, “Yes.” There’s so much more of me that I want to tell and give. So it’ll come together the same way this one came together. I just got to let it happen and see where I’m guided.
Please Don’t Cry is out now via We Each Other/Jamla Records/Roc Nation/Universal Music Group. Find more information here.
But perhaps the most silly-yet-surprisingly-heated household debate is the one in which we argue over which way to hang the toilet paper roll.
The “over or under” question has plagued marriages and casual acquaintances alike for over 100 years, with both sides convinced they have the soundest reasoning for putting their toilet paper loose end out or loose end under. Some people feel so strongly about right vs. wrong TP hanging that they will even flip the roll over when they go to the bathroom in the homes of strangers.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not merely an inconsequential preference. There is actually a “correct” way to hang toilet paper, according to health experts as well as the man who invented the toilet paper roll in the first place.
First, let’s be clear about what we’re even talking about here with a visual. In the image below, left is “over” and right is “under.”
So which one is the right way? According to health experts, “over” is the way to go.
“One key to maintaining a hygienic washroom is minimising contact between people and surfaces,” Dr. Christian Moro, associate professor of health sciences and medicine at Bond University on Australia’s Gold Coast, told Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “Depending on the type of roll holder, [hanging the toilet paper “over”] often lowers the chance that a user will touch the wall behind when fishing for paper, leaving germs behind on that surface which can be spread to the next user.”
Picture it: Grabbing the end of the toilet paper when it’s hung “over” means you only touch the part of the toilet paper you’re going to use. When it’s “under,” you sometimes have to fish for it or scrape your fingers on the wall in order to grab the loose end. In addition to whatever might be on people’s hands already, think about all the people who wipe twice, potentially transferring fresh fecal matter or other bacteria to the wall on the second pass, which then get picked up by other people who inadvertently touch that wall when trying to grab their TP.
And touching any surface in a bathroom is pretty nasty, according to a study from the University of Colorado. As Inc. reported: “Using a high-tech genetic sequencing tool, researchers identified 19 groups of bacteria on the doors, floors, faucet handles, soap dispensers, and toilets of 12 public restrooms in Colorado — six men’s restrooms and six women’s restrooms. Many of the bacteria strains identified could be transmitted by touching contaminated surfaces.”
Bacteria means things like e.coli, which is a common source of food poisoning and one of the most common bacteria found on bathroom surfaces in the study. If you’ve ever had a bout of food poisoning, I’m sure you’ll agree that a toilet paper roll hanging preference isn’t worth risking it.
But sanitary health concerns aren’t the only argument for the “over” camp. After all, the original patent for the toilet paper roll, issued in 1891, clearly shows the TP in the “over” position. Thank you for the clarity right from the get go, Mr. Wheeler.
Now, before the “under” folks come running with their pitchforks, there are some understandable exceptions to the “over” rule. Namely: cats and kids.
If you have a furry friend or a tiny toddler who likes to unroll the toilet paper roll, “over” makes it super fun for them, while “under” stops them in their tracks. For many people, cats and kids are the primary motivator of their TP hanging habits.
That doesn’t change the fact that “over” is actually the “correct” way to hang toilet paper according to health science and the inventor’s intention, of course, but “under” is certainly preferable to having a pile of TP on the floor.
Now go forth, do that with information as you will, and try to make peace with your over vs. under rivals.
Robbie Pierce, his husband, Neal Broverman and their two young children were traveling on an Amtrak train in California in 2022 when they were harassed by a fellow passenger at a stop in San Jose.
Broverman is the editorial director for print media at Pride, The Advocate’s parent company,
“All of a sudden, there was a man standing there next to me,” Pierce told The Advocate. The man told their son, “Remember what I told you earlier. They stole you and they’re pedophiles,” Pierce recounts. The man also said that gay people are abominations.
The police were called and the man was thrown off the train, but the incident was a frightening reminder that gay families could be the target of bigots, even in liberal Northern California. “It’s a new level of homophobia out there,” Pierce added.
Seven months later, Pierce’s son was the victim of harassment, this time from a child at a park. “A random unattended 7-year-old at the park told me and my son that gay people are the devil,” he recounted in a viral X thread. “My son scoffed, but the boy said it was true because God said so.”
Pierce reacted to the boy’s hatred — which he probably learned at home — with his own lesson. “I told him parents made up God to make their Kids do what they want. His eyes got so big,” he wrote on X.
A random unattended 7yo at the park told me and my son that gay people are the devil and are going to hell. My son scoffed, but the boy said it was true because God said so. I told him parents made up God to make their kids do what they want. His eyes got so big.
Addressing complex issues like religion and sexuality with a young child, who’s a stranger, is a tricky needle to thread, so Pierce admits he had some reservations about his response. But he stands by his decision.
“I’m sorry but if you teach your kids to hate I’m going to teach them to disobey you,” he wrote on X.
I’m sorry but if you teach your kids to hate I’m going to teach them to disobey you.
As someone who has been harassed by religious, homophobic people in the past, Pierce took the opportunity to help steer a young child away from hatred. At the age of 7, most children believe whatever their parents tell them. However, Pierce planted a seed in the child’s mind that may one day encourage him to challenge his indoctrination when he gets older.
The vast majority of commenters on X agreed with Pierce’s response to the child’s comment.
But what Robbie said wasn’t exactly wrong? And if you’re going to hell anyway, why not say it lol.
Children do not belong to their parents. He is his own person, and so are you. He interacted with a stranger, and you weren’t mean to him, you just showed him that there’s more to the world than what his parents tell him.
That was quite wrong of you to do to a kid. You had a chance to enlighten a child. You could have told him that gay people are just like everyone else and should be respected. Instead you threw his mind into darkness and chaos. You made a bad situation worse.
I’ll take: you are telling the truth and you took the time to own a seven year old kid to make yourself feel better. Very big of you. Or. You are making things up again. Either way, probably not something to hold as a moment of righteousness. Be better.
No matter how one feels about Pierce’s reaction, what’s clear is that there is something very inappropriate about a 7-year-old child openly harassing LGBTQ families. The unfortunate problem is that this type of hyper-religious upbringing can cause lasting emotional and psychological trauma to a child. And it’s a common problem. A recent study in the growing field of religious trauma found that 1 in 3 Americans suffer from trauma related to religion at some point in their life.
While we might be quick to dismiss the child’s behavior as innocent or simply as a symptom of growing up in a religious household, the more we learn about religious trauma, the more these children appear to be the victims of abuse.
A video posted to TikTok by lifestyle content creator Hunter shows both men and women entering the office for work—and there’s one stark difference between the two that has people chuckling.
The clip begins with four women, all of whom enter with at least two bags, plus multiple beverage cups. Honestly, it’s a marvel any of them manage to swipe their key card and open the door with hands that full.
Then their male co-workers enter, and it’s a completely different story.
All three of the male employees enter with absolutely nothing in their hands. No bags. Not bottles. No coffee cups. Zip. Nadda.
“I will never understand how guys can show up with nothing in their hands,” Hunter wrote in her video’s caption.
Look, there are a few obvious factors at play here.
Women are far more likely to spruce up their appearance during bathroom breaks, hence the need for a bag that carries makeup. Plus, they need a bag for any time-of-the-month needs. If they have a workout scheduled later, they probably are taking a gym bag rather than wearing workout clothes all day.
And let’s not get started on how their regular women’s clothes likely offer no pockets to tuck away any of these items. So all in all, it makes sense that they would need to carry more stuff. You could even pose a theory about it relating to a natural inclination to gather and forage, but maybe that’s a stretch.
Psychology musings aside, viewers found themselves relating to the video, and chimed in with their own views on packing for the office.
One woman quipped, “I work from home, and this is still how I arrive,” while others stood by their pack-for-everything stance.
“Ladies are moving in for the day. We have needs and we don’t really know what they will be so we plan for all things,” another added.
We are prepared and it’s why we live longer,” a third said.
Several women also justified the need for multiple beverages throughout the day. One wrote, “People make fun of me but I need a caffeinated drink, a hydration drink and a fun drink! What’s so hard to understand?” referring to the popular “three drink theory” that supposedly helps with productivity.
Meanwhile, men shared a much simpler point of view.
“Phone. Wallet. Keys. Done,” one commented.
Another joked, “I don’t bring this much stuff on vacation.”
Sometimes it’s fun to have a good laugh at all the quirks that make us different. And I think we can all agree that regardless of gender differences, we’re all just trying to make a work day as smooth and stress-free as possible.
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(@shanellegenai) May 16, 2024
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