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George Santos’s Campaign Finances Are Such A Wreck That He Has Hundreds Of Thousands In Unexplained Spending

George Santos isn’t just a serial fabulist who’s lied about some very odd things; his campaign finances are also super sketchy. For the last few weeks, people have been struggling to sort out the mess that is the newly sworn-in GOP lawmaker’s financial records. Among the many red flags is this one: There are hundreds of thousands of dollars in unexplained spending, which no proof of where they went or for what.

A new report from The New York Times highlights a mysterious $365,399.08, about 12 percent of the campaign’s total reported expenses. There are no recipients or receipts for these expenditures. For context, Santos’ fellow New York House members failed to itemize between zero and 2 percent of their expenses.

The report highlights other eyebrow-raising behavior. Several donors told NYT that the Santos campaign had misrepresented how much they’d given. Ditto other Republican candidates who had received donations from him. What’s more, the campaign has amended its filings a whopping 36 times. Some of those times, some payments had suddenly gone up or simply disappeared.

Whether the discrepancies are mere sloppiness or something more underhanded is up in the air. One discovery feels more like the latter: There are a slew of payments for exactly $199.99, a mere two cents below the point where they’d have to provide receipts. Some of these payments were added to older spending reports, but none of them had any description beyond the date they were made.

Whatever the explanation, lawyers are having a bear of a time sifting through the wreckage of Santos’ campaign finances, with one telling NYT they’re “all over the place and do not make any sense.” He added, “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

(Via NYT)

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Common Mourns The Death Of De La Soul’s Trugoy: ‘He Has Been One Of The Greatest Inspirations In My Life’

Trugoy The Dove’s passing has continued to send chills throughout the hip-hop community. As one of the founding members of the legendary rap trio De La Soul, his artistry has had a significant impact on today’s newer acts as well as many of his peers. Multi-hyphenated talent Common was among his peers inspired by his lyrical abilities.

Devastated by the news of Trugoy’s passing, Common took to social media to share a touching tribute for his late friend. The activist opened the tribute by recounting their initial meeting, writing, “It was around 88’ when one of my best friends brought back a Red Alert tape from NYC. On it was a song called “Plug Tunin” from a group called De La Soul. It was one of the most innovative, fresh, unique songs & sounds I had ever heard. This group would then drop their album ‘3 Feet High And Rising,’ and it changed my life. They would become one of my favorite groups of all time and one of the greatest groups of all time. One of MCs was Trugoy, the Dove who I would get to know as Dave. All I needed to hear was his flow on Afro Connection at the Hi 5 to know he was one of our greatest innovators and stylish with a way with words MCs that hip hop had never seen or heard.”

Common then went on to talk about the first time working with the group, “In 96, De La would give me one of the greatest gifts of my life when they featured me on their song the ‘Bizness’ (which I believe Dave produced). They changed my life again! They took me in to live with them in Long Island (forever Love to Maseo and Tina).”

The actor then closed with how over the years, the pair had become more than just collaborators but family, “The way Pos, Maseo, Dave treated me was like a brother. They took me on tour with them. It was my first trip to London. Just being on a song with De La gave me a stamp of the highest level. And during that process, I formed a real friendship and brotherhood with each member, including Dave, who would show me dope indie movies like ‘kids’ and take me to get the Jamaican patties out in Long Island,” adding, “I studied Dave and his creativity and how he worked and functioned. I actually bit one of his nicknames and made it a song. The Sun God. The truth is he has been one of the greatest influences and inspirations in my life. I will miss you, brother. You are loved beyond words, and I am praying for all of your family, which is our family. Love you, Dave! GOD Bless your Soul.”

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Common wasn’t the only musician to take to social media after discovering the news. Pharrell, Quest Love, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Chuck D, Erick Sermon, 9th Wonder, Redman, and more have also shared posts honoring Trugoy.

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We Asked Bartenders To Name The Best Cognacs For Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a perfect time for warming, aged spirits. And while you can’t go wrong with the tried and true bourbon, rye, and single malt Scotch that likely already adorn your liquor cabinet shelves en masse, sometimes it’s great to have a silky, sultry change of pace to sip on this (made up but still hot) holiday.

That means cognac. You know, the warming brandy variation that comes from the Cognac region (and a few surrounding areas) in France. And while we know we enjoy a nice snifter of cognac on a cold winter night, which bottle to actually crack open for a smooth V-day is a little more difficult.

Brittany Horsey, mixologist at The Bellmoor Inn and Spa in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware prefers the mellow, sweet, easy-sipping flavor of Courvoisier.

“It’s easy to sip with no burn like some cognacs, it is my go-to for a nice sippy drink. I prefer straight for a cozy warm feeling by the fire pit.”

While we agree with Horsey’s pick, we’re also open to other options as well. That’s why we turned to some other professionals for help. We asked a handful of well-known mixologists and bartenders to tell us the best cognacs to drink this Valentine’s Day. Keep scrolling to see all of their picks.

Dudognon 10 Year Reserve

Dudognon 10 Year Reserve
Dudognon

Nat Harry, USBG bartender in Berkeley, California

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $46

The Cognac:

Dudognon 10 Year Reserve. This Grande Champagne cognac is made by an independent producer and the brandy is approachable. The name is fun to say and it’s imported by the GOAT Charles Neal.

Tasting Notes:

Flavors of dried citrus peel, light vanilla notes, and a dry finish make this a memorable, wintry cognac.

Sazerac de Forge Cognac

Sazerac de Forge Cognac
Sazerac de Forge

Jorge Centeno, bartender at The Bar At Deerpath in Lake Forest, Illinois

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $130

The Cognac:

My go-to Cognac in winter is Sazerac de Forge Cognac, it is warm and sweet, and easy to drink. I can sip it on a sniffer or mix it in either a hot or cold cocktail.

Tasting Notes:

I get notes of sweet grapes, raisins, and light oak. It’s a complex, easy-drinking cognac that you’ll want to always have on hand, especially Valentine’s.

Kelt Tour de Monde XO

Kelt Tour de Monde XO
Kelt

Mikee Hardison, bartender at American Barrel in Columbia, Tennessee

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $195

The Cognac:

Kelt Tour de Monde XO Cognac. Not only is it a great spirit aged to XO they also sail it around the world in oak barrels for a truly authentic cognac experience.

Tasting Notes:

Bringing it back to the days before bottling was done in France so those light briny, maritime flavors shine in the finish.

H By Hine

H By Hine
Hine

Roberto Cibrian Stockbridge, USBG Bartender in Boston

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $46

The Cognac:

H by Hine. A great cognac for mixing. Bold enough to not get lost in a cocktail, while still being smooth and floral. Essentially all you could ever want in a cocktail cognac.

Tasting Notes:

Flavors of honey, caramel, dried fruits, toasted marshmallows, and gentle floral flavors make this a unique sipper.

Hennessy VSOP

Hennessy VSOP
Hennessy

Raul Ayala, lead bartender at Shelby’s Rooftop in San Francisco

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $60

The Cognac:

One of the best cognacs to be sipping this winter is Hennessy VSOP. It’s a great progression for those who enjoy drinking American whiskey like rye or bourbon.

Tasting Notes:

This is a great winter cognac because of its soothing texture that coats the palate with lingering notes of baked fruits and brown sugar.

Hardy VSOP

Hardy VSOP
Hardy

Melissa Chaney, bartender at Agua Caliente Casino in Cathedral City, California

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $45

The Cognac:

Hardy VSOP. I like this one, as it is still one of the few family-owned Cognac producers out there. Hardy drinks easy and I feel it is far superior than anything else out there.

Tasting Notes:

Leather, fruit, and slight caramel flavors are a delicious combination, and yet the overall balance of the three makes the Hardy VSOP the best around.

Maison Surrenne Petite Champagne

Maison Surrenne Petite Champagne
Maison Surrenne

Sean Pantazi, director of beverage at The Ritz-Carlton in Lake Tahoe, California

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $48

The Cognac:

It is my opinion that there is no better Cognac House than that of one of the largest remaining family-producers; Maison Surrenne. Their Petite Champagne is an incredible bargain, but if you can get your hands on the Tonneau No. 1 with an average age of blended cognacs being 150 years old, get it. I have also had the luxury of enjoying one of the finest liquids ever put into a bottle, that being the Maison Surrenne Cask 356. This one cannot be improved upon in any way.

Tasting Notes:

A complex flavor palate is highlighted by flavors of dried fruits, caramel, almond cookies, and rich oak.

Hine Rare VSOP

Hine Rare VSOP
Hine

Mike Donaldson, bar manager at ChoLon Restaurant Concepts in Denver

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $64

The Cognac:

My go-to is the Hine Rare VSOP. It represents a very high-quality cognac for not a whole lot of money. It’s great for making cocktails and adding a bit of elegance to drinks.

Tasting Notes:

It has floral notes, walnuts, and apricots on the nose. The palate is all fruit, vanilla beans, and creamy caramel.

Hennessy XO

Hennessy XO
Hennessy

Roque Medina, executive director of Menlo Tavern at The Stanford Park Hotel in Menlo Park, California

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $200

The Cognac:

Hennessy XO. Deep and powerful, the eaux-de-vie of this Hennessy X.O cognac are aged in young barrels and marked out by their power and energy, but also by their capacity to achieve a great roundness through time.

Tasting Notes:

The palate is warmly embraced by flavors of candied fruit. It has the well-rounded flavor of rich, dark chocolate. Perfect to create any drinks during winter and easy to smoke and have great balance on the flavor profile.

Pierre Ferrand 1840

Pierre Ferrand 1840
Pierre Ferrand

Linda Garcia, bartender at Tiki Chick in New York City

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $40

The Cognac:

Pierre Ferrand 1840 is a great and affordable cognac. Smooth enough to sip on its own or mix in a brandy Alexander with an abv of 45% to keep you warm during the chilly months.

Tasting Notes:

This memorable cognac is loaded with flavors of tobacco, baking spices, and pear. It’s reasonably priced and incredibly warming.

Remy Martin 1738

Remy Martin 1738
Remy Martin

Hakon Bream, restaurant and bar manager for Hotel San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, California

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $60

The Cognac:

Remy Martin 1738 cognac has a deep amber hue and bold allspice and caramel aromas. This cognac is the perfect middle ground between Remy’s VSOP and XO cognacs in both taste and price.

Tasting Notes:

Notes of butterscotch and spicy fruits lead to a smooth finish with oak and dark chocolate.

Frapin 1270

Frapin 1270
Frapin

Javelle Taft, head bartender at Death & Co in New York City

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $58

The Cognac:

I’ve leaned into family-owned Frapin 1270 cognac from the Grand Champagne region. I’ve mixed this up with sazerac variations and French 75 riffs. It’s a must-have for the winter months.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is honeyed with hints of a floral bouquet. The taste is luscious berries with traces of raisin and cocoa.

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Lorde Reveals She’s Working On Her Next Album And Trying To ‘Move As Quickly As I F*cking Can’

Lorde’s Solar Power was a highly anticipated record, and its release was a major moment. It had a polarizing effect, which the singer later said: “was really confounding and at times painful to sit with at first.” Fans waited four years for that album, and they’re hoping they don’t have to wait that long for the next.

Luckily, they might not have to. In a new interview with Ensemble Magazine, the “Royals” performer said the new LP is in the making and discussed how it’s been. “It has taken me quite a while [to start working on it],” she said. “I mean, I do just take a long time… I do a lot of research, I write a lot down.”

She continued, “Sort of a big chunk of work before I actually start writing music. So yeah, that’s been a really big part of it. It’s been super exciting, and I feel excited about what’s coming.”

As for the wait, she explained, “You know, it’s my intention, it’s always my intention, to move as quickly as I f*cking can, and then that ends up taking different forms. But this one, I really am trying to. I don’t want to wait, you know, so take from that what you will.” She added, “Anything could happen. Let’s see!”

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The One Stout You Always Need To Stock In Your Fridge, According To Craft Beer Experts

We’ll never tell you what beer to drink at a particular time of year because there’s a place for every style, regardless of the weather outside. But we’re definitely partial to stouts during the frigid (often frosty) winter months. And we mean all stouts — Irish dry stouts, milk stouts, oatmeal stouts, imperial stouts, and barrel-aged bangers.

We can’t get enough of the warming, roasty, chocolate-filled style. Particularly during those short, frigid February days.

This is why we keep a few stocked all winter long. Those heavily invested in the beer world are no different from us, so we asked a handful of well-known craft beer experts, brewers, and beer professionals to tell us the one stout they always have in the fridge. Keep reading to see all of their picks!

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
Guinness

George Hummel, grain master of My Local Brew Works in Philadelphia

ABV: 7.5%

Average Price: $10 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Sometimes you have to go with a classic: the Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is the stout I cut my teeth on as a young pup. It was one of the beers that opened my eyes to the universe of flavors beer can have.

Tasting Notes:

Smooth, dark, slightly sweet yet slightly tart. The aroma and flavors of of freshly ground medium roast coffee.

Allagash North Sky

Allagash North Sky
Allagash

Rob Day, vice president of marketing at Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham, Massachusetts

ABV: 7.5%

Average Price: $12.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

I like to stock Allagash North Sky. This is a Belgian perspective on classic stout flavors, and I think the phenolic yeast character pairs very well with roast and light bitterness.

Tasting Notes:

This Belgian-inspired stout is filled with flavors like dried fruits, roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee.

Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout

Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout
Samuel Smith’s

Peter Zien, owner of Alesmith Brewing in San Diego

ABV: 5%

Average Price: $10.99 for a four-pack

The Beer:

Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout is a beer I always keep in my fridge. A classic style with dark roasted malts that is silky, smooth, complex, and has a bittersweet finish.

Tasting Notes:

The palate is loaded with flavors like dark chocolate, barley, roasted malts, and sweet caramel. The finish is slightly bitter and totally pleasing.

Beamish Stout

Beamish Stout
Beamish

Ryan Pachmayer, head brewer at Yak & Yeti Brewpub and Restaurant in Arvada, Colorado

ABV: 4.1%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

Always is a stretch, but Beamish is nostalgic for me and when I see it, I’ll grab some. Decades ago, when we were lucky enough to be in a huge liquor store, we’d explore beers by country. Germany was always fun, but dry stouts were another big attraction. Beamish became our favorite and a regular pick up.

Tasting Notes:

Chocolate, roasted malts, vanilla, and a nice, dry finish. It’s difficult to beat the appeal of a Beamish if you can find it outside of Ireland.

Firestone Walker No Ends, Only Beginnings

Firestone Walker No Ends, Only Beginnings
Firestone Walker

Dave Ziolkowski, head brewer at Arts District Brewing Company in Los Angeles

ABV: 12.5%

Average Price: $17.99 for a 500ml bottle

The Beer:

I sat on some cans of Only Beginnings, the collaboration between Highland Park Brewery and Firestone this year and started drinking them recently. A hefty and roasty 12.5% ABV stout with vanilla and Amburana wood.

Tasting Notes:

This was a great cold-weather camping beer – well balanced dodging the total melted ice cream body that’s in fashion lately, with great hop presence and cinnamon cereal sweetness from the Amburana.

Deschutes Obsidian Stout

Deschutes Obsidian Stout
Deschutes

Ryan Joy, lead brewer at Green Flash Brewery in San Diego

ABV: 6.4%

Average Price: $9.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Obsidian Stout from Deschutes in Oregon is always a go-to for me. A moderate ABV makes it so you can enjoy a couple and its available just about everywhere. It’s just a classic, well-made stout.

Tasting Notes:

Notes of bitter dark chocolate, caramel, dark roast coffee, and a hint of smoke are balanced by a generous hopping rate to keep any sweetness in check.

Central Waters Black Gold

Central Waters Black Gold
Central Waters

Garth E. Beyer, certified Cicerone and owner and founder of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin

ABV: 13.8%

Average Price: $29.99 for a 22-ounce bottle

The Beer:

The one stout I keep stocked in my fridge is Black Gold by Central Waters because you never know when you’ll need to open a beer for a celebration, or a friend drops by to split something, or you get invited to a bottle share.

Tasting Notes:

It’s boozy. It’s chocolatey. It’s just a damn fantastic blend of barrel flavors and malt artistry in a bomber bottle.

High Water Campfire Stout

High Water Campfire Stout
High Water

Teddy Bell, brewer at Living The Dream Brewing Co. in Littleton, Colorado

ABV: 6.5%

Average Price: $15.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

A stout that I always keep stocked in my fridge is Campfire Stout by High Water Brewery. It’s actually brewed with molasses and graham crackers and tastes as close to a s’more in beer form as possible. It’s a great beer to have on hand, especially during the winter months.

Tasting Notes:

In the simplest terms, it tastes like s’mores. With its notes of graham cracker, dark chocolate, and roasted malts, it reminds me of hanging around the fire camping with friends.

North Coast Old Rasputin

North Coast Old Rasputin
North Coast

Kyle Warren, lead brewer at Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Company in Framingham, Massachusetts

ABV: 9%

Average Price: $8.99 for a four-pack

The Beer:

North Coast Old Rasputin. Everything you could want in a Russian Imperial Stout, nothing more. Old Rasputin is loaded with aromas of dark chocolate and roasted malts.

Tasting Notes:

The flavor balances more roast, espresso, and dark fruity malty sweetness. It’s full-bodied and finishes slightly bitter. I like it best on nitro.

Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout

Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout
Left Hand

Judy Neff, founder and brewer at Checkerspot Brewing Company in Baltimore

ABV: 6%

Average Price: $12.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

I only keep our stout stocked in the fridge. But, if I had to pick another great stout, I’d go with Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout. I would order that out at a bar if I were ordering a stout. It’s creamy, roasty, and surprisingly easy to drink.

Tasting Notes:

It starts with a nose of dark chocolate and vanilla beans and moves into a creamy palate of even more chocolate, vanilla, and roasted malts.

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Sorry, But Trump Seems To Be Denying He Came Up With The Ron DeSantis Nickname ‘Meatball Ron’

Donald Trump loves fewer things more than pelting his many enemies with childish nicknames, but the first one he came up with for Ron DeSantis was a stinker. “Ron DeSanctimonious” doesn’t roll off the tongue like “Crooked Hillary” or “Sleepy Joe.” (Then again, at least it’s not racist.) On Sunday, though, The New York Times reported that he was trying out some new ones for the Florida governor. And one of them was pretty good, if pretty mean: “Meatball Ron,” an apparent dig at his figure. Alas, it appears he’s denying they’re real.

“All of the Fake News is reporting that I spend large amounts of my time coming up with a good ‘nickname’ for Ron DeSanctimonious, who is obviously going to give the presidential ‘thing’ a shot,” Trump wrote on his rinky-dink Twitter clone. “They are all 100% wrong, I don’t even think about it — A very unimportant subject to me!!!”

It’s hard to believe Trump doesn’t spend at least some of his time thinking up immature nicknames for people he doesn’t like. That includes DeSantis, his biggest potential 2024 Republican rival (who’s probably not ready for Trump’s wrath). What’s more, why would he deny “Meatball Ron”? It’s a hall-of-famer. Perhaps he realized it was pretty rich, even for him, to make jokes about someone’s weight given that he’s no Adonis either. Still, maybe he’ll start using it anyway, at least once he realizes he can do much, much better than “Ron DeSanctimonious.”

(Via Mediaite)

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Noted Crusty Grifter Steve Bannon Is Apparently Taking A Page Out Of Trump’s Playbook And Refusing To Pay His Legal Bills

In news that should surprise no one, Steve Bannon — the right-wing conspiracy theorist who helped put Donald Trump in office — is a cheapskate.

According to a report from The Daily Beast, the former Breitbart co-founder owes possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars to members of his legal team representing him in recent federal and state investigations. Bannon’s been facing criminal charges in multiple cases over his alleged misuse of donations to a GoFundMe campaign intended to raise money to build a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Prosecutors have accused Bannon of money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud which is why the FBI arrested him in 2020 — as he was vacationing on a Chinese billionaire’s yacht.

His legal team was instrumental in ensuring Bannon stayed out of prison and got a pardon from Trump while he was still in office, which is why insiders close to the racist demagogue are confused as to why he’d skimp on paying his own lawyers.

Bannon’s refusal to fully pay his bills has stunned some of his close advisers who’ve stuck around for years.

“I don’t have any reason to believe he doesn’t have money,” one associate said.

After all, Bannon is a former Goldman Sachs investment banker, co-founded the right-wing news website Breitbart, made tens of millions off the iconic sitcom Seinfeld, and hangs out with Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui. In fact, he was relaxing, reading a book on Wengui’s yacht just off the coast of Westbrook, Connecticut when he was arrested by FBI special agents in August 2020.

Bannon reportedly owes his longtime New York attorney Robert Costello more than $100,000 while his other lawyers, Evan Corcoran and David Schoen have either quit filing motions in his defense or asked to be removed from his counsel altogether. Bannon’s legal dine-and-dash is especially bizarre given the fact that he’s currently still under the microscope for his role in the Jan. 6th insurrection and he desperately needs representation if he hopes to win an appeal of a previous conviction relating to the House Oversight Committee’s investigation.

(Via The Daily Beast)

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Here are the 17 types of people who deserve a lot more sympathy than they ever get

The world would be a lot better if we all could put our prejudices aside and see people for who they are as individuals. If we learned how to lean in with our hearts a bit more instead of our judgmental minds, we’d probably treat each other with much more sympathy.

Sadly, we still have a long way to go as a society until we reach that point.

One of the most significant ways that we misjudge others is by attributing their status, appearance and social skills to their moral compass. People who are economically disadvantaged, overweight, or socially awkward are often cast in a negative light because many think that everyone who falls short of a societal “ideal” have done so out of laziness.

However, that type of thinking is lazy in and of itself.


The saying goes, “You never know what anyone is going through, so be kind,” and it’s true. There are a lot of people out there who are struggling with things we don’t realize. Further, we have no idea what people have overcome to be where they are today.

To help people better understand what others are going through, a Reddit user by the name of anthropocener47 asked the online forum, “What kind of people often get treated with less sympathy?” Many responses are in support of those who are struggling with issues we can’t see.

The post went viral on Reddit, earning over 8,000 comments. The responses were a great reminder that we are often quick to judge others while knowing very little about them.

So here are 17 types of people that could use much more sympathy.

1.

“Disabled people or people born with deformities/rare diseases.” — KommandaKoopa

2.

“People missing front teeth.” — bizobimba

RogerSaysHi added:

“This really sucks too. My husband fell and broke a front tooth a few years ago. We’ve tried getting it fixed several times, but the fixes just break off. We’re going to have to get him an implant, as he’s getting older, his teeth are getting more brittle. It’s just that implants cost as much as a damned used car. You can tell that it has kind of killed his confidence a little bit. He doesn’t smile as much as he used to. It absolutely blows.”

3.

“Socially inept people—can be due to disorders or simply due to awkwardness. If you can’t play the game and act ‘normal,’ sooner or later you will be made to pay for it. Sooner than later, probably.” — RavensQueen502

4.

“The homeless, the poor, the mentally ill.” — Ok-Equivalent-8509

SchemataObscura added:

“Came to say all of those and addiction.”

5.

“Poor people.” — Pretty-Benefit-233

Cmc added:

“This. There’s a real disdain towards poorer people like they should magically be able to make more money. For lots of people, they have disadvantages that make that more difficult—lack of education or support, lack of time, illness or disability, or even just being stuck in a neverending cycle and having to time/money/ability to get themselves out. For some others, they prioritize other parts of life over money, and there’s nothing wrong with making that choice for yourself.”

6.

“Ugly people 100%.” — dannywarpick

7.

“I had a hard time sympathizing with people who suffer from severe anxiety. My attitude was always ‘just deal with it, stress is temporary.’ Last summer, there was a series of events that triggered unprecedented anxiety for me, I didn’t eat for days at a time, barely slept, and could barely function at work. It was absolutely debilitating and felt completely uncontrollable. A week on vacation helped but it came back as soon as I got home. So I went to my doctor and he prescribed a few meds, which helped a lot. Now I understand that kind of crippling anxiety, and I’m a lot more sympathetic to those who struggle to manage it.” — EncanisUnbound

8.

“People in ‘unskilled’ positions. Sure, a burger flipper or custodian doesn’t need a college degree, but unskilled =/= not hard work. Having to prepare so much food in little time, deal with rude customers, and cleaning up stuff. The number of stories of people smearing poop on the walls. The stuff these people go through, people should feel sympathy.” — guzhogi

Brilliant Tourist added:

“Skilled tradespeople get no respect, and they deserve ALL the respect. We freaking NEED auto mechanics and plumbers. Without them, the world doesn’t run, period, full stop.”

9.

“Fat people. I’ve been fat and I’ve been skinny and the difference in how people treat you is astounding.” — iamanachogirl

Ragingfeminineflower added:

“I said this too. I’ve been both also. I lost weight and didn’t understand why suddenly everyone smiled at me, people started to bend over backward to help me with things, greeted me more, gave me more genuine conversation even… and yes, genuine respect. I slowly started to realize why. I am and always have been the same person, but I know who others terribly are now.”

10.

“Depressed or sad people. It’s a nightmare…” — disabled-R1ggs

11.

“People that don’t smile. My best friend is an absolute angel of a person but I’ve only seen him smile a few times over the last 7 years. Traumatic events are a mother f***er.” – rockonyou717

12.

“The extremely socially awkward among us. My younger brother has been diagnosed with OCD and autism, has zero friends, and has never been kissed or dated in even the most elementary type way (he’s almost 25 now). The world has not been kind to him throughout all this and it breaks my heart.” — [deleted]

rocket_dog 1980 added:

“Boy, this hits hard. My oldest son (17) is incredibly awkward. Adults (my friends and teachers) treat him great and have nothing but positive things to say about him. He has not been embraced by his peers though. He doesn’t have any friends his age. Most kids avoid him altogether. Sad.”

13.

“People who die of suicide. My cousin killed himself when he was 19. I was shocked at how people (many who didn’t even know him) reacted when they found out. People got angry at him and talked about how selfish he was. The priest who did the service at his funeral couldn’t even bother to express sympathy for him. He had a very hard 19 years—neglectful parents (bad enough to be removed by CPS), juvenile detention, and battling heroin addiction, and spent his last few moments hanging from an extension cord in a moldy basement. If that doesn’t make someone worthy of sympathy I don’t know what does.” — ladyphase

14.

“Shy people.” — RudolfMaster

15.

“The elderly. Elder abuse is rampant.” — janice-mericson

16.

“People who lose their temper when desperately trying to get people to understand that they have been abused.” — Salty_Technician2481

17.

“Migrant workers. Imagine moving to a different country, you work your ass off to earn a good living, and some stupid bastards tell you that you’re lazy or you’re ‘taking jobs from more deserving people.’ Xenophobia is the most prominent form of bigotry where I’m from and it is all just hateful, ridiculous slander.” — sheldonisautistic

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Rihanna’s sign language interpreter goes viral for her performance during Super Bowl halftime

Rihanna might have delivered an iconic Super Bowl halftime performance, but some are hailing Justina Miles, her American Sign Language interpreter, as the unexpected star of the show.

Miles is being applauded for the way she perfectly matched the pop diva’s energy as she mouthed the lyrics to hits like “Rude Boy,” “Work” and “Umbrella” while leaning into ASL’s inherently expressive movements. The whole thing felt like its own choreographed routine, and fans were here for it.


One video posted to TikTok showing Miles doing her thing with “B—h Better Have My Money” has already gone mega-viral at more than 11 million views.

@sainthoax #superbowl #rihanna ♬ original sound – Saint Hoax

“This gonna be the next TikTok dance trend,” someone commented.

Meanwhile on Twitter, someone declared Miles as the “true” half-time star. And that was only one of many, many, many people who had nice things to say.

Miles is hard of hearing herself and has a deaf mother as well as multiple family members with mixed hearing abilities. She previously came to online fame back in 2020 for her version of Lil’ Kim’s 1997 “Crush on You” music video, where instead of just mouthing the words, she signed them in her distinctive flair.

The video, which was part of a viral TikTok challenge, received a flood of support online and even ended up reaching Lil’ Kim herself. Miles clearly has a knack for bringing hip-hop music to life with infectious enthusiasm. No wonder she was matched with Queen RiRi.

Prior to her halftime performance, Miles performed an equally enthusiastic ASL rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the Black national anthem, during the Super Bowl’s pre-show.

Though she’s clearly having fun, Miles considers the moment as a win for more than just herself. During a press conference leading up to the event, she shared that for her, being the first deaf performer to interpret this song “was a chance to bring empowerment to millions and millions of Black deaf people all over the country who have never really seen that before. I feel that is truly lifting every voice, even my voice.”

“I value the opportunity to make it possible for all deaf people to enjoy these songs, and not have them miss out on the full Super Bowl experience,” she said in an interview with CNBC. Her aim is to not only entertain, but encourage others to “not to let any obstacles prevent you from achieving your dreams, and to always believe in yourself to go beyond.”

It’s great that we are not only making culturally mainstream events like the Super Bowl more accessible to different communities, but in turn, more people are able to connect with less mainstream ways of life. When we allow more space for different forms of expression, it’s easier to see that, language aside, we’re all moved by performances that make us feel. Thanks to Miles, many people got to enjoy music in a whole new way.

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Is Kevin Costner Leaving ‘Yellowstone?’

Even though Yellowstone is currently on hiatus, the Dutton family loves drama so much that they simply had to stir up some controversy to hold fans over until the summer premiere.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the original hit series would be wrapping up in favor of a new, Matthew McConaughey-led series that will take place in the Yellowstone universe, with more fan-favorite characters expected to join. But what about the patriarch of the family, played by Kevin Costner? He might be over it!

According to Deadline, Costner’s shooting schedule was the main source of frustration when filming the fifth season. Allegedly, the Golden Globe winner only wanted to work for 50 days of his planned 65 for part one of season five. But when the time came to shoot part two, Costner supposedly “only wanted to spend a week shooting,” perhaps in order to move onto his next project, Horizon, from Warner Bros., in which he will direct and star.

While they have yet to officially confirm anything, earlier this month, a Paramount Network spokesperson told Deadline: “We have no news to report. Kevin Costner is a big part of Yellowstone and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come. Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built. Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner.”

Even if Costner doesn’t return, the numerous Yellowstone spinoffs have been doing just fine on their own, so maybe it’s time for John Dutton to hang up his ol’ cowboy hat. Or at least let Matthew McConaughey borrow it for awhile.

(Via Yahoo!)