Category: News

Bill Pullman played one of the most inspiring fictional presidents in cinema history in Independence Day, a film that’s happening on Twitter in real time this holiday weekend. But just because Pullman has no real political power doesn’t mean he can’t make a difference in the public eye. The actor released a July 4 PSA of his own encouraging people to wear masks in public to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

“I may not be your President anymore. But I gotta tell you, the 4th of July is still my favorite holiday and always will be,” Pullman said, which is followed by the final line from his iconic speech near the movie’s conclusion. He then gets right to the point.

“This Independence Day I’m going to be celebrating my freedom maybe in an important way: I’m going to be wearing my freedom mask every time I go into public places,” he said. He stressed calling it a “freedom mask” and explained that it’s a patriotic thing to do despite what other presidents may tell you.

“Because if all of America agreed to wear one of these going into public places we’d be a little closer to being free to safely going back to places like bars and restaurants and schools. And, most importantly, movie theaters,” he claimed. All of that remains uncertain, of course, but it’s been proven that mask use in public when social distancing isn’t possible does, indeed, limit the spread of coronavirus and has been encouraged by health officials for months now.

The PSA was a bit more somber than his bombastic speech in the film, but it was a nice reminder of the film’s anniversary and an attempt to turn a fictional threat against humanity into an opportunity to battle a very real one.

Kanye West once said he was running for President of the United States in 2020 and it looks like he’s sticking to his word. Today, July 4th, Kanye tweeted that he would be running for President in the upcoming 2020 election, writing: “We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States. #2020Vision”

Kanye’s announcement immediately sent Twitter into a frenzy as people wondered whether the announcement was true and began to share their takes on it. For some, it was a cause for rejoicing, while others wondered whether the whole thing was a plot to help Trump, who Kanye considers a friend and stumped for all throughout 2018 with a “Make America Great Again” cap despite backlash from both fans and peers. Kanye hasn’t explained whether this means he’ll be running against Trump and as of press date, Trump has yet to respond. Kanye can count among his supporters Elon Musk, who tweeted that the rapper has his full support. However, the filing deadlines for a number of states has already passed, so it seems unlikely Kanye will actually appear on very many ballots — unless he already filed, and just waited til now to make the announcement.

Kanye first said he wanted to run in 2020 at the 2015 MTV VMAs, where during an acceptance speech, he said, “I don’t know what I finna lose after this. It don’t matter, though; It’s not about me. It’s about ideas. New ideas. People with ideas. People who believe in truth. And yes, as you probably could’ve guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020 to run for President.”

He later explained his statement in an interview with BBC Radio 1: “We are numb, we’re numb to 500 kids getting killed in Chicago a year, we’re numb to the fact that it was seven police shootings in the beginning of July… we’re numb to places on the Earth that we don’t live – like our life is okay but it’s okay for other people’s lives to not be okay. When I talk about the idea of being president, I’m not saying I have any political views, I don’t have views on politics, I just have a view on humanity, on people, on the truth. If there is anything that I can do with my time and my day, to somehow make a difference while I’m alive I’m going to try to do it.”

See Kanye’s announcement above.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will not have the services of one of their prized offseason additions when the 2020 MLB season begins. David Price, the lefty starting pitcher who joined the team from the Boston Red Sox in the trade headlined by Mookie Betts, announced on Saturday his intention to stay at home this year.

Price revealed his decision in a statement on his Twitter account, citing the health and well-being of himself and his family. He did, however, say that he plans on taking to the diamond in 2021.

Price announced this on what was a notable day for baseball as it is preparing to start this year in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Atlanta Braves announced a handful of positive cases, including star first baseman Freddie Freeman. According to Chelsea Freeman, the four-time All-Star selection is someone who rarely falls ill, but has been in for quite the battle with the novel coronavirus.

https://twitter.com/DOBrienATL/status/1279529857882492928

In New York, the Yankees announced a pair of cases — relief pitcher Luis Cessa, who has mild symptoms, and All-Star infielder D.J. LeMahieu, who is asymptomatic.

It is a tricky needle for MLB to thread, as they really want to get games going but are trying to play in home markets. While this has worked for Korea’s top baseball league and soccer leagues in Europe, all of those places are both smaller and have a much better handle on COVID-19 than the United States. And although Price is the most high-profile name to opt out of the season thus far, there are still other big names, like Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout and San Francisco Giants stalwart Buster Posey, who are contemplating staying home, too.

Anyone who has spent any time around dogs knows that fireworks can be a jarring experience. The fact that they are in a shelter with the uncertainty of not having a home and being caged, combines for an understandably anxious situation. Santiago mentions to azcentral.com, that sometimes the pets can get so stressed out that they can jump out of windows or dig under fences, which isn’t healthy for their psyche. The third annual Calm the Canines event is sponsored by Maricopa County Animal Care and Control with founder Santiago in Arizona. They comfort animals during these worrisome times.

Andrew Bennett

The two locations in the Phoenix area will once again be hosting dozens of people who come to the shelter to calm the dogs during fireworks. Approximately 700 dogs will be distracted from the ominous pounding of fireworks by people doing everything from playing music to reading stories to them. When the shelter first tried out the event, they were not quite sure what to expect. Then 300 arrived at their doors. “We were shocked by the amount of people that showed up and animals were literally falling asleep,” Santiago told azcentral.com.

The volunteers clearly had an effect on the residents of the two shelters. The thunderous booms could easily be heard inside the walls of the canine safe haven. And if not for the kind hearts of the 300 Arizonians, the anxiety would rather palpable. If you get that many kind hearts in an enclosed area with a slew of homeless dogs, well, I am pretty sure I don’t have to tell you what happens next. Spoiler alert: a whole lot of pups just checked out of the shelter to begin their new lives with the warm souls who adopted them.

Andrew Bennett

I am the proud parent of two dogs who have a pretty sweet life. On their worst day, they get a couple strolls around the neighborhood and a frozen peanut butter Kong. That’s their version of a crushing defeat. Usually there is a trip to the dog beach or run on the countless trails near my house. You would be hard pressed to find two happier dogs in West Hollywood. Because of my sometimes too jovial canines, I often feel like a pretty caring person. Then I compare myself to Jose Santiago. Truth is, I feel like I am the senator with the deciding vote that pushed through a bill to make ice cream trucks illegal for children. Jose Santiago, for all you do, this cone is for you.

Andrew Bennett

We have all seen videos of sickening and senseless violence that trophy hunters inflict on innocent animals and been so enraged that we want to book the next flight to Africa and put a stop to it. Well, meet the man that did.

U.S. Marine veteran Ryan Tate came across a documentary on animal poaching one night. “On the show there were some poachers, and instead of shooting the animal, they got a hold of a shootable tranquilizer. It doesn’t make a loud gunshot noise,” Tate told Grit Daily. “They darted a female rhino. She went to sleep and they hacked her horn off.”

She woke up and conservationists found her and wanted to help, but she kept running. She was confused. She was scared. The rhino ended up bleeding out and dying.” That was all it took for Tate to take matters into his own hands and do something about it. That was when he left his job at the U.S. State Department providing security for foreign diplomats and started non-profit VETPAW (Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife).

Tate used the connections he had made while working at the State Department to start working with the federal wildlife parks in Tanzania. He flew over and funded it with his own money. His first order of business was to find out what skill sets the park rangers possessed. He found they excelled at tracking animals, so he combined that with his military skills to create a training program. The rangers lacked the medical training necessary for an operation so far from a hospital.

“Not a single ranger knew first aid, CPR, nor had they ever seen a tourniquet,” Tate said. “We had rangers dying of Malaria. It was unbelievable and so mind-blowing to introduce a tourniquet and antibiotics to rangers. We bring them medical supplies. Some of these guys didn’t even have heels or soles on their boots. They had holes in them. We gave them our boots and we ran around in gym shoes.”

Animal poachers in Africa are extremely dangerous and the rangers are often outgunned. It’s been reported that a kilo of rhino horns is worth up to $65,000. The demand comes from East Asia, where rhino horn is seen as a medicine and a status symbol. It’s met with international networks linking poor villages in South Africa with traffickers and then people who buy it. Law enforcement turns a blind eye and corruption continues.

As Tate explained to Grit Daily, “Wildlife trafficking is one of the top five international crimes. Rhino horns and elephant tusks are very much part of this. When you start messing with their bottom lines, which could be a million dollars for one horn, you get some very dangerous people who take notice.”

Over the past year, Tate and his crew of over 30 veterans trained the rangers and patrolled up to 100,000 acres. They also work with local law enforcement to find poachers in nearby neighborhoods and have them arrested. If there is one group you don’t want to mess with, it’s pissed off U.S. Marines. So poachers, go home, re-think your life and save us all the trouble.

And if there is a “Coolest Guy on the Planet” award, I am pretty sure Ryan Tate is not only a nominee, but a heavy favorite to take home the hardware.

Visit their web site at https://vetpaw.org/ where vets can apply to join the fight. You can also make a donation, as well as sign up for a 10-day experience for which all the proceeds fund VETPAW.

The American flag has been a symbol of the United States for centuries, but what the U.S.—and thus the flag it represents—has meant to different Americans throughout that time has varied greatly.

Imagine looking at the flag of a country that enslaved you ancestors, generation after generation after generation. Imagine looking at the flag of a country that pushed you and your family off your land and broke every promise it made to your people. Imagine looking at the flag of a country where people who look like you have never truly been free in the way other Americans are.

When your country has repeatedly disappointed, failed, or actively harmed people who look like you, how do you find pride and hope in its symbol?

That’s a question explored by two female artists—one Black and one white—in a new photo series, “A New America,” which “explores the complicated relationship of African Americans and the American flag.” Actress and activist Jameelah Nuriddin served as a model while artist Erin Hammond took photos of her in front of a giant, 200-year-old American flag.

Nuriddin explains what inspired the project:

“As a black woman, I’ve always had a strained relationship with the American flag. If I saw a white person with a huge American flag, I would immediately look around for the Confederate flag or wonder how they would treat me. It’s as though extreme patriotism was synonymous with racism.

It changed for me when I listened to the podcast 1619 by the NY Times; in the first episode, Nikole Hannah-Jones speaks about how her father used to always fly the flag in their yard. She reveals how black people are the great perfecters of the Constitution—I’ve also heard it described that Black people are the conscious of America. My relationship with the flag changed. Instead of seeing oppression and hypocrisy when I look at it, I see my ancestors who built this country. Literally. My lineage comes from Georgia and Alabama. It occurs to me that I am not a stranger in a strange land, but that this is MY country just as much as the racist hick—in some ways even more so. I can fight for it, and reclaim it—in the full glory of what it was meant to be.”

In the 8-photo series, Nuriddin combines pledge of allegiance and Black power poses—”The two aren’t at odds, but are one,” says Nuriddin. And the photos are accompanied by a manifesto, written by Nuriddin, that mirrors the Preamble to the Constitution.

Erin Hammond and Jameelah Nuriddin

We, the people, are creating a world where every woman, man, and non-binary human being is met with dignity and respect. We have learned from the mistakes of our forefathers and are building a new America rooted in the complete and total liberation, support and growth of all people …

Erin Hammond and Jameelah Nuriddin

… We cease to subjugate black and brown people, whose ancestors built this country and instead uplift, honor and make amends for injustice …

Erin Hammond and Jameelah Nuriddin

We need to give Lady Justice back her eyes.

Erin Hammond and Jameelah Nuriddin

…Envision a world where all humans are free and equal—where we prize each other over material things—we stand against tyranny and oppression, hatred and fear.

Erin Hammond and Jameelah Nuriddin

We honor the past and learn from those that have come before. We respect the future and leave this world better than we found it. All spiritual and religious doctrines center on one fact—treat each other as we are one. See your siblings on this earth as interconnected.

Erin Hammond and Jameelah Nuriddin

We, the people, envision a world of true liberation. Where the value of a person’s life is not placed on how much they own, but how deeply they love…

Erin Hammond and Jameelah Nuriddin

We believe respect and dignity are the birthright of every human being.

In this new America, there is nothing more Un-American than racism. We are divesting hatred, fear, and discrimination from the American Flag—holding it up in a new light that fully realizes and expresses the goals and beliefs written in the Constitution—that all people are created equal.

Erin Hammond and Jameelah Nuriddin

This is our America. We unite, let the hypocrisy fade into the past, and transcend together to finally fully actualize the words of freedom in the Constitution, in totality.

Nuriddin says, “If Black people can reclaim the n-word, we can reclaim the American flag. It doesn’t have to be a symbol of hypocrisy and oppression…this is our America too, we can guide this country to fully realize its dream of equality and freedom for all.”

“Our need to rise up and support Black lives in all facets is embarrassingly long overdue,” adds Hammond, “and I strongly believe we can change this country. It will take perseverance and standing together and getting really uncomfortable at times, but every second of every day we can make movement towards real change and create a New America. Teaming up to bring Jameelah’s vision to life was deeply fulfilling. This type of allyship is beautiful and is part of the world that Jameelah and I are fighting for.”

The photo series can be viewed on Instagram at @jameelahcreates and @erinhammondart.

To mask or to mask? That is the question millions of Americans are asking as more cities and states are implementing mask requirements in public to stem the tide of the coronavirus pandemic.

The polarization on this issue is frankly a little baffling. The science is clear on how and why universal masking is effective at limiting the spread of the coronavirus. (Viruses don’t fly out of people’s bodies by themselves—they get carried in droplets. Masks help us keep our droplets to ourselves when we talk, laugh, cough or sneeze.)

For many Americans, science itself is either seen an anathema or a government conspiracy to control the masses. And for many Americans, having the government tell us to do anything at all is seen as infringing on our individual liberties. So here we are, arguing about wearing masks as a public health measure.

Twitter user “Libby” has a satirical take on the issue, one that perfectly illustrates how absurd anti-mask arguments sound in the context of public health.

“Welcome to the Freedom Cafe!” she wrote. “We trust you to make your own choices if you want to wear a face mask. And, in the same spirit of individual liberty, we allow our staff to make their own choices about the safety procedures they prefer to follow as they prepare and serve your food.”

“We encourage employees to wash their hands after using the bathroom,” she continued, “but understand that some people may be allergic to certain soaps or may simply prefer not to wash their hands. It is not our place to tell them what to do.

We understand that you may be used to chicken that has been cooked to 165 degrees. We do have to respect that some of our cooks may have seen a meme or a YouTube video saying that 100 degrees is sufficient, and we do not want to encroach on their beliefs.”

“Some of our cooks may prefer to use the same utensils for multiple ingredients, including ingredients some customers are allergic to. That is a cook’s right to do so,” she added.

“Some servers may wish to touch your food as they serve it. There is no reason that a healthy person with clean hands can’t touch your food. We will take their word for it that they are healthy and clean.”

“Water temperature and detergent are highly personal choices, and we allow our dishwashing team to decide how they’d prefer to wash the silverware you will put in your mouth.

Some of you may get sick, but almost everyone survives food poisoning. We think you’ll agree that it’s a small price to pay for the sweet freedom of no one ever being told what to do – and especially not for the silly reason of keeping strangers healthy.”

And there you have it.

Does anyone argue with public health departments establishing requirements for food handling and safety? No. Does anyone complain that such requirements are an infringement on individual liberties? No. Why? Because we all agree that keeping people healthy in public places is super important and that having such requirements in place, no matter what people’s personal preferences or beliefs or comfort levels are, is a good idea.

We’re not used to thinking of public health as something we all have to actively participate in, but that’s absolutely the way we must think of it during a pandemic. Since we’re experiencing a reality we’ve never experienced in our lifetime, we’re going to have to expect some changes we’ve never experienced before as well.

But it’s not even like the idea of wearing a mask to protect others is a new idea. Surgeons wear masks to keep fluids away from their faces, but also to keep their own germs out of patients’ bodies. When I lived in Japan two decades ago, it was commonplace to see people wearing masks in public because they had a cold and were trying to limit their germ spread as a matter of courtesy.

Stop making mask-wearing a political thing. Stop saying that masks don’t work when there is ample evidence now that they do. Masks are used to limit the spread of the virus is practically every country, and our widespread resistance to it in the name of “freedom” has very real consequences.

No one actually likes wearing a mask. It sucks for all of us. But it’s the right thing to do because universal masking is only effective if we all actually do it. So toughen up, America. Let’s use the freedom we have to do the hard, right thing and show the world we’re not as selfish and uninformed as we seem.

As the old saying goes, there’s no way to know what another person experiences in life unless you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. But it’s nearly impossible to understand how a person of another race experiences life because it’s impossible to change one’s skin color or cultural background.

People in interracial relationships have a special window into what it’s like to be a different race because they see the differences in how their partner is perceived and treated by others.

Pamela Chandler, a white woman, and her husband Walter, a Black man, from Dayton, Ohio, made a list of 13 things that being in an interracial relationship and having a biracial child has taught them and posted it on Facebook.

The post tremendous feedback from people in interracial relationships and those who had no idea what the experience is like. Upworthy got a chance to talk to Pamela about the post, the interview follows her and Walter’s list.

1.) She drives

I have to drive basically anytime we are leaving the Dayton area. We don’t talk about it each time, we just both know that if we are leaving our general ‘safe’ area and heading to smaller town Ohio roads I’m the one driving.

2.) She does the paperwork

I have to handle store clerks, returns, getting documents signed, anything with any federal building or administrative work, I get further with any type of ‘paperwork’ thing that needs handled, people listen to me and are much more agreeable than with him.

3.) Avoid the greeting card aisle

The chances that we find a Black or Interracial couple on a greeting card are SLIM. Unless you want to give the same Black couple card every year, which we have. There are hundreds of white couples to choose from though!

4.) Walter has to go out of his way to present a friendly face

My husband goes out of his way to be nice and talk to EVERYONE. Not because he’s a people person, but because he has learned that a 6’5 Black man intimidates people and so he overcompensates by being overly friendly so people won’t be afraid of him.

5.) Be ready to show your receipt

If Walter is pushing the cart I always have to have my receipt ready when leaving the store.

6.) “You guys rent, right?”

None of our neighbors thought we owned our home, multiple neighbors stopped my father and asked him if he was the new landlord for us. Because of course, the old white man must have purchased the home. Not only do we own our home, it’s fully paid off, we have no mortgage and we paid for it BY OURSELVES.

7.) Jesus doesn’t see color, but he followers do

It took us YEARS to find a church without racist undertones and low key racist members, YEARS!

via Pamela Chandler

8.) The toy aisle isn’t very inclusive

When doll shopping our daughter gets 25 white options and 1-2 black or mixed race doll options.

9.) Skin tone matters

The same people who stop us daily to say how adorable our daughter is, are the same people who would cross the street if Walter was walking alone.

10.) Stay clear of the stars ‘n bars

We avoid all places with Confederate flags.

11.) Old people are racist

If we go to Bob Evans (or any restaurant that caters to ‘seniors’) too early we are met with a lot of stares, the old racists eat between 4-5 pm.

12.) Walter can’t be alone in the park

When Walter goes to a playground with our daughter he constantly stays by her side, if not he gets stares and people wonder what the ‘big black man’ is doing on the park bench.

13.) A non-controversial statement is, sadly, still controversial

Walter is concerned our Black Lives Matter sign by the door will make us a target when he is not home so he asked me to remove it.

via Pamela Chandler

After Pamela first made the post, she received responses from people all over the world.

“Our experience is so familiar to many people and that really hits you in the gut if you think about how common these things are for people of color,” she told Upworthy.

“I think probably my favorite responses have been from older white people. We have so many older white people reaching out shocked and heartbroken that this is happening to us,” she continued. “But the thing is, this is happening to people of color every day, everywhere.”

Pamela believes that change begins when people “share their experiences with one another so people know it’s happening everywhere.”

“I’m glad the post resonated with people because, at the end of the day, it shows we are all humans just trying to make our way in this world and we all deserve to do that freely and without barriers,” she added.

The first time Pamela experienced racism is when she was driving with Walter down a road in rural Ohio and was pulled over by the police. “Two police officers approached the car, one from each side and a third stayed at the back of the car,” she said. “They all had their hands over their gun holsters as they approached.”

This was all because her license plate light was out.

“Walter was in the passenger seat and they asked him for his license, not me the driver, and they then proceeded to ask him if he had any warrants,” she said. “I’ve never been asked that in my life so I was shocked. We answered all their questions, they ran his license and he was cleared and they let us go after making sure, again that I was ok.”

Experiencing racism as a coupole can also cause problems between partners.

“I’m usually the loudmouth, and he is usually the one telling me to drop it and let it go. I’m coming from a place of privilege when I feel like I can discuss with a white person and get them to see why what they are doing is wrong,” she said.

“Walter is oftentimes coming from a completely different perspective where it can be dangerous to speak up or pointless to speak up, so typically our disagreements come when he wants me to be quiet and I want to scream at the unjustness in the world,” she added.

The incredible response the family has received led them to create a Facebook page called The Chandler Crew where people can “connect with like-minded people all over the globe” as well as a blog.

“At the end of the day we are all just learning and unlearning and learning again how to love each other better,” Pamela said.

America celebrates two things on the Fourth of July: The ratification of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and Joey Chestnut’s remarkable run in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Chestnut’s unwavering dominance was on display once again on Saturday afternoon, when he backed up his reputation of being the greatest competitive eater of all time.

Chestnut partook in a more subdued version of the contest this year, one that was moved from its usual home of the Coney Island boardwalk due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the lack of fans, smaller field of competitors, and indoor setting, Chestnut was able to set a world record by consuming 75 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. While the mere thought of this gives me terrible indigestion, the accomplishment meant that Chestnut won his 13th title in 14 years and beat his former record, set in 2018, by one hot dog and bun.

“It was hard,” Chestnut said, according to ESPN. “I knew I was fast in the beginning. It was like blistering speed. And the dogs were cooked really well today. Minute six is where I really missed the crowd … and I hit a wall, and it took me a little bit more work to get through it. This is a crazy year, and I’m happy I was able to get a record.”

The competition wasn’t particularly close, as the second-place finisher, Darron Breeden, consumed 42 hot dogs and buns.

In the women’s competition, Miki Sudo continued her own run of dominance over the competition. She, too, set a world record, consuming 48.5 hot dogs and buns. This gave Sudo her seventh Mustard Yellow Belt, breaking a tie with Takeru Kobayashi for the second-most in competition history and placed her behind only Chestnut.

“I feel great,” said Sudo told ESPN. “I’m sure the physical effects will kick in in a little bit. I think the condensed preparation period really lit a fire under me.”

We are morally required to beg you to not try to consume anywhere near as many hot dogs as the professionals are able to eat today. Or any other day, for that matter.

A little over two years ago, country singers Kacey Musgraves and Ruston Kelly tied the knot at their Tennessee wedding. The romance between the two was well-documented as Musgraves revealed Kelly was the inspiration behind her 2018 album Golden Hour, one that earned her Album of the Year, Best Country Album, Best Country Solo Performance, and Best Country Song awards at the 61st Grammy Awards. Unfortunately, in a joint message released by their reps shared by People, Musgraves and Kelly revealed they made the “painful decision” to end their marriage.

“With heavy but hopeful hearts we wanted to put our own thoughts into the air about what’s happening. These kinds of announcements are always met with scrutiny and speculation and we want to stop that before it even starts. We believe that we were put into each other’s lives for a divine reason and have both changed each other infinitely for the better. The love we have for each other goes far beyond the relationship we’ve shared as husband and wife. It’s a soul connection that can never be erased.”

Continuing their statement, the country artists revealed that they both hold no animosity towards each other following the end of their marriage.

“We’ve made this painful decision together — a healthy decision that comes after a very long period of trying the best we can. It simply just didn’t work. Though we are parting ways in marriage, we will remain true friends for the rest of our lives. We hold no blame, anger, or contempt for each other and we ask for privacy and positive wishes for us both as we learn how to navigate through this.”

The news comes after Musgraves was one of many artists to celebrate the life of legendary songwriter John Prine last month in the Picture Show: A Tribute Celebrating John Prine special.