Category: Worldwide

Families might get displaced for a number of reasons. But luckily, advancements in technology make it more possible for those separated from their loved ones to find them once again and reclaim a sense of peace.

Good Morning America first shared the story of Mary Butler, who (with the help of DNA testing through My Heritage) was able to reunite her mother Bobbi Gambrell with siblings she had lost contact with 65 years ago, after being placed for adoption as a child.

In a tearful TikTok video, Butler shared how finding out that she had aunties, uncles and cousins was a “prayer being answered.”

The discovery was an equally emotional one for Gambrell, who was at a loss for words during a video phone call with Randalph, the baby brother she had never really known.

@marysmoving literally found my people #ancestry #myheritage #23andme ♬ original sound – marysmoving

“I can’t right now, baby,” she says in the clip, tears streaming down her face. “It’s just too much.”

My Heritage even set up an in-person family reunion. It was made instantly clear that even though they might have never met, they were clearly a family, especially when it came to their shared love of dancing.

@marysmoving big shout out to #myheritage for making this happen. our time together went by so quickly. we planned for our official family reunion for July 2024! #family #reunited #reunion #adopted ♬ original sound – marysmoving

“Family is important. It gives you a sense of belonging,” Butler reflected with GMA. “It gives you a sense of identity.” This is something that’s become even more important to her as she has begun growing a family of her own.

Watch the full story below:

It’s cold and flu seasons, folks. During this time of year, we’re all on a mission to avoid the demon viruses that threaten to invade our bodies and wage Armageddon on our immune systems.

But no matter how much vitamin C we consume or how diligently we wash our hands, we still have to rely on others to be smart about exposing people to their sick germs.

And that goes doubly for kids, who inexplicably do things like lick their own palms and rub communal crayons under their noses.

That’s why a mom’s recent Facebook post about keeping kids home when they have a fever has been shared more than 170,000 times. Samantha Moriá Reynolds shared a photo of a thermometer with a temperature of 101.4 with the following message:

This morning, Sam woke up and noticed her son wasn’t feeling well.
Sam took her son’s temperature, and wow! A fever.
Sam gave her son Tylenol and then…
Sam did NOT send her son to school.
Even after the fever went down a couple hours later, Sam did NOT send her son to school.
Sam missed work knowing that the well-being of her son and the kids who attend his school is more important than work missed.

Sam’s son was invited to THREE birthday parties over the weekend. Sam’s son has been so excited to go, but he will unfortunately also have to miss them because Sam’s son is SICK. Sam knows passing along a sickness would not be a great birthday gift regardless of how bummed her son may be.

Sam knows her son is still contagious until he is fever-free, WITHOUT medication, for 24 hours. If Sam’s son is running a fever at 7am on Sunday, Sam’s son will also not be attending school on Monday.

Be. Like. Sam.

Some parents will give their kids fever-reducing medication, the fever will go down, the kid will feel a bit better, and off they go to school. But fever meds like Tylenol don’t do anything to kill the virus that’s infecting the kid’s body. They just mask the symptoms of the illness and provide some relief to a miserable kiddo. If a fever goes down with medication, the child is still sick and still contagious.

The same goes for adults who try to tough it out by popping a Dayquil before heading off to work. If you want to infect your coworkers and make them hate you, keep doing that.

Granted, some parents may have a hard time finding childcare or taking time off work, and there’s a lot to be said for employers being understanding and granting leave to care for sick children. Our whole society needs to work together on this front to make sure people don’t feel like they have no choice but to send a sick kid to school. But that starts with parents insisting that their feverish kids stay home from school until they are no longer a threat to other people’s health and well-being.

The coronavirus outbreak keeps making headlines and the mounting death numbers from it are making people nervous, but the truth is that the plain old flu already kills thousands of Americans every single year. This season, more than 8,000 people have already died from flu and flu complications, and we’re still in the thick of the season.

The best way to keep illness from spreading is to stay away from other people when you are sick and to keep sick kids home until they are fever-free for 24 hours.

Be like Sam. Keep sick kids home. It takes a village to keep us all healthy.

This article originally appeared on 01.30.20

On Wednesday SNL fulfilled a promise it made last week: The showrunners announced their first episode since the WGA strike ended. The Season 49 premiere isn’t far off either, landing on October 14. That’s less than a week-and-a-half as of this writing, which is not a ton of time to get things back in action. In fact, it’s so soon that two of its cast members had to reschedule another show they had booked for that Saturday night.

As per Deadline, Weekend Updaters Michael Che and Colin Jost had planned to do up Radio City Music Hall that same night. Now they had to reschedule it for the following evening.

“Radio City show moved to Sunday cause SNL back that night. Tickets are transferable, refunds will be granted,” Jost wrote on Instagram, adding, semi-ominously, “Nobody is happy about this.”

The good news is that when they return next Saturday, they’ll be joined by an old pal (and frequent Weekend Update guest): Pete Davidson. Davidson was supposed to host towards the end of Season 48…but then his episode coincided with the start of the WGA strike. But the best things come to those who wait, and after five months Davidson gets his Mulligan. It will even be the first time he’s been on the show since his departure in the spring of 2022.

(Via Deadline)

So far on his The Final Lap Tour, 50 Cent has been full of surprises, including an Eminem cameo in Detroit, a very controversial mic toss, and a bold proclamation from J. Cole. 50 and The Final Lap Tour is in Norway this week, in Stavanger, Norway on Monday, October 2, and Oslo, Norway, on Wednesday, October 4. Diddy did not make a surprise appearance at either show, but he was still present via surprising commentary from 50 Cent.

Earlier Wednesday, Daily Loud and HipHopDX circulated video on X (formerly known as Twitter) showing 50, presumably during one of his recent shows. In it, he took time between songs to take a shot at Diddy. Sort of?

“That’s why I don’t be going to them Puffy parties,” 50 Cent said. “Uh-uh. N***a hug you from the front and the back at the same time? F*ck you talkin’ about? Look, if you into that, you into that. I’m fine with it. To each his own. I’m just sayin’ this ain’t my motherf*cking kind of party. It’s uncomfortable. I think I belong in the girls bathroom when sh*t like that is going on.”

Welp! The context of what was said before the recording began is unclear, and it would be very helpful to know what led him into this anecdote about what allegedly does or does not happen at Diddy’s famed parties.

Regardless, 50 Cent will continue to have the floor to say whatever he wants until at least December, when his The Final Lap Tour is due to wrap. The next show is scheduled for Thursday, October 5, in Trondheim, Norway. See all of the remaining international dates here.

Back on September 8, James Blake released his album Playing Robots Into Heaven, and he spent the rest of the month playing shows in Europe.

Blake’s Playing Robots Into Heaven Tour began in Milan, Italy, and snaked through France, Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, and The UK. Blake staged a sold-out tour stop at Alexandra Palace in London before coming to North America this week. On Tuesday, October 3, Blake performed at The Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta, Georgia, and he’s scheduled to play back-to-back shows in Queens, New York on Thursday, October 5, and Friday, October 6.

The Playing Robots Into Heaven Tour is scheduled to wrap with back-to-back dates at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles on October 19 and October 20. The second LA date had to be added because demand was so high to see Blake bring his latest album to life.

Below, you’ll see Blake’s purported setlist, according to fans who attended his London show at Alexandra Palace and chronicled it on setlist.fm.

1. “Asking To Break”
2. “I Want You To Know”
3. “The Limit To Your Love” (Feist cover)
4. “Life Round Here”
5. “Big Hammer”
6. “Loading”
7. “I’ll Come Too”
8. “Fall Back”
9. “Love Me In Whatever Way”
10. “CMYK” / “Stop What You’re Doing”
11. “Tell Me”
12. “Voyeur” (Extended)
13. “Retrograde”
14. “Fire The Editor”
15. “Godspeed” (Frank Ocean cover)
16. “If You Can Hear Me”

Encore
17. “Improv” / “Modern Soul” (Remix)

Paris, the famed city of lights, is one of the finest travel destinations in the whole world. It’s so popular in fact that bedbugs apparently can’t get enough of the French city. According to many media outlets, the city has been hit with a pretty significant bed bug problem since the summer — with videos of bug sightings everywhere from the Paris Metro to movie theaters and the Charles de Gaulle Airport popping up on social media.

And I know what you’re thinking, “But you can’t see bedbugs!” Well, these ones are so big that you can in fact see them, which adds an extra level of disturbing to the whole story.

This is a huge problem because Paris is set to host the Summer Olympics in 2024, which will bring visitors from all across the world into the already hot tourist destination, potentially exposing millions to the nasty little creatures. It’s gotten so bad that Paris’ Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire has asked the government to step in.

But how much of this is overblown? It’s hard to tell. Let’s explore the available information out there.

How Bad Is The Bed Bug Problem In Paris?

Aside from the videos appearing on social media, CBS News reports that Paris companies specializing in the treatment of insect infestations say they’ve been “overwhelmed” in recent weeks. However, it should be noted that we haven’t come across a story that gives any information on who these alleged companies are, so it’s not entirely easy to look into. All we have to base this on is social media reporting, news sites regurgitating similar information, and the fact that the French government has responded to the issue.

Also, many of the videos posted by news sites (like the video below) seem sensationalized as f*ck. Where is this B-roll footage from? What’s with the dude spraying for bugs? How much of this is actually from France?

What Are The Best Tips For Travelers?

You’re going to want to be vigilant if you’re staying at a hotel. As we mentioned before, bedbugs aren’t always visible to the naked eye so be sure to investigate the sheets, bed frame, and underneath the bed in your hotel looking for blood spots, or anything that resembles pepper grounds on the pillows or sheets. That said, larger and more expensive hotels know how social media works and they’re sure to be vigilant about managing the issue.

According to the EPA, adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and are long and brown with a flat oval-shaped body. Younger bed bugs can be translucent or white and may be invisible to the naked eye. A good DIY recipe for combating bedbugs is rubbing alcohol, but it’s safe to say if you see traces of bed bugs in your hotel room, it’s probably a bigger problem than you can fix.

What Places Should You Avoid?

This entirely depends on how paranoid you are. For every video showing the horrors of the bed bug situation in Paris, there are videos of people who are being understandably cautious but haven’t actually seen any bed bugs and instead give in to pure hearsay. Videos have claimed bed bugs have been spotted in movie theaters, public transportation, and the airport but what are you going to do?

Not go to movie theaters? Take public transportation? Fly?

You’re really not going to take public transportation in Paris? We’re not convinced. Look I’m not saying give yourself over to the bed bug overlords willingly, but if the Paris bed bug situation is really as rampant as people are making it out to be, there is nothing you can really do aside from walking around outdoors. Luckily… Paris is a beautiful city, so enjoy your walk!

How Has France Responded?

According to Politico, this Tuesday French Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau urged calm in an interview with France Inter claiming that there is “no reason for a general panic,” and explaining that the city has not been “invaded by bedbugs.” CNBC reports that France’s transport minister, Clément Beaune, echoed Rousseau’s concerns to French Broadcaster BFM TV on Wednesday, telling reporters

“There is no resurgence, we must not fall into madness,” and assured that discussions would be held with cleaning companies and transport operators for efficient solutions.

Which, to be fair, sounds like a whole lot of damage control. That said, the media has a tendency to blow up tiny problems into big ones if those problems result in a high number of clicks. Look, we’re not saying Paris isn’t having a bed bug situation right now, like Las Vegas and most cities in the summer, it seems to be going through a marked and noticeable increase. That said, we’d be smart to remember that the city has a spotlight on it right now due to Paris Fashion Week — resulting in an influx of travelers to the city and scrutiny.

Going to Paris doesn’t guarantee you’re going to be met with bed bugs. Still… be sure to check for droppings or blood spots on your hotel pillows and metro seats just in case.

The ladies of The View aren’t huge fans of Donald Trump. That includes the one that used to work for him. Their animosity towards the former president is such that on Wednesday, while discussing his already chaotic and fast food-heavy fraud trial in New York, one of them let slip an old school slur that her colleagues weren’t sure would fly on network television.

That word is “jerkoff.” As per Mediaite, it was uttered by no less than Sara Haines, the nice registered independent who usually doesn’t lose her cool à la Whoopi Goldberg or Joy Behar. The gang was talking about the gag order placed upon Trump by presiding judge Arthur Engoron, who had it up to here with the big guy hurling dangerous insults at those controlling his fate.

Goldberg pointed out, as many have, that if anyone else had said what Trump has said about folks like Engoron or New York Attorney General Letitia James, they’d already be in the slammer. Sunny Hostin said, “I don’t know what that man is going to do if he can’t talk.”

Haines, though, decided to bring up a movie franchise: the Back to the Future movies. She pointed out that Bob Gale, one of the series’ screenwriters, admitted he based the villain Biff Tannen, especially the wealthy sleazeball he becomes in the first sequel, on ‘80s-era Trump.

“So think about what he was like in 1983 when he was a jerkoff doing what he does,” Haines said. “Nothing’s changed!”

Haines’ use of a colorful insult from a bygone era prompted a group discussion. Goldberg said she couldn’t say that on television. Haines disagreed, saying “that wasn’t even a swear!”

Eventually Haines realized — despite digging up an old-timey cuss word — that her vernacular had inexplicably shrunk. “I have no words left!” she cried. “I feel like Donald Trump!”

Behar then informed her, “We’re gagging you.”

At least Haines has a broad vocabulary. Meanwhile the guy she was insulting can’t even spell “rumor.”

(Via Mediaite)

At the start of the year, Kevin Abstract set the bar high for his solo pursuits outside of Brockhampton. He told GQ that he wanted to “put an album out this summer” and hinted at a tour as well as interest in dipping into film and television. In September, Abstract kept teasing with a trailer for “Blanket” and his first solo performance in six years.

On Wednesday, October 4, Abstract dropped “Blanket” alongside a video he co-directed with Cole Bat. The acoustic-driven, hushed song underscores an ominous plot, as Abstract is in a house in the middle of nowhere, alone in a dark living room, cradling a creepy baby doll and sitting alongside two cartoonish monsters.

They’re all watching the news, which shows apocalyptic meteors are plummeting toward Earth. That makes Abstract visibly anxious. He bobs his knee, sighs deeply, and looks down at his baby doll when one of the monsters flips the channel to show a disturbing cartoonish man with bulging eyes.

At the same time, the song’s tempo picks up. We hear someone whispering, “I thought these things about me were temporary,” and Abstract sings in the same whispered tone about memories.

Meanwhile, shots cut back and forth from Abstract with a chainsaw in the vast field and Abstract amid a group hug from his oversized monsters. By the end, Abstract drives off in a tractor as the meteors streak across the sky.

Watch the “Blanket” video above.

October is here. Time for Pumpkin Spice Latte, Taylor Swift —at football games, in theaters, or on the charts, take your pick — and Austin City Limits. The latter’s 2023 iteration will be staged this weekend, October 6-8, and next weekend, October 13-15, with headliners Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, and Mumford & Sons. The other big-text artists are Odesza, The Lumineers, Shania Twain, Alanis Morissette, The 1975, and Hozier. You can find all of the acts’ set times here.

But before you can enjoy any ACL performances at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, you’ll have to find somewhere to park. According to the festival’s official website, Zilker Park does not offer parking. However, per the site, “Pavemint has partnered with ACL Fest to provide parking for festival attendees with Pavemint’s smart parking solution.” Parking reservations can be made here. The website additionally clarifies, “There is limited accessible parking available near the festival on a first-come, first-served basis to vehicles displaying an appropriate state-issued plate or placard.”

The festival will kick off on Friday, October 6, with the likes of Delacey, Portugal. The Man, Lil Yachty, Little Simz, Maggie Rogers, Kali Uchis, The Revivalists, The Lumineers, and Kendrick Lamar. (Lamar will also headline on Friday, October 13.) Foo Fighters will deliver headlining sets on Saturday, October 7, and Saturday, October 14, while Mumford & Sons will headline on Sunday, October 8, and Sunday, October 15.

Some of the artists mentioned are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Last year something exciting happened to Winnie-the-Pooh: He and his cadre of woodland critters entered the public domain. The rights to A.A. Milne’s beloved characters had spent decades held hostage by The Walt Disney Company, who milked him for numerous beloved shorts, movies, and shows. Once Winnie, Eeyore, Rabbit, et al. were free, people have gone above and beyond to give them makeovers. There was that horror movie adaptation. And there’s a forthcoming body horror game that’s making people wish Disney had never let its rights lapse.

It’s called Winnie’s Hole, and believe it or not the title is not the most shudder-inducing thing about it. It comes from the Australian game studio Twice Different, and, as IGN reported a while back, players play a “virus traveling through Winnie the Pooh’s body.” It gets worse:

“As you spread throughout the bear’s rotund vessel like a cancer, you branch out the map and gather the resources you need to capture healthy cells and mutate them to grow as many extra appendages and eyes to transform Winnie into a monstrosity of your liking and adapt his form for survival.”

The game was announced back in June, but sometimes traumatizing things take a while to fully horrify the general populace. After IGN brought the game up again a few days ago, on Wednesday it finally went viral. And when it went viral, a lot of people couldn’t handle Winnie-the-Pooh going David Cronenberg.

Some couldn’t even handle the title.

Some over-analyzed the premise, deducing that it made no sense for a toy bear to be plagued with a virus wreaking biological rebellion.

Some speculated about other children’s IP entering the public domain.

Some hatched conspiracy theories about all these kid’s Ips getting edgy treatments, like that Grinch horror movie from last year.

Some mocked other “nightmare fuel” reboots.

Others welcomed the nightmare fuel.

You can watch the trailer for Winnie’s Hole (again, *shudder*) below.

(Via IGN)