John Carr and Jackie Spencer went nearly 80 years of their lives thinking that they knew who their families were. Sadly, DNA tests revealed that nothing was as it seemed. Thanks to Spencer searching for his biological father's family through an ancestry website, they discovered the truth. They were born on August 29th, 1942 in the same hospital and believe they were switched at birth. The two are suing the hospital for damages, but nothing can reclaim a lifetime already lost.
Jesse Colombo says that he predicted the 2008 economic collapse, and he's predicting another one... because of the Coronavirus.
Do you think there is going to be another financial collapse due to the Coronavirus? Are you hoarding toilet paper like everyone else during this crisis? Are you prepared for the apocalypse?
On February 13th a 36 year old Ohio woman named Seloni Khetarpal was arrested when she called 911 multiple times because her parents shut off her cell phone. She was arrested on charges of disrupting public services, which is a 4th degree felony. She was released on $2,500 bond and is due back in court on February 27th.
Why did she call 911? Why did her parents shut off her cell phone? We try to dive into this story and get some answers.
This Natalia Barnett story that I've been covering for the past couple of months had me wondering if something like what the Barnett's are claiming, has happened to other people. After a bit of research I found that this is a lot more common than you might think!
In this video I talk about five adults that pretended to be children and went back to school...
I really, really wanted to like this game. I was super excited for it to come out... and then it did... in all it's steaming pile of garbage glory. I made a new video highlighting a touchdown glitch in Madden 20 as well as a few other things.
I stumbled across this YouTube video from Anna Akana where she provides an interesting perspective, having dated both men and women.
I don't want to clutter things up with my opinions on dating other than to say that I have had many similar experiences and feelings as what she's saying. While that doesn't define every experience that I've had, there are some interesting double standards that should be addressed.
I found out about this video from watching the H3 podcast with Bo Burnham where they discussed it in depth. It turns out that back in 2008 there was a YouTuber that posted cooking tutorials. I started watching this series and I'm immediately intrigued.
I can't figure out if the whole thing is legitimate or if it's a clever ruse to make us think there is a crazy hoarder who decided to create a weird YouTube cooking channel. Either way it's wildly entertaining.
The original channel was closed years ago, but luckily someone archived the videos and uploaded them on a different one.
Be prepared to be pretty grossed out at times.... Like when he washes the hot dog he cooked over a candle with soap.
If you're obsessed with history like me, there's some great YouTube channels to get your fix. One of my absolute favorites is History Buffs. He takes movies and talks about the true history behind them. It's much more than just picking apart the inaccuracies, and that's what makes it so entertaining to watch.
It's so strange to grow up studying people like Shakespeare, only to find out later that there's some doubt as to whether or not he even existed in the first place. How is that even possible? The list of historical figures that may have not been real, despite being so well known, goes much deeper than this video. However, check out some of the more popular ones and the theories behind why that might be the case.
If you haven't heard about the controversy that stemmed from a woman that Kendrick Lamar brought on stage, you can read about it here.
Essentially he brought a fan on stage who was a white woman to rap with him and when she said all of the words in the lyrics, the crowd erupted and she was booed off the stage.
I don't have a dog in this fight. I just know it's a word I have no desire to use. YouTuber Ian Kung put out a video on how you should rap if Kendrick Lamar brings you on stage, and it's hilarious.
I've been a huge fan of David Fincher's films ever since he came on my radar with Fight Club, but aside from always seeming to having a stellar cast, incredible story to tell, and a cool color pallet, I wouldn't have been able to identify exactly why.
NerdWriter does an amazing job of explaining why he thinks that Fincher's movies draw us into the lives of these characters and feeling like we are a part of their story. It's frankly something I never would have thought of if I hadn't see this.
As it turns out, we all live about 80 milliseconds in the past whether we want to or not. So when will be now be "now?" Probably never, according to science.
Vsauce explains it all below, so watch it in the past... just like I did.
Given the fact that I have defended the YouTuber Felix "PewDiePie" in the past with the Wall Street Journal, I feel like I needed to say something about the latest issues that have come up with the gamer turned millionaire.
When the Wall Street Journal posted their article on him being a "Nazi," it made me upset to see such irresponsible journalism from such an established media outlet. Their piece was lazy and pure click bait at it's essence. Many other mainstream media outlets followed suit, based on this one article, and perpetuated a false narrative.
That being said, what Felix said recently on one of his live streams is indefensible. I've read excuses like the fact that English isn't his first language and that he didn't grow up in the United States where the origins of that word were used to enable the subjugation of an entire race for hundreds of years.
I understand that words don't have the same meaning when it's another language, and you haven't been exposed or really understand the history. However, there's never a reason to use that word towards anyone for any reason...regardless of context. In addition, he's been a public figure and an adult in the world long enough to know how and why so many people find that word incredibly hurtful.
In case you haven't heard, Felix used the "N-word" in response to another player essentially being an asshole the game he was playing. He quickly followed it up by saying he meant that the other player was being an asshole, but the damage was already done.
Do I think PewDiePie is a racist? I don't know. I don't think that he is necessarily, but I don't know him personally. At the very least, he's definitely racially insensitive... and the fact that he could use the word so casually on a public live stream begs the question of how often he uses the word in private. It's not something that comes out of one's mouth easily or randomly.
If you want a good recap and perspective from a fellow YouTuber, you can watch Phillip DeFranco's coverage of the events embedded below.
All I can really say is that I'm disappointed. I defended PewDiePie when the mainstream media attacked him, but now there is no excuse. There was no context, joke, or anything that could explain this kind of behavior.
I've watched his response that I've also included below, and I appreciate the fact that he's taking accountability and not making excuses. However, I think it's going to take time to heal the wounds that he caused people by doing what he did, if they ever can be. Some things once they are said, cannot be unsaid. What happened has and should make people question his moral character.
It's true that we all make mistakes, but no one should just be forgiven right away... if at all. When we fuck up, especially when it's big, we have to atone for it. The people that make the mistakes don't get to decide or dictate how other people feel about it. So only time will tell if the public can forgive him, as well as see if he remains accountable, humble, and earns their trust back.
Personally, I'd be wary of ever putting my trust in him to do the right thing at this point. As much as the WSJ hit piece on him was bullshit, which triggered the losses of his YouTube Red series "Scare PewDiePie" and Disney affiliation, it was a good thing they did given what has transpired. If they didn't before, they would now.
I've seen comments around the context of "words only have the meaning you give them" or "words have too much power." Both of which I agree with, but what's also true is that communication and the words you use only matter in the context of how people interpret them... regardless of your original intent.
That word in particular is loaded with hundreds of years of oppression of a specific race of people. That word has a specific meaning to them (as well as anyone with half of a brain who took a history class), and that's not something you can ignore. The impacts of slavery and racism are far reaching and undeniable. Not only in day to day lives and interactions but socioeconomically in history since abolition.
So what now?
We'll just have to wait and see how he conducts himself in the future, if any of us are still watching.
I have to be honest, I've never watched "Last Man Standing." I tried watching the first episode a couple of years ago, but it failed to keep my interest with the tired multi-camera, canned laughter format.
I know there's successful shows that still use the classic sitcom format, but I'm not watching any of them. The last traditional sitcom I watched on broadcast television was probably either Friends or Frasier, whichever ended later. I can't remember and I don't care to look it up.
I did watch a lot of "How I Met Your Mother," but only after it was on Netflix. I've seen a few episodes of "Big Bang Theory," but that was on an airplane. Anyways, my point is that I just can't watch those shows anymore. The canned laughter for lines that aren't even jokes.
Maybe it's not the format that's tired, but just the bad writing. I don't find any traditional sitcoms funny anymore. Now, single camera shows like Louie and Maron I found hilarious. However, the writing and characters were really funny.
I can still watch Seinfeld and laugh my balls off, even though I've seen all nine seasons many times. I went back and watched Cheers and Frasier from the beginning. Those shows have excellent premises, characters, and stellar writing. I don't even notice the laugh track because I'm ACTUALLY laughing all the way through it.
I suppose the other part is that I can't watch broadcast television anymore. I hate watching one show at a time and waiting a week for the next episode. I don't have the patience for that. I know I sound like a douche, but I enjoy watching multiple episodes of a show back to back. It's like watching a really long, interesting movie, and I don't forget what happened the previous week.
Even with streaming, I still couldn't make it through ten minutes of "Last Man Standing." It's possible that I didn't give it long enough. It's been on for six years and clearly a lot of people like it. However, it's unlikely that I'll give it another chance. There's just too many good shows and movies to watch, with so little time to watch them.
I don't really care about the politics either. That may have been a factor in the motivation to cancel the series, but that doesn't determine whether or not I'll watch a show. Unless they're running for government office, I don't really care what side of the aisle an entertainer feels more comfortable.
I think political lines that we draw in this country are more arbitrary than legitimate. Most people think they need to align themselves with a party, but the parties are corrupt as an institution... The same as the politicians that constitute them.
The reality is too, that most people can fall on either side of the spectrum for different issues. For some reason people attack the left or the right with name calling and other bullshit, as though you have to be one or the other. It's not an either/or situation. The political parties have painted it that way. They've made teams and you have to sign up for one.
Both Democrats and Republicans are corrupt and political parties, and boast candidates that are full of shit.
The world is more gray area and chaos than it is order with nice clean lines and labels.
I kind of went all over the place with this one. Haha
Anyways, here's Looper's take on the real reasons "Last Man Standing" was canceled. They do a very thorough job of examining the situation (comedy).
As a person that's always been fascinated by history, and actually started out as a history major in college, I love it when people actually take the time to get it right.
Movies and television have always opted to create narratives that fit what the studios, writers, producers, and directors feel is a more compelling story while altering facts or downright disregarding them in some cases.
As the Cracked video below points out, even the History Channel is guilty of this. I don't have an issue with this for the most part. When I watch a movie or a TV show based on an historic event, I go into it with the understanding that most of it is going to be fiction.
There's a lot that we don't know, and will never know, so when Hollywood takes on an individual's life, they're going to have to make some stuff up. However, what frustrates me is that some people watch and think that's it's all factual. Even more frustrating is when completely contrived stereotypes continue to be perpetuated.
In this episode of Hilarious Helmet History Cracked examines the Vikings and why the things we think we know about them actually aren't true at all.
If this bores you, then feel free to go watch Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Also a good watch.
A lot goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood, and there's probably a lot that the studios as well as actors would rather the general public not know about.
However, in the information age things don't generally stay secret for very long... Have you ever gotten drunk on the job? Having a happy hour with coworkers is one thing, but having a few shots just so that you can get through the day is quite another...
Looper put together a compilation video of actors that were drunk during filming. Check it out.
I love the Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad! Not because it's a great commercial or because I like Pepsi, but because of what the reaction to it says about the collective mindset of the world we live in today.
My take on this situation is that people are tired of billion dollar corporations commercializing and trivializing the lives of normal people. At least, that's what I'd like to think... and I think that it's a reflection of the power that people have to fight back against corporate greed.
Pepsi won't be hurt by this in the long run though, really. If anything, a controversy like this just gives them free publicity. The people that buy and like Pepsi will probably continue to do so.
However, the negative reaction to this commercial makes me feel positive about the way people live and think about huge corporations. Companies have been capitalizing on these generic "let's bring everyone together" vibes for a long, long time.
They blatantly try to rip off the feelings surrounding issues of civil rights, discrimination, and prejudice so that they can make more money.
What's even more ridiculous is that this is a blatant rip of Coca-Cola! Do you not remember the "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke" ad campaign from the 70's? Okay, I don't technically remember it either because I was T-minus 9 years old at that time. However, it was an iconic ad campaign that people refer to as one of the most successful and memorable in history.
That ad featured people from varying ethnic backgrounds and the underlying message is that if you buy someone a coke you're promoting peace and not war. It implied that you could overcome racism and hate by buying someone a Coke.
This Pepsi ad is the same damn thing, except remade with modern music and context. In case you aren't familiar with what I'm talking about, I've embedded it below.
If everyone just bought each other a Coke or Pepsi (OR BOTH), we would all get along and it would solve all of our problems! Why didn't we think of this before? World Peace. CHECK. CHA-CHING!
The fact that it's on a hilltop in Italy doesn't change the fact that it's a corporation trying to make a profit off of the ideas and movements of the time...just like Pepsi tried to do. Except this time, people called them out on their bullshit.
Corporations take real life issues and trivialize them by watering them down to inject the message that buying their product supports that movement or ideology. They take what (and who) is popular and try to align themselves with that to get you to buy. It's probably the most common marketing strategy.
That's why you see actors and actresses pitching products that they didn't develop or probably even use.
Anyways, here's Cracked's satirical explanation of how the Pepsi ad with Kendall Jenner got made...and it's hilarious.
