Tennessee School District Bans ‘Maus,’ a Children’s Book About the Holocaust
In January 2022 a Tennessee school district banned
'Maus' Holocaust Novel Removed From Classrooms by School Board
The board voted unanimously to remove the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel from classrooms because it contained swear words, according to minutes from the meeting.Jenny Gross (The New York Times)
12ft.io Paywall Bypassing Service
12ft.io removes paywalls on major news sites, enabling readers to access higher quality news content.
What the pandemic means for paywalls
Columbia Journalism ReviewA year ago this month, major publications across the United States partially or completely lowered their paywalls.
Did Rep. Thomas Massie Tweet a Quote by a Neo-Nazi?
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky tweeted a quote that actually originated from a reputed white nationalist.
Fact check: Quote falsely attributed to French writer and philosopher Voltaire
A post online features French writer and philosopher Voltaire along with a purported quote by him. The quote is from an American white nationalist.Nayeli Lomeli (USA TODAY)
‘The Same Executive at NBC Greenlit Fear Factor and The Apprentice, Setting an Unbelievable Sequence of Events in Motion’
"The same executive at NBC greenlit
Why Joe Rogan's exclusive Spotify deal matters
His popular show, The Joe Rogan Experience, will soon be removed from all other platforms.BBC News
Calm Harm App
People who struggle with self harm can download an app, "Calm Harm," to ameliorate that impulse.
Tumblr users are turning to this app to resist the urge to self-harm
Calm Harm is helping Tumblr users to overcome the urge to self-harmMegan Farokhmanesh (The Verge)
‘Smart’ Engagement Rings?
Apple is marketing "smart engagement rings" that tell your partner where you are and if the ring is removed.
Everything We Know About Facebook’s Secret Mood-Manipulation Experiment
It was probably legal. But was it ethical?Robinson Meyer (The Atlantic)
Jabar Gibson Hurricane Katrina Rescuer Meme
"On September 1st, 3 days after Hurricane Katrina 20 year old Jabbar Gibson took a Orleans Parrish school bus and transported 70 ppl on a 13 hour trip to the Astrodome in Houston since their government would not. His bus was the first to arrive."
How A Small-Time Drug Dealer Rescued Dozens During Katrina
To the cops, Jabbar Gibson was just a low-level drug pusher. But to the residents of a New Orleans public housing complex, he’s the man who rescued them from Hurricane Katrina when no one else would.Joel Anderson (BuzzFeed)
‘Suicide Hotline Collected, Monetized’ Caller Data
Suicide hotline Crisis Text Line "collected and monetized" callers' data.
Suicide hotline shares data with for-profit spinoff, raising ethical questions
The Crisis Text Line’s AI-driven chat service has gathered troves of data from its conversations with people suffering life’s toughest situations.POLITICO
Ben Shapiro ‘Nobody Said Crime’ Tweet
Ben Shapiro tweeted "notably, no one said crime" in response to a tweet asking people what they'd like to "ban."
‘We should make crimes against the law’: Ben Shapiro mocked for moaning no NYC Democrats pledged to ban crime
‘Notably, crime is already illegal. This intellectual powerhouse continues to impress,’ one Twitter user writesGustaf Kilander (The Independent)
‘2 Million People Are in the Streets of Ottawa Demanding Their Freedom’
Image depicts "2 million people ... in the streets of Ottawa demanding their freedom" in 2022.
Ottawa Honking Ban
On February 7 2022, a judge in Ottawa issued a ten-day "ban" on honking.
Canada trucker protest: Ottawa declares emergency
The Canadian capital's mayor says the city is out of control, with more protesters than police.BBC News
‘Fun Little Trick in the Sunday New York Times Crossword’
On Sunday February 6 2022, the
Games you’ll feel good about.
Play the Crossword, the Mini, Spelling Bee, Tiles and more.www.nytimes.com
James Hemings and Macaroni and Cheese
"Chef James Hemings was the first American classically trained in French cuisine. He is the founder of Mac and Cheese, but his owner, Thomas Jefferson, took the credit for it. Yes, that Jefferson."
Kitchen of Thomas Jefferson's Slave Discovered
James Hemings was an immensely talented chef, and the reason Americans eat creme brulee, merengues, whipped cream and macaroni and cheese.Kastalia Medrano (Newsweek)
Did a GOP Lawmaker Accuse Nancy Pelosi of Having a ‘Gazpacho Police’?
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had trained "Gaspacho police" on her party.
G.O.P. Declares Jan. 6 Attack ‘Legitimate Political Discourse’
The Republican National Committee voted to censure Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for participating in the inquiry into the deadly riot at the Capitol.Jonathan Weisman (The New York Times)
Ayn Rand Institute PPP Controversy
"Never letting ‘Atlas Shrugged’ fans live down that the Ayn Rand Institute sought, and was granted, a PPP loan from the government."
In sign of the times, Ayn Rand Institute approved for PPP loan
The institute promoting the “laissez-faire capitalism” of writer Ayn Rand, who in the novels “Atlas Shrugged” and “The Fountainhead” introduced her philosophy of “objectivism” to millions of readers, was approved for a Paycheck Protection Program (PP…Helen Coster (Reuters)
Anthony Bourdain: ‘Eat at a Local Restaurant Tonight’ Quote
Anthony Bourdain said: "Eat at a local restaurant tonight. Get the cream sauce. Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in a mostly empty bar. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you. Order the steak rare. Eat an oyster. Have a negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways. Eat slowly. Tip your server. Check in on your friends. Check in on yourself. Enjoy the ride."
‘Is Now a Good Time [to] Remind Truckers That EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN Voted Against Saving Truckers’ Pensions Last Year?’
"Is now a good time [to] remind truckers that EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN voted against saving truckers' pensions last year?"
Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill passes House, but faces Senate hurdle
The Senate parliamentarian ruled on Thursday the minimum wage hike cannot be included if Congress uses the budget reconciliation process.Grace Grace (CBS News)
Britney Spears vs. Somali Pirates Meme
"In 2013, Britney Spears' music was used by British Naval Officers to ward off Somali Pirates on the east coast of Africa."
Britney Spears' music used by British navy to scare off Somali pirates
Tim Jonze: 'As soon as the pirates get a blast of Britney, they move on as quickly as they can,' says merchant naval officerTim Jonze (The Guardian)
ATF Valentine’s Day Tweet
On February 14 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) published a tweet encouraging Americans to report their exes for Valentine's Day.
Did Teachers in South Dakota Compete in a ‘Dash for Cash’ Event?
Teachers in Sioux Falls, South Dakota took part in a "Dash for Cash" event in December 2021 in which they competed to grab as many $1 bills as possible.
Sioux Falls-area teachers 'Dash for Cash' for classroom improvements at Stampede game
Teachers scrambled for cash at the Sioux Falls Stampede game for classroom improvements.Annie Todd (Sioux Falls Argus Leader)
Jim Finch and the Mayfield Tornado
"This man drove half an hour with a grill and a truckload of food and parked right in the middle of #Mayfield, Kentucky. 'I know they don’t have electricity. No restaurants. No running water. I just figured I would do what I could do. So I showed up with some food and some water.' This man’s name is Jim Finch. Be like Jim Finch."
‘The New Mural on the Side of the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge, MD’
December 2021 Facebook post depicts a "new mural on the side of the Harriet Tubman museum in Cambridge, MD."
Was the ‘Bad Guy’ in ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ Dr. Fauci?
"Remember the movie 'Dallas Buyers Club' about a group of AIDS patients fighting for the right to use cheap, effective drugs against government bureaucrats in the pocket of Big Pharm? The bad guy was Dr. Anthony Fauci."
What ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ got wrong about the AIDS crisis
The Oscar season drama risks giving viewers a misleading impression of the early history of the AIDS epidemic.Dylan Matthews (The Washington Post)
‘If the Minimum Wage Increased at the Rate of Productivity Since 1960, It’d Be $24 Today—Not $7.25’
"If the [minimum] wage increased at the rate of productivity since 1960, it'd be $24 [in 2021]—not $7.25[.]"
Charles Schulz on Peanuts’ Franklin: ‘Print It Just the Way I Draw It or I Quit’
When syndicators insisted Charles Schulz remove
How Franklin, The Black 'Peanuts' Character, Was Born
Until a teacher convinced Charles Schulz to create Franklin, all of Charlie Brown's friends were white.NPR
‘Dolly Turned Down a Medal of Freedom from Trump, Twice’
"First I was going to say what a crock it was that Rush Limbaugh has a Presidential Medal of Freedom but Dolly Parton doesn’t. Then I Googled it and realized that Dolly turned down a Medal of Freedom from Trump. Twice. Dolly Parton is better than I even imagined."
‘Most Detailed Image of a Human Cell’
"This photo is the most detailed model of a human cell to date, obtained using X-ray, NMR, and cryo-electron microscopy data sets."
Fact Check-Miscaptioned image was not created with x-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance, and cryo-electron microscopy
Users are sharing an image of an animal cell and falsely claiming that it was obtained with x-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance, and cryo-electron microscopy. Some posts are also misattributing it to the wrong creator.Reuters Fact Check (Reuters)
The Newsmax ‘Vlad the Great’ Cover
In December 2021, Newsmax published a "Vlad the Great" cover story.
Newsmax – Breaking News | News Videos | Politics, Health, Finance
Top news headlines, videos and comments from Newsmax.com covering politics, the White House, Congress, Hollywood. U.S. news you can trust on health, personal finance, faith, freedom issues and more.www.newsmax.com
Shelf Life of Mifepristone and Misoprostol
"Mifepristone has a shelf life of about 5 years, and misoprostol has a shelf life of about 2 years."
Why the Supreme Court may look to China as it reconsiders Roe v. Wade
Conservatives often dismiss arguments about global standards. So why did Chief Justice John Roberts recently reference China and North Korea?John Fritze (USA TODAY)
Xiaofei Xu likes this.
‘The Maximum Legal Campaign Donation is Indexed to Inflation, But the Minimum Wage is Not’
"A very telling thing about American democracy is that the maximum legal campaign donation is indexed to inflation, but the minimum wage is not."
‘In Greece, If You Are Over 60 and Not Vaccinated, You Will Be Fined 100 Euros a Month’
"In Greece, if you are over 60 and not vaccinated at least with the first dose up until the 16th of January [2022], you are going to be fined by the government 100 Euros per month."
Greece will mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for anyone over 60, or make them pay fines
Anyone who refuses to get vaccinated will face monthly fines of 100 euros, or roughly $114. The monthly fine is substantial for retirees — the average pension is 730 euros a month.NPR
Rudy Giuliani’s $911 Autographed 9/11 T-Shirts
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani autographed 9/11 t-shirts, which are being sold for $911.
Outrage over signed Rudy Giuliani 9/11 shirts selling for $911
‘It is loathsome. It’s a total disrespect for the dead,’ CNN anchor saysGustaf Kilander (The Independent)
‘Albedo,’ ‘Bright Darkness,’ and ‘Snowglow’
The characteristic "bright darkness" observed after snowfall is called "snow albedo, skyglow, snowglow, or just light scattering."
'Snowglow' Sounds Charming, But It's a Menace to Night Skies
Fresh powder can worsen light pollution, according to new research from Germany.Jessica Leigh Hester (Atlas Obscura)
Big Macs in Denmark Versus Big Macs in the USA
Big Macs in Denmark are roughly the same price as they are in the United States, despite restaurants in the former country apparently spending far more to care for their workers.
Minimum wage increases create pricier Big Macs, but no job loss, research shows
A Princeton economist looked at the impacts of wage increases over five years at U.S. locations of fast-food giant McDonald’sElisabeth Buchwald (MarketWatch)
‘Camomiles and Pansies,’ A Fake Cosmetics Store to Assist Victims of Domestic Violence
Victims of domestic violence can seek help by shopping through a fake cosmetics store, "Camomiles and Pansies."
Missing teen girl rescued after using hand signal learned on TikTok
The Women's Funding Network created the sign as a lifeline for those trapped at home with abusers during the pandemic.Leslie Katz (CNET)
‘Squirrel Teeth’ Fashion Trend
Facebook post depicts a new "squirrel teeth" fashion trend.
Lisa Michalik creates 90s Dior-clad bunnies for her latest project
Pairing rabbit teeth with ‘bling bling’ manicures for Parisian vintage shop SnowbunnyDazed Digital
Bass Pro Shops, 7th Largest Pyramid in the World?
The "7th largest pyramid in the world" is a Bass Pro Shops.
Memphis Bass Pro Shops pyramid one of the world's largest
One of the largest pyramids in the world is a Bass Pro Shops megastore in Memphis, Tennessee, with a hotel, indoor swamp, and bowling alley.Kate Taylor (Insider)
Ulmer Nest
In the German city of Ulm, shelters called "Ulmer Nests" were installed to provide homeless people a safe place to sleep.
Futuristic sleeping pods for homeless people installed in German city
Tests are underway to if the pods protect against frostbite. If so, they could be rolled out across GermanyBethany Dawson (The Independent)
‘Doom Boxes’
"It is apparently common for ADHDers to leave boxes and bags, full of miscellaneous items, all over the place."
‘November 2021 Lunar Eclipse, The Longest in 580 Years’
"HEADS UP FRIDAY [November 19 2021]! 🌖✨ Get ready for the longest partial lunar eclipse in *580 years*!"
A partial lunar eclipse, the longest in 580 years, is coming Thursday night
The spectacle will be visible from almost all of North America, including the entire Lower 48, Alaska and Hawaii.Matthew Cappucci (The Washington Post)