Jurnee Smollett Says Racism Is More Of A Threat Than The Nightmare Creatures On ‘Lovecraft Country’

HBO

HBO’s new breakout series Lovecraft Country may be filled with terrifying creatures like Shoggoth and Cthulhu, but actress Jurnee Smollet wants to make it very clear that there is a much greater threat than the show’s horrifying monsters: racism.

“It affects your livelihood and it affects you on every single level,” Smollet told a Television Critics Association panel. “Our heroes essentially are going on a quest to bring down White supremacy. We are still on that quest today in 2020 as Black Americans. Racism is such a demonic spirit — it’s something that we are still fighting off.”

While Lovecraft Country is especially poignant given the Black Lives Matter protests following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Smollett isn’t a fan of referring to the show as “timely,” and she makes a very good point as to why. While sitting down for an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Smollet notes that the show would be relevant in 1619 as it is today due to systemic racism that has gone on for generations.

The setting for Lovecraft Country only further proves Smollett’s point that tackling racism will be timely at any point in America’s history. Taking place in the 1950s, the series prominently features “sundown towns,” a Jim Crow-era relic where Blacks were not permitted in certain towns after sundown. However, while Smollett is correct that calling Lovecraft Country timely brushes over centuries of white supremacy, the horror show is connecting with modern audiences in a big way. The debut drew similar numbers to HBO’s Watchmen, another critically-acclaimed series that wove America’s racist atrocities like the Tulsa Massacre into its narrative.

Lovecraft Country airs Sunday nights on HBO.

(Via UPI)

Source: https://uproxx.com/tv/jurnee-smollett-racism-bigger-threat-lovecraft-country/

These Supercharged White Blood Cells are Going Back Into a Patient to Fight Cancer

t cell immunotherapy cancer white blood cells in bag These Supercharged White Blood Cells are Going Back Into a Patient to Fight Cancer

Photograph by sarahjewel on reddit

 

The advances being made in medical science continue to astound. For example, the bag above contains white blood cells which were removed from a patient and genetically modified at a laboratory. Now they are about to go back into the patient in hopes of curing their cancer.

This treatment is known at CAR T-Cell Immunotherapy, which was named as the “2017 & 2018 Advance of the Year” by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO):

 

In CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell therapy, a person’s T cells are removed and taken to a laboratory. The T cells are genetically changed so they will attack cancer cells. These CAR T cells are grown in large numbers and then injected into the patient. One of the remarkable things about this treatment is that it is a “living therapy.” CAR T cells typically have to be injected only once, because they go on to multiply in the body. CAR T cells continue fighting the cancer in the patient’s body, and their effectiveness may even grow over time. [source]

 

 

picture of the day button These Supercharged White Blood Cells are Going Back Into a Patient to Fight Cancer

twistedsifter on facebook These Supercharged White Blood Cells are Going Back Into a Patient to Fight Cancer

 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1583941906523-0’); });

Source: https://twistedsifter.com/2020/08/supercharged-white-blood-cells-going-back-into-patient-to-fight-cancer/

Viral Post Gets Real About the Shocking Number of COVID-19 Deaths in the U.S.

As of August 18, 169,870 people in the United States have died of COVID-19. There have been 5.4 million cases. And these numbers are only continuing to rise. It can be difficult to grasp just what these numbers mean and actually look like. 

Sure, it was bad when it was 50,000 deaths, worse when it hit 100,000, and devastating when it hit 150,000. But a potential part of the reason the country isn’t banding together to do more about this pandemic crisis is that without context, those numbers can be hard to visualize and understand. 

For some, it’s not enough to say that these numbers are extreme and horrifying and wildly out of the ordinary, that we should be up in arms about nearly 170,000 people dying within six months. One viral Facebook post intends to clarify what these numbers really mean, to put them in a context that most people can understand.

“I was listening to the news this week when one of the anchors said that we needed to put the 137,000 people dead in four months with COVID-19 into context so people can understand,” her post reads. “He said to imagine those 137,000 dead people were airline passengers, all dying from airplane crashes.

“Losing 137,000 people in four months could be equivalent to 50 planes a week crashing, for four months, with all on board dying. 50 PLANE CRASHES A WEEK. For four months. All on board, DEAD.

“He said if planes were falling out of the sky at a rate of 50 per week, not only would people be horrified, but they would expect something to be done. The government wouldn’t be shrugging their shoulders and acting like it was no big deal.”

2-plane-crash-1597855686481.jpg
Source: iStock Photo

Her post continues, “I thought this was a great way to put it. No one would or could ignore that. No one would call it a hoax. No one would question the ‘science.’ No one would ignore it for four months. People would want answers, and they would be afraid to get on a plane until something was done. 

“People would say, ‘Planes are crashing around us and no one is taking it seriously.’ This is 171 people per plane, 50 times a week. Let that sink in.”

Has it sunk in yet? This is not normal. This is the equivalent of 50 plane crashes a week. Holly Yan puts it another way in an article for CNN: “If the U.S. suffered a loss of life on the scale of the 9/11 attacks — 50 times over — the tragedy would be incomprehensible. But that’s how many lives coronavirus has claimed in the U.S. since the pandemic started just six months ago.”

She writes that every day, “an average of more than 850 Americans have died from COVID-19.” She reiterates that it can be easy to turn a blind eye or simply not realize how staggering those numbers are. 

3-people-1597856394044.jpg
Source: iStock Photo

But it’s imperative that we don’t lose sight of what these numbers actually mean. As Yan, points out, we still have a long way to go before achieving herd immunity, and it might be months and months before a vaccine is available. 

Some estimates put us at 300,000 deaths before the end of the year, deaths that could have been prevented had the U.S. stepped up and taken the necessary steps to stop the spread of the virus.

Source : https://www.distractify.com/p/covid-19-deaths-plane-crashes

MAGIC at BUCKS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | August 18, 2020

MAGIC at BUCKS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | August 18, 2020
MAGIC at BUCKS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | August 18, 2020

The Orlando Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 122-110. Nikola Vucevic tallied a playoff career-high 35 PTS and 14 REB, while Terrence Ross added 18 PTS and 6 REB in the victory. Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 31 PTS, 17 REB and 7 AST for the Bucks.

Game 2: Thursday, August 20 at 6pm/et on ESPN!

Subscribe to the NBA: https://on.nba.com/2JX5gSN

Full Game Highlights Playlist: https://on.nba.com/2rjGMge

For news, stories, highlights and more, go to our official website at https://nba_webonly.app.link/nbasite

Get NBA LEAGUE PASS: https://nba.app.link/nbaleaguepass5

Teen Says She Was Fired After ‘Exposing’ Chick-fil-A on TikTok

In a recent series of viral TikTok videos, a Bay Area teen offered followers a slew of Chick-fil-A secret menu hacks and subsequently ended up allegedly losing her job at the popular fast-food chain.

The TikToker, who is dressed in a Chick-fil-A uniform and goes by @anasteeezy on the platform, begins by letting viewers in on how they can bypass the ordering system to get popular items at cheaper price points, including the seasonal mango passion tea. She recommends ordering a large Arnold Palmer, a mixture of tea and lemonade, and requesting that four pumps of mango syrup be added. This will, according to @anasteeezy, result in a double-sized drink for nearly the same price.

In the next video, @anasteeezy reappears to say that she’s “on her way to be fired,” presumably, for “leaking” details in the previous TikTok.

She continues by following up with another video, sarcastically recounting her experience working for—and eventually being let go from—the chain. “N that’s why it’s fucc chick fil a,” she wrote in the caption.

Lastly, she finishes her video series by leaking a few final hacks from the restaurant’s menu, including ways to spruce up an iced coffee order, receive free sandwiches by filling out surveys listed on receipts, and how to get two sandwiches for the price of one, among other tips.

She closes out the TikTok by stating that the restaurant gives discounts to all police officers, including text that reads “#DefundThePolice” across the top of the video. “And that is why we don’t support Chick-fil-A,” she says.

*First Published: Aug 19, 2020, 2:51 pm

Onaje McDowelle

Onaje McDowelle is a contributing editor and writer for the Daily Dot. His work has appeared in GRAMMY.com, NPR, Austin Monthly Magazine, and more.


Onaje McDowelle

Source : https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/chick-fil-a-worker-fired-exposing-tiktok/

The “Screaming Until I Pass Out” Challenge Is a Really Bad Idea

If you ever rebelled as a teenager, you’re probably familiar with the refrain: If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you? Obviously, the question is typically rhetorical (although it’s probably something the friends of the woman who jumped into the Hudson River for TikTok now have to ask themselves). But it does drive a point home: Just because an activity gains popularity and becomes a trend, that doesn’t mean you should definitely join in.

We’re certainly not the first ones to point out that some viral internet challenges are bad ideas —  indeed, some of them are downright dangerous! That being said, if the “Screaming Until I Pass Out” Challenge continues to pick up steam, we’ll have to add it to the list. For right now, it doesn’t seem like many people are doing this challenge. Let’s not start, OK?

What is the “Screaming Until I Pass Out” Challenge?

From what we can tell, the “Screaming Until I Pass Out” Challenge is, for now, just the title of one video on YouTube. It was uploaded on Aug. 3, 2020 to the Anomaly 3 YouTube channel, which appears to be an additional channel run by popular online streamer Anomaly. 

On his main channel, Anomaly — who always appears on camera wearing a white ski mask — has more than 2.8 million subscribers. On the Anomaly 3 channel, his audience is significantly smaller at only 131,000 subscribers, some of whom apparently (and inexplicably) joined the channel after he uploaded the “Screaming Until I Pass Out” Challenge video. 

If you’re thinking the video might have some kind of introduction, explanation, or denouement, you’ll be disappointed. Here’s the video in full (we strongly recommend not wearing headphones to watch it, and make sure your volume is turned down):

So, yeah, it’s just a guy screaming at the top of his lungs, ostensibly as part of a challenge to pass out (though we don’t really see him lose consciousness). Partially because of Anomaly’s online popularity, and partially because the internet works in mysterious ways, the video has gone relatively viral — it currently has nearly 200,000 views.

At this point, it doesn’t look as though the “challenge” has caught on, but, again, this is the internet we’re talking about. People have done more dangerous things for less popularity. We really hope the “Screaming Until I Pass Out” Challenge doesn’t become, as they say, a thing. That being said, if you do happen to see videos of people participating in it, you definitely should not join in.

It wouldn’t be the first time a dangerous “pass out” challenge has gained popularity. Another popular TikTok trend (the pass-out challenge) encouraged people to shake their heads back and forth quickly until they passed out. Well before TikTok, health professionals warned people about the Choking Game, which involved kids choking themselves in order to feel high — in actuality, TIME reports that the Choking Game caused the deaths of 82 children in the U.S. between 1995 and 2007.

Again, this should go without saying, but please don’t try to make yourself pass out on purpose. It’s a dumb, bad idea. You could die, or hurt yourself severely. As it turns out, your parents’ question about whether you would do something dangerous just because it’s popular is as relevant as ever. Stay safe out there, folks.

Source : https://www.distractify.com/p/screaming-until-i-pass-out-challenge

Ariana Grande Asks Rihanna For New Music After Breaking Her Spotify Record

Getty Image

Earlier this week, Ariana Grande celebrated two years since she released her acclaimed record Sweetener. Now, the singer is celebrating another major milestone. According to Chart Data, Grande has officially surpassed Rihanna as Spotify’s most-streamed female artist of all time. To celebrate the feat, Grande pressed Rihanna for new music.

The singer took to Instagram to thank her fans for the support, but that’s not all Grande said. The singer also urged Rihanna to release her upcoming ninth studio record so that she can once again be the most-streamed artist. “now can rihanna pls drop her album so she can rightfully snatch this back and fill my ears again please or,” she wrote.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEAGIVpldeQ

Grande is the latest to join in on pressuring Rihanna for new music. Even the singer herself is in on the joke, recently trolling her internet doppelganger about dropping an album. “where the album sis? #R9,” she wrote. Rihanna actually did recently give an update about the status of her impending release. Back in July, the singer revealed in an interview that her upcoming project is going to be worth the wait: “I am always working on music. I am always working on music and when I’m ready to put it out in the way that I feel fit, it’s gonna come out. And you’re not going to be disappointed when it happens. It’s going to be worth it. I’m not just gonna put it out just because people are waiting. It’s taken this long, I’m gonna make it worth it.”

See Grande’s celebratory Instagram post above.

Source: https://uproxx.com/music/ariana-grande-rihanna-new-music-spotify-record/

THUNDER at ROCKETS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | August 18, 2020

THUNDER at ROCKETS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | August 18, 2020
THUNDER at ROCKETS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | August 18, 2020

Powered by 20 total 3PM the Houston Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 123-108. James Harden tallied 37 PTS and 11 REB for the Rockets, while Jeff Green added 22 PTS, 6 REB and 4 AST in the victory. Chris Paul tallied 20 PTS, 10 REB and 9 AST for the Thunder.

Game 2: Thursday, August 20 at 3:30pm/et on ESPN!

Subscribe to the NBA: https://on.nba.com/2JX5gSN

Full Game Highlights Playlist: https://on.nba.com/2rjGMge

For news, stories, highlights and more, go to our official website at https://nba_webonly.app.link/nbasite

Get NBA LEAGUE PASS: https://nba.app.link/nbaleaguepass5