His Girlfriend’s Twelve-Year-Old Sister Compulsively Hid His Things, But He Wasn’t Buying It And Called Her Out

Source: Pexels/George Becker

Some kids act out a lot and pull pranks because they enjoy it and know they can get away with it.

The kid in this story certainly does, but she’s convinced her older sister that nothing can be done to stop her.

Find out what the kid has been up to, and how the poster handled things.

I’ve been visiting my girlfriend’s house and her 12-year old sister has stolen my phone, my keys, my watch, etc.

She likes to hide my stuff and gives me clues on where to find it all.

One time my phone was behind the fridge…

The others seem to egg her on.

My girlfriend and her family seem to find this charming and adorable, but I find it really annoying.

Her sister justifies it by saying she deserves my stuff more and I can win it back.

I just find it bizarre her parents aren’t really doing anything about it.

I don’t get this at all because I wasn’t like this and kids can know how to behave.

But I also grew up with Asian parents, who are pretty strict especially when it comes to inappropriate behavior around guests.

It doesn’t seem likely to stop.

So I told her that I don’t care if she’s a kid. She needs to stop stealing my stuff and give back what she stole.

My girlfriend said she thinks I’m being unreasonable expecting her sister to act like she’s an adult.

She said she’ll talk to her parents but it’s “hard” to get her to behave because she’s so young.

AITA?

Here’s what people are saying.

I bet they’ll be shocked when she starts getting suspended or put in jail.

Source: Reddit/AITASource: Reddit/AITA

That would get the message across!

Source: Reddit/AITASource: Reddit/AITA

I wouldn’t waste those resources to make a point. If he can’t get them back, he can file a report.

Source: Reddit/AITASource: Reddit/AITA

Can you imagine dealing with this nonsense at holidays? (Shudders)

Source: Reddit/AITASource: Reddit/AITA

This is a good rule. Teaching boundaries is so important.

Source: Reddit/AITASource: Reddit/AITA

I was never like this as a kid.

My sister wasn’t either.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a daughter who invited herself to her parents’ 40th anniversary vacation for all the wrong reasons.

Categories: STORIES
Tags: · aita, annoying, bad, behavior, guests, hijinks, picture, pranks, reddit, sister, top

Source: https://twistedsifter.com/2024/09/his-girlfriends-twelve-year-old-sister-compulsively-hid-his-things-but-he-wasnt-buying-it-and-called-her-out/

The Best Fall TV Shows To Watch For Cozy Autumn Vibes

The Best Fall TV Shows To Watch For Cozy Autumn Vibes

Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/kaileyhansen/best-fall-tv-shows

Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus Will Tell His Life Story In The Memoir ‘Fahrenheit 182’

Getty Image

If you want to sweat the small things and cry over the bigger ones, Mark Hoppus has something just for you. The Blink-182 bassist and vocalist has officially announced the title and release date for his memoir.

With the support of journalist Dan Ozzi, the “Dance With Me” musician’s life story (so far) will be laid out in the book, Fahrenheit 182. Although the literary work is slated to hit shelves until April 2025, Hoppus was sure to tease its content in a promotional video shared to Instagram (viewable here).

“This book has everything,” said Hoppus. “A young man born in the California Desert joins a punk rock band and goes on to conquer the world. It’s got skateboarding, it’s got punk rock clubs, it’s got ’90s music, but that’s not all! Pre-order now, and we’ll throw in at no extra cost to you: Anxiety, depression, band breakups, loss of self, suicidal thoughts and ideation, and of course, everyone’s favorite, cancer! This sh*t gets dark. So order your copy today and make sure you don’t miss out on all the small things.”

Its publisher HarperCollins’ description mirrors Hoppus’ take but with a lot less sarcasm filtered for family-friendly audiences. “Threaded through with the very human story of a constant battle with anxiety and Mark’s public battle and triumph over cancer, Fahrenheit-182 is a delight for fans and also a funny, smart, and relatable memoir for anyone who has wanted to quit but kept going,” read the synopsis.

The memoir shouldn’t come as a shock to supporters of Blink-182. Back in 2022, long before the band’s reunion and after completing his treatment for stage 4 lymphoma, Hoppus hinted at documenting his medical journey & more.

HarperCollins

Harper Collins will publish it on Apr. 8, 2025. Find more information here.

Source: https://uproxx.com/indie/blink-182-mark-hoppus-memoir-fahrenheit-182/

Mom's rallying cry for more 'lazy parenting' is gaining traction and kudos from experts

Gen Xers and millennials experienced firsthand how damaging the often negligent parenting style of their boomer parents could be. That, combined with the exhausting surplus of parenting information available nowadays (particularly then many, many way in which you could secretly be SETTING YOUR KID UP FOR FAILURE) and it’s no wonder why so many modern day parents feel the need be hypervigilant in protecting their kids.

But this well-meaning intention easily turns into helicopter parenting, which also doesn’t truly help kids out in the long run—and it doesn’t feel great for parents, either.

Which is what prompted Leah Ova, a WFH mom of four, to make a now-viral video advocating for a bit more of what she calls “lazy parenting.”

In the clip, which has now been viewed over 100,000 times on TikTok, Ova shared an anecdote of her getting praise for having “independent kids.”

“We recently had friends visit. One of their kids is … a year older than my oldest. And my friend was like, ‘I’m doing something wrong,’” she recalled. “I’m like, ‘What are you doing wrong?’ She’s like, ‘Your kids are so independent. They go make themselves food. They grab a snack. They like, smear their own bagel.’”

Apparently at her friend’s house, this would not be a normal scenario.

“Her son [would be] like, ‘I want breakfast.’ And basically if she didn’t make him a bagel, he … couldn’t have a bagel.”

Ova’s solution to this brekkie conundrum? “Just be lazier.”

@leahova Kids love to feel independent, as long as they know you’ll be there if they need you #parenting #lazy ♬ original sound – Leahova

What is “Lazy Parenting”?”

Ova went on to explain, “What is the expression like the best form of parenting is high attentiveness, but low interference? Is that a thing? I think that’s a thing. Be around, be there if they need you. But just be like, ‘Honey, I’m literally having a coffee right now. You can get it yourself.’”

Ova added that this is a boundary she has had to put in place more than once in her own household, recalling that often when one of her kids has a friend over, they will ask for a snack like apples, and ask her point blank “are you not gonna cut my apple?”

“And I’m like, ‘Do you not know how to eat an apple when it’s not cut?’” Talk about a mom mic drop.

“You can always tell the kids whose parents are like literally doing everything for them. And I want everyone to know you can be lazier. Honestly, it probably makes your kids better. You need to be a lazier parent.”

Down in the comments, other parents showed their full support for this approach.

“That’s not lazy parenting, it’s raising capable humans!🥰” one person wrote, while another said, “My mom’s favorite saying: ‘I raised you to leave me.’”

Of course, some people admitted that the patience required for it is very challenging.

One viewer said, “I struggle so hard with this bc they are literally so slow to do EVERYTHING. It’s torture 😭.”

Lazy Parenting vs Gentle Parenting

If you go by the actual definition of “gentle parenting,” the two are, essentially, synonymous. It’s worth noting that gentle parenting is often misunderstood as “permissive parenting,” where the parent doesn’t provide a healthy framework of rules or boundaries to create structure. In truth, gentle parenting does set up rules and routines, but kids are often encouraged to figure things out for themselves. Lazy parenting also seems to fall under this category.

However, while both terms mean the same thing, experts seem to think the word “lazy” doesn’t really fit, since it fails to acknowledge the actual effort required.

“Referring to it as ‘lazy parenting’ is funny and self-deprecating,’ but it misses the mark,” Amy McCready, Positive Parenting Solutions founder, told Parents.com. “What we’re talking about is a more intentional approach to parenting that helps prevent entitlement.”

Similarly, parenting coach Tessa Stuckey echoed: “The word lazy is defined as unwilling to work. But, I believe, parenting, especially if you are trying to allow your kids to struggle a bit and work through their problems, takes the most work.”

Why Lazy Parenting is Important

Still, semantics aside, both of these experts agree that raising children to be independent is crucial, and that cannot be achieved by taking care of everything for them.

“We want to avoid being ‘helicopter parents,’ hovering over them at all times so they don’t fail or fall in any way. And we also want to avoid taking on the ‘lawn mower’ parenting approach, smoothing the path so the child has zero obstacles,” Stuckey told Parents.com. “This deprives our kids from building independence, confidence, self-awareness, and the ability to practice life skills.” “This deprives our kids from building independence, confidence, self-awareness, and the ability to practice life skills.”

“It’s important to approach it as a coach and supporter rather than a rescuer. Our role is to guide them through challenges and encourage problem-solving and resilience,” added McCready. “This way, they learn that it’s OK to ask for help, but they also develop the confidence to tackle tasks on their own.”

It can be hard for parents to say no to helping their children—out of a desire to help them, or to avoid any messes sure to take place as they’re figuring things out. It definitely does require massive amounts of patience. But if the end result is a fully capable adult ready to take on the world, it’s totally worth it.

Source: https://www.upworthy.com/mom-advocated-for-lazy-parenting

Nervous flyer? Flight attendant reveals her top tips for calming down

Next time you’re on a flight and experience turbulence, remember this solid advice from 23-year-old Rhia Kerr. She is, after all, a flight attendant.

Kerr, a flight attendant for Irish carrier group Ryanair (according to the New York Post) went viral on TikTok after sharing how you can calm yourself during turbulence.

The video shows Kerr seated mid-flight, as the words “Turbulence is a sudden shift in airflow and can be felt as jolts or vibrations inside the aircraft,” appear onscreen.

@rhizzlemynizzlee Mild turbulence, an everday occurrence! #fearofflying #turbulence ♬ Viva La Vida Coldplay sped up – Discord: olmac16

“When we experience turbulence, naturally our brains can’t comprehend being out of control and the sensation of falling can cause our brains’ fear response center to send a distress signal into our brain,” she continues.

Even though our brains don’t know how to handle the situation, Kerr attests that—despite what horror stories show up on the news about random plane malfunctions—aircrafts are “designed to withstand worse conditions” than turbulence.

Breathing Exercises for Flight Anxiety

But if trying to reason with your amygdala proves unsuccessful, Kerr suggests breathing exercises. The Calm app apparently has an entire section dedicated to this, as well as a couple of different methods listed on its website you can do before the light, or whenever mid-flight anxiety pops up. Check those out below:

Deep breathing

Deep breathing encourages full oxygen exchange, helping to slow down your heart rate and stabilize blood pressure, thereby reducing stress and anxiety.

How to practice:

  • Sit or lie down in a comfortable position.
  • Place one hand on your chest and another on your abdomen.
  • Inhale deeply through your nose, allowing your diaphragm to expand (your abdomen should rise higher than your chest).
  • Exhale slowly through your mouth.
Breath focus

Breath focus combines the benefits of deep breathing with mental concentration, creating a focal point that helps draw your attention away from the anxiety and onto something positive.

How to practice:

  • Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
  • As you breathe, focus on a particular word or image that brings you calm.
  • Visualize that word or image as you inhale and exhale.
The 4-7-8 breathing technique

The 4-7-8 technique forces your mind to focus on counting and your breath, diverting your thoughts from anxious triggers. The longer exhale acts as a natural sedative.

How to practice:

  • Close your mouth and inhale through your nose for 4 seconds.
  • Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
  • Exhale completely through your mouth for 8 seconds.
Alternate nostril breathing

This technique promotes balance and unity of both sides of the brain, contributing to calmness and mental clarity.

How to practice:

  • Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes.
  • Close off your right nostril with your right thumb.
  • Inhale through your left nostril.
  • Close off your left nostril with your right ring finger and release your right nostril.
  • Exhale through your right nostril.
  • Repeat, alternating nostrils.
Enhanced Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)

This method combines physical relaxation with deep breathing, helping to reduce muscular tension that might accompany anxiety.

How to practice:

  • Begin by tensing up a group of muscles as you breathe in, such as your toes or fists.
  • Hold for a count of 5.
  • Exhale and simultaneously release the tension in your chosen muscle group.
  • Work your way up (or down) your body, focusing on each muscle group on the way.

Kerr also advises listening to calming music (binaural beats can be great for this) fastening your seatbelt and closing your eyes.

And while trying to mitigate panic is important to avoid hyperventilating (“which will make you feel worse”) , she says that you should absolutely press the call bell to get help when needed. Don’t suffer alone. And it’s probably wise to notify the staff before take-off that you might need some extra assistance.

Bottom line: Turbulence is normal. It doesn’t mean that “the aircraft is going to fall out of the sky” and, perhaps most importantly, “the crew onboard are trained to handle it.”

“You are in very safe hands,” Kerr concludes.

So safe in fact, that it’s worth reminding yourself that as far as statistics are concerned, the safest travel possible is 30,000 feet in the air on a commercial airplane.

And if you need one more stress relieving tool up your sleeve, there’s a lot to be said about pretending you’re in jello.

Source: https://www.upworthy.com/flight-attendant-tips-for-flight-anxiety

How Gun-Owning Parents Store Weapons Safely at Home

Johanna Thomas, a social worker and gun safety advocate for Be SMART, is raising a 15-year-old and an 11-year-old in Fayetteville, Arkansas. There are three handguns in her home. Thomas keeps them in a safe in her bedroom closet that can only she and her husband can open, either with their fingerprints or with a code only they know.

“Firearms are locked and unloaded and our ammunition is stored in a separate safe that is controlled by an electronic keypad. Both safes are bolted into the shelving,” Thomas told HuffPost. 

Of her two daughters, only the 15-year-old has handled a gun — under parental supervision at a firing range. The process was controlled and deliberate. 

“As a family, we sat down and talked about if she felt ready to handle a firearm and if she even wanted to. She was interested, so my brother and husband took her to the range for her first lesson,” Thomas said. 

“She only handles the firearms under the supervision of my husband or me and in a controlled environment, specifically an indoor or outdoor firing range, and only for sport.” 

Thomas’ 11-year-old is “not ready,” she said, although she is aware of the guns and her sister’s trips to the firing range. 

Thomas doesn’t worry about her children being harmed by the securely stored weapons in her home, but she fears what could happen when they are at other people’s houses. 

“I do worry about my child coming into a situation in which another adult has not properly stored their firearm, and now that adult’s child has an unsupervised gun. It’s terrifying. I never depend on my children to not touch a gun, no matter how much I emphasize that they shouldn’t,” she said.  

Whenever her children have friends over, Thomas discloses that she has secured weapons, along with information about pets, a swimming pool, alcohol and medications, and she expects other parents to reciprocate. 

This normalization of guns can seem foreign to folks from the bluer parts of the country.

Ben, a father of two young daughters who asked to use a pseudonym for this article, was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. There, he said, “guns were not a part of life.” He did not know anyone who went hunting, and the only weapons he’d seen in person were “two non-operable guns from World War I that [my grandfather] got at a garage sale or something well before I was born that just sat up above his bar.” He had no gun education, and, had he taken any interest, Ben would have had to seek out that information on his own — which could have put him in a dangerous situation, such as another person showing him their gun.

Ben now lives in rural Minnesota, where hunting, both with guns and bows and arrows, is a regular part of life. “Children here, including my own, grow up knowing that hunting culture and hunting season is something that your family does,” he said. People there can’t comprehend why anyone would want to ban guns, just as people in California don’t understand why people would own them, he said. He also noted that Minnesota has background checks and other safety measures that some other states do not. 

Ben’s weapons are stored in safes, separate from ammunition. He said his children do not know where they are kept, and are aware that they should never touch a gun and should alert an adult if they ever find one. 

While he only rarely hunts and owns few weapons, Ben sees the prevalence of guns as a compelling reason to educate children about them and their use. “My daughters growing up with gun safety and knowledge when they’re of age, even knowing of them now and what to do now if they encounter one, is important,” he said. 

Gun safety requires parents to acknowledge their blind spots. 

Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/marieholmes/parents-guns-kids-safety

‘I always check first before I give it to them’: Texas Roadhouse servers warn against asking for a to-go box if you’re going to do this


For servers, tips aren’t just a nice gesture—they’re a vital part of their income. While most customers follow the unwritten rule of leaving a gratuity for good service, not everyone does. When that happens, servers are often left with no choice but to smile and move on. But one Texas Roadhouse worker on TikTok revealed a cheeky way they get back at non-tipping customers.

In the video, posted by TikTok user @roadies457, two servers reach for styrofoam to-go boxes before pausing and giving a pointed side-eye to the camera. The video is accompanied by an on-screen caption that reads: “When your table asked for a box [but] you remember they left no tip.”

The TikTok, uploaded on Sept. 11 and set to the guitar riff of Lady Gaga’s “Judas,” has racked up over 86,700 views. It playfully suggests that non-tipping diners might not be getting their leftovers packed up after all.

Other Texas Roadhouse servers chime in

In the comments section of the video, viewers shared their thoughts.

One Texas Roadhouse server seemed to endorse the practice, writing, “I always check first before I give it to them lol.”

A second commenter hinted at another way servers can punish non-tippers. They wrote, “Ong that extra bread-to-go can stay up there in the window.”

“When I can’t do this cause I ask if they want boxes before giving the check,” a third wrote.

@roadies457

♬ som original – Josué Ribeiro🎸

How should servers handle non-tippers?

The same issue was recently brought up on Reddit. The Reddit thread was titled, “How do you handle non tippers?” In the thread, servers agreed that turning the other cheek is the best policy.

One user advised, “Take the L, then next one will hopefully be better.”

Another Redditor shared a similar approach. “How do I handle them? Real easy, ignore them and move on. Confronting them is gonna cause you nothing but grief, and it won’t change them,” they said.

“Some people don’t tip. Some people tip more than the 20% you earned. It balances out,” a third user wrote.

The Daily Dot has reached out to Texas Roadhouse via press email and to the TikTok user via TikTok comment.

Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.

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Source: https://www.dailydot.com/news/texas-roadhouse-to-go-box-tipping/

‘I feel like a class action lawsuit is needed.’ – Renter Was Denied Her Security Deposit Despite Leaving The Home In Perfect Condition, And She Is Not Going To Take It

Source: TikTok/@bestiestrystuff Source: Pexels/Pavel Danilyuk

Renting a place to live has both pros and cons, but if the rental company you work with is dishonest, it can be a nightmare.

This renter had her security deposit withheld even though the home was in perfect condition when she left, and she isn’t having it.

She starts out the video demanding action, “I feel like a class action lawsuit is needed because these rental management companies, this can’t be legal.”

Source: TikTok/@bestiestrystuffSource: TikTok/@bestiestrystuff

She explains that when she moved out of the rental home, she had the walls painted, the whole place professionally cleaned, and much more, to ensure it was perfect. Despite this, the rental management company tried to withhold her security deposit.

The renter talks about the reasoning they gave, including this, “Interior paint, so apparently they are going to touch up the walls. $750.”

Source: TikTok/@bestiestrystuffSource: TikTok/@bestiestrystuff

She was even getting charged for normal upkeep of the property, “They were trying to say in the move out that we had to resod, like add new grass, this was just like general for everybody right. The move out checklist was like, ‘powerwash the exterior of the home, sod, remulch,’ like all of these different things.”

What? Those are not the responsibility of the renter!

Source: TikTok/@bestiestrystuffSource: TikTok/@bestiestrystuff

She ends the video asking people to speak up, “If you have experienced this, I need you to comment below. I need this to gain traction, I am done. I am ready, I will be the fighter.”

I hope she is able to get a class-action lawsuit going! Rental companies are out of control.

Check out the full video, it is crazy what she is going through.

@bestiestrystuff

Im done.

♬ original sound – bestiestrystuff

Not a surprise, but there are plenty of people in the comments who have similar experiences. Take a look.

This person suggests going to small claims court.

Source: TikTok/@bestiestrystuffSource: TikTok/@bestiestrystuff

In Colorado, small claims court will award 3 times the deposit!

Source: TikTok/@bestiestrystuffSource: TikTok/@bestiestrystuff

Here is a landlord who actually does things right.

Source: TikTok/@bestiestrystuffSource: TikTok/@bestiestrystuff

People need to fight back against abusive landlords.

If you liked that story, check out this video about a Dollar Store cashier who has had it with customers who argue over $4 products.

Source: https://twistedsifter.com/2024/09/i-feel-like-a-class-action-lawsuit-is-needed-renter-was-denied-her-security-deposit-despite-leaving-the-home-in-perfect-condition-and-she-is-not-going-to-take-it/

Indulge In A Little Whimsy With These 31 Cute Products

Promising review: “This is my first and only Squishmallow product, and honestly, I love it! It is as soft as expected from the brand, but I’m also very impressed with how sturdy the bottom is. Most of the bottoms of my dogs’ beds are made of fabric, but the bottom of this bed is pretty firm and tough. I’m no dog-bed expert, but from a loving dog parent, I’m very satisfied.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in 8 sizes and 10 shapes).

Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/taylor_steele/cute-whimsical-products-to-indulge-in

Adrian Martinez Is Commanding The Creative Direction Spotlight

Getty Image/Merle Cooper

When Creative Director Adrian Martinez started out in the music industry, he had no idea where he’d be today. Doing what he describes as “bits and pieces of the creative process” and capturing content for artists via video and photography was his first glimpse into a future he hadn’t necessarily planned for. “I was doing like a ton of video editing. I got into graphic design,” he tells UPROXX. “I started working on cover art from there. I got into music video direction after a couple of years of being around artists and networking.” Those connections he made combined with a comfort behind the camera – not to mention the symbiotic relationship he was able to easily build between himself and musicians – “snowballed into other opportunities” and he was able to put on live shows for artists.

Fast-forward to now, Martinez has worked with the likes of Rauw Alejandro, Peso Pluma, Bad Bunny, 6lack, and more to bring their creative ideas to life. From 3D animation to branding merch design and experience production, his creative house, STURDY, has become a one-stop shop for musicians who want start to finish creative handling of their campaigns.

Ahead of receiving the Spotlight Award for excellence in creative direction at the upcoming UPROXX event for the Sound + Vision Awards, we spoke to Martinez about how his creative intuition and love for music pushed him into a self-made career and what he’s most excited to create next.

Is there an early project you worked on that cemented your desire to be a creative director?

I got an opportunity, which was at the end of 2016, to work with PARTYNEXTDOOR on his second tour. He let me do the creative behind it, let me design it. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was just going to figure it out and had good people working around me on all the other departments of the show. From there, I found out that I enjoyed working on the design side of the show more than capturing it. As a creative director, I’m able to speak to all these different people that work across different mediums and take in different parts of what a campaign is these days — which is everything from cover art to marketing ad mats, tour posters, the music videos, all the way through to the stage design and lighting direction.

When you say you enjoyed the design side more than the capture side, what was it about that experience with PARTYNEXTDOOR that led you to that realization?

On a very basic level, I felt that when I was taking photos, I didn’t enjoy how he was lit. I didn’t enjoy how the lighting was captured. It always felt a little messy and uncurated and it felt like the lights were just there to be there. I felt like he should be standing here at this part of the show or he should interact this way and the lighting should be hitting him from the back so that he has a good rim light. That PARTY show I’m talking about was much more a trial than a success, but it made me open my eyes to what was possible and where I wanted to go.

Do you always work on every aspect of a campaign and all the different facets you mentioned, from tour posters to set designs?

My goal is to be able to do the campaign and its live side. I feel like that’s where the needle really gets threaded in the best way and where I have found the most success. People always do want to piece it together and I understand there are other creatives involved before I get in the mix, there are always other people helping execute things and I think it’s important to be open to the collaborative process. But I try to either keep it to the whole campaign or the whole live show, and if that’s separate, that’s cool. But ideally, like I said, it’s kind of like the more global approach.

You mentioned PARTYNEXTDOOR felt like a trial. What was you first success?

Four or five months later I got an opportunity to work on another OVO SOUND artist’s show. It was Majid Jordan playing at Coachella. That was April of 2017. I felt that through that process I got to know the artists very well. I had a sense of confidence and comfort in being able to ask questions and try to assert my point of view much more than just subsiding to what they wanted.

Also, in between the PARTY tour and the Coachella show I had met a couple of guys that ended up being a co-founder of this company I run called STURDY, and they were really focused on the visual side of the shows. They were doing 3D and 2D animation and I was with them almost every single day. I was soaking up so much. I learned things like a pixel map which is what you use to map content onto screens properly. I picked up new software and started messing with After Effects and seeing what I could do with 3D software. I didn’t realize that it was the very beginning of what we’re doing now. When I look back it’s still one of the shows that stands out to me because it felt like although we were young kids having fun, we were also really into the process. We were very dedicated.

Tell me more about Sturdy, how did it come together?

We got to work on a lot of shows really quickly after that, and we started getting opportunities to do visuals and get involved in the creative side of artists’ careers. Things were kind of moving for us pretty rapidly in the summer of 2017. We got to work on Kendrick Lamar’s tour. It was a three-day turnaround on some visuals but we were super stoked and it was awesome to be able to work with Dave [Friley] and Kendrick on that. It gave us a little bit more validation within the industry. And also, I needed more confidence to keep pushing and keep going.

By summer of 2018, we got to work on Drake’s tour visuals and we’re seeing stuff happen at a really high level and felt like we were actually starting to compete with bigger companies and being looked at by bigger clients. We realized that if we were just a bunch of ragtag freelancers, it was just never gonna turn into something real. We also knew we really enjoyed working together and that our team dynamic paired with finding a name that we felt we could stand behind made us want to make it official. By the fall of 2018, we had made STURDY an official thing.

6lack since I have a lover cover art
LVRN/Interscope

The position of Creative Director can be opaque in some cases, especially when you’re doing so many jobs and wearing so many hats. How do you describe your work to people?

I always say a creative director is not just the person who says this is how we’re going to do it. You’re actually directing creatives. That is what you’re doing. So that means you have a bunch of people that you need to be able to speak to in a way they’ll understand. That translates to the way that they look at the execution, the buttons that they press on their side, and the way they process concepts. And then you have to do that in a bunch of different ways with all these different people. Same with a live show. You have the guys who do visuals, and then you have the guys who are in charge of rigging and that are in charge of making sure that the building can withstand the weight of the screens that are hanging or the lights or whatever. And then you have the lighting designer and you have to make sure that they’re doing things in a way so that the really cool designs and renders that you have in 3D are realistic in real life and the list goes on.

What are you excited to create next?

Without getting super specific, I’ve just got some really exciting tours coming out this next year that are with artists that I love, that I listen to, that I’m fan of. It’s always fun to be able to work with an artist whose music you are a fan of, and you then become part of that picture and help build that world. It’s a privilege for sure.

Source: https://uproxx.com/music/adrian-martinez-interview-creative-direction-sound-vision/

‘My entire life I was under the impression’: Do you have to turn off your car when you put gas?


It’s a hot day, and you want to leave the A/C in your vehicle cranked. Should you? Experts agree you should turn off your car while getting gas.

But one TikToker says drivers no longer see this basic instruction at gas stations anymore.

Did cars get safer? or are gas stations just being negligent?

TikToker Sarah Kudlack (@sarahkudlack) claims the warning labels of her youth are now outdated at the gas pump. So is it now safe to relax in your climate-controlled car as the engine runs while you fuel up?

Sarah’s video was posted to her TikTok account on Sept. 5 and currently has over 272,000 views. So what’s up?

Where are the warnings to turn off your car while getting gas?

Kudlack, who identifies in her TikTok bio as a “scrunchy mom of 3,” captioned her video, “I feel old…” after being confronted by a pump at a Wawa convenience store.

The Wawa pump had no visible warning sign asking customers to turn off their engines before fueling up their vehicles.

The on-screen text in the video reads: “Do we not turn our cars off when pumping gas anymore???”

She continues, writing, “My entire life I was under the impression that my car would start on fire or explode if I didn’t turn it off while pumping.”

“There are legit no signs telling you to turn off your car anymore,” she claims.

Surprisingly, while some states are mandated to display environmental and fuel compliance labels at the pump, there does not seem to be a federally mandated warning to turn off your vehicle at the pump.

But stations may have them to ensure their own safety.

The Daily Dot has reached out to Wawa via email for a statement.

So is it OK to run your engine while gassing up?

Simply put? No.

According to WCNC Charlotte, “the spontaneous combustion temperature of gasoline is 536 Fahrenheit.” That’s a temperature easily reached by your car’s catalytic converter.

The converters can reach temps of up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Because gas fumes tend to seek lower levels, they can easily reach the converter—and potentially ignite a fire.

Per WCNC, “Local fire departments respond to 4150 fires at gas stations per year. More than half of these calls were for vehicle fires.”

While WCNC notes that it’s “rare” for a car cars to catch fire at the pump, “it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

@sarahkudlack

I feel old…

♬ Gasolina – Daddy Yankee

Other experts weigh in

Data analytics company J.D. Power also recommends turning your key off when refueling.

“While you can, technically, keep your car on, there’s always a non-negligible risk: gasoline vapors can come in contact with static electricity, which can ignite a fire, ultimately leading to an explosion. Notably, local fire departments responded to an estimated 4,150 service or gas station property fires annually from 2014 to 2018. Each year, these incidents resulted in three civilian fire fatalities, 43 civilian fire injuries, and $30 million in direct property damage,” J.D. Power reports.

And Car from Japan notes, “The reason why we’re advised to keep our cars off during fueling is that static-electricity-related incidents can crop up, though they are unusual. This spark of static electricity could ignite the gasoline vapors, setting your car, and the fuel pump burst into flames.”

It also notes that turning your car off makes it less likely that you drive off with the hosepipe still attached to your fuel hatch.

How did her viewers react?

“We’re supposed to, it’s a safety precaution in case of sparks from the engine or exhaust, especially if you’re not regularly, properly maintaining it,” iseeeverything (@beautyisthebeast88) wrote in the comments.

Another viewer pointed out, “There used to be no cell phone signs bcuz of the static electricity spark that could potentially start a fire.”

But several viewers noted they were willing to risk an explosion if it meant going without A/C.

“I live in Florida. We don’t turn the AC off for any reason unless we’re getting out to go into more ac or water. My kids would be sweating by the time it hit $7,” wrote one user.

Another added, “Mines always on. It’s hot in GA and there’s a kid in the car.”

The Daily Dot has reached out to Kudlack via TikTok messenger and comment for further statement.

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Source: https://www.dailydot.com/news/turn-off-car-while-getting-gas/

Springfield residents flood Haitian restaurant with support to 'conquer with love'

Whenever prejudice and hate rear their ugly heads, support and love find a way to snuff them out.

A rumor started by a Facebook post from a Springfield, Ohio, resident alleging that Haitian immigrants were killing and eating neighborhood pets quickly rose up through the misinformation chain, all the way to the U.S. presidential debates, causing a firestorm of ugly accusations and heinous hatred toward the Haitian population in the town. Despite assurances by the Springfield police department, city officials and mayor, as well as Ohio’s governor, that the allegations are unfounded and false, the town has become a focal point for anti-immigrant bigotry.

False allegations about Haitians in Springfield eating pets created tension and threats

Those false allegations and bigotry have led to real-world consequences. Hate groups that were already targeting Haitians in Springfield were empowered by former president Donald Trump parroting their rhetoric. Public schools and municipal buildings in the city were closed for multiple days due to bomb threats. Two colleges in Springfield moved to virtual classes after bomb threats linked to the false claims. Haitian residents fear for their safety in the town they call home, with some even afraid to leave their houses.

However, amidst all of this chaos, some in Springfield are doing what they can to show their support for their Haitian neighbors.

People are showing up to show support for Haitians in Springfield in the wake of hateful bigotry

Hundreds of Springfield residents have flooded Rose Goute Creole Restaurant, a Haitian-owned eatery, in an effort to show the Haitian population there that hate has no place in their town.

“Springfield is diverse,” city resident Steve McQueen, who helped arrange the act of “organized love,” shared with Dayton 24/7 Now. “We know Springfield is full of love. [It] does not have the hate that is being told to the rest of the country and world as they’re even talking about.”

“We’re actually a beautiful city,” added Springfield native Terrance Crowe. “I immediately shook my head and put my head down. You can’t conquer with hate, conquer with love.”

Rose Goute Creole opened in 2023, and manager Romane Pierre told the Springfield News-Sun what he’s experienced in the wake of the falsehoods being spread about the Haitian community, which he said have come “as a shock.”

“Yesterday some people call, I think they make some joke, ask if we have cat, dog,” he said. “I say, ‘We don’t sell that. We sell chicken, fish, goat, pork, rice, beans.’ I know my people — dogs, cats — we don’t do that in Haiti.”

But Pierre has also been on the receiving end of support from other Springfield residents. “A lot of American people come here to try the food. They say ‘Don’t worry, we are with you,'” he told the News-Sun. “Everybody is welcome.”

Why are there so many Haitians in Springfield, Ohio?

Thousands of Haitian migrants have moved to Springfield over the past several years after the city made a push in 2014 to welcome immigrants to fill a need for workers in the wake of population loss. The city had been labeled “the unhappiest city” in the U.S. by Gallup in 2011, with industries closing down, unemployment and crime rising, and people ultimately leaving. Since then, however, companies have been building plants, factories and warehouses, creating more jobs. The influx of immigrants filling those jobs has not been issue-free—adding that many people to a struggling town will naturally come with some challenges—but Pierre wants people to understand that Haitians came to Springfield to build a better life.

“I don’t want people to think that Haitians are bad people, because we came here to work,” he said. “We work very hard.”

Others have borne witness to the Haitian migrants’ dedication to work. The United Farm Workers labor union has come to Haitians’ defense on social media. And Springfield metal factory owner Jamie McGregor told PBS NewsHour that he has hired 30 Haitians and would love to hire 30 more.

“Our Haitian associates come to work every day,” McGregor said. “They don’t have a drug problem. They’ll stay at their machine, they’ll achieve their numbers. They are here to work.”

Politicians keep pouring on the false claims about Haitians, with pushback from local and state officials

In addition to the false rumors of eating pets, other falsehoods being spread by politicians about Haitians in Springfield include that they are illegal immigrants (they have legal status), they have been spreading tuberculosis and HIV (the Ohio Department of Health reports that they haven’t seen a discernible increase in communicable disease) and that they were “dropped” in Springfield with no warning (they’ve arrived over a period of years after the city joined a network of immigrant-friendly cities).

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has called the rumors about the Haitians in Springfield “unfortunate.”

“What we know is that the Haitians who are in Springfield are legal,” he said an interview with ABC News’ “This Week.” “They came to Springfield to work. Ohio is on the move and Springfield has really made a great resurgence with a lot of companies coming in. These Haitians came in to work for these companies. What the companies tell us is that they are very good workers. They’re very happy to have them there. And frankly, that’s helped the economy now.”

When hate comes to town, it’s up to people of goodwill to make sure it doesn’t find welcome. Even though there may be legitimate challenges that come with an influx of population, those are not insurmountable when a community comes together to solve them.

““Why don’t we help them be better drivers or help them [learn to] speak English?” Springfield native Mark Houseman asked Dayton 24/7 Now. “We’re fighting a fight nobody will win. There’s no win at the end of this with that hate.”

“You’ve got to bridge the gaps, tear down those mental fences,” added Crowe. “We’re all human; we’re all in one race, the human race.”

Source: https://www.upworthy.com/springfield-residents-conquer-with-love