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A conservative politician’s tweet led to a hunt for Patti LaBellle’s son after spiraling into a bizarre spectacle on Tuesday. In other news:
- Why the history of chainsaws is the newest TikTok challenge
- TERFs defaced the Mary Wollstonecraft statue. It’s a warning for the future
- New study shows pregnant women with COVID-19 are at higher risk
BREAK THE INTERNET
Why the history of chainsaws is the newest TikTok challenge
People on TikTok learned this week that chainsaws, the power tools used to hack down trees, were invented for childbirth—and they’re freaking out.In true TikTok fashion, users aghast at the power tool trivia made a challenge out of it.
Read the full story here.
—Cecilia Lenzen, contributing writer
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ANALYSIS
TERFs defaced the Mary Wollstonecraft statue. It’s a warning for the future
After a statue of Mary Wollstonecraft was erected in London, an organization called Object Now depicted itself as the physical incarnation of feminist rage, claiming the statue with a transphobic T-shirt like a flag on a mountain. Object Now’s self-righteous crusade may seem silly, but it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Read the full story here.
—Ana Valens, staff writer
Recommended
The Room is a notoriously terrible movie with amateur acting and questionable directing. But do the sloppy costumes make it even worse? The Daily Dot’s Gavia Baker-Whitelaw digs into this question on Behind the Seams, the Daily Dot’s first-ever streaming series. Please like and subscribe!
New study shows pregnant women with COVID-19 are at heightened risk of complications, death
Pregnant women presenting symptoms of COVID-19 are more likely to face complications and a higher risk of death during pregnancy, new research shows. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that pregnant women with symptomatic COVID-19 were significantly more likely to require intensive care and mechanical ventilation compared to non-pregnant symptomatic women. Read the full report here.
SELF-CARE: HOME SWEET OFFICE
I should have optimized my home office long, long ago. Even before the coronavirus pandemic struck, I worked from home several days per week. And I initially invested in a large desk and an adequate chair, plus an extra monitor that makes me much more efficient. But I recently made two smaller purchases that changed my office setup for the better. So while I don’t think self-care should always involve a purchase, I can’t help but share my discoveries.
Firstly, I bought a laptop stand. I was amazed that raising my laptop just a few inches higher completely changed my posture. Of course, a stack of books has the same function, and I recommend trying that method first to determine what height works for you. After the laptop stand, I determined that my wrists (and, again, my posture) would benefit from a keyboard and mouse. After some research, I settled on this wireless keyboard and mouse set that’s a fraction of the Apple price. Finally, I settled on this mouse pad based on both aesthetics and function.
—Kris Seavers, IRL editor
Work Slack
“give me 5 more seasons of that show. so bad it’s good”
——Tiffany Kelly, culture editor, on the renewal of Emily in Paris
Now playing: Ariana Grande — Positions
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Must-reads on the Daily Dot
| An autistic TikToker reported an ableist sound that trivializes sexual assault 4 times. It’s still wildly popular |
| Police say ‘computer-generated voice’ behind swatting attempt of Marjorie Taylor Greene |
| ‘AI cannot be an excuse’: What happens when Meta’s chatbot brands a college professor a terrorist? |
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