FACT FOCUS: A story about a deadly TikTok boat-jumping challenge went viral. Then it fell apart
News outlets are warning of a deadly TikTok challenge that involves people jumping off speeding boats
1970-01-01 08:00
Winner of 2023 Gerber Baby search is a rainbow baby: ‘Brought us immeasurable joy’
Gerber has announced the winner of its 13th annual Gerber Baby photo contest. On Wednesday (12 July), Madison “Maddie” Mendoza from Colorado was named “spokesbaby” for the American baby food company. Since 1928, the long-standing family brand has been known for its iconic “Gerber Baby” logo. At 10 months old, Maddie enjoys her baby music classes, swimming lessons, and hiking with her parents. Included in her photo submission was a throwback photo of Maddie’s mother, Crystal Mendoza, who bears a striking resemblance to her daughter, floppy ponytail and all. According to Gerber, Maddie is a “rainbow baby” – the name for a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of an infant. “Being a rainbow baby, Maddie has brought us immeasurable joy with every milestone, snuggle, and moment spent with her enriching our lives and making every day more meaningful and beautiful,” said Crystal. “We look forward to witnessing her grow into a kind, compassionate, strong, independent and worldly individual as we hope to be stationed overseas again to teach Maddie about all the different parts of the world.” The baby food company also shared Maddie’s inspiring background, both of her parents being from first-generation families from the Philippines. Crystal, Maddie’s mom, and her father, Jun, were high school sweethearts and have been together for 22 years. Her dad, who graduated from the US Air Force Academy, currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel physician in the Air Force. While Jun has been serving the Air Force for 16 years, both of Maddie’s grandfathers also served in the US Navy after coming to America with very little. Her parents hope that their family legacy of “resilience and love” continues on with Maddie. “Gerber has always believed in the magic of babies, and Maddie’s story, filled with love, resilience, and adventure, embodies the spirit of generations of Gerber babies,” said Tarun Malkani, Gerber President and CEO, in a statement. “The throwback submission of Maddie and her mom brought a smile to the judges’ faces and perfectly captured the spirit of this year’s program. We’re excited to partner with Maddie and her family throughout the next year to highlight the full-circle journey from baby to parent.” As winner of the 2023 Gerber Baby photo contest, Maddie will be featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year. Additionally, Maddie and her family received a $25,000 cash prize, a year’s worth of free Gerber baby food, and a new wardrobe provided by Gerber Childrenswear. According to ABC News, the family was also gifted an ezpz First Foods Set, a $500 Gerber Childrenswear gift card, a Mommy & Me luggage set from Beis Travel, and a Canon EOS R50 camera and lens kit. The company also matched Maddie’s cash prize with a $25,000 donation to charitable organisation March of Dimes, which is committed to ending preventable maternal and infant health risks and death. Read More Man says he was uninvited from pregnant sister’s wedding after criticising ‘ridiculous’ baby names British toddler has American accent after watching Ms Rachel videos: ‘Payback for Peppa Pig’ Pregnant woman sparks debate after repeatedly asking stranger to give her a seat
1970-01-01 08:00
Fans applaud Florence Pugh’s response to Emily Blunt’s red carpet wardrobe malfunction
Florence Pugh stepped in to save Emily Blunt from a possible wardrobe malfunction at the Oppenheimer photocall in London. The Oppenheimer cast was posing for photos in Trafalgar Square on Wednesday 12 July when Pugh came to Blunt’s rescue after her jacket appeared to come loose. The Devil Wears Prada star attended the photocall while sporting a gold, metallic suit with black buttons. As for the Don’t Worry Darling actor, Pugh arrived at the Oppenheimer photocall in a blue Moschino shirt dress with a deep, plunging neckline. According to the DailyMail, the Mary Poppins star’s gold jacket popped open in front of cameras, prompting Pugh to rush over and cover her pal’s suit. In photos from the red carpet, the pair could be seen giggling about the near-wardrobe malfunction as Pugh helped hold Blunt’s jacket closed. Meanwhile, fans praised Pugh for lending Blunt a helping hand and gushed over the pair’s friendship. “Florence Pugh is a real one for protecting Emily Blunt from a wardrobe malfunction,” one person tweeted. “They’re sooo cute together,” another said, while someone else wrote: “Literally my worlds colliding” In Oppenheimer, which hits theatres on 21 July, Emily Blunt stars as Kitty Oppenheimer, the wife of physicist J Robert Oppenheimer – played by Cillian Murphy in the Christopher Nolan film. The Irish actor, 47, leads the highly-anticipated biographical drama as “the father of the atomic bomb,” whose World War II invention changed the nature of war forever. Florence Pugh, 27, portrays physician Jean Tatlock, who was known for her romantic relationship with Oppenheimer. However, fans recently came to Murphy and Pugh’s defense when people began “griping about the age gap” between the co-stars. As critics condemned the 20-year age gap between the two actors, many people pointed out that “Tatlock was 22 years old when she started dating Oppenheimer and 29 when she died”. “The on-screen age gap discourse is very valid but this isn’t the film for it because Oppenheimer & Tatlock had a 10-year age gap,” another agreed. “So Cillian & Florence Pugh are perfect casting.” As for Blunt, the 40-year-old actor recently revealed that she will be taking a break from acting to spend more time with her two daughters, who she shares with husband John Krasinski. Blunt opened up about her decision to take a brief hiatus on a recent episode of iHeart’s Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi podcast. “This year, I’m not working. I worked quite a bit last year and my oldest baby is nine, so we’re in the last year of single digits,” the British actor explained. “And I just feel [like] there are cornerstones to their day that are so important when they’re little.” “It’s: ‘Will you wake me up? Will you take me to school? Will you pick me up? Will you put me to bed?’” she continued. “And I just need to be there for all of them for a good stretch. And I just felt that in my bones.” In addition to Murphy, Blunt, and Pugh, Oppenheimer also features a star-studded cast of Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh, Matthew Modine, and Casey Affleck. Read More Emily Blunt opens up about decision to take year-long acting hiatus: ‘I just felt that in my bones’ ‘No need to infantalise her’: Fans defend Florence Pugh and Cillian Murphy’s age gap in Oppenheimer Oppenheimer hailed as ‘spectacular’ in rapturous first reviews following Paris premiere Florence Pugh makes return to Paris Fashion Week in sheer dress following uproar Fans can’t get enough of Barbie’s already sold-out collaboration with Crocs Fan breaks down the outfits worn by Jeremy Allen White in The Bear
1970-01-01 08:00
Burger King Thailand’s newest creation is just 20 slices of cheese between two buns
Burger King has confounded fast-food fans after unveiling its newest menu item, a burger-less cheeseburger that consists of a bun and 20 slices of American cheese. Earlier this week, Burger King Thailand shared a first look at the cheeseburger, which the fast-food chain has named the “real cheeseburger,” on social media. “Not for fun, this is for real!” a 9 July post on the official Burger King Thailand Facebook reads. The post also included a photo of the cheeseburger, which is piled high with melted cheese slices and nothing else. According to Burger King Thailand, the limited-edition menu item launched on Sunday and is available for a reduced price of 109 Thai baht ($3.14), compared to the usual price of 380 baht ($10.95) for a cheeseburger. In the comments of the Facebook post, the fast-food chain also informed customers that they can “order more cheese” to add to the burger for just 20 Thai baht if they are “not satisfied”. On social media, the cheese-focused burger has sparked both confusion and disgust among viewers, with many questioning why the fast-food chain would release the menu item. “I am, quite literally, gagging,” one person tweeted, while another said: “My stomach hurt just looking at this picture.” According to someone else, the cheeseburger is the “most degenerate food item [they’ve] ever seen”. “Taking Thailand off my bucket list,” another person joked in response to the latest Burger King menu item. As for why the burger exists in the first place, food blogger Richard Barrow, who tried the new cheeseburger himself, according to his Twitter, claimed the “trend” in Thailand is to “put cheese on literally everything”. “A trend in Thailand is to put cheese on literally everything. Now Burger King has joined in with the real cheeseburger. Though I think they forgot the meat,” Barrow tweeted alongside pictures of his own order of the cheese-packed burger. In the post, Barrow then revealed that he “struggled eating even half” of the burger, despite loving cheese. “I love cheese but I struggled eating even half of this ‘burger’. Maybe I should grill the other half? What do you think?” he wrote. Although the cheese on the cheeseburger appears to be melted slightly in Burger King Thailand’s advertisement for the menu item, Barrow’s photos show 20 slices of non-melted cheese stacked neatly inside a sesame bun. As for whether the cheeseburger comes with anything apart from cheese, such as condiments, Barrow confirmed in response to one curious viewer that it’s “just cheese”. While the majority of reactions to the Burger King cheeseburger were negative, there were some who admitted they were intrigued by the fast food item. “I NEED,” one person tweeted, while another said: “I would 100 per cent eat this.” In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for Burger King confirmed the cheeseburger, which will only be available until 13 July, “will not be featured in any Burger King location outside of Thailand”. Read More McDonald’s unveils major change to its most iconic burger What diet drinks don’t have aspartame in them? McDonald’s increases price of five menu items Burger King launches ‘real cheeseburger’ stuffed with 20 slices of cheese Google Doodle celebrates pani puri, the much-loved Indian street snack Nigella says extravagant dinner parties are a thing of the past. I wish she was wrong
1970-01-01 08:00
Afraid of Flying? A New Service Lets You Chat With a Pilot to Ease Your Fears
Dial a Pilot lets you quiz pilots about everything from turbulence to weird noises.
1970-01-01 08:00
12 Fascinating Facts About Barbie
For one, Barbie was inspired by a German doll of a high-class call girl.
1970-01-01 08:00
The Zany History of Mini Golf
Whether you call it mini golf, putt putt, or a cheap date, miniature golf has been popular since the 19th century.
1970-01-01 08:00
20 of the Best Prime Day Deals on Toys and Games
Save up to 80 percent on select games and toys during this year’s Prime Day event, plus discover the best Meta Quest 2 deals, LEGO discounts, and more.
1970-01-01 08:00
1 Spine-Tingling Urban Legend From Each of the 50 States
From classics like the vanishing hitchhiker to creepy cryptids, ghostly vehicles, deadly curses, and some stuff you’ve probably seen on Facebook.
1970-01-01 08:00
15 Things You Might Not Know About ‘American Gothic’
While this deceptively simple portrait has clearly captured the imagination of the nation, the story behind its creation and rise to fame makes it all the more compelling.
1970-01-01 08:00
‘The Beanie Bubble’: How Ty Warner Tricked the World Into Buying Into the Beanie Baby Craze
Before watching 'The Beanie Bubble', learn the true story behind the Beanie Baby craze that swept the world in the 1990s.
1970-01-01 08:00
Taiwanese Pop Star Jay Chou’s Mom to Pocket $54 Million With Coffee IPO
Taiwanese pop superstar Jay Chou’s mother is about to become very rich from her son’s image. On Thursday,
1970-01-01 08:00