Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin It’s a shame what Bill Maher has been saying about the obesity epidemic. Back in 2019, Maher literally asked people to “fat shame” others more on his HBO show “Real Time with Bill Maher,” as I covered for Forbes . Now, in the latest episode of his show, Maher complained that America has “gone from fat acceptance to fat celebration.” Maher claimed as well that “There’s a disturbing trend going on in America these days with rewriting science to fit ideology or just to fit what you want reality to be,” as you can see in the following tweet from Maher and the accompanying video: Just to be clear, Maher is not a scientist. During this segment, he also didn’t present any real scientific studies or have any, you know, real live scientists present. So, hmmm, was he in fact presenting actual science or was he rather rewriting science to fit his ideology or just to fit what he wants reality to be? Well, let’s take a look at … [Read more...] about Bill Maher Claims ‘Fat Celebration’ Is Happening In U.S., Oversimplifies Obesity Epidemic
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Opinion: Biden’s Afghanistan exit decision looks even worse a year later
Peter Bergen is CNN's national security analyst, a vice president at New America and a professor of practice at Arizona State University. Bergen's new paperback is "The Rise and fall of Osama bin Laden." from which this article is, in part, adapted. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN. (CNN) In 1961, after a CIA-backed invasion of Cuba failed spectacularly, President John F. Kennedy said of the Bay of Pigs fiasco, "Victory has 100 fathers and defeat is an orphan." Peter Bergen Last week, President Joe Biden took a victory lap when he announced that the US had tracked down and killed its most wanted terrorist, al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was living in a house in Kabul, Afghanistan. Don't expect a similar celebration on August 30, the first anniversary of the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, which ended the longest war in American history. Any realistic assessment of that action shows that it … [Read more...] about Opinion: Biden’s Afghanistan exit decision looks even worse a year later
This is what fashion looks like when queerness is at the center
This story is part of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business 2022 . Explore the full list of innovators who broke through this year—and had an impact on the world around us. advertisement advertisement “In everything that we do, one of the first questions I ask is, ‘What’s the intention of this?'” says Kingsley Gbadegesin of his queer-focused fashion brand K.ngsley . The Brooklyn-based, Nigerian-American designer worked in sales and marketing for Versace, Celine, and Loewe before spinning out his own company in 2020 with a line of cut-out tank tops inspired by a DIY club look he once made with a pair of scissors and a white tank top. His tops are now carried by Nordstrom, Ssense, The Culture Edit, and Moda Operandi, and have been worn by celebrities that include Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow, and Zaya Wade. Last year, Gbadegesin expanded K.ngsley into a full-fledged fashion brand with the launch of a ready-to-wear collection of genderless … [Read more...] about This is what fashion looks like when queerness is at the center
Jibble, jibble! Why Doja Cat is the new model for celebrity brand-partnership success
Back in April, before she provided one of the most memorable moments of the 2022 Grammys— rushing back from the bathroom to accept the trophy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with SZA for their hit “Kiss Me More”—Doja Cat posted a short TikTok video from her dressing room. It’s just a closeup of her holding up a glittery, crystal-encrusted custom JBL Clip portable speaker, and saying “Jibble! Jibble! Jibble!” advertisement advertisement It may not be how the brand pronounces its name, but for JBL, it translated into one of its most significant and successful social moments. That, combined with Doja Cat taking the speaker on the red carpet with her (it matched her dress), gave the brand two years’ worth of social engagement in about three days. @dojacat #ad ???????? @jblaudio #ad ♬ original sound – Doja Cat Bill Wyman, vice president of integrated marketing for JBL, says that in the past, when brand people would hear something … [Read more...] about Jibble, jibble! Why Doja Cat is the new model for celebrity brand-partnership success
Why ‘Clash of Clans’ is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a fake 40-year history
Do you remember Clash -mania? Those days back in the 1980s when the video game Clash of Clans became the biggest pop-cultural phenomenon the world had ever seen, and its main character, the Barbarian, was gracing magazine covers, cereal boxes, and made into an action figure? A new short documentary tells the fascinating story of the game’s 40-year history, the dramatic rise, the crushing fall, and it’s subsequent rebirth. advertisement advertisement Except, y’know, the whole thing is fake. Today marks the actual, for real, 10th anniversary of mobile gaming juggernaut Clash of Clans , but its parent company, Supercell, thought it would be fun to imagine a world where Clash came of age in the time of Pac-Man and Mario. Created with ad agency Wieden + Kennedy, Clash from The Past traces the game’s (fictional) origin from three teens in a Finnish basement to cultural blockbuster. It’s a fun and elaborate gag that manages to reflect how gaming pop … [Read more...] about Why ‘Clash of Clans’ is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a fake 40-year history
LOOK: Kelsey Merritt poses with Adriana Lima at 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Filipino-American model Kelsey Merritt took a snapshot with retiring Victoria’s Secret Angel Adriana Lima at the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. “Growing up watching the @victoriassecret fashion show, I wanted to be like @adrianalima! She is such an inspiration,” Merritt wrote in an Instagram post on Friday. The Victoria’s Secret newcomer expressed excitement with her first time in the show, saying “I can’t believe I get to say I’ve walked the show with her and all the beautiful VS models.” BUY: Victoria’s Secret Items Merritt also shared a sneak peek backstage before walking the runway for the US lingerie giant. In a separate post, she shared an excerpt of the song “This Is Me” in musical film “The Greatest Showman” and said: “This song from first segment of the fashion show always brings me to tears… So powerful.” She also stunned in a Victoria’s Secret black satin robe before the second part of the fashion show. Merritt is the first Filipino model to … [Read more...] about LOOK: Kelsey Merritt poses with Adriana Lima at 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Crypto platforms say they’re exchanges, but they’re more like banks
- A + A (Aug 11): There is a well-known saying shared by both crypto experts and skeptics: “Not your keys, not your coins.” The phrase, popularized by Bitcoin entrepreneur Andreas Antonopoulos, refers to how the contents of a crypto wallet are the property of whoever has access to that wallet’s digital “keys.” This means that unless you personally have the keys to your crypto assets and store them offline, you are vulnerable to hacks, scams and bankruptcies. The endless stream of crypto scams has been well documented. So have the security breaches — and not to mention the eye-popping carbon emissions. Of course, offline storage requires an extra level of understanding, technological sophistication and inconvenience. Enter crypto exchanges like Coinbase and Crypto.com, which offer simple, convenient platforms for users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies and NFTs. However, the crypto crash has revealed that these firms are not just exchanges — they are more like banks. … [Read more...] about Crypto platforms say they’re exchanges, but they’re more like banks
Why companies like Nerf and Olipop are hiring TikTok creators to run their accounts
Many companies have had success with paying TikTok influencers to promote their products, but some brands are now taking it a step beyond. Organizations like Nerf are hiring creators to run their brands’ TikTok accounts, in the hopes of growing their following on the platform—and developing a long-term relationship with t heir audience. advertisement advertisement The toy brand Nerf ‘s TikTok account is now run by Sophie Lightning , a creator with 2.1 million followers on the app. She is featured in most of the brand’s videos where she acts out characters in original skits , shares behind the scenes footage, and reacts to TikTok trends —always with Nerf products included. One of the most popular videos with 9.4 million views was Nerf’s take on the “is it cake?” trend where viewers guess whether an item is a Nerf toy or cake meant to look like one. @nerf Did we do this trend correctly??? #Nerf … [Read more...] about Why companies like Nerf and Olipop are hiring TikTok creators to run their accounts
As GMA Network turns 72, grateful celebrities recall their milestones as a Kapuso
Who would have thought that the launch of dzBB, GMA Network’s first AM radio station in March 1950, would eventually turn that station into the multimedia giant it is today? So it’s just fitting for the company, fondly called the Kapuso Network by its loyal followers, to celebrate its string of triumphs 72 years later. In a glittering—OK, sparkling—evening of fun, excitement and heartwarming nostalgia, the network held its first-ever GMA Thanksgiving Gala at Shangri-La The Fort last July 30 attended by its biggest stars and most influential personalities clad in sophisticated outfits that harked back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. GMA president and chief operating officer Gilbert Duavit Jr., executive vice president/chief financial officer Felipe Yalong and GMA Films president Annette Gozon-Valdes led the attendees who paid special tribute to GMA chair and CEO Felipe Gozon for leading the company through the decades. For the guests and kibitzers who were lucky to be around, the … [Read more...] about As GMA Network turns 72, grateful celebrities recall their milestones as a Kapuso
Meet The Celebrity Spirits Whisperer
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Even if you’ve been hiding under The Rock for the past few years, you’d still be acutely aware of the fact that celebrities have come to crowd the contemporary spirits space. It seems as though news of another A-lister launching their own whiskey, gin, tequila arrives at an almost weekly clip these days. You know most of the names, yet you probably haven't heard of Ken Austin. If you’re famous and launching a booze brand, he’s a great person to know. Think of him as sort of a celebrity spirits whisperer. For a little over a decade the serial entrepreneur and dealmaker has been in the rooms where the handshakes happen. In conjunction with some of the biggest names in entertainment, he’s developed a massively successful trio of liquor labels. The run started with Tequila Avión back in 2009. It’s a brand that many remember as a plot line in Entourage —the HBO hit that blurred the line between fictional and … [Read more...] about Meet The Celebrity Spirits Whisperer