Heroes
Meet Smokey The Bear’s Kick-Ass Green Cousin
Smokey the Bear was great, but when a ninja tells you to do something, you do it. “Only you can prevent” global warming.
03.27.13
What will you create on your social media break? Share it at #MyVisionMySight.
If you’ve always lived in a world with social media, it can be tough to truly understand how it affects your life. One of the best ways to grasp its impact is to take a break to see what life is like without being tethered to your phone and distracted by a constant stream of notifications.
Knowing when to disconnect is becoming increasingly important as younger people are becoming aware of the adverse effects screen time can have on their eyes. According to Eyesafe Nielsen, adults are now spending 13-plus hours a day on their digital devices, a 35% increase from 2019.1. Many of us now spend more time staring at screens on a given day than we do sleeping which can impact our eye health.
Normally, you blink around 15 times per minute, however, focusing your eyes on computer screens or other digital displays have been shown to reduce your blink rate by up to 60%.2 Reduced blinking can destabilize your eyes’ tear film, causing dry, tired eyes and blurred vision.3
ACUVUEhas been encouraging people to take time off social media and use their newfound time to see their vision, whether that's becoming a makeup influencer, focusing on athletics or embracing their unique talents.
Upworthy caught up with influencer, YouTube star and contact lens wearer Amber Alexander to talk about how she balances her social media use. Recently, she took a social media break while visiting her sister.
“I was able to slow down time and take in each moment,” she told Upworthy. “Being on social media 24/7 always puts me in a very overwhelmed and anxious state of mind, so it was so refreshing to put my phone down and see life from a clearer perspective. Every moment felt more meaningful.”
“As soon as I put my phone away, I was able to really connect with my family and cherish our time together. I saw how my peace of mind improved when I took a break from social media,” she continued.
Alexander understands how social media can have a huge effect on her self-esteem and productivity.
“Scrolling through social media often leads people to compare their own lives, achievements, and physical appearance to people they see online,” she told Upworthy. “It is unrealistic and discouraging to see so many attractive, successful people online 24/7. Also, being on social media takes up so much time from our day that could be used socializing with real people, going outside, and working towards meaningful goals.”
ACUVUE is challenging young people to take social media breaks to pursue their purposes, visions, missions, and dreams through its Where Vision Meets Sight campaign. But the campaign from ACUVUE is about a lot more than just personal development. They’d like you to inspire others by sharing what you’ve done during your social media break by using #MyVisionMySight.
Get inspired and learn more on ACUVUE’s Where Vision Meets Sight page.
1COVID-19: Screen Time spikes to over 13 hours per day according to Eyesafe Nielsen estimates, published 3/28/20, https://eyesafe.com/covid-19-screen-time-spike-to-....
2Tsubota K, Nakamori K. Dry eyes and video display terminals. N Engl J Med. 1993;328(8):584. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199302253280817.
3Patel S, Henderson R, Bradley L, et al. Effect of visual display unit use on blink rate and tear stability. Optom Vis Sci 1991;68(11):888-892. doi: 10.1097/00006324-199111000-00010.
It's not for everybody.
Seth Rogen on stage during the opening night of Collision 2019 at Enercare Center in Toronto, Canada.
Childless women in the public eye are often plagued by the question: “So, why don’t you have any children?” It’s a deeply personal question that cuts right to the bone, and there can be many answers. But, if the woman doesn’t want children and says so publicly, she is bound to face some judgment.
"[I don't] like [the pressure] that people put on me, on women—that you've failed yourself as a female because you haven't procreated. I don't think it's fair," Jennifer Aniston told Allure. "You may not have a child come out of your vagina, but that doesn't mean you aren't mothering—dogs, friends, friends' children."
On the Monday, March 6 episode of “The Diary Of A CEO” podcast, host Steven Bartlett asked actor Seth Rogen about why he’s childless, and it was a rare moment where a man in the public eye was challenged on the topic. Rogen gave a thoughtful explanation for his and Lauren Miller’s decision to be child-free.
Rogen and Miller were married in 2011.
“There's a whole huge thing I'm not doing, which is raising children,” Rogen told Bartlett. The host attempted to play devil’s advocate and asked Rogen if he considered whether having children might have made him and his wife “happier.”
“I don't think it would,” Rogen responded.
Then, as if anticipating the question, the “Pineapple Express” star upended one of the arguments that people who have children often make: that people who don’t have children have no idea what it’s like.
“I've been around obviously a lot of children; I'm not ignorant to what it’s like…Everyone I know has kids. I'm 40, you know? I know,” Rogen said. “Some of my friends have had kids for decades. Some people want kids, some people don't want kids.”
He added that many people seem to have kids without considering the issue.
“I mean, a lot of people have kids before they even think about it, from what I've seen, honestly,” he said. “You just are told, you go through life, you get married, you have kids—it’s what happens.”
Rogen and his wife have only grown stronger in their decision and they believe that it has helped their relationship.
“Now, more than anything, the conversation is like, ‘Honestly, thank God we don’t have children,’” he continued. “We get to do whatever we want.”
“We are in the prime of our lives. We are smarter than we've ever been, we understand ourselves more than we ever have, we have the capacity to achieve a level of work and a level of communication and care for one another, and a lifestyle we can live with one another that we've never been able to live before. And we can just do that, and we don't have to raise a child—which the world does not need right now,” Rogen concluded.
Everyone has the right to choose whether or not to have children, and no one has the right to judge them. Rogen and Miller have thought their decision through and should be applauded for living how they see fit. It’s cool to see Rogen with such a thoughtful opinion on the matter. It’d be even cooler if celebrities never had to discuss the topic in the first place.
This article originally appeared on 3.9.23
Why are expectations for mothers and fathers so different?
"Fun" dad versus "lazy" mom.
Last November, Upworthy published a popular story about Chloe Sexton, a mother who went viral on TikTok for a video she made explaining “daddy privilege” or the idea that fathers are applauded for doing things that mothers are supposed to do.
"In my opinion, 'daddy privilege' is that subtle upper hand men sidestep into as parents that allows them to gain praise for simply…being a parent," she said. "You fed the baby? What a great dad! You held the baby while mommy bathed? So considerate of you! You picked up something for dinner? What would your family do without you?! It's all the little ways mothers do exactly what the world expects of them without a second thought and then watch fathers get praised for simply showing up."
Sadly, the post resonated with a lot of mothers, because it's true. Expectations for fathers are so low that men are commended for handling basic parenting tasks. But if a mother falls short of perfection, she faces harsh criticism.
Mary Catherine Starr, a mother living in Cape Cod who owns a design studio and teaches yoga, is getting a lot of love on Instagram for her cartoon series that perfectly explains daddy privilege.
In "An Illustrated Guide to the Double Standards of Parenting," Starr shares this concept by showing that when a man comes home with fast food for his kids he's the "fun dad." But if a mom comes back with a bag from McDonald's she is seen as a "lazy mom."
In the comics, the same double standards apply whether it's how they handle technology or parent at the park.
(Note: Click the arrow on the right-hand side of the image to see the slideshow.)
Starr was quick to point out in the comments that the target of her comics isn’t fathers, but society at large. “This is not a dig at dads, it's a dig at our society—a society that applauds dads for handling the most basic of parenting duties + expects nothing short of perfection from mothers (or even worse, shames them for every decision and/or move they make!),” she wrote.
The comics resonated with a lot of women.
"This hit a nerve with so many women! I was a single mom living in an apartment,” an Instagram user named Saturdayfarm wrote in the comments. “Next door - a single dad. Neighbors felt so bad for him that they helped him with his laundry, brought over food, and babysat. For nothing. I just shakily carried on somehow. And I had so much less money and opportunities.”
"This is exactly part of the why I feel like being ‘just’ a mom isn’t as valuable. Being so run of the mill. But if my husband has the baby in a sling, the toddler in the pram and is out walking the dog, he’s superman for letting me have one hour for zoom work," rebecca_lee-close_yoga wrote.
A father who understands his privilege completely supports Starr’s message.
"It actually annoys me when I get those types of comments / ‘compliments’ knowing it’s totally a double standard," JonaJooey wrote.
Starr’s comics and Sexton’s TikTok videos won't stop the double standards when it comes to parenting, but they do a great job at holding a mirror up to the problem. Where do we go from here? We can start by having greater expectations for fathers and holding them up to a higher standard. Then, we should take the energy we put into praising dads for doing the bare minimum and heap it on mothers who thanklessly go about the most important job in the world.
This story originally appeared on 02.01.22
His teaching style totally slaps.
This was a great moment. No cap.
What started out as a lighthearted class presentation quickly turned into a fabulous humanities lesson for all.
A teacher under the pseudonym Larry Lexicon has 1.8 million followers on TikTok, where they tune in to catch the funny-yet-inspirational interactions Lexicon has with his students.
Recently, Lexicon had his class rolling with his meticulously crafted PowerPoint explaining what certain Gen Z words mean.
"All year long I've been listening to you and making a list, which I've compiled here for you — the Gen Z Term Dictionary," he told the class, saying that they should speak up if anything was inaccurate.
Here’s what he came up with.
He took “bruh,” (aka the “staple of their generation”) to simply be the alternative for “bro,” except that “bruh!” can also be used as an exclamation. That was correct.
Although the word “Rizz,” was fairly new to him, he also correctly guessed that this was short for “charisma,” and thus refers to someone who has the ability to charm.
“You can use it in all kinds of ways. Like I’m the Rizzard of Oz!” he joked.
“Bussin” he took to mean that something was good, particularly food. Also correct. He even knew that “bussin’ bussin’” meant that something was really good. Clearly, Lexicon had done his homework.@larrylexicon Let me know if there are more terms I need to add to my list! #larrylexicon#doyourbuckingvocab#genzterms#teacherlife#highschool#teachersoftiktok#school♬ original sound - Larry Lexicon
However, a few people pointed out in the comments that many terms have roots in African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). So in his third TikTok, Lexicon chose to make some revisions, and explained to the class why those revisions were important.
"I know you think you came up with a lot of these words, but you didn't, and they've been around for a long time," Lexicon said, noting how parts of AAVE language are at first “looked down upon by society as uneducated or thuggish” yet nonetheless sneak into daily vocabulary through pop culture.
"What happens is it makes its way into like, white suburbia, and you get a middle-aged dorky white dude mislabeling it just for a whole generation as a term dictionary," he said. "And it ends up erasing the importance of it."
@larrylexicon Food smacks, music slaps. Got it. #larrylexicon#aave#genzterms#teacherlife#teachersoftiktok#school#revisions#slaps♬ original sound - Larry Lexicon
Lexicon then admitted that it was a mistake made by his own ignorance, which was okay, because he was able to take feedback, learn and act on it to grow.
“Being ignorant’s OK, but being willfully ignorant and not doing anything about it — not so OK."
Viewers who have been following Lexicon’s series applauded him for taking the time to make even a silly little powerpoint into an important conversation for everyone involved.
“I love how you’re learning it and then teaching it! This is education!” one person wrote.
“The fact that you came back and showed HOW TO LEARN and that it’s OK NOT TO KNOW but not ok to be willfully ignorant,” added another.
“This is a hell of an example for your students,” read the top comment.
In case you’re curious, here are all the words gathered so far for the newly re-titled "AAVE-inspired Gen Z term dictionary."
Lexicon plans to add new words each week throughout the remaining weeks of school. If you’d like to follow along, he can be found on TikTok.
Here are 21 of the most powerful responses.
Millennials are now old enough to seriously reflect on life.
It seems like only yesterday a millennial was a college kid that baby boomers chided for being entitled and Gen Xers thought were way too sincere and needed to learn how to take a joke. Today, the oldest millennials, those born around 1980, have hit their 40s and have lived long enough to have some serious regrets.
They also have enough experience to take some pride in decisions that, in hindsight, were the right moves.
The good news is that at 40 there is still plenty of time to learn from our successes and failures to set ourselves up for a great second half of life. These lessons are also valuable to the Gen Zers coming up who can avoid the pitfalls of the older generation.
A Reddit user who has since deleted their profile asked millennials nearing 40 “what were your biggest mistakes at this point in life?” and they received more than 2,200 responses. The biggest regrets these millennials have are being flippant about their health and not saving enough money when they were younger.
They also realized that the carefree days of youth are fleeting and impossible to get back. So they should have spent less time working and more time enjoying themselves. Many also lamented that they should have taken their education more seriously in their 20s so they have more opportunities now.
The responses to this thread are bittersweet. It's tough hearing people come to grips with their regrets but the realizations are also opportunities to grow. Hopefully, some younger people will read this thread and take the advice to heart.
Here are 21 of the most powerful responses to the question: “Millennials of Reddit now nearing your 40s, what were your biggest mistakes at this point in life?”
"Not taking care of my hearing, not even 35 and going deaf." — Kusanagi8811
"Not getting healthy earlier." — zombiearchivist
"Staying too long at a job in my 20s, just because it was safe and easy. When I finally got the motivation to leave, ended up with an almost 50% pay boost." — Hrekires
"Thinking that I could and should put myself on the back burner for anything and anyone else." — lenalilly227
"Smoking and not dealing with my shit the right way." — Allenrw3
"Pining after the wrong person." — runikepisteme
"I turned 40 this year and just started liking who I am. Why the fuck did it take 40 years for self acceptance?" — guscallee
"Take care of your fucking back. Lift with your knees. Sure it's rad when you grab a fridge by yourself and lift it in the back of a moving truck unaided, but one day that shit is going to have consequences that won't just magically go away by resting and "taking it easy" for a week." — GuyTallman
"I wish I spent more time with my dad while I had the chance." — CharlieChooper
"I'm 37. I absolutely could have taken better care of my body, but I'm in relatively good health. I'm starting to realize how important it is to maintain my health. I do also think I drank far too much in my 20 and early 30's. I'm trying to rectify that now, but it's hard. So that I guess." — dartastic
"I'm not sure if people have experienced the same but when I entered my 30s I became convinced I was rapidly running out of time. Rather than using that as motivation I let it paralyze me with indecision because I "couldn't afford to make the wrong choice." Consequently, I'm now 39 and, though I've had great things happen in my 30s, I regret spending so much time worrying and so little time committing to a course of action." — tomwaste
"Work to live, don’t live to work. You have half your working life after you turn 40 but only 20-25 years to really live it up before the responsibilities become heavy and your joints start to ache. Live life. Really LIVE it. Experience as much you can. Every sensation, sight, sound, touch. Be open. Be brave. Live your first few decades in the fast lane. You have the rest of your life to take it easy, when you have no choice." — MrDundee666
"I should have paid more attention to my parents telling me to save money and less attention when they were teaching me about purity culture." — Arkie_MTB
"If I could tell my 18 year old self one thing, it would be to save 10% of every paycheck I ever got." — PutAForkInHim
"Thinking that I have time to do everything I want only to find myself loosing time, and the endless energy I used to have in order to purse them." — ezZiioFTW
"Not wearing sunscreen." — blueboxreddress
"Not recognizing the importance of work/life balance earlier in life. My late teens, all 20's, and early 30's were spent pulling 60-100+hr weeks because I thought it was what was required to succeed. How wrong I was. Others stabbed me in the back and reaped the reward.
1.) Putting work first for too long. Work is my #1 priority during work hours now. After quitting time, I don't think about it (much) anymore. I don't vent to my wife or friends about it anymore either.
2.) Investing more into fast cars than solid long-term investments. Sure, it was fun, but I could have made bookoos more had I put that towards less-fun investments.
3.) Not using PTO and just waiting for the payout. All those years, missed. I'm in my mid 30's and I didn't actually have a real vacation until 3 years ago.
4.) Not realizing that "the good guy" often loses. Just because you're morally justified doesn't mean you're going to win. Just because there's a number to call doesn't mean anyone will actually help you. Just because "law" exists, doesn't mean people follow it, enforce it, or create justice. The world is dog eat dog and cynicism can be healthy in moderate doses." — [Deleted]
"When you get out of college, keep your friends. No matter how hard it is. Hold on to them." — mpssss22
"I imagine these are kinda universal:
"Always ask for more pay. Starting, yearly, before leaving, whatever. Get that money." — SensibleReply
"Spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough enjoying life." — BellaPadella
This article originally appeared on 4.20.22
It's over 500% warmer than a typical stadium blanket.
Editor's Note: Upworthy earns a fee for purchases made from items listed in this article.
Imagine you're working from home, attending a Zoom call, when you suddenly feel a chill in the air. Or maybe you're out exploring nature, taking in the beauty of the great outdoors, but the temperature starts to dip, and your jacket just isn’t enough. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a simple solution to keep you warm and comfortable that was also lightweight and mobile? That’s where the Mozy 22 comes in. It provides warmth, comfort, convenience, and mobility, making it the perfect companion for video calls, outdoor adventures, and everything in between.
The Mozy 22 isn't just any ordinary wrap; it's a game-changer. Whether you're snuggled up on the couch with a good book, taking your dog for a walk, or cheering at your child's soccer game, Mozy 22 literally has you covered. With its lightweight, super-soft design and adjustable hook closure, you can easily wrap yourself up and stay warm in those cooler temperatures.
The journey to create
the Mozy 22 began with its founder, a busy dad who found himself shivering at his kid's games and realized there had to be a better alternative to the traditional stadium blanket. This problem sparked a relentless pursuit to develop a superior solution that provides warmth, comfort, and mobility. Through countless trials and iterations, the team behind Mozy explored over 40 different designs, fine-tuning the details to create the ultimate wrap. It wasn't just about creating a better stadium blanket but revolutionizing how we keep warm in everyday situations, from virtual meetings to outdoor leisure activities. After numerous tests and refinements, the Mozy 22 was born.
The Mozy 22’s groundbreaking approach to warmth and comfort sets it apart from other products. With its patented technology, this extraordinary wrap is truly a one-of-a-kind solution for those looking to stay warm, no matter the occasion. Extensive testing using thermocouples has proven that the Mozy 22 is over 500% warmer than a typical stadium blanket. With one patent issued and another pending, its innovative design effectively blocks convective heat loss.
What sets Mozy 22 apart from traditional warmth solutions is its innovative design that reduces convective heat loss. Compared to jeans, which offer minimal protection and allow heat to escape all over the legs, or stadium blankets, which still lose heat through gaps and around the back of the legs, Mozy 22 efficiently retains warmth. This design ensures that cool breezes don't penetrate the wrap, keeping your legs toasty and comfortable. The science behind Mozy 22's impressive warmth retention lies in its ability to minimize molecular convective heat loss. By effectively maintaining a layer of warm air molecules close to the exterior of the jeans while keeping cold air molecules outside, Mozy 22 ensures you stay warm even when the temperature drops. This intelligent design creates a microclimate around your lower body, making it the perfect choice for those cooler days.
Controlled engineering tests were conducted on the Mozy 22, using a warmed test dummy and thermocouples to compare its performance against jeans and stadium blankets. The results were clear: Mozy 22 excelled at retaining heat, proving that its groundbreaking design truly lives up to the promise of keeping you warm and comfortable.
One of the standout features of Mozy 22 is its mobile and hands-free design. It allows you to move freely without sacrificing warmth. Whether you're hopping up to cheer at a game or simply going for a walk, Mozy 22 stays securely fastened around your waist, ensuring your blanket won't fall to the ground, and you'll never have to fumble with it while on the go. Another fantastic benefit of Mozy 22 is its adjustable hook closure, which provides a customizable fit for users of all shapes and sizes. The wrap is easily pressed closed along your left side as snugly as you'd like, and the snag-free hook and loop border creates a seal that's both easy to adjust and open, keeping you dry and comfortable.
Mozy 22 also features two easy-to-reach pockets and a carabiner clip, making securing all your outdoor essentials a breeze. From water bottles and keys to hats, gloves, and even your phone, Mozy 22 has room for everything you need while out and about. Comfort is key with Mozy 22, and its plush fleece interior offers an added layer of warmth and coziness. As you wrap yourself in this soft, heavyweight fleece, you'll feel instantly snug and ready to face cold weather.
But Mozy 22 isn't just a one-size-fits-all solution. Its infinitely adjustable warmth allows you to adapt quickly to changing weather conditions. You can wear Mozy 22 higher up on your torso, just at your waist, sealed halfway down, or fastened snugly over your ankles. With Mozy 22, you're always in control of your level of warmth, making it a versatile and essential addition to your wardrobe.
Mozy 22 is designed to cater to various body types, ensuring everyone can enjoy its warmth and comfort. With size options available for both youth and adults, there's a Mozy 22 for everyone. The Size 120 is best suited for youth with hip sizes ranging from 20" to 27", while the Size 140 is ideal for adults with hip sizes between 28" and 46". For those with hip sizes of 47" to 58", the Size 160 is the perfect fit. To choose the best size for your needs, simply measure your hip size and refer to the recommendations provided. By selecting the proper size, you'll ensure that your Mozy 22 fits comfortably and securely, providing optimal warmth and coziness as you go about your day. So whether you're attending a chilly outdoor event or just looking for that extra layer of comfort during a Zoom call, Mozy 22 is the perfect fit.
With the unbeatable combination of comfort, warmth, and convenience, the Mozy 22 is a must-have for anyone seeking an adaptable and stylish solution to staying warm on the go. Act now, and embrace your inner coziness with Mozy 22! Grab yours today and join the revolution in staying warm and cozy, no matter where life takes you.
"If I were a fish" isn't just a bona fide bop, it's helping listeners connect to hope, joy and self love.
Corinee Savage and Olivia Barton sing "If i were a fish"
More than 13 million people have watched Corinne Savage (aka @corook) and their partner Olivia Barton perform their punchy, wholesome, serotonin-filled acoustic tune titled “If I were a fish.”
The lyrics, so simple and so sweet, go a little something like this:
“If I were a fish, and you caught me, you’d say ‘Look at that fish,’ shimmering in the sun, such a rare one, can’t believe that you caught one…”
Then comes the chorus that’s completely bursting with radical acceptance and joy, despite everybody on the internet being “so mean.”Really, no song has the right to be this catchy, powerful, absurd and clever all at once. Be it is, nonetheless.
Listen:
@hicorook I was having a very emotional day, feeling insecure and out of place. So I cried to Olivia and after feeling through it, we wrote this song in 10 minutes to remember the joy in being different 🐸 happy Tuesday
♬ original sound - corook
A bit of a masterpiece, right? And to think—all it took to make it happen was a bad day, and 10 minutes.
Savage, who is nonbinary, shared with The Boston Globe that inspiration for the song came after a challenging day of receiving nasty comments to another song they had posted online.
Understandably, being on the receiving end of such harshness exacerbated the insecurity and loneliness Savage had already been harboring.
“It’s not that the hate comments affected me, it was more that the hate comments were shining a light on something I was really thinking about in my life, which is I feel like I don’t have a place,” Savage told The Boston Globe.In an effort to lift her partner’s spirits, Barton suggested that they “do something silly” together to make themselves feel better. And thus, “If I were a Fish” became an impromptu celebration of uniqueness and moment of healing.
What’s more, it’s become a beloved self-love anthem for anyone who feels a bit like a fish out of water. Children sing it in school choirs. A crowd of over 100 people gathered in Washington Spare Park for a heartwarming singalong. Seemingly overnight, the song has surpassed viral sensation status and is now a full blown movement.
@hicorook all of my fishy New Yorkers 🥹🐠🐸 I can’t friggin believe it. Thank you for singing along with me yesterday
♬ if i were a fish (feat. Olivia Barton) - corook
The way it has resonated with so many people makes it pretty evident that Savage was not the only one who needed these words put to music.
“I think there’s a mass amount of people on the Internet screaming into the void, and none of us are sure if we’re hearing each other,” Savage told The Boston Globe. “I think that for some reason, this song, everybody feels heard by.”
It takes courage to not fit into an acceptable box, and love yourself anyway. It takes strength to cultivate joy within yourself when the world seems bleak. It's not easy, but luckily art helps. And what's more, the art that heals us can heal others. The ability art has to inspire community among strangers in an instant really has to be the biggest perk of humanity. And god bless folks like Corook who create such lovely examples of it.
By the way, Savage and Barton have turned “If I were a fish” into a full two-minute song, which you can check out below: