+
upworthy
More

This wacky rock star says he's running for president. 28 reasons that's actually awesome.

When it's time to politically party, Andrew W.K. will always party hard.

You might recognize Andrew Wilkes-Krier as That Crazy Long-Haired Rocker Guy who sang that "Party Hard" song. Which is accurate. But in addition to his delightfully positive pop-metal anthems about partying and his fist-pumping DJ gigs, Andrew W.K. is a renowned motivational speaker, children's television host, advice columnist for the Village Voice, and an all-around unstoppable force of positive energy.

Also he has a pizza guitar.


Photo by Mireya Acierto/Getty Images.

But on top of all of that, Andrew W.K. says he is running for president of the United States with his new political party: The Party Party.

"The Party Party is simple in its mission: To free the American people from the dysfunction that is our two party system," Andrew W.K. said in a video announcing his candidacy.

"Most people have become too caught up in the bickering of our news cycles to realize that we ultimately desire the exact same things: reliable access to education, healthcare, and a sense of social equality. If enough people are willing to liberate themselves from choosing left or right, a third voice can emerge with a much more powerful message. [...] If we open our hearts and approach the problems we face with an open mind, real change can be achieved."

This might sound ridiculous coming from a guy who only wears white T-shirts and white jeans, but these 28 tweets show what we could expect from President Andrew W.K.'s Party Party.

Photo by Mireya Acierto/Getty Images.

1. He believes in gender equality.


2. He believes in love, not hate.


3. He plays nice and encourages others to do the same.

4. He believes in the First Amendment.


5. He has a very strong stance on national defense.


6. And he refuses to provoke other countries that we might not get along with.

7. He has an excellent track record on human rights.

8. He is concerned about mental health.

9. He believes in empathy and understands the need to help those who are struggling in the way they want to be helped.


10. He knows that things aren't always perfect, and that's OK.


11. While he supports our capitalist economy, he also understands the dangers of unchecked greed.


12. He is a patriot who believes in American ingenuity, domestic trade, and personal responsibility.


13. He loves animals.


14. He supports NASA and space exploration, as well as geological and ecological sciences.


15. He cares about hygiene. And respect.

16. He supports marriage equality.


17. He has excellent manners, which gives him an advantage in dealing with international relations and diplomacy.

18. Banana manners.

19. He believes in protecting endangered species, such as the unicorn.

20. He respects and values women.

21. He has a strong foreign policy and refuses to give in to xenophobia.

22. He really likes animals.

23. He's your friend! He's everyone's friend! He's a guy you like and get along with!


24. He understands the need for employment and educational opportunities.


25. He believes in climate change.

26. He gives hugs.


27. He believes in the American dream.


28. He won't give up on the American people.

Does this look un-serious to you? Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images.

Is he kidding? Is this ridiculous? Is this all a big joke? Maybe. But he does claim to be in the process of filing the proper paperwork, so who knows?

Regardless of whether the Party Party is real or not, it has a LOT of people talking about some important issues.

W.K. is right: There are a lot of problems with our two-party system, and a lot of people are feeling disillusioned and disenfranchised by our current political atmosphere. We all want similar things, and yet we continue to let ourselves get bogged down in the same rhetoric and the same us-versus-them mentality, and we keep voting in the same candidates who continue to hurt us just because their names are the ones on the ballots.


While Andrew W.K. probably won't become our next president, there’s still a lot to be learned by studying the things he stands for, regardless of how wacky and over-the-top they might seem on the surface.

Then again, maybe we shouldn't count him out just yet — after all, there's that other seemingly-absurd celebrity presidential candidate who has made a lot of headway with his anti-establishment rhetoric. But his idea of a "party" probably has less to do with self-empowerment and mutual respect.

Here's the full video announcing Andrew W.K.'s presidential candidacy.


Time travel back to 1905.

Back in 1905, a book called "The Apples of New York" was published by the New York State Department of Agriculture. It featured hundreds of apple varieties of all shapes, colors, and sizes, including Thomas Jefferson's personal favorite, the Esopus Spitzenburg.






Keep ReadingShow less

Joey Grundl, Milwaukee pizza guy.

Joey Grundl, a pizza delivery driver for a Domino's Pizza in Waldo, Wisconsin, is being hailed as a hero for noticing a kidnapped woman's subtle cry for help.

The delivery man was sent to a woman's house to deliver a pie when her ex-boyfriend, Dean Hoffman, opened the door. Grundl looked over his shoulder and saw a middle-aged woman with a black eye standing behind Hoffman. She appeared to be mouthing the words: "Call the police."

Keep ReadingShow less
Photo by Katerina Holmes|Canva

Mom in tears after another parent calls about daughter's lunch


People say having children is like having your heart walk around outside of your body. You send them off to school, practices or playdates and hope that the world treats them kindly because when they hurt, you hurt. Inevitably there will be times when your child's feelings are hurt so you do your best to prepare for that day.

But what prepares you for when the child you love so much winds up accidentally healing your inner child. A mom on TikTok, who goes by Soogia posted a video explaining a phone call she received from a parent in her daughter's classroom. The mom called to inform Soogia that their kids had been sharing lunch with each other.

Soogia wasn't prepared for what came next. The classmate's mother informed her that her son loves the food Soogia's daughter brings to school and wanted to learn how to cook it too.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pop Culture

Listen to this organ in Croatia that uses the sea to make hauntingly beautiful music

It's a 230-foot-long organ that turns the rhythm of the waves into actual music.


In 2005, a Croatian architect designed a 230-foot-long organ that turns the rhythm of the waves into actual music.

Nope, not nonsensical bellows or chaotic tones. Real, actual, music.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modern Families

A comic from The Oatmeal illustrates how we're missing the mark on happiness.

I do the things that are meaningful to me, even if they don't make me "happy."

By Matthew Inman/The Oatmeal. Used with permission.

How to Be Perfectly Happy


Matthew Inman is the Eisner Award-winning author of The Oatmeal. He's published six books, including New York Times Best-Sellers such as "How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You"and "The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances."He enjoys running marathons, writing comics, and eating cake.

You can read more of Matthew's comics here.

Keep ReadingShow less
Health

Sweeping UN study finds that 9 out of 10 people worldwide are biased against women

In other words, 9 out of 10 people worldwide—both men and women—are biased against women in vital areas that impact the world in major ways.

Photo by Joe Gardner on Unsplash

As the U.S. ramps into an all-too-familiar presidential election cycle where the only viable candidates left on the ballot are men, the UN announces a study that may—at least partially—explain why.

The Gender Social Norms Index released yesterday by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) offers a look at gender equality as measured by people's personal gender bias. The data, which was collected from 75 countries covering 81% of the world's population, found that 91% of men and 86% of women show at least one clear bias against women in the areas of politics, economics, education, and physical integrity.

In other words, 9 out of 10 people worldwide—both men and women—are biased against women in vital areas that impact the world in major ways. Splendid.

Keep ReadingShow less