After a few heavy weeks, content-wise, I thought a break was in order, both for me and for you, my beloved readers; I didn’t want to train you to start feeling a creeping sense of dread whenever you saw my name in your inbox. Now that I’ve taken that break, I’m back with some of the funniest or most enjoyable things I’ve seen online this week. TGIF!
Kogumipip
I don’t understand why, but these videos of a tiny plastic pig ‘eating’ food are therapeutic, somehow. He’s a hungry boy.
Taika Waititi presents: Dads on Tour
Actor, director and fictional pirate Taika Waititi is currently travelling around Aotearoa with his two (incredibly adorable) children, and the videos he’s posting to his Instagram stories as he does so are pretty entertaining. Shout out to his youngest, Matewa, who has absolutely had enough of his shit and isn’t shy about letting him know.
More Taika, sorry
Taika retweeted someone’s heartwarming post about Our Flag Means Death giving them the courage to come out to their parents, but unfortunately tweeted the hearts out of order.
Fortunately, stans are quick to adjust and ensure the culture adjusts alongside them.
There are already approximately 5000 pride flags, so I don’t see the harm in adding one more.
A glimpse into a better world
I want Garfield Twitter. I want to Gweet.
Dylan O’Brien Updates
Susan Sarandon concurs.
Transparency is key
Salary Transparent Street is a TikTok account run by Hannah, an online creator who provides career advice to women. In her videos, she takes to the streets (primarily in the DC/VA/MD area so far, but she’s keen to travel!) to ask strangers what they do for work and how much they earn.
Transparency around salary is crucial for ensuring workers have all the information they need to make informed and empowered choices about where they work and what they do. Studies have found that radical transparency around salary has the potential to reduce the gender pay gap by as much as 50 percent. It’s why I’ve previously collected that information for my writers’ group Young Australian Writers, as well as demographic information so we can see if men and women, or white people and people of colour, in similar roles are being paid similarly or not. The answer will not surprise you.
The collaboration we deserve
Someone make it happen. Please.
Bird Oscars
You read that right. Bird Oscars.
With the occasional cameo from a squirrel.
Dylan Mulvaney
I’ve largely managed to avoid getting too invested in any one YouTuber or TikToker, but that may just change thanks to LA-based actress and comedian Dylan Mulvaney.
She’s been posting daily updates since starting her transition, and between her amazing outfits and colourful makeup to delightful personality and candour, I’ve quickly become a fan. I wonder if she’ll be my friend?
Important anniversaries
It’s Ed Balls day.
Ed Balls.
It’s also the anniversary of this photo of Bruno Mars staring in awe as Pete Wentz (of Fall Out Boy fame, if you don’t know this I can’t relate to you) walks away from him. An incredible relic from the brief period of time where Pete Wentz was more famous than Mars, who wouldn’t skyrocket to fame until 2010. A simpler time.
We will return to our regularly scheduled programming next week. Enjoy your weekends!