The Trend Report™: Repeated
A quick look at things that are getting repeated again and again.
Biden Officials Warn of Substantial Increase in Cases
The US is in a fifth COVID wave
I know you “know this” but it’s my duty to put this here.
Man in Japan gambles COVID town funds mistakenly
In other news, I love this man.
Sweden, Finland seek NATO membership
This seems like major news not many people talked about? This ends 200 years of Sweden being neutral
Republicans Just Voted Against Feeding the Baby They're Forcing You to Have
Headline of the year? Combining both the baby formula shortage and repealing of Roe v. Wade.
“dubya has that liar liar curse”
If you haven’t watched this video of George W. Bush talking about Ukraine, you must. It features the Freudian slip of the century.
Pentagon: UFOs Everywhere, Aliens Not So
I love the alien storyline that no one (but everyone) seems to care about for the past three years.
Recession is 'likely'
Hate to tell y’all this but………get ready. Money about to get tight! We about to see more goths too!!!
Accountant retires on cruise ships to avoid cost of living
This was a huge story this week, mostly because it captures the reality of how priced-out everyone is in America. Something’s gotta change here, y’all!
Patient Dosed With Cancer-Killing Virus in New Trial
Interesting! Fingers crossed this helps with cancer in humans.
Apple Reverses Remote Work Policy
Apple Exec Who Left Over Return-to-Office Joins Google
I’m sorry but Apple is stupid. They really goofed this! And I can’t imagine more talent left for similar reasons. I’m also sure that this isn’t just an Apple thing. What are we not understanding about respecting people’s independence?
Only 22 saw the Buffalo shooting live. Millions have seen it since.
An interesting story about tech, murder, and the syndication of tragedy.
SpaceX Paid $250,000 to a Flight Attendant
“there’s a story coming out”
The attendant accused Musk of sexual harassment. This was theorized to have happened with that Tweet. All this to say: I’m exhausted by billionaire-as-celebrity culture.
“Huayna Picchu”
Turns out, Machu Picchu is just an imperialist misnomer!
I ran out of time to write an essay this week so, instead, I want to point out things that are trending in pairs or that I keep seeing sentiments repeat, which typically is signal of, you know, a trend. Be on the lookout for these things because they about to trend more!
Netflix Self-Owned: Remember how I questioned Netflix’s appropriating culture months back? Now a trend is emerging where, as they cut minority community verticals, writers and those fired are speaking up about the company’s stupidity. This is what happens when you try to be socially just, only to reveal yourself as a capitalist!
Monkeypox: I would have put this up top but, since it’s something that has been documented and cared for before, the buzz about monkeypox is trending like woah likely because of our pandemic PTSD. (Fun fact: in Spain, there was a snafu that this virus was connected to gay men. Wrong!)
Hyper-Critical: As you can guess – and have probably felt – a backlash from all sides is brewing over hyper-PC, everything-is-problematic culture and ways of speaking. This TikTok and this Tweet capture “take” fatigue. Do not be surprised if I write a longer essay about this soon!
Paying Off Loans: Not new, but I think the rich doing what the government is not, by paying off student debt, is a thing. Seen most recently at Otis College of Art & Design and Wiley College
Bionic Reading: A way to read faster, it’s popular from this post and this TikTok. It’s interesting! Learn more on their website.
Frogs: The new IT animal? Unsure but this and this video from frog channels have been coming across my desk.
Kendall’s Cucumber: The Kardashian has no idea how to cut a cucumber and TikTok is loving it. This and this and this give you an example of what’s going on.
I’m Sat: This has been a trending audio item on TikTok, popularized by this person sexualizing Avatar and Ryan Air.
Barbie Theories: If you aren’t hyped up for the Barbie movie, you’re missing out on a big conversation and lots of multiverse-style theories. Examples include this and this.
Funeral Interrupted: From pyres to storefronts, people are talking about how the funeral industry is being interrupted. I think we’ll continue to hear about this as Millennials and Gen Z age!
That Face: This silly, ugly Snapchat filter is going around because it’s turning beautiful people like the Kardashians and Real Housewives into ugly goons and it is about to be everywhere. (Also related: using a filter on people without them “knowing,” like this.) (Also related: the feeling of how far filtering and deepfakes have gotten, to where a new genre of entertainment is to-be-made)
Unalive From New York: I eagerly await the day when NBC finally kills SNL. It’s so outdated, Boomer, and bad!! Anyway, it’s hard not to see all the talent leaving – Aidy, Kyle, Kate, Pete – paired with a Sarah Sherman (Who I love!) hype machine as the show stake relevance with younger people, when their content is over-produced and steps behind. Death to SNL!!
Mother Alleges TikTok Challenge Led to Daughter's Death
Sad, but interesting: a mother is claiming that the algorithm led to her daughter’s death, as it surfaced the Blackout Challenge, which ultimately led to her asphyxiation.
The World's a Mess. So They've Stopped Saving.
I………..like this in theory, but not in practice. In many ways, I am pursuing my dream and throwing caution to the wind – but am I also saving? Yes. I also say this from the “privilege” of being 15+ years into the workforce, with an income that sustains saving.
Becky G Once Had A Fear Of Speaking Spanish
I love this interview with Becky G and her relationship to Spanish language, as it feels ~very relatable~ as far as the self-consciousness of speech when you don’t feel a full ownership (or confidence) in that way of speaking.
A Russian DJ's Silence
Interesting story on the need, whether necessary or not, for artists to become political. I think Nina should say something profound (She’s…tried.) and that artists shouldn’t attempt to be a vacuum. To do so is simply capitalism as human form.
Johnny Depp Fans Are Bombarding Lily-Rose Depp
Yes, Lily should not be harassed. However, in a world of nepotism, with some people’s parents being awful, controversial public figures, it’s hard to have sympathy when you have placed yourself out in the open as such.
“@violadavis keeps naming colorism”
Also big this week, this amazing interview with Viola Davis. It says a lot about both Hollywood as a business and America as a culture. I want to see the Viola-in-Greece movie!
24 Hours With Emma Chamberlain
I think Emma is a cutie and I thought this moment about her Met Gala look was interesting because they mention how “Louis Vuitton is focused on sustainability” by not making new clothes for things like this. Good for them!! We got enough clothes on this planet!!!!
Grace Ives - Angel Of Business (Visualizer)
Grace Ives makes fun music and her new single “Angel of Business” is fabulous because it uses corporate turns of phrase like “circle back” and “thank you for making time” along with Jane Austen inspired language (“lo,” “your petticoat”) to make a cutesy song about longing.
Stacey Park Milbern's 35th Birthday
I usually skip Google Doodles but this one on Stacey Park Milbern was very pretty and a reminder of her great work as an activist concerned with intersectionality.
“believing I am the person I just watched”
You know that feeling when you watch a movie and feel like you want to be the person in the movie? Turns out, that feeling is actually tied to something in our brain that helps us learn how to survive by mirroring people’s actions that we approve of. Interesting! And learn more about mirror neurons here.
How Ellen DeGeneres won, and then lost
As the Ellen Show ends, read this great obituary, where my queen Dakota Johnson’s iconic moment is analyzed with great acuity.
Bros - Official Red Band Trailer
If you haven’t seen it, the trailer for Billy Eichner’s very gay comedy is out and………it’s definitely a landmark for queerness. It doesn’t seem that exciting though! I hope this trailer is “safe” on purpose!! (Although the orgy thing is perfect.)
I can't stop watching the 'hanger reflex' freak people out
I have not seen a single one of these TikToks but, if you put a hanger on your head, you will involuntarily move your head. This is a scientific fact too!
“ugly sonic”
In case you missed it, the new Chip & Dale movie brilliantly reused the “ugly” Sonic character. This movie looks better than it should be!
“favorite corners”
A wonderful look at the architecture hell that is Las Vegas, via this architecture professor’s favorite corners.
“#dog”
Let that freak eat food and don’t make fun of it!!
“working Trader Joe’s checkout”
Love how much people know about countries and flags!!
“i need to go for a walk”
I have not fact checked these ages but it made me feel both good and bad about myself.
“genres of people on my For You page”
If you’ve never been on TikTok, this is the best summary of what you find on TikTok.
“take me down, the poetry”
Lost count of how many times I’ve watched this person slipping to “Cool For The Summer.”
“happy friiiiiday”
I am going to send this to everyone I know every Friday. I cannot get enough.
“me in Marilyn Monroe’s”
Missed this when this was Tweeted, but of course Lil Nas X had the only take on Kim K’s dumb Marilyn dress stunt.
“my gas tank is farting”
The video is funny enough but read the comments.
“gays in pics vs. gays irl”
Is this a personal attack?
“GIVE UP.”
Harsh!
And, finally, me when someone mentions a baby.
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