Biden leads among African Americans but Warren has gained ground with ambitious policy plans and hours-long selfie lines
Linda Edwards is the family authority on all matters of politics. Every election year,she watches the news, studies the candidates, attends campaign events and renders a verdict.
A year before the 2020 election, the 68-year-old retired pharmacist from Charlotte has her work cut out: 19 Democrats vying to be the Democratic presidential nominee. Yet with five months left before voting begins in the primary race, Edwards says she is ready to make an endorsement.
Elizabeth Warren is the absolute greatest, Edwards said of the Massachusetts senator after waiting for more than an hour to take a selfie with her at a recent campaign event in Rock Hill, South Carolina. I always had her at the top of the list but she is the No 1 now. I totally support her.
Since entering the race nine months ago, Warren has steadily gained ground with ambitious policy proposals, a decision to swear-off high-dollar fundraising events and her hours-long selfie lines. But if she is to win the nomination, it will likely be with the help of African American voters such as Edwards, part of an increasingly powerful and decisive constituency in the Democratic party.
A spate of recentpolls show Warren edging past Joe Biden in the first two early-voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, home to predominantly white electorates. But in South Carolina, where African American voters make up an estimated 60% of Democratic primary voters, Biden still enjoys a wide lead.
In South Carolina, known as the Palmetto State, which holds the first in the south primary on 29 February next year, Biden leads Warren by 21 points, according to a CNN poll released this week. Although they draw the same share of support from white primary voters in the state, 45% of black Democrats back Biden compared to just 4% who favor Warren.
I dont know how anyone can become the Democratic nominee or the next president of the United States, for that matter without strong, across-the-board support from African American voters, said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist in South Carolina, who is not aligned with a candidate. South Carolina is the first test of that support.
The event at Clinton College in Rock Hill on Saturday highlighted the challenge for Warren as she works to introduce herself to African Americans in the state.
Despite the unbearable heat and humidity, nearly 1,400 attended her outdoor rally, and hundreds stayed afterward for selfies. Yet the crowd that blanketed the campus of this historically black college was overwhelmingly white.
Bidens dominance in the state rests on his deep ties to black political leaders and his service as Barack Obamas vice-president, which have made him popular among older, more conservative black voters.
We trust him, said Steve Love, a local councilman in neighboring York, who endorsed Biden. Obama is not got going to elect a vice-president who doesnt have our back.
Love met Warren before her rally and offered point-blank advice.
If you want to make gains in our community, you are really going to have to come into our community and sit down and talk to us, he told her.
Warren says she has plans to do just that.
What Im doing is showing up and trying to talk to people about why Im in this fight, about whats broken, about how to fix it and how were building a grassroots movement to get it done, Warren told reporters after the rally. Its not just one policy. Its everywhere.
Woven into her raft of police proposals are specific prescriptions to address racial injustice. Her proposal to forgive most student loan debt and make college tuition-free attempts to reduce the racial wealth gap that disproportionately burdens black students. The proposal would also invest $50m in historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), such as Clinton.
Her affordable housing policy specifically aims to redress decades of discriminatory housing practices and redlining in places such as the Mississippi Delta, where she went early in her campaign to highlight the initiative.
She was one of the first candidates to endorse congressional legislation that would create a commission to study reparations for the descendants of slaves. And at a recent forum on LGBTQ issues in Iowa last week, Warren began her remarks by reading the names of 18 black transgender women killed this year. It is time for a president of the United States of America to say their names, she said.
Black folks have a very unique experience that requires policies that pinpoint that experience, said Maurice Mitchell, the national director of the Working Families party, a progressive political organization that endorsed Warren.
The candidates who arent afraid to talk about race and class at the same time, those are the candidates that are going to compel black people to not just show up at the polls, he continued, but to get involved, to volunteer, to engage and to build a movement with them.
There are signs Warrens efforts are paying off, especially among African American women.
A Quinnipiac poll showed that her support among black voters nationally climbed over the summer from 4% in July to 19% in September as Bidens support slipped from 53% in July to 40% in September.
At several presidential forums focused on voters of color and in private meetings with activists and black leaders this year, Warren has left her audiences impressed, said Aimee Allison, founder of She the People, political advocacy group focused on women of color that hosted an event with 2020 candidates in Houston earlier this year.
She is campaigning directly to women of color, she said. And at the same time, she is attracting white progressives. That has the potential to be a potent coalition.
Cliff Albright, cofounder of Black Voters Matter, said fresh scrutiny of Bidens record and his recent remarks on race from comments about working with segregationists to a discordant reply to a debate question about reparations are starting to chip away at his support, especially among younger black voters.
The more that black people hear from Elizabeth Warren, the more they are intrigued by her, Albright said. The opposite happens with Joe Biden.
But public opinion surveys and interviews with voters suggest Bidens appeal may be more durable than many expect.
Melissa Rouse, 46 and Tracey Easter, 44, cousins from Charlotte who sat in folding chairs under the shade of a tree as they waited for Warren to speak, said they have not yet settled on a candidate, but Warren was at the top of their list.
That wasnt the case for many of their older relatives, who they said are firmly committed to Biden.
My mom is 76 and she loves, loves, loves Joe Biden, Rouse said. They feel like they know him.
Both said they thought Biden would be the strongest candidate against Trump. Nevertheless, they came to be persuaded by Warren.
When people have an opportunity to be in her presence and hear her message, they always leave impressed, said Wendy Brawley, a South Carolina state representative who has endorsed Warren. Now Im starting to hear, This is a person who I not only like and support, but who can actually win.
Before leaving Rock Hill, Warren made a final stop for dinner at Gourmet Soul Kitchen. As cooks rushed to prepare an order of fried shrimp and hush puppies, Warren worked the room, introducing herself to staff and diners, all of whom were black.
Deborah Cousar, a 60-year-old retired nursing assistant who had rushed to the restaurant with her grandchildren upon hearing of the senators visit, beamed as Warren told her 11-year-old granddaughter that she was running for president because thats what girls do.
Though their encounter was brief, it left an impression on Cousar. While she intends to hear out the other candidates, especially as the primary race for South Carolina intensifies, Cousar said the vibrant lady from Massachusetts will be hard to beat.
Shes on fire, Cousar said. If she just keeps on doing what shes doing, I think shes going to persuade them pretty good.
The fall season is in full swing, and I’ve been making the most of it by enjoying plenty of seasonal festivities. Of course, the quickest way to celebrate the changing colors of fall is to indulge in all the limited-edition food and drinks. Ever since Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte was released in August, I’ve been constantly on the hunt for more pumpkin-flavored products. Luckily, there’s plenty I’ve discovered, and you can now satisfy your daily pumpkin spice latte fix from the comfort of your own home. These 6 pumpkin-flavored coffee creamers for fall 2019 will be staples in your kitchen, because you never know when you’ll need that PSL fix.
One of the most buzzed about pumpkin-flavored coffee creamers this year is from Starbucks. The announcement about the Pumpkin Spice Latte Creamer came a few weeks after they unveiled a new line of speciality latte-inspired creamers, including Caramel Macchiato, the White Chocolate Mocha, and Cinnamon Dolce Latte. According to the coffee company, the new Pumpkin Spice Latte Creamer is inspired by the popular Pumpkin Spice Latte. It sounds like fans are just loving at-home coffee products inspired by the Pumpkin Spice Latte, which totally makes sense since brewing your own cup of joe is a great cost-saving measure. Especially since Starbucks also released Pumpkin Spice K-Cups this year, making coffee at home has seriously become easier than ever. Just pop in your K-Cup to your Keurig and you’ll get a coffee brew that evokes pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Top it off with your Pumpkin Spice Creamer and voila, it’s the complete Pumpkin Spice Latte experience at home.
Even though Starbucks has such a stronghold on pumpkin spice-flavored drinks, it’s good to know that there are plenty of other options on the market for coffee creamers this season. If you’re a vegan or just prefer a non-dairy diet, you can opt for an almond milk or dairy-fee creamer. Before narrowing down your fall shopping list, check out these popular coffee creamers for 2019.
Coffee Mate Pumpkin Spice flavor coffee creamer has a spicy pumpkin flavor that’s lightly sweetened. It’s lactose-free, and, per its description on the Target website, it “transforms your coffee into creamy deliciousness.”
2. International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Coffee Creamer
The International Delight Coffee Creamer is a blend of the flavors of pumpkin and spice, per the brand, and they call it a “fall-a-bration” of flavors. A PSL and a pun? Sign me up.
Califia Farms Pumpkin Spice creamer is made from real pumpkin puree and real spices. Using real almond and coconut cream, the creamer gives a rich depth and taste without using dairy.
The new coffee creamer flavor at Starbucks features pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and per its description on the Target website, it’s great in hot or cold drinks. So, your iced PSL habit doesn’t have to end in the fall.
Natural Bliss Pumpkin Spice flavor coffee creamer is made from real milk and cream, blended with spices and real pumpkin. IDK about you, but it sounds like all the flavors of the season are there.
This dairy-free sip boasts a nutty flavor thanks to the almond milk, and the seasonal tilt comes from the pumpkin flavor.
Whether you’re looking for a non-dairy or dairy option, it’s good to know about the quality offering of pumpkin spice-flavored creamers on the market. In no time, you’ll be celebrating the cozy fall season with a warm cup of pumpkin-flavored coffee. And if you’re going all out, a dollop of whipped cream on top is always a good idea.
Pakistani court sentences Mohammed Wasim Azeem to life but acquits four others
A Pakistani court has convicted the brother of the social media star Qandeel Baloch of her murder and sentenced him to life in prison.
Baloch, 26, was found strangled in 2016 in her home near the city of Multan. She was killed shortly after posting risque pictures on Facebook of herself with a Muslim cleric, Mufti Abdul Qawi, who was later arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder.
Balochs brother Mohammed Wasim Azeem had confessed to killing her, telling reporters he had no remorse, of course he had murdered her, and her behaviour had been intolerable.
Their father blamed the cleric for instigating the killing, in which Azeem drugged and strangled his sister as their parents slept downstairs.
There’s no doubt that ’90s trends have made a magnificent comeback, and thank goodness for that, because IMO, those were some of the best years for style. The choker necklaces, the super faded denim — these are just some of the keepers from the decade that have returned in full force. Of course, a ’90s fan could never forget about Lisa Frank designs, the colorful creations that made everything from folders to backpacks way more trendy. Thankfully, Hotels.com’s Lisa Frank Flat will let you relive your ’90s dreams in the new Lisa Frank decorated penthouse. Featuring your favorite rainbows and unicorns, this colorful retreat of your middle-school dreams will be available to book as of Oct. 11.
Located at the Barsala Flat in Downtown Los Angeles, The Lisa Frank Flat is a custom ’90s room by Hotels.com that’ll transport you to a scene from one of Lisa Frank’s notebooks. Grab your BFFs, because it’s time for a serious staycation at the Lisa Frank Flat. The penthouse is truly one of a kind, and it welcomes you with a spacious lounge area that’s perfect for gathering with your pals. Whether you order in pizza or catch a flick on the television, this multi-purpose space will be your go-to for socializing and sleepover activities. The vibrant kitchen is seriously retro and comes with a minibar stacked with snacks, so I suggest you come hungry. The minibar even includes the most iconic ’90 snack: Planterz Cheez Balls. The cheddar-coated corn puffs, which returned to shelves in 2018 after being discontinued in 2006, are undoubtedly a staple of the decade’s party food.
Courtesy of Hotels.com
The meticulous detail of the Lisa Frank penthouse is what sets this apart other rooms. It looks like every inch of the flat is just packed with color and psychedelic designs, and you’ll be able on your own stationery with Lisa Frank designs in the office area. There, you’ll have your very own pencils, folders, and trapper keepers. In Lisa Frank’s world, even the bathroom is a magical experience — it’s decked out with an LED rainbow shower and decorated with a Lisa Frank dolphin, so you’ll feel like you’re really under the sea.
Courtesy of Hotels.com
When you’re ready to hit the sack (because even in this wonderful dreamland, it’s a good idea to get some shut-eye) you’ll get plenty of privacy in the bedroom, where you can comfortably lounge in the Lisa Frank sleepwear, which includes a robe, slipper set, and eye mask for each guest. The light-up canopy bed in the room is covered in plush Lisa Frank bedding, so getting a good’s night rest will be a breeze.
Courtesy of Hotels.com
If those looks like your dream vacay, you can book the flat from Oct. 11 through Oct. 27, 2019, on the Hotels.com Lisa Frank Flat website. For $199 a night, you’ll be able to get the full ’90s experience at the spacious Barsala Penthouse. As a ’90s kid myself, the Lisa Frank flat is totally making me nostalgic about the trends from my childhood. From the funky designs to the grungy fashion, these blasts from the past scattered all about the penthouse will instantly take you back to another era.
Cost: $139.90, plus $20 for optional rechargeable battery.Pack of 4 refills for $29.90.
Pros
Safe, non-flame, aromatic diffuser
Can blend scents on the fly
Connects to smart homes
Ships with cord for US, UK, or EU; rechargeable battery optional
Cons
Scents and persistence noise may lead to headaches
Wasteful pod delivery system
Difficulty connecting to app and smart home
Physical buttons not well designed
Full specs:
App for Android, iOS
Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Siri
Adapters available for U.S., E.U., and U.K.
Available in white and black
Creating a pleasant atmosphere takes more than an eye for design and a couple of dimmer switches. How a space smells matters: Is your space inviting, calming, or even clean. The Moodo is a new electric aroma diffuser that gives you control over the scent in the air. Its a tabletop device that connects to an app and smart home so you can control it through Siri, Alexa, or Google Home. It has four slots where you drop in scent capsules, which you mix to your noses content. The capsules come in sets of four, with aromas such as Precious Spices, Grandma Vanilla, and Midnight Thrill.
Other smart aroma diffusers on the market and there arent many use essential oils rather than capsules, which means you cant mix scents on the fly. You have to decide what scents to add ahead of time. With Moodo, you can turn up the Sea Breeze and add in a bit of Sweet Sand right from your phone.
When actually put to the test, however, Moodo disappointed. The pods emit fumes that gave me mild headaches. I never managed to connect the device to my phone, much less my smart home setup, despite several attempts. The capsules look similar to coffee pods, and they seem just as wasteful.
Look and feel (and smell): 2.5/5
The Moodo is about the size of a square box of tissues. It stands a little taller than 3.75 inches, with a length and width of about 4.75 inches each. It comes in black and white. You can choose a plug for a U.S., U.K., or E.U. outlet, and you can add an optional rechargeable battery ($20).
How you choose to orient the Moodo depends on whether you intend to use the physical buttons. You dont need them if you control it through the app and your smart home. The face containing the buttons also has a port for the plug. So if the buttons face out, so does the cord.
The top of the Moodo has four round slots where you add the scent capsules. Each slot corresponds to a button on the face, similar to a range top. A volume button increases and decreases the amount of scent released. Theres a power button at the bottom.
When you turn the device on and fire up one or more of the pod slots, a fan engages. Its a noticeable whir, and I really couldnt stand it.
I also found the capsules noxious. I set up the device on a countertop that straddles an open-plan kitchen-living-dining room. When the Moodo was on, I had a low-grade headache the entire time, no matter which scents I chose. When it was off, I could still smell the pods, but only faintly. The whole time it was in my house, I wanted nothing more than to crack a window.
Usability: 2.5/5
As a plug-and-play device, the Moodo worked right out of the box. Everything about it made sense. The capsules fit into place effortlessly. I could figure out the buttons without looking at the manual. The buttons could be friendlier, however. Theyre rubbery and dont fully depress and release, but rather engage when you mash them in and cross your fingers.
Try as I might, I could not get the Moodo to connect to my phone or my Google Home-enabled smart home. There are two sets of directions: a standard set and another for ver 1.0. How do you know if you have version 1.0? Im not sure. Theres no information about it.
I tried both instructions and still always ended up on a fail screen. I did manage to see a Moodo WiFi network, but connecting to it (or connecting it to my home network) just didnt happen. It was frustrating.
With the app, you can engage or squelch any of the installed capsules at any time. You can dial them up and down. You can even opt-in to a random mix to shake up your nostrils. Be sure youve put in capsule aromas that blend well together! Im not sure I want to smell sandalwood, vanilla, orange, and rose at the same time.
Performance and power: 3/5
If you opt for the battery, you should be able to use the Moodo for about seven hours before having to recharge. A pack of four capsules lasts about two months when used regularly. That breaks down to about two weeks per pod. Keep that in mind if you find one particular scent you like.
Moodos aromas definitely fill a room. My open space measures around 21 by 35 feet with 9-foot ceilings, and I could easily catch the scent from anywhere in that area.
As a point of comparison, I set up a little water-based diffuser in my office. Its the kind where you light a candle beneath a shallow bowl of water containing a few drops of essential oil. I found that aroma much more pleasant and less harsh than Moodos. It didnt fill the room with quite the same power, although Im glad it didnt. When it comes to smells, sometimes more powerful isnt what you want.
One advantage of Moodo, however, is theres no flame and thus almost nil chance that itll start a fire.
Overall rating: 3/5
In my home, Im going to stick to essential oils, lavender sachets, and baking the occasional batch of cookies for aroma. Those smells are more pleasant on my nose (and dont cause headaches), and they create minimal waste compared to Moodos capsule system.
The Moodo isnt for me, and its tough to recommend for anyone else. If you arent sensitive to odors that cause headaches and you like to play around with potent scents, it might be a device to consider. Given all its setbacks and $100+ price, its difficult to recommend with enthusiasm.
The girl who created a viral TikTok video exposing how Panera makes its mac and cheese is going viral againthis time for tweeting that she lost her job because of it.
I lost my job for this video, Twitter user @BriiRamirezz, who goes by @briannaraelenee on TikTok, responded to @UberFacts tweet of the clip.
The short video shows BriiRamirezz walking into the Panera kitchen over to a box of frozen bags of mac and cheese, putting one into boiling water to defrost it, then cutting it open and dumping it out into a bowl. It ends with her flashing a thumbs up to indicate to viewers the cooking process is all done.
BriiRamirezz revealed that Panera found out about the clip after it went viral online and ended up on the local news in her hometown.
it went viral on tik tok and ended up on the news where i live
Twitter users responded with support and praise for BriiRamirezz, but also noted that they were not at all surprised by how Panera prepares its mac and cheese.
Whats yo cash app queen? one supporter questioned.
Media captionMother’s plea: ‘Find the killer who ruined our lives’
Two young children who witnessed their father being stabbed to death had tea towels put over their heads to shield them from his body.
Christopher Nicol, 27, was attacked inside his flat in Maple Road, Greenock, on 26 September.
Det Ch Insp Martin Fergus said Mr Nicol’s partner covered her children’s faces to get them out of the flat after the “frenzied and brutal attack”.
Mr Nicol’s mother said he ” worshipped his children” and was a brilliant dad.
The five-year-old boy and six-year-old girl have been receiving professional support.
Speaking at a police press conference, an emotional Karen Nicol said he “would have done anything for his children”.
Image copyrightPolice Scotland Image caption Christopher Nicol was killed in front of his two young children
“I am devastated by the tragic death of my much-loved son Christopher,” she said. “Our lives have been changed forever. He was a brilliant dad to his two young children who he worshipped and would have done anything for.
“The man responsible has taken one life and ruined the lives of our family. Please, please if you have any information that will help the officers, please call them and Crimestoppers as soon as possible, please.”
Police believe the killer knew who he was targeting, and wrongly thought there was a large amount of cash in the flat. However, Det Ch Insp Fergus said the victim may not have known his killer.
The officer said that just before the attack at 21:05, Mr Nicol had been colouring-in with his five-year-old son in the living room while his six-year-old daughter was helping his partner in the kitchen.
‘Frenzied and brutal attack’
The killer entered the flat after barging past Mr Nicol’s girlfriend when she answered the door.
“This incident is absolutely horrendous,” Det Ch Insp Fergus said. “This has happened during a family scene, within a house in Greenock, a scene that is replicated throughout Britain on any given evening.
“An individual has forced his way in and effectively stabbed Christopher Nicol to death in the presence of his two young children. I don’t think I need to expand any further on how horrific this is.”
Image caption Det Ch Insp Martin Fergus said that what had taken place was “unimaginable”
He said that after the attacker fled the scene, Mr Nicol’s partner, in an effort to shield the children from what had taken place, put tea towels over their heads to get them out of the flat.
“I don’t think people need to imagine, after such a frenzied and brutal attack, what state the father would have been in and to have tea towels placed over five and six-year-olds heads to shield them from that speaks volumes as to how traumatic that was,” the officer said.
“It’s unimaginable what must have taken place. For a five and six-year-old to have witnessed this speaks for itself.”
Det Ch Insp Fergus said police had received a good response after speaking to people in Greenock, but said he firmly believed there was still crucial information that had not been given to officers.
“We are still needing as much information from the public as we can possibly gather in an effort to piece together the events of that evening,” he said.
“I do believe the answer lies within the community.”
Image caption Police believe the killer wrongly thought there was a large sum of cash in the property
He said even the smallest piece of information could be “critical”.
“On the back of Karen’s emotional plea I don’t think I really need to expand any more on the devastating nature of this horrific crime,” he added.
The killer has been described as white, aged 20-30, about 5ft 9in tall, with a slim build. He had a local accent, and an unkempt, reddish, brown beard and moustache. Officers say he also had a “drawn-in” face and decaying teeth, with some visibly missing.
He was wearing a black beanie hat with a logo, possibly Timberland, a black top and black jeans or bottoms.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact Police Scotland via their non-emergency line.
Verizon this week announced that it has finally begun to flip the switch on its 5G network in parts of New York City, along with Panama City and Boise. That brings the wireless carrier’s (disclosure: also TechCrunch’s parent) totally number up to 13 cities with a taste of the next-gen network.
Here in NYC, 5G will touch three of the five boroughs (my home base of Queens, sadly, is not among them). Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn are, not surprisingly, the first focus of coverage. Here’s the specific breakdown per VZW:
Manhattan: Midtown, Financial District, Harlem, East Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen and Washington Heights
Brooklyn: Downtown Brooklyn
The Bronx: Pelham Bay, Fordham Heights and Hunt’s Point
Around Landmarks: Bryant Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Madison Square Garden, Trinity Park (Brooklyn), the Lincoln Tunnel (Manhattan Entrance), Javits Center on 11th Ave between 36th and 37th and the Theatre District on Broadway between 49th and 52nd
The network is similarly limited to specific neighborhoods in Panama City and Boise, as well. AT&T rolled out its own limited 5G coverage in the Big Apple back in August. I’ve been carrying around a 5G AT&T phone for a few days now and it brings to mind the early days of LTE. The 5G marker pops up on the phone for a fleeting bit in the most surprising places.
Until rollout is wider, however, it’s probably not worth the extra money for most folks. Verizon says it plans to have the service in (parts of) 30 cities by end of year.
It could be a bit odd to admit sometimes but most of us find various things really satisfying. And luckily, the Internet is this happy place where you can find anything and everything, regardless of what your idea of perfection is. Whether it’s neatly planted trees casting shadows in a picturesque manner, 10 same-looking cute little doggos, a row of cups placed on the kitchen counter with amazing precision – you name it and the Internet will provide. But this time, it was a man working for a concrete company who decided to please the eyes of all the perfectionists of the online world. Scroll down to check out their work!
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Concrete is the material to thank for most of our architecture miracles. It can be used in amounts that are both impressive and a tiny bit frightening. For example, the world’s record for the largest concrete pour in a single project belongs to the Three Gorges Dam in Hubei Province, China and it required 16 million cubic meters of concrete over 17 years of construction.
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Concrete is sometimes also called Portland cement concrete for its visual resemblance to Portland stone and is made of coarse and fluid ingredients in order to harden not instantly but over time. This allows for it to be worked into the most precise designs.
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This is one of the most frequently used building materials and was first used as long ago as 700 BC. Ancient Nabataeans used concrete-like materials for house construction, flooring and to make underground water containers. Some of these structures can be still found today.
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There is also concrete work found in Greece which dates back to 1400-1200 BC. At that time, people discovered they could add volcanic ash to it to improve the mix and allow it to set underwater.
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It was also extensively used by the Romans and it’s one of the reasons why so many of their structures survived to this day.
We just love thrift shops here at Bored Panda. Since we discovered the awesome Facebook group ”Weird Secondhand Finds That Just Need To Be Shared we have been sharing and sharing, and, as well as the new finds below, you can see previous posts here, here, here, here, here, here and here. Oh, and here too! Now that’s a lot of thrift store finds!
So scroll down below to see yet more weird, wonderful and funny thrift store finds and let’s say it all together: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
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Griswald Definitely Approves Of This Garage Sale Find
We know that thrifting is great fun and can be really interesting too, but what are the wider benefits of shopping second hand? With thanks to Unwrinkling, let’s explore some more positive aspects of heading to your local thrift store!
Environmental impact: Re-wearing clothes reduces waste and pollution. Every garment purchased second-hand means one less new one produced, which is important because regardless of material, the production of clothing is costly to the environment. Producing synthetic fibers like polyester requires lots of energy, as well as crude oil like petroleum; byproducts include toxic gases and chemicals. Sadly, pesticides used on most plants mean that even cotton and linen garments have a negative impact. Transportation-related pollution also decreases when clothing is re-used, as new clothes are much more likely to travel long distances before being sold than are their second-hand counterparts.
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For Years I Would Look At Craigslist Hoping Someone Would Post Some Of My Grandma’s Things
Not sure how weird, but more like the universe righting a wrong. My grandmother inherited 2 beautiful bronze statues from her cousin(who was also one of my most favorite people in the world). I always loved the statues and would sit and stare at them as a child when I would go to my grandma’s house. As I got older, I only grew to appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship that went into making the statues even more. On one visit with my grandma she asked me if there was anything I wanted when she passed on. Not wanting to even think about her passing away, I was hesitant but she brought up the statues cause she knew how much I loved them. I agreed that yes I would love to have them. Through the years I became more distant from my family, except my grandmother. When my grandma died, my family made it very clear that my partner (and support system) was not welcome to come with me. Not wanting to make things uncomfortable, especially for myself, I decided not to go at all and held my own little ceremony for my grandma. Well, I asked about a will but was told there was not one, which I don’t believe and was told that one family sold off all of my grandma’s things to pay off his debts. So no one got anything, again, not sure that I believe all of that. But anyway, for years I would look at craigslist hoping someone would post some of my grandma’s things. Of course I wanted the statues but would have taken anything at that point. 5 years went by and I was giving up hope. I was laying in bed, it was around midnight, and I decided to look on facebook marketplace. I put the location to where she lived and typed in “Bronze statues” and there they were!!! My girls popped up at an antique store. I cried quietly and could hardly sleep. The next morning I got in touch with the store owner and well….Here they are. I sometimes still can’t believe they are in my home. I love them so much!!!!
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Stumbled Upon This Used Book Arch A Local Couple Kept In Their Barn Outside Pittsburgh A Few Months Ago And Begged My Boyfriend To Let Me Buy It For Our Wedding
Social impact: Thrift stores make it easier to know where your money is going. To track the money you handed over for that brand-new Old Navy polo, you would need to trace the brand back to the corporation behind it, the assembly factories used by the corporation, their textile providers, and those textile providers’ raw materials suppliers—at a bare minimum.
In evaluating all these steps (and the many others involved in the production chain), there are numerous considerations to keep in mind: Was your farmer using environmentally responsible methods? Was your seamstress of legal working age, paid a fair wage to work in a safe factory? Is the corporation behind it the kind you want to support, or one whose views you wouldn’t like to see perpetuated?
In short, it can be a bit of a nightmare to track the impact of your seemingly trivial purchase. However, with most thrift stores, this burden is greatly reduced. For better or worse, the original purchaser’s money has already supported the whole chain of production that led to your second-hand Old Navy polo. Since most thrift stores in Europe, North America, and Australia rely heavily (if not exclusively) on donated clothing, this means you only have to question one link in the whole chain—the store right in front of you.
Many thrift stores also directly support charity. It’s no coincidence that in the UK and Ireland, the term “thrift store” doesn’t even exist—they call them “charity shops” instead. In America, the best-known thrift stores are Goodwill and The Salvation Army, organizations which provide services to the unemployed, homeless, and disabled. In Europe, NGOs like Oxfam commonly use thrift stores to raise funds for humanitarian aid. By shopping at these kinds of establishments, your clothing purchase can go from supporting Third World child labor to supporting Third World children’s’ education.
#4
Found The Oddest But Most Perfect Leash/Lead For Our Little Dachshund Today In The Local Charity Shop
#5
This Sign
Personal impact: Thrifted clothing offers more room for uniqueness. While it’s not the end of the world to see some other guy sporting the same sweater as you, most of us would choose to avoid such incidents, if possible. Since thrifted clothing infrequently comes in multiples, you’re much less likely to bump into someone wearing the exact same thing. In addition, there’s bound to be lots of clothes that were produced decades ago, or on the other side of the country, or in some other circumstance that makes them different than what the average shopper is buying off the sale rack at the mall.
Thrift shopping allows for more creativity. Thrift stores are notorious for the wacky and bizarre items they often contain. (Remember Macklemore’s footed Batman jammies?) While these items can be downright eyesores, many just need a person with vision to re-interpret them in a contemporary way. For some, this may mean simply adding the right accessories; others may completely reconstruct their garment with shears and a trusty Singer. Either way, thrifting can allow one to do more than mindlessly mimic what one sees on the display-window mannequin, by providing more varied and interesting materials as inspiration.
One Of My Favorite Finds! Found In An Antique Store In Florida. Unopened Bottle Of Poison. You Can’t Tell Here But The Pills Are All Coffin Shaped… The Store Had An Opened Bottle As Well
#7
Found This Gem And Couldn’t Believe My Eyes. Paid $10 For It, Thought It Was Just His Hammer Till I Saw Those Clasps
#8
Teeny Tiny Fully Functional Knife With Mother Of Pearl Handle
I got this year’s ago at a garage sale and it lives on a shelf next to my bed. You know for protection against leprechauns, gnomes and fairies
#9
My 1960 Lee West Alpha Egg Chair Sitting In All Its Magnificent Glory In Our Home! It Has Speakers Inside That Still Work Perfectly And Came With Original Ottoman And Side Table!
#10
I Found Some Interesting Things At An Amazing Estate Sale Recently. This One Was The Best ! Only $5,000
#11
It’s A Murder Mystery Writers Desk Teapot I Found At Value Village For $10, And I Just Found The Kitchen Sink Teapot At Goodwill For $5 I Think 2 Makes It A Collection, Right?
#12
Found This Very Happy Piggy Today! I Couldn’t Resist, She Now Lives With Me
#13
I Found The Perfect Item To Celebrate My Divorce From The Husband From Hell In A Few Weeks. Smells Like A Good Night Sleep Knowing I’m Not Being Cheated On
#14
This Is The Tiniest Set Of Nesting Dolls I’ve Ever Seen. Brother And I Were Crying In Laughter As They Kept Getting Smaller And Smaller
#15
Yup- It’s Coming Home!
#16
My Friend Left Me This In My New Bathroom! 4.5 Stars!!
#17
This Came Home With Me. It’s Brilliant And Well Crafted
#18
Found This Guy On The Side Of The Road. The Elderly Man Getting Rid Of Him Told Me It’s Because His Wife Can’t Stand Looking At It Anymore And It’s Crack In It’s Back
He was pretty upset over it and mentioned he had this guy for over 35+ years. Currently working on restoring him! Yesterday was dedicated to cleaning, gluing and filling. Today once the filler is done and it stops raining, I’ll be sanding and sealing. Thinking about gifting this guy back to the elderly man
#19
Meet “Bubo”! A 1960’s Am Radio From Japan. I Found Him Looking A Little Worse For The Wear And Tagged “As Is” At A Local Antique Mall In Cashmere, Washington
#20
Yeah, I’m Impulsive.. But.. I’ve Wanted One For Everrrr! And.. My Birthday Is Coming Up… And.. He Was Only $220! Their Loss
#21
Meet Marvin. He Is So Handsome
#22
Just Brought Home This Bad Boy From Goodwill. I Absolutely Cannot Wait To Use It At Work On Tuesday
#23
Went Through A Box I Inherited Of My Grandparents Knick-Knacks And Came Across This Beautiful Gem. Tiny Little Ceramic Kittys Drinking And Playing In Spilled Milk
#24
I Talked My Husband Into Helping Me Bring This Home From Work. He Totally Indulges My Whimsy
See Also on Bored Panda
#26
So This Is A Nifty Little Something I Got At A Thrift Store In South Carolina Several Years Ago For $4.25. It Is A Little Over 11 Inches Tall, Is Made Of Gold And Silver, And Weighs Approximately 1.25 Pounds
17k
When I found it, it was covered with what seemed like cigar smoke residue, and it looked like it was made of brass. It is called a “bridal cup” or in german, a “jugendfraubecher”. They are popularly used in japan england, and throughout europe and germany where they originated in 1450 a.d. in nuremberg.
The bride and groom can toast their marriage with it and drink from the same cup at the same time without spilling a drop as the legend of the original prescribes. The legend says that the cup was made by an illiterate gold and silversmith who had won the maiden Brunnehilde’s heart. Her father said he could only have her hand if he could make a cup that both of them could drink from at the same time without spilling a drop. The figurine’s skirt is a cup, and she holds a cup on a swivel over her head. The king was won over and his daughter married the commoner and they all lived happily ever after.
As it turns out, when I looked more closely at this piece, I realized it was not a production piece with industrial markings, but rather was a one of a kind hand-made piece using incredibly primitive methods. Turns out this piece may actually be the original nuremberg jugendfraubecher of 1450 a.d.
The German foreign ministry checked logs of lost and stolen artifacts from the war and we did not find an owner looking for it. Then they had two experts examine photos to see if it was possibly the original and a cultural treasure.
The experts agreed that there was no picture or detailed knowledge of the original to ever be sure, but that this one fit the description in every way except that it did not have pomegranates decorating it. Turns out the pomegranates run down both sides of it and they had examined picture from the front and back.
I will be taking it to nuremberg germany where I am confident the local chamber of commerce will assist with finding it’s proper place in culture. I am sure it is insanely valuable, but it is not something a person can really own. If it turns out to be a worthy example and possibly the original, it belongs in nuremberg Germany for the world to enjoy. Their local museum has a silver jugendfraubecher from around 1600 when they started to become popularized. 1600 is also when the rest of the industry developed the technology to reliably copy the original.
This bridal cup was made by fusing curved plates with molten gold and silver, and then the excess was shaved away and polished. The thickness of the sides of the skirt cup varies a great deal, and it looks like parts of the engraving on some of the plates got too hot and softened during the assembly. Up close you can see the handwork and surface engraving around the silver inlays. The figurine in the middle was cast as a single piece and the face and hands of silver were fused onto it.
I suspect that the figurine is either gold, or was cast in silver and then hot dipped in gold. A scratch on the back does not show any silver, but perhaps gold dipping or some other crude plating method might have put it on thick.
The latticework in the hands that holds the cup aloft are obviously solid cast gold, because you can see where somebody cut away some pieces, possibly desperate to raise money to flee germany before the war. I still have a gut feeling this piece left Germany in the 1930’s or early 1940’s.
The sides of the cup are a mystery too, because it would only make sense to use silver plates and fuse them with molten gold because gold has a lower melting point. After that the assembled cup could have been gilded or plated crudely. The thing is that the boundaries between the silver and gold parts on the outside of the cup look like they bleed into each other in places, and at others it looks like a sloppy gilding or plating around the silver accents. One fellow who examined it said he thinks the silver was laid into the accents of the curved plates when they were cast in gold, and then the maker cleaned up the worst areas that had bled into the gold by plating over them.
Ultimately the gold and silver content do not mean much because it is the crafting of the piece that is miraculous whether mostly silver or mostly gold. If it is from 1450 a.d., then I am told that the gold used is possibly king solomons gold brought back from the crusades.
If we can date it with metallurgy or some other technology, that would be our best likelihood of authenticating it as the likely original. It is entirely possible this is an amazing homage to the original from a more recent time, but was apparently never used as a fake, because we would have heard about that in the news of the day, and it would be an insane ammount of money to spend making it and no cashing in.
As for an estimated value, it might just be an amazing old jugendfraubecher of unknown origin worth several to a hundred thousand bucks or so depending on the age and other factors. If it is found to be the likely original, then it has no price because it was never mine but to be a custodian. If it turns out to be something to sell, I am giving half to the thrift store where I got it, and the other half goes to my favorite charity. That is, after they have reimbursed me for the $4.25 I paid for it.
At the very least I have been enjoying a great adventure in finding out what it is.
#27
This Speaks To Me
#28
Original Bob Ross Gold Pan. Paid $10 Because It Was Half Off
Apparently he painted them when he was stationed in Alaska as a member of the air force. This was an awesome find because my husband was a crew chief in the air force 20 years and I am an artist so it’s a win win
#29
Wilhelmina Slater (Aka Willie) Loves Her Chair. I Think She Needs A Couch
#30
Maybe Not Weird, But Just Happened To Find This T-Shirt At A Local Thrift Store The Same Day I Was Canning Green Beans! And Only Paid .10 Cents!
#31
Fell In Love With This Cute Chair Today. Totally Nothing Weird About It. Until The First Layer Of Fabric Came Off
#32
I Finay Found Something To Share
#33
Seen Yesterday At Hartville Flea Market In Ohio. I Did Not Buy It, But Had A Good Laugh!
A hundred and eighty million downloads, a world tour, an international TV series.
It’s not bad for three friends who started recording their podcast around a kitchen table with cheap microphones.
This week sees the launch of series five of the award-winning podcast My Dad Wrote A Porno, which will be going on another international tour next year.
If you’ve not even started then you definitely need a quick lesson: Jamie Morton’s dad is a retired builder and, in his retirement, he’s taken to writing pornography. He’s got a pen name – Rocky Flintstone.
Of course, knowing your dad is writing pornography is a bit traumatic but Jamie’s embracing it and, in every episode, he reads chapters of Belinda Blinked to friends Alice Levine and James Cooper.
Image copyrightGetty Images Image caption James Cooper, Alice Levine and Jamie Morton started the podcast in 2015
Another thing you need to know – Belinda Blumenthal is Worldwide Sales Director at Steeles Pots and Pans. Yes. This is pornography rooted in the international cookware market.
And if you know all this already, you’ll also know how series four ended. It took the dramatic side of Rocky’s writing to new levels.
The new series “picks up mere seconds after we left it in book four and the first chapter is called The Aftermath,” James explains.
“There is a lot really packed into the first chapter. And you realise that Belinda Blinked has become half spy novel, half erotica. This storyline is going to continue.”
It’s pretty clear that all three are surprised that they’ve got to a fifth series. Jamie reveals that his dad is already writing books eight, nine and 10.
If you want evidence of a phenomenon then the world tour seems to confirm it, with fans turning up around the world in My Dad Wrote A Porno cosplay.
“People don’t do things by halves when they come to the show,” Alice says. “We’ve had people dressed up as the trellis from book one.
“We’ve had people being locations, even – the pub or buildings from the show.”
Radio 1 Newsbeat got 20 year-old superfan Maddy to put some questions to Alice, James and Jamie.
But she’s not just any super fan. Like Belinda, Maddy also has a job in the pots and pans industry.
Maddy: We actually make pans in the UK and I’m in charge of selling them. I haven’t heard Belinda sell a single one. And as a seller of pans, I’m quite curious on how her business is doing so well, having so many employees without managing to sell any pans?
Jamie: I don’t think she’s signed any deals properly, has she? She gives them away a lot.
James: I think the company she works for has actually done a lot worse since employing her and things are really going downhill. It seemed quite obvious to us how she could turn things around. Stop giving them away. Stop giving away 20,000 at the O2 and then you might start making some money.
Image copyrightNetherton Foundry Image caption Maddy’s in the pots and pans industry
Maddy: Working for Netherton Foundry, I’ve travelled all over Britain and to Germany and France to sell pans – and I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s actually turned on by pans. How has she found so many people so turned on by cookware?
Alice: I feel like Maddy is taking this literally – I’m not sure it’s the touch of the pan and the stainless steel getting her going. I think, for Belinda, it’s the business she is turned on by – the entrepreneur. She’s turned on by suppliers, she’s turned on by distributors, it’s anything in the chain.
Jamie: She’s very attracted to the passion that people have for their job.
Alice: She used to work in crockery and probably felt the same way about people working in crockery. She worked in swimwear too.
Jamie: She’s done so much and diversified her career.
Alice: Like a great international sales director, you are wedded to the product that you sell and she can find excitement in that.
Image copyrightNetherton Foundry Image caption Maddy in action at the foundry
Maddy: My next question is purely practical. I’m questioning the safety of the workers where Belinda works. Our offices and workshops in Shropshire aren’t very safe places to go about these activities because of the machines needed to make pans. Do these workplace activities follow health and safety regulations?
James: I love all the shoutouts Maddy is getting for her company here. Steele’s Pots and Pans’ office where Belinda works is the main office. The factory is in Scotland, so the office is quite a safe place.
Alice: They have a leather room designed purely for sexual antics so, in a way, they’ve taken it out of the work environment and have located a space for it.
James: There’s a lot of security in the building. Key cards have been given a lot of air time – every employee has one. Nobody is getting in who’s not an employee.
Jamie: My dad is very security conscious and he’s very health and safety conscious too. He cares about these things. He’s thought about it.
Alice: He cares about it more than the sex really. I’d say health and safety has been given more of an airing than erotica.
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