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TikTok Challenge Gets Starbucks Employees Fired

via socialpubli.com

TikTok has become insanely popular throughout the past year. Influencers have used the platform to start dance trends, introduce new transitions, and create new challenges. Although most of these trends and challenges are harmless, there has been one that has some serious consequences. 

In a video by the gossip channel, Spill, the narrator explains that there was a TikTok challenge being discussed on Reddit in which teenagers were going to Starbucks, ordering a drink, and asking for the receipt. Normally, an employee wouldn’t think twice about this and simply print it out and tell them to have a nice day. However, Def Noodles tweeted a Reddit thread along with an email from Starbucks HQ warning employees of this challenge. 

The reason the receipt is so important is that it has the employee’s partner number on it. This number is linked to the employee’s name and allows them employee perks such as a free item. Since the name and number match the employee, they are responsible for covering up their numbers using a marker or pen. 

The employee serving the TikTok user is also at fault so Starbucks HQ has required them to ask the customer (and supposed employee of other location) for government ID or their partner card. Most employees don’t carry around their partner cards, forcing them to use a government ID, which poses an issue for the trans employees.

It’s very different to change someone’s name on a government-issued ID, however, Starbucks allows its employees to be themselves at work, which can make for an uncomfortable situation. Some employees posted on the Reddit thread and shared their stories of having to practically out themselves in front of strangers to simply get a well deserved free coffee. This is a horrible problem that has impacted the trans and/or nonbinary employees specifically and it could’ve been avoided if TikTok users were responsible. 

There have been rumors that an employee has started this all. The employee created an “urban legend” and sent an email to corporate to complain about this TikTok, that didn’t actually exist. The email that Def Noodles tweeted was HQ’s response to this person. This person claims to have done it because employees never ask for confirmation when another Starbucks “employee” comes in with a partner number. They explained that employees were supposed to ask for the last name of the customer, but Starbuck HQ didn’t say that in their email.

Whether or not this is an urban legend or not, TikTok users read the Reddit post as well and began using the numbers in real life. Real people lost their jobs during a pandemic because a young girl wanted a free item that her parents most likely would’ve paid for.

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Harry Styles: Boy Band to Rock Star

via billboard.com

Solo endeavors for musical artists coming out of a group can be challenging, especially if that group is as wildly successful as One Direction. Just a couple of teenagers from small towns in England and Ireland took the world by storm, winning awards, topping charts, and stealing young fans’ hearts with their iconic albums, becoming the most famous band in the world within a few years. When the news broke that they were going on an indefinite hiatus after their fifth studio album, Made in the A.M., all eyes focused on them, and everyone eagerly waited to see what they did with their solo time.

One Direction during Made in the A.M. via ew.com

Harry Styles wasted no time getting back in the studio to work on his debut album, Harry Styles, making a pit stop in the Netherlands to film his first acting gig, Dunkirk (2017). From the moment he released the teaser for his first single “Sign of the Times” in early 2017, the world knew that his journey had only just begun. It’s safe to say we underestimated Styles, assuming he was nothing more than his role as the heartthrob from the boyband who wrote those cheesy (and sometimes cringey) songs all the girls were crazy over, however he proved us wrong and emerged from the hiatus as a new person with no labels or chains to hold him down, displaying his growth with a fresh haircut and a few more tattoos on his arm. Both his albums have fallen under the rock/rock pop, with songs like “Kiwi”, “Only Angel”, and “Golden” that show the inspiration he draws from the 70’s going into the late 80’s, demonstrating his ability to be flexible and try new things.

Fine Line promo via nme.com

He isn’t the same Harry Styles though. In 2011 when One Direction had just kicked off, the then 17 year old said, “I’ve always wanted to be one of those people who didn’t really care much about what people thought about them.. but I don’t think I am”, but that person is now long gone, and from the ashes of One Direction, he has arisen as a rock star who prances on stage holding rainbow pride flags with “Black Lives Matters” stickers on his guitar, wearing flares that go on for miles, and rings that you can’t help but wonder the symbolism behind. (Source: “One Direction: A Year in the Making”) The new Harry Styles, 26, doesn’t care about what you think. He now defines himself with his unique sense of clothing, his perfectly manicured and colored nails, and his tattoos that are always on display any given moment. His clothes have shown his journey, becoming more fluid and expressive, venturing far from his tight black jeans and shirts to multicolored embroidered blazers, sweaters, heeled boots, and sometimes even women’s dresses. Toxic masculinity, who? In One Direction, he was just the hot singer with curly hair, but now that he has his own voice, he feels free to talk about things he’s passionate about and his opinions.

via popsugar.com

In a 2017 Billboard interview, he was asked if he feels any duty to tend to older fans now that he’s not a teenager himself, and he smartly answered, “‘How can you say young girls don’t get it?’ Styles pointed out. ‘They’re our future. Our future doctors, lawyers, mothers, presidents, they kind of keep the world going.’” The Harry Styles we all knew from 1D would never say this, and we are definitely here for this evolved, socially woke, feminist! (Source: Billboard) When asked about comparing his solo success to his success in One Direction, he answered that if he never reached that point again in terms of chart topping singles and record breaking albums, that it would be okay because he defines success differently now. If he enjoys making music and has fun, then that is being successful to him. Once more, Styles shows his growth and acceptance that things change and it was the right time to move on. He promises there wasn’t ever a time where he didn’t enjoy being in that band. (Source: Harry Styles: Behind the Album)

via unitedbypop.com

Styles’s shift in music also proves how he differentiates himself from his music in 1D, however that doesn’t mean he didn’t value his time in the band. He’s played multiple songs from the band during his live shows and frequently talks about being in touch with his band mates, even attending their concerts. He looks back on the time fondly, but also eagerly creates his own persona.It is true that all good things must come to an end, but Styles is certainly making the best out of that, and we love to see it. His second album Fine Line came out December 13, 2019, and if you haven’t had a chance to check it out, we strongly recommend it!

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Face Masks: Necessity to Accessory

via esquiresg.com

By now, willing or not, we’ve all had to deal with the emergence of 2020’s latest facial accessory. I could only be referring to the face masks that we’ve all adorned at some point or another over the past 5 months. Who could’ve predicted that our daily checklist would be taken over by medical supplies? On an average day a year ago, making sure we had everything before leaving the house was fairly simple. We’ve grown accustomed to marking off about three essential items before exiting our homes and entering the outside world. If you’re anything like me you might even have some type of reminder, there’s a rhyme I’ve used since college: “got what I need, phone, wallet, keys”. Obviously not a degree of poetry, say, Emily Dickinson, would be impressed by, but it’s helped me on many occasions. It doesn’t matter if you use sticky notes, a dry erase board, or maybe you have a place you put all three to ensure they pass your line of sight before you leave. As of lately that list has grown by at least 2-3 items for most of the population. Along with our phone, keys, and wallet, we truly aren’t ready to take on the day without hand sanitizer, sometimes gloves, but above all, a face mask. 

By the time we were aware of the health risks being taken from something as mundane as a trip to the grocery store, precautions became one of the first topics of conversation. What shocked me most, was some of the backlash, but even more, the unwillingness from some of our citizens. While shocking, I must also admit there’s a part of me that wants to rage against the machine at times as well. I’m sure we can all agree that a major selling point of the U.S. is the freedoms we’re granted that allow us to be whoever we want and express ourselves the way we see fit (respectfully). What I quickly understood was, just because we’ve been told by the government to keep our faces covered in public, does not equate to an end of individuality as we know it. 

Very clearly, I remember tapping my Amazon App and preparing to order some medical face masks in bulk, only to be met by three words under the image: Out of Stock (they have plenty available now). Site after site, store after store, it was the same thing, no one had medical grade face masks. After a few days of wearing t-shirts on my face, I started to notice people around me wearing masks with different colors and so many unique designs. What was even more intriguing is they all appeared to be handmade, either that or somewhere along the line CVS began distributing Wu-Tang Klan face masks; pretty sure they were handmade. Immediately I went to the home of all things DIY, you guessed it, Etsy! I never thought I’d actually be excited to wear facial protection until I searched “personalized face masks”. It wasn’t excitement from having a line of defense against our new air born nemeses, it was knowing that our individuality didn’t have to be compromised in an effort to keep away the germs. Over these months there’s been so many displays of originality through face masks. I’ve seen everything from beautiful floral prints, to favorite sports teams, maybe there’s a cartoon that you’ve loved forever, just put it on a mask. 

We’ve obviously been restricted in a way when it comes to openly conversing with strangers due to social distancing, but I like to think of our masks as somewhat of a name tag; HELLO I’M: (insert fun fact). It could be anything at all. Maybe you’re a huge Star Wars fan and want to flaunt it. Personalized masks even give us a new way to express ourselves with a simple statement, “This Mask is Annoying”. It’s not always fun and we’re not always very accepting when it comes to a change in our daily routine, but if there’s one thing we’ve proven as a society, it would be our ability to adapt. As with anything we adapt to, we also find a way to make it our own and find self-expression within it. 

While the idea of surgical masks being worn went from necessity to accessory, its quickly become the number one personalized item worn by citizens today. There’s a sense of pride I get when I wear my Star Wars face mask (yes, the reference earlier was about me), so leaving home without it just doesn’t feel the same. If you or someone you know are still having hesitations about wearing a mask or even keeping up with the surgical mask, I highly recommend buying or even creating one that means something. It’s a win for everyone; you’re doing your part in protecting yourself and everyone else from potential germs, while simultaneously making your own fashion statement.

Now I must give the downside to this entire situation, and I would remiss to not mention it, as well as how it’s affected me. The only thing that’s caused me difficulty during this whole thing is…I can’t figure a new rhyme to save my life!  “Got what I need, phone, wallet, keys” it was so simple, again, not Pulitzer Prize winning material, but it was short and sweet. I’ll get back to the drawing board to figure out some cool things that rhyme with sanitizer, and to everyone out there, stay safe, and always remember to express yourself!

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5 Reasons Why The Princess Diaries is a Perfect Movie to Watch During the Pandemic

via Pinterest.com

It’s no secret that mental health has been seriously affected since the pandemic started. The reality is that there’s more negativity and anxiety inducing news being reported in the media than the feel good positive gossip we all love to read, and while it’s important to listen to the directions from health officials to ensure we stay safe, it’s also incredibly vital to take a step back every once in a while and reevaluate where our heads are. We need to take a breather. Focus on the positive. Remember that all of this is temporary. One of my favorite ways to spend my free time is watching a deliciously cheesy romantic movie. The best movie to watch, in my opinion, is The Princess Diaries, to get that immediate shot of excitement and serotonin we all deserve.

Here are 5 reasons why you should pull up your laptop and watch The Princess Diaries when you’re not feeling your best!

  1. The Nostalgia. Even if you haven’t seen this movie before, you’ll quickly get the sense of nostalgia of the early 2000s. All the characters wear outfits that encapsulate the 2000s, from the blue and grey school uniforms to the loose fitted jeans, the butterfly clips in Lilly Moscovitz’s hair, and Joe’s tiny sunglasses that, as Lilly comments, makes him look like Shaft. There are no fancy cars like the ones you see outside your window now, but a very old, beat up Mustang that Mia Thermopolis really thinks she can revive…even though it’s on it’s last leg. There are no cool cell phones, but there are landlines, and slow computers. If you like the movie and decide to delve into the series (as I’ve done many times), the pull of the nostalgia is even stronger with the repeated pop culture references of the time. Mia is very influenced by celebrities, talking about Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, and NSYNC, not to mention dial up Internet and Instant Messaging. What a time that was.
  1. The Cast. Ever wondered where Anne Hathaway got her start? This film kicked off her career, and you can see that she took her first role very seriously. She perfectly adapts the character of Mia, the socially awkward and not-so-popular-girl-turned-princess. The entire cast has been successful, and you may have heard their names, so it’s interesting to see where they all began their careers. Hathaway opened up the world of opportunities for herself, and she was only 21! Robert Schwartzman, who plays the absolute heartthrob Michael Moscovitz, comes from a very talented family, including his aunt Sofia Coppola, and he’s also a successful musician, having founded the band Rooney, and continues acting to this day in indie films. He’s dipped his fingers in directing too, something he’s stated that he always has wanted to do. 

Mandy Moore, who played Lana Thomas, has been very successful in her career, as many people know. She’s an actress and a singer, who notably voices Rapunzel’s voice in Disney’s Tangled! The iconic Julie Andrews, aka the queen herself, is in this movie, just bringing everything together with her expertise and impeccable acting skills. If you haven’t heard of Julie Andrews, well, you need to stop living under a rock. P.S., while we’re on the topic of who has worked on this movie to make it as amazing as it is, did you know that Whitney Houston was one of the producers for this film? Crazy, I know.

  1. The Humor. What’s a good movie without the witty dialogue and chemistry between the actors? Mia is by far the funniest character in this film, losing her mind a bit for the most obvious reasons, resulting in the most comical lines. Her mom is dating her teacher, her grandma just happens to be a queen, and — surprise! — she’s actually a princess! Her jokes are tastefully hilarious, one of my favorite lines being “Me?? A princess? SHUT UP!” Lilly has many amusing lines as the princess’s grouchy best friend, and then, of course, you can’t forget about Paolo, the hairdresser and makeup artist, who doesn’t exactly know how to keep his not-so-nice comments to himself. All in all, if you’re looking for a movie to laugh out loud at, this is it. 
  1. The Romance. Ah, love. Such a wonderful thing to watch unfold on our screens, creating that warm, happy feeling inside of us. The romance in this movie unfolds between Mia and Michael, an unlikely couple, and it is very heartwarming. Michael, the quiet brother of Lilly, has always loved Mia, and makes us swoon at the end. Mia’s foot popping kiss will make you glow with happiness (and possibly even cry those good ol’ tears). The chemistry between Michael and Mia is amazing and not in any way toxic. I will always shamelessly admit that Michael Moscovitz was my first crush.
  1. The Soundtrack. The funny thing about this soundtrack is that when you listen back to the songs, you can visualize the movie in your head, even if it’s been months since you’ve watched the movie. The violins and pianos are calming and magical, perfectly capturing the “princess” effect. Songs such as Miracles Happen by Myra, SuperGirl by Krystal Harris, and even Stupid Cupid sung by Mandy Moore herself once more push that nostalgia onto us. All the songs are inspiring and uplifting, never giving us a moment to be sad, which we very much appreciate.

Watching The Princess Diaries is the perfect way to recharge and remember that things will be okay soon. If Mia can overcome the fear of ruling a country she’s never heard of in her life, then, well, I think we can overcome our biggest challenges too.

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