John Fetterman’s Senate campaign has officially joined TikTok

Democratic Senate hopeful John Fetterman’s campaign to troll Republican opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz into defeat has dominated Facebook and Twitter over the last few weeks. But on Thursday, the campaign announced it is launching an official TikTok account to expand the reach of its already viral videos. The campaign formally launched the TikTok account with a video of Fetterman wearing his signature black hoodie and speaking directly to the camera. In the short video, Fetterman makes an expected jab at Oz and the festering controversy over the authenticity of the Trump-endorsed candidate’s Pennsylvania roots. “I’m on TikTok now. Woo hoo!” Fetterman says at the end of the video. The campaign’s decision to join TikTok comes on the heels of a series of viral social media videos attacking Oz. Earlier in the week. Twitter users dug up an old video of Oz shopping at a Redner’s grocery store in Pennsylvania. While the video was intended to criticize the increase in inflation under the Biden administration, Oz was quickly mocked by Twitter users and the Fetterman campaign for his use of the word “crudité” and for seemingly conflating the names of two state supermarkets, Redner’s and Wegmans, into “Wegners.” “In PA we call this a… veggie tray” Responding to the video, Fetterman said, “In PA we call this a… veggie tray.” The Fetterman campaign announced on Tuesday that it had raised more than $500,000 just one day after Oz’s crudité gaffe went viral. TikTok began to gain traction in the US in 2018, and it wasn’t until the 2020 cycle before politicians and their campaign arms started creating accounts and investing in the platform. This year, more politicians than ever are active on TikTok, but Democrats and left-leaning candidates have been the quickest to adapt. “As this campaign has since the start, we will continue to meet voters wherever they are at and have a whole lot of fun doing it,” Joe Calvello, spokesperson for the Fetterman campaign, said in a statement to The Verge on Thursday. Pennsylvania is a must-win seat for Democrats hoping to secure a Senate majority following the midterm elections. In 2020, President Joe Biden won the state by little more than 1 percent, effectively marking it as a toss-up this cycle. With only a few months before the November elections, the youth vote in Pennsylvania could be more necessary than ever if Democrats plan to win the state. A recent study by Tufts University in Massachusetts found that Pennsylvania is one out of only a handful of states in which the youth vote could disproportionately decide the winner. That outsized youth impact is a particular focus for Fetterman’s team. Speaking to The Verge on Tuesday, Calvello said that the Fetterman campaign’s TikTok account would be run by a Gen Z-aged staffer with around 25,000 on her personal account. By placing the account in a young person’s hands, the campaign hopes to create content that feels natural for the platform. That outsized youth impact is a particular focus for Fetterman’s team Still, the Fetterman campaign touts a commanding lead against Oz in recent polls, including a Fox News survey that showed Fetterman leading by 11 points. While coming under fire for failures to address harmful election misinformation, political campaigns still view social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter as powerhouses for fundraising. In an interview with The Verge on Tuesday, Alex Kellner, managing partner director at Bully Pulpit Interactive, an online strategy firm, said, “There’s still a lot of money being spent on Facebook, but maybe it’s more for acquisition, fundraising, and communicating with your existing supporters to get them to volunteer and to be excited.” TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in Beijing, and the app’s potential to leak sensitive US data to the Chinese government has been cause for alarm amongst Republicans and Democrats. Earlier this summer, the Biden administration banned the app’s use on White House or federal government devices for security reasons, as first reported by Politico. Fetterman’s online jabs at Oz have hit a sweet spot on social platforms like Facebook, which increasingly surface low-production video content on user feeds. With only a few seconds to grab a voter’s attention as they scroll, experts say more authentic content tends to receive greater engagement than highly produced campaign ads. As the Fetterman camp sees it, that gives them a rare advantage on social platforms that are often seen as slanted toward extreme views and reactionary politics. “John’s followers will see brand new content specifically for TikTok, and they can expect to keep up with John as he meets people across the Commonwealth,” Calvello said. “John is a unique candidate whose real, authentic message resonates on social media, as TikTok users will see in his posts.” Source link  More...

Major PC modding sites remove Spider-Man mod that replaces in-game pride flags

NexusMods and ModDB, two of the biggest online sites for PC game mods, have removed a project that cut the in-game pride flags from the recently-released PC port of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. As NexusMods explained in a blog post, the mod was uploaded to its site by a brand new account with no modding history, which the site’s administrators suspect is a secondary account for one of the site’s users — a “sock puppet” account. “It was very clearly done deliberately to be a troll mod,” NexusMods writes. “The fact the user needed to make a sock puppet like a coward to upload the mod showed their intent to troll and that they knew it would not be allowed. Had they not been a coward and had they used their main account instead, we would have simply removed the mod and told them that we did not want to host it, only banning them if they reuploaded it again after being fairly warned. The creation of the sock puppet removed any doubt and made it a very easy decision for us.” As well as removing the mod, NexusMods says it’s banned both “the sock puppet account and the user’s main account.” The mod replaced the pride flags found around New York City with the United States flag, which is frequently seen in the original game. Hi! We’ve removed the content and banned the users. ModDB is an inclusive environment for all and we do not permit targeting marginalised groups. Our content moderation is largely automated but when identified, we have a zero tolerance policy for this kind of content. https://t.co/0leqjUxqJD — ModDB (@ModDB) August 17, 2022 ModDB, another popular source of mods for PC games, also confirmed in a tweet that it’s removed the mod. “ModDB is an inclusive environment for all and we do not permit targeting marginalized groups,” the tweet reads. “Our content moderation is largely automated but when identified, we have a zero tolerance policy for this kind of content.” “Our policy is thus: we are for inclusivity, we are for diversity,” NexusMods says in its post. “If we think someone is uploading a mod on our site with the intent to deliberately be against inclusivity and/or diversity then we will take action against it.” A NexusMods help page notes that “content that may be generally construed as provocative, divisive, objectionable, discriminatory, or abusive toward any real-world individual or group, may be subject to moderation.” “If this policy upsets you, if we’ve broken some moral code of conduct as a business that you can’t accept, then please, delete your account,” NexusMods writes. It’s a shame, because the PC modding community has otherwise been on excellent form with the mods they’ve been creating for Insomniac’s Spider-Man title, allowing players to swing around the city as everything from Spider-Man antagonist Kingpin to Black Cat, and there have been plenty of mods to adjust the look and colors of Spider-Man’s iconic suit. Source link  More...

Nicaragua cracks down on Catholic church

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Brothers gifted remodeled Texas home after hurricane Harvey damage 01:52 Now Playing Nicaragua cracks down on Catholic church 02:27 UP NEXT Florida man survives 12-foot alligator attack 02:32 Watch: Woman slips out of handcuffs and shoots AR-15 out of police vehicle 02:53 Former Kansas police officer charged with 24 counts of sex crimes 03:03 Family of man who died in custody files wrongful death lawsuit 04:33 10 miners remain trapped underground in Mexico for over two weeks 02:19 El Salvador arrests 50,000 people for alleged gang ties 02:25 Former Trump staffers reveal his tendency to keep classified documents 03:41 Mysterious deaths at Lake Mead indicate possible connection to mob 03:42 Search continues for missing California teen 03:08 10-year-old boy loses leg from shark bite in Florida 02:49 99-year-old woman meets her 100th great-grandchild 02:08 Jailed WNBA player Brittney Griner appeals conviction in Russian court 03:30 Mexico sends troops to Tijuana after string of cartel violence 03:18 Pennsylvania man confesses to crashing car into crowd and killing his mother 02:39 Chicago woman receives crossmatch double transplant 02:43 South Carolina beach-goer killed after being struck by umbrella 03:31 Philadelphia sees over 300 gun deaths in 2022 03:02 Florida hosts annual python hunting competition 01:56 Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is now being accused of detaining church leaders, canceling Catholic events, and shutting down religious radio stations. Telemundo’s Dunia Elvir has more on the rising tensions between the country’s government and the Catholic Church. Aug. 19, 2022 Read More Brothers gifted remodeled Texas home after hurricane Harvey damage 01:52 Now Playing Nicaragua cracks down on Catholic church 02:27 UP NEXT Florida man survives 12-foot alligator attack 02:32 Watch: Woman slips out of handcuffs and shoots AR-15 out of police vehicle 02:53 Former Kansas police officer charged with 24 counts of sex crimes 03:03 Family of man who died in custody files wrongful death lawsuit 04:33 Source link  More...

Japan is asking young people to come up with ideas to promote greater alcohol consumption

Japan’s government wants young people to drink more alcohol in an effort to reverse declining sales, which it has blamed on demographic changes in the far-Eastern nation. The “Saka Viva!” campaign, launched by Japan’s National Tax Agency, wants young people between ages 20 and 39 to come up with new ideas to help revitalize the industry. The agency says sales of alcoholic drinks are down due to declining birthrates, an aging population and the coronavirus pandemic. It hopes the project will encourage young people to come up with “business plans” that would help promote alcoholic beverages “among the younger generation.” The tax agency also suggests creative ways people can help promote the consumption of alcohol, such as using artificial intelligence and the metaverse. But the response from the Japanese public has been less than enthusiastic, particularly since the trope of “drunk salary man” was far too common on social media just prior to the pandemic. Some Twitter users have criticized the Japanese government for encouraging alcohol consumption — typically a social activity — when Japan’s infection rates jumped this summer from 16,544 new Covid cases in mid-June to 231,361 cases on Aug. 16. Others have criticized the campaign for promoting an unhealthy habit, as well as asking why they are learning about the competition from foreign newspapers, instead of domestic ones. Contestants have until the end of September to put forward their ideas. The successful plans will then be developed with help from experts before the final proposals are presented in November. The coronavirus pandemic has had a massive impact on tax sales of alcoholic drinks in Japan. In 2020, revenues fell by ¥110 billion ($800 million) from the previous year to ¥1.13 trillion. It was the largest fall in alcohol tax revenues since 1989, The Japan Times reported. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an intergovernmental organization with 38 member countries and five partner countries that focuses on world trade, alcohol is a leading cause of ill health and premature mortality. It accounts for 1 in 17 deaths and is a factor in a significant proportion of disabilities, especially in men. Latest data from an OECD study on alcohol consumption found that Japan ranked 38th out of 49 countries surveyed, consuming just 6.7 liters (1.8 gallons) per capita of alcohol in 2020. In comparison, Latvia ranks No. 1 on the list with 12.6 liters per capita. The U.S. comes in at No. 22 with 9.3 liters per capita. In Japan, the minimum age for selling alcohol is 20, one of the highest across all OECD countries and partner nations. Source link  More...

How to look younger in 2 weeks: 3-step beauty routine to ‘reduce lines & wrinkles’

Maintaining a youthful appearance is something many women wish to achieve. A recent German study found that the appearance of a woman’s skin on her chest, hands and arms greatly impacts how old she is perceived to be. Express.co.uk spoke to Vicki Engsall, Co-Founder of The Jojoba Company.  Vicki initially explained what young skin looks like: “Healthy skin looks plump, bouncy, hydrated, dewy, even textured. It is soft and smooth to touch.” As for how someone’s skin can make them look older, she revealed the ‘tell-tale’ signs.  “The main signs of aging are fine lines, wrinkles, skin sagging/jowls, loss of fullness in the face, rough, uneven textured skin, and pigmentation or age spots, and sometimes redness (Rosacea is a common problem in aging skin),” she said. “Everyone’s skin, lifestyle, genetics and how well they have looked after their skin is different so there is no definite start date for anyone [to start showing signs of aging]. READ MORE: How to take more than 100ml of liquids in your hand luggage “Late nights, lack of sleep, not drinking enough water or consuming antioxidants will accelerate the aging process.  “In addition, extended sun exposure without protection will accelerate the aging process as well as looking after your skin with quality products.  “In saying all of this, we know that after about the age of 22, the skin’s wax esters and hyaluronic acid begin to diminish (these are responsible for holding moisture in the skin) as well other important skin components. “Without replenishing these and without good lifestyle habits, people can start to see the signs of aging as young as their late 20s.” But is it as simple as boosting skin hydration by drinking more water and applying a face cream or oil? DON’T MISS…Keep lettuce fresh and crunchy with genius food storage hack [VIDEO]‘Avoid curtains and carpets in small rooms’ interiors expert suggests [COMMENT]Tesco shoppers warned over Clubcard member prices [NEWS] Vicki explained: “It is a little more complicated than just drinking more water and applying moisturiser to the face (although these are very important).  “It is important to keep the skin cleansed and exfoliated so that the moisturiser can penetrate through the skin. If you don’t exfoliate the skin effectively and unclog the pores the moisturiser will be unable to penetrate the skin effectively meaning that the skin won’t benefit from the topical application.  “In addition, it is the type of moisturiser that you use. It is important to use a humectant (a water binding hydrator such as hyaluronic acid) which will hydrate from a water perspective, an emollient (an oil to moisturise from an oil perspective and nourish) and an occlusive (a cream) to create a moisture barrier to help reduce moisture loss from the skin. “These three are the perfect recipe for well hydrated and moisturised skin.” READ MORE: Beauty Guru Caroline Hirons’ no-nonsense guide to great skin One product Vicki recommends is the Ultimate Youth Potion which is said to “prevent and repair fine lines and wrinkles”.  It is an anti-aging facial oil that “contains a high percentage of jojoba which works to deeply hydrate the skin and keep it hydrated throughout the day”.  “Well hydrated skin is better protected from fine lines and wrinkles,” she said. “It also contains L22, a patented active ingredient which works to bring the skin’s lipid profile back to the way it was when you were aged 22 when the ratio of lipids was in the perfect balance. Balanced skin lipids help to fight the signs of aging.  “It also contains CoQ10, a potent antioxidant which will help protect the skin from the elements and give the skin cells energy to keep them healthy and plump. It contains a spectrum of natural oils full of vitamins and omegas to help increase elasticity and firmness in the skin and help reduce fine lines and wrinkles by supporting the collagen in the skin.” It won’t take long for people to see the changes in their skin either as “people see results using this Youth Potion after just two weeks”, the expert claimed. As for how to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, Vicki said: “Looking after your skin is important if you want to try to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. “Using a good cleansing regime morning and night and exfoliating two to three times per week, along with using a quality serum, facial oil and moisturiser morning and night are really important. “Using an SPF every single day is very important. One of the major factors contributing to aging skin is the sun. If you use an SPF every day, you are going to slow down the signs of aging..  “Living a healthy life, getting enough sleep each night, eating a balanced diet containing lots of colourful antioxidant rich foods and keeping hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water per day are all going to help prevent the signs of aging.” The Jojoba Company’s Ultimate Youth Potion + L22® can be purchased direct for £29.95. Source link  More...

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