An ER Doctor Went Viral for Pointing Out That Fast Food Is All Some People Can Afford

There’s no question that everything, including food, keeps getting more and more expensive.

Add in a food desert, and people are paying crazy prices for fresh food the rest of us take for granted.

So when a doctor tweeted about the relative costs of fast food compared to fresh food, her thread went viral, with lots of people weighing in on both sides.

Emily Porter is an ER doctor and cancer survivor living in Austin, Texas.

When she tweeted about the cost of food, she was urging empathy and asking people not to judge others, but she had to know it was going to be controversial:

A lot of Twitter users doubted that a medical doctor would eat McDonald’s for lunch, as though they don’t rack up thousands in debt from medical school, and as though they don’t crave fast food like other humans.

But Dr. Porter took the time to explain her background:

Not only did she grow up poor, but she worked on the front lines of poverty, watching others in her community purchase what they could afford at a fast food restaurant.

She even took the time to explain the food desert in her area, and the fact that people basically only shop at the dollar store.

The responses to her tweet ran the gamut. Some came with empathy and agreement, others did not.

Apparently some even suggested that the poor should invest in Blue Apron meals, which surprised me, because meal kits tend to be pricey. They definitely cost more than McDonald’s.

Here was Dr. Porter’s response:

But that is the point of such a tweet–starting a conversation that needs to be had.

Some people argued that fast food eaters were lazy:

To which others replied, it’s not just about the money. It’s about the cost of time and labor too.

Some people even argued that the poor should buy a rotisserie chicken at Sam’s Club or Costco.

Few pointed out that those are loaded with sodium, but some people did point out the absolute tone-deafness of such a suggestion.

Bored Panda said that a major argument, that cooking healthy food is cheaper, isn’t necessarily true.

And unlike Twitter users, they brought the receipts:

According to the results of a meta-analysis published in 2013 in BMJ Open, a healthier diet costs $1.48 more a day, which would add up to $540.20 a year, and for a family of four, the amount would equal to $2,160.80.

The article did note that a UK study disagrees with this assessment, so maybe it’s regional. The UK is very different from the US in a lot of ways, maybe it would generally be less expensive to eat healthier in the UK and not in the US.

A lot of people suggested eating beans.

Many users, however, completely agreed with Dr. Porter’s assessment of the cost of eating.

And they pointed out a lot of things that it’s easy to overlook from a privileged point-of-view.

Like the cost of time…

…the fact that just because something is possible, doesn’t mean everyone has the ability to make it work…

…and the simple fact that fast food is easier to chew than, say, a carrot.

It’s safe to say that there are no easy answers to this question, but one thing is for sure: it’s a frustrating situation that needs to improve.

What do you think? Does Dr. Porter have a point? Is this system set up to be broken? Let us know in the comments.

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A Mom Went Viral for Teaching Her Five Daughters That Virginity Is a Myth

All of us want to be good role models for our kids. But sometimes it’s hard to know exactly the right thing to say or do.

That’s why one mom, Nevada Shareef, made a TikTok video asking other parents to name things about the way they raised their kids that others might find strange or surprising.

Cayce LaCorte, a writer and fellow TikTok user from South Carolina, answered the call with a surprising piece of advice on chastity that she shares with her five daughters, ages seven to sixteen.

She describes herself on her Instagram page as “Actually a bunch of opinions in a trench coat,” which is a marvelously accurate description. In the video, Cayce states:

I’m going to get a lot of s**t for this, but what’re you going to do? I’ve been raising my five daughters to believe that there is no such thing as virginity.

That statement on it’s own probably would have been enough to make her go viral.

In the video, which racked up 2.7 million views in about six weeks, she goes on to explain:

“It is a patriarchal concept used to control women and serves no purpose — other than making women feel bad about ourselves. Just because some guy randomly sticks his penis in you at some point in your life does not change your worth, it does not change who you are, it doesn’t do anything other than it happened.

S*x is important. It’s a big deal. It should always be a big deal. It has nothing to do with your first time…it’s just ridiculous. The whole concept is ridiculous,

Cayce also says that she’s not worried about this particular point of view leading to promiscuity.

She’s still teaching her daughters right and wrong and how to be good people.

Cayce’s hot take on women’s bodies lit up social media across multiple platforms.

Her video especially resonated with victims of assault, as Cayce explained to Buzzfeed:

“We all have our own ‘rape/assault/pressured into doing something I didn’t want’ story. We can all empathize. For an entire society to tell you that your worth is tied to your virginity or purity, then have someone take that from you?! It’s heartbreaking and infuriating and makes me want to smash things.

We are so f**king angry about all of this, and if I can make a single survivor feel better about themselves, then I’ve already succeeded.”

The popularity of her video may seem surprising, but it just shows that women are tired of living by a set of double standards.

“Purity culture is toxic at its core. Women are treated vastly different than men because its roots are steeped in a history of women being property.

Can you imagine what the world would look like if society put half as much effort into making the world a safer place for women, instead of worrying that she’s not a virgin for her husband?”

But of course, not everyone agrees with her.

Some comments even argued physiology with Cayce, but she wasn’t having it, as she explained in this (explicit) response:

@book_mama

Reply to @rachelhill200 Respectfully…you’re wrong. #science #thehymenaintshit virginityisamyth #googleit

♬ original sound – Cayce

Cayce’s goal is to help other parents reframe the conversations that they have with their children about s*x.

She told Buzzfeed:

“It’s about the way we force arbitrary rules on ourselves and our kids and miss the big picture. Instead, we could focus on education about pregnancy, STDs, self-worth. How about, instead of making the first time special, make sure it’s always special because that’s the bare minimum you deserve.”

Going viral clearly has its ups and downs, but it looks like more ups than downs for Cayce.

And now, in addition to her blog, where readers can follow her publishing adventures, she has set up a webpage where you can track her progress on a parenting book and YouTube channel.

Cayce has a lot of advice to share about raising strong, independent daughters who know the meaning of consent.

Check out the full video!

@book_mama

♬ original sound – Cayce

Now, let us know if you agree with her no-nonsense approach in the comments!

Thanks, fam!

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When Disasters Happen, Willie Ray’s Is There with Free Barbecue

There’s nothing quite like a feel-good story, right?

Well, here’s one that will make you feel good any day of the week.

Back in August of 2020 when most of us probably first learned that the term “derecho” more or less meant a sustained straight-line wind version of a tornado, most of Cedar Rapids, Iowa was left without power.

That’s when Willie Ray Fairley of Willie Ray’s Q Shack stepped up.

Come on out and try this Brisket Baby it’s
Brisket Friday

Posted by Willie Ray’s Q Shack on Friday, January 8, 2021

The restaurateur saw his friends and neighbors working hard to clean up the city, and he decided to cook up his entire stock and give it away to anyone who needed a hot meal.

As he told the local news station, KCRG:

“I just got my food truck and was ready to start selling, but once the storm hit I thought there might be something better to do with the food.”

Something better indeed.

Willie’s kindness went viral, and soon, people were even donating to his Venmo account to help fund his charitable mission.

“People keep donating, so we’re going to be giving out food for a long time. Even when the storm is over, cleaned up. If there’s still funds left we will continue to give.”

The country began to take notice. He even made MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle’s #GoodNewsRUHLES list.

The local Cedar Rapids community nominated him for a black owned business award from Discover, and he won!

Food can always bring people together. See how Willie Ray’s Q Shack used his $25,000 #EatItForward award to help make a real impact in his Cedar Rapids community. https://youtu.be/HQXQjxm9UAY

Posted by Discover on Friday, December 11, 2020

They called his work #EatItForward. There’s even a YouTube video:

It’s a really nice award, but Willie hasn’t let it go to his head.

“I would have done all this anyway and never thought anything of it,” he said. “It was how I was raised. It makes me feel good to know that people care.”

But the story doesn’t end there.

A few months later when Texas was rocked by an ice storm causing power outages to thousands, Willie called on volunteers to help him make the trek down from Iowa.

Me and the team is planning on going to Texas to help the needed. By any chance is there a couple volunteers that would…

Posted by Willie Ray’s Q Shack on Thursday, February 18, 2021

They stayed for a week, helping out the Texans in desperate need of a hot meal.

Austin’s @cbsaustin had a piece on the news about this man who came down to provide free bbq 🍗 food to Texans in Dallas,…

Posted by Advocacy and Beyond on Tuesday, February 23, 2021

And then Willie and his team headed to Mississippi to deliver bottled water to those communities, which had been left without water for weeks after the same winter storm.

Posted by Willie Ray’s Q Shack on Saturday, March 13, 2021

Willie is a shining example of the good we can do when we pull together as a community, as well as the healing power of food.

Doesn’t that give you all the feels? Are you hungry for some barbecue now? Let us know in the comments!

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This Baby with Down Syndrome Has a Smile That Goes Viral and Makes the Internet a Better Place

There’s nothing quite like a baby’s smile to light up a gloomy day.

Even when a cranky relative claims, “They’re not smiling at you. It’s just gas.”

One new adoptive mom from Texas proved cranky relatives everywhere wrong, when she shared a video of her beautiful little one smiling on cue.

The video, posted to Facebook by the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network, shows 8-month-old “Baby H” lying on a blanket for tummy time.

Image credit: Facebook

When her mom asks how her day is going, Baby H smiles up at her.

Mom coos back that she loves her new smile and asks, “Can you show me again?”

After a moment, the little girl obliges, grinning from ear to ear.

Image credit: Facebook

Her mom is so tickled that she laughs. “Oh my goodness! I like that new smile.”

Thrilled with the attention, Baby H keeps it up.

As long as mom will laugh, she’ll cheese for the camera.

Image credit: Facebook

Children, and babies especially, change and grow so quickly that it’s always a joy to record precious moments for posterity.

This family was not only lucky enough to document their daughter’s sweet smile, but they were willing to share their delight with the rest of the world.

As they told the Daily Mail:

“You can tell by my laughter how much we adore this smile and she actually only smiled like this for a couple of weeks so this video is a treasure for us.”

They decided to share the video, courtesy of the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network, because:

“We hope that all the viewers will see the beauty that lies in people with Down Syndrome. Although a Down Syndrome diagnosis can be scary, the reality is that your child has a purpose and will be able to live a full and happy life.”

The video has amassed more than 300,000 likes and over 38,000 comments on Facebook.

Watch it and see for yourself.

New Smile!

New smiles are the best smiles! #babygirl#smilingsweetie #Downsyndrome #Downsyndromeadoption #spreadingjoy

Posted by National Down Syndrome Adoption Network on Monday, October 7, 2019

Baby H certainly does light up the whole room, doesn’t he?

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

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A Girl Shared Her Boyfriend’s Mango Hack and It Went Viral

I’ve only tried to prepare mango a few times. Both times, I had to google what to do with the thing.

I guess it depends where you live, but it seems like everyone struggles just a little over what to do with a mango. That’s why a woman’s TikTok about her boyfriend’s unusual mango hack took social media by storm.

I was taught to cut a sort of grid into the mango and then peel the sin back and scrape the cubes off the skin.

But Katie Feeney’s boyfriend had a different sort of technique.

First, he sliced the mango around the middle, crosswise.

Image credit: Katie Feeney via TikTok

Next, he pried the two sides apart.

Image credit: Katie Feeney via TikTok

As Buzzfeed explained:

Then, he pops out what he calls the “lollipop” center…

Image credit: Katie Feeney via TikTok

After scooping out the inside of each half, he is left with a perfect, delicious mango, ready to eat or cook with.

Image credit: Katie Feeney via TikTok

This method totally blew my mind. Because if you’ve ever eaten a fresh mango, you know how completely frustrating the process of getting that massive seed out of the middle is.

And this guy did it like it was nothing!

A lot of viewers felt the same way.

Image credit via TikTok

They really appreciated the clever ingenuity and vowed to try it themselves.

Image credit via TikTok

Some even went so far as to describe it as life-altering.

Image credit via TikTok

Others, however, were less impressed.

Image credit via TikTok

It seems that this is a very common way of preparing a mango in Middle Eastern and Asian cultures.

Image credit via TikTok

In fact for some, it was the only way they knew how to eat a mango.

Image credit via TikTok

Isn’t it funny how something that seems completely revolutionary to one group of people can be just as mundane to the other?

Take a look at the video, and see what you think for yourself.

@katiefeeneyy

what do you guys think?🥭 #howto

♬ original sound – ☆ katie feeney ☆

Ordinary? Or extraordinary?

Let us know in the comments!

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Frank Ocean’s Message to His Younger Self Really Inspires

Celebrities usually receive an outpouring of love and best wishes on social media when they celebrate a birthday.

Beloved worldwide for his fresh songwriting talents and alternative R&B tunes, Frank Ocean is no different in that respect.

On October 28, 2020, for his 33rd birthday, Blacks Rule Magazine celebrated the Grammy winner with a little Nostalgia of their own.

Referencing a 2011 Tumblr post where a fan asked Ocean, then 24, what he would say to his 19-year-old self who was just starting out, the tweet received thousands of comments and over 100,000 likes.

Instead of brushing the question aside with a flip reply, Ocean opened up to his fans.

Image credit: Tumblr

Speaking to his younger self, he revealed that he would change his name, that his heart would get broken more than once, but that despite it all, he would survive and do what he was meant to do.

His words really resonated with fans on Twitter. Many expressed that they were moved to tears by the letter.

Others repeated Ocean’s most profound bits of advice to his younger self.

One user pointed out how his words could be applied to all of life’s struggles:

His pragmatic approach to hanging in there really struck a chord with a lot of people:

Most of all people were moved by the fact that in five short years, he got where he wanted to be.

Inspiring fans with the words you shared 9 years ago? Not a bad way to spend a birthday.

His letter certainly made me teary-eyed. How about you?

Let us know in the comments?

Thanks, fam!

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A Man Who Gained One Million Followers Overnight Has Been Homeless and Filming From His Car

If you’re a fan of TikTok, have you heard of a guy on there who goes by the handle “Angry Reactions”?

If not, you’re missing out. His real name is Oneya Johnson and he’s become a viral sensation on TikTok. Johnson created the account in late August he incredibly gained one million followers in 24 hours when people caught on to his hilarious personality.

Johnson’s whole schtick on TikTok is just like the name implies: he reacts very angrily to other TikTok users’ content but it’s all meant to be in good fun.

@oneya

#duet with @bobbysrey that cake is beautiful. #fyp #foryou

♬ original sound – sreya

And despite his viral fame, many people were very surprised to learn that Johnson has been homeless and was filming the hilarious TikTok videos in his car in Lafayette, Indiana.

@oneya

@duh_its_kenz1 you’re beautiful 👑

♬ original sound – Oneya D’Amelio

He was evicted by his landlord from his previous home in Michigan where he lived with his ex and he made his way to Lafayette because his brother lives there.

Since then, Johnson has been living in his car.

Shouting matches with his ex were ultimately what got him evicted from his place in Michigan, but Johnson said he and his ex are on good terms now and they share two children together.

@oneya

Never give up ❤️

♬ Follow Kologuy – Kologuy

Johnson said,

“I basically took how the world sees me, and how I really am, and just matched it together.

If I passed you on the street and I don’t say a word, I look like the angriest person in the world.

But when you actually get to know me, I’m actually a really positive person.”

Keep an eye on this fella and let’s hope he gets back on his feet sooner than later.

And keep enjoying his funny videos!

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