Author Archives: Carol Edwards

It sucks when dads are praised as heroes for doing the stuff mums do every day. 

So instead of saying “look at this incredible dad, actually loving his kids like some kind of saint,” we’ll simply suggest that the actions of Indiana man Keenan Watkins be the new norm. 

When Watkin’s 10-year-old daughter, Aayla, asked her dad to carry around her precious (and anatomically accurate, therefore fugly) ’80s baby doll all day, he obliged. Only later realizing the gravity of what he’d promised. But it was too late to back out. He’s a dad who keeps his promises, without compromise.

More about Parenting, Doll, Baby, Dad, and Keenan Watkins

If good horror writing illuminates the world around us, then Mariana Enriquez’s new book, Things We Lost In The Fire, is a floodlight, using the supernatural to expose in stark relief the hard, very real conversations we all avoid.

“Most of the stories are horror stories,” explains Enriquez, “but I try to make very atmospheric, dreary stories that mix with politics and the social climate of my city Buenos Aires,” says Enriquez.

Things We Lost In The Fire is a collection of 12 short stories, each populated with ghosts, haunted houses, and other supernatural phenomena to explore violence, poverty, history, and women. Read more…

More about Books, Feminism, Horror, Mashreads, and Mashreads Podcast

When it comes to car stuff, not many of us are experts.

But thanks to the adorable stylings of a three-year-old YouTuber, you can finally get an idea of how to change your car’s oil. The host of the channel “Little How To Girl” can’t quite do all of the physical stuff, but she’s doing better at adulting than some adults we know.

And she does a pretty hilarious cover of “Kumbaya,” where the lyrics are replaced with “the oil’s draining, m’lord, Kumbaya.” 

Impressive.  Read more…

More about Watercooler, Videos, Video, How To, and Kids

White House press secretary Sean Spicer reportedly hid among the bushes at the White House to avoid reporters after news broke that Trump fired FBI director James Comey.

Sound familiar?

Yep. Spicer’s actions bring to mind that famous scene from The Simpsons where Homer slinks away into the bushes. 

Plenty of people on the internet were quick to point out the similarities between Spicer and Homer, even prompting some excellent Photoshops. Thankfully, Redditor and GIF wizard superscatman9 combined the two, spicing up one of the internet’s most beloved memes.  Read more…

More about Watercooler, Memes, Gifs, Homer Simpson, and Watercooler

Some mysterious bots seem to have taken a keen interest in telecommunications policy.

Automated programs are thought to be responsible for more than 100,000 identical comments recently posted to the Federal Communications Commission’s website.

The messages, each posted under a different name, urge the agency to roll back the Obama Administration’s rules protecting net neutrality.

Yet when ZDNet and The Verge contacted more than two dozen of the supposed concerned citizens, none of them were aware of the opinions expressed in their name. One didn’t even know what net neutrality was. Read more…

More about Fcc, Net Neutrality, Federal Communications Commission, and Business

Just months after winning a big legal victory in China against a company accused of ripping off his name and logo, Michael Jordan’s iconic sneaker brand has signed its first Chinese basketball star. 

His name: Guo Ailun. 

Your probable reaction: Who?

We’ll explain.

Jordan Brand is paying Guo $1.4 million per year to endorse its gear, according to The Vertical‘s Nick DePaula. 

More about Sports, Nba, Entertainment, and Sports

Donald Trump’s highly suspicious Tuesday night firing of FBI Director James Comey, who just happens to have been asking for more resources to investigate the Russian ties of Trump’s campaign, has been an exhausting news story — and it just keeps going. You’d be forgiven for wanting to take a break.

At the same time, entertainment just seems so damn distracting right now. We have some Watergate-level history on our hands, and it’s going to take a lot of public outrage and constant pressure on our representatives to get the independent investigation American democracy needs.

More about Tv, Movies, Comey, Trump, and Entertainment

Everybody just needs to break loose sometimes, even deer. 

A trail cam set up by photographer Pete Olsen in Ontario, Wisconsin captured an embarrassing moment for a deer in a shallow stream. Olsen has the camera set up to scope out some of the wildlife in the area, and he captured what would normally be described as graceful creatures letting loose a little.

Without much warning, a young whitetail deer rears onto its hind legs, jumps back, and slams its side right into the stream. 

More about Watercooler, Funny, Deer, Viral Videos, and Watercooler

This much we know: Boston Celtics star Isaiah Thomas was caught threatening someone on social media; a few days later, he was fined $25,000 by the NBA for “directing inappropriate language toward a fan.”

It’s just not quite clear how related these two facts are — so bear with us as we dive in. 

Five days ago, someone posted an Instagram video in which in definitely looks like Thomas tells a Washington Wizards fan from the bench area mid-game that “I will fuck you up and you know that.” He can then be heard telling the fan to “come right here and say it.”  Read more…

More about Sports, Nba, Entertainment, and Sports

Even if you’re all alone, this phone’s got your back.

The Doro 8020X — available in Europe and the UK — is your typical waterproof smartphone, except it’s a bit more robust and potentially life-saving.

On the phone’s edge is a red button—also known as an assistance button—that sends out an alarm in the form of a text message with the user’s GPS location. This goes out to up to five emergency contact numbers pre-programmed into the phone.

It’s an ideal phone for people who find themselves alone, in remote locations or in dangerous situations for work or other reasons. It’s listed as a phone for users with an “active” lifestyle. Read more…

More about Gadgets, Technology, Smartphone, Emergency, and Cellular Phone