Mash-Ups In The News

Richard Montañez didn’t actually invent Flamin’ Hot Cheetos 

A Mexican-American janitor at Frito-Lays dreamed up a chile-covered Cheeto and pitched his idea to the chief executive. But is our favorite origin story really true? According to the company? No. According to the man himself? Yes.

In other spicy snack news, peep the rise of Chilito Candy.

via LA Times

The Pandemic’s Trauma Won’t Just Go Away

14 months of pandemic life and a vaccine that may end the devastation but won’t erase memories or heal our scars. Also, yes you are burned out. 

via The Atlantic

Sinead O’Connor Remembers Things Differently

In 1992, the pop star ripped up a photo of the pope on SNL, in protest against abuse in the Catholic Church. She would do it again without question. Rediscover Sinead O’Connor from her perspective.

via NY Times

How Corporations Buy—and Sell—Food Made with Prison Labor 

Do you know who made your food? Unlabeled and shockingly ubiquitous, a loophole allows food companies and prisons to exploit incarcerated workers and harvest their labor for the food in our farms, groceries, and restaurants.

via The Counter 

Why the Hybrid Workforce of the Future Depends on the ‘Geriatric Millennial’

Born on the cusp (1980–85) of Gen X and Millennial, they’re weathered veterans of the internet and last witnesses of analog. Some are grandparents already. They’re the bridge between Gens, and maybe the bridge between workplaces.

via Index

The ‘Black-Asian Conflict’ Is a Problematic Trope — and It’s Time to End It

“There’s an active effort being made to direct Asian American anger at the Black community, and it’s rooted in White establishment anxiety over emerging coalitions among the rising Black and Brown majority of the United States.” 

via Stop Asian Hate 

Plus, required watching: Red Table Talk with Jada, Willow, Gammy and Lisa Ling.

Into the Mystical and Inexplicable World of Dowsing

Dowsing is a divination, a pre-science, an old-world way of finding things. Whether it’s underground water, buried treasure or missing cats, the power is unexplained and all around us. 

via Outside

Vince Staples Chops It Up with Desus Nice

Desus Nice of Desus and Mero catches up with rapper Vince Staples, going deep on his time off, his new LP, Long Beach raccoons, and making music that gives listeners a break from normality.

via GQ