These are the top maybe-not headlines from the past 84-hours presented by The Conversation Project from raw engagement data from our social media to the headlines posted over the past weekend.
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The 8 topics that our followers ranked as the most conversational are:
WALMART CEO SAYS COMPANY SOLD ENOUGH TOILET PAPER IN 5 DAYS FOR EVERY AMERICAN TO HAVE A ROLL
Walmart sold enough toilet paper in five days for every American to have a roll, according to the company’s CEO. “In the last five days we’ve sold enough toilet paper for every American to have their own roll. Just in five days,” CEO Doug McMillon told NBC’s “Today” on Friday. As the coronavirus continues to spread in the U.S., pushing Americans inside their homes to self-isolate and help prevent the pandemic from worsening, shoppers are continuing to share photos of empty shelves on social media. McMillon said they’re continually restocking essential supplies such as toilet paper and food. McMillon added that buying trends have shifted as people have stayed home longer.
[SOURCE: thehill.com]
TONY-NOMINATED BROADWAY ACTOR NICK CORDERO ‘FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE’ IN ICU WITH CORONAVIRUS
Tony-nominated Broadway actor Nick Cordero is “fighting for his life” in intensive care after testing positive for coronavirus, his wife, celebrity fitness trainer Amanda Kloots, posted on Instagram. Late Saturday night, Kloots shared the scary details in an Instagram Story: Cordero, 41, had a new infection in his lung that caused his fever to spike, his blood pressure to drop and his heart to beat irregularly. On Sunday, Kloots posted an update, asking people to pray that the blood flow normally to Cordero’s right leg, and that he would wake up from sedation.
[SOURCE: usatoday.com]
CHIP ‘N DALE: RESCUE RANGERS MAKING FIRST-EVER APPEARANCE ON “DUCKTALES”; EPISODE PREMIERES APRIL 11 ON DISNEY XD AND DISNEYNOW
If you’re like me, there’s nothing better than some good, old-fashioned Disney nostalgia. Especially when we are thrown back to the ’80s/’90s era of Disney. One of the things that hits all those spots is Disney XD’s reboot of the ’80s show, DuckTales. Following Huey, Dewey, Louie, and their Grand Uncle, Scrooge McDuck, on their adventures has definitely been a treat since the show was rebooted in 2017. However, on an upcoming episode set to release on April 11, the Disney universe will expand as the iconic Rescue Rangers join the ducks for an episode. That’s right! Chip, Dale, Gadget, and Monterey Jack will be making their debut on the show, Hawaiian shirt and all! For those who aren’t familiar, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers was an animated series in the ’80s during the same time as the original DuckTales, and it featured the famous chipmunk brothers as they fought crime around the world. The Rescue Rangers aren’t the only characters to be appearing in this episode, however. Steelbeak, the infamous villain from Darkwing Duck will also make an appearance!
[SOURCE: wdwnt.com]
SUSPECTED TORNADO DAMAGES HOMES AND AIRPORT IN LOUISIANA
This is a dangerous day across the South as powerful storms swept several states. The city of Monroe, Louisiana, and several parishes have already been hit, possibly by tornadoes. An unconfirmed tornado tore through the city of Monroe just before noon on Sunday. At least 20 homes were heavily damaged. The suspected twister ripped away several roofs, downing trees and power lines, blocking roads across the city.
[SOURCE: cbsnews.com]
SEX TOY SALES TRIPLE DURING NEW ZEALAND’S CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN
They were warned by the officials against stockpiling toilet paper or flour. But that’s not all New Zealanders have been hoarding, according to the nation’s largest retailer of sex toys, which said sales of its products tripled after Jacinda Ardern announced a month-long lockdown of the country. New Zealanders are permitted to leave their homes only to access essential services or take walks during the national shutdown, which began a fortnight ago and will remain in place for at least a further two weeks. The measures generated mirth on social media about a possible baby boom nine months after the stay-at-home rules lifted, and worried family planning specialists as access to various forms of birth control dwindled. The restrictions also prompted a tripling of sex toy sales in the 48 hours before the lockdown was imposed on 25 March, and the prospect of a boring month indoors seemed to have prompted New Zealanders to stash adult products that they might not have tried before, said Adult Toy Megastore, a New Zealand-based company.
[SOURCE: theguardian.com]
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRING AIRLINES TO ISSUE REFUNDS IF FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
On April 3, the US Department of Transportation issued a mandate to the airline industry. It says that if a carrier, domestic or foreign, with 30 our more seats on an aircraft that operates in the states, cancels or significantly delays a flight a full refund must be issued. The traveler doesn’t have to take a credit voucher or re-book their trip. The Aviation Enforcement Office says it will monitor airline policies and practices and take enforcement action as necessary.
[SOURCE: kspr.com]
WWE CONFIRMS FIRST CASE OF CORONAVIRUS AHEAD OF MONDAY NIGHT ‘RAW’
WWE is confirming someone in its ranks is infected with the coronavirus — the first known case — but the wrestlers will push forward with scheduled events. The league confirmed Saturday an employee had come down with the ‘rona — after ProWrestlingSheet broke the news an on-camera talent (but not a wrestler) had contracted COVID-19 in recent weeks. PWS says the person — whose ID was not disclosed — started showing symptoms in late March after the WWE’s last batch of tapings, including WrestleMania 36. Apparently, the person went to dinner with some hospital worker friends, and got tested soon after. When the test same back positive, the employee immediately went into quarantine and remained there … according to PWS.
[SOURCE: tmz.com]
DISNEY WORLD TO FURLOUGH 43,000 EMPLOYEES DURING INDEFINITE CLOSURE
After it was announced last week, the Walt Disney Co. will begin to furlough employees on April 19, and 43,000 staffers at Disney World will be affected, the workers’ union said Saturday. The Service Trades Council Union said that the 43,000 employees will be able to file for unemployment benefits in Florida immediately, and those with insurance will retain their medical, dental and life insurance benefits for up to one year. All employees will be able to return to their jobs after the furlough is over. Less than 200 workers will remain to do essential tasks during the park’s temporary closure. Other unions, including non-essential food and beverage workers, have already completed negotiations with Disney over the park’s closure.
[SOURCE: variety.com]
Eight Things To Talk About uses the raw engagement data from the social media engagement from The Conversation Project to generate the top-ranking headlines over the course of a weekend.
A full weeks’ data (from Friday to Friday) is compiled, weighed, and sorted to produce the content for the Wrap-Up Show with J Cleveland Payne, published every Saturday as a podcast available at ThisIsTheConversation.com or wherever your favorite podcasts are found.
To ‘participate’ in the rankings of the headlines for this newsletter or the podcast, follow the Conversation Project on social media and engage with the posts to give them more ‘votes.’ The Conversation Project can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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