On July 8, 2024, the Facebook page “SpaceX Fanclub” posted a meme claiming actor James Wood had quit Hollywood to join fellow actor Mel Gibson’s new “anti-woke” production studio. The post linked to a May 2024 article on Esspots.com, its affiliated website.

(Facebook user “SpaceX Fanclub”)

The article began:

In a move that has reverberated throughout the entertainment industry, veteran actor James Woods has officially left Hollywood to join Mel Gibson’s newly established non-woke film studio. This partnership marks a significant shift for Woods, who has long been a polarizing figure due to his outspoken conservative beliefs in a predominantly liberal industry.

James Woods, known for his sharp intelligence and often controversial political stances, has increasingly felt alienated by the mainstream Hollywood culture, which he perceives as overly politically correct and restrictive. Over the years, Woods’ career has been marked by a series of confrontations and disagreements with other figures in the industry, leading to a gradual reduction in his appearances in mainstream films.

His decision to join Mel Gibson’s studio is not just a career move but a statement. Gibson, who has faced his own share of controversy in Hollywood, announced the creation of this new studio last year, promising a space for creative freedom devoid of what he calls the “censorship” of modern woke culture. The studio aims to produce films that embrace traditional storytelling without succumbing to contemporary political pressures.

Claim – Actor James Woods left Hollywood to join Mel Gibson’s new “anti-woke” production studio.

However, the claim was not real and came from sources that were satirical in nature. The Facebook post also came with a “satire” label, while its affiliated website, Esspots, described itself as specializing in satire.

As per Esspots’ “Disclaimer” page:

Before you proceed to read our content, we would like to emphasize that nothing on this website is real. All of the articles, stories, and commentary found on Esspots.com are entirely fictitious and created for the purpose of entertainment only.

We understand that satire can sometimes be mistaken for actual news or events, but we want to make it clear that we do not publish factual or accurate information. We do not intend to deceive or mislead our readers in any way, and all of our content should be taken with a grain of salt.

Furthermore, SpaceX Fanclub, the Facebook account that authored the viral post, had a similar disclaimer on its page: “We post SATIRE, nothing on this page is real.”

Conclusion: We labeled Satire.

 

 

A certain person recently delivered a speech at a university alumni association on the topic of “Dilemma after middle age”.

The audience, consisting of about 700 people, couldn’t help but burst into laughter throughout the speech.

 

Here is the full text:

 

Dear classmates,

 

There is a song that sings “Tomorrow will be better” to give people confidence and encouragement.

 

In real life, however, we can’t be certain if tomorrow will truly be better. What we can be sure of is that tomorrow, we will be older.

 

As the years pass, we come to understand the harshness of time.

At a certain age, we have to admit the power of gravity.

Our organs are still there, but they seem to be drooping.

 

As the saying goes, “Everything is drooping, only blood pressure is high.”

 

Our bodies undergo significant changes after reaching middle age.

The once guitar-shaped figure now resembles a pear.

We fall asleep when sitting and struggle to sleep when lying down. We can’t remember what we want to remember and can’t forget what we want to forget.

To make matters worse, we shed no tears when we cry and have to wipe away tears when we laugh.

 

And let’s not forget the “white hair that can never be combed out, growing again with the spring breeze” on our heads. Men’s hairstyles, as described by the novelist Mo Yan, are like “the local supporting the central,” with hair combed from both sides to the middle in an attempt to cover the sparse hair in the middle.

 

Our memory also gradually declines. We find ourselves walking from one room to another, only to forget why we came in the first place.

 

We repeat ourselves, forgetting what we just said. There was even an old man who once laughed halfway and forgot why he was laughing.

 

While young couples grow old together, what should middle-aged couples do?

 

It’s not easy to change our bad habits. Life is like “saving the whole and paying the little,” gradually passing away.

 

The young individuals who were once full of vigor and vitality have now become fragile old men in the blink of an eye.

 

Some people even mock the elderly, claiming that they are experiencing “knowledge degeneration, organ aging, and rigid thinking, waiting for cremation.”

 

But it is up to us to cultivate our minds. As someone said – “Age does not matter as long as the matter does not age.”

 

We may grow old, but our hearts should remain youthful.

 

Wrinkles may appear on our faces, but they should not reflect the state of our hearts.

 

Consider this: some people don’t have the privilege to grow old; they pass away at a young age.

 

We should also adjust our attitude towards life.

 

In the past, we traded our health for wealth, but now we must trade our wealth for health.

 

Life is said to consist of three stages:

(1) Young people strive for a good education,

(2) Success in middle age relies on experience, and

(3) As we grow older, we must pay attention to our medical history.

 

In any case, I wish all my dear friends good health, happiness, a heart as mischievous as a child, and a smile on their faces.

 

Let’s ask for another 40 years from God, shall we?

 

Lastly, let’s remember the four most fashionable truths of 2024:

1. Don’t show off your money; it’s as valuable as paper in a hospital.
2. Don’t show off your work; if you stumble, countless others will do better than you.
3. Don’t show off your house; once you’re gone, it becomes someone else’s nest.
4. Don’t show off your car; when you’re no longer around, the car keys will be in someone else’s hands.

 

The only thing worth showing off is your health !

 

When others are gone, you can still bask in the sun, sip tea, and enjoy a healthy life.

 

Please take good care of yourselves because replacement parts are hard to come by and extremely expensive! They’re not in stock yet…

 

This speech is filled with truth and humor. It brings tears to our eyes and laughter to our hearts.

It’s truly a rare and wonderful piece  !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In April 2024, a video went viral on TikTok, claiming that if you’re extra sleepy when you’re around your partner, it means you’re “chemically bonded.” The video’s captions read, “just found out that if ur extra sleepy when you’re around your partner it means you’re chemically bonded. Your body releases hormones like serotonin or dopamine when you’re together, which makes you more sleepy? that’s the sweetest shi i’ve ever heard.”

(via TikTok user @viraj.bagga)

As of this writing, the video had accumulated more than 3.5 million views, 421,000 likes and 104,000 shares. The same claim was spread via numerous viral TikTok videos and X posts.

In short, based on our research we found that while the presence of serotonin and dopamine in the brain can influence one’s sleep-wake cycle, many other factors may also play a role when one “feels sleepy.” In fact, no scientific studies conclude that feeling sleepy around one’s partner is caused by the release of serotonin and dopamine, or that the release of those hormones is caused by that proximity, or that feeling sleepy is a sign of a “chemical bond” between two people.

Based on these factors, we have rated the claim as a “Mixture” of true and unconfirmed information:

• True – Certain brain hormones, including serotonin and dopamine, are known to influence people’s sleep-wake cycles.
• Unconfirmed information – No scientific studies prove that being sleepy around one’s partner is a sign of a chemical bond or is caused by the release of hormones such as serotonin and dopamine.

Serotonin and Dopamine
Dopamine and serotonin are neurotransmitters, chemicals in the brain that transmit signals between nerve cells (neurons). Both hormones play a unique role in regulating various physiological processes, such as the sleep-wake cycle.

“Serotonin is one of the natural body chemicals that controls your mood. It works with melatonin to help control when you sleep and wake up, as well as how you feel pain, wellbeing and sexual desire,” the national health advice service in Australia explains. Serotonin influences sleep in that it’s necessary for the synthesis of melatonin, another important hormone in the brain. Adequate serotonin levels are required for the proper production of melatonin, which then regulates the sleep-wake cycle and timing of sleep onset.

Dopamine, on the other hand, produced by the hypothalamus, is “released when we do things that feel good to us,” such as being in a relationship.

In this case, these things include spending time with loved ones and having sex. High levels of dopamine and a related hormone, norepinephrine, are released during attraction. These chemicals make us giddy, energetic, and euphoric, even leading to decreased appetite and insomnia – which means you actually can be so “in love” that you can’t eat and can’t sleep.

As of now, we have not found any scientific studies proving that being sleepy around one’s partner is a sign of a “chemical bond” or caused by the release of hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. We have reached out to biochemistry experts for comment and will update this article if we receive a response.

Oxytocin
Several articles on the subject suggest that another hormone, oxytocin, affects one’s sleep-wake cycle. Oxytocin, often referred to as the “love hormone,” is a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. “People in romantic relationships tend to have higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone associated with pair bonding,” Madeline Sprajcer, a psychology lecturer at Australia’s Central Queensland University, told Newsweek, adding that “It also appears that oxytocin can have a positive impact on our sleep.”

Oxytocin has been shown to make people fall asleep more quickly and rest more efficiently, with an increase in restorative REM [rapid eye movement] sleep episodes. This so-called love hormone is often released during sexual activity, particularly during orgasm. Oxytocin can be released by simply being in the presence of a romantic partner to whom you are strongly attached, Sprajcer said.

However, Newsweek’s article highlighted that “feeling sleepy around your partner is not a foolproof indicator of a happy relationship.” Emre Selçuk, an associate professor of psychology at Turkey’s Sabanci University, told Newsweek that “the calm and quiescent state that partners instill almost borders boredom,” underscoring that “the feeling that there is nothing else to do or to share with your partner can make you sleepy in their company.”

In an article titled “Why do I get sleepy around my partner? A therapist’s take,” NOCD therapist April Kilduff explained that “Studies have found that people in relationships tend to have higher levels of the hormone oxytocin than those who are single”:

This hormone, which is sometimes referred to as the “bonding” or “love” hormone, is important for building connections between human beings. Our brains naturally release more oxytocin after being touched, or through positive interactions with others. So it’s no surprise that people in good relationships tend to have higher levels. Oxytocin is also thought to alleviate stress and promote calmness. As a result, this may translate to feeling more relaxed and even sleepy when you’re with Your Person versus when you are alone.

There’s even research showing that sleep in general is better with a partner, which might play a factor. For example, a study at the University of Arizona found that adults who shared their bed with a partner or spouse reported better quality sleep than those who slept alone.

It could even be something in your partner’s scent that lulls you to bed. Yes, really! There’s evidence that being exposed to your partner’s scent might help you sleep better than nights spent without the scent.

Feeling Safe and Other Factors
Tasha Bailey, an accredited psychotherapist and author, told Glamour UK that “when we feel secure and comfortable with a partner, it can activate our body to feel so safe that we might fall asleep”:

The feeling of safety activates the parasympathetic part of our nervous system (which is the part that is in charge when we feel relaxed). Our pupils dilate, our breath gets deeper and our heart rate drops as our body slowly unwinds. This means that our body is preparing itself for rest, which is why we might find ourselves falling asleep easily with our partner.”

Bailey also explained that “if we don’t feel safe with a partner, our fight-or-flight sympathetic nervous system can be activated. This can leave us feeling on edge, anxious and too hyper-vigilant to be able to relax,” adding that feeling sleepy around a partner could mean someone feels safe and protected:

Feeling sleepy around your partner can be a great sign that you trust this person enough to fall asleep in their presence. If we think back to pre-historic times, our ancestors could only fall asleep in places and with people where they were safe and out of danger. So saying that we can fall asleep in the presence of a partner, means that we feel safe and protected.

Similarly, Kilduff said that “if you’re a little bit tired or it’s the end of the day, there’s a certain element of safety that could make it easy to feel sleepy around your partner,” adding, “It could even be as simple as the fact that you mostly tend to spend time with your partner at the end of a long workday, which would naturally coincide with your circadian rhythms — the internal body clock that dictates your sleep cycle.”

In closing, it is worth remembering that tiredness is a natural response to a lack of adequate sleep and isn’t necessarily related to the dynamics of a relationship. Therefore, sleepiness around one’s partner can also be attributed to factors such as sleep deprivation, stress, irregular sleep patterns and overall lifestyle choices. Moreover, certain sleep disorders or medications can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, regardless of the situation or company.