Latest news with #RobAnderson
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Bennett resident "kind of went hysterical" as Colorado tornado hit quickly-growing town
After multiple tornadoes damaged Colorado communities Sunday, neighbors are beginning the long process of cleanup. The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office said 17 buildings, including six homes and a solar farm, were damaged in Bennett. Tornadoes are not new to the Bennett area, but what is new are hundreds of new residents as the rural area east of the Denver metro area sees more development. Bennett's population has historically been around 2,500 to 2,800, but with recent development the town estimates their population is now more than 4,000, and it's only going up. In his near 50 years in the Bennett area, Rob Anderson has avoided a tornado, until Sunday. "Home. Been here for 40 plus years. This is the first one I've ever had hit me," Anderson said. While preparing to load up his horses for a competition out of state, Rob Anderson says his sister warned him of the tornado. @illegallychelsea "I had come around the south end of the barn here, and there was a tornado sitting over there. And I says, 'Okay.' I said, 'This ain't looking good,'" Anderson said. He rushed to get his horses into the barn and take shelter in his home. When he emerged, he surveyed the damage. "I went, I kind of went hysterical. I guess you could say," Anderson said. "I saw my trailer sitting over there. I saw them two trailers right there, like they're at my one shed here, gone, the other shed on the side of the barn gone, and just a mess." The horse trailer he'd been working on minutes earlier had been ripped open and thrown across the property. Other trailers, sheds and even a bedroom window were also destroyed. "Just been picking stuff up here, there and everywhere. All I can do," Anderson said. Rob Anderson points out where he saw the tornado. CBS While no one was hurt in this tornado, Anderson knows that future twisters could threaten more homes in his community. "The town has been small," said Trish Stiles, town manager for the Town of Bennett. "We have been prepping though as we knew that eventual growth, as all growth is, is coming east within the metro area." The Town of Bennett says managing severe weather in the growing community means leaning on partners, like Arapahoe and Adams counties. "We have been working through scenarios with all of those partners, so yesterday was really a testament that that preparation does pay off," said Stiles. If there's one thing Anderson knows, it's that severe weather comes with the territory. "It's chance you take," Anderson said. "It's a chance you don't know, here today, gone tomorrow." But despite a whirlwind of devastation, Anderson still says he'd take that chance in a heartbeat for his home. "Couldn't get me to live in the city. No," Anderson said. The biggest thing the Town of Bennett wants their new residents to do is sign up for Code Red alerts so they get warnings for severe weather like tornadoes and other safety alerts. They can sign up on the town's website at or by texting BENNETTALERTS to 99411. The town also offers a fire safety grant program. The American Red Cross will be at the Bennett Park and Recreation District Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help those impacted by the tornado.
CTV News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Alberta premier's chief of staff criticizes new environment minister
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, right, speaks to reporters, as chief of staff Rob Anderson looks on in this file photo in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's chief of staff is sounding the alarm over Prime Minister Mark Carney's pick to head up the government's environment portfolio. Rob Anderson says when it comes to new Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin, Albertans should 'sit down' for what he suggests is a shocking announcement. He points to Dabrusin's website, which touts her support for putting a price on carbon pollution, her strong stance against oilsands expansion, and her push for a transition away from fossil fuels. Anderson, in a social media post, says, in his words, ' gas.' Smith has said she wants to reset the province's combative relationship with Ottawa, and her government has demanded major changes on the environment file. That includes unfettered access to build oil and gas pipelines to the coasts, and a repeal of the Liberals' single-use plastics ban. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025. The Canadian Press
The Star
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Keeping up with the conclave: TikTok brings Gen Z closer to the Catholic Church
MANILA: Behind the Vatican's unyielding walls, centuries of secrecy have cloaked the process of choosing the next leader of the Catholic Church. But not this year. Gen Z – the first generation made up entirely of digital natives born between 1997 and 2012 – are taking the papal conclave into the algorithm age, turning the process of electing a successor to the late Pope Francis into something that feels less like a sacred ritual and more like a Miss Universe contest. The contestants? Elderly men in red robes. The crown? Spiritual authority over nearly 1.4 billion Catholics. On video-sharing platform TikTok, American internet personality and comedian Rob Anderson's clip dubbed the conclave the 'Pope Games', describing it as a 'Sistine Chapel sleepover' where cardinals cast their vote for the next pontiff. He then ranked the papabili, or potential popes – using gay terminology to explain where each cardinal stands on Church doctrine, from fundamentalist to reformist to somewhere in between. Anderson's irreverent take has gone viral, racking up over five million views and pulling centuries-old Catholic discourse straight into Gen Z's feed. Among the breakout stars is Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, often dubbed the 'Asian Francis' for his warmth and progressive views, traits reminiscent of the late pontiff. On TikTok, Cardinal Tagle has become meme gold: One viral edit shows him joking that he knows only three Polish words: kielbasa (sausage), pierniczki (gingerbread) and vodka. There are also several videos joking that karaoke would be a nightly event at the Vatican if a Filipino becomes the next pope. In the past, conclaves were decidedly hush-hush events as the world's faithful watched and waited for days for the results to be declared: white smoke from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel (a decision has been made) or black smoke (the voting continues). The previous conclave was in 2013, when social media was at a nascent stage. This conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor – which begins on May 7 – is the first to happen in the full glare of social media, with events likely as entertaining as they are insightful. While blending centuries-old rituals with cheeky or witty online humour is seen by some as creative commentary, others – particularly within Catholic circles – are raising ethical questions about making light of revered traditions. Experts say the phenomenon reflects Gen Z's instinct to remix serious world events into shared online moments, often blurring the line between respect and satire. To traditionalists, the conclave's memeification – or the process of turning issues into easily shared jokes or visuals online called memes – may seem irreverent and disrespectful. But for many Gen Z Catholics and even curious outsiders, the online buzz has become a gateway into real conversations about the future of the Church. What started as jokes about the cardinals' robes turned into genuine discourse on the theological and political leanings of papal contenders, and what that would mean to Catholics in the modern age. For young people like 22-year-old journalism student Ara Chong from the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, near the capital Manila, the memes have made the Church feel relevant again. 'I became interested after seeing posts describing Pope Francis as the 'diva' of the Church, and that we need another 'diva' like him. That made me curious and got me researching the pope's role in society, and why the conclave matters so much,' Chong said. It is an experience shared by some non-Catholics, like Alex Culla, 23. Watching all the conclave meme videos pushed her to research more about where each papal contender stood on issues she cared about. 'There's like a celebrity culture now surrounding the pope-ables and that made me so invested in the conclave,' said Culla, who is a Christian. Memes as digital evangelisation The memeification of the conclave does not surprise Assistant Professor Fitz Torralba, a sociologist who studies religion and pop culture at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology in the southern Philippines. Humour helps Gen Z process complex issues, he said. 'Making jokes is a release of tension. It's not an attack on the sacred or the elimination of the sanctity of the Church. Rather, it's a way of participating in these conversations'. Filipino Jesuit priest Jboy Gonzales, 57, formation director at the Ateneo de Davao University, said the memes can be considered a form of digital evangelisation. 'Sometimes, a meme or even TikTok videos can be great social commentaries about certain aspects of an event. This could lead to further reflection, evaluation and, hopefully, action,' he said. Social media can also be used to spotlight the Church's good work in helping migrants, the poor and the marginalised, he said. Memes 'can be opportunities for re-engagement, building bridges... promoting listening and dialogue', he noted. But he warned that memes cross a line when they mock believers or distort facts. Social media also poses risks of disinformation, with some users spreading edited videos to question the papal contenders' qualifications. This aspect worries church leaders like Filipino parish priest Aris Sison, 63, who is also spokesman for the Diocese of Cubao in Quezon City. He felt sad when told that there were viral videos of Pope Francis' possible successors even during the nine-day mourning period for the late pontiff. That some videos branded the papabili like beauty pageant contestants is even more difficult for the 63-year-old priest to understand. 'The conclave is a sacred process of choosing the next successor of St Peter. It's not just a president, it's not just a mayor, it's not just a world leader; the Pope is the vicar of Christ,' he said. 'I can't help but say to these social media users: Have a little respect.' Even a Filipino papal contender, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, 66, has warned against turning sacred rituals into public spectacles. In a Facebook post on April 25, he reminded the faithful not to reduce the conclave to entertainment and cautioned against using social media to campaign for their favourites. 'Creating or sharing campaign videos, even with good intentions, risks turning a sacred discernment into a worldly spectacle. It may inadvertently pressure or politicise the conscience of the electors, and distract from the silence and prayer needed to truly hear the voice of the Spirit,' he wrote. TikTok clips as the Church's new stained glass art? Religion reporter Paterno Esmaquel II of Manila-based news site Rappler sees the dynamic between faith and the digital medium as a continuation of a long tradition. He said the Church has long used art – from stained glass windows in churches to famous paintings depicting biblical scenes – to bring its message to believers. 'Now, it's mediated by technology like TikTok, but the same dynamics are at play,' said Esmaquel, who has a master's degree in Asian studies, focusing on religion in plural societies, from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. 'Religion has long expressed itself through art and symbols. And that's what we see now in TikTok and all these memes, and people are playing it up through the language of the new generation.' The Church must make space for humour and, 'as Pope Francis has always told us, needs to meet people where they are', he added. No doubt the debate over the use of humour with regard to religious matters will continue long after the black smoke turns white at the Vatican. But it is clear that Gen Zers have found a way to engage with the Church, in a way they want to be heard. In the words of Pope Francis himself: 'There is faith in humour.' - The Straits Times/ANN
New York Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Drama, Fashion and Cigarettes: Internet Casts Pop Gaze on Pope's Selection
The conclave is one of the world's most solemn, sacred and consequential elections. It is also a secretive meeting of older men who wear red robes and engage in politicking, scheming and smoking while picking the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics. The internet could not resist. 'It's so wild,' Rob Anderson, an author and internet personality who focuses on pop and L.G.B.T.Q. culture, said of the conclave, which begins on Wednesday. 'It's dramatic and it's fashion.' One of the world's longest-running elections will play out for a global audience that has never been so immersed in social media and fluent in memes. It comes after the release of the movie 'Conclave' last year, showing that the pope's election can be watched while eating popcorn. Now, after years of growing disaffection with the church, many young people around the world are leaning into the memeability of Vatican pageantry and intrigue.
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Keeping Up with the conclave: Gen Z, TikTok and the Catholic Church
What started as jokes about the cardinals' robes turned into genuine discourse on the theological and political leanings of papal contenders. PHOTOS: @HEARTTHROBER/TIKTOK, @STUJOPH/TIKTOK – Behind the Vatican's unyielding walls, centuries of secrecy have cloaked the process of choosing the next leader of the Catholic Church. But not this year. Gen Z – the first generation made up entirely of digital natives born between 1997 and 2012 – are taking the papal conclave into the algorithm age, turning the process of electing a successor to the late Pope Francis into something that feels less like a sacred ritual and more like the coronation of Miss Universe. The contestants? Elderly men in red robes. The crown? Spiritual authority over nearly 1.4 billion Catholics. On video sharing platform TikTok, American Internet personality and comedian Rob Anderson's clip dubbed the conclave the 'Pope Games', describing it as a 'Sistine Chapel sleepover' where cardinals cast their vote for the next pontiff. He then ranked the papabili, or potential popes – using gay terminology to explain where each cardinal stands on Church doctrine, from fundamentalist to reformist to somewhere in between. Mr Anderson's irreverent take has gone viral, racking up over five million views and pulling centuries-old Catholic discourse straight into Gen Z's feed. Among the breakout stars is Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, often dubbed the 'Asian Francis' for his warmth and progressive views, traits reminiscent of the late pontiff. On TikTok, Cardinal Tagle has become meme gold: One viral edit shows him joking that he only knows three Polish words: kielbasa (sausage), pierniczki (gingerbread), and vodka. There are also several videos joking that karaoke would be a nightly event at the Vatican if a Filipino becomes the next pope. In the past, conclaves were decidedly hush-hush events, as the world's faithful watched and waited for days for the results to be declared: white smoke (a decision has been made) or black smoke (the voting continues). The previous conclave was in 2013, when social media was at a nascent stage. This conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor – which begins on May 7 – is the first to happen in the full glare of social media, with results as entertaining as they are insightful. While blending centuries-old rituals with cheeky or witty online humour is seen by some as creative commentary, others – particularly within Catholic circles – are raising ethical questions about making light of revered traditions. Experts say the phenomenon reflects Gen Z's instinct to remix serious world events into shared online moments, often blurring the lines between respect and satire. To traditionalists, the conclave's memeification – or the process of turning issues into easily shared jokes or visuals online called memes – may seem irreverent and disrespectful. But for many Gen Z Catholics and even curious outsiders, the online buzz has become a gateway into real conversations about the future of the Church. What started as jokes about the cardinals' robes turned into genuine discourse on the theological and political leanings of papal contenders, and what that would mean to Catholics in the modern age. For young people like 22-year-old journalism student Ara Chong from the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, near the capital Manila, the memes have made the Church feel relevant again. 'I became interested after seeing posts describing Pope Francis as the 'diva' of the Church, and that we need another 'diva' like him. That made me curious and got me researching the pope's role in society, and why the conclave matters so much,' Ms Chong said. It is an experience shared by some non-Catholics, like Ms Alex Culla, 23. Watching all the conclave meme videos pushed her to research more about where each papal contender stood on issues she cared about. 'There's like a celebrity culture now surrounding the pope-ables and that made me so invested in the conclave,' said Ms Culla, who is a Christian. Memes as digital evangelisation The memeification of the conclave does not surprise Assistant Professor Fitz Torralba, a sociologist who studies religion and pop culture at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology in the southern Philippines. Humor helps Gen Z process complex issues, he said: 'Making jokes is a release of tension. It's not an attack on the sacred or the elimination of the sanctity of the church. Rather, it's a way of participating in these conversations'. Filipino Jesuit priest Jboy Gonzales, 57, formation director at the Ateneo de Davao University, said the memes can be considered a form of digital evangelisation. Filipino journalism students Alex Culla and Ara Chong laugh while watching a TikTok video about Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, one of the leading contenders for the papacy. ST PHOTO: MARA CEPEDA 'Sometimes, a meme or even TikTok videos can be great social commentaries about certain aspects of an event. This could lead to further reflection, evaluation and hopefully, action,' Father Gonzales said. Social media can also be used to spotlight the Church's good works in helping migrants, the poor and the marginalised, he said. Memes 'can be opportunities for re-engagement, building bridges... promoting listening and dialogue', he noted. But he warned that memes cross a line when they mock believers or distort facts. Social media also poses risks of disinformation, with some users spreading edited videos to question the papal contenders' qualifications. This aspect worries church leaders like Filipino parish priest Aris Sison, 63, who is also spokesperson for the Diocese of Cubao in Quezon City. He felt sad when told that there were viral videos of Pope Francis' possible successor even during the nine-day mourning period for the late pontiff. That some videos branded the papabili like beauty pageant contestants made it even more difficult for the 63-year-old priest to understand. 'The conclave is a sacred process of choosing the next successor of St Peter . It's not just a president, it's not just a mayor, it's not just a world leader ; the Pope is the vicar of Christ,' Father Sison said. 'I can't help but say to these social media users: Have a little respect'. Even Filipino papal contender Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, 66, warned against turning sacred rituals into public spectacles. In a Facebook post on April 25, he reminded the faithful not to reduce the conclave to entertainment and cautioned against using social media to campaign for their favorites. 'Creating or sharing campaign videos, even with good intentions, risks turning a sacred discernment into a worldly spectacle. It may inadvertently pressure or politicise the conscience of the electors, and distract from the silence and prayer needed to truly hear the voice of the Spirit,' he wrote. TikTok clips as the Church's new stained glass art? Religion reporter Paterno Esmaquel II of Manila-based news site Rappler sees the dynamic between faith and the digital medium as a continuation of a long tradition. He said the Church has long used art – from stained glass windows in churches to famous paintings depicting Biblical scenes – to bring its message to believers. 'Now, it's mediated by technology like TikTok, but the same dynamics are at play,' said Mr Esmaquel , who has a master's degree in Asian Studies, focusing on religion in plural societies, from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University . 'Religion has long expressed itself through art and symbols. And that's what we see now in TikTok and all these memes, and people are playing it up through the language of the new generation'. The Church must make space for humor and 'as Pope Francis has always told us, needs to meet people where they are', he added. No doubt the debate over the use of humour with regard to religious matters will continue long after the black smoke turns white at the Vatican. But it is clear that Gen Z has found a way to engage with the Church, in a way they want to be heard. In the words of Pope Francis himself: 'There is faith in humor.' Mara Cepeda is Philippines correspondent at The Straits Times. 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