#_author:Marissa Wenzke

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Try not to cry watching a young Mr. Rogers defend PBS

If you were a child in America anytime between the '60s and '90s, there's a certain man in a red sweater who was probably there for you.

Fred Rogers, better known as the one and only Mr. Rogers, spent over four decades hosting educational TV programs for kids. In 1969, the same year PBS was founded, he appeared before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee and gave a moving speech on what publicly funded TV programs could offer.

Of course, all this talk about public TV feels more important than ever, given the Trump Administration's plans to eliminate the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which funds PBS, where Sesame Street still airs, despite the show being sold to HBO) as well as three other independent agencies for culture and the arts.

In Mr. Roger's speech from the late 1960s, he touches on the importance of his own programs, which deal with the "inner dramas" of childhood in a way that can't be done with privately funded cartoons airing elsewhere, he said.

"We don't need to bop someone over the head to make drama on the screen," he told the committee. "We deal with such things as getting a haircut or the feelings about brothers and sisters or the kind of anger that arises in simple family situations. And we speak to it constructively."

The beloved TV host seems ahead of his time, explaining exactly why the physical health of children isn't the only thing to be worried about.

"I feel that if we, in public television, can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable," he said. "We will have done a great service for mental health."

The song he later recites will literally melt your heart. We still miss you, Mr. Rogers.

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BBC Dad comes out of digital hiding to talk about that infamous clip

Finally, a full four days after the video went absolutely everywhere, we know what was going on inside the mind of Korea expert Robert Kelly when his children decided to crash his BBC interview.

Behind all the nervous eye shutting and slight grimaces was "a mixture of surprise, embarrassment and amusement and love and affection," Kelly says in a new video interview — with his kids — for the Wall Street Journal.

SEE ALSO: Male high schoolers' video on why feminism is important goes viral

In the clip, Kelly and wife Kim Jung-A speak out about that adorably hilarious interview fiasco, which even he now admits was "terribly cute."

This time, though, he's less stone-faced academic and more down-to-earth parent. His child paws at his face and tugs his hair in the newest interview, and he even shows off some cozy dad slippers toward the end. His bed full of books has also been cleared away.

Kim Jung-A, meanwhile, talks about what was going through her own mind as the whole thing unfolded. First off, she rightfully points the finger right at Kelly: "Yeah, most of the time he locks the door," she says before he bursts into laughter. "I heard she leaving but I couldn't find them around me and I tried to check the door," Jung-A explains. "It was some chaos for me."

The incident began when the couple’s 4-year-old daughter Marion first noticed her father on the television screen in another room. She jumped up and down upon seeing his face on the screen, and before long, she was waltzing into his home office and overshadowing his discussion of South Korean politics.

It was her birthday, as Kelly explains, so it’s no wonder about all the dancing. “She was in a hippity-hoppity mood that day because of the school party,” he said.

Soon after, 8-month-old James trailed in behind his sister, wobbling around in a baby-walker. As all this was happening, Kim Jung-A was still calmly watching her husband’s interview on a television screen in another room. A time delay meant she saw that epic dancing entrance just a little too late.

When he realized baby James was making his way around the room too, Kelly felt all out of options. “Then I knew it was over,” Kelly said. Kim Jung-A eventually rushed in, scrambling to assemble the children and whisk them away.

At one point in the new video interview, a child can be heard screaming in the background and Kelly says to the interviewer, "This is my life, man."

In the wake of that epic video, the couple has turned off their Facebook and Twitter alerts, he says. "And I'm not even going near YouTube or Reddit or whatever these other sites are."

Still, as they shy away from the spotlight and hope the whole thing fades away, Kelly says that epic video has actually left the couple with a lot of good vibes.

"An overwhelming [amount of comments] that have been sent to us has been positive," Kelly says. "Mostly we're interested in [it] fading to a manageable level."

WATCH: Ditch your nail and hammer. Build your dream house in just 2 days using only wooden bricks.

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There's now a plaque to commemorate where Ian McKellen ate a potato

Sir Ian McKellen was spotted eating a potato at Liverpool University.

There for a speaking event, his eating habits may not have seemed like a huge deal to some. But the student guild was so delighted, they had a plaque made to commemorate the moment McKellen ate a baked potato on their humble campus, located at table five of The Sphinx bar. 

Liverpool’s student guild laid a plaque to commemorate Sir Ian Mckellen eating a jacket potato https://t.co/jSWt303fLt pic.twitter.com/ZJ5e5cCBkh

— Scott Werntz (@mrpinkoutloud) March 7, 2017

SEE ALSO: Let #GandalftheGuide show you New Zealand in this photo series

The decorated English actor's probably best known for his role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. But he's also a committed activist for the LGBTQ community, having been openly gay since 1988. He showed up to Liverpool University on Friday to give a talk on LGBTQ rights, as The Tab reports.

He spoke about sexuality and gender labels, discussing the importance of coming out. For him, that moment in his life was so important, he said he would like his gravestone to read: "Here lies Gandalf, I came out."

Then, at some point, he decided to have a little snack, a "jacket potato" as the Brits call it, or basically just a baked potato.

And if you believe the tweets, quite a few people stopped to sit and watch him eat that much-discussed potato.

So @IanMcKellen is sat in The Sphinx @LiverpoolGuild having a jacket potato. Just saying.

— Sean Turner (@GuildPresTurner) March 3, 2017

Today I saw Ian McKellen eating a jacket potato & I'm scared I'll never see anything as great again.

— Ruth (@ruthldalton) March 3, 2017

I'm currently watching Sir Ian McKellen eating a jacket potato at my work trying not to feel like a stalker...

— Rachel Coleman (@RacheColeman) March 3, 2017

Also loved seeing @IanMcKellen casually eating a potato in @LiverpoolGuild

— Rebecca Mulvaney (@beccavane) March 3, 2017

Within days, that special moment was celebrated with a blue plaque right at the scene of the potato-eating. It also paid tribute to McKellen's drinking of a latte in the same spot.

It probably goes without saying some students were pretty stoked on this new development.

so uni installed a plaque to commemorate @IanMcKellen eating a jacket potato which is fun https://t.co/4HhD2mzxGh

— ellie rice (@helloelli3) March 7, 2017

My uni has actually put up a blue plaque in a bar booth because Ian McKellen sat there and ate a jacket potato 😂👍🏻

— rach (@rrrachellouise) March 7, 2017

Sir Ian McKellen ate a jacket potato at my uni restaurant beat that

— katie (@elixirx_) March 7, 2017

WATCH: These tattoos conduct electricity, turning you into a very basic cyborg

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Another Trump diss gets some beautiful merch

The sharp diss Donald Trump lobbed at a BBC editor on Thursday has been immortalized into a t-shirt, because why not, it's 2017.

"Here's another beauty" was the sarcastic quip an angry Trump threw at BBC North America Editor Jon Sopel during a press conference. When Sopel tried asking Trump a question about his blocked travel ban, he cut him off and asked what news outlet he was with. And the rest is history. 

Sopel swiftly defended the BBC to no avail: "That's a good line," Sopel said, trying to hold back as he defended his organization, saying "Impartial, free and fair."

SEE ALSO: 'Fake news' has officially hit Britain and people can't cope

Since that cringeworthy exchange, Sopel's moment in the Trumpian sun has been made into a t-shirt. BBC doesn't appear to be involved, but the top has appeared for sale on a website called Redbubble, which has a collection of work from over 400,000 independent artists. 

"BBC News - another beauty" Watched the press conference? Buy the t-shirt. https://t.co/3eCpfxZ8vs

— simon wilson (@siwilso) February 17, 2017

The artist who's name the shirt is listed under, "nikhorne," has other politically-minded clothing up for sale, like patriotically red, white and blue "Nasty Woman" and "Bad Hombre" t-shirts. But this t-shirt has attracted the attention of Sopel himself. 

"I've made it," the BBC editor tweeted on Friday. "Though hurt I wasn't asked to model it ... 

I've made it. Though hurt I wasn't asked to model it.... https://t.co/MWbwRxrZZs

— Jon Sopel (@BBCJonSopel) February 17, 2017

Mashable has reached out to nikhorne and BBC for comment.

BONUS: Invisible liquid can make your phone screen as hard as sapphire

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Gambling site is offering 2:1 odds that Trump will be impeached

Trump is just two weeks into his presidency but already gamblers are rushing to bet on his impeachment.

Online betting site Paddy Power is offering odds as low as 2:1 that Trump will be impeached in his first term. That's cut in half from before his inauguration, when they stood at 4:1, Fast Company reports.

SEE ALSO: Trump’s Muslim Ban could have doomed Apple

If you think Trump will be impeached in the first six months of his presidency, meanwhile, the site is offering 6:1 odds. For 2017, it's 7:1. They lengthen every year right up to 20:1 for an impeachment in 2020.

The divisive president's removal from office is not the only thing gamblers can bet on at Paddy Power. Trump splitting from Melania, painting the White House gold and heading to North Korea for his first state visit are all theoretical eventualities gamblers can spend on. 

The company is also offering 4:1 on the chances of a compromising video involving Trump being posted online, according to a section titled "Donald Trump Specials."

Image: Paddy Power

Paddy Power is not the only company offering bets on an impeachment either; Ladbrokes brought theirs right down to evens in January. Labrokes bets include the possibility of a resignation too.

Impeachment has only happened to two other U.S. presidents — Bill Clinton in the 20th Century and Andrew Johnson during the 19th Century. It's a lengthy and complicated process, but legally speaking, it's a possibility for Trump, according to some legal experts.

Trump has already violated the part of the U.S. Constitution that bars him from receiving payments from foreign governments, according to John Bonifaz, a lawyer and president of Free Speech for People. Bonifaz, whose organization helped start the Impeach Donald Trump Now campaign told Democracy Now! that already makes for a solid impeachment case.

"This kind of corruption is massive, and it’s far worse than even Watergate," Bonifaz said.

Currently, 40 percent of voters want to see Trump impeached, according to a recent survey by Public Policy Polling, which reports that just 35 percent wanted impeachment a week ago. Meanwhile, 52 percent of voters said they would rather have Barack Obama as president again.

BONUS: The 'Gilmore Girls' coffee challenge doesn't have a happy ending

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One hashtag is uniting Americans in the fight against Trump

Among the millions of vibrant, emotional images of protest packing our timelines since Donald Trump's inauguration, one simple six-letter word has stood out: 

Resist.

Variations of the word have dominated social media since the president took office in late January. In the three days following his de-facto Muslim ban, for example, #Resist and #TheResistance have appeared in over 2.5 million tweets, according to data provided by Twitter.

SEE ALSO: Twitter accounts form digital army in resistance against Trump

As the political turmoil brewed, critics of Trump created a range of hashtags — from #IResist to #ResistTrump — to post alongside actions in the fight against the policies of the new president. 

These posts — and the IRL actions behind them, from marches to calls to congressional representatives — have all morphed into a new social movement. At the moment, it's a movement that appears to have no set name, no particular agenda and no single organizing force. 

Unlike the #WomensMarch or #BlackLivesMatter, for instance, #TheResistance happened almost overnight and through a totally decentralized collection of people with no one person or group leading the way.

But it's made it way all the way to the White House, where a giant Greenpeace banner hanging from a crane seemed to spur its popularity even more.

This morning seven activists deployed a 70-ft by 35-ft banner that reads “RESIST” above the White House. This was call for YOU. #ResistOften pic.twitter.com/CVbr9VNZBu

— Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) January 26, 2017

Although it has been embraced by a wide swath of Americans, #Resist has come to symbolize the fight for all those most vulnerable under Trump — immigrants, Muslims, people of color, women, members of the LGTBQ community and anyone else who feels they have been targeted by his policies. 

"They're worried they're going to lose what [rights] they have gained," said David Lyons, a legal philosopher at Boston University, noting that members of the LGBTQ community, for instance, only very recently secured the fundamental right of marriage equality. 

"So they are resisting."

We're not going to shut up. We're going to resist. Stand with @SenateDems tonight at the Supreme Court. https://t.co/Ny57jNFcnt

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 30, 2017

People are also latching onto the word through efforts like #ResistTrumpTuesdays, which feature sit-ins, street protests and visits to local representatives' offices to challenge the president's agenda.

What's happening right now is "very spontaneous" and unfolding through the ad-hoc efforts of everyday people, according to Lyons, who has studied political resistance for decades. These are people making their own signs, showing up to protest because of a string of tweets, and making donations out of their own pockets. 

"There's no better term to describe it," Lyons said. "Resistance is the only term that describes the great variety of actions happening right now."

Chicago protestors show their disdain for Donald Trump's cabinet picks.

Image: scott olson/ Getty Images

Of course, political resistance is nothing new but it's that timeless energy of civic action that seems to be burning in the hearts and minds of millions of Americans right now. And all of it pooled together makes up a broader movement, one the New York Times describes as "hatched on social networks and ... dispatched by mobile phones."

"Unlike the Tea Party and the white-supremacist 'alt-right,' the new movement has no name," the Times' journalist Farhad Manjoo writes. "Call it the alt-left, or, if you want to really drive Mr. Trump up the wall, the alt-majority. Or call it nothing."

From right-to-work protests in middle America to #BlackLivesMatter demonstrations around the country, a wide array of groups are coming together to #Resist. Still, #TheResistance can be seen burning most brightly in the coastal liberal enclaves of the United States, as shown in a heat map by Affinio.

Image: affinio

It may have its geographic biases, but the resistance to Trump appears largely united, with solidarity being seen as the only way forward.

"They can’t just care [only] about women’s rights or gay rights or the rights of black people" or any other individual group being oppressed, said Clifford Lampe, a professor of information at the University of Michigan who studies online social movements. "You kind of have to support that whole thing as a package now."

Hashtags spring up in response to a variety of issues, from natural disasters to instances of police brutality, but outside of a few notable exceptions such as #BlackLivesMatter, they tend to burn out after a period of time. #Resist could be different, Lampe believes, because few movements have affected as many people simultaneously as Trump's agenda. "There are very few events where it touches so many different people's lives," he said.

This can be seen across social media, as celebrities, politicians, advocacy groups, activists, and countless ordinary Americans rally to fight back, enlisting the #Resist hashtag to represent any expression of opposition.

As Trump continues to govern with ferocity, the #Resist hashtag continues to grow. It appears, no matter what you want to call it, The Resistance has arrived. 

A Timeline of #Resist

From the first hours of his presidency to the moment he issued a travel ban targeting Muslims, Americans have been saying they will #Resist. 

November: Trump is elected, a hashtag is born

Nov. 8, 2016 is a day many Americans will never forget. Jaws dropped and tears ran down the faces of Trump detractors around the nation, but within days, some had already worked up a commitment to resistance. The hashtag began percolating.

We won't tolerate any normalization of the white supremacists currently attempting a government coup #TheResistance #Resist #NotMyPresident

— Tara Obama Dublin❄️ (@taradublinrocks) November 19, 2016

You can't unite with hate. #Chicago demonstration #Resist pic.twitter.com/rUEqhH3Ogv

— Betsy Rubin (@BetsyRubin) November 19, 2016

I am with the First Lady, Michelle Obama. I am refusing to say his name. We should all refuse to say his name. #resist

— Roberta Brooks (@Roberta823) November 11, 2016

December: #NoDAPL protesters earn a victory 

The battle to halt construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline, a 1,172-mile oil pipeline that will run through four states, saw many using the hashtag to advocate the rights of indigenous people, environmental safety and water quality, and to call for more progressive civic action. On Dec. 5, construction on the pipeline was temporarily put on hold.

Keep it in the soil you can't drink oil #WaterIsLife #NoDAPL #dumptrump #blacklivesmatter #abolishborders #resist pic.twitter.com/9UBQbCicTU

— Aaron Tanaka (@tanakatalk) November 10, 2016

Poster by artist Juan Fuentes (https://t.co/EYGgTmGoaj) for #StandingRockSiouxTribe #standingrock #noDAPL #art #RESIST #sanfrancisco #sf pic.twitter.com/Zf4qwdkiAr

— openchakra (@openchakra) December 8, 2016

January: The Women's March overshadows the president's inauguration 

The day after Trump was sworn into office, millions of Americans showed him exactly how they felt about his presidency. And the resistance was real. #Resist tied protests across to country to a single word.

They tried to bury us. They didn't know we were seeds. #Resist #womensmarch #whywemarch https://t.co/3sdxZIWzOn pic.twitter.com/GidnNIck1e

— Lauren M Baker (@LMBMedia) January 23, 2017

This is what it looks like when 750,000 people #Resist pic.twitter.com/25JNIeQ9WV

— Sam Underwood (@samunderwood) January 22, 2017

Happy to see Democracy alive and well#resist #nycwomensmarch pic.twitter.com/Jp3vfIUQsN

— Ryan Eggold (@Ryan_Eggold) January 21, 2017

Flash protests break out after Trump announces Muslim ban

Massive flash protests at airports around the country showed just how quickly Americans will spring into action. Lawyers, translators, and activists rushed to defend those facing uncertainty under a travel ban placed on seven Muslim-majority counties. Of course, #Resist was there all the way.

Lawyers at Chicago O'hare Airport are filing 8 Habeas Petitions as we speak. ✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼#MuslimBan #nobannowall #OhdTerminal5 #resist #DumpTrump pic.twitter.com/dQLKYQQi8m

— Sarah Chambers (@Sarah4Justice) January 29, 2017

@AltStateDpt Los Angeles Intl Airport today. #resist #NoBanNoWall #SkandiaShafer pic.twitter.com/sebJ8StmOU

— Jessica Craven (@Craven7Jessica) January 30, 2017

Standing with hundreds at the MSP Airport today against the #MuslimBan. Find a protest and #resist: https://t.co/p3DjDtc4Hy pic.twitter.com/qdjq3xWYDn

— Keith for DNC (@EllisonCampaign) January 29, 2017

Activism becomes a regular, scheduled activity with #ResistTrumpTuesdays

Following the rise of the hashtag comes #ResistTrumpTuesdays, a collection of loosely organized efforts by groups such as the Working Families Party to appeal to local lawmakers and march on the streets. 

Ok let's make this a thing #ResistTrumpTuesdays pic.twitter.com/0fXMUn0A2W

— Joseph Pfender (@Apollonysus) February 1, 2017

"In 1934 in the Great Depression I  was still able get a BA with no loans—union people fought for & WON free higher ed" #ResistTrumpTuesdays pic.twitter.com/9AVeq5gaBE

— Resist Trump Chicago (@ResistTrumpTues) January 31, 2017

#ResistTrumpTuesdays protest in Chicago calling on @SenatorDurbin and @SenDuckworth to vote NO on DeVos & Sessions & all Trump appointees. pic.twitter.com/rDCu9eqTQF

— Love+Struggle Photos (@sarahdashji) January 31, 2017

February: The hashtag continues

Celebrities, digital influencers, popular activists, advocacy groups and politicians have all flocked to the term. Their support sees the #resist hashtag find its home in the social media feeds of all Americans. 

Blessed to live in a time where I have the freedom to wear what I want. Happy World Hijab Day 🇺🇸❤ #resist pic.twitter.com/f23Cq5RHA0

— Ibtihaj Muhammad (@IbtihajMuhammad) February 1, 2017

The GOP leadership has cravenly capitulated to Trump's immigration ban. We look to our brave federal judiciary to check his madness. #Resist

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 29, 2017

help our queer & immigrant friends. send me your donation receipts for the @aclu & I will match up to $100K https://t.co/P9zVRH0WH0 #RESIST

— sia (@Sia) January 28, 2017

BONUS: All 13 times the stars at the SAG Awards threw shade at Donald Trump

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Swing Left: Grassroots campaign translates frustration with Trump into real change

In the wake of Donald Trump officially taking office, millions have protested and marched on the streets of cities around the country.  But one question on many people's minds has been: how can those opposed to the new presidency continue to make real change?

One answer comes in the form of Swing Left, a rapidly growing grassroots effort that aims to help Democrats win the House of Representatives in 2018.

SEE ALSO: At Debug Politics, engineers try to fix everything that went wrong with the 2016 election

The organization has mapped out the 52 so-called swing congressional districts around the country, where Americans can organize and volunteer to help Democrats win districts that hold the closest of political contests. In these places, the incumbent last won by less than 15 percent of the vote — making them the most crucial of political battlegrounds, as Business Insider reports.

The group has grown rapidly in just the short time since Trump officially took office. The day after Trump's inauguration, on Saturday, it tweeted that it had grown by at least 20,000 people. 

20,000 people have signed up to support their closest swing district at https://t.co/dXBdbNv9Lj in less than 3 days. America is mobilizing. pic.twitter.com/3gqmcDIy8n

— Swing Left (@swingleftorg) January 22, 2017

On Sunday, that number had quickly swelled to 100,000 people.

In just 4 days, 100,000 people have signed up to support their closest swing district at https://t.co/dXBdbNv9Lj. Our work begins NOW.

— Swing Left (@swingleftorg) January 23, 2017

Organized by a loose, eclectic mix of professionals in media, tech, art and nonprofits, Swing Left's ultimate goal is to get those 52 swing districts won by Democratic candidates. Doing this in the 2018 elections would shift the current political landscape.

On the group's website, users can fill in their zip code and find the swing district nearest to them.

Image: https://swingleft.org/

When Mashable plugged in a Los Angeles zip code, the result was California's 25th congressional district — a swatch of land encompassing northern Los Angeles and part of Ventura County that's currently under Republican control.

The district's current Republican representative, Stephen Knight, won by just 16,349 votes — or 6.3 percent of the vote — in the last election. 

Signing up with the website gets you weekly emails about fundraising, donating, and volunteer work such as working phone banks and spreading the word on social media for that particular district. 

Swing Left's website also has a map that shows exactly where each of the 52 swing districts are located. 

The group's strategy has already won the praise of many Americans on social media.

Just signed up for this thing: My closest Swing District is NJ-05, Find yours and help swing the House left in 2018: https://t.co/taWu4fKyK8

— Daniel Kibblesmith (@kibblesmith) January 23, 2017

Good idea: Tool to help you find a nearby congressional district where your volunteer work will make the most difference. https://t.co/hDbDXTZ17O

— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) January 22, 2017

Wow! Thank you! I didn't know about @swingleftorg 😃So GREAT! #WeMatter https://t.co/wfXSqj4qLI

— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) January 22, 2017

Just signed up with @swingleftorg to try to flip House district AL-02 to a blue district! #itstartswiththeHouse

— Jay Malone (@myworst_Bhavior) January 22, 2017

But not everyone's a fan of the site. Some have pointed to glitches in the system, such as weird results after plugging in their zip codes.

Not impressed with this site. Put in my Seattle zip code, told me two nearest swing districts are in Alaska & Nevada https://t.co/XzbG8iB9so

— Robert Cruickshank (@cruickshank) January 23, 2017

Meanwhile, others said Swing Left's lack of affiliation with any traditional Democratic groups and its lack of transparency about who exactly is running the show makes it a little sketchy, as Daily Kos reports. Thus, such opponents say, it might not a place where you should be entering personal information like your zip code. Mashable has reached out to the site for more information.

p.s. Be wary of giving your info to unaffiliated resources like Swing Left. @dailykos raises significant concerns: https://t.co/9axvH1fw19

— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) January 23, 2017

Despite such concerns, finding the congressional districts that are most politically flexible is probably not such a bad idea if the current political landscape is ever expected to shift.

BONUS: Across the globe, nasty women and men hit the streets one day after Trump's inauguration

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Secret Santas: Inside the hidden online world of St. Nicks

Santa Claus is coming to town, or actually, the internet. 

Like so much of the planet, the jolly red man has found a home online. Booking gigs, talking with fans, finding the perfect red suit — it all happens there. But like many of us mere mortals, Santa's social life and work life are two different worlds that just sometimes merge. That's where secret online communities come in. 

Yes, there are Santas on LinkedIn and others marketing themselves on social media, but "Santa groupies" and a need for more privacy have driven many to connect in hidden online groups. 

SEE ALSO: Take this festive virtual tour of Santa’s house at the North Pole

Whenever there's a public Facebook group dedicated to working Santas, they become "overwhelmed with Santa groupies" John Chilson, a Santa from Colorado, told Mashable, defining "Santa groupies" as "people who just want to hang out with Santas, know everything about them."

It's a real problem. And like anyone else, sometimes Santa just wants to talk with his friends. 

"There are a lot of Santa groups on Facebook where you have to become a member," Norm Gerring, a cofounder and administrator of a web-based haven for Santa-style socializing in Michigan, said. "I think they deserve a right to talk with each other openly and freely."

Gerring's site, called Michigan Association of Professional Santas, or MAPS, can only be accessed by members. And to become one, you must usually be recommended by another Santa.

On the site's blog, Santas can post about things like liability insurance tips or the gigs they can't do. Dave Downs, who cofounded the site and goes by the name "Big Wave Santa," said postings for jobs  are picked up "usually within hours or minutes."

But it's not just professional networking happening behind the scenes. The Santas share stories and photos and commiserate with one another, too. 

"For those who are referred to as a 'real bearded Santa,' it is a lifestyle," Gerring said, adding the pressure can be tough when representing the iconic Christmas figure. "You have to be very careful when you're out in public because people look at you."

In fact, not too long ago during the pre-internet days, it was very different. "It was a lonely job," Gerring said. Gradually, little groups started forming around the country and the online communities grew, he said. The web was a game-changer: "I believe it has helped immensely," he said.

Now, the online world of Santa has been whittled down to tight-knit communities.  Members can freely talk about what it's like to be Santa, from the naughty to the nice and everything in between. They can also plan meet-ups. 

Through the MAPS website, Santas from around Michigan get together for casual breakfast gatherings or the organization's annual dinner in January, when dozens talk about the last Christmas and cap off the night with cookies and milk. Last year's event drew 85 Santas, Downs said. 

So what do these guys talk about? Well, being Santa is kind of like being in Fight Club. But some Santas would share a few general tidbits about their experiences. For one, there are mall Santas and then there are other Santas, a distinction made clear by professional Santas Mashable spoke with.

Being a mall Santa is tough work, requiring 8- to 12-hour days, quick and sometimes unflattering photos and often traveling significant distances to hold down the gig. 

"I don’t do malls. I got friends that do," Downs said. "I hear the horror stories ... I prefer home visits, where I have a chance to talk with the kids." 

What else do they talk about? Children's trust, and well, their pee.

Jim Manning, a full-time professional Santa Claus, gave his tips on avoiding the pee of children during an AMA on Reddit in 2013. And apparently, it's all in the parents' body language as they hand the child to you with "arms outstretched, elbows locked."

One of the Santas' biggest challenges, though, is that inevitable question: "Is Santa real?"

That's got to be a toughie for anyone, but a good Santa is always prepared. And it's actually a question that gets asked "almost everyday," Keith "SantaFinn" Makela of Rochester, Michigan said. His response is simple: "Are you a real child? Are you a real kid?" 

Makela attended the CW Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Michigan, as well as the International University of Santa Claus. He learned about the history of Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus, proper dress and make-up, live reindeer habits and "Santa Sign Language." 

From the pricey clothes to the priceless patience, there's a lot that goes into being Santa. But a lot of them will tell you they aren't just doing it for the cash. Rather, it's for something else. And it's something they can't usually find elsewhere.

"I had no idea before becoming Santa what it was like to walk around where there was no negative energy anywhere," Makela said. "Wherever Santa goes, there’s nobody being negative about anything. That’s an interesting way to walk around."

So it turns out Santa does exist, and he's living life to the fullest IRL and online. You're just not invited to his private group.

BONUS: Celebrate the holiday season with an 8-bit version of 'Home Alone'

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The internet is really pumped about this teen's quinceañera

There's one event this year you just can't miss.

Thanks to a viral video invitation, a teenage girl in rural Mexico is going to have the quinceañera of a lifetime. With a guest list of more than 1 million people for the 15th birthday party, BBC reports, Mexican police are expected to deploy to the bash for security reasons.

Such a huge turnout would easily dwarf the extravagance of any ridiculously expensive Super Sweet 16 party on MTV. In the video invite, 14-year-old Rubi Ibarra Garcia stands smiling in a cheetah-print dress and tiara, as her father opens the December party to everyone who can come.

SEE ALSO: Ballet dancers make Mexico City their stage in stunning photo series

"Hereby everyone is cordially invited," Rube's father, Crescencio Ibarra, says to the camera.

Well, it appears more than a million people have taken that message to heart.

In many Latin American cultures, quinceañeras are usually extravagant celebrations with wedding-like elements like a huge dress, live music and a Catholic mass — all part of the traditional rite of passage. But the one and only "Los XV Años de Rubi" appears to be reaching new heights. 

A horse race with a prize of 10,000 pesos ($490), musical performances and the invitation everyone just couldn't get enough of has gotten the internet in quite an uproar about Rubi's big day.

So ready for this #quincederuby pic.twitter.com/1wkq5ZM7WI

— Jonathan Guzman (@Jonathan4evryun) December 7, 2016

My mom just asked me if I'm going to Rubi's quinceañera

— Jasmín (@jasmo831) December 7, 2016

Rubi's quince this month let's ride

— andres abn (@elcompaandrew) December 6, 2016

Quien esta listo para la Quinceañera De Rubi?😂 Legado 7 🎸 pic.twitter.com/jKfwU7JUeF

— CLUB CORRIDOS (@CorridosYMas_) December 7, 2016

I'm on my way to Rubi's quince like.. pic.twitter.com/9NYm0eerEJ

— Chino (@Chinohoven) December 3, 2016

When they uninvited you from los XV de Rubi pic.twitter.com/RZzJxpfttZ

— Deadass A Raccoon B (@EdwinM303) December 6, 2016

Even some businesses decided to cash in on the big bash, from an airline giving out special flight deals to a popular singer who offered to serenade Rubi.

¡Asiste al evento del año y regresa con el premio a casa! 🐐 https://t.co/YfLLwaJkhA pic.twitter.com/Qiq9ogvMNg

— Interjet (@interjet) December 5, 2016

¡Para que llegues con bien a los 15's de Rubi usa #CastrolGTX en tu próximo cambio de aceite! #rubixv #XVdeRuby pic.twitter.com/YavT9jRlBJ

— Castrol México (@CastrolMex) December 7, 2016

Set in a field right outside the small village of La Joya, with a population of just 10,000, the party's rural locale also drew some laughs online, a fact that made Rubi's father a bit sad, he said in a BBC interview. But the family's gotten used to the idea of a huge party, and even the countless memes and fliers floating around for #QuinceDeRubi. Still, her father said he never expected so many people would try to come.

"We wanted to invite the people from the area, that's all," he said, before adding that people from all over are still welcome.

"Rubi is my daughter and she has always been our queen," her mother, Anaelda Garcia, said in the same interview. 

Below is the invitation that started it all.

BONUS: This triple spiral of 15,000 dominoes falling down is incredibly satisfying to watch