First up, Target has decided to switch things up for Pride Month this year. They'll be offering a curated collection of adult apparel, home goods, food, and beverages based on consumer feedback. But here's the catch - these items will only be available on Target.com and in select stores, depending on how well they sold in previous years. It seems like Target is trying to avoid a repeat of last year's chaos, when some shoppers lost their minds over the representation of Pride, leading to the removal of items and relocation of Pride sections in many stores, particularly in the South. Despite the changes, Target maintains that they still support the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month and throughout the year, participating in local Pride events and spotlighting LGBTQ-owned brands.

Moving on from retail to underwater exploration, Larry Connor, a real estate billionaire from Ohio, is planning a voyage to the Titanic shipwreck site in 2026. This comes a year after the tragic implosion of the OceanGate submersible, which claimed the lives of all five passengers on board.

Determined to explore and conduct research at the site safely, Connor has teamed up with Patrick Lahey, co-founder of Triton Submarines, to design a custom two-person submersible called "The Explorer - Return to the Titanic." The vessel, based on Triton's existing Abyssal Explorer design, will feature an acrylic hull and offer a 320-degree view, making it the first of its kind to reach depths of 13,000 feet.

Connor emphasizes that this is not just a trip to the Titanic, but a research mission aimed at demonstrating the possibility of building a revolutionary submarine that can dive safely to great depths. He contrasts the planned submersible with the ill-fated Titan, stressing the importance of proper certification and rigorous testing. With a reputation for never taking unacceptable risks, Connor asserts that if the mission cannot be conducted safely and successfully, they simply won't do it.

Finally, let's talk about Charlotte, the stingray that became an overnight sensation for her rare pregnancy. Initially, it was believed that Charlotte had become pregnant through parthenogenesis, a rare form of asexual reproduction. However, as weeks passed without any news of her giving birth, some began to question the legitimacy of her pregnancy. The aquarium's lack of updates and changing information about the expected number of pups only fueled suspicions. Despite the doubts, the aquarium's founder, Brenda Ramer, defended Charlotte's pregnancy, reminding everyone that science is about discovery and that just because something hasn't been documented before doesn't make it impossible.
Well, there you have it, folks! From Target's Pride Month plans to a billionaire's submarine dreams and a stingray's mysterious pregnancy, we've covered quite a bit in this episode. As always, thanks for tuning in to the "What Are We Doing" podcast. Until next time, this is Levi, signing off!

---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/what-are-we-doing-pod/support