Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
jeudi 21 décembre 2017
This Star Wars Theory Explains Why Rey Is So Drawn to the Dark Side
Warning: spoilers for Star Wars: The Last Jedi ahead!
While Star Wars fans are pretty divided on whether or not The Last Jedi is good, one thing's for sure: it's really done a lot to shake up the franchise. The latest film in the epic series dismantles some of the most plausible theories about the newest trilogy. Prior to release, fans had all sorts of theories about Supreme Leader Snoke, who almost certainly tied into the rest of the films somehow. But then, he dies rather unceremoniously, with no greater connection and no significant backstory to speak of. And then there's the most contentious question that came out of The Force Awakens: who the hell are Rey's parents? But strangely, The Last Jedi really pulls a fast one on fans here too.
In the latest film, Kylo Ren tells Rey her parents were complete nobodies. They did not matter. They were not notable Jedi warriors. They were not any kind of royalty. They were just pathetic junk thieves who abandoned their child - who, in fact, sold their child off for money. The revelation is almost as devastating for audience members as it seems to be for Rey. After all, Darth Vader's iconic line, in which he admits he's Luke Skywalker's father, is one of the greatest twists in film history! How could they not give us something equally compelling and mind-blowing this time around? How could they not give Rey anything at all?!
But here's the thing: regardless of how notable or forgettable her parents were, one thing is for sure: Rey seems to hew toward to the dark side. It's true that dark and light are the greatest constants of the Star Wars universe. The great debate of the film is whether villains are born villains or made that way. But when it comes to Rey, she seems to be a character who is strongly drawn toward evil from the get-go. Even in The Force Awakens, she seems to be tempted by the dark side. In The Last Jedi, she nearly succumbs to this urge. She certainly plunges into that dark and cavernous cave on Luke's island (which, incidentally, is where she nearly finds out the identity of her parents on her own). And even with Kylo Ren, she seems to nearly cave to his offer to rule the galaxy together.
This must mean Rey's parents are involved in the dark side in some way, right? It would certainly explain why Rey seems to be a bit evil in nature. Most simply, they could just be nobodies who happen to align themselves with the First Order. Perhaps they were some kind of underlings who served under Snoke as guards or stormtroopers or even just suppliers of weapons and other necessities.
But there's also a chance Kylo Ren is lying, and that Rey's parents were a big deal. Which means Rey's parents could still be notable baddies in the Star Wars universe. Like, say, for instance, a member of the Palpatine family. As we settle in and wait the long, long time until Episode IX, we can't help but wonder why Rey's parents weren't revealed down in that dark cave . . . and why they dwelled down there in the first place. Something is just not adding up.
36 Celebrity Friendship Moments That Will Make You Feel Better About 2017
2017 may not have been all that we hoped for, but thankfully, we have plenty of celebrity friendship moments to be grateful for. From Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet's Titantic reunion with Billy Zane to Jimmy Fallon "bro-biking" with Justin Timberlake, this year definitely taught us what true friendship looks like. Take a look back at some of the best moments from 2017.
Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" Sounds Even Better With Classroom Instruments
After wowing everyone with her spot-on Kristen Stewart impression, Anna Kendrick sat down with Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, and Darlene Love for a festive version of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" using only classroom instruments. If you're in need of any Christmas cheer, look no further than the video above, because Love's classic 1963 holiday track somehow sounds even better with a kazoo and a melodica. Seriously!
Why Selena Gomez's Relationship With Justin Bieber Is Causing Her Family "Stress and Pain"
Justin Bieber's mother, Pattie, has already raved about how much she "loves" Selena Gomez, but the feelings might not go the other way when it comes to Selena's own mom, Mandy Teefey. According to E! News, Selena's family is "worried" about her tumultuous on-and-off again relationship with Justin.
"Her family is not happy about them being together at all," a source told the outlet. "They do not think he is a good person for Selena to have in her life and are skeptical that he has changed. Even if he is on his best behavior for now, eventually he will unravel. He has caused so much angst for the family and for Selena."
Selena and Justin - who first dated between 2010 and 2013 - rekindled their romance over the Summer following the "Wolves" singer's kidney transplant surgery. Their reunion was a surprise to some given the dramatic ups and downs they faced as a couple the first go around (at least, in the public eye), but it appeared that time apart gave them each a chance to grow. Despite that, Selena's family is still hesitant to accept Justin back into the fold, a decision which has caused major rift.
"They are very sad that she is choosing this route," the source continued. "They want to protect her as much as they can, but it is causing them a great deal of stress and pain to watch her give him another chance." The report comes after news broke that Selena's mom was recently hospitalized over a "heated" argument she had with Selena about dating Justin. A source close to the family told People that Mandy has been under a lot of stress lately and voluntarily sought out medical attention just to "make sure everything was okay," adding, "[it] wasn't just about Justin." That being said, fans recently noticed that Selena and her mother have unfollowed each other on Instagram. Not a good sign, right?
As for the holidays, fans shouldn't expect to see Justin and Selena at any of the Gomez family celebrations. "They made it very clear to her that he is not invited for the holidays," the source confirmed to E!. If Justin and Selena's latest outing is any indication, they probably weren't going to spend the holidays together anyway. Bah, humbug, indeed.
Olivia Wilde's Statement-Making Holiday Sweater Isn't Just Cute - It's a Damn MOOD
Olivia Wilde was spotted out and about in NYC on Wednesday wearing her holiday best - with a political twist. The actress and mother of two was photographed gleefully showing off her Christmas sweater, which, in addition to having "IMPEACH" written across it, also featured tiny Donald Trumps, a hand-stitched White House, and Russian Matryoshka dolls. If this isn't a damn 2018 mood, we don't know what is. Keep reading to see Olivia's statement-making sweater, then see who we'd be left with should an impeachment actually happen.
18 Lavish Holiday Gifts Stars Have Received
Celebrities spare no expense when it comes to holiday gifts. Throughout the years, we've seen stars receive everything from massive engagement rings to giant cheese wheels (we're looking at you, Chrissy Teigen). In 2014, Justin Bieber treated himself to his own private jet, and who could forget Drake's stripper pole from 2012? At the end of the day, what's the point of having money if you can't spend it, right?
The Best Gifts For 3-Year-Olds
The 3-year-old on your holiday list is ready to explore with all of their senses. They're able to sit and play with one toy for an extended period of time and then tell you when they're over it. That's why it's important to provide them with a variety of playthings that help them develop different skills through play. Check out our favorite finds for your preschooler this year, from toys based on his favorite TV characters to his first piece of technology!
The 10 Coolest Tech Gifts For Kids Under 10 Years Old
There are so many incredible tech products out there made especially for kids. This holiday, get your child something that's both entertaining and forward-thinking. We rounded up our favorite tech items that work for kids of different ages. Check out these genius options and buy them before they disappear. They're purchases you can feel good about.
Meet the Adorable Best Friends Who Keep Getting Pregnant at the Exact Same Time
Alicia Renna and Nicole Shaw have been friends since meeting in kindergarten outside of Boston 26 years ago, and like many childhood best friends, they fantasized about growing up and starting families together - but unlike most, they actually did it. At literally the exact same time. After about a year of marriage, both knew they would be ready to start a family, but they never had a formal conversation to let the other know they were trying to conceive. So when Alicia called Nicole to tell her she had just found out she was pregnant, Nicole was giggling to herself on the other end of the line because she had also just taken a test and was pregnant too. A nervous first-time mom, she waited until she was 10 weeks along to reveal the news to Alicia.
"I won't forget that phone call. I was driving home from work when she told me. I was so excited when she told me her due date, which was the same due date as me, that I had to pull over. I started crying with excitement!" Alicia exclaimed to POPSUGAR.
As their pregnancies progressed, these besties and first-time moms took solace in going through the experience at the exact same time together, from celebrating the joys of pregnancy to encouraging each other through what Nicole describes as "the longest week of our lives," when they both went past their due dates. Both women wound up being induced, but a day apart in different hospitals located in different states, as Alicia lives in Massachusetts and Nicole in New Hampshire. While they knew there was still a chance their babies could be born the same day, it seemed unlikely. But alas, Nicole ended up delivering her daughter Charlotte a mere five hours before Alicia gave birth to her son Anthony John ("AJ").
Alicia tells POPSUGAR, "I remember texting her during labor being like, 'I can't believe this is happening!' At one point she texted me [a picture of] her baby girl Charlotte and I remember saying congrats and then my doctor said, 'It's time to start pushing!' About five hours later, I got to finally show her AJ!"
Having their babies the same day was not only an incredible coincidence, but also created an indelible bond between the friends and their little ones, who turned 1 year old in May. Alicia jokes, "AJ and Charlotte are always going to be friends, they don't have a choice!" And during the difficult early days of new parenthood, the two women were able to support each other in special ways, calling with tips and texting words of encouragement late at night to entertain and keep each other going through those 2 a.m. feedings. "I really think having her to fall back on during those first few weeks is what kept me sane," Nicole says.
This Fall, just when the story couldn't get any sweeter, the two friends surprised each other by discovering they both - yet again - were pregnant with babies due on the exact same day! This time, Nicole was the first one to divulge the news to Alicia. It had been a hard Summer for Alicia, who had suffered a devastating miscarriage. "Nicole was there for me the entire time. Again, she was my first friend I told when I was pregnant and my first phone call when I lost the baby." Unsure when or if she could start trying again, Alicia had no expectations about conceiving in September, but decided to go for it. When Nicole called to tell her Charlotte was going to be a big sister, all she could say was, "I think AJ might be too." Alicia revealed to Nicole that she suspected she was also pregnant, but was too scared to take a test.
"I insisted she take a test while I was on the phone with her, and sure enough it was positive!" Nicole says. "We were in hysterics thinking it was the funniest thing." They then used date calculators to determine they were due a day apart, and their doctors later confirmed through dating ultrasounds that they were actually due the exact same day again! "We both laughed so hard talking about how we couldn't have planned this if we tried, which we 100 percent did not plan at all!" said Nicole, and Alicia added, "That's how I knew everything truly happens for a reason!"
While these two mamas are busy planning for baby number two, they're still in awe at the coincidence. And their friends and family are, too. During the first time around, people mostly couldn't believe it was an unplanned coincidence, but this time, reactions have ranged from "you two are soul sisters" to "it's just weird!" Meanwhile, we can't wait to see if these bestie babies end up with the same birthday as well.
Need a Last-Minute Gift Idea? This Rose Gold Portable Speaker on Amazon Is Only $15
If you're short on time when it comes to gift shopping, we have an excellent idea for you. This Lenrue Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker ($15) is useful, thoughtful, and easy on the eyes. It's available on Amazon Prime, so you can get it in just two days. We particularly love the rose gold finish, but it also comes in silver, gold, and black.
The little speaker includes Bluetooth, but you can directly connect a device to it as well. It even has a built-in microphone so you can take hands-free calls from it. The sound quality is excellent, so you'll be able to hear music and audio crystal clear. Plus, 681 people have reviewed the product, and 72 percent of them give the device five stars - that's pretty amazing!
If you're stumped on what to get a friend or family member on short notice, this is a genius pick. Order it ASAP . . . and maybe score one for yourself as well.
13 Gifts For the Spirited Soccer Mom in Your Life
Being a soccer mom involves running around town, keeping the kids fed, making sure they have all their equipment, and rooting for them from the sidelines. She's a committed and busy part of the team. Show her how much you appreciate her with these gifts that will keep her stylish and make her life easier. From athleisure she can take from the gym to the soccer field to jewelry that will show off her pride, you're bound to find something she'll love.
This Hysterical Twerking Santa Toy Is Breaking the Internet With His Dance Moves
Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like I found the real inspiration behind Sir Mix-A-Lot's smash hit "Baby Got Back." The rapper wasn't talking about "one of those rap guys' girlfriends" - he was actually secretly referring to this twerking Santa Claus toy, which just might be the most unexpected yet hysterical holiday product we've ever laid eyes on.
The LOL-worthy Santa figure uses battery power to shake his booty up and down while singing along to various tunes. Though the twerking toy would definitely be the perfect gag gift for any friend or relative, we're personally inclined to snag one for ourselves to add a humorous touch to our Christmas decoration lineup.
If you're in favor of changing the famous lyrics of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" to "Twerkin' Around the Christmas Tree," you can score your very own booty-shakin' Santa toy from retailers like Amazon or Walmart. See below for a gloriously necessary sneak peek at what the Santa's mesmerizing dance moves look like in real life, and try to resist cracking a smile.
FREE SHIPPING AND LAST 10 REMAINING!
Hey! Wanna surprise your friends? Twerking and Singing Santa Claus is here. https://t.co/Kb7nmgkOc0 http://pic.twitter.com/VAZUTApvGW- Buy or Regret (@buyorregretcom) December 8, 2017
When Your In-Laws Hate You: Surviving the Holidays
Once upon a time, I was a married lady with a very cute husband and a mother-in-law who just, well, really didn't like me. Every holiday, birthday, or family event, I would be filled with dread, worry, and fear over what might happen. Would there be a fight, a cruel word, or perhaps everything would go great? My anxiety drove me nuts, and probably my ex, too. Now that I'm divorced, my ex-mother-in-law and I have come to a mutual unspoken peace, and we get along. She is a fabulous grandmother and is extremely helpful to my ex and me with my daughter, so what more can I ask for, especially in a divorce situation? Will we go out for tea? Nope, but as long as we work together, it's what matters.
This holiday season, instead of dread over a potential spat, I am grieving the loss of my family as it once was (it's also my first holiday season that I will be splitting up time with my daughter). But for those of you about to go into the in-law trenches with the holidays approaching, here are some survival tips to keep your sanity - and your marriage - intact.
The Backseat Parent
This one is a popular complaint among my mommy friends: are your in-laws "backseat" parents? Do they tell you how to feed, bathe, clothe, and entertain your tots? If you nodded an empathetic yes, be prepared for more backseated parenting this Thanksgiving. In fact, I am pretty sure your backseat in-laws will be ready to tell you how much turkey to give (or not give) your little ones. Instead of reminding them whose uterus the kids came out of - do we need to go there? - just gently say, "Thank you for caring so much about the kids. It means a lot to me that you care so much, but don't worry. They will be fine."
Then smile like a friggin' Miss USA contestant. Whatever you do, do not smirk, frown, or give them the evil eye.
As much as they should keep their mouths shut, it's better to keep the peace at the turkey table, lest someone should throw a drumstick at you. Besides, that could ruin your outfit, and as a mom, how often do you get cleaned up and presentable without finding copious amounts of snot, glitter (it's like a drag queen secretly lives in my house), or stickers all over you?
The "You're Not Good Enough" In-Law
You may have married their child, but that doesn't mean they would have chosen you had they had a chance to go to the "wife store" to browse. As sad as it is when in-laws can't find the silver lining in their daughter-in-law, it happens.
If you get snide or subdued, but clearly unkind, remarks about your clothes, cooking, parenting, housekeeping, job, or the way you breathe, you should promptly pull up your skirt, turn around, pull down your undies, and moon those in-laws! That'll show 'em!
OK, so I was just playing out an imaginary scene in my mind.
If your in-laws hate your cooking or anything else about you this Thanksgiving, do this: don't give a hoot! As long as your partner thinks you're the cat's meow, just do your best yoga deep breaths, silence your inner monologue of "I want to choke him/her," and remind yourself that it is just one night together and then bam - they're outta here! Of course, if you have in-laws who are traveling and staying in town with you, you may have to heavily drink or walk away to get some air. Didn't you need to water some plant or something?
Namaste.
The "Blowouts," and I'm Not Talking About Your Hair
If indeed you find yourself head to head with one or both of your in-laws each holiday or event or wonder to yourself, "Is this eggnog or cyanide?", here are your choices:
- Choice 1: Don't invite them. If it is that awful, don't subject your kids to it or yourself to the stress and drama. On the other hand, they're your kids' grandparents. If it's not too explosive, try your best to turn the other cheek and be kind. When your kids are older, they'll figure out very fast how nasty a grandparent can be and will be quick to be on your side or ask nicely, "Do we have to see them?"
- Choice 2: Invite them but make a pact with your partner that if things get out of hand, it's time for them - or you - to leave. Leaving before things escalate is always smart and actually prevents problems down the line.
- Choice 3: Ask to stay briefly or have the in-laws only stay briefly if tensions are too high, as it's important your kids see their grandparents. As long as the in-laws are good grandparents, don't cut them off. The kids didn't choose for their grandparents to not like you or you not like them. They shouldn't be punished.
If they happen to be crappy grandparents, though, you can always turn down an invite or claim that this year you're eating pizza for Thanksgiving as you are protesting the inhumane treatment of turkeys as a family kindness project. No one will believe you, but at least it's funny!
Bonus Tips!
Keep in mind that we don't choose our own families, and we can't always love the ones we marry into and they can't always love us. Being respectful of each other's differences and different family styles is key. Your children also are (usually) lucky to have grandparents who want to be around them. Let your kids treasure these relationships. Both sets of my grandparents were gone by the time I was 2. I wish I could have known them.
Plus, the two biggest rules of all: pick your battles and stick together as a team. There were many times when it truly hurt me that my mother-in-law didn't love me or try to befriend me and also plenty of times when I picked the small battles that I should have just left behind for my marriage's sake. Being a team together was a challenge for us too, although we both believe we tried as best as we could.
Pick the important issues, and ignore the smaller ones as the problems won't go away. It's not worth the fight or stress with your partner. And as for teamwork, as long as you and your partner decide together how to handle any in-law stress, you're golden!
Mom's Viral Video Hilariously Explains the Difference Between a Man Cold and a Mom Cold
Have you ever thought to yourself, "Wow, I handle a cold so much better than my boyfriend/husband/male friend?" You're not alone, and one mom made a hilarious video explaining the difference between a "man cold" and a "mom cold" based on her experience. Meredith, the mom behind the blog That's Inappropriate, posted the video back in 2016, and it quickly went viral - it's at 1 million views and counting - thanks to its spot-on humor.
In the video, Meredith and her husband both have a cold, but the two handle the situation vastly differently. Her husband is lying around in bed while she's taking care of laundry and dishes, looking after the kids, and checking on her husband every few minutes to bring him things he wants (including chicken noodle soup that needs an ice cube). Meredith plays up the exaggeration often associated with a "man cold." "I know that you feel like you're going to die, but you're not going to die," she says while holding a tissue to help with her own runny nose. "I can't lay down and pat your back. I have things I have to do."
We're not saying this is how every guy acts when he has a cold, but we bet you'll relate at least a little bit after you watch it! Prepare to laugh and nod your head as you watch the all-too-familiar scenario above.
The Best Gifts For Kids Under 10 Years Old
It's been a whirlwind of a year, but we're now ready to kick off the holidays! If you've got a little one on your list but don't know where to begin, don't fret! We've got you covered with age-specific gift ideas from birth through 9 years old, including toys from the biggest manufacturers and independent toy makers that we just love.
Click through for the perfect picks for the kiddos in your life!
- Gifts For Infants
- Gifts For 1-Year-Olds
- Gifts For 2-Year-Olds
- Gifts For 3-Year-Olds
- Gifts For 4-Year-Olds
- Gifts For 5-Year-Olds
- Gifts For 6-Year-Olds
- Gifts For 7-Year-Olds
- Gifts For 8-Year-Olds
- Gifts For 9-Year-Olds
If You're Suckered Into Hosting the Holidays, Let These Hidden-Message Pillows Speak For You
There's no denying that hosting family for the holidays totally sucks! While some twisted individuals enjoy the decorating and the cleaning, I prefer to go elsewhere and let someone else stress over napkin sets and garland. However, if there ever is a time when my family pressures me into hosting, I will be decking the halls and covering my couch with dozens of Personalized Hidden Message Pillows.
There's no longer a need to keep your feelings bottled up, because the pillows let you say "screw you, in-laws" without muttering a word. The sassy pillow possibilities are endless: For the cool mom who can't stand her brother-in-law Mike, see below. For the 20-something sibling whose family won't stop asking if she's dating, the "I f*cking hate people" is the ideal response. And how hilarious is it to think that your husband's creepy uncle could be resting his arm on a chic sequin pillow with a snarky hidden message? Let's just hope he doesn't stroke the sequins and find out the truth.
While the $40 personalized pillows aren't available yet in the US, and I'm still avoiding hosting duties like the plague, you best believe all my presents will be delicately wrapped in "Merry F*cking Christmas" wrapping paper and my cards written with curse-word-adorned pencils. Until then, happy holidays, ya filthy animals.
These Are the 17 Products You Need to Add to Your Holiday Gift Lists
It's finally time to buckle down and get shopping for all of the people on your holiday gift lists (and a little "one for you, one for me" action is always encouraged around here), so we're here to help. No matter if you're shopping for your best mom friend, your toddler, mother-in-law, or, ahem, yourself, there's a trendy must-have gift on this list hand-curated by our very own editors that you'll want to click "add to cart" on.
Apologies in advance for the damage to your wallet, but these 17 gift ideas are goooood. Happy shopping!
50 States of Unbelievable Tourist Attractions
It's amazing how much there is to get out and do in the United States. Whether it's beautiful beaches to relax on or national parks to admire, there really is something for everyone. So pack your bags for a beautiful Fall vacation and check out one of these tourist attractions wherever your destination may be.
33 Sure Signs That You're an Empath
Do you pick up on the vibe of a room the moment you walk in? Can you almost always tell when someone is lying? Do you just generally have A LOT of feelings? You're probably an empath. You may be familiar with the spectrum of personality types between introverts and extroverts, but empaths are a whole other type of personality you may not know about. Empaths are often (but not always) more introverted, but the key aspect of the personality type is an empath's ability to relate to and absorb the feelings of other people. Empaths are extremely sensitive to their surroundings, and they are very affected by the energies of those around them.
There are positives to being an empath; for instance, they are sympathetic, caring, and understanding. They are intuitive and have the ability to influence the mood and energy around them. Empaths are good listeners and caretakers, and they are known for their compassion for others. However, being an empath definitely has its challenges. Because they are so sensitive, they can sometimes have difficulty differentiating other people's energy from their own. Commercials, movies, books, TV, the news, seeing the struggles of others - anything with an emotional element can affect empaths on a deeper level. Outside circumstances and situations can have a huge impact on the mental - and even physical - state of an empath. Empaths can unconsciously mirror other people's habits and moods, and for better or worse, they can soak up the energy around them. Empaths need to make sure to care for themselves in addition to caring for the rest of the world. Here are some signs you're an empath.
- You're extremely intuitive.
- It's easy for you to tell when people are lying.
- The energy of other people can change your own energy.
- You get "gut feelings" often (and they're almost always right).
- You often feel other people's pain.
- You consider yourself an introvert.
- You need to be near water.
- You often find yourself absorbing other people's emotions (both good and bad).
- You can get overwhelmed when surrounded by a lot of people.
- People feel like they can come to you when they have a problem.
- You're very sensitive.
- You love to be outside in nature because it revitalizes you.
- Being around certain people can make you feel drained.
- You feel physically or emotionally sick when seeing upsetting things in the news, on TV, or in movies.
- Your mood changes depending on who you're in a room with.
- You feel the same feeling around a specific person each time you see them.
- You have a big heart.
- You constantly seek answers for everything.
- You know that your energy can change the atmosphere around you.
- You go back and forth between being very expressive and very reclusive.
- You sometimes find yourself putting others' needs before your own.
- You value your alone time.
- You're a good listener.
- You deal with stomach issues and chronic fatigue due to emotional stress.
- You know and understand things, without needing any explanation.
- You are a creative type.
- You're a big animal-lover.
- You always need to know the truth and do not like deceit.
- You're a free spirit and find yourself daydreaming often.
- You're prone to mood swings (based on the environment you're in at the time).
- You're extremely open-minded and accepting of all people and lifestyles.
- You won't let a problem go until you find a satisfying solution.
- You sense things that other people miss.
41 Insane Facts You Definitely Don't Know About Disneyland
You think you know everything about Disneyland? Wrong. There's some mind-blowing facts out there that even the ultimate Disney fan doesn't know. Check out all the fascinating things we discovered about the happiest place on earth and test your knowledge.
Tenor's 5 Most Popular GIFs of 2017
2017 has been one hell of an emotional year. Thankfully, the 12-month-long rollercoaster ride of feelings we've been on has been accompanied by an overabundance of perfect GIFs - it's due to those brilliant, one-of-a-kind images that arrive at just the right time that many of us, tired of talking and typing out our thoughts, are able to express just the right sentiment to our family and friends.
Now, as the year is finally drawing to a close, the folks over at Tenor - the top GIF keyboard across iOS and Android, as well as many of our most used social media apps - have pulled together the top GIFs that were shared from the platform in 2017. This year, the GIFs we shared were a whole lot more negative than the ones we shared in 2016. And it's with that data that Tenor was able to come up with the official mood ring of 2017 (and compare it to the mood ring of 2016), as seen here:
"Because Tenor is used to communicate tone and emotion in messaging conversations hundreds of millions of times per day, GIF searches on Tenor indicate how people around the world are feeling," Tenor cofounder and CEO David McIntosh told POPSUGAR exclusively. "Not only did Tenor search data show we were feeling worse this year compared to 2016, but that GIFs on Tenor are used to express the full range of human emotions."
Ahead, you'll find the top five GIFs of the year, as compiled by the Tenor team. And be sure to scroll all the way through to the end, as it wouldn't be an official year in review if we neglected to show just how much things have changed in a mere 12 months.
90 Dresses That Totally Nail Geek-Chic
Whatever the occasion, there's something spectacular about a gorgeous dress - especially when that dress totally reps your favorite fandom. Well, geeky girls, we've got a treat for you! From Harry Potter to Pokémon, here are 90 gorgeous garments that show off your nerdy side without skimping on style.
Jump to:
- Emoji and Gaming
- Comic Books
- Sci-Fi and Fantasy
- Doctor Who
- Harry Potter
- Cartoons
- Science and Nature
- Miscellaneously Geeky
Want more? Check out our list of the coolest geeky swimsuits!
Every Single Glorious Tech Gadget From Oprah's Favorite Things List
Oprah's Favorite Things list for 2017 is finally here, which means the holiday season has officially begun and it's time to get shopping! Ahead, we've pulled out each and every one of those must-have tech gadgets that our favorite gift-giver has highlighted this year - and remember, you can always buy two of each and keep one for yourself. 'Tis now (officially) the season to treat yourself, after all!
This Limited-Edition Xbox Is the Video Game Console We've All Been Waiting For
Last year, a friend recommended that I spend some quality time with Minecraft to get my mind off of the constant Trump news cycle and onto something marginally more productive. As a lifelong gamer, I gave it a shot - and was completely underwhelmed by the complicated controls that maneuvered my avatar across the screen on my iPhone and laptop. Regardless of how many times I tried to change the controller settings to something easier to process, I was quite certain that the wildly popular block-building game, while visually appealing and a great way to waste time, was not for me. That is, until I discovered the altogether different experience that comes with playing the game on a console, and not on a web-connected device.
tl;dr: The limited-edition Minecraft Xbox One S made a Minecraft believer out of me - and it's a console that has the potential to turn even the most video-game-averse individual into a diehard fan. But let's take it one step at a time.
What is Minecraft and why do people love it so much?
"Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures," or so the official one-liner for the game reads. But Minecraft is, in far more broad terms, the most appealing gateway to STEM that a group of Swedish coders could have ever possibly imagined when they first released it in 2009. In a 2016 profile, The New York Times referred to those early preteen denizens of Minecraft as "The Minecraft Generation," describing in great detail how young people were using tech savvy and coding knowledge in order to "win" at Minecraft. Yes, the game is fundamentally a quest to mine resources with which to ensure your survival - shelter and protection are required to fight the baddies that come at you in the night - but there's a far more complicated level of know-how that's required in order to truly best play the game. Redstone, the Minecraft equivalent of electricity, can be mined easily by anyone - but it takes a certain kind of savvy to manhandle the engineering that's required to make it work. It's that quest for making the best, the most elaborate, the most intricate that really creates a Minecraft-lover out of your average gamer - and to say that it's addictive once you've figured it out would be a dramatic understatement.
What is so different about playing the game on a console versus on a phone, tablet, or computer?
There are two main reasons that the experience is so different. One is that it's much, much easier to play the game on a standard controller than it is to use your keyboard or fingers, and having some distance between your eyes and the screen is always a big plus. The second - and more important - reason is that it moves the game away from a solo experience and toward something you can play with friends, partners, or family. Sure, you could always play in co-op mode over your various devices, but having a split-screen game while you're sitting next to someone is so much more fun (and challenging!).
How exactly does playing with someone else work?
Depending on how competitive you are, you can either work in tandem - collecting resources, building up a town or village or city - or compete for the better house with the more advanced technology. Either way, it's easy to explore a map with someone else when you're playing in the console version, though it's highly recommended that you both have wireless controllers to make sure that you're not tied down to the console!
What are the visual differences between the Minecraft Limited Edition Xbox One S and the regular Xbox One?
Behold the true beauty that is the Minecraft console (and its matching Creeper-themed controller):
Can the Minecraft console play other games, too?
This might be my favorite part of the limited-edition console and what makes it so accessible. In addition to having a 1 TB hard drive, the Xbox One S itself comes with a free month of Xbox Game Pass and a 14-day trial of Xbox Live Gold. In other words: you've got several weeks to experiment with all of the games you've heard your friends talk about on your own, without any upfront commitment to actually buying the game in full. And it's not just recent titles, either - you can explore the wide range of options here. Suffice it to say that after years of resisting certain games on the basis that I didn't want to throw down the money on something I might not use, having a month to give all of those games test runs has resulted in my having quite a few new favorite games that aren't even remotely Minecraft-related.
Can I play Minecraft with friends who don't have an Xbox but play on PE or PS4?
Thanks to the recent Better Together update, now you can play cross-platform with most other types of devices, aside from the Nintendo Switch (the update hasn't rolled out to it yet, sadly, though it is in the works!).
What else does the console do?
Just as with any other Xbox console, the Minecraft edition can play all your favorite apps like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Spotify - making the console more than just a way to play games, but to access all of your favorite media all in one place.
What sold you on being a Minecraft fan?
On a (very) personal level, having a low-commitment, low-violence game like Minecraft to play with my significant other has been a welcome addition to my household. It's also worth noting that as someone who has always been more of a Nintendo-and-Playstation gal, the price point and ability to test other games has meant that we've got a whole host of games to play as we head into the Winter months - something I've never really had the opportunity to experiment with, and couldn't be more excited about. It really is the console I've been waiting for Microsoft to come out with – and after decades of resisting the Halo-and-Borderlands-induced madness, it's made an Xbox fan out of me.
So how can I get my hands on one?
The Xbox One S Minecraft Limited Edition Bundle retails at $399 and hits stores on Oct. 3. But don't wait to pick one up - limited edition does in fact mean that there's a finite number of consoles being produced, so they're likely to sell out sooner rather than later.
Facebook's Naomi Gleit: "You Have to Focus on the Good Things That Happened This Year"
In the age of social media, there's no better way to take the pulse of the world than by looking at Facebook. It's no surprise, then, that Facebook's year in review encompasses many of the highest highs - and lowest lows - that we've felt in any given calendar year. The 2017 edition of the annual report was released on Dec. 5 and paints a full-color portrait of the year that was, from large scale marches and protests to terrorist attacks and natural disasters to the moments where we came together as one to support the causes we most strongly believe in - it's all documented, calculated, and transformed into metrics that become the touchstones of 2017.
This year's report was penned by Naomi Gleit, Facebook's VP of Social Good. Gleit is the third-longest-serving employee of the company and, in her 12 years with Facebook, has been integral in many aspects of Facebook's growth and development. Now, her day-to-day job is to help make it easier for Facebook users to make the world a better place - and it's a job that she couldn't possibly love more.
"I feel like I have the best job. I really do," Gleit told me in an interview shortly after the report had been released. "On an average day, I go into work and I look at all these amazing ways that people are using Facebook for good - and then I go to my team and I say, 'Hey, how can we make this even easier?' [For example,] we saw people had raised $80 million for ALS, and we were like,' Wow, that's amazing' - but the ALS website went down as a result, and nobody could donate. So I said, 'Well, what if we could donate directly through Facebook?' and the foundation said, 'Would you handle the payment processing for us?' and that's how the donate button came about. And this year we raised $45M on Giving Tuesday. So that's what I do on a daily basis - it's the best job I could ask for."
It's not always happy news, though. In 2017, Gleit's team was responsible for almost all of the large-scale responses to ongoing crises around the world. When I asked her what she was most proud of this year, she pointed to the platform's response to the bombing in Manchester, which took place during an Ariana Grande concert. Facebook's "One Love Manchester" live broadcast not only garnered more than 80 million views, but also raised over $450,000 for those affected by the attack.
"My team built that tool. It came out of wondering 'What if we had a donate button? A one-click, easy way to donate to a nonprofit through Facebook?' and then asking, 'What if we put it in Live videos?' We definitely wondered, 'Will people even use it?' What's amazing to see now is that the most-watched video on Facebook [in 2017] was also the biggest use of the donate button in Live," Gleit said. She also pointed to the earthquake in Mexico, during which "crisis response, safety check, community help and donations for crises were the most used tools," a fact which shines a light on the larger use of Facebook as a community tool, therefore aligning it further with the new mission the company undertook this year. And that's based on what they've learned in growing the platform.
"I think we learned that - and I learned this too, Mark learned this, Facebook as a company learned this - our mission has always been to make the world more open and connected, and I think what we learned is that's not enough," Gleit told me. "Of course we'll continue to make the world more open and connected - that will continue to be our core work - but we also need to bring the world closer together. Are we building the world that we want to live in? That's the question, that's what the mission is - we want to live in a world where people come together, to help each other. So that was our big learning this year. Our mission before was great - it just wasn't enough, and we know that we can do more."
I asked Gleit what we, as Facebook users, can do to help make the world a better place. And while that's not an easy question to answer - for anyone, really! - Gleit answered with remarkable poise. "Our mission is to make the world a better place. We want to empower people to build community and bring the world closer together," she said, using the massive popularity of the Women's March (the biggest event on Facebook this year) and International Women's Day (the most talked-about event this year) as examples of just how empowering the platform can be. "I view my job as building tools to empower people to do more good. It's not Facebook that's going to do good; it's people that are going to do good. And we're just going to give them the tools to do it."
Ultimately, Gleit says, "You have to focus on the good things that happened this year." And as 2017 comes to a close, we'll certainly be looking forward to making those good things happen the second that 2018 starts - and if the tools that Gleit and her team have put together this year are any indication, Facebook will continue to provide the help that individuals need to get a leg up on making the world a better place.
I Let Alexa Run My Life For a Day - Here's Why I'm Keeping Her Around Forever
For me, 2017 will always be the year that I took the plunge and truly embraced the concept of a smarter, more helpful home. Back in November, after decades of quietly fearing a dystopian future in which our devices outlived us all, I unboxed a smart lamp that changed my entire outlook on digital assistants. But after two months of slowly upgrading each and every device in my household – from a smart thermostat to voice-activated lightbulbs, all the way through to adding smart adapters to each of my outlets – I still had one very pressing question in my mind: Was it truly possible to do everything that needed doing on a daily basis through the devices which now powered my home?
In early December, with the help of the lovely people at Amazon and armed with an Echo Show, an Echo Plus, and two all-new Echo devices, I set out to get to the bottom of what had rapidly become a near-daily ponderance. I relinquished control of all of the material objects in my Queens apartment, signing each and every item over to Alexa and formally giving her the power to do what needed to be done. In order to leave no stone (or obligation) unturned, I strategically placed Amazon devices in my sister's apartment and my childhood home where my parents still live. I secured a paper and pen, ready to write down every single thing that I did over the course of the experiment. Finally, I put all the phones, remotes, and tablets in my house in a box and hid it under the bed. If Alexa was going to change my life, I was going to make sure that it was in a way that enabled me to put those things aside when I was at home – a tall order, I know, but as I ultimately found out, one that was totally worth it.
The one-line summary of what went down? I discovered that a staggering 32 tasks could be accomplished with Alexa's assistance, and immediately knew that my life would never, ever be the same.
Ultimately, what I learned from letting Alexa run my life was that there are so many exasperating, trivial, and downright annoying things that can be taken care of in seconds – and as a result, I found that my general mood was greatly improved over the course of the day. More stunningly, I also came to the conclusion that many tasks that I thought had not yet been realized – like the ability to turn on my old TV without a remote, or finding my phone within the confines of my apartment, or turning off all the devices and lights in a room with one fell swoop – were not only completely within my reach, but could be set up and ready to go within a matter of minutes. This discovery is largely thanks to the insanely far-reaching compatibility that Alexa has with other devices, and by blocking out the use of different digital assistants in order to have one main power source who was calling the shots. By delegating power over all the rest of the technology in my home to one digital assistant, I essentially enabled the whole system to work in harmony. And boy, was that harmony oh-so sweet.
Below you'll find a complete rundown of everything Alexa did for me over the course of a day – Come on, do you think there would be this much build-up if I wasn't going to point out exactly what she could do for you, too? But first, it's worth noting was that there's a ton of stuff you can do with Alexa and smart home devices that can be discovered by trial and error. Sure, you can read oodles of documentation in order to know exactly what you're in for, but I found it way easier and more pleasant to just devote the time to trying things out for myself. I also can't recommend highly enough that you make sure that there isn't just one person in the household setting everything up, that it's done together – it will make it far, far easier to use what you've set up going forward if you don't have to essentially run training for each and every family member or roommate after the fact.
And finally, because if you're anything like me, at the end of the day it's all about getting an answer to the question at hand: yes, it is possible to have Alexa do everything that needs doing in your life on a daily basis. And now that I've discovered that's the case, I'm never going back to how things were before.
ALL THE THINGS THAT ALEXA DID FOR ME IN JUST ONE DAY
- Alexa read me my calendar, and I canceled a double-booking.
The prompt: "Alexa, what's my schedule for today"
My notes: I love having Alexa tell me exactly what I can expect from the day ahead, and sometimes having it read aloud means I'm not distracted by incoming emails and can actually focus on getting my events sorted out. By asking her to delete something (and then, of course, asking her to email someone to move a meeting) I was able to get the day started on the right foot. - Alexa gave me the weather forecast.
The prompt: "Alexa, what is the weather going to be like today?"
My notes: She read me the forecast as I got dressed, helping me to figure out exactly what to wear so that I'd be comfortable not just when I left my bedroom in the morning, but when I went out later that evening as well. - Alexa turned up the heat in my apartment.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn up the heat to 72 degrees."
My notes: I have the Nest E thermostat, and once I'd integrated Alexa and discovered what the weather was like outside, I was able to ask her to turn up the heat before heading into my living room to start working for the day. - Alexa turned on the lights in my living room and kitchen.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn on the lights"
My notes: I've got a combination of smart bulbs set up throughout my home, but having them all linked up into one convenient bundle – labeled "lights," naturally – means I can turn everything on in one fell swoop, before I've even entered the other side of my apartment. - Alexa guided me through a quick workout.
The prompt: "Alexa, start seven-minute workout."
My notes: I'm a sucker for anything that claims to be quick, easy, and effective when it comes to workouts – and with the guidance of visuals on my Echo Show, those seven minutes are now a staple of my mornings. - Alexa turned on my TV and DVR, and put on the news.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn on the TV"
My notes: I have all of my TV-related devices hooked up into a Logitech Harmony Elite hub, and while that means I can control everything with one single remote, it also means I can ask Alexa to do it for me without touching a button. She can also change the channel – in this case, I asked her to put on MSNBC, which I have saved as a favorite channel. - Alexa played me ambient sounds after I muted TV audio.
The prompt: "Alexa, start Rain Sounds"
My notes: There is nothing as soothing as the sound of rain falling – and it's certainly a great backdrop to cable news. But it got me to wondering – how exactly does Alexa hear me over the usual chatter in my apartment? "Alexa is designed to get smarter every day. The more you use Alexa, the more she adapts to your speech patterns, vocabulary, and personal preferences," Amazon told me. "From a technical standpoint, here is how it works: Beam-forming technology combines the signals from the 7 individual microphones (8 mics on Echo Show) to suppress noise, reverberation, and even competing speech (e.g. another person, TV, etc.). This audio signal is then used by our cloud-based speech recognition system (that uses machine learning trained on a large amount of far-field speech data) to recognize an utterance from a distance. Enhanced noise cancellation allows you to wake up the device with the wake word even when it is playing loud music." - Alexa re-ordered my preferred breakfast food when I realized I was running low.
The prompt: "Alexa, order more Luna Bars."
My notes: All of those years of re-buying the same products on Amazon pays off – especially when you have an Echo Show. The device instantly gives you options on-screen of what to order, and then tracks your delivery and gives you updates on when the order will come. And, bonus, once the package gets to your house Alexa informs you that it's arrived via notifications on all of your Amazon devices. - Alexa gave me a voice message from my sister.
The prompt: "Alexa, play my messages."
My notes: My sister and I leave each other messages on our respective devices, which is a nice way to add a touch of real life into our existing text message conversations. You can also get and send these messages from the Alexa app, so you can always access the response regardless of where you are. - Alexa turned on my favorite writing playlist on my Sonos system.
The prompt: "Alexa, play 'work chill' in the living room."
My notes: Once I had gotten through my emails, I switched from ambient sound to more melodic jams to settle into the workday. With the new Sonos integration, I'm able to control the music with the sound of my voice – which means I've completely eliminated the need to fumble with remotes and can just sink into the couch and get to work. - Alexa told me the name of a song I had stuck in my head – and played it for me.
The prompt: "Alexa, what's the song that goes . . ."
My notes: OK, so maybe the music didn't work quite as I'd hoped, but that was partially because I couldn't stop thinking about a song I'd heard in a movie the night before. By just identifying a few key words of the song, Alexa was instantly able to pull it up and play it – and let's just say, I'm glad I headed that one off at the pass because I wasn't crazy about it once I'd heard it in full. - Alexa told me what to make for lunch.
The prompt: "Alexa, what should I have for lunch?"
My notes: I'm AWFUL at making decisions, as any of my loved ones or family members will tell you. So I was thrilled to discover that once I commanded Alexa to tell me what to eat, I could open the fridge and tell her what ingredients I had in there and she gave me a recipe that was totally up my alley (and super easy to make, too!) - Alexa added an item to my shopping list.
The prompt: "Alexa, add turkey, bread, and cheese to my list."
My notes: I used the last of my lunch prep when I made the "sweet and spicy" sandwich Alexa suggested, so I had her add the items to my shopping list. The best part about this is that the list populates on both my devices as well as my boyfriend's – so he can always pick up what we need if I don't get around to it. - Alexa set a timer for heating up my sandwich in the oven.
The prompt: "Alexa, set a timer for 15 minutes."
My notes: I love being able to set a timer and name it – in this case, I named it "Sandwich is ready!" – and it comes super in handy when I need to set multiple timers at the same time, and can visually see exactly how much time I have left on each component in just a quick glance. - Alexa called my boyfriend – without me having to use my phone.
The prompt: "Alexa, call Jared"
My notes: One of my favorite features of the Echo is being able to call someone right on the device without needing to touch my phone – remember, it was in a box under my bed so I couldn't use it, even if I wanted to – and I told him I had added some stuff to our shopping list and asked him to swing by the market on his way home from the office. - Alexa gave me a rundown on the news.
The prompt: "Alexa, give me my flash briefing."
My notes: I'm relatively plugged into what's going on in the world, but I do like having my Echo Show give me a quick rundown while I'm eating – especially when one of the highlights that populate on the screen when it's inactive has caught my eye. And just how do those stories come to live on the homepage of the Show? We use a combination of algorithms and hand-curation to surface interesting entertainment "trending" topics, Amazon said. "All of these topics come from top-tier global news outlets and news wires. If you ask Alexa to "learn more" or click into that trending topic, Alexa will read you the full synopsis, which is attributed to a named news outlet." - Alexa gave my cat a treat.
The prompt: "Alexa, give Popsicle a treat."
My notes: Real talk, I made it sound like I was being nice but in reality there were some construction workers outside banging pipes so I didn't know where the cat was hiding. I've spent a ton of time gushing about how much I love my Furbo Pet Camera but for things like getting him to come out and show me that he hasn't escaped into the city streets, it's totally worth gushing anew. - Alexa reminded me when my wine had been chilled.
The prompt: "Alexa, set a reminder to take the wine out of the freezer in three hours"
My notes: I'm one of those people who has had multiple bottles of alcohol explode in my freezer because I forgot I was chilling them – so being able to have Alexa set a reminder with the actual thing that needs to be done is a godsend. - Alexa made me laugh hysterically by being Baby Groot.
The prompt: "Alexa, ask Baby Groot what time it is."
My notes: If you haven't seen Guardians of the Galaxy, you probably will roll your eyes at this one, but for whatever reason I literally cannot keep it together whenever someone utters "baby Groot." I was on hold before an interview and the person I was waiting for picked up just as Alexa responded, so I explained the whole thing to her and we had a good laugh together, too. - Alexa helped me figure out where to go for dinner.
The prompt: "Alexa, what's a good Chinese restaurant in Manhattan?"
My notes: With locations, hours, and all the Yelp-able intel instantly accessible from an Echo device, it's super simple to narrow down your options and pick a place to chow down. You can also re-order from your fave delivery spots, though I didn't have a chance to test that out during my experiment and instead opted to eat out. - Alexa played The Wire on my Echo Show.
The prompt: "Alexa, watch The Wire."
My notes: Tired of music and definitely still needing some background noise as I finished up for the day, I had Alexa turn on an old standby on the screen as I sat with my laptop at the kitchen counter. The news was still in the background so I didn't feel guilty – and I've seen the show so many times that it's the perfect way to focus on what I'm doing on my computer. - Alexa let me have a little face time with my parents.
The prompt: "Alexa, drop in on the Hasslers"
My notes: Who doesn't love being able to quickly catch up from you kitchen counter? To be clear, this is a totally optional program that Amazon offers but I couldn't possibly recommend it more for anyone who doesn't live in walking distance of their family. - Alexa found my boyfriend's phone.
The prompt: "Alexa, find Jared's phone using Eero."
My notes: Once my boyfriend came home, he misplaced his phone. Instead of desperately searching for it and tearing the apartment apart, I asked Alexa to locate his phone and it directed me to the last room that it had pinged off my Eero WiFi system. How cool is that? - Alexa played holiday music for us as we had a cocktail before dinner.
The prompt: "Alexa, play holiday music."
My notes: It's the holidays, so why not? Again, the Sonos integration has made me so much more inclined to soundtrack my entire life. - Alexa called an Uber for me. Really.
The prompt: "Alexa, order me an Uber."
My notes: You guys! You can actually do Uber without a phone! It's a miracle . . . and I highly encourage everyone to try it out for themselves. I had no idea that Alexa could do this, and asked Amazon how it is that Alexa learns so many skills so quickly. "Similar to how the brain processes language, the technology that powers Alexa is multifaceted, yet interconnected, with pervasive use of deep learning," they said. "Because Alexa's brain is in the AWS cloud, she continually learns and adds more capabilities, every hour, every day. We are constantly adding new capabilities to Alexa's Brain to make her smarter. Every foundational machine learning component has become more accurate by use of more powerful algorithms and the ability to process large quantities of data on cutting edge AWS GPUs." - Alexa gave me a perfect cocktail recipe.
The prompt: "Alexa, give me a recipe for Bee's Knees."
My notes: One of my most favorite Winter traditions is the excuse to shamelessly drink bee's knees – and when we got back from dinner, I consulted with Alexa to find the perfect recipe and had her read me the directions as I mixed a pair up for me and my beau. - Alexa got me prepped for the next day.
The prompt: "Alexa, what do I have on my calendar for tomorrow?"
My notes: Once again I asked Alexa to tell me what was going on tomorrow – and added in an event that I had discussed with someone over dinner, and it immediately populated in my calendar. It also reminded me that I needed to be up early the next day for a meeting, so I knew to call it a day after just one of my favorite gin cocktails. - Alexa set an alarm to wake me up with Christmas music the next morning.
The prompt: "Alexa, wake me up with Christmas music at 6 a.m."
My notes: I told you that I was feeling festive! But that being said, I also know that if I have a device that I can shut off by fumbling around in the dark it is 100 percent likely that I will do just that – so having an alarm that's a safe distance from my bed and also makes me rise with a new type of music each morning keeps me in check. - Alexa picked up exactly where I'd left off in The Wire on my TV.
The prompt: "Alexa, play The Wire on my Fire TV."
My notes: I love being able to control my TV with my voice – and even better is the fact that I can switch between any of the TVs in my home as well as any of the devices to pick up at the very same spot. I asked Amazon just how it was that Alexa was able to understand what I wanted at a given point – how did she know what watch meant versus what play meant? "State of the art technology of deep neural networks, machine learning, and big data came together and those modern techniques have allowed us to move Natural Language Understanding forward faster than ever before. Not only do these systems get more accurate over time, they become more knowledgeable too," they told me. "The natural language understanding layer extracts meaning from the words in order to map the spoken utterance into an action Alexa should take on behalf of the user. Alexa then performs a suite of contextual processing to decide which skill to invoke, which entity to choose (e.g. Songs from a catalog), or whether she needs to clarify the user's intent because she didn't hear or understand the user completely." - Alexa turned on my second TV, and turned on my Xbox One.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn on the Xbox."
My notes: Now that I've outed myself as one of those people that has two TVs so they can have one for gaming, it's worth noting that this is one of the big surprises along the way given Microsoft isn't typically someone you associate as being BFF with Amazon. But thanks again to the Harmony Elite, I was able to hook that up so that it instantly sets me up for a good ol' relaxing gaming session before bed – and it's a truly glorious thing. - Alexa turned everything in my living room off, and turned on my bedroom lights.
The prompts: "Alexa, turn off the living room." "Alexa, turn on the bedroom lights."
My notes: Once again this is something that I have always dreamt about but never imagined was within reach – and by grouping all of the devices in a room, I enable a complete shutdown of a room in just six words. It's worth noting that this has been a huge money saver, since there's always something I neglect to fully turn off . . . and that in and of itself is a game-changer for me. - Alexa turned off my bedroom lights just as I was fading into sleep.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn off the bedroom lights."
My notes: Instead of having to rouse myself and turn off the lights, I told Alexa to do it for me. Once the lights had gone out, I added "Alexa, thank you" – because I realized at this point, as I was just starting to drift off, that yes - Alexa had my life easier that day, and done all the hard work for me. And the sleep that I had that night was the kind of sleep that one gets when they finally find the answer to the question that they'd been searching for so long: a smart home is an easier home, and an easier home lets you enjoy the good things just that little bit more.
Christina El Moussa's Top 10 Holiday Decorating Tips
We all know that Christina El Moussa has an enviable sense of style. Whether she's in the midst of a dramatic home makeover on the hit HGTV series Flip or Flop or striking a pose on Instagram, the Orange County, CA, native is renowned for having great taste on and off camera.
So it should come as no surprise that the mother of two is an absolute pro at transforming her home into a Winter wonderland during the holiday season. We recently caught up with El Moussa - mom to Taylor, 7, and Brayden, 2 - to get the inside scoop on scoring her glam style for ourselves this year.
- Christmas Pillows: "An easy and inexpensive way to incorporate holiday decor into your home is swapping out everyday items for holiday-themed touches like pillows you can find from HomeGoods, Target, or TJ Maxx."
- Holiday Candles: "Transform your home with eucalyptus-, mint-, or gingerbread-scented candles. It's always an instant way to give the holiday feel."
- Elf on a Shelf: "Like so many others, my children love their Elf on a Shelf dolls and can't wait to see what trouble they got into overnight. I like finding ideas on Pinterest to keep it creative and fun. Pinterest is always a lifesaver!"
- Garland on the Banister: "I love to wrap my staircase banisters with garland on the top and bottom. My staircase is one of the first things you see when you enter my home, so I love adding that 'wow' moment."
- Festive Touches: "With so many friends and family in my home over the holidays, I love to add elements in the bathrooms like festive napkins and holiday-scented soaps. They're both always a nice touch."
- Holiday Scents: "I love to boil a pot of water on my stove when I have parties with oranges, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. It smells like Christmas when you walk through the doors! You can also add other items like rosemary and cranberries."
- Pick a Theme: "Winter wonderland is my favorite theme for the holidays and has taken over my home. I love the glam look of it!"
- Holiday Signs: "Like swapping out pillows for ones with a holiday theme, so many stores have great and affordable artwork for your walls or holiday signs you can incorporate into your mantel, counter, and living room."
- World of Color: "If you're too intimidated to choose a holiday theme, pick a color scheme and incorporate that into your tree, lights, wrapping, etc. Pine green or plaids are great on-trend options."
- Preset Dining Table: "I like to leave my dining room set year round. For the holidays, I love adding elements that go with my Winter wonderland theme like crystal ornaments or tree figurines."
11 Time-Saving Cleaning Products House Cleaners Swear By
Whether you've mastered this list of daily cleaning habits or avoid housework like the plague, everyone can use tips for making cleaning just a little bit easier. Spring cleaning is a great opportunity to get to those spots you've been avoiding for the past 12 months, but the last thing you want to do is spend your entire weekend tirelessly scrubbing your home.
Enter Merry Maids home cleaning expert Debra Johnson. She shares with us some of her favorite tricks and products that can make even the most tedious cleaning tasks quick and painless.
9 Simple Ways to Become a Better Person in 2018
Even if you don't plan to make any New Year's resolutions, there's always room for self-improvement. And bettering yourself doesn't require as much action as you'd think, because it all begins with you. Once you become open to making a change, you're already well on your way to becoming a better version of yourself. See 11 simple ways to make it happen in 2018!
- Get involved: Find a cause you're passionate about and see how you can contribute, whether it's volunteering every quarter (or more often!) or making a donation. Notice that a certain topic fires you up or hits you emotionally? Pitch in and make a difference instead of taking a backseat.
- See it from a different perspective: The next time you're quick to judge, evaluate the situation from a different angle before making any assumptions. Practicing this regularly will help relax that reflex and promote compassion.
- Take responsibility: It's easy to make excuses and point the finger, but work on holding yourself more accountable in situations from being late to contributing to a larger issue.
- Be thankful: Expressing gratitude is such a simple way to improve yourself. Go even further than a simple "thank you" and reciprocate your appreciation. Your health and relationships will also benefit as a result.
- Give up your time to help others: The key here is to do something nice for the sake of doing something nice, without expecting anything in return. Whether it's a coworker who needs your input on a project or a friend who'd appreciate help moving, put any selfish tendencies aside to lend a hand.
- Limit the negativity: Negativity is contagious, but so is the reverse! Rather than feeding into gossip or ranting about your issues, take it upon yourself to spread good vibes instead. It only takes one person to shift the mood of others around them.
- Be open-minded: Resist the urge to impose your ways or beliefs on someone else. (See point #2.) Take a lesson in humility and accept the fact that you're not always right - a little empathy never hurts.
- Stay current: Educate yourself on what's going on in the world to prevent seeming insensitive or tone-deaf. Staying on top of current issues will widen your perspective and make you more aware of certain groups, cultures, issues, etc.
- Be polite and respectful, always: This one's a no-brainer, but it's still worth reminding. Regardless of whether you're having a good or bad day, the way you treat others should remain the same.
The 13 Best AR Apps and Games You Need to Download Right Now
Augmented reality – or AR, as it's more commonly known – is one of those things that lots of people talk about, but very few actually understand. Aside from being the phrase that was (loosely) used to denote the real-life component of Pokémon Go, or used to describe the 3D bitmoji that now live in Snapchat, it's the underlying technology that allows you to mash up real life and the imaginary by simply pointing your phone's camera lens at the world around you. And with the release of Apple's iOS 11, the ability to use it comes standard on every Apple device – and it's high time we all start using the rad new technology we've got at our fingertips more often.
To help you out a bit, we've tested a whole lot of the app offerings in the App Store in to come up with the very best in AR apps and games that are available to download right now. Ahead, click through 13 of these delightfully future-forward apps – all of which will help you get cracking on being the first of your friends to master the latest in ubercool tech.
You Can Now Share a WiFi Password in iOS 11 in 1 Quick and Easy Step
Most people know that the true test of friendship isn't texting someone every day, or being the first one at the bar for their happy hour - it's actually all about feeling comfortable enough to ask for the WiFi password. Think about it: it means you'll be over enough times to hop on the WiFi and that you're not just trying to check Facebook to meet up with more interesting people. But with iOS 11, asking for WiFi will be easier than ever and won't require someone to dig up the piece of paper where they wrote their password in the first place. So we can kiss that friendship test goodbye, but say hello to not sucking up quite so much data when we're out and about in the world.
In iOS 11, as long as you and your friend already have each other in your contacts and put your iPhone, iPad, or Mac near each other, you can share the WiFi password without needing to divulge what it is. Whoever is already on the WiFi network will receive a notification that another person is trying to join. If that person is your friend or someone you know, you can approve the request and they'll be put on the network. This works for personal cases, as well as at big offices (I tried it at the POPSUGAR office in San Francisco, and it went pretty smoothly.)
If you're still confused, not to worry; just look at ahead at how to use it and what the WiFi sharing feature looks like. After that, you can try the other useful updates on iOS 11 like new screenshotting tools and a one-handed keyboard.
The 1 Train to Board For an Epic Front-Row Seat to the Swiss Alps
I'll admit, before last year, I was never one to be keen on train travel. Sure, I loved the idea of having more leg-room and being able to pack more than 3.4-ounces of liquid in my carry-on, but the overall efficiency of flying always won me over. That is, until I climbed aboard the Bernina Express to make the journey across the Swiss/Italian Alps.
Arguably one of the the most scenic railway routes of all time, this train tugged at my heart strings in ways I didn't even know were possible. Thanks to the 55 winding tunnels, 196 bridges, and the blissful blend of lush countryside and icy glaciers, this thrilling four-hour ride opened my eyes to an entirely new way of travel. And one I can't wait to experience again. So if you're on the hunt for your next epic adventure, scroll ahead to find out why the Bernina Express should become just that!
36 Moves to Change Your Life For the Better
I don't really believe in making New Year's resolutions. Most of the time you don't end up keeping them, and then you just feel worse because you committed to something and didn't follow through with it. Resolutions shouldn't necessarily be things to stop doing or to get rid of, but instead they should be about embracing a different mindset. If part of getting happier for you does mean dropping some bad habits - great. But the real key to making your life amazing this year is to find what makes you happy and do whatever it takes to get it and keep it. Here are some ways to make this the best year of your whole life.
- Do something that scares the sh*t out of you.
- Spend time with people who make your life better.
- Let yourself sleep in sometimes.
- Take a day off just because you want to.
- Clean everything in your house.
- Pick up a new hobby that makes you happy.
- Perform random acts of kindness for people.
- Don't bring work home with you.
- Read a book that will change your life.
- Give people the benefit of the doubt.
- Eat healthy (mostly).
- Don't dwell on things you can't change.
- Travel somewhere you've never been.
- Do something that makes you feel accomplished.
- Get rid of things (and people!) you don't need.
- Quit a job you hate.
- Do something - big or small - that you're really proud of.
- Find a productive way to channel your stress.
- Don't take everything too seriously.
- Find a type of exercise you love, and do it as often as you can.
- Make time just for yourself.
- Eat something you've never tried.
- Let yourself get SUPER excited about an event, a new book or movie, a trip, or anything else you love.
- Finish something you started.
- Work toward reaching a career goal you've set your mind to.
- Forgive someone.
- Check a few more things off your bucket list.
- Take a class about something you're really interested in.
- Get obsessed with a new TV series.
- Explore new places in your own city.
- Make an effort to stay in touch with friends and family.
- Start or add to a savings account.
- Adopt an animal.
- Treat yourself to something you've been wanting forever.
- Volunteer for a cause you're passionate about.
- Decide what you want, and go f*cking get it.
Transgender Kids doc doesn't present facts fairly. CBC was right not to show it
It is unreasonable to expect viewers to know that the empirical data that guides the documentary is flawed. After all, they come to the documentary to learn about a reality with which they are not necessarily well acquainted.
'Resilient, but tired:' Mental effects of wildfire lingering in Fort McMurray
Firefighter Mark Stephenson says he can't drive through Fort McMurray without being brought back to May 2016.
Scientists mobilize for a fight over powerful gene-editing technology
A volatile scientific debate is quietly simmering, with echoes of the controversy over genetically modified organisms. The Gates Foundation and the U.S. military are among the groups funding gene drives, a powerful new genetic technology.
1 death from E. coli after lettuce warning, health officials won't say where
The Public Health Agency of Canada has confirmed that one person has died from E. coli infection but says privacy laws prevent it from saying where.
Apotex founder Barry Sherman and wife, Honey Sherman, found dead in North York home
Canadian pharmaceutical giant Apotex confirms its founder Barry Sherman and his wife, Honey Sherman, are dead, amid reports that two bodies were found in their Toronto home.
Federal government proposes new monitoring system for medical assistance in dying
The federal government has released proposed new rules for tracking those who request medical assistance in dying and those approved to receive it, in an effort to foster public trust in the new regime.
Comedy Central Cancels T.J. Miller's The Gorburger Show After Sexual Assault Allegations
Comedy Central's The Gorburger Show is no longer.
The former Funny or Die digital program is the brainchild of actor and comedian T.J. Miller and quickly gained a strong online fandom for the show's giant blue alien who takes over as host of a Japanese talk show. Miller provided the voice for the furry extraterrestrial, as well as acted as puppeteer and served as an executive producer. On Tuesday, Comedy Central decided to pull the plug on the comedy following The Daily Beast's publication of an investigation into disturbing sexual assault claims against Miller.
The woman said she met Miller at a George Washington University comedy group in the early 2000s and accused the Emoji Movie star of sexually assaulting her during their brief relationship. She cites an instance of Miller choking her, "shaking [her] violently," and punching her in the mouth. Miller and his wife, Kate Gorney, released a lengthy statement denying the accusations, in which they also claim this isn't the first time the accuser has come forward.
"We met this woman over a decade ago while studying together in college, she attempted to break us up back then by plotting for over a year before making contradictory claims and accusations," they said. "She attempted to discredit both of our voices and use us against one another by trying to portray Kate to be a continuous abuse victim of T.J. (further efforts to hurt the two of us). She was asked to leave our university comedy group because of worrisome and disturbing behavior, which angered her immensely, she then became fixated on our relationship, and began telling people around campus 'I'm going to destroy them' & 'I'm going to ruin him.'"
A Comedy Central source told Entertainment Weekly that the decision to cancel the show, which ran for one season, was actually made earlier this year.
Pop Culture Gifts For Everyone on Your List - All Under $20!
Before the holiday shopping becomes too hectic, take a look at these fun, affordable gifts for the pop culture fan on your list. Every item is less than $20, so these entertainment-inspired picks are great options for grab bags and stocking stuffers. Prints, DVDs, books, t-shirts, mugs - we've curated a broad collection of ideas for anyone who's into TV, movies, and music. Check out these entertaining and wallet-friendly gift ideas now, and for even more options, check out some fun stocking stuffers and every gift guide under the sun!
mercredi 20 décembre 2017
The Guy Who Plays Miguel on This Is Us Is a Real-Life Heartthrob, and Here's Proof
While you were busy fawning over Jack Pearson (played by the insanely sexy Milo Ventimiglia) on This Is Us, you didn't even notice that Miguel (played by Jon Huertas) is a hottie himself. The 41-year-old Puerto Rican actor looks much different (see: sexier) outside of the prosthetics he wears on the show.
Fans of Jon's previous work might recognize his handsome face from shows like Moesha and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Others may have seen him in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill or ABC's comedy-drama Castle. Either way, it's time we celebrate Jon's gorgeous features, which we're so blessed to have on our TV screens each week. Without further ado, here are 13 photos of Miguel Jon that will make you say, "Jack who?"
13 Words in Spanish That Don't Have an English Equivalent - So Frustrating!
If you're a Spanish speaker, you probably find yourself at a literal loss for words often. There are just so many times when you know a Spanish term (just a few letters put together) can perfectly describe what you're feeling, but no matter how much you rack your brain to find the English version, you come out with nothing - or a very long and complicated sentence that simply doesn't feel right. It's not your fault! We've come up with just 13 commonly used Spanish terms that don't quite translate into English, making for frustration and the need for Spanglish. Scroll ahead to find our list.
These 10 Zumba Videos to Daddy Yankee's Hit Songs Will Make You Break It Down
Daddy Yankee's music is notorious for making anyone want to break it down, so why not work out while you do it? These Zumba videos make it easy to break a sweat while getting down to Yankee's music. A lot certified Zumba instructors upload their own routines to YouTube and make it easy for anyone to follow along, and these will have you moving and grooving like there is no tomorrow.
22 Desserts That Belong in Mason Jars and Under a Christmas Tree
When you have more than a few people on your holiday shopping list, you need a better solution than hitting the mall hard and filling cart after cart with stocking stuffers. How about a few homemade treats, beautifully placed inside mason jars decorated with ribbons and tags?
These delicious Latin baked goods show that you put effort and thought into crafting a present, but save you more than a few bucks - shh, no one has to know! Keep reading for the perfect recipes to give your neighbor, fitness instructor, favorite barista, and even your co-workers, then check out 100-plus gift ideas for everyone else on your list.
30 of the Best Latin Songs You Can Do a Zumba Workout To
If you didn't already know this, Zumba is a great way to exercise because you are essentially working out every single part of your body. Plus, you can do it while listening to some of your most-loved artists - picture yourself doing Zumba to Daddy Yankee's "Hula Hoop" or Carlos Vives and Shakira's "Bicicleta." The best part is that thanks to YouTube, you can follow Zumba workouts from wherever you are. Grab some workout gear and get ready to dance along to some of your favorite songs.
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