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 18 janvier 2018
100 Stunning Baby Names That Have Incredibly Powerful Meanings
Whether you wait until your child is born or decide on options months in advance, picking your child's name is one of the first major decisions you'll make as a new parent. Between the endless options out there (not even including the different spelling variations once you've settled on one!) and the fact that your child will be called this moniker for his or her entire life, the name game can be pretty overwhelming.
But when you move beyond how a name sounds and start looking at the definition behind it, you can quickly start narrowing down your list. Check out these 100 pretty names with equally powerful meanings that you'll want to take into consideration ASAP!
Boys
- Aaron: Hebrew - Enlightened.
- Aiden: Celtic - The sun god; fiery.
- Alexander: Greek - Defender of men.
- Amell: German - Power of an eagle.
- Amory: German - Leader; divine; brave; powerful.
- Andrew: Greek - Strong; manly; courageous.
- Anthony: Latin - Priceless.
- Asher: Hebrew -Happy or blessed.
- Austin: Latin - Majestic dignity.
- Azai: Hebrew - Strength.
- Aziel: Hebrew - God is my power.
- Caelan: Irish - Powerful warrior; victorious people.
- Chance: English - Good fortune.
- Charlie: English - Free.
- David: Hebrew - Beloved.
- Edric: English - Power and good fortune.
- Edward: English - Wealthy guardian.
- Elliot: Hebrew - Lord is my God.
- Ethan: Hebrew - Strong; safe; firm.
- Ezra: Hebrew - Helper.
- Felix: Latin - Happy; fortunate.
- Gabriel: Hebrew - Devoted to God; a hero of God; God is my strength.
- Henry: German - Ruler of the household.
- Ian: Scottish - God is gracious.
- Isaac: Hebrew - He will laugh.
- Isaiah: Hebrew - Salvation of the lord.
- Jayce: Greek - Healer.
- Jonathan: Hebrew - God gives.
- Josiah: Hebrew - Fire of the Lord; healer.
- Julian: Latin - Father of the skies.
- Kano: Japanese - One's masculine power; capability.
- Levi: Hebrew - Joined in harmony.
- Liam: Irish - Strong-willed warrior and protector.
- Lucas: Latin - Light-giving; illumination.
- Magnus: Latin - Greatest.
- Matthew: Hebrew - Gift from God.
- Miles: Latin - Soldier.
- Milo: German - Merciful.
- Nathan: Hebrew - He gave.
- Ned: English - Wealthy guardian.
- Noah: Hebrew - Rest; comfort.
- Nolan: Gaelic - A descendant of a chariot fighter or champion; famous; noble.
- Oswald: English - Divine power.
- Owen: Welsh - Young warrior; well-born; noble.
- Robert: German - Bright fame.
- Ryan: Irish - Descendent of the king; little king.
- William: German - Strong-willed warrior; resolute protection.
- Xander: Greek - Protector of men.
- Zachary: Hebrew - Remembered by God.
- Zane: Hebrew - God's gracious gift.
- Abigail: Hebrew - The father's joy.
- Alessia: Italian - Defending warrior.
- Alexandra: Greek - Helper; defender of mankind.
- Alice: English - Noble; kind.
- Amara: Latin - Strong; attractive; stylish.
- Amelia: German - Industrious; striving.
- Anne: Hebrew - Favored grace.
- Arabella: Latin - Lovely; elegant.
- Audree: French - Nobility; strength.
- Arianna: Greek - Holy.
- Avery: French - Wise.
- Callie: Greek - Most beautiful.
- Calynn: Gaelic - Powerful in battle.
- Charlotte: French - Petite; feminine.
- Charvi: Sanskrit - Beautiful.
- Claire: Latin - Bright; clear; famous; brilliant.
- Cora: Greek - Filled heart.
- Darlene: English - Darling, loved one.
- Della: German - Noble; bright.
- Diana: Latin - Moon Goddess.
- Eleanor: Greek - Bright, shining one; sun rays.
- Ella: English - Light; beautiful fairy woman.
- Eva: Hebrew - Life.
- Farrah: Arabic - Happy.
- Faye: French - Loyalty; confidence; trust; belief.
- Gabriella: Hebrew - Devoted to God.
- Grace: Latin: Goodness; generosity.
- Hannah: Hebrew - Favor; grace of God.
- Isabelle: Hebrew - God is my strength; devoted to God.
- Jocelyn: Latin - Happy; joyful.
- Kaitlyn: Greek - Pure.
- Kalila: Arabic - Heap of love.
- Layla: Egyptian - Dark beauty.
- Mackenzie: Gaelic - Child of the wise leader.
- Malia: Hawaiian - Beloved.
- Mia: Latin - Mine; wished-for child.
- Mila: Russian - Industrious; hardworking.
- Millie: Latin - Free-born; strength; determination.
- Naila: Arabic - Successful.
- Nora: Greek - Shining light.
- Reagan: Irish - Little ruler.
- Reveka: Hebrew - Captivating.
- Samantha: Hebrew - Listener.
- Sarah: Hebrew - Princess.
- Shayna: Yiddish - Beautiful; God is gracious.
- Sophia: Greek - Wisdom.
- Stella: Greek - A star.
- Vivian: Latin - Full of life.
- Zahra: Arabic - Flower.
- Zoe: Greek - Life.
Mom of 4 Reveals Her Tiny-Room Laundry Hacks, Proving Anything Is Possible
"Not all of us have huge, spacious laundry rooms where we can spread out clothes and stuff like that," says the host of YouTube channel Alittleaboutalot. Amen, sister! The mom of four took viewers inside her teeny-tiny laundry room to reveal her unconventional organization hacks, and we're feeling inspired. Between the over-the-door shoe hanger she uses to corral her kids' socks and underwear to the hooks she relies on to dry bras and hang belts, there are plenty of creative ideas for utilizing an exceptionally small laundry room. But our favorite hack from this video actually involves decorating. Don't miss her tip for getting an oversize family portrait printed for less than $2!
I'm a Family Psychologist and These Are the 20 Most Common Parenting Mistakes I See
Most parents try to do what's best for their children. What happens when we don't even realize our behavior is harmful? Our friends at Fatherly share with us 20 common partenting mistakes.
What are some common mistakes parents make that could actually hurt their children's mental and physical health in the long term?
I have seen so many good intentions go horribly wrong over the years that can result in self-harm, suicide and, in extreme cases, even murder. Here are some of the most common mistakes that can be really harmful to kids.
1. Giving Them Too Many Choices
Many parents think children always should have endless choices, when the reality is kids can be overwhelmed if they're always given so many options.
2. Praising Them For Everything They Do
It's very common now to see kids who are almost junkies for praise. They won't do anything unless there is a payoff for them.
3. Trying to Make the Child Happy
Their job is to learn to make themselves happy, and you can never force a child to be happy.
4. Overindulging Them
They will almost always end up believing acquisitions lead to happiness. This sets up chasing the never-satisfying carrots, and can result in addictions and compulsions.
5. Keeping Them Too Busy
Most commonly with sports. Many parents wrongly believe "activities" will keep their kid out of trouble, but often times this will lead to the child being burned out or even becoming a bully.
6. Thinking Smart Will Save Them
It can be tempting for parents to promote smart as the end-all-be-all. Yet this can lead to a child becoming arrogant, thinking everyone else is stupid or secretly believing that they have to put on an act and are a fraud. As a result, nobody likes them.
7. Thinking a Strict Religion Will Give Them Perfect Values and Save Them
The first time they see hypocrisy in their parents or the touted beloved leaders, the house of cards start to fall.
8. Withholding Common Information About Important Topics - Like Sex
Many parents are terrified of talking about sex, and believe avoiding discussing it with their children will save them. But I've seen 13-year-old girls get pregnant, sometimes just to flaunt it at their parents.
9. Being Hyper-Critical of the Child's Mistakes
It can be easy to assume intense scrutiny promotes success and makes kids better. But kids raised this way are driven to perfection in everything from looks, likability, sports, smarts, or you name it. When a mistake happens, they are worthless as a human being and start getting so angry that in some cases they will resort to self-harm even to the point of suicide.
10. Using Shame, Shunning, or Threats
Never imply that there is a chance you might not love your child due to their actions, as some parents do so in order to get their kids to achieve compliance. It is a short term gain with abandonment lurking in the shadows. Then the child doesn't care either.
11. Making Kids Do Things Inappropriate For Their Age
I have 3 patients right now who, by age 4, were having to feed themselves and/or had to be in charge of a sibling also. I've seen many who didn't have children of their own because as they all said; "I raised my family."
12. Not Limiting Screen Time
Whether it's TV, video, games, phone or texting. I know a family where the mom and teenage son text each other constantly and no one else can get into their relationship link.
13. Not Letting Kids Get Bored
Some parents think children are supposed to be stimulated at all times and it's their job to avoid boredom. Then kids don't learn to be creative and find the way out of boredom in themselves.
14. Protecting Kids From Their Own Consequences and Loss
I see parents with good intentions get their kids everything, from a simple toy to buying them out of legal trouble, and suddenly are surprised when the child respects nothing. All of us need to learn losing is just another way to gain wisdom and experience about what not to do.
15. Not Letting Kids Play Dangerously
The Forest Kindergarten schools have shown the children get sick less, are more well adjusted and also get along better than their regulated indoor peers.
16. Not Debriefing Kids at Bed Time
"What happened today?" Children sleep better and feel loved when the parent shows an interest in what happened that was significant to them in their own lives.
17. Not Reading to Very Young Children
Reading requires the child to be still, be quiet, and use their imagination. All the things videos don't. It prepares them for listening in school and being able to use their imagination for creativity and alternatives as a resource.
18. Pulling Pacifiers Too Soon
Parents know the pacifier is an outward symbol of insecurity, so they tend to take it away as soon as they can, instead of getting the child secure where it would drop-out naturally. I have adult patients who secretly suck their thumbs.
19. Not Regulating Food
And especially inquiring: "Are you full?" When this happens, typically your kid will load the plate again. That is an old survival program from our heritage as scarcity, when food was not available. Kids then chase a full-filled sensation, not understanding each time you fill yourself, your stomach adapts to that as normal and expands.
20. Spanking Children Older Than 5
Parents think it will teach them to be good, but using corporal punishment never works as well as love. I see all kinds of patients where the concept of 'Spare the rod - spoil the child' was anything but. No spoiling, just oppositional, angry, bullying, deceiving, fearful or performing automatons.
Author Mike Leary is a psychologist who primarily deals with relationships and parenting.
Infuriated by His Daughter's Sexist School Activities, This Dad Wrote a Letter About "Gender Lines"
I wrote a letter http://pic.twitter.com/oFJp7egVnf
- Grumplestiltskin (@2FBS) December 6, 2017
A dad in New South Wales, Australia, made sure his opinion was heard after his daughter told him about the sexism she experienced at school. The dad, Stephen Callaghan, wrote a letter to his daughter Ruby's school after she explained the gender-specific activities planned as a celebration for her year-six graduation. The girls were scheduled to get their hair and makeup done in the school library, and the boys were to be sent on a trip to Bunnings, a hardware-store chain. Stephen didn't find it very appropriate to divide the celebratory activities in such a clear way - who's assuming all the girls want hair and makeup done and wouldn't prefer to go to the store?
In a letter to the principal that Stephen shared on Twitter, he wrote, "When Ruby left for school yesterday it was 2017, but when she returned home in the afternoon she was from 1968." After explaining the activities Ruby informed him about, he continued to sarcastically ask, "Are you able to search the school buildings for a space-time continuum? Perhaps there is a faulty Flux Capacitor hidden away in the girls toilet block?" referencing Back to the Future. In a separate tweet, Stephen mentioned his daughter wants to be an engineer and doesn't "give a rat's arse about make-up."
My daughter's end of year activities for Year 6.
Girls - hair and make-up in the school library
Boys - DIY workshop at Bunnings.
Sigh.
Will things ever change?
My daughter wants to be an engineer. She doesn't give a rat's arse about make-up.- Grumplestiltskin (@2FBS) December 6, 2017
Ruby and I would like to thank you for the great comments of support. At 12 years of age my daughter is starting to notice there are plenty of people prepared to tell her what she can & can't do based solely on the fact she is female.
She would like this to change.
So would I.- Grumplestiltskin (@2FBS) December 7, 2017
Many people responding to the tweets seem to have had similar experiences with their kids. Here's hoping the dad's letter doesn't go unanswered.
Anna Faris's Morning Routine Is the Ideal Stress Reliever For Busy Moms
Have you ever found yourself wanting to scream? Blast the radio, tune out the world, and just freaking scream? No, this isn't an infomercial about needing therapy, it's the reality of being a parent. After you drop your kids off at school or daycare or whatever institution we're thankful for taking our rascals off our hands for the day, there are only a few hours left to carpe that damn diem, so they should be used wisely. Whether your morning starts with extra minutes in bed, one too many cups of coffee, or with the windows down and the music blasting like Anna Faris, these crucial hours are important for a mother's sanity.
We spoke with the 41-year-old actress and mother to the adorable 5-year-old Jack to ask how she starts her mornings. Although she admittedly sometimes skips breakfast, it's what she does on her way to work that pumps her up and keeps her motivated for the day ahead. "I like to drive to work with all my windows down and my music blasting," Anna told POPSUGAR. "I feel like it's as good as a cup of coffee."
That is quite an epic adrenaline rush in the morning, even though Anna might get a little too into it since she realized she was arriving at work with "totally bloodshot eyes" from the wind. Ha! Well, maybe the windows cracked open a bit will still do the trick. With a weekly podcast, a movie on the way, and a CBS series, it's no wonder Anna appreciates her early-morning breather.
Anna referred to this morning routine as "lazy," but it's actually an incredibly liberating and stress-relieving routine. How amazing does it feel to just let your hair blow and scream out lyrics to your favorite songs that your kids would never let you get away with in the car?! Catch ya on the freeway, Anna.
Instagram Turned Barbie Into a Millennial Mom - and the Posts Are Spot-On
If you're a mom with an Instagram feed, there's a good chance you've posted the obligatory share-worthy snaps of your family. There's the classic baby-bump selfies, the chaotic-yet-expertly-coordinated family photos, and the aerial shots of your morning coffee. And of course who can forget the token "shirtless dad holding naked baby on chest" photo?
It makes sense then that Barbie's feed is no different. That's right: the famed Mattel toy is a married mom with two kids, and, aside from some rubbery joints, her Instagram feed shows her living out her days just like the rest of us, or at least like the real-life mommy bloggers we follow.
This hipster Barbie mom goes by Tiff, and her @tiff_thebarbie account, which has a whopping 12,000 devoted fans, features copious #momlife hashtags and Pinterest-worthy pregnancy announcements, gender reveals, and birth photos.
Scroll through for this doll's social media highlights, and don't feel bad if you steal a few ideas for your own feed.
This Mom's "Poem" About Public Breastfeeding Is Even Better Than Her Photo
If you've tried talking and writing and protesting and still can't seem to get people to accept you breastfeeding in public, perhaps you need to try a Dr. Seussian limerick?
That's what one mom, Whitney, did in the latest amazing way women are normalizing breastfeeding. Behold, her poem on the popular Facebook group Breastfeeding Mama Talk:
Anytime. Anywhere. You can stare, I don't care. I'll feed my hungry child, here or there, if you don't like my boob I still don't care. A Restaurant? A store? It's boob juice galore! A theater? A museum? But you're more focused on trying to see them! Bottle or boob. It's all just food. You still think I should cover? You should run and tell your mother. Pull out your phone and take a picture? But I'm the one who's the problem? Don't you wish we could all mind our business? That would sure solve them! Think I am disgusting? I could say the same? Think I am playing an attention-seeking game? You are wrong because you see, really I am only worried about the comfort of my baby and me!
Woman Organizes a Tiny Pantry With Dollar Tree Finds, and It's a Sight to Behold
Walk-in pantries are what parenting dreams are made of, but so many of us have a slender, shallow cabinet instead, which can be tricky to organize. Enter Tonya, from YouTube channel Hey Tonya. The woman is known to work organization miracles with her Dollar Tree hauls (have you seen her laundry room?), but the budget-friendly makeover she gave to her narrow pantry is inspiring us to do the same. Equipped with baskets, plastic tubs, bins, and lidded containers from the Dollar Tree, she demonstrates a speedy step-by-step tutorial for clever ways of transforming a tiny pantry into an efficient storage space. If you've been lamenting over your chaotic pantry, this video will definitely spark some ideas!
Prince Harry's Wedding Could Also Double as a Reunion With One of His Famous Exes
When we said Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were doing things their way for their upcoming wedding, we weren't kidding. Not only is Meghan shaking things up by having her mom walk her down the aisle, but Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy might even be on hand for the big day. "Do not be surprised if Chelsy shows up with a date," a source recently told Us Weekly. "The two have remained friends long after ending their relationship and still keep in touch to this day. She congratulated him the minute the engagement news was announced. Meghan would have no problem with her being there, and Chelsy was on the preliminary list of friends to invite."
Harry and Chelsy dated on and off from 2004 to 2011, and from the sound of it, they're still on good terms. One person who you shouldn't expect to see, though, is Cressida Bonas, one of his other exes. "Don't expect to see Cressida invited," the insider added. "The two didn't remain friends." Harry and Cressida were in a relationship from 2012 to 2014 and were spotted caroling at the Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund carol concert in London this past December. No word on whether Cressida congratulated Harry on his engagement.
She's Done It Again: Dolly Parton Sets Not 1, But 2 Guinness World Records
Dolly Parton is one of the biggest stars in country music, and now she has not one, but two Guinness World Records to back it up. The 71-year-old icon was recently honored for holding the records for the most hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart by a female and the most decades with a Top 20 hit on that same chart - an achievement that she joked made her "feel about 100."
"To receive these two Guinness World Records is so great. Joining so many wonderful singers and songwriters who have been honored this way feels so special to me," Dolly said when she was presented with her record title certificates in the video above. "You never know when you start out with your work how it's going to turn out, but to have these two world records makes me feel very humbled and blessed!"
In addition to earning two spots in this year's Guinness World Records, Dolly also holds several hall of fame honors, including in the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, and Songwriters Hall of Fame. Some of her biggest hits include "Jolene," "Dumb Blonde," "Coat of Many Colors," and "I Will Always Love You." Congrats Dolly!
Nina Dobrev's Bikini-Clad Beach Outing Will Have You Working Up a Sweat
Nina Dobrev really knows how to work a bikini. On Wednesday, The Vampire Diaries actress put her incredible figure on display as she slipped into a black two-piece in Mexico. Aside from showing off her washboard abs as she did a few exercises in the sand, Nina channeled her inner Baywatch lifeguard as she ran along the water with a friend. This isn't the only glimpse the 29-year-old has given us of her fun-filled vacation. After watching the sunset in a sporty blue bikini, Nina couldn't help but post a fun video on Instagram of her working out with her "squad." Looks like Nina is following the motto "work hard, play hard."
Help, I'm REALLY Torn About Netflix's New Queer Eye Reboot
Netflix has released a first look at the upcoming Queer Eye reboot, and it's hard not to feel conflicted. Slated as one of the streaming giant's shiny new 2018 shows, the revival follows the same concept as the original: a group of gay men help one tragic heterosexual clean up every aspect of his life. The trailer is certainly laced with emotional moments that may make you well up in tears. At the same time, though, do we really need to watch footage of straight men asking, "Which one of you is the wife?," in 2018? I can't help but wonder if some aspects of the show - things that may have been daring and educational in 2003 - will come across as dated in the present day. But hey, guess we'll just have to wait and see. Queer Eye drops Feb. 7.
The Facts About Andrew Cunanan, the Man Who Murdered Gianni Versace
With the premiere of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story upon us, we've been curious about the life and death of ill-fated fashion icon Gianni Versace.
The second season of the award-winning series will follow the chilling crime surrounding the famous fashion designer, played by Édgar Ramírez, and the young man who killed him, Andrew Cunanan, played by Glee alum Darren Criss. Based on Maureen Orth's book, Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U. S. History, the somewhat-unapproved series by Ryan Murphy will have a strong, centered focus on the murderer, in addition to the Versace family.
But who was Cunanan? Here are some details of his life - and his death.
Cunanan's Early Life
Cunanan was born in National City, CA, on Aug. 31, 1969. He had an average childhood, known for being brilliant and talkative until he became a teenager and became a compulsive liar, telling far-off, fantastical stories of his life and family.
In 1988, his father left for fear of being arrested on embezzlement charges. That same year, Cunanan's mother found out that he was gay, and the two got into a physical fight. He threw her against a wall and dislocated her shoulder. Cunanan had little empathy about it (and everything else, for that matter), a warning sign for antisocial personality disorder.
Adulthood
He graduated from high school in 1987 and enrolled at University of California San Diego before dropping out and moving to San Francisco. He embraced the gay club scene there but seemed to have a more sinister agenda. According to acquaintances from San Diego, Cunanan would study the groups he wanted to be a part of, usually getting close to older, wealthy gay men. He was a social climber of the highest order, but there was more to it for Cunanan.
The Serial Killer
Versace was not the first murder for Cunanan. Rather, he began his killing spree a few months prior in Minneapolis, MN, in April 1997. Following an argument, he murdered an acquaintance from San Diego, Jeffrey Trail, before moving on to his next victim, ex-lover David Madson. Madson was found dead on the shore of Rush Lake in Minnesota. Cunanan earned a spot on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List after he drove to Chicago and murdered real estate developer Lee Miglin. Stealing his car, Cunanan drove to Pennsville, NJ, and found his fourth victim, William Reese, whom he shot to death.
Cunanan's Last Kill
He then went into hiding in Miami Beach, FL, quickly adapting to the flashy scene. He remained undetected by authorities for a whole two months before his most infamous crime: murdering fashion mogul Versace on July 15, 1997. Cunanan fatally shot Versace in front of his mansion before fleeing the scene and taking his own life with the same shotgun in a houseboat bedroom a few days later on July 23. Cunanan had supposedly met Versace at a San Francisco nightclub in 1990, but that had been the extent of their "relationship."
There are no known motives for his crimes, although there were rumors swirling around that Cunanan went on the murder spree after finding out that he was HIV positive. Despite that, after the autopsy was done, he was declared to be free of HIV.
How will the television series match up to the real-life narrative? We'll have to watch and find out.
American Crime Story: Did Gianni Versace Meet Andrew Cunanan Before the Murder?
In the premiere episode of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, the action largely centers around July 15, 1997 - what can be thought of as "present day" for the show - when Andrew Cunanan murdered Gianni Versace on the steps of the fashion designer's Miami Beach villa. But in between the two parts of the show dedicated to that day, there is a flashback to seven years earlier that shows the two men meeting in San Francisco. But did that really happen?
The answer is that no one knows for sure, and this is definitely a point of contention. Versace's family says the two men never met, but the book on which the show is based states that they did.
Author Maureen Orth, the journalist who wrote Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U. S. History, maintains that the two men absolutely met in real life. She told the reporters at the 2018 Winter TCA press tour that she spoke to a number of sources who said Versace met Cunanan when the designer was in San Francisco doing costumes for the opera.
"Cunanan was invited to a party to meet Versace," said Orth. "And I talked to at least, I'd say, five different people on the record who went to the party, who saw them talking, and then I also talked to one of Andrew's friends who claims that Andrew was riding around in a white convertible with Versace and Antonio one night and, kind of, a decadent socialite from San Francisco who was well known, and Andrew had him bring the car over to the curb so he could introduce and make them see that he was with Versace."
She went on to say that the scene where Cunanan was recounting the night at the club to Liz Cote and her husband "absolutely happened," because she spoke to Cote's husband about it.
"I would say my sourcing in the book is 95 percent or more on the record, and I talked to over 400 people, and so, so many things that you might think were made up aren't made up. They happened," said Orth. "He absolutely did know Versace. To what extent he had a relationship with him or was seen with him afterwards or anything like that, I don't know. But he definitely said that line, 'If you are Versace, I'm Coco Chanel.' Three or four people told me that."
However, the executive producers for the show told me in an interview that they aren't as sure about the two men meeting, so they chose to frame the story from Andrew's point of view and let the viewers decide for themselves.
"People say they did. The family says they didn't. So we frame the meeting through Andrew's telling of the story, very deliberately and specifically," said Executive Producer Brad Simpson. "He tells the story of having met Versace. The rest of our show is told without somebody framing the story, so we leave it up to the viewer to decide if they think they met or not. But certainly in Andrew's mind they met."
Executive Producer Nina Jacobson added, "We can't know for sure. There's plenty of reason to believe they may have met and they may have had some connection to each other, but they may not have. Andrew was a liar."
"Or they may have been introduced at a club and Andrew turned it into something bigger," said Simpson.
What the executive producers want to stress is that they had more blanks to fill in this season than they did with season one. With The People vs. O.J. Simpson, there were myriad sources to consult - news footage, courtroom footage, books written by all the major players. But with season two, they had to invent some things that no one can give them a first-person account of because the people who were there are deceased. But they took great care in choosing what to dramatize for television.
"We always wanted to be very careful; even though there were blanks to fill in, we tried really hard to fill them in with what we believed to be true and framed through the larger themes," said Jacobson. "And if we didn't know, we really tried to allow for interpretation. We're always trying to get it as close to right as we could, knowing that there was not as much information to draw from, and try to do justice to people who were impacted by it."
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 2: What We Know So Far
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has been a triumph for Amazon Studios since its release in November. Critics are raving and the show received two Golden Globes, one for best musical/comedy TV series and one for its star, Rachel Brosnahan, for best actress in a TV musical/comedy. Obviously, it's getting a second season.
In fact, it was actually the first Amazon series to receive a multiple-season order before it even debuted, receiving a two-season order back in April 2017. But what do we know about season two?
The only thing we know for sure is that it's coming. As for specific plotlines, Brosnahan teased for Indie Wire that Midge, the Upper West Side housewife who embarks on a stand-up comedy career after her husband leaves her, is going to struggle to navigate the different worlds she occupies.
Brosnahan says that Midge lives in three different worlds - the one where she's a wife/mother/daughter, the one where she's a working woman (she has a job at a department store to support her family), and the one where she's a budding stand-up comic - and those worlds aren't always easy to maintain simultaneously.
"[T]hose three worlds, they don't work together very well," said Brosnahan. "So I look forward to watching her struggle to maintain those three different identities simultaneously."
Brosnahan added that if Midge were to have to choose one of those worlds, she's not sure where her character would end up.
"I don't think that she'd know at this very moment. I expect that as we go along further in the series that answer will become clearer to her," said Brosnahan. "Right now, she's obviously giving stand-up her all, but she still feels very much rooted in those other worlds . . . the working world is new for her, as well, and she really loves it. It gives her a new sense of purpose that she wasn't expecting. But she is still very much rooted in her identity as a mother and a housewife. But at this point, I don't think she'd have the answer. And neither do I, but I do expect that to become clearer as we move forward."
What will be interesting to see is if the show picks up exactly where season one left off or not. In the season finale, Midge has a wildly successful set at the Gaslight while her husband, Joel, realizes just how far he has fallen and how much he lost when he gave up on his marriage to Midge. Will the show return to that moment? Or will it skip ahead a bit?
We'd love to see the show pick up pretty much immediately after the finale, if only to see how Joel conducts himself after that night. But we'll have to wait and see. The second season should premiere in late 2018. In her interview, Brosnahan told Indie Wire that shooting begins this Spring.
Riverdale: The Internet Is Simultaneously Creeped Out by and Attracted to Betty's Brother
Warning: spoilers for Riverdale below!
Riverdale's highly anticipated midseason return certainly lived up to the hype, if I do say so myself. Archie starts working with the FBI to investigate Hiram Lodge (sheesh, what a loyal boyfriend), Cheryl's mom has quite the, erm, interesting new job (she's now a "lady of the night," as Cheryl calls her), Polly makes a brief reappearance to let Betty know that she birthed her twins (named Dagwood and Juniper - yes, really), and Southside High closes down (much to the dismay of the oh-so-loyal Southside Serpent of the Year, Jughead Jones). Among all this WTF-worthy madness, we are finally introduced to a brand new character: Betty's long-lost brother, Charles - or shall we say Chic.
During the episode, Alice and Betty visit Chic in his motel room to learn that he's earning a living by offering "fantasy fulfillment" to clients. Later on, Betty brings Chic into the Cooper household after rescuing him from a bloody scuffle outside the motel. As Chic attempts to acclimate to the Coopers' lifestyle, his true, somewhat creepy, colors start to come out, exhibited when he sneaks into Betty's room at night to eerily stare at her while she's fast asleep. *Cue the shivers running up and down my spine.*
During the episode, fans passionately tweeted away about the Riverdale newcomer, and it looks like the reactions are actually pretty mixed. Though some agree that Hart Denton, the actor who plays Chic, is rather easy on the eyes, others were downright sketched out by and highly suspicious of his character. See what else fans have to say about Chic by reading through the tweets below.
You Can Try, but We Doubt Anyone Could Have More Fun Than Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson
If there were an award for coolest mother-daughter duo, it would definitely go to Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson. On Tuesday night, Goldie and Kate attended Stella McCartney's Autumn collection event, and from the looks of it, they had an absolute blast. In addition to striking some silly poses together on the red carpet, the pair let loose inside when Stella's famous dad, Paul McCartney, took the stage for a surprise performance. Thankfully, Kate caught the fun moment on camera and later shared it on Instagram. "Front row with... our parents 🙌🙏❤️ #WhatANight ✨," she captioned a clip of Goldie and Stella dancing in the crowd. Could this family be any cuter?
No Need to "Wait" Any Longer, Maroon 5's New Music Video Is Here
The wait is over - Maroon 5's new music video for "Wait" dropped on Wednesday, and clearly Adam Levine is just as obsessed with Snapchat as you are. Not only was the entire video filmed using Snapchat filters, but as an added bonus, you can watch the video in augmented reality exclusively on the Maroon 5 app. We can't tell which is cuter: Levine with the puppy face filter or him wearing a flower crown, so we'll just let you decide.
Selena Gomez's Mom Says She's "Not Happy" and Hasn't Spoken to Justin Bieber in Years
Selena Gomez's mom, Mandy Teefey, is not on board with her daughter's rekindled romance with Justin Bieber. The former manager of the pop star told Gossip Cop that she is "not happy" about Selena's decision to get back with Justin after their split in 2014. Mandy also revealed she has not spoken to, or even texted, Justin in years, but also told the website, "Selena can live her life however she wants as long as she is happy, safe, and healthy."
"Selena is an adult and can make her own choices," Mandy added. The candid interview comes nearly one month after reports emerged that Selena's relationship with Justin is causing her family strife. "Her family is not happy about them being together at all," a source told E! News. "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."
While things might be rocky between Selena and Mandy right now, "Every mother and daughter has disagreements," she told Gossip Gop. One relationship the "Wolves" singer doesn't have to worry about is the one she has with Justin's mom, Pattie Mallette. When asked about her relationship with Selena last month, Pattie had nothing but kind words, saying, "I love her, and I've met her, and we have a special bond."
Why Asia Kate Dillon Wants to Remove Gender From Award Shows Entirely
Image Source: Getty / Matt Winkelmeyer
On Jan. 11, the day of the 2018 Critics' Choice Awards, Asia Kate Dillon lands in Los Angeles. Before the big event - during which they will rock the red carpet in a Black Lives Matter sweater - Asia drops by POPSUGAR's LA office. It's a big day for Asia, who is just 33 years old; their attendance at the ceremony and inclusion on the list of nominees are history in the making.
In early 2017, Asia joined Showtime's Billions as Taylor Mason, who is actually the first nonbinary character to appear on a TV drama. Nonbinary, Asia tells me, is "a term used by some people who experience their gender identity as falling outside the boxes of man or woman." (As a matter of clarification, nonbinary individuals often prefer they/them/their pronouns.) The role was perfect for Asia; in the time since joining Billions, they have begun to also identify as nonbinary, just like their character. In fact, as Asia revealed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, they first learned about the term "nonbinary" from the character description for Taylor. It's a special, full-circle moment: life informs art, and art, in turn, informs real life.
Image Source: Everett Collection
Before we return to the matter at hand, the Critics' Choice Awards, it's important to add a bit more context. By the time Summer 2017 rolled around, Showtime was considering submitting Asia for Emmy consideration. Asia recounted the moment: "The Emmy board asked, 'Well, actor or actress?' And Showtime said, 'Well, we're not sure.' And so they came to me, which is really great."
When presented with the obvious gender binary of something like the Emmy nominations, it seems hard to reconcile a nonbinary identity. "Showtime came to me and said, 'What do you think?' And I decided that I needed more information, frankly, before I could answer that question," Asia remembers. "So I wrote this letter to the Emmy board asking them how they use the words 'actor' and 'actress.' Whether they are referring to assigned sex . . . if it's based on gender identity, there's no room for me." While Asia ultimately did not receive a nomination for an Emmy, this deliberation led to Asia's historic nod in the Critics' Choice category for best supporting actor.
"I'm proud, and I'm humbled, and I'm grateful, and it means that the change is here."
The nomination process for Critics' Choice runs a bit differently than that of the Emmys. "It's not a submission," Asia confirms. "They just choose . . . I believe that they have come out on their own and done this based on the backstory." But regardless of the way Asia lands on a nominations list, one thing is for sure: these Hollywood institutions are working to respect their gender identity. "It means the world. I'm proud, and I'm humbled, and I'm grateful, and it means that the change is here," Asia says of the best supporting actor nomination. "The change we want to see is here. It's evidenced by the fact that I'm here. This is happening. They've gone ahead and made this decision, and there's still further to go. And I'm excited to see where we go. We continue to go together."
For Asia, it's not enough to have their identity respected in a cool way. Asia wants to challenge the archaic idea that we need gender divisions in award shows in the first place. "I don't believe that our assigned sex or assumed sex at birth should be a prerequisite for the way in which we separate people before we compare or honor art that they're making. We don't do it in any other category at award shows. I think - if we were to have a conversation about the ways in which we can create equal representation and make sure we're telling all the stories we need to be telling - we wouldn't say, 'Well, we need a best directoress category. We need the best cinematographeress category.' Because separate is not equal, and it's never inclusive. You know? And I'm just really excited that the conversation is happening, regardless or whether or not I win."
Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison
This isn't the first time Asia has challenged gender in the award show model. In fact, they first stepped into the gender-neutral spotlight in May 2017, when they presented Emma Watson with MTV's first genderless acting award. Even in her speech, Emma's words echoed the same sentiments expressed by Asia: she said acting "doesn't need to be separated into two different categories."
During my interview with Asia, I seize the opportunity to discuss an important counterpoint, one I'd written about after the MTV Movie Awards: if we eliminate gender from award shows, will women get shut out? Will nominations be even more saturated with men than before? And if cisgender women are shut out of genderless acting categories, what hope will there be for transgender women and nonbinary individuals?
"We're talking about it now. We're uncovering it now. And even if we take two steps back, that's the conversation now."
Asia does not shy away from the issue and, in fact, offers an illuminating response. "Frankly, creating the category of 'actress' didn't do much for representation or inclusion of anyone other than white cisgender women, for the most part, within the Hollywood structure . . . I'm not worried that getting rid of gender categories is going to mean that women of color, trans women, historically marginalized, and historically disenfranchised people will receive even less representation, because we're talking about it now. We're uncovering it now. And even if we take two steps back, that's the conversation now. Do you know what I'm saying? It's like even if we eliminated gender and then, suddenly, all men were getting nominated, it would be a conversation. We would talk about that. And that would be the problem that we would be solving."
Driving the point home, Asia continues, "The conversation is actually about why Hollywood has been so steeped in the patriarchy and misogyny. That's what the #MeToo movement is about. That's what Time's Up is about. I mean, these movements are happening congruently because they are interconnected and could not exist without each other. And [they] exist because of each other. It's just a way to have conversations that say, 'Separate was never equal.' And if we're lacking representation, then who are we funding? And why? And what projects are getting made? And what kind of people do you have in your writers' room? Who are your producers? And that change is already happening."
By now, you know that Asia ultimately didn't win in their category, but this benchmark is about so much more than the trophy. It marks a true turning point in the entire history of award shows. The Critics' Choice Awards may be behind us, but there are many more shows ahead and many more opportunities to initiate real change - and Asia wants to be at the forefront of the movement.
Award Season Scorecard: How the Buzziest Movies Are Doing So Far
The Golden Globe and Critic's Choice awards have kicked off 2018's award season, which means that a handful of 2017's most acclaimed movies have already taken home some awards. With the next shows coming up fast and furious - the SAG Awards on Jan. 21 - we're keeping track of who's already a huge winner this award season. With movies like Call Me by Your Name getting a ton of buzz but not the most nominations or awards (that would seem to be Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, thus far), it's already shaping up to be a very interesting award season. See which movies have what nominations and wins so far, and get very excited for it to all get shaken up when the Oscar nominations are announced on Jan. 23!
The 38 Sexiest Pictures of Jamie on Outlander
Real talk: Sam Heughan is one of the best things about Outlander, the TV show based on Diana Gabaldon's bestselling book series. The Scottish actor plays Jamie, an 18th century Scottish warrior who woos Claire, a time-traveling woman. For many people, this has been their first introduction to Heughan, who, we learned from a DVD extra, was always the first choice to play Jamie. Nurture your Outlander crush with all the hottest pictures of Jamie, and then swoon over the sexy pictures of Heughan in real life!
Watch Angelina and Brad's Kids Grow Up Before Your Eyes in These 18 Pictures
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are the proud parents to six beautiful kids: Maddox, 16, Pax, 14, Zahara, 13, Shiloh, 11, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 9. Even though the couple may no longer be together, we've been seeing more and more of Angelina and her family as of late. In addition to joining the actress on her press tour for First They Killed My Father, Angelina gave the world a glimpse into her family dynamic during an interview with BBC World News, and most recently, Pax accompanied his mom to the Golden Globe Awards in LA. Keep reading to see even more sweet moments between the family.
The Special Way Gianni Versace's Family Made Sure He Remained Close After His Tragic Death
Image Source: Getty / Stephanie Maze
With the premiere of American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace set to air on Jan. 17, interest has sparked in the life of the late Gianni Versace and the details surrounding his tragic murder, specifically his burial site. Gianni was shot and killed by a man named Andrew Cunanan in front of his Miami Beach retreat, Casa Casuarina, on July 15, 1997. His body was cremated in Miami a day after his death, and a private memorial service was held by his family at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
Following the Miami memorial, Gianni's family transported his ashes to his native Italy and held a public memorial at Milan Cathedral, which was attended by several celebrities including Naomi Campbell, Princess Diana, Elton John, and Sting. His ashes are buried in his family's vault at Moltrasio cemetery near Lake Como.
Image Source: Getty / ROBERTO SCHMIDT
10 Places You May Have Seen Your Sexy New Crush, Edgar Ramirez
By now you're probably aware that Edgar Ramirez will be playing Gianni Versace in the second season of American Crime Story. While it's obviously a major role for Ramirez, it certainly isn't his first rodeo. The Venezuelan stud has been acting since the early '90s, and in 2005, he scored his first movie role in Domino starring Keira Knightley. Take a look back at some of Ramirez's most famous roles before American Crime Story returns in early 2018.
All the Marvel Characters Who Are For SURE in Avengers: Infinity War
This week, the internet promptly descended into chaos when Marvel dropped the first trailer for Avengers: Infinity War. While there are plenty of details to parse out from the 2-minute teaser, there's also a fun game to play: how many Marvel characters can you count before the screen smashes to black? In 2016, the writers revealed that there are up to 67 "available" characters that have appeared in prior Marvel movies, and that's not even counting the new characters they might introduce. While the writers said not all of these heroes will appear, it's still safe to assume the number will be very large. Here's who we spotted in just the first trailer alone.
American Crime Story: What You Need to Know About Gianni Versace’s Tragic Murder
Image Source: Getty / Michel Arnaud
The next season of American Crime Story is getting closer, and thanks to a last-minute switch, it's focusing on an entirely different subject. What was once a season centered around the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has switched places with what used to be the third installment: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. (The Katrina season is still happening, for the record; it's slated to be the show's third season.) The release of the Versace season has been set for Wednesday, Jan. 17, so in the meantime we can brush up on the facts of the chilling crime. What happened to Gianni Versace? Here are the facts.
A Brief History of the Killer
The name of Versace's killer was Andrew Cunanan (who will be played by Darren Criss). In the two weeks leading up to the murder, Cunanan had killed four other people. His victims were ex-Navy lieutenant Jeffrey Trail, 28, a friend; Minneapolis architect David Madson, 33, a former lover; Chicago developer Lee Miglin, 72, whose relationship to Cunanan is unknown; and William Reese, 45, a cemetery caretaker in New Jersey. Cunanan stole Reese's pickup truck and used it for the final portion of his journey.
The Murder of Versace
Gianni Versace (set to be played by Édgar Ramírez) touched down in Miami on July 10, 1997, five days before his murder. He immediately went to Casa Casuarina, his Miami Beach retreat, with his partner Antonio D'Amico (who will be portrayed by Ricky Martin). At that point, Cunanan was already in town.
On July 15, 1997, sometime around 8 a.m., Versace left on his own and walked to a local cafe to buy magazines. He walked home, and just as he put the key in his lock, he was shot twice. The first shot was directly into his face, at point-blank range. He was shot again in the neck, just behind the left ear. The call went in to the police at 8:45 a.m. D'Amico recently recalled how he felt in that moment: "I heard the shot. My heart just stopped to beat . . . So I ran out and then I saw Gianni laying down on the stairs in blood."
A photo of the murder scene: the front steps of Versace's Casa Casuarina. Image Source: Getty / Barry Lewis
Police Involvement, Possible Motives, and the Chase
Carlos Noriega, a lieutenant, was one of the first police men on the case. An early theory was that this had been a contract hit, organized by the mafia. The clue was a dead bird found next to the body. However, further evidence suggested that the bird was just an unfortunate collateral victim - it was hit by a bullet fragment.
Lazaro Quintana, a friend of Versace, followed the gunman. Eventually, the police were in on the chase, and they came across the first evidence. They found a pile of clothes, the stolen pick-up from New Jersey, and a bunch of identification. The police had their suspect three hours after the crime: Andrew Cunanan.
The Final Stand and All the Unanswered Questions
The search for Andrew Cunanan lasted nine days. Finally, the police received a tip. On July 24, a shot had been heard on a houseboat, just a few miles from where Versace had been murdered. Police surrounded the houseboat and remained there for four hours. Finally, the SWAT team fired tear gas and went in.
When the police boarded the boat, Cunanan was already dead. He had shot himself in the temple with the same gun he'd used to kill Versace. Cunanan's suicide left the world with more questions than answers. The police could not draw a connection between the two men, nor could they pin down a motive. They weren't even sure Cunanan and Versace had ever previously crossed paths. It remains one of the most puzzling crimes in recent history, even more than 20 years later.
If American Crime Story creator Ryan Murphy follows the same formula he did for The People v. O.J. Simpson, chances are we'll get a lot more backstory. After all, Murphy included a jarring scene where O.J. Simpson contemplated suicide, and that did actually happen. In order to fill in the blanks and complete the story, Murphy also took a bit of artistic license. Does that mean we'll leave the season with a sense of how everything might be connected? It sure seems like it.
34 Actors You Forgot Were on Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy has been on for 14 seasons - that's two short of ER and one more than Supernatural. Over the course of those many, many episodes, we've seen a ton of memorable guest stars pass through the hospital doors. Some big names even had longer arcs on the show, but we wouldn't blame you for forgetting about them. After all, so much happens on the series. With the season 11 finale rapidly approaching, we thought we'd take stock of who has appeared on the series over the years. Check it out, and when you're done, sob to these infamous Grey's Anatomy hits.
Stars Celebrate MLK Day at the Image Awards - See the Best Snaps From the Night!
Some of Hollywood's best and brightest black entertainers stepped out for the NAACP Image Awards in LA on Monday. The date was a fitting one, as it marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day; in his opening monologue, Black-ish star and host Anthony Anderson spoke to the significance of the evening "as a night of hope and pride honoring our history and those who make history." Many other celebrity attendees paid homage to the late civil rights icon in their heartfelt acceptance speeches and award presentations.
Legendary actor Danny Glover was honored with the President's Award for his decades-long commitment to activism and "phenomenal altruistic efforts both domestically and internationally," while Octavia Spencer, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Daniel Kaluuya took home trophies for their stellar performances and contributions to the African-American community. Jordan Peele, SZA, Idris Elba, and Tiffany Haddish were also awarded during a pretelecast ceremony on Sunday evening.
The event was packed with inspiring moments, striking red carpet fashion, cute couples, and yes, a hint of eye candy thanks to stars like Sterling K. Brown, Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Terry Crews. Keep reading to see the best photos from the NAACP Image Awards.
Does Timothée Chalamet Look Familiar? Here Are 7 Places You've Probably Seen Him Before
Timothée Chalamet is making a big splash in Hollywood, thanks to his breakout role in Call Me by Your Name. In addition to the film, Chalamet was recently nominated for his first-ever Golden Globe. Even though that's obviously a major accomplishment, the 21-year-old has actually been around for quite some time now. Chalamet has been starring in films and TV shows since 2008 and has even made guest appearances on Royal Pains, Law & Order, and The Adderall Diaries. Take a look back at some of his most notable projects.
Ann Curry Breaks Silence on Matt Lauer, Says She's "Not Surprised" by Allegations
Matt Lauer was fired by NBC for sexual harassment allegations brought against him back in November, and now his former cohost Ann Curry is speaking out in her first television interview since leaving the network. The 61-year-old was asked directly if she believed Lauer abused his power. "You know, I'm trying to do no harm in these conversations. I can tell you that I am not surprised by the allegations," she said. "I can say that I would be surprised if many woman did not understand that there was a climate of verbal harassment that existed. I think it would be surprising if someone said they didn't see that . . . Verbal sexual harassment was pervasive."
Curry left the Today show in 2012 after she was fired reportedly due to a lack of "chemistry" with Lauer. "It hurt like hell. It hurt so much, but I learned a lot about myself. I can say I've done nothing wrong. I've been honest and true," she told People exclusively. "I've tried to stay pure. I've tried to not respond in a knee-jerk manner, and I've stayed very close to who I am. So it hurt, but I'm also proud of myself." With all of that behind her, Curry is getting ready for her return to TV on Jan. 23 in her new six-part PBS docuseries, We'll Meet Again, which focuses on 12 stories of people looking for others who've changed their lives.
Move Over, Neon: These LED Light Panels Change Color With Your Voice (and Your Music!)
It's time to retire those neon signs and upgrade to an altogether new type of hip, customizable lighting: LED panels. There's one particular product that we're absolutely in love with right now, and it's called the Nanoleaf Aurora Lighting Smarter Kit. What rockets the Nanoleaf Aurora above and beyond any of its competitors is its sheer ease of use and the amazing range of functions - oh, and did I mention that you can control it with your favorite smart home companion, using only your voice? And that it has an optional add-on that enables you to have an in-home light show that matches up with your favorite music? OK, I'll admit it: I'm addicted. And here are the very good reasons why that is.
It's so damn easy.
The Smarter Kit comes with nine panels, a ton of connectors to join the panels together, a free Rhythm Module (more on this later), and adhesive pads to install them wherever you choose within your home. From there, all you need to do is pick the configuration of your dreams and plug the cord in, and voila: you've got your very own light show coming to you live from your wall.
It's all controlled by an app - and your voice.
It's well-documented that everything in my house is now controlled by Alexa, and the Nanoleaf Aurora is no exception to that rule. While I use it to turn the unit on and off and do some of the most fun party tricks I've ever pulled off in my home, I do spend a lot of time mucking about in the app and playing with the color schemes and patterns to get the perfect look to match my mood. But it's all intuitive; there's nothing about the app that requires any prior knowledge of home design or lighting - it just does what you want it to do.
It can light up an entire room.
Honestly, I was stunned by how bright the LED panels could actually get - and when I set them to a warm, yellow tone, it's the perfect backdrop for whatever I'm doing on my computer or phone. It's also easy to set the colors to match your other smart lights or custom lighting products - the only difficult part here is deciding what you want at any given time.
The optional Rhythm Module is a game-changer.
The Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Module comes with the Smarter Kit, but should you decide to test before you buy, you can always add it in later. And boy, do I recommend it. The add-on is basically a microphone that allows the panels to translate the sounds in your home into visuals. You just select the color scheme, and boom: if you're watching TV, it matches the patter of the dialogue. If you're listening to music, it shows you the rhythm in real time. I was skeptical of this at first - what sets this apart from older light-show tech? - but I was completely sold after testing it out with a variety of music, from jazz to classic rock. All I can say is that it's an absolutely hypnotizing experience - and one that I've now found to be a key way to relax after hours.
All told, if you're looking for the perfect accent piece for your living room or bedroom, I can't recommend the Nanoleaf Aurora highly enough - and here's hoping that 2018 is the year in which we all realize how amazing LED home products such as this one truly are.
As a Biracial Woman and Former Evangelical, Trump's Racism Is All Too Familiar
I used to be an evangelical Christian. I helped lead people in worship, or "ushered them into the presence of God," as we used to say. I traveled the world crooning out the message of the gospel at conferences hosted by my church, a mostly white evangelical megachurch in the suburbs of Chicago. On the weekends I sang for as many as 16,000 people. It was a lofty thing to be part of, a "calling" I believed in wholeheartedly. During the years that I served in this congregation, before I walked away from the religion I'd grown up with and embraced even more intensely in college, racial reconciliation as a ministry focus became more prevalent in my church. This term - "racial reconciliation" - may be most familiar to those in religious communities. Back then, I understood it to be a kind of evangelical model for tackling racism in the church, one that emphasized diversity, relationships, and the need to address systemic causes fueling racism in society. However, these same ideals and goals are also embodied in more widely known terms like racial justice and social justice.
When the leadership team decided to do a series of services focused on this topic, I was drafted to tell a piece of my story. As a biracial woman - and usually the only woman of color singing on stage - it seemed my time had come. I wrote a brief account, summarizing in one minute a personal experience with racism. The memory I chose to relate involved a family in that church, though I didn't reveal that detail. I told the congregation about how a former white boyfriend's parents, particularly his mother, persuaded him to end our relationship because they were uncomfortable with my blackness. I said the fact that they were all Christians undermined my confidence in God's love for me; it made me wonder if He loved white Christians more than black ones. I sang a song about love and unity and building bridges.
People came up to me afterwards, some weeping, apologizing for random things. Looking for absolution that I could not give. Seeing in me - at least for a moment - the entire black community, because for better or worse, we are never singular, always plural. I soaked it up. In that era of my life, I wanted to believe I was like Esther and had been called "'for such a time as this' (NIV, Esther 4:14)." I was inspired and hopeful. Maybe the church could help bridge that space between black and white. Maybe because I'd come from both places, I was uniquely equipped to be part of that healing. I love my family - black and white. But there had been a rift long ago, and I'd grown up occupying the expanse between them. It was lonely and I was sick of it. I wanted healing for myself and, on a larger scale, for all of us.
That was in 2001. By the time Barack Obama was elected to his first term in 2008, I no longer wanted to be part of any church environment. Disillusionment festered over that 7 year period as I witnessed a hyper-image-conscious handling of ministries and the people in them, a theological certainty among fellow congregants I couldn't relate to, and culminated in a manipulative and misleading interview process for a ministry job in the church. Ultimately, the thread of racism running through my time there put me over the edge. Indeed, in the years that followed the experience with my ex's family, I racked up more than a few racially charged confrontations with white Christian friends and acquaintances from the church. There were comments about darker black skin looking like an ape's; there was an email I received warning me that Barack Obama was not a citizen. All these moments left me with a nagging skepticism about the efficacy of racial reconciliation as a ministry in the church. Did the white evangelicals who subscribed to it in theory really want to help? Did they really want justice? Maybe a better question is were they able to see something in themselves that needed to change to bring any of this to fruition? Or were they in denial?
The 2016 election of Donald Trump and its aftermath incited that skepticism about racial justice in me once again. In fact, on a recent Sunday, as the banal melodies of contemporary worship music wafted up through my dining room windows from a nearby nondenominational church, my thoughts began revisiting the past. I recalled that moment on stage at the megachurch, talking about my ex's family. I thought about what it had been like for me as a biracial woman in a mostly white evangelical congregation. Why white evangelicals voted for a man like Mr. Trump and why I'd experienced the racism I did while among them seemed like twin inquiries comingling in my mind as I got my daughter's breakfast ready that morning. Two spoonfuls of cottage cheese and one poached egg later, I puzzled over one simple fact: Trump spoke in the language of racists and xenophobes and it seemed to be of minimal concern at best or resonate with them at worst. It was certainly not enough to dissuade them from casting their votes in his favor.
Even now, it appears they continue to stand by him: even after Charlottesville; even after chastising black athletes for peaceful protests against police brutality, suggesting they are ungrateful, calling them disrespectful "sons of b*tches." Even after Trump's tepid response to Puerto Rico's suffering following Hurricane Maria, his "blame the victim" stance, and his thinly veiled threats to remove aid, he is rewarded with their loyalty. In fact, it seems as if the "conversation" happening now only includes them while the rest of us watch and listen on the sidelines.
It is not my intention to paint all of evangelicalism with a broad brush. I know there is a contingency within this branch of Christianity that is sincere about racial justice. They are inspired by people like Reverend Jim Wallis and Reverend Dr. William Barber. They are comprised of mostly blacks, Hispanics, and Asian and Pacific Islanders, but also a large number of whites. They did not vote for Donald Trump. (I don't personally see how anyone that truly cares about such things could.) But they were not - and seemingly are not - the majority. I can only speak to what I was exposed to while active in a predominantly white evangelical subculture. Perhaps all of these scenarios I've related were unique to the church I once attended. But I suspect it is symptomatic of a bigger problem in the church at large.
For a good portion of my life, I have been timid when faced with racist comments or behaviors demonstrated by white people. I default to the social survival instincts born out of a childhood spent in racial isolation. Giving the "benefit of the doubt" has typically been my modus operandi. It often translates to silence or the most palatable, watered-down version of what I really want to express. On those infrequent occasions when I've called out a white friend or family member's propensity for racial bias and/or racist thinking, they are not able to own it for long, if at all. The deflection and defensiveness that often follows comes in various forms of "you should be grateful," "what aboutisms," and other false equivalences or excuses.
This was the way with my ex-boyfriend's mother. Not long after I spoke during the racial-reconciliation-themed services at my old church, she called to apologize "for the way we treated you," she said. There had been a pang of conscience. Maybe she'd heard me speak or someone close to her had. I could hear anxiety in her voice, a rushing through sentences and marginal regret. She couldn't commit to it, though, and quickly began defending her actions. She objected to us as a couple "out of concern for what her son would face." She had students who were biracial and saw "how hard it was for them, caught in the middle." It's a twisted logic that masquerades as caring but seems to suggest I, and others like me, would be be better off not existing. She lectured me, a biracial woman, as if I had no clue what my hypothetical children would face. I wanted to say, "It's people who think like you that make it difficult." Instead, I listened and thanked her for calling. She was afraid and embraced a response to that fear which she knew was inappropriate. Nevertheless, her discomfort with interracial marriage and biracial children rated above doing the right thing. In the end, she let herself off the hook. And to my regret, so did I.
While I was part of the megachurch, I often observed this same troubling attitude around race, typically in moments when I did not strive to be palatable but was more straightforward, less "sugar coated." It articulates itself with an air of kindly smugness, in which the righteousness of an evangelical Christian is sacrosanct. It can not be challenged with charges of racism. They have, after all, been remade in Christ's image and imbued with the power of the Holy Spirit. How can they be guilty of racism? They don't use the "N" word and they may even have black friends. They don't engage in lynchings or burn crosses or march with neo Nazis and white supremacists. They denounce these things publicly, so isn't that proof they are blameless? They are good, Christian people. And yet, they have empowered and continue to support a man who repeatedly demonstrates that he does not value the lives of black and brown people as much as white ones. He has put me and my family in harm's way with his inability or unwillingness to definitively and authentically disavow white supremacy. Like my ex-boyfriend's mother, white evangelicals are so thoroughly convinced by and invested in a sense of their own righteousness and moral high ground, they have undone the work of reconciliation.
That Sunday morning in church all those years ago, I did not share what were, for me, profoundly more intense details of the relationship with my ex-boyfriend's family. Granted, I was one of many people on the stage that day. I had to be brief. But I often wish I hadn't tried so hard to make what I needed to say easier for the church to hear. I still remember the shame and bewildered frustration in my ex's voice as he repeated his mother's words to me over the phone: "If the two of you date, that's fine . . . but if you got married and had children . . . I'm not sure I could love them as much as I love your sister's kids." Such words took my breath away then and still have the power to suffocate, especially now that I do have a child who is biracial. I wish I'd told the congregation about those remarks and that they'd been made by a woman among their own ranks. As long as white evangelicals believe this mindset is only wreaking havoc in other places, they are absolved from having to address it among themselves.
Even though I no longer see myself as a part of that community, I still carry a certain amount of love for it and residual pain from it. There is some piece of me that still hopes the church has something valuable to contribute to the cause of racial justice. It's probably why I feel the need to, in my own way, hold white evangelicals accountable. I want them to do better.
But when I consider the very real danger of war as Trump threatens North Korea, angers our allies, and alarms even those close to him enough to speak out about it, I can see that opposing ideologies and differences aside, we are all of us bound together in our shared vulnerability against a true existential crisis. This awakens my compassion, my desire to find common ground, and a willingness to have those hard conversations. My past with the evangelical church is akin to being wounded, soul-deep, by a family member or close friend: you may want to make peace with them somehow, but you do so with the knowledge that you might never be as close as you once were. A price has to be paid, and truth is the currency.
Dylan Farrow Wants Woody Allen to Know That #TimesUp
Dylan Farrow's CBS This Morning Interview
For the first time ever, Dylan Farrow took part in an on-camera interview about her allegations of sexual abuse against her father. The adopted daughter of Woody Allen and Mia Farrow sat down with Gayle King on CBS This Morning to share her story, reiterating and exploring the details which were first raised in 1992 (when Farrow was just 7 years old) and which were again brought to the forefront in 2014, when Farrow published an open letter in The New York Times. Allen has denied the allegations.
Farrow's story has continued to draw attention because, to this day, the 82-year-old famed director has yet to be held accountable for his actions. The interview will air in the early hours of Jan. 18 and covers both her allegations of sexual abuse as well as her thoughts on the #TimesUp movement, a Hollywood-led effort to raise awareness of equity, parity, safety, and inclusion of women and marginalized persons.
Watch @GayleKing's full interview with Dylan Farrow tomorrow on @CBSThisMorning. http://pic.twitter.com/yJkDv0kzVU
- CBS This Morning ❄️ (@CBSThisMorning) January 17, 2018
"I am credible, and I am telling the truth," Farrow tells King in a preview of the interview. "I think it's important that people realize that one victim, one accuser, matters. And that they are enough to change things."
The timing of Farrow's interview comes amid a fierce backlash against Allen by Hollywood figures who have worked with the director in the hopes of more in the industry taking the charges against him more seriously. From director and actress Greta Gerwig directly reiterating Farrow's allegations to actors like Rebecca Hall, Timothée Chalamet, and more donating salaries from Allen films to causes like #TimesUp, it appears the day of reckoning for the director is finally approaching. It may have taken years, it may have taken multiple venues to share the story, but the day has finally come for Dylan Farrow to be heard - and for the director's guiltless run to end.
Accordingly, Farrow has absolutely no regrets for maintaining the course of her story. "Why shouldn't I want to bring him down?" Farrow says in her interview. "Why shouldn't I be angry? Why shouldn't I be hurt? Why shouldn't I feel some sort of . . . outrage that after all these years being ignored and disbelieved and tossed aside?"
No, White Friend - You Weren't "Embarrassed" by Barack Obama
The following story, "No, White Friend - You Weren't 'Embarrassed' by Barack Obama," was originally published on JohnPavlovitz.com.
I remember the day after the Election, a friend of mine who happens to be white, remarked on social media that he "finally wasn't embarrassed of America and our President."
I sprained my eyes rolling them and they have never fully recovered.
Since then I've heard this sentiment echoed by more white folks than I can count, especially in recent months; supposed relief at once again having a leader who instills pride.
Since I don't have the time to ask each of the individually, I'll ask here:
So, you were embarrassed for the past 8 years, huh?
Really?
What exactly were you embarrassed by?
Were you embarrassed by his lone and enduring twenty-five year marriage to a strong woman he's never ceased to publicly praise, respect, or cherish?
Were you embarrassed by the way he lovingly and sweetly parented and protected his daughters?
Were you embarrassed by his Columbia University degree in Political Science or his graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School?
Maybe you were embarrassed by his white American and Black Kenyan parents, or the diversity he was raised in as normal?
Were you embarrassed by his eloquence, his quick wit, his easy humor, his seeming comfort meeting with both world leaders and street cleaners; by his bright smile or his sense of empathy or his steadiness - perhaps by his lack of personal scandals or verbal gaffes or impulsive tirades?
No. Of course you weren't.
Honestly, I don't believe you were ever embarrassed. That word implies an association that brings ridicule, one that makes you ashamed by association, and if that's something you claim to have experienced over the past eight years by having Barack Obama representing you in the world - I'm going to suggest you rethink your word choice.
You weren't "embarrassed" by Barack Obama.
You were threatened by him.
You were offended by him.
You were challenged by him.
You were enraged by him.
But I don't believe it had anything to do with his resume or his experience or his character or his conduct in office - because you seem fully proud right now to be associated with a three-time married, serial adulterer and confessed predator; a man whose election and business dealings and relationships are riddled with controversy and malfeasance. You're perfectly fine being represented by a bullying, obnoxious, genitalia-grabbing, Tweet-ranting, Prime Minister-shoving charlatan who's managed to offend all our allies in a few short months. And you're okay with him putting on religious faith like a rented, dusty, ill-fitting tuxedo and immediately tossing it in the garbage when he's finished with it.
None of that you're embarrassed of? I wonder how that works.
Actually, I'm afraid I have an idea. I hope I'm wrong.
Listen, you're perfectly within your rights to have disagreed with Barack Obama's policies or to have taken issue with his tactics. No one's claiming he was a flawless politician or a perfect human being. But somehow I don't think that's what we're talking about here. I think the thing President Obama did that really upset you, white friend - was having a complexion that was far darker than you were ever comfortable with. I think the President we have now feels much better.
Because objectively speaking, if what's happening in our country right now doesn't cause you great shame and doesn't induce the continual meeting of your palm to your face - I don't believe embarrassment is ever something you struggle with.
No, if you claimed to be "embarrassed" by Barack Obama but you're not embarrassed by Donald Trump - I'm going to strongly suggest it was largely a pigmentation issue.
And as an American and a Christian committed to diversity and equality and to the liberty at the heart of this nation - that, embarrasses me.
The Pentagon Wants to Fight Digital Fire With Real Fire
Days after America's nuclear fears were realized in the form of an accidental push alert, the Pentagon announced that it wants to amp up the country's response to weapons of mass destruction by making nuclear arms a more prominent solution in our defensive agenda.
The Pentagon penned Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) equates non-nuclear threats with nuclear threats, expanding the definition of what "extreme circumstances" regarding attacks means. The NPR would effectively enable American defenses to lob devastating weapons in reaction to nonphysical threats to our infrastructure that could be interpreted as abstractly as cyberattacks. This liberal handling of weapons outlined in the NPR has been sent to President Donald Trump for approval. Neither the Pentagon nor the White House has commented on such assessments of the plan.
The NPR would also advance production of smaller nuclear weapons that skirt the line of being non-nuclear, some of which were being developed during the Obama administration. Experts observe that the strategy to handle (as well as the motivation to create) such weaponry under the NPR suggests a greater likelihood that nuclear weapons will be used.
This news is, obviously, quite concerning. It also sadly echoes recent findings by the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report: in a survey of 1,000 international leaders on man-made threats, nuclear war was a top concern next to extreme weather and cyberattacks. Moreover, just weeks ago, Pope Francis spoke out directly on the matter in his "state of the world" speech, noting that "nuclear weapons must be banned."
Whether intentional or not, the NPR is perfectly timed (in the worst possible way) to stoke the reemergence of Cold War paranoia: days after Hawaii's botched missile warning, Japanese broadcasters sent false warnings of incoming North Korean weapons. Paired with rising tensions between countries - particularly between North Korea and the United States - and the ongoing debate over Trump's mental fitness, the uncomfortable laughter triggered by nuclear threats is starting to wear very, very thin.
The small positive in the Nuclear Posture Review draft is that Trump has yet to approve it. While there will likely be no confirmation nor denial of the plan until the final version is released in February, early speculation of the Review suggests more nuclear weapons are central to any plan involving Trump. Regardless of the final product, the new normal of 2018 is decidedly nuclear.
Every Change to Expect From Alaska Airlines as It Completes the Merge With Virgin America
Now that Alaska Airlines and Virgin America are officially considered a single airline by the FAA, Alaska is one giant step closer to completing the merge. Though Virgin America's name and logo will be retired by 2019, travelers can expect to see many of their favorite brand elements integrated throughout Alaska's transformation.
Since acquiring Virgin America in 2016, Alaska Airlines has already undergone several changes, including an addition of 82 new routes, which is the most West Coast nonstop destinations of any airline. But that's only just the beginning. As we bid farewell to Virgin America, we welcome a new and improved Alaska Airlines.
Here's what you can expect over the course of this year:
January 2018
- Jan. 1: Virgin America's Elevate Points loyalty program merged with Alaska's Mileage Plan. Members have until Jan. 31 to self-convert their points. Otherwise, it will automatically be done for you by Feb. 8.
- Jan. 18: Alaska Airlines will unveil its new crew uniforms created by Seattle designer Luly Yang, which will officially roll out in 2019.
March 2018
- Alaska Airlines will begin to add high-speed satellite WiFi to its Boeing and Airbus aircrafts.
April 2018
- Alaska Airlines will open its New York (JFK) lounge.
- April 24: Travelers will no longer be able to book flights through Virgin America. Site visitors will instead be redirected to AlaskaAir.com where they'll enjoy a single Alaska Airlines shopping, booking, and airport check-in.
2019
- Alaska Airlines and Virgin America will officially operate under one brand and name.
- The airline will build a $650 million, 20-gate North Satellite facility, which will include a 15,000-square-foot flagship lounge.
Other Major Changes to Come
- Alaska's Boeing planes will feature new, modern interiors with blue mood lighting.
- Its airport area will play music to celebrate its West Coast roots.
- The interiors of Alaska's Airbus planes will be replaced to include new seats, carpets, and lighting. The number of first class seats will be increased while a premium class will be introduced.
- Travelers will be able to enjoy over 200 free movies, TV shows, and free texting directly from their device.
- West Coast-inspired food and beverage choices will expand to include healthy options and full-pour regional wine and microbrews on board.
- More travel options for the greater Seattle area will be offered.
Keep checking in as we continue to add exciting updates!
An Improbable Friendship Between a Dog and a Duck Is the Good News Story We All Need Right Now
Sick and tired of only hearing about the bad things going on in the world? We're right there with you - and, thankfully, we've got the cure for exactly what ails you.
Meet the unlikely pair of Max, a 12-year-old Husky, and Quackers, a 4-year-old duck. Against all odds, the two animals - both owned by Patrick and Kirsten Riley - are inseparable best friends, and they're the pride and joy of the teeny-tiny town of Strout, MN. The town boasts a population of just 25 people, so Max and Quackers are well-known to all the residents and can frequently be seen out patrolling their domain. "Sometimes on my way home, I actually hope they're out there because they're just too precious to look at," Strout resident Alisa Godejahn told CBS affiliate WCCO-TV.
In the interview below, the Rileys describe how they adopted Max when he was 5 and he became fast pals with the couple's other dog, Sasha, and after she died, he was left without a friend. "He was without any friends, and Max would sit next to his pen all the time, and I think they just bonded that way," Patrick Riley says, adding, "after we let him out, they just never left each others' side." Kirsten Riley goes on to say that "they sleep together, they eat together, they drink together, they go for walks together down the road . . . everything is together."
The improbable friendship between a dog and a duck provides a poignant reminder that kindness and compassion transcends all that which may traditionally divide us and that it's not impossible to buck tradition and create a bond with someone who may not be exactly the same as you. As such, the pair is often used as a symbol of how to "put aside differences" among the residents of the town in which they reside.
Symbolism aside, it's hard not to have your heart melt at the sight of these delightful animals trotting along in unison. And you can bet that we'll be bookmarking this video of Max and Quackers and be watching it all year long, because it's exactly the kind of thing that we need a little more of in our lives right now.
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