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.
vendredi 2 mars 2018
This Math Problem Will Make You Question Everything You Ever Knew About Algebra
Math isn't everyone's best skill - and even those who are good at it are questioning everything after trying this algebra problem.
The question originally went viral in Japan, after a study discovered that only 60 percent of 20-somethings could actually solve it. Are you already feeling frustrated and hopeless at trying to know what the answer is? Watch the video below, posted by YouTube user MindYourDecisions, a popular math puzzle channel. In it, Presh Talwalkar, the mastermind behind this question, will guide you to the right answer.
As you can see, not even a calculator can help you, as it will read the problem wrong and arrive at the answer of 9. To solve it correctly in a calculator, you need to write it out like this: 9-3/(1/3) + 1, which will lead you to 1 as the correct answer. The problem tests your knowledge of PEMDAS, the order of operations formula, which says you must get to the answer by following these steps in this order: parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction. In this question, that means dividing 3 by the 1/3 first, which is the same as 3x3. That will then lead you to 9-9+1. From there, 9-9=0 + 1 = 1. Ta-da!
If you arrived at 3, 7, or 9 as your answer, you're not alone. Most people have forgotten how to use PEMDAS or interpret the fraction of 1/3 the wrong way. Still not feeling much of a challenge? Try this other math question that not even parents could solve.
10 Things It Girls Always Have in Their Living Rooms
Need some inspiration to give your living room a bit of an update? From small tweaks to bigger transformations, the living rooms of our favorite bloggers are filled with ideas you'll want to replicate in your own home.
11 Supersimple Ways to Make Your Home Smell So Fresh and So Clean
Have you ever come home from a long day of work, stepped through your door, and noticed that your home smells a little musty? Between lingering food smells from the kitchen, damp towels in the bathroom, and other day-to-day activities, there are lots of things that contribute to your home smelling a little less than fresh. It happens to the best of us, but luckily it's an easy fix! DIY air fresheners, houseplants aplenty, and some essential cleaning tips are some of our favorite ways to get a fresh home that smells amazing.
76 People Every Fashion Girl Should Be Following on Snapchat
Sure, we get a glimpse into the stylish lives of models and celebrities on Instagram, but if you're looking for some real, real-time action? Snapchat's the way to go.
The social media platform continues to rise in popularity, with a many of our favorite influencers taking us behind the scenes of their day-to-day. What campaigns are they shooting? What are they wearing? Did they really eat those eggs and that bacon? Find out the answer for bloggers, brands, and more as we run down our must-follow list ahead, and be sure to add us - popsugar - while you're at it!
WHOA, This Is How J.K. Rowling Planned Every Plot in Harry Potter
Source: Getty / Ben A. Pruchnie
Every time I reread the Harry Potter series, something new jumps out at me. The plots are so saturated with twists and turns that it's hard to keep up with all of the details in one go. I imagine writing the actual story is just as complicated. Author J.K. Rowling kept her sanity in check with hand-drawn spreadsheets mapping out every character's development. The most fascinating of which is a piece of lined paper covering chapters 13 through 24 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (click to enlarge it below).
Source: Open Culture
If you've ever wondered what months of school the actual events took place, this small paper reveals it all. Rowling scribbles all of her ideas in columns marked with things like "D.A.," meaning Dumbledore's Army and "O of P," meaning Order of the Phoenix. My favorite section is Snape/Harry, which proves that the professor did, in fact, love Harry even after all this time. If you're interested in having some of the adventures outlined here, maybe you should try enrolling in the real-life Hogwarts or picking up gifts that will cast a spell over every Potterhead on Earth.
The Stunning View You Get at Horseshoe Bend Is Unlike Any Other in the World
The Grand Canyon is a natural wonder that can literally take your breath away when you first lay eyes on it. It holds secrets you could spend a lifetime discovering, and travelers from around the world have it at the top of their bucket lists for good reason. One of the most unique - and photo-worthy - parts of the canyon is just seven miles north of mile zero. Horseshoe Bend, a rocky island-like formation of sandstone surrounded by the Colorado River, stuns in beauty.
You can walk to the edge of Horseshoe Bend and look down 1,000 feet of the sandstone to the river (and then take your fill of photos). Hiking to the edge is relatively easy; the trailhead is located just outside of Page, AZ. Check out the gorgeous images ahead.
From Model to CEO, This Woman Is Revolutionizing the Cannabis Industry
Image Source: Ellian Raffoul Photography
Jessica VerSteeg never intended to work in the cannabis industry, yet as founder of the blockchain-based marijuana solutions company Paragon, she's now tackling all of the challenges the industry faces today - from taxation to transparency to information and more - all while using blockchain technology to revolutionize the world of weed. As a woman who's taking on not one but two male-dominated industries, we naturally had to talk to her - and she sat down with POPSUGAR for a wide-ranging conversation spanning from how to create a transparent, trustworthy marketplace for marijuana to the myriad challenges she's faced as a female entrepreneur.
But first, it's worth noting how VerSteeg's journey began. In 2013, she was dating an NFL player who was prescribed opioids to manage the pain of years' worth of football injuries. When he told VerSteeg that he was considering switching to marijuana because it was safer, she was staunchly opposed - in fact, she hated weed. "I always told him 'no way' . . . from the D.A.R.E. program - 'Drugs are bad, don't do it. Trust the NFL doctors, you'll never get addicted to those pills.'" But he did get addicted, and his tragic death from an accidental overdose changed the course of VerSteeg's life.
Image Source: Michelle Monique Photography
VerSteeg started researching safe, nonaddictive pain remedies and kept coming back to the same result: cannabis. "It hit me kind of deep because he had asked me multiple times if he could use cannabis to deal with his pain . . . I didn't even take the time even look it up and see if there was any truth to it." So she became determined to change the negative stigma surrounding marijuana, to make it more approachable and accepted and help others avoid the grief she was now overcoming through action.
In 2014, VerSteeg started her first company, AuBox, as an attempt to normalize cannabis. A subscription service for licensed patients, AuBox enabled individuals to have their medical marijuana sent straight to their homes without having to visit a dispensary. But for VerSteeg, the most important part of the company was the work she was doing to inform people about marijuana. "I made this box that had everything in it," she said. "It told the patients how to use it, showed the lab results, which showed the ingredients, and had everything that they wanted to know about how to use it: when not to use it, what not to mix it with. All the information that you don't really know when it's your first time using cannabis." She was fulfilling her mission of getting safe, natural medicine to people who needed it.
She was fulfilling her mission of getting safe, natural medicine to people who needed it.
But it was then that she hit her first major roadblock - she discovered that some of the lab results she was getting from her suppliers were fabricated. "It was shocking to me to think that I'm giving this product to patients, to kids with epilepsy, to patients with cancer, to grandparents with Parkinson's, and they're expecting this to be organic or pure CBD. I'm giving it to them because I just trusted this piece of paper as a lab result and it was photoshopped."
Creating Industry-Changing Technology
VerSteeg was determined to find a solution that would ensure that her customers were getting the products that they had ordered, and with the help of her husband - who was working in the cryptocurrency industry - came up with a solution: blockchain technology.
Blockchain data is incorruptible; it was created to record virtual transactions of all types. Think of it as a platform where one sender can share information straight to the receiver in real time, essentially a Google Docs for important information (or currency, which is its main purpose to date). Files sent using blockchain can't be altered, so by using it for AuBox, VerSteeg would know that the lab results she was getting came straight from the cannabis supplier. The technology worked, and she was able to prove that she was getting the quality products that she promised her patients.
Image Source: Courtesy of Paragon
VerSteeg hadn't even realized that she had created a system that had the potential to completely transform the industry. "I realized, after a few months, that I was building something that the entire cannabis space could use, and if they use it, could make it legal: [the government has] made cigarettes legal, alcohol, opiates . . . and it's because they can literally track and trace all of that, and they can tax it. With cannabis, they can't track or trace it." Yet blockchain can deliver that trackability for the government, thus expediting the ability to legalize cannabis. The technology provides transparency on both ends - the government can efficiently track product for taxation and suppliers can operate legally, even using blockchain to ensure they're not being taxed on soiled product that they can't sell or are getting energy-efficiency tax breaks for growing with solar, for example.
Establishing trust between the government and suppliers is not an easy task, but with an industry that's still in legal limbo, VerSteeg feels it's the only way forward. "We need to build something that's going to bring this to a new level of transparency, that's going to make this legal. The only way we can do that is as a team - showing the government how we grew something, where we grew it, how much we grew, how much we sold. We don't need to keep hiding because all that's going to do is keep going back and forth to where we've been in the last few years, and that's getting growers burned."
Bitcoin For Bud
Transparency isn't the only problem that Paragon is tackling. Since weed is still illegal federally, companies that try to sell marijuana in all capacities, from farms to manufacturers, struggle to get funding. Banks that are federally insured still can't give loans to marijuana-related businesses. Even when business-owners do find funding, they have an even harder time finding banks that allow them to deposit their mass amounts of cash. Paragon Coin is a cryptocurrency that growers can use to buy and sell product - it's essentially Bitcoin for bud. Operating a cash-only business is dangerous - many companies have to hire armed security guards to transport money - so this is just another way Paragon is making the industry safer and more reliable.
Image Source: Michelle Monique Photography
Providing Safe Places to Create
Another major challenge most cannabis startups face is space to run their businesses legally. In her own experience with AuBox, VerSteeg couldn't find anyone who would rent her office space to operate, or if she did, it was in dangerous neighborhoods and insanely overpriced. Because of green zones (areas that cannabis companies can legally operate in, defined by their municipality), operating a business from your own home is typically not an option. "Maybe your next-door neighbor runs a daycare center; if so, you're violating the green zone law." Paragon's solution? Coworking spaces. Paragon is opening its first in LA, where it'll have a few buildings for companies to rent out and operate from, legally and affordably. "It's unfair if you don't have an affordable or safe place to work from, and I want to give that to them."
But it's worth noting that Paragon isn't just for suppliers. Consumers can use the Paragon app to get information about the products they're purchasing. "You'll be able to scan a QR code on the back of any product that's using our blockchain," said VerSteeg. "Let's say it's a chocolate bar - when you scan this chocolate bar in your app, you'll have the opportunity of choosing to see farming data or lab data." Consumers will be able to make informed choices right at the dispensary. "You want to know how it was grown? Was it indoor/outdoor? What are the genetics of the plant? Were pesticides used?" All of this information will be accessible in seconds with the app.
Image Source: Courtesy of Paragon
She believes the most impactful way to change attitudes and the stigma surrounding marijuana is with information. "When you give somebody information - pure, true, honest, trackable information - you can't argue with it." Staying true to her roots, she believes if you educate people, you can help them feel more open-minded about cannabis consumption.
Being a Woman in a "Man's World"
With Paragon, VerSteeg is identifying all of the major challenges that are crippling the industry - and yes, she has a plan to crush them all. As a former Miss Iowa, a model, and an overall gorgeous human, I couldn't help but wonder what it was like to navigate two industries - tech and cannabis - that have been, for the most part, monopolized by men.
Image Source: Michelle Monique Photography
"I've seen firsthand that men don't think I know what I'm talking about," VerSteeg told POPSUGAR. "If I walk into a meeting and my husband is with me, they will think he's the boss. But I created this. When we walk into a meeting, every guy - because it's always a guy, there are very few women - always asks my husband the questions. Then when I answer, they look at me like, 'OK, you're his assistant. Thanks for answering,' and then they ask him the next question. And that's just shocking to me. I answered the question; now you can ask me the next question. But they don't. They still look to my husband."
Fearing that she wouldn't be taken seriously, she tried to conform and shrink herself. "Coming from being a lingerie model and embracing my sexuality, and loving being a woman, and my curves, and my hair. . . and then coming into this space, where I felt like I had to dumb down my look and act like a boy, I felt like I had to conform."
VerSteeg saw this as an opportunity to challenge the status quo and learned to embrace her femininity and unique perspective instead of hide it. "That's one thing I'm going to change. I've realized in the past six months I don't like this fake identity - I don't want to pretend I'm a grower when I'm not; I don't want to pretend I'm coding when I'm not. And I don't want to be walking around in a hoodie with black bags under my eyes all day when I want to wear mascara and I want to talk tech and I want to smoke a joint at the end of the day."
"I don't want to be walking around in a hoodie with black bags under my eyes all day when I want to wear mascara and I want to talk tech and I want to smoke a joint at the end of the day."
"I shouldn't be defined by how I look. To be a woman and to feel sexy is OK, and you should still be taken seriously." She's challenging the double standard that women in tech, and really any field, face every day. "My sister's a coder and she loves wearing hoodies; she never wants to wear a bikini, and that's cool because that's her, but that should be embraced for all women. We can be either way, the same way that men are able to be either way. You've got these men in suits, men in shorts, and men in sweatpants, and they are all taken seriously the same way."
Learning to Own Her Power
There's one story, in particular, that VerSteeg uses to perfectly highlight the challenges that women in business face constantly. During a trip to the World Economic Forum, she had the opportunity to meet the CEO of a major exchange, who was also one of the few people who could help get Paragon Coin listed on crypto-exchanges, allowing people to buy and sell it. She spent the entirety of her conversation trying to convince this man that she was, in fact, the CEO of her company while simultaneously trying to politely reject his advances and just take his derogatory comments.
"You get in this moment - so your mouth tastes like metal, you're sweating, and you almost - you become a little girl, and you're scared and uncomfortable". Almost every woman in business can relate to moments like this where you're stuck having to tolerate inappropriate sexual advances from a man of power for the sake of advancing your career.
Image Source: Michelle Monique Photography
I asked VerSteeg what advice she has for women who want to get into the tech or cannabis industries or male-dominated industries in general. "No matter what anyone tries to tell you, remember that you have something unique to offer," she said. "Do not underestimate that; to be successful, it's crucial that you learn to like and to love yourself. Having this self-awareness, understanding precisely what you bring to the table, and having the confidence to carry it through to the end will ultimately help you navigate more effectively."
"You can be confident, savvy, and successful, but it starts with knowing who you are, what you're worth, and the uniqueness you have to offer," VerSteeg said. "Believing in your ideas, no matter how crazy they might seem, is integral to achieving any of your goals. Confidence and knowing your self-worth is critical." It's no surprise that a former beauty queen can so eloquently capture such an inspirational sentiment - be yourself and be proud of it; the world needs it.
What It's Really Like to Quit Your Job, Drop Everything, and Move to Hawaii
It's not hard to sit back and fantasize about leaving for a tropical escape when the weather gets moody and work deadlines are overwhelming. But actually making the move? Well, it's a heck of a lot more difficult.
Somewhere along the way, this fantasy became my necessity. I needed a shift and a change in pace after a long, tough year of health issues. So after some soul-searching, I bought myself a one-way ticket, quit my job, and moved out of my apartment. I said goodbye, San Francisco - and ALOHA, Hawaii!
The first few days were a vacation with my sister and my partner on the island with me - we joined my sister's friends for nights out to dive bars and house parties, rang in the new year at a Gatsby-themed soiree, soaked up plenty of sun on the beach, and drank too many mai tais. We spent the night at a trendy hotel in Waikiki and spent too much money on expensive appetizers. I got my honorary first sunburn.
Vacation life, ya know?
Having my dear friends visit was such a blessing!
I was quick to discover island living is not always sunshine and coconuts. Once my friends left, I was alone back at the house with myself, my thoughts, and one very fuzzy golden retriever. I realized that with the bustle of Christmas festivities and hours spent packing my life into boxes for storage, I hadn't really been alone alone in a while. When the outdoor voices quieted, the weight of the past two months' worth of big moments and big decisions let themselves be felt in their entirety.
San Francisco was my home for two years. I had made best friends that became family; I loved my job and the people I worked with; I was dating someone I loved; I had an adorable bedroom with old hardwood floors and a bay window. But even though the outside looked so picturesque, on the inside, I was slowly recovering from my mental illness - a wrestle with chronic depression and generalized anxiety - and the hustle of city living wasn't helping.
I had turned to the island of Oahu for an escape, a hope for a fresh start somewhere among the turquoise waters and sugary sand.
The truth is, no matter where you are in the world, your feelings still follow. Your story still has its past. Insecurities still exist. The questions and the fears and the hurt are still there. I couldn't 100 percent expect my struggles, my heartache, and missing my dear friends, old coworkers, and yes, even the city disappear in a bubble of beach happiness. I couldn't find healing instantaneously.
During my first few weeks on the island, I quickly learned that while moving can never be completely running away, I don't think it should be. Hawaii, while a gorgeous spot to lose oneself in a beach vacation, became my sacred, quiet place for processing and restoration. I had to remind myself this wasn't vacation - this was real life, my life, and I chose it. It was a dream 10 years in the making, and it was here.
It took a few 10-hour nights of sleep, unpacked suitcases, and pictures hung on walls for a comfortable reality to set in. I wasn't alone - I was a phone call away from those I love, a few steps from a welcoming roommate, an hour's drive from the North Shore and another dear friend on it.
But most of all, I was here - with me, myself, and I.
So far, this new chapter has been all about taking a long, sandy stroll back to myself, and I'm OK with it. Let the adventure continue.
This 1 Accessory Makes Any iPhone Take the Best Photos Ever - No Upgrade Required
It's that time of year once again. All of the new phone models have just been announced, and as a result, we're all pinching pennies to avoid FOMO and score that coveted upgrade. But if what you're really after is a better-quality camera for your old iPhone, look no further: the DxO One camera ($499) will solve all your problems for about half the price.
Boasting 20.2-megapixel resolution, the world's smallest one-inch format sensor camera, and a wide-format lens, the DxO One connects directly into your iPhone's lightning port and integrates directly into the Apple iOS - giving you the power of a pricey DSLR camera, but letting you instantly drop your photos into your group iMessage or chuck them up on Instagram. Oh, and did we mention that it will solve every single one of those low-light problems you've got with your three-year-old phone?
Ahead, check out some of the features of this game-changing device - and be sure to check out the DxO website for additional information on what it can do.
12 of the Best Places to Spot Cherry Blossoms
It isn't Springtime until you spot your first cherry blossom tree, or at least that the motto we're living by. The Winter (especially this year) has been so up and down that we're eagerly awaiting for a time when Spring has officially arrived and cherry blossoms line the streets. While you may have to wait a little into the Spring before these appear in cities on the East Coast, you may be in luck if you find yourself in Japan. These are just a few of the places where cherry blossoms will be making their appearances.
Spring Break Destinations For a Calm, Not Crazed, Vacation
When you're in your 20s, it seems like everyone you know heads south for Spring break with only two things in mind: alcohol and sunshine. Though the two typically sound wonderfully relaxing, it can become quite the opposite when your entire vacation turns to neon beach raves and poolside foam parties. While letting loose has its time and place, there's absolutely nothing wrong with using your week off from work or class to prioritize some serious self-care. When the week is over and Monday rolls around, you'll thank yourself for giving your mind the time it needs to rejuvenate.
Check out these Spring break destinations that will leave you forgetting what it feels like to be hungover and remembering how important it is to prioritize relaxation.
14 Reasons You Should Travel to Bend, OR, ASAP
Bend is one of those Northwest gems tucked into central Oregon that locals will tell you to keep hidden, but even they know it's too late. Despite their best efforts, Bend shines like the treasure it is, turning itself into the not-so-well-kept secret as an already speedily up-and-coming domestic destination. The small-town feel with boundless opportunities for outdoor activities makes cozy Bend a hot spot year round. The fact that it's busting with hip eateries and drinkeries? Well, that doesn't hurt either. These 14 reasons will make a hard case to get there ASAP, before everybody else and their brother does. So here's a curated selection of Bend's Winter best in the form of activities, delicious eats, and beverages that'll warm you and your soul. Oh, and they pretty much all carry over to the Summer version, where Oregon hospitality and gorgeous backdrop views are served up with a side of fresh air, just a little warmer.
Super Mario Odyssey Is Everything We Ever Wanted in a Video Game
In the nearly four decades since Mario first made his appearance in the original arcade version of Donkey Kong, Nintendo's beloved mustachioed protagonist has certainly had his share of ups and downs. Not every game that stars the iconic Mario Bros. characters is worthy of the legacy brand, and for the most part, an average release typically doesn't have the staying power of legends like Super Mario Bros. 3 or Super Mario 64. But for everything bad that's happened in 2017, there has been one very notable bright spot: the newest Mario offering, Super Mario Odyssey, comes alarmingly close to being a total masterpiece of a game.
I grew up in a diehard Mario household. With every new release came a same-day trip to the store coupled with hours spent sprawled out on the couch in front of the TV. But it wasn't just me and my sister who were button-mashing our way to coin-fueled glory; my parents were the originators of our love for Nintendo, and they'd trade off the controller as they worked their way through each level of every game. As a result, I'm supremely opinionated when it comes to the games that I play - and have incredibly high Mario standards from years upon years of replaying my most favorite games. But what Super Mario Odyssey does so well, first and foremost, is that it taps into all the very best parts of all of the very best games - and updates them in a way that makes them not an afterthought to something that worked well, but an enhancement on what we already knew and loved.
Take, for example, the fact that each and every level comes fully loaded with a set of challenges that you have to accomplish. It's not just about getting from start to finish; it's about investigating every inch of space in the world to collect not just the Power Moons that enable you to level up, but the hidden Power Moons that appear after completion and the Purple Coins that challenge you to push the limits of Mario's abilities. One of Super Mario 64's best qualities was the ability to revisit the levels beaten on the surface level to hunt for Red Coins and Stars, and Super Mario Galaxy excelled in strategically placed Star Bits - and what emerges in the newest game is a combination of the two that is unspeakably satisfying and leaves you wanting more.
And it's Star Bits that were traditionally collected by an incredibly patient second player, who waved their Wii remote around to enhance the first player's gameplay as they moved from level to level. No longer: Odyssey enables a more dynamic two-player gameplay, letting the person who isn't controlling Mario control Cappy, his anthropomorphic hat. Cappy is a huge asset in the game, letting you become the various characters you encounter in your travels and serving as Mario's main weapon, and he's also a key reason why there's no question that the game is by far the best two-player Mario experience to date. Playing with a friend or loved one makes it easier to advance in some of the hardest trials and tribulations, and it's really fun to beat the baddies and collect the goodies even if you aren't the main player calling the shots.
But if you do play solo, part of what makes the game so great is that up until the very, very end, you're still constantly learning, evolving, and adapting to new types of worlds and talents. Sure, you can go back and try 500 times to get that one coin that seems desperately out of your reach - but you can also play through till you hit the skill that you so very much wished you had back then and go back and get it in a way that seems impossibly easy. In other words, it's a game that keeps you constantly moving back and forth, revisiting the levels that you loved and maybe some that you scowled at due to their difficulty, seeking out the ultimate 100 percent completion goal. Nothing, then, feels like it's forever - and that enables you to pick up the game after any amount of time away and get just as much out of it as you did the first time you opened it on your Switch.
The Switch itself, though, is perfect for the type of game that Odyssey is. Wandering around the intricately detailed levels, you've got the ability to change your view constantly and see every single aspect of what you're looking at - a feature that can be overlooked for the sake of enhancing the gameplay in the foreground. Here, the visuals combined with controllers that enable both movement-based or trigger-based play add up to a juiced-up version of the Wii Remote's capabilities, and boy are we glad that they stayed with it. Being able to switch the way you do your primary actions - throwing your hat and moving around/jumping - keeps your fingers from seizing up or having controller fatigue. It also makes it so that the other amazing function of the Switch - its portability and mobile gameplay - is completely stellar and sets up a seamless transition between playing on your TV on the couch or on your handheld on the run.
Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the thing that completely and totally blew my mind about Super Mario Odyssey: for those of us lifelong fans, there's always been a sense that Mario existed in an alternate universe, one where there were maybe some human characteristics that transferred over to the world we were exploring, but didn't interact with regular people like us. This concept is completely turned on its head with the new game, introducing humans (!) and places that look far closer to our real world than anything we've ever seen in a Mario game. It's that extra little bit of jazz that makes the game feel like something fresh and new, and I promise the first time you come face to face with a real person in the game, you will, like me, have to pick your jaw up off the floor.
If it isn't completely obvious at this point, I'm officially a fan of Super Mario Odyssey and would recommend it to everyone from the newest gamer to the most OG Nintendo user. It's one of those games that comes around very rarely and immediately becomes a classic, blowing all that has come before out of the water. In other words: buy it. I promise you'll have a good time.
Despite Sexual Assault Controversy, Ryan Seacrest Will Be at the Oscars on Sunday
This week, Ryan Seacrest faced new scrutiny when Variety published an exclusive report detailing sexual assault claims made against him by his former stylist at E!. As the accusations bloomed into a full-blown controversy, Ryan released a statement denying the claims and explaining that an investigation had already exonerated him. Granted, discerning the truth can be incredibly hard in situations like this. And yet, the recent #MeToo movement and Time's Up initiative have created a "better safe than sorry" attitude toward allegations of sexual assault. That's why it wouldn't be out of place to wonder whether Ryan would be present at this Sunday's Oscars.
Ryan has been a red carpet staple for years: he's a crucial part of E!'s award season coverage, so when asked whether he would represent E! this year despite the controversy, a rep for the network said "of course he is" still hosting the red carpet preshow. Ryan has received additional support from ABC, with whom he has contracts for Live With Kelly & Ryan as well as the upcoming American Idol reboot. Furthermore, Kelly Ripa actually addressed the issue on air during Thursday morning's show. She said, "I just want you to know you are a privilege to work with, and I adore you, and I am speaking on behalf of all of us here."
"I don't know about the Ryan Seacrest thing . . . This is where stuff gets tricky."
So it's settled: Ryan Seacrest will be on the red carpet at the Oscars this Sunday. But there's another hurdle: it seems some celebrities may end up avoiding interviews with him. On Thursday, Jennifer Lawrence told Howard Stern that she's unsure if she'll speak with him. "I don't know about the Ryan Seacrest thing," she said. "That is where this stuff gets tricky." Scandal actress Bellamy Young was another person who spoke out against Ryan, saying, "I think this is the time to step aside and let someone of equal talent that is beyond reproach to be in charge." In this case, though, Bellamy issued an apology and said she was "uninformed."
According to Page Six, there are publicists who are planning to help their clients avoid Ryan and E! at the Oscars. Other celebrities may agree to an interview, but there's a chance they'll bring up the allegations. Kind of in the same way that Debra Messing put E! on blast for reportedly underpaying Catt Sadler . . . during a red carpet interview with E! News. In these murky waters, it'll be interesting to see how Sunday pans out.
The Marisa Tomei Oscars Conspiracy That's Fascinated Hollywood For Decades
For anyone who watched the Academy Awards last year, the jaw-dropping best picture mix-up for La La Land and Moonlight might have brought to mind a long-circulated Oscars conspiracy regarding Marisa Tomei. Although the two events aren't exactly alike, it's no wonder connections between the 2017 ceremony and a moment at the awards all the way back in 1993 are being drawn.
At the 65th Annual Academy Awards, Tomei took the stage to accept the Oscar for best supporting actress from presenter Jack Palance thanks to her work in My Cousin Vinny. Elated and giggly, she celebrated other Hollywood actresses in her speech, profusely thanked costar Joe Pesci, proceeded to the press room to take photos with best supporting actor winner Gene Hackman, and that was that. Except, it wasn't; what should have been a purely celebratory milestone in her career ended up turning into one of Hollywood's oldest and most interesting award season rumors.
Although no one was knocking Tomei's talent, there were a lot of odds stacked against the young actress's win that upped the plausibility of a conspiracy that her surprise Oscars victory wasn't supposed to happen. For starters, her experience and name brand in the industry compared to those of the four other actresses nominated in her category - Miranda Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave, Judy Davis, and Joan Plowright - was lacking. Before playing Mona Lisa Vito in My Cousin Vinny in 1992, her most notable Hollywood achievement had been a 22-episode stint in the late '80s sitcom A Different World, along with a small handful of bit parts in films like Oscar and Zandalee. Not only did she not have the lengthy résumés of her competition, but she also had yet to garner the level of respect that is seen by many as critical for winning an Oscars campaign.
On top of her shallow IMDB credits, My Cousin Vinny isn't exactly Oscars bait. Redgrave's Howards End and Richardson's Damage, for instance, are the kind of darker dramas that typically appeal to the Academy's voters over mainstream comedies. Further damning the likelihood of a win for My Cousin Vinny was its release date (March 13, 1992), which happened over a year before the 1993 Oscars ceremony. In other words, it didn't premiere during the usual "Oscar season" in the late Fall and early Winter, when studios start pushing their heavier, high-brow films for consideration.
What finally got people talking about the fact the award might have originally been meant for a different actress, however, was a blurb in The Hollywood Reporter the morning after the Oscars that year, as Gawker's Rich Juzwiak pointed out in 2015. "And the loser is: bad Oscar rumor," the title of the item reads, before revealing that "the former son-in-law of a distinguished Academy Award winner" claimed presenter Palance wasn't able to read the name of the true winner inside of the envelope, so he just happened to call out Tomei's name instead, since hers was the last one on the teleprompter. Entertainment Weekly also acknowledged the conspiracy in a 1994 post, which insinuated the rumor had been started as a way to sully Tomei's otherwise blossoming career.
Despite multiple write-ups, the rumor has since proved false (it even has its own Snopes page).
At the time an Academy spokesman told EW that if the rumor were true and Palance pulled Tomei's name out of thin air, "It's the policy of the Academy that should wrong information be given, a Price Waterhouse rep is empowered to go on stage and make the correction." It's obvious the long-circulated conspiracy is false (no matter how juicy), and the recent La La Land and Moonlight snafu only further proves that a mistakenly announced winner would not be allowed to take the award for themselves, regardless of how awkward things might get on stage (a La La Land producer eventually cleared things up for the audience and told Moonlight to come on stage to accept their prize).
For her part, Tomei escaped the Hollywood rumor mill with nothing more than a potentially bruised ego. She went on to receive two more Oscar nominations for best supporting actress (for 2001's In the Bedroom and 2008's The Wrestler), and has had a steady career ever since. You'll be able to see her next in season two of The Handmaid's Tale.
She's Back! Kylie Jenner Strips Down to Her Underwear 1 Month After Giving Birth to Stormi
Kylie Jenner may have taken a nine-month break from the spotlight to enjoy her first pregnancy, but she's officially back! Exactly a month after welcoming her daughter, Stormi Webster, with boyfriend Travis Scott, the 20-year-old reality TV star proudly flaunted her post-baby body on Snapchat on Thursday. In the photo, which she appropriately captioned, "1 monthhhhhh," Kylie is shown baring her stomach in a black T-shirt and matching underwear.
Just a few days ago, Kylie declared that she wasn't into the app as much anymore, but it looks like she's had a change of heart. Kim Kardashian better watch out, because Kylie is coming back for her crown.
Nick Jonas Goes on a Day-Long Date With a Stunning Stranger in Australia
On Wednesday, Nick Jonas took a break from hanging out with his older brother Joe in Australia, and instead embarked on a day-long date with a mystery woman who was later identified as Annalisa Azaredo. The singer was spotted with the stunning brunette on a bike ride, where she unfortunately fell and bloodied up her knee; Nick came to the rescue, first taking her to lunch, then heading to the beach and grabbing a drink at a rooftop bar. Things seemed to end on a pretty high note, as Nick and Annalisa were photographed making out on a balcony.
It's unknown how long Nick is staying down under, but a source told People on Thursday that his romance with the Australian native is "just a fling." Well, it is Summer there.
The Trailer For Sweetbitter Is Here, and It Already Looks Like Our New Favorite Show
The Sweetbitter adaptation just dropped its first trailer, and it already looks like we're going to be obsessed with it. The Starz half-hour drama follows 22-year-old Tess (Churchill's Ella Purnell), who moves to New York and begins working at a renowned downtown restaurant that leads her to a life of drugs, alcohol, love, dive bars, and fine dining. The show is based on Stephanie Danler's bestselling novel of the same name and features a large ensemble cast including Paul Sparks, Tom Sturridge, and Caitlin FitzGerald. Get acquainted with Tess above before the six-episode series premieres on May 6.
A Quick Reminder of How the Best Picture Mix-Up at Last Year's Oscars Even Happened
The 2017 Oscars won't be remembered for the glitz or the glamour or even the savagely funny monologue from host Jimmy Kimmel. Instead, the 89th Academy Awards will forever be known for its infamous best picture snafu.
In case you need a reminder - 2017 was a long, rough year, we get it - the unexpected mistake happened when best picture presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway took the stage. As you can see in the video above, Beatty and Dunaway seem clearly unsure of themselves when they open the envelope, and as we now know, the one they actually had was for the award that had been presented previously: Emma Stone, who won best actress for La La Land. Sensing Beatty's hesitation to say a name, Dunaway took over and announced that La La Land was the winner, despite the fact they didn't even know who the best picture winner was supposed to be.
The cast and production team of La La Land then came on stage and made their emotional acceptance speeches for a solid two minutes before producer Jordan Horowitz finally took the mic to announce that their film had not won. "Guys, I'm sorry, no, there's a mistake," he said. "Moonlight, you guys won best picture. This is not a joke. Moonlight has won best picture." He then held up the real envelope with the winner inside for the cameras, which clearly read Moonlight.
"I opened the envelope and it said 'Emma Stone, La La Land,'" Beatty explained to the audience while the overjoyed and shocked Moonlight team made their way up to the stage. "That's why I took such a long pause and looked at Faye, and at you. I wasn't trying to be funny." The accounting firm that oversees Oscars votes, PricewaterhouseCoopers, later released a statement regarding the incident and has since severed ties with the accountants who handed Dunaway and Beatty the wrong envelope that night. Accountant Brian Cullinan was specifically called out since his heavy use of social media throughout the night might have contributed to how he mixed up the envelopes and gave the presenters the wrong one.
The 2018 Oscars will no doubt be extra vigilant about the envelopes when the award show airs on Sunday.
Ralph and Vanellope Break the Internet in the Adorable Teaser For Wreck-It Ralph 2
Ralph and Vanellope have big adventures ahead of them! The adorable duo from Wreck-It Ralph is back for the colorful sequel, Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2. Six years after the events of the first film, Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) stumble upon a WiFi router in their arcade, which sends them on a high-flying journey around the World Wide Web. Luckily the internet access means they'll bump into a few Disney princesses: Merida, Moana, Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel, and more! Watch the teaser above before the film hits theaters on Thanksgiving.
Your Favorite Black Panther Badasses Are Reuniting For This Long-Awaited Project
Black Panther costars Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira are reuniting for one long-awaited project. Several years ago, Nyong'o announced that she had acquired the rights to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's highly praised novel Americanah and would be both producing and starring in the adaptation. The project then seemed to fly under the radar without any updates or news. That is, until now.
Gurira has now reportedly signed on to write and produce the adaptation, according to Konbini. The standout Black Panther and Walking Dead actress previously wrote several plays, including 2015's Eclipse, which Nyong'o actually starred in!
As of right now, it's unclear if the adaptation will come in the form of a feature film, since Konbini and several outlets are also reporting that it is now being made into a miniseries, instead. The novel is a diasporic love story about two young Nigerian immigrants, Ifemelu and Obinze.
Nyong'o is slated to take on the role of Ifemelu, and it was last reported by Variety that David Oyelowo would be starring opposite her as Obinze. The two actors previously starred in Queen of Katwe in 2016 together, so Americanah would be a reunion all around. If all of the above is in fact true, then we are in for an incredible project - be it a miniseries, movie, you name it!
Tessa Thompson Is All the Way Here For Valkyrie Joining Black Panther's Dora Milaje
Tessa Thompson now has the distinctive honor of calling herself a member of Marvel's cinematic universe. Last November, the Creed actress joined the ranks of Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers), Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy), and Elizabeth Olsen (Captain America: Civil War) as one of the notable badass female superheroes when she suited up as Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarok. Her performance was praised by critics, who called her a "scene stealer," and the Los Angeles native quickly became a fan favorite. While unconfirmed, Thompson is rumored to be reprising her role in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War film. We chatted with the Time's Up advocate ahead of the DVD release of her Marvel debut to get her take on why everyone loves Valkyrie and get her thoughts on the success of Black Panther.
POPSUGAR: Valkyrie has been hailed as one of the few female characters in the Marvel cinematic universe that had a solid, well-written character arc. How did you feel about the positive reception to her?
Tessa Thompson: Well, I mean, obviously I'm superflattered by it, and I'm so happy the fans responded to it in [that] way. One of the things that compelled me to work on the character and certainly to work with Marvel is I feel like they've really done such a fantastic job at creating superheroes that also just feel like humans. That you can really get invested in their dynamics, their characters, their friendships, their love, their loss. And I think the female characters in Marvel are no exception to that. I'm really proud that we're living inside of a space not just in Marvel but in Hollywood and globally where we're really wanting to put women at the forefront, to hear their stories and for them to be reflected certainly in media and become nuanced, incredible beings that we are as women. I'm excited about this new phase.
PS: Fans are also pulling for Valkyrie to get her own stand-alone movie. Is that something you would be open to?
TT: I'm really flattered by it. I love working with Marvel, they're deeply collaborative. I love playing Valkyrie. I will even go outside of the Marvel cinematic universe. I'll show up at a Bond movie if they need me there as Valkyrie. [Laughs] I really trust [Marvel's] vision for the character. It hasn't let me down thus far, so I'm curious to see where they and she takes me.
PS: I know initially there were murmurs about Valkyrie being the love interest of Thor [Chris Hemsworth], but when I watched the movie, I actually didn't get that vibe at first. There were hints, but mostly what I saw was this fully realized woman who was flawed, yet very self-aware and very relatable in that sense. She wasn't just the picture perfect love interest we normally see in superhero films. How important was it for you to play such a fleshed out character?
TT: That was wildly important to me, but I wasn't worried that wasn't going to be the case because of Taika Waititi and the work that he has done before and the conversations that we had. He really wanted to create a female superhero that sort of bucked convention. But that being said, I think you can play a love interest and have her be complicated and an incredible female character. I felt like I was able to do that when I made Creed because Ryan Coogler is that sort of filmmaker, and then, in the same way, Lupita in Black Panther is technically the love interest but has a world of her own and a life of her own.
"You can play a love interest and have her be complicated and an incredible female character."
I think regardless of what the woman is in the context of the script, as long as you are working with collaborators that really want to make sure that any page space that you have feels essential, then you're golden. That was something that we certainly flirted with. We shot some takes where Chris and I flirted more and we shot some takes where I completely dismissed him, and what we've all thought was cooler at the end of the day was just to see this woman who really was on her own trajectory. We also thought it was such a cool reversal that Chris's character, who is the hero of the movie, was fangirling over my character. [Laughs] We just thought that we haven't seen that been done before, so we loved that idea.
PS: You mentioned Black Panther. What did you think of the movie?
TT: Well, I'm still in Wakanda. [Laughs] I have not come back, and I do not want to come back. I'm putting an offer on a condo in Wakanda. I really enjoy it. The people have embraced me. I love that film. I'm so proud because I get to see friends of mine on screen just killing me softly, but I also just think about what it's doing culturally, not just for black people - which has been tremendous. I just think that the cultural conversation - there's been this myth in Hollywood, certainly that black and brown faces don't sell, and those are harder movies to get made. And what you're seeing is that [Black Panther] is shattering all of those perceptions and ideas because people are really showing up for this film. And never mind that it's incredible and empowering to see black faces on screen in this way, [and with] natural black hair; it also is just such a good movie. Never mind its political importance, it's just a damn good film, and that's what people are really responding to most of all, and what a time.
PS: On the topic of fully realized female characters, what's your take on the Dora Milaje?
TT: Listen. I mean, the characters are so incredible, so I don't want to diminish any of that by focusing on their beauty and fashion, but their beauty and their fashion! [Laughs] They're so gorgeous, but they're so incredible. I just feel like I want to shave my head now. If I didn't have an oddly shaped head, I would have shaved it immediately. I could do a whole stand-alone film of just them and their origin story, just seeing them training. I just think that it's just such incredible characters, and that scene with Danai [Gurira] and Daniel [Kaluuya] is so well-played, and her just being like, "Listen. If you're getting in the way of me and my ideals and how I want to serve my country, then goodbye, friend." I felt so powerful. In a time where we're really talking about the importance of allowing women to take up their space, not to take any crap, that was really exciting.
PS: Do you think Valkyrie would be in her element fighting alongside those women - in future films maybe?
TT: She definitely would. I mean, sort of Valkyrie's biggest sorrow and something that really creates a void for her is being separated from her sister and the fact that all of her Valkyrior warrior women were slain, and she's sort of a lone soldier. If she were to travel to Wakanda and find those women, the sense of purpose that she would have would be tremendous. And obviously because I'm playing Valkyrie, I think it would be a moment where you know when black and brown people, we see each other, and we're like, 'Oh my God! You're here too!' [Laughs] 'Yasss!' So that could be it. For Valkyrie, it would be, 'Oh my God! I've been in Asgard. You know there's only one other black person.' And Idris [Elba] is really a fly black person to get to spend time with, but we like company. So I think she would be [a] perfect [addition]. She would be very excited.
Thor: Ragnarok is available on DVD now.
20 Times Bachelor Nation's Carly Waddell and Evan Bass Made Our Cold Hearts a Little Warmer
Not every Bachelor Nation love story has a happy ending (*cough* RIP Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell *cough*), but there's still a handful of couples whose romance has stayed alive, even after ABC's cameras stopped rolling. Take Carly Waddell and Evan Bass, for example. Carly, who appeared on Chris Soules's season of The Bachelor, and Evan, who fought for JoJo Fletcher's heart on her season of The Bachelorette, met during season three of Bachelor in Paradise. Though three couples became engaged on the shores of that beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Carly and Evan are the only ones who remain together to this day.
Soon after the BIP alums said "I do" in a wedding that aired on season four of the show that brought them together, they started their lives together in Nashville. And in February, the lovebirds added another member to their clan: their first daughter, Isabella Evelyn Bass. Needless to say, Carly and Evan are downright adorable, and we couldn't be happier that their romance is still going strong. If you're looking to have your faith in true love restored, admiring Evan and Carly's cutest couples pictures below should certainly do the trick.
This Year's Insane Oscars Gift Bag Includes a Trip to Tanzania, Edible Earrings, and Pepper Spray
When it comes to the Academy Awards, no expense is spared for the A-list nominees. Whether the stars win or lose, they all get to go home with gifts, and this year's offering is all class. The 2018 Oscars gift bag - which is not sanctioned by the Academy but instead provided by LA marketing company Distinctive Assets - is valued at over $100,000 and includes everything from a 12-night trip to Tanzania to gum rejuvenation surgery, not to mention access to a new dating app called NeverMissed and $27 pepper spray (probably to take on the date with you).
There's even a "phobia relief session" so stars can conquer their fears and a levitating Bluetooth speaker, because who doesn't need one of those? Check out some highlights from this year's crazy, quirky Oscars gift bag, then see how it stacks up to 2017's.
Friendly Exes? Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux Reportedly "Still Talk All the Time"
We can all probably agree that keeping in contact or staying friends with an ex aren't the easiest things to do, but it looks like Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have found a way to make it work. Even though the couple split at the end of last year, Jennifer and Justin reportedly "still talk all the time." According to People, Jennifer is "an OK place as she was in control of the situation."
Since publicly announcing their split through Jennifer's rep in February, the actress has been leaning on her friends for support. On Wednesday, she appeared to be in good spirits while leaving BFF Courteney Cox's Beverly Hills home. Meanwhile, Justin has been keeping a low profile, but he did break his social media silence over the weekend to share a gallery of photos from his adorable visit to the Austin Pets Alive shelter in Texas.
29 Movies on Netflix With Complex, Strong Female Leads That You Can Watch Tonight
Strong female leads are dominating the big screen this year as we see movies like Annihilation and Black Panther hit theaters. But you don't necessarily need to crawl out of the comforts of your home to absorb inspiration from complicated, rich female characters. Netflix has an incredible selection of movies with girls and women who grow up, take risks, kick butts, and take names. We've rounded up a diverse selection of female-led films that you can stream instantly, including everything from quiet dramas like Tallulah to action thrillers like Kill Bill.
Here's How Kelly Ripa Addressed Ryan Seacrest's Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Ryan Seacrest issued a statement slamming the "salacious" sexual misconduct claims against him, and on Thursday, his morning talk show cohost Kelly Ripa addressed the matter during their show. While talking about the upcoming Oscars (where Ryan will be reporting from the red carpet for E!), she said, "I just want you to know you are a privilege to work with, and I adore you, and I am speaking on behalf of all of us here." Kelly went on to describe "what an easy, professional, great person" Ryan is and called herself "very lucky" to work with him every day. Her words were met with applause from the audience, and Ryan replied, "You are happiness," to which Kelly added, "You are happiness wrapped in chocolate."
Former E! stylist Suzie Hardy, who was hired to work for Ryan in 2007, came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and assault over the six years that she was employed by the network. While E!'s investigation found "insufficient evidence" to support her claims, a new Variety report doubles down on her allegations. Ryan's statement alleges that Suzie "offered, on multiple occasions, to withdraw her claims if I paid her millions of dollars." He also added that he supports the #MeToo and Time's Up movements "unequivocally" and "applaud[s] all the brave souls who have come forward to share their stories."
So Cute! Donald Glover Buys Every Box of Thin Mints From Girl Scout Who Sang "Redbone"
Donald Glover is on fire. The Emmy and Grammy award winner stopped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to discuss his massive success as of late and, of course, hilarity ensued. When asked to show the difference between his regular face and his rapper face - Donald also goes by Childish Gambino as his rap moniker - the Atlanta actor wasted no time in proving his case. But the sweetest moment of the interview happened when Stephen surprised Donald and brought out Charity Joy, the adorable girl scout member who went viral for singing Gambino's hit song "Redbone" in efforts to sell more cookies. Watch the heartwarming moment as it unfolded above, and prepare to fall in love with Donald, if you haven't already yet.
17 Romantic Movie Moments That Can Still Sweep You Off Your Feet
Movies might be blamed for giving people an unrealistic expectation of romance, and to that we say: probably, but we don't care. There have been such wonderfully romantic moments in our favorite movies, and those moments may be over-the-top, but we love them anyway. To get a heart-pounding boost, check out this list of our favorites and get ready to swoon over some of the sweetest things leading men (and women!) of the big screen have done for love.
The True Story Behind the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Is Way More Disturbing Than the Movie
Tobe Hooper's 1974 film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of cinema's OG horror classics and a must see for any scary movie aficionado. Given how stomach-churning a lot of the scenes in the gory slasher can be, it's hard to imagine that the film's story has any root in reality. Unfortunately, like a lot of movies and TV shows out there, a real-life serial killer served as inspiration for the movie's chainsaw-wielding villain, Leatherface.
While a family of cannibalistic hillbillies who prey on unsuspecting teenagers is luckily not part of the original story (that we know of), the idea for Leatherface came out of the case of murderer Edward Theodore "Ed" Gein, also known as the Butcher of Plainfield. He is suspected to have killed several victims between the years of 1954 and 1957 and remains one of the most disturbing and notorious serial killers in history.
The Origin of a Serial Killer
As a young man growing up in La Crosse, WI, in the early 1900s, Gein became obsessed with his religious fanatic of a mother, Augusta, who frequently ranted and raved about lust and carnal desire to Gein and his older brother, Henry. Henry would often criticize their mother, which infuriated Gein. In 1944, while the brothers were fighting a fire in the brush near their farm in Plainfield, WI, Henry went missing. Though he was later found by police with large bruises on his head, untouched by the fire, the officers dismissed Gein as a suspect due to his shy and docile nature.
Since he didn't have a close relationship with his alcoholic father, George, Gein obsessively cared for his mother until her death in 1945. After she passed, he took up the unsettling habit of robbing graves containing recently buried female bodies. He'd cut off body parts as souvenirs (and then return the rest of the body to the grave), which led to him experimenting with necrophilia and human taxidermy.
Michael Wincott's portrayal of Gein in Hitchcock.
Like Leatherface, he moved into a ramshackle home which he filled with his gruesome "trophies." Unlike the movie's killer, however, Gein wore the skins of his victims for reasons other than a disfiguring skin disease. To quell his desire to be a woman, he took to tanning the skins of the corpses he dug up to make corsets, leggings, belts made from female nipples, and masks so he could make a "woman suit" and become his mother. He reportedly had a vest of female skin complete with breasts attached and female genitalia to wear over his own.
He eventually went on to kill two women, Mary Hogan and Bernice Worden, in his town in 1957 (and was a main suspect in many other missing persons cases). Though Leatherface uses a chainsaw throughout the film, Gein shot both of his victims with a pistol. Once caught, Gein pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to a criminal mental hospital. Around a decade later, he stood trial again and was found guilty of murder and sent to the Central State Hospital in Wisconsin and the Mendota Mental Health Institute, where he later died of natural causes in 1984.
The Films He's Influenced
On top of giving Hollywood the idea for Leatherface, Gein also inspired a few other iconic horror movie characters. The first is Norman Bates, whom author Robert Bloch based off of Gein in his 1959 novel Psycho. Alfred Hitchcock later adapted the story for his hit 1960 thriller and cast Anthony Perkins as Norman. The parallels between Norman and Gein are obvious: both had an unhealthy fascination with their overbearing mothers and a love of taxidermy, and both dressed up as women in the wake of their mothers' deaths. The Silence of the Lambs fans might see connections between Gein and the Jame Gumb character (aka "Buffalo Bill"), who was created with Gein's bloody history in mind.
There have been a number of sequels to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and another is on the way. More than 40 years after the 1974 original hit theaters, Leatherface, the villain's origin story, will premiere in October to give audiences another glimpse into how this particular character came to be. The first trailer for the horror film looks grisly, to be sure, but the real-life inspiration has us far more unsettled.
I Could Give You 100 Reasons to Watch Good Girls, but Here Are My Top 3
It's safe to assume that whoever said money can't buy happiness never had three crushing mortgages to pay, a looming custody battle to fund, or a little girl with an expensive, life-threatening respiratory illness. The mothers in Good Girls - Ruby, Annie, and Beth, played respectively by Retta, Mae Whitman, and Christina Hendricks - have all of those problems . . . and then some.
The pilot for NBC's crime dramedy, which aired on Feb. 26, follows the trio of suburban, cash-strapped moms as they joke around with each other about how much easier life would be if they could just rob their local grocery store. The $30,000 inside the vault in the back is just sitting there, right? And the store is insured. Who would they be hurting if they took it? Those jokes turn into a very real plan once all three of their lives take unfortunate turns - cheating spouses, insurmountable medical bills - and Annie, Beth, and Ruby make off with the money.
In a perfect world, they'd ride off into the sunset, scot-free. But that perfect ending wouldn't make for a very interesting story and fortunately, this hilarious, unexpectedly moving, and fast-paced show has already packed plenty of twists into the pilot alone. If you still need a few more reasons to watch, read on for why Good Girls is about to become your next TV obsession.
1. The Chemistry Between the Main Characters
Whitman, Hendricks, and Retta could not have been more perfectly cast. Every scene with the three of them in it is better than the last. At first glance, it doesn't seem like these women would get along in real life. Would Ruby - a diner waitress and mom to young, sick Sara (Lidya Jewett) - or Beth - a stressed-out housewife trying to balance her four kids and failing marriage - really put up with the antics of brash, impulsive single mom Annie? Well, Annie clearly gives them a reason to get out of their ruts, and the other two bring her back down to earth. Somehow all three of them mesh together in the best way.
2. The Robbery Creates More of an Interesting Storyline Than You Might Think
Sure, the conceit of an average, everyday person turning to a life of crime to save their family already played out on Breaking Bad, with which Good Girls shares a few definite similarities. But as you discover by the end of the first episode, the grocery store robbery has far more complications for the three heroines than you might think, offering season one plenty of room to grow in interesting directions.
3. Retta's Dramatic Performance
I don't think I need to preach to anyone about how much of a comedic genius Retta is - I still consider every day without Parks and Rec's Donna Meagle in my life a tragedy - but what I wasn't necessarily expecting was such a deeply moving dramatic performance from her as Ruby. All the women have convincing reasons for why they end up robbing that store, but it's Ruby's that is by far the most compelling.
Early on in the first episode, she takes her daughter, Sara, to the doctor. It's an overcrowded office where the doctor barely gives her the time of day, and watching her struggle to get a word in about the research she been doing about an experimental drug is nothing short of heartbreaking. When the doctor finally tells her that the drug costs $10,000 a month out of pocket, seeing her face crumple is no less than a punch to the gut. All of the women have significant problems, but this scene instantly had me invested in Ruby and her family.
Good Girls airs Mondays on NBC.
James Gunn Casually Rips Out Everyone's Heart With This Tweet About Baby Groot
Groot is arguably the best part of either of the Guardians of the Galaxy films, whether he's full-grown or a few inches tall and wearing a little jumpsuit. He's adorable, and we'd all lay down our lives for him, right? Well, everyone's devotion to Groot was put to the test on Tuesday night when someone tweeted out a devastating question: would you rather save baby Groot or a Star Wars Porg? It didn't take long before Guardians director himself James Gunn hopped in to point out that the choice was an "easy" one.
"Groot is not an animal! He's an advanced lifeform! It's easy!" he tweeted, before pointing out that Porgs are basically just "penguins" and "big-eyed pigeons." But what about the fact Groot dies at the end of the first film, but then grows back? A fan said as much to Gunn, who responded with a life-altering fact about Groot that might simultaneously sadden and horrify you:
First Groot is dead. Baby Groot is his son.
- James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 27, 2018
So you mean to tell me . . . we never even properly mourned the first Groot? Heartbreaking. People were in such disbelief that it didn't take long before someone accused Gunn of making up "non-canon bullsh*t," à la J.K. Rowling.
jk rowling ruined everything and now non-canon bullshit can just be tweeted ad hominem
- Jennifer C. Martin (@notreallyjcm) February 27, 2018
Gunn fired back that it was actually "canon AF" and further explained why we should've realized the two Groots were totally different.
He doesn't have adult Groot's memories for one. Adult Groot would know what button to push!
- James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 27, 2018
Hold the Groot in your life a little closer tonight, everyone.
Stop What You're Doing and Watch Gordon Ramsay Eat the WORST Foods With James Corden
You know you're in for a hilarious video when Gordon Ramsay and James Corden sit at a table full of weird foods. In a new "Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts" segment on The Late Late Show With James Corden, the celebrity chef and host dodge awkward questions in favor of digging into some true delicacies like clam juice, pickled pigs' feet, and bull penis with hot sauce. James takes a dig at Gordon, saying, "I've eaten worse. I've eaten at a couple of your places." (He must not be talking about Gordon's newly opened Hell's Kitchen restaurant.)
As usual with this entertaining segment, the guys do choose to answer some of the tough questions - including one that forces Gordon to rank three chefs from best to worst. Spoiler alert: he kinda throws Bobby Flay under the bus. It's too good not to watch, so press play above, and then keep the Gordon Ramsay burns coming with his opinions on current food trends.
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