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 8 mars 2018
Storm Smith Didn't See Deaf Women of Color Making Films, So She Made Her Own - Now, She's Changed the Ad Industry Forever
Storm Smith has had a journey unlike any other. As the first deaf woman to work at leading advertising agency BBDO, Smith spends her days transforming big ideas into creative content - always reflecting her ideals of inclusion and representation - for a whole host of well-known brands.
But while Smith's incredible storytelling savvy has propelled her to the top of her chosen field, she began adulthood on an altogether different path - until 2011, she was a grad student in psychology, studying to become a counselor. Now, it's that background that propels her forward; as a woman of color and art director at the global agency she works for, she's on a mission to make the world of media more inclusive and diverse, and to inspire other aspiring creatives to pursue the life of their dreams.
In February, POPSUGAR sat down with Smith for a wide-ranging conversation about her past, the present, and our collective future.
On Her Roots and Her Origins in Psychology
I'm originally from California, born and raised in LA. I moved to Washington, DC (where I lived for about 11 years) to study at Gallaudet University, the only deaf and hard of hearing university in the world. Honestly, at first, my career goal was to become a school counselor. I thought I would become a psychologist or a therapist. I wanted to advocate for deaf and hard of hearing youth, especially youth of color. But in terms of media and film and filmmaking? Well, that never came to mind.
From the age of five I knew that I was a creative person. I did dance, was in theater, and knew that I had creativity in me when I was in high school, but at that point I hadn't tapped into it as a career. There's this vocational rehabilitation - it's financial aid and it helps deaf and hard of hearing people go to college - but it only offered certain careers. So I thought, "OK, I have to be realistic and I've got to go into something run of the mill, be a psychologist, I need to get a good job." I remember being irritated by the lack of choice, the strict limits.
Fast forward a couple years; I started making some films, and doing photography on the side for fun. It wasn't something that I thought of as a career until 2010, when everything changed for me. I had a mentor, Dr. Jane Norman, who approached me one morning and said, "The film you have, the story you have to tell - I've just seen it, and it's everything. You should submit this film to this festival. Do it now - you've got a week." At that point I was a graduate student so I didn't really think I had time to pursue it. I had things to do at home, I had papers to write, I had tons of work - but she really planted that seed in my head.
So I just thought, "OK, I'll try it!" And I made a short film in a week; shooting, editing, captioning, sound, audio . . . all of it. And while I had no background in film, and no formal training or anything, I knew I could do it all in a week because had this innate fire inside of me and I was excited about it.
On How She Began Her Journey Toward Becoming a Filmmaker
It was a huge moment of growth for me, that I had a story to tell. I hadn't seen any women of color who are also deaf filmmakers out there - there's maybe one - so I had never felt that connection. But I still decided, "Hey, you know what, I'm going to take this risk." A month later I was accepted into the film festival, and came in fifth place. Shortly thereafter, after thinking long and hard about it, I decided to resign from my graduate program.
It was both the best and hardest decision of my life. I flew home one weekend to tell my parents, and I was really nervous - I'm the only child and my parents have high expectations for me, so I told my mom first. My mom is my heart, my role model, my best friend, and she said, "Mhmm, OK, well make sure that whatever you start, that you finish it. No matter what you do I'll be here to support you, all your dreams and passions." It was important to me not to lose that sentiment - and I haven't.
So I began making films - film after film, producing content, telling story after story. I became the main specialist, producer, and director at Gallaudet University in their communications and marketing department. For two years, I produced content for them and the last year before I moved, I was appointed by the new president of Gallaudet - the first female president in 152 years - to build out more visibility for the deaf and hard of hearing community around the world. I took that opportunity. It allowed me to build my craft as a storyteller, and because of that, BBDO recognized me and recruited me last year. And that was lifechanging for me. I'm an art director now, and the first deaf female ever to work for BBDO.
On How She Uses Technology to Power Her Creativity
I learned how to edit with iMovie - I got a Pell Grant and I was a PC user at the time and thought, "OK, I want to advance my craft somehow," so I bought a MacBook Pro and a Canon T2I Rebel and that's all I needed: my camera and my computer. I eventually moved on to Final Cut Pro X for about five years, and used that consistently - it was so easy to pick up and use and figure out how to add captions and develop the fundamentals. Then I was able to introduce the iPad Pro for when a person was signing, or sometimes I used my iPhone.
Honestly, if I want to just capture something in the moment I will shoot on my iPhone and just edit it right there. I'm always telling my clients, "I'm a really fast editor, I have a really quick turnaround - the next day, if not a few hours," and these products really helped me to do just that.
On Her Artistic Process and Her Quick Turn Around
I'm a really curious person, and I ask a ton of questions. So the conversation about what the goals are, what a client wants me to produce, what the vision is - that conversation is key.
To be a deaf person talking to a hearing person, sometimes it can be a challenge to explain your vision and not have a person fully see. And sometimes, they'll be speaking in a very linear fashion and I'll find myself elaborating details in sign language, visually, that take a lot of work to explain. But we always make it work, and then we go through our shoot, and then we do the editing and take it to the client. If they love it, then there you go, it's yours!
I can make music videos, ads, campaigns, PSAs . . . you name it. But it's always the vision first, then the story - and from there, the details always become a lot less complicated. Telling a story is allowing people to connect with a human experience, and that's always, ultimately, what my clients want.
On the Rule of Representation That She Lives By
My rule is that my films have to be with and for people of color. That's a must for me. Representation is key - and everyone always wants to talk about representation. But at the same time, people need it to feel inspired, to see that there are others out there. Whether you're young or old, the more representation the better.
There is no norm - and that's really the point. You can be found out there, and I'm especially excited about the times that we find ourselves in right now. As women, as people of color, as people with disabilities, deaf and heard of hearing, LGBTQ+, we are all growing. We are all progressing.
On the Advice She Gives to Other Women and People of Color on How to Make an Impact
To be honest, anyone could easily say, "Go ahead and do it, take the risk," but it does require a lot more than that. First, you have to know who you are, what you stand for, and what your philosophy is on things and what you want - because its your life. You have this one life, and you need to ask yourself, "How did I come up with that philosophy that got me through to where I am today?"
Even for myself, at one point I even felt like I wanted to kill myself on the freeway out in LA because of all the struggles of being a woman, struggles with sexuality, struggles with a whole host of things. I was too busy trying to match society's expectations of what I should be. But fortunately, I can say that I was woken up by that experience, from being on the floor, from learning, from talking, from speaking up for what I wanted, and from taking more risks.
Just imagine me, since that time that I was gearing up to be a counselor, and how far I've come from there. It all comes down to knowing who you are, knowing what you stand for, and continuing to celebrate who we are as women, as talented women, everywhere. We need to constantly express our stories through our work, and that work will speak for itself.
Maybe not everyone will like it, but as long as you're producing it and putting it all on the table - that's all that's required. You can walk away then with a smile on your face, because you know who you are and you put it out there.
On the Future and What She Hopes to Do For Others
True inclusion for everybody. For people who are women, for deaf women, for deaf disabled women, for deaf disabled women of color. With all the new media platforms we have available to us, we're able [to] consider full inclusion and full immersion.
By being an art director, I've been able to advance to the next level in my work, but my dream is to become a producer and director for studio work. I want to incorporate representation and the human experience that really reflects all of us. I want that to be on screen, for that to inspire people - especially deaf youth, deaf youth of color, deaf youth who are girls of color - to have them to see that and go, "Wow, I can go just as far as you can, Storm."
Many of the youth right now in our community feel limited. They want it, they're hungry, but they're limited, and they don't know how to get in. So part of my work is inspiring the next generation - and I see myself doing that going forward.
The Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery Trailer Just Dropped, and We Are Officially Obsessed
It's been a little over a month since we first got word that a new Harry Potter game was in the works (and that it would be all about letting you experience Hogwarts for yourself!), but on Jan. 18 we finally got additional details and a trailer for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, and we're calling it now: it looks freakin' awesome.
"Players will create a personalized student avatar, attend classes, learn magical skills, form friendships or rivalries with other students, and make pivotal decisions that will influence their character's story arc as they traverse their years at Hogwarts and grow as a witch or wizard," the press release issued by Jam City reads. But that's not all - we've also got a lot more info on what it is, exactly, that we can expect.
The game is set in the time between Harry Potter's birth and his enrollment at Hogwarts, when Nymphadora Tonks and Bill Weasley were students. The avatar customization system allows you to continually upgrade your avatar as you gain new expertise and magical skills - you can even choose your own pet. You will join one of the four Houses before progressing through your years at Hogwarts, participating in magical classes and activities such as Potions and Transfiguration. Building your skills will come in handy as you solve mysteries and go on adventures. As players improve their skills, they will unlock new locations, spells and other magical abilities.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery features both large plot arcs and smaller stories such as relationship quests. The game features a new encounter system in which players' decisions in both actions and narrative impact their quests, and how other characters regard and interact with them. These choices will allow Harry Potter fans to create the legacy of the witch or wizard they want to become.
And if that wasn't enough, here's the trailer in all its glory (and, yes, you might want to have your sound on for this):
For the superfans among us, there's an important thing to note: before the game officially launches on mobile phones everywhere, it'll be featured at the A Celebration of Harry Potter event at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL, on Jan. 26 through Jan. 28. There will be panels, swag, and even a chance to play the game itself at the Jam City booth - well before anyone else you know gets to lay eyes on it.
Suffice it to say, we can't wait for the game to be unleashed upon the world this Spring.
WTF: A Woman Was Denied a Second Job Interview For Asking This Question
On March 13, 2017, Taylor Byrnes tweeted screenshots of the response she received from SkiptheDishes after asking about pay and benefits following her first interview at the food delivery service in Winnipeg, Canada. "Applied for a job at @SkipTheDishes. They cancelled my interview b/c I asked about wages/benefits," she wrote in a now-viral tweet.
Applied for a job at @SkipTheDishes. They cancelled my interview b/c I asked about wages/benefits @CBC @CBCNews @ctvwinnipeg #boycottSkip pic.twitter.com/CjBdnFvY1P
- . (@feministjourney) March 13, 2017
"Hi Victoria, I had another question that I wanted to ask you," Byrnes's initial email reads. "If I do end up filling this position, how much do you think I'll be getting paid an hour? Benefits will also be included, right? Sorry, I just thought I should ask now. Thanks for your time and have a lovely day," she concluded.
Screenshots show that Victoria responded, "Hello Taylor, your questions reveal that your priorities are not in sync with those of SkipTheDishes. At this time we will not be following through with our meeting this Thursday." In a follow-up email, Victoria called out qualities the company looks for in employees, including "hard work and perseverance in pursuit of company goals as opposed to focusing on compensation."
"For these reasons, questions about compensation and benefits at such an early stage is a concern related to organizational fit."
After the screenshots were posted and shared across social media, Byrnes received yet another response from the company, this time from its cofounder, who expressed disappointment with the way the situation was handled. The company also shared its screenshots on its Twitter page to rectify the backlash from people who were calling for a boycott of SkipTheDishes.
(1/2) The email to Taylor does not represent #SkipTheDishes team values. We have followed up to offer heartfelt apologies & a 2nd interview. pic.twitter.com/XKYWsHXj7P
- SkipTheDishes (@SkipTheDishes) March 14, 2017
(2/2) We do share compensation & it's OK to ask. We are coaching internally to ensure this doesn't happen again. @CBC @CBCNews @CTVWinnipeg
- SkipTheDishes (@SkipTheDishes) March 14, 2017
SkipTheDishes cofounder Joshua Simair addressed the controversy in an emailed statement to POPSUGAR, writing, "We are very disappointed in how it was handled. We do share a compensation package prior to hiring. As soon as we became aware of it on Monday, we reached out to Taylor to apologize for the email and reschedule her interview."
Simair also revealed that the company would be changing internal policies to make sure it doesn't happen again. "We've also addressed the email internally and will be providing additional training. We are very committed to our community, employees and continuing to grow and create employment opportunities in the Prairies."
Although Byrnes has received an outpouring of support for standing up for herself, there is still a dispute over whether or not her questions were appropriate to ask. Seeing as it's important for women to ask about pay upfront so that they get what they deserve, we'd say the answer is yes.
We've reached out to Byrnes for comment and will update this story if we hear back.
A Surgeon Found 17 Contact Lenses in a Patient's Eye - Then Things Got Worse
A 67-year-old patient was about to undergo cataract surgery when her surgeon discovered a "blueish mass" in her eye. As the surgeon and her colleagues injected anesthesia into the patient's eye, they removed the object - only to find that it was actually a clump of 17 contact lenses stuck together. As they inspected further, they were surprised to find an additional 10 contact lenses in the woman's eye.
The shocking discovery occurred last year; however, UK-based ophthalmologist Rupal Morjaria is now going public with the story in the hopes that it will encourage people to be more diligent about their eye care. In an interview with Optometry Today, Morjaria said, "None of us have ever seen this before. We were really surprised that the patient didn't notice it because it would cause quite a lot of irritation while it was sitting there."
Due to the possible presence of bacteria in the eye, the patient would have been at risk of serious and permanent eye damage if they would have proceeded with the surgery. As a result, the procedure was postponed. Upon speaking with her afterwards, Morjaria learned that the patient had been wearing monthly disposable lenses for 35 years and apparently didn't realize she was inserting new contacts over old ones that had not been removed.
When the patient heard the news, she was "shocked." Morjaria said, "When she was seen two weeks after I removed the lenses, she said her eyes felt a lot more comfortable. She thought her previous discomfort was just part of old age and dry eye."
Though this particular incident is rare and scary, the team at Solihull Hospital hopes it will encourage people to maintain regular optometrist appointments, which would have allowed a doctor to catch a problem like this before it became so severe. Contact lenses are incredibly common and fairly easy to use, but accidents happen.
This CNN Anchor Was Not Having It When Her Guest Went on a Rant About His Love of "Boobs"
Wow I think Fox Sports Clay Travis is some Stern wanna be. What a total jackass! @BrookeBCNN #cnn #brookebaldwin #claytravis #foxsports pic.twitter.com/1sKNnNJC3f
- Alive In Philly (@AliveInPhilly) September 15, 2017
A CNN segment went fully off the rails on Sept. 15 when Fox Sports radio host Clay Travis made a comment so randomly offensive that it stopped host Brooke Baldwin dead in her tracks.
Travis was on air with Baldwin and journalist Keith Reed to discuss ESPN's response to Jemele Hill's comments calling Donald Trump a white supremacist, which she has since apologized for sharing publicly. Both Trump and White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders have called for Hill to be fired in the wake of her comments, raising an important debate about the First Amendment, ethics, censorship, and race. Ostensibly, those were the topics Baldwin intended to discuss during her show, but Travis had other designs.
Travis first attempted to argue that while he didn't really think Hill should be fired, ESPN had a duty to let Hill go because of a precedent they set when they axed former host Curt Schilling following a transphobic Facebook post he shared. Travis's argument was already on shaky logical ground, and then he chose to completely torpedo any shred of credibility he may have had, making a statement more befitting of one of the fourth graders on South Park than a professional sportscaster.
"I believe in only two things completely: the First Amendment and boobs," Travis said.
Baldwin, who was understandably flabbergasted, had to ask him to repeat himself. "Hold on, hold on. I just want to make sure I heard you correctly and as a woman anchoring the show," Baldwin jumped in. "What did you just say? You believe in the First Amendment and b-double o-b-s?"
"Boobs. Two things that have only never let me down in this entire country's history. The First Amendment and boobs."
Baldwin and Reed - who also happens to be a friend of Hill's - were both incensed, and rightfully so:
Don't watch Clay Travis say sexist crap. Watch Brooke Baldwin shut it down. pic.twitter.com/mNoodf7NqV
- Eric Morrow (@ericmorrow11) September 15, 2017
While it might be easy to write off Travis's comments as immature and buffoonish - which they certainly were - they also displayed a total disrespect for Hill, the gravity of her situation, the seriousness it deserves, and for the female host of the show and human women everywhere. Both Baldwin and Reed took to social media after the segment was cut short to further share their distaste for what went down.
Now, we'll just have to wait and see if Fox Sports follows Travis's recommendation that ESPN fire its controversial staffers by handing him a pink slip all his own.
California Braces For Legal Battle Over Trump's Immigration Orders
In the time since Donald Trump won the presidential election, there has been an increasing amount of tension between lawmakers in Washington DC and lawmakers in California. But the West Coast state has quickly developed a knack for resisting, mobilizing to fight against multiple Trump White House decisions including climate change denial, attempts to end legal marijuana, and various measures to deport immigrants.
The latest development in this saga, however, greatly ups the ante with regards to the state's sanctuary laws and sanctuary cities, the protections which are in place to shield undocumented immigrants from the deportation demands of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (otherwise known as "ICE"). The Justice Department, under the leadership of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, is suing the state and officials like Governor Jerry Brown for blocking federal immigration enforcement. The suit seeks to dissolve the state's structures and laws that enable it to ignore immigration orders to effectively show other cities and states resisting Trump's rules that they will eventually have to acquiesce.
Sessions is set to speak on the matter and noted that they plan to win their case against "these unjust, unfair and unconstitutional policies that have been imposed." The suit is specifically taking aim at California's SB54 law, a mandate that prohibits local police from reporting illegal immigrants to immigration officials for minor offenses, the Immigrant Worker Protection Act, and a law regarding the inspection of immigrant detention centers.
At a time of unprecedented political turmoil, Jeff Sessions has come to California to further divide and polarize America. Jeff, these political stunts may be the norm in Washington, but they don't work here. SAD!!!
- Jerry Brown (@JerryBrownGov) March 7, 2018
Meanwhile, California officials are prepared to fight back and hold their stance against Trump's decidedly anti-immigrant policies. Governor Jerry Brown has called Sessions's move an effort to "further divide and polarize America" at a time of great political stress. Brown's thoughts, which he tweeted out, also included one clear jab at the president: he called the effort "SAD!!!"
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra also had strong words to say on the matter and vowed that the state will stay the course in order to protect all the state's citizens by upholding the law. "We're in the business of public safety," Becerra tweeted, "not deportation."
The lawsuit is also of note because it is the first to place a state against the Justice Department and the DOJ's ongoing behavior in regards to immigration. States like Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon, in addition to various cities and counties with sanctuary laws, could face similar suits from Sessions. This saga of state vs. country has been ongoing, of course, but this legal move - whether a distracting stunt or legitimate case - takes that battle to the next level.
The Best iPhone X Cases of 2018
So, you finally took the plunge and got the iPhone X. Congratulations! Now that you've got the newest, hippest gadget on the market right now, it's time to make sure that you don't find yourself on line at the Apple store a week from now, cradling your newly dropped phone and pleading for a second chance - in other words, it's time to properly protect your device. But before you stress out about going through every case on the internet to find the right one, click ahead: here, we've pulled together 23 of the best iPhone X cases out there at the moment. From the chicest fashion statements to the most tough-and-rugged models on the market, there's something here for everyone - and we'll be updating this post as new ones become available, so be sure to check back as the year progresses.
The 1 Cartoon About School Shootings Every American Needs to See
Hero's Welcome.#guncontrol #Parkland pic.twitter.com/NHto6MO73A
- Pia Guerra (@PiaGuerra) February 15, 2018
An absolutely stunning cartoon drawn in the wake of the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, is breaking hearts across the internet - and it's an image that we won't (and shouldn't) soon forget.
"Hero's Welcome" is the brainchild of artist Pia Guerra and depicts Aaron Feis - the football coach and security guard who was killed when he used himself as a human shield to protect Parkland students - being ushered toward a group of children and adults by a young girl saying, "Come on, Mister Feis! So many of us want to meet you!"
"It's not often that an image pops in your brain and you feel a lump in your throat," Guerra told The Washington Post, noting that the crowd in the cartoon is representative of all the many individuals who have tragically lost their lives in school shootings over the years and that the cartoon was a direct response to her feeling helpless in the face of yet another mass gun tragedy.
Guerra posted the image to Twitter, and it has since gone viral - serving as yet another incredibly important reminder of the important role that each and every individual voice plays in the fight for gun control and how essential it is to our own safety as Americans to make those voices heard at the highest levels.
Rome Was Hit by a Rare Snowstorm, and the Photos Are Completely Beautiful
When in Rome, you're supposed to "do as the Romans do." And right now, that might mean partaking in an impromptu snowball fight. Meteorologists have dubbed a weather phenomenon hailing from Siberia as the "Beast From the East," and on Monday it hit Rome, causing schools and businesses to shut down in the face of the rare snowfall in Italy's capital.
Based on photos and videos of the snow-covered city, Rome wears white quite well. The last time Rome saw snow was in 2012. The cold snap has also brought with it unseasonably chilly temperatures, and much of Europe, including the UK, is feeling the effects of the so-called "beast." Check out stunning photos of the historical streets of Rome covered in a beautiful blanket of snow.
4 Empowering Books About Badass Women That Will Leave You Inspired
If you're on the hunt for a new read, make it something inspiring. We rounded up a list of books that chronicle hundreds of the world's most powerful women who made huge impacts on society through activism, fashion, science . . . the list is endless. From covering the Equal Rights Convention in 1866 to showcasing women in technology, these picks will leave you feeling empowered to make your own mark on the world.
Does Donald Trump Have a Dog? No - and That’s Not Even the Craziest Part
Presidents tend to have a lot in common. They are married to spouses who work to carry on American values, with whom they live in the same house and with whom they assumedly sleep in the same bed. They raise largely successful children who don't work for them and who they've never mentioned wanting to sleep with. They are hardworking and smart, available at all hours to fight for America. They rarely take time off for leisure save for brief reprieves with literature. And they have a dog - or two.
Much of the same cannot be said of our current president, Donald Trump. In fact, Trump is the first president in more than 100 years to be dogless. This gaping hole in Americanness shouldn't be that shocking given Mr. Trump's contrarian, "Drain the swamp!" style.
Several presidents have gone dogless, but the last president to be without a dog was William McKinley, who was commander in chief from 1897-1901. However, according to the Presidential Pet Museum, McKinley did have pets: he had a parrot, two angora kittens, and roosters. Does Trump have any pets? The Presidential Pet Museum believes not.
Also of note before McKinley is Andrew Johnson. He didn't have a dog, was impeached in 1868 and apparently "left flour out at night for a family of white mice playing in his room" amidst the political drama. Pet food for thought.
One fluffy, silver lining is that Trump has reportedly attempted to get a dog in recent months, specifically a goldendoodle named Patton. As the New York Post reported in January, Trump was set to adopt the pup from friend Lois Pope, but Pope kept the dog after forming a connection with it herself. Pope claims Trump listed his constant traveling as a reason why he'd be a poor owner. Hmm.
Further proof that Trump seems to be anticanine? He loves insulting people by saying they failed or choked "like a dog" on Twitter.
Mitt Romney had his chance to beat a failed president but he choked like a dog. Now he calls me racist-but I am least racist person there is
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2016
.@EWErickson got fired like a dog from RedState
and now he is the one leading opposition against me.- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2016
Wow was Ted Cruz disloyal to his very capable director of communication. He used him as a scape goat-fired like a dog! Ted panicked.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 23, 2016
Union Leader refuses to comment as to why they were kicked out of the ABC News debate like a dog. For starters, try getting a new publisher!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2016
.@GlennBeck got fired like a dog by #Fox. The Blaze is failing and he wanted to have me on his show. I said no - because he is irrelevant.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 17, 2015
I hear that sleepy eyes @chucktodd will be fired like a dog from ratings starved Meet The Press? I can't imagine what is taking so long!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2015
Obama called Reverend Wright his friend, counselor & great leader--then dumped him like a dog!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 3, 2012
Robert Pattinson should not take back Kristen Stewart. She cheated on him like a dog & will do it again--just watch. He can do much better!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2012
Egypt is a total mess. We should have backed Mubarak instead of dropping him like a dog.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2012
We're anxious to know what will become of Trump's presidential pet ownership, but we do know one thing: getting a dog might help solve his failing disapproval ratings. As the Washington Post observes, a presidential dog offers good publicity and bipartisan relatability. They also provide personal benefits like stress reduction and loyalty.
Might not want to let that sleeping dog lie, President Trump.
41 Insane Facts You Definitely Don't Know About Disneyland
You think you know everything about Disneyland? Wrong. There's some mind-blowing facts out there that even the ultimate Disney fan doesn't know. Check out all the fascinating things we discovered about the happiest place on earth and test your knowledge.
The 3 Most Important Decorating Elements, According to a Designer
The way Shannon Smith transforms a bare apartment into a cozy home might cause you to confuse her for a magician, or an interior design fairy godmother at the very least. The Homepolish interior designer can do wonders to a space no matter how tight the budget or small the square footage.
The secret to creating a stunning home, she says, is to focus on three things when decorating. "I am a firm believer that you don't need a lot of stuff to make your space feel finished. If you consider these three things - texture, color, and scale - you can make any space feel cozy."
Keep reading to hear what Shannon has to say about approaching each.
The Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery Trailer Just Dropped, and We Are Officially Obsessed
It's been a little over a month since we first got word that a new Harry Potter game was in the works (and that it would be all about letting you experience Hogwarts for yourself!), but on Jan. 18 we finally got additional details and a trailer for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, and we're calling it now: it looks freakin' awesome.
"Players will create a personalized student avatar, attend classes, learn magical skills, form friendships or rivalries with other students, and make pivotal decisions that will influence their character's story arc as they traverse their years at Hogwarts and grow as a witch or wizard," the press release issued by Jam City reads. But that's not all - we've also got a lot more info on what it is, exactly, that we can expect.
The game is set in the time between Harry Potter's birth and his enrollment at Hogwarts, when Nymphadora Tonks and Bill Weasley were students. The avatar customization system allows you to continually upgrade your avatar as you gain new expertise and magical skills - you can even choose your own pet. You will join one of the four Houses before progressing through your years at Hogwarts, participating in magical classes and activities such as Potions and Transfiguration. Building your skills will come in handy as you solve mysteries and go on adventures. As players improve their skills, they will unlock new locations, spells and other magical abilities.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery features both large plot arcs and smaller stories such as relationship quests. The game features a new encounter system in which players' decisions in both actions and narrative impact their quests, and how other characters regard and interact with them. These choices will allow Harry Potter fans to create the legacy of the witch or wizard they want to become.
And if that wasn't enough, here's the trailer in all its glory (and, yes, you might want to have your sound on for this):
For the superfans among us, there's an important thing to note: before the game officially launches on mobile phones everywhere, it'll be featured at the A Celebration of Harry Potter event at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL, on Jan. 26 through Jan. 28. There will be panels, swag, and even a chance to play the game itself at the Jam City booth - well before anyone else you know gets to lay eyes on it.
Suffice it to say, we can't wait for the game to be unleashed upon the world this Spring.
Muggles, Don't Even Think About Attempting This Harry Potter Bucket List
Muggles, don't even think about attempting this Harry Potter bucket list! It's only for folks who know their stuff about witchcraft and wizardry - aka extreme fans of J.K. Rowling's magical series. From collecting special items to learning one's own true wizarding colors, we've rounded up quite a few experiences that every Potter enthusiast should have in their lifetime. If there are items on this list that you haven't already accomplished, you won't need a Remembrall to remind you about them . . . you won't want to rest until they're completed!
The International Women's Day Google Doodle Features 12 Female Artists From Around the World
"There is no one way, or right way, to be a woman," says Tillie Walden, a US-based artist. "I feel like International Women's Day is a celebration of that," she adds. This year, in honor of International Women's Day on March 8, Google created an interactive Doodle featuring female artists – Tille Walden included – from all over the world.
Click through to check out 12 different comic strips written and illustrated by artists from different countries (with subtitles for all languages), each sharing their own stories. "This Doodle aims to celebrate our collective experiences, with all of their commonalities and differences. We want to shine a light on the important and far-reaching impact of everyday women," Google said in a press release.
Along with the images, you can also read each artist reflections on what International Women's Day means to them, as well as what they hope people take away from their stories. They touch on issues such as inequality, immigration, violence against women, prejudice, and more. Their works speak of progress, possibility, love, motherhood, friendship, strength, and so much more. Ahead, you can enjoy each slideshow, and read quotes from the artists to get further insight into their backgrounds and inspirations.
NASA's Photo Series Shows Before and After Images of Climate Change
Within hours of Donald Trump's inauguration, several pages on the WhiteHouse.gov website went missing - including one on climate change. It hasn't stopped several Twitter accounts dedicated to the National Parks Service from going rogue and writing tweets on climate change. It also didn't stop NASA from publishing its latest photography series, "Images of Change," which includes before and after photos of climate change.
The photography series isn't solely focused on climate change. It looks at other changes that have affected our world, such as "effects of urbanization" and "natural hazards such as fires and floods." However, several of the locations the series shown are places changing due to climate change.
Here's one before and after look at how much the Arctic Sea Ice has changed, with a photo from September 1984 and another from September 2016.
NASA, which on Jan. 18 released a joint report with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on how 2016 was the "warmest year on record," still has no clear path as to how it will function in the Trump administration. There is also no indication (yet) as to whether or not the organization will have to scrub its website of any mentions of climate change. If this photo series is any indication, however, it's clear that NASA feels pretty strongly about the fact that climate change is real.
2016 was the hottest year on record, continuing a decades-long warming trend, according to @NASAGISS & @NOAA: https://t.co/vsbeRX8tig pic.twitter.com/RGw7dJd03L
- NASA (@NASA) January 18, 2017
Whoa! These Marvel Images Are Trippy AF
Any Marvel fan can tell you just how much they love the franchise in any form - especially when it comes to full-scale illustrations of their favorite characters. One artist turned his portraits of Marvel characters into GIFs that are so subtle, you can barely tell they're moving images.
The artist, Mike Mitchell, originally created these pieces of art for a show that ran last year at the Mondo Gallery in Texas. They are completely stunning and definitely capture his feelings for Marvel. "This has easily been the most ambitious project I've ever taken on, and it's due in part to my love for their universe; which is fictional by definition, but real in my mind and in the minds of others," he said to Mondo Tees. It definitely touches fans, considering Mitchell's artwork first made the rounds on Reddit in 2014 and was rising on Imgur a few months ago.
Look ahead and become entranced by these amazing Marvel GIFs - you won't be able to look away.
The Best iPhone X Cases of 2018
So, you finally took the plunge and got the iPhone X. Congratulations! Now that you've got the newest, hippest gadget on the market right now, it's time to make sure that you don't find yourself on line at the Apple store a week from now, cradling your newly dropped phone and pleading for a second chance - in other words, it's time to properly protect your device. But before you stress out about going through every case on the internet to find the right one, click ahead: here, we've pulled together 23 of the best iPhone X cases out there at the moment. From the chicest fashion statements to the most tough-and-rugged models on the market, there's something here for everyone - and we'll be updating this post as new ones become available, so be sure to check back as the year progresses.
10 Harry Potter Theories You Won't Be Able to Wrap Your Head Around
The last Harry Potter book came out nine years ago, but that hasn't stopped Potterheads from analyzing every aspect of the series. Plenty of theories surfaced in 2016 like Draco Malfoy possibly being a werewolf, a plot twist in what the Deathly Hallows stands for, and heartwarming ideas about Neville Longbottom. Before you reread the series again, check out the favorite theories we read about this year - many of which have been around for ages.
The Best Smart-Home Devices of 2018
We may have only learned to embrace the smart home in 2017, but 2018 is shaping up to be the year we finally take our technology to the next level - and let it do all the heavy lifting in our homes. Regardless of whether you've just dabbled or full-on decked out your home, ahead you'll find the products that we're quickly finding we can't live without and highly recommend you try out for yourself. From vacuums to thermostats to lighting and more, it's clear that the sky's the limit when it comes to the many, many tasks you can delegate to your digital assistant. Be sure to check back in here often, as we'll be updating this list as more devices are released over the coming year.
This Little Girl "Met" Anakin Skywalker, and Their Interaction Is Too Sweet
It doesn't take much to warm our hearts, but even we think this video of a little girl meeting Anakin Skywalker at Disneyland is the cutest thing we might ever see.
The little girl, cosplaying as Padmé Amidala, first met Anakin Skywalker at Star Wars Weekends in Disneyland. She was shy at first but eventually hugged Anakin. The little girl went back again the following weekend, still dressed as Padmé, and said hello to Anakin again. This time, however, Anakin remembered her and said the cutest line ever: "Padmé! I've missed you." Cue your heart melting. Watch the entire video of the two interactions ahead.
While the video was uploaded to YouTube in 2016, it looks like this interaction took place in 2014. The little girl is named Lane and has an entire Facebook page and Instagram account devoted to her meeting all sorts of characters from movies.
The interaction between Anakin and "Padmé" is so adorable to some fans that it's also in a GIF. Keep warming our hearts, Lane!
Harry Potter Fans Will Absolutely Love What This Woman Did With Her Wall
Harry Potter fans have gone to great lengths to show their love for the series, but what this one woman did is something worth copying immediately. Meredith McCardle, Florida-based author and hardcore HP follower, hand-painted the entire first page of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone onto her wall. The result is something out of a dream.
So I hand painted the first page of Harry Potter on my wall because I'm a huge nerd. #hpforever @jk_rowling pic.twitter.com/kpYqecZLzq
- Meredith McCardle (@MeredithMcP) April 25, 2016
According to her tweet, the project required an "overhead projector, a can of paint, a steady hand, and a crap load of patience." Even J.K. Rowling herself seemed to love it.
OMG. This is a thing that just happened. THIS IS A THING THAT JUST HAPPENED. pic.twitter.com/4yU3kRLJmj
- Meredith McCardle (@MeredithMcP) April 25, 2016
This is definitely one of the best diehard Potterhead ideas ever - and we love it.
This post was originally published on May 14, 2015.
These 42 Disney Quotes Are So Perfect They'll Make You Cry
We never realized when we were kids just how deep Disney movies are. We were more concerned with the silly songs, hilarious sidekicks, and princesses finding their happily ever afters. But there are some seriously moving moments in so many Disney movies and lines that are incredibly inspirational. We've rounded up Disney quotes that will move you, motivate you, and make you want even more!
How I Turned My Ikea Couch Into a $10,000 Designer Sofa
I don't believe you grow out of Ikea past the age of 25. I love the Swedish brand's minimalist aesthetic. And since I like to mix things up, the price point works for a design commitment-phobe like me. Despite my Ikea love, after three years, my Karlstad sofa started to look a bit sad. Since the low-profile sofa fit perfectly in my open living room, I decided to give it a designer-couch makeover instead of replacing it.
This Raleigh Sectional from Design Within Reach (pictured above) served as my inspiration. The walnut frame matched the midcentury vibe I strive for, and the light fabric color would add to the airy look in my bright living space. That sofa retails for as much as $10,000. I knew I could DIY the look for less. Read on for how I did it.
J.K. Rowling Dropped a Clue About Dumbledore's Death Way Sooner Than You Thought
If you consider yourself a Harry Potter expert, you're about to kick yourself and wonder why you never noticed this key element in the books before. Reddit user upyourjuicebox was reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and noticed a detail that suggests J.K. Rowling foreshadowed Dumbledore's death in the third book.
The referenced scene occurs at Hogwarts over Christmas; the sometimes-prophetic Professor Trelawney refuses to sit down at the dinner table because "when 13 people dine together the first to rise will die." Since Ron had his pet rat, Scabbers (who is also an animagus and can turn into the human Peter Pettigrew), in his pocket for most of the book, we can assume that he did during dinner as well. So, when Dumbledore stands to offer Trelawney a seat, he's actually the first person to stand! More evidence that this fan theory is true: both Mad Eye Moody and Sirius Black got up from tables where 13 people sat. Gasp! You can see the theory from the Reddit user below.
This fan's idea seems to coincide with Rowling's favorite fan theory: Dumbledore as an embodiment of death. Whether this theory is true, we're convinced to never stand up from a table of 13.
The Best Decor Shops For 20-Somethings
Take it from me, being in your 20s and decor shopping for a new home is downright hard. We millennials are always on the hunt for the coolest, most unique pieces of furniture, but we don't want to shell out a bunch of money for those pieces.
How do you get your home to look magazine-chic without appearing too stuffy or, well, too grown-up? The truth of the matter is that you just have to invest in some quality pieces, but there's lots of playful stuff out there you can get for affordable prices as well. We have discovered all of the great decor stores for 30-somethings, but there are plenty of great sites for 20-somethings, too. Whether you're looking for pieces that will last a lifetime or fun items that fulfill your trend-hunting addiction, we've got all of the stores covered.
Source: Judy Pak for The Everygirl
We Can't Believe We've Never Noticed This Hilarious Harry Potter Detail
We've stumbled across a hilarious detail in the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix film you probably haven't noticed before. In this still from the opening, you see Harry holding a newspaper while he sits on a swing. In the movie scene, you don't get a good look at the paper before Harry is interrupted by Dudley and his cronies, and then dementors approach, causing the paper to swirl around the playground. In the movie still, however, we get a better look at the paper.
Seems normal enough. But look closer: the headline on the newspaper? "Balls Judged 'Too Big.'" Yep, we're really mature. Whether this is meant to reference Harry's reckless behavior (classic Gryffindor, am I right?), or it's the result of someone in props with a dirty sense of humor, we love this hidden joke. We also like to think Daniel Radcliffe personally requested this headline.
Update: An eagle-eyed reader spotted one more dirty pun regarding the F.A. Cup (officially called the Football Association Challenge Cup). The paper's mast reads, "Don't miss our fantastic pull-out tomorrow." Yeah, they went there.
Just when we thought we'd read every theory, plot coincidence, and Easter egg from the Harry Potter series.
The 10 Commandments of Rental Decor
If there are rules that you as a renter must follow, make it these 10 commandments. Because, while paying your rent on time is important, so too is making sure your place is personalized and stylish. Working within the boundaries of your landlord, it's little things like a new light fixture that will make an impact without costing a lot of time or money. And, the best part about this entire list is that you'll leave with your security deposit intact once it's time to move up and on.
10 Game-Changing Cruise Tips From Carnival Vista's Cruise Director
Whether it's your first cruise or your 10th cruise, there's always something that will make your sailing even better. And considering how every cruise line and ship varies, chances are that you'll never have the exact same experience as before. I spoke with Matt Mitcham, Carnival Vista's cruise director since the ship launched in 2016, about what to know before setting sail. Take note of his 10 tips below that will change your vacation.
1. The most exciting time of year to cruise is during the holidays.
"Christmas is insane - we have a huge tree in the atrium, we have Santa come on board, we do big Christmas themes," Matt told POPSUGAR. He also shared that Halloween is "epic," with nearly 4,000 guests dressed up in costume. Children can trick or treat on board or leave their candy buckets hanging outside their door. And, of course, you can probably guess that New Year's Eve gets pretty wild, too.
2. If you want to avoid kids, travel during nonpeak times.
"This is the busiest cruise we've had all year so far," he said. "We've got 1,300 children this week, and last week there were 200. Stay away from Spring break cruises." My sail dates were from Feb. 16 to Feb. 24, a week I thought would be free of minors. To enjoy a mostly adults-only cruise, Matt suggests cruising in January to early February - immediately following the holidays when families are less likely to splurge. Similarly, take advantage of quiet periods in between Spring and Summer break and Thanksgiving and Christmas.
3. The best position on the cruise to avoid seasickness is in the bottom, center of the ship.
Although it's rare to experience seasickness on board, book your stateroom in the middle of the ship on decks one and two if you're sensitive to motion. Matt also strongly recommends staying away from Dramamine. "The tablets are great if there's an emergency, but they're going to make you feel sick," Matt told us. "Green apples and ginger ale - that's your key to getting rid of seasickness."
4. Break out of your comfort zone and attend themed nights.
A reoccurring tip I heard all week: "You'll never see these people again." Even if attending an '80s night isn't typically your thing, don't be afraid to completely let loose. The best part is that you're not into it, you can check out the rest of the ship's offerings instead! White Night on Carnival cruises is a fan favorite, requiring all guests to show up in all-white gear and party into the morning.
5. First-time cruisers will be most surprised at how easy the entire experience is.
"It's easy to jump into the routine of get up, eat, go lay out, have a drink, laugh, smile, spend time with family - everything's done for you, and that's the beauty of it," Matt said. "You don't have to go out and look for fun because fun is on your doorstep." Literally! A schedule of the ship's daily events that run from early morning to midnight is provided in your stateroom mailbox or on your bed with turndown service. The most difficult part is fitting all the fun into your schedule.
6. Do your research to make sure you're not missing out on awesome amenities.
Particularly on Carnival Vista, Matt says, most cruisers don't even know that the Havana Pool is open to every guest past 7 o'clock. During the day, the private area is reserved for guests of the Havana Cabana staterooms, but at night, it's available to all. When my boyfriend and I went to check it out, it was completely empty. If I didn't catch this small detail on the back of our Fun Times pamphlet, we probably wouldn't have known, either.
7. The biggest mistake cruisers make is eating too much.
With the endless buffet, 24-hour pizza and ice cream, and three-course dinners each night, it's hard to keep yourself from overindulging. To avoid going into a food coma and turning in early, pace yourself and take naps. "[Naps] are key to cruises," Matt said.
8. Learn from the diverse crew members on board.
According to Matt, this is the one thing more passengers should take advantage of. "There aren't many places where you can go on vacation and interact with 60 nationalities of crew members," he said. "Find out about their culture; sit at a bar and talk to a crew member from South Africa or Romania, and really get cultured - that's the best thing."
9. Always pack these for a cruise and leave those at home.
"A good book, sunglasses, flip-flops, and aloe vera - don't forget your aloe vera, because people burn real fast out in Jamaica," Matt said. "Just bring yourself - that's all you need. Don't expect anything. Just come in open-minded and you'll have the best time." As for what not to pack? "Don't bring a beach towel, a hair dryer - don't bring your husband and go on a girls' trip - more than one bottle of wine, because they'll confiscate it."
10. Don't assume that cruises are only for older travelers.
"When I started 10 years ago, cruise ships were for old people," Matt said. "We have this whole persona that you have to be 50 to sail, but it's for young people and for more mature people who want to have a good time. It's changed so much - your cruise director used to be suited and booted, and now he comes out with Vans and rolled-up pants. I would say come experience it, and if you don't like it, you've got plenty more years to book other vacations. But everyone should experience it once."
Travel and accommodations paid for in part by Carnival Cruise Line for the purpose of writing this story.
Enchanted Tiki Room Minnie Ears Have Arrived at Disney World!
Grab your Dole Whip and head to Adventureland - we've found the perfect "crown" for your magical, tropical adventures: Enchanted Tiki Room Minnie Mouse ears from Disney World!
Complete with bejeweled plumeria flowers, a textured coral-colored bow, palm fronds, a roped center, a gorgeous crystal embellishment featuring three tropical birds, and the classic bamboo hoop the birds perch on in the theme park attraction, this new bow captures the magic of the ride - and makes the perfect headwear for Aloha Isle fans. Love Moana? Lilo and Stitch? Maybe you're headed to Adventureland, Animal Kingdom, or the Polynesian Resort at Disney World. These. Are. Perfect.
Get this - the bow is interchangeable. Disney recently launched these velour mouse ears with a bow that clips on and off so you can customize your ears to match your favorite characters - and rides! You'll find Small World and Haunted Mansion bows, and rarer characters like Yzma, Dumbo, and Cruella de Vil. So yes - you have to buy the base ears (that come with a silver and black bow) first for $30 and then the bow separately for $17.
Unfortunately, this brand-new addition is only at Disney World, as far as we can tell - sorry, Disneyland parkgoers! It looks like the West Coast will have to hang tight. If you are at Disney World, head to Magic Kingdom's Chapeau shop in the Main Street USA area to find your bow.
This Couple's Icelandic Wedding Is a Romantic Fantasy Come to Life
Maja and Patrick fell in love with Iceland for its romantic, melancholy scenery. When the couple decided to get married, they wanted it to be an intimate affair. "With our families being spread all over the world (in China, Germany, and the UK), it was impossible to include everybody, so a private wedding followed by receptions seemed the fairest way," the newlyweds explained. "Iceland turned out to be the perfect destination – so much more breathtaking in person, every turn of the road brought us to new, spectacular views."
The pair were so enamored with the location that they drove 500 miles over the two wedding days in search of new vistas that M&J Studios so beautifully captured. "We already can't wait to go back," they said. Make sure to check out how incredible Maja and Patrick's wedding photos turned out!
16 Things You Are Absolutely Not Allowed to Do at Disney Parks
Planning a trip to a Disney park is an adventure all its own. Where should you stay? Where should you eat? How can your toddler participate in the fun? After you plan all that out, you should know exactly what you can and can't do and bring into Disney World and Disneyland. So leave that drone at home and get familiar with how the happiest place on earth stays so happy!
All the Times I've Been Sexually Harassed While Traveling
I am 100 percent here for the recent calling out of all horrible men who treat a woman as sexual objects against their consent. It's in trending feminist moments like these that it feels appropriate to join the conversation with stories of my own harassment and assault while traveling and just existing as a human woman.
Systematic oppression does not disappear overnight. Every time I see what's happening in the world and think to myself, "How can this still be happening in 2017?," it makes my brain hurt and spiral into a "What even is the purpose of humans on earth?" crisis. But the ignorant keep on running free with their ideals and the complicit allow it to happen.
Women are the ignored majority when it comes to people not realizing how badly we still have it in the modern world. While I still fight for justice based on the brown color of my skin, another daily battle of surviving as a woman takes place to an even further degree. I am not having racial slurs shouted at me as I walk the two blocks between my apartment and the subway; I am being spoken at like a lesser being because of my femaleness.
I am not what the media would consider "traditionally" pretty. I'm overweight, the opposite of photogenic, and have resting mean face. I am not fair-skinned nor do I have naturally straight, easily manageable hair. I try to dress fashionably, but most days I end up just wearing a t-shirt and jeans with minimal makeup of a simple cat-eye eyeliner flick I've mastered over the years. This is my average look, and it's just that: average. Despite this, I get catcalled every day, no matter what I'm wearing, even if it's just the baggiest clothes I own so I can drop off my laundry down the block and return to the safe haven of my apartment. I am never "asking for it."
I am never "asking for it."
And when I am traveling around the world, it seems sometimes that this unfortunate experience is intensified due to different cultures which have not yet seemed to find a way to give women a voice against these acts. However, even many of the Westernized places I assumed would be a bit more progressive have surprised me with the actions of the local men who violate a woman's sense of safety and autonomy. And these moments of harassment and assault have come in many different forms over my journeys abroad.
It came in the form of having a flight so delayed that I landed in Naples, Italy, and had to stay up in a train station overnight to catch the 6:45 a.m. departure to my intended destination. My lack of sleep led me to fall asleep on the train and wake up to the man next to me rubbing my thigh with a perverted look in his eye.
It came in the form of taking advantage of my nerdy, celebrity-obsessed youth by taking a bus to London in the cold of Winter and standing outside a cinema overnight so I could attend the premiere of the second Robert Downey Jr.-led Sherlock Holmes movie. As I stood there shivering in the freezing December weather with five layers of bulky coats on, I was assumed to be a prostitute by a man who kept begging me to name my price and also had my breasts violently grabbed by a random drunk passerby.
It came in the form of solo traveling in Paris and walking through the gigantic Père Lachaise Cemetery to find the grave of iconic writer Oscar Wilde and then going across the street to a small cafe to grab a bite to eat and decompress from the day. I walked to the nearest Metro stop and took the train to an entirely different part of the city and as I stepped back onto the platform, a man told me he had been watching me since the cemetery and wanted to know if he could buy me a drink (as if silently stalking me for the past two hours was something I would find chivalrous).
It came in the form of living in Los Angeles for a few months for internships and wanting to take advantage of what Hollywood had to offer and go out clubbing; of having a man come up to me and think it's hilarious to smack my breasts with a foam swim noodle and follow me around the venue to continuously laugh as he hit me - he was not even hindered as I grabbed it away from him and threw it aside and told him to leave me alone. Or even in the sleazy obvious way of an elderly gentleman in the "film biz" offering to give introduce me to connections in exchange for an "innocent" dinner date.
It came in the form of being extensively catcalled in Morocco to the point of it being hard to enjoy the beauty of the country without a constant yammering of men's voices in my ear making light of the aspects of my appearance they could isolate and squawk receptively at me.
It came in the form of sitting on a train in Sintra, Portugal, after a long day exploring the fairy-tale city and just wanting to get back to Lisbon when a man sat across from me and grabbed my bare legs. After begging him to leave me alone, he left for only a moment before coming back to keep pestering me. I stood up to leave and he grasped at my hips to try and hold me back.
It came in the form of eating dinner with my partner at a hole-in-the-wall taco place in Manhattan when a man came up to our table and got mere inches from my face, sang in my ear, and told me I was beautiful and to smile for him over and over. Silly me for thinking that having a male companion with me would stop men from getting all up in my business.
And it comes in the constant catcalling, attempted groping, and being told to "Smile, baby" that plagues every single day of my life whether I am walking around New York City or abroad somewhere. I've developed a form of PTSD as I walk the streets of the world, becoming suspicious of any man I pass, ready to wince at the disgusting words they say and attempt to ignore it as I continue walking. I do not want them to have the power they seek.
We need to talk about it more.
And we need to talk about it more. It's important to speak about what happens because many people do not believe how bad women have it on a daily basis. Sometimes our complaints are brushed off not out of malice, but because they don't also experience it. It's not like my boyfriend doesn't listen to me or have confidence in me when I tell him what I have to deal with each time I step out the door of my apartment, but he's not with me when it happens, so it's hard for him and many men to understand the extent to which it happens.
Women walk out into a world that lets us feel lesser for just existing in a female body. Believe the women who tell you what's happening. Don't make them feel like they're exaggerating or should feel lucky for having someone comment on their appearance. Stop making excuses for the behavior and check your privilege. Know that we're not humble-bragging when we say that we couldn't walk down the street without getting grossly hit on by a stranger. You don't live in the same reality as we do and all we want is someone to listen to our genuine complaints and frustrations about how we're treated and do better.
Things will take a while to change, and in the meantime, we free-spirited traveling women sadly may endure these hardships when we venture out to different countries, especially solo. And while I know I have no place to tell someone to push past it and immerse yourself in a new culture (because every woman has varying degrees of comfort when it comes to what level of harassment and assault they can handle based on past experiences in their lives), I take the approach for myself that no war has been won by staying home and not fighting.
No matter where you go, harassment will probably happen in some way, but with conversations arising around this subject and becoming a way to spark a discussion about the way women are treated - whether it be in the movie business by Hollywood executives, unfair practices in the workplace, horrifying acts of assault that end in much worse situations than I've ever known, or being grabbed on a train while on vacation - hopefully this is a way to explain some of our realities to the skeptics. Whether they listen or not, they will hear it because it's coming at them loud and vocally.
Demi Lovato Does This 1 Thing Every Day to Stay Grounded, and We Are So Here For It!
Demi Lovato is only 25 years old, but she's been through a lot in her life. The singer is very open about having dealt with an eating disorder, how she's given up dieting, and now she's speaking candidly on what she does to keep herself grounded. Besides hitting her favorite gym, the Unbreakable Performance Center, where she loves to practice jiujitsu and enjoy other workouts, Demi is a fan of gratitude lists.
"I'll text with a friend, and we'll send each other four or five things we're grateful for and why," she told InStyle for her April 2018 cover shoot. When the interview took place, in January 2018, she was grateful for "my dogs, my friends, this gym. The ability to fly to New York within a couple of hours rather than having to drive there. The opportunity to be able to share my opinions and my story with you." Read on to get a glimpse at Demi's shoot, and read what else she had to say about her life now.
15 Reasons Meghan Markle Should Feel Damn Proud to Wear a Pantsuit
If Meghan Markle broke royal protocol by wearing this Alexander McQueen pantsuit to the Endeavour Awards, I certainly wasn't concerned. I thought she looked slick and stylish in her tailored pieces, a touch feminine thanks to a Tuxe pussybow blouse, and maybe even a little sexy in those sky-high Manolo Blahnik pumps. To me, her outfit was perfect, though fans of the British crown and palace might have been worried about her decision to ditch a dress.
But Meghan's already made waves on the style front, choosing a top handle tote over a clutch and nixing tights to announce her engagement. We are here to prove she's not the only lady of high status who prefers slacks over a gown from time to time. Ahead, you can find 15 royals, from sophisticated, fashion-forward types like Queen Rania of Jordan and Princess Charlene to front-row mavens such as Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz, who make a pantsuit look fresher than a couture skirt straight out of the atelier. And they should all feel damn proud.
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