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.
mardi 1 mai 2018
How a 25-Year-Old Woman Is Rebuilding the College Financial Aid Process, 1 Student at a Time
Getting into college is hard. But it is often even harder to figure out how you're going to pay your sky-high tuition, especially when the paperwork required to get what you're rightfully due is damn near impossible to decipher. Every year, billions of dollars of aid are left on the table unclaimed, all thanks to the long, hard, and confusing process that is the Free Application For Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Now, there's a new way to tackle one of life's most complicated undertakings - and it goes by the name of Frank.
Frank is the brainchild of 25-year-old Charlie Javice, and it's a platform that streamlines and simplifies FAFSA, bringing the process down to only a few minutes and, according to the company's mission statement, eliminating "layers of bureaucracy, opportunity for mistakes, and hours of headache and heartache." And the results don't lie: in the time since the platform launched, Frank has helped more than a quarter of a million families benefit from a whopping $6.3 billion in free financial aid.
I caught up with Javice by phone in mid-January, and a transcript of our conversation - lightly edited and condensed for clarity - is below.
POPSUGAR: Tell me a bit about Frank, in your own words.
Charlie Javice: We make financial aid more accessible so that more people can afford college. That's what Frank's all about: making paying for college easier and giving you a solid answer as to how you're going to pay for it. We've now helped more than 250,000 families with north of $6 billion paid, and it's just so amazing and rewarding to see so many people who are much happier, more delighted, and more able to pursue the degree and the dreams that they have.
In terms of values of the company itself, I guess they almost emulate sort of my personality: being really unfiltered, having really big opinions, and not being afraid to voice them. And so we've done different work on what was going to happen with the GOP tax bill, from how that affects student loans all the way to what's going on with the 20 states that revoke your licenses - all the way back around to the Democratic side, where all of their rhetoric around this is like "the government is profiting from student loans," but they're really losing billions of dollars a year because people aren't paying it back. It's one of the worst "success" programs ever. Also, it's a regular private fund - and to manage the way that they did, they would have been out of business within three months. The administration fees are 20 percent of what their budget is; their returns have been negative forever. Each side, then, is like, "OK, let's find a better vehicle. Maybe we should just grant them the money outright; it would be cheaper to administer that than deal with all these student collection services, payments, putting people in jail, revoking professional licenses - all that kind of stuff."
PS: So what was the "eureka" moment that inspired you to start Frank?
CJ: My background is in social impact, but I've always been hugely thankful and grateful to my parents, who gave me the gift of education. Education is the one thing that you can really take with you anywhere that you go, and so it's always been the star of my life, and I've always been very aware of how many people sacrifice so many things to be able to give their child an education. So I thought, if you can do that at a large scale, in a sustainable way, it would not only have a huge impact, it would be an amazing business opportunity - and an amazing way to insert technology into a system that has not seen new technology since it went online in the '90s or early 2000s.
But I can also bring it back to my time in college. A lot of people took the first job that was offered to them, and it had to do with making minimum loan payments and a fear that they wouldn't be able to meet their financial responsibility. And so instead of being able to pursue something that they loved in terms of work, they had to take the first thing that comes along. I grew up in a household where I was told you work toward something you're passionate about, and if you are successful, you not only do well financially, you can do good in the world. And that isn't the case for most of America anymore. It's really an insane kind of light-bulb moment when you realize how wealthy you are just to be given that opportunity to do something you love without fear vs. being one of the millions of people that kind of have shackles and can't make those kinds of decisions because of student debt - because you're basically working for the government for the rest of your life.
PS: Why do you think it is that the system is so broken?
CJ: First of all, it's very important that everyone has a lot of goodwill around helping people learn in college and increasing college enrollment, so I think it's really important that we acknowledge that before we talk about the systemic failures. But one, this is a legacy system that was inherited over years and cobbled together, so financially there's a hole in the American system. It started with veterans coming back, and originally this funding was just for them. Then you had underprivileged students, civil rights, a bunch of different programs that got lumped together as one big thing. And then on top of all those programs, there's one singular common application. So, they got stuck and said, "OK, we're going to allocate need based on this application, which is the FAFSA," and the formula was based off a formula determined in the '70s - and it hasn't changed since. So while some cities have become way more expensive and costs have skyrocketed, the formula doesn't take those changes into account. A family earning $60,000 in Alabama, they'd receive the same amount of aid as a family making $50,000 in New York City. It's a huge issue.
There are also a couple of other factors. There are impossible deadlines around the FAFSA, a ton of people don't even know it exists, and, of course, there is the reality that college counselors at the high school level faced the biggest budget cut under the Obama administration. In California, you have one counselor to every 1,325 students. How do you give individualized attention to one person when there are so many waiting? So there's the framework, the resources, the technology, the legacy system, and then a general gridlock sense because part of the Higher Education Reauthorization Act needs to get reauthorized.
Also, every nonprofit that is currently helping to provide manual resources is getting paid by individual states to supplement college counseling. Their budget is basically done by people instead of innovative technologies, so that's another interesting facet of the process not aligning in places where it should. We should be fighting to advocate for students, not advocating for nonprofit stuff. There are different ways to allocate resources and different technologies out there, and we just don't necessarily have those conversations because the contract has been sticky.
PS: If there was some magical solution to fixing the education system, do you think it would come from the technology sector, or do you think it's something deeper involving personnel?
CJ: I mean, you could do a lot with technology, and doing it that way would mean you wouldn't need to wait on political systems to catch up. Leveraging technology for good is something that should be done and can be done. And then, obviously, there's the political side. I think there's finally been movement - for better or for worse - to think about things differently, like asking, "Can private companies enhance educational experience at a lower cost?"
PS: So you think that the tension is political, as opposed to being a problem that originates with the universities?
CJ: For financial aid, it's definitely politically driven. Universities are also in it, too, but universities are really just institutions of learning, and they get regulated. The government has not done a good job at being able to demand transparency from school so that we know the value and have the data to be able to understand what the value of a degree actually is. But the blame is on both sides in terms of schools being super expensive and that being the ultimate core issue. I believe school costs have increased by 531 percent of CPI (the consumer price index), and that's the real root of the problem. I believe the way to solve this is to work with families and demand a better price, something you can only do by working directly with families and always being their ally. Once you have an advocate, there's a lot of revenue in a pool from the school, and you end up being able to influence decisions because of sheer bulk power.
PS: What was the biggest challenge you faced in getting Frank off the ground?
CJ: I think the biggest challenge has to do with understanding and learning about the families in need. I say that because financial aid impacts over 90 percent of all undergrads, those who are currently on financial aid from their school. Yet it also impacts adult learners, grandparents who are doing it for their kids, and all levels on the socioeconomic spectrum, from people who have negative income to people who earn about $250,000 a year. Being able to find the messaging and the brand and, really, the understanding that you're meeting everyone's needs without being too wide so your message gets diluted, that's super important.
That's also the hardest part when it comes to fundraising and having investors who come from a typical tech space. We didn't fall into traditional tech because our consumers aren't necessarily early technology adopters; most investors have never dealt with how to make money with consumers, let alone working with consumers that might be on benefits. And because investors haven't traditionally gone through financial aid - they've either grown up personally wealthy and inherited it or they've made so much wealth that they're now in a position to invest - they don't know and feel the pain of the families; they find it really hard to have an emotional connection. That was the hard part: explaining empathy to those individuals who are lacking, to show them the value of working with families and getting involved, in depth, to unearth an opportunity to help them.
PS: Did you have a strong support system of advisers as you were building out the company?
CJ: I'm really lucky to have such a strong support system, whether we're talking about my friends, how tight I am with my family, or having such an amazing school to network. Everyone's been really generous with their time, so I try to replicate that. My number one pet peeve is that some founders get intros and think they're above meeting with a high school student or someone who needs help finding a job. But I always make the time for that, and I think it's so important to pay it forward, just like the countless people who have really been instrumental in my life, including our current investors, like Michael Eisenberg and Bobby Turner.
Bobby Turner, I will say - and he's in LA - is probably one of the most impactful people in my life so far. He's just phenomenal and has always been a rock for me. He does impact investing on the real-estate side and works with people like Andre Agassi on charter schools, Eva Longoria with multifamily homes, and Magic Johnson for urban funds, bringing big-box retailers to urban, underprivileged communities that are highly dense. He really helped me find my motto: "profit for purpose." And purpose is the most important. You can't have one without the other in your career.
Bobby's advice has always been crucial and, most of the time, also very funny. When I was going through a really tough time, he'd be like, "Charlie, promise me you'll do these three things every day." And I'm like, "What are they?" And he's literally like, "Well, you need to meditate, go to the gym, and have sex." I think that's just general life advice for people, but it's great that we're friends in the sense that a lot of investors keep things financial, and it's really amazing to see people really be human with you.
PS: So what's next for Frank?
CJ: [We want Frank] to be like an Amazon for higher education. If you think about the $100 billion that's being spent on tuition every year, and the fact that there are zero tools to shop for another option, it becomes just a purchase. They have no information, meaning they don't know what the price is before they apply, and they don't have the financial aid packets yet, and, truly, you have no idea if you'll be successful right when you graduate school. So we want to be in that process and provide a marketplace to really conduct those transactions properly, to purchase something like it was your purchase, to be the destination where people come, know the price and value of school, see the data feedback, and are actually able to file all their financial information from just one common application - all culminating in being able to lock in the lowest price guaranteed and pay for it online. Instead of the school telling you, "You're special. You've now been accepted to pay thousands of dollars a year," we're putting the power back into the people purchasing, saying, "OK, I'm the one spending this money. I want the product like this; this is what I want. So I'm giving you money." And the customer is always right. Let's take it back to American shopping principles here.
PS: Finally, what advice would you give POPSUGAR readers who aspire to make social change and make a difference in the world?
CJ: There is no age too young. You have a voice; you have a talent. Do whatever you think you can contribute most to. Many things have impact; whether it's on the company or technology side, or the media sharing amazing stories about good things and good people to inspire others. We just went through rebranding, and we picked the tagline "Dream Smart" because while there is a concept of the American dream, let's be practical about it - and let's do the things that make the world a better place, that have purpose.
Parkland Survivors Put the NRA on Blast After the Group Prohibits Guns at Pence Speech
On May 4, the National Rifle Association will host its annual NRA-ILA Leadership Forum in Dallas, TX. According to the official site, it's "one of the most politically significant and popular events in the country, featuring our nation's top Second Amendment leaders in government, the media, and the entertainment industry." Among this year's speakers is none other than Vice President Mike Pence, and the NRA is stirring outrage thanks to the following announcement on the forum's website:
"Due to the attendance of the Vice President of the United States, the US Secret Service will be responsible for event security at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum. As a result, firearms and firearm accessories, knives, or weapons of any kind will be prohibited in the forum prior to and during his attendance."
While banning weapons during a vice president's speech would normally seem like a no-brainer, the survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, FL, seized the moment to call the NRA out on their hypocrisy. It's not so much that they're willing to cooperate and ban weapons from an NRA event to protect Mike Pence, but more so that the NRA doesn't seem to be extending the same care and consideration for everyone else in America: specifically, students who are susceptible to a mass shooting at any given time on any given day as gun control legislation fails to move forward.
In response to the announcement, Parkland survivor Cameron Kasky seized the moment to put the NRA on blast. Another Parkland student named Matt Deitsch - one of the forces behind the powerful "March For Our Lives" protest - also chimed in. The reactions snowballed; another infuriated response came from Fred Guttenberg, who is the father of Jaime Guttenberg, a Parkland student who was killed in the attack.
The NRA has evolved into such a hilarious parody of itself. pic.twitter.com/6Pw6NTQAe6
- Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) April 28, 2018
Wait wait wait wait wait wait you're telling me to make the VP safe there aren't any weapons around but when it comes to children they want guns everywhere? Can someone explain this to me? Because it sounds like the NRA wants to protect people who help them sell guns, not kids.
- Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) April 28, 2018
On so many levels, this is enlightening. According to the NRA, we should want everyone to have weapons when we are in public. But when they put on a convention, the weapons are a concern? I thought giving everyone a gun was to enhance safety. Am I missing something? https://t.co/f4wgNhJ7RI
- Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) April 28, 2018
According to the official site for the convention, firearms are permitted during the weekend, just not specifically in the space Mike Pence will occupy. NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch tried to stamp out the fire by responding to the outcry on her own Twitter account.
NRA banned nothing. The media does this every year. It's Secret Service SOP and they supersede all start and local control. Don't complain about your eroding credibility and people calling you "fake news" when you publish things like this. https://t.co/aVlNuMNaw0
- Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) April 30, 2018
Also, it's funny how anti-gun advocates are infuriated that law-abiding NRA members would follow the law. You can't have it both ways, guys. https://t.co/KKvWB5rofO
- Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) April 30, 2018
Interestingly, Loesch directs concerns to "the law," and at the end of the day, this is exactly what gun control advocates are seeking to append. It's not a problem that the NRA is adhering to law to protect Mike Pence. It seems more like these people just wish there were more laws to protect everyday citizens in the same way.
Prepare to Be Mesmerized by This Unicorn Cake Tutorial
We've seen a ton of gorgeous unicorn cakes all over Pinterest, and we couldn't help but be smitten by their magical whimsy. We partnered with one of our favorite cake decorators over at Duff's Cakemix to help us bring this cake to life. It really is quite a beautiful thing to watch! Would you want one of these cakes at your next party?
The Best (and Worst) Trader Joe's Rosés Under $6
There are countless ways to get your Rosé fix, from boozy push pops to DIY Rosé gummy bears, but nothing beats a good bottle - especially when it's under $6! Trader Joe's has an impressively large assortment of affordable Rosé right now, but deciding which bottle to choose can be tricky. Our editors took one for the team and taste tested five Rosés from Trader Joe's that cost less than $6. Turns out, there was a clear winner. Check out the five bottles we tried - ranked from worst to tastiest - and discover our top pick at the end!
Every Single Thing on the Fabulous Menu at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen Restaurant
Gordon Ramsay's first Hell's Kitchen-themed restaurant opened in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace in January, and it's a must visit for big fans of the chef and the show. Not sure what to order if you're planning a visit? Check out the entire dinner menu below!
Chilled Seafood
HK Grand Shellfish Tower
lobster, king crab legs, Jonah crab claws, gulf shrimp, oysters, clams
$49
Oysters on the Half Shell
chef's daily selection, HK mignonette, gin cocktail sauce
half dozen $21, full dozen $31
Lobster Risotto at Hell's Kitchen.
Appetizers
Wagyu Meatballs
slow-roasted tomato sauce, polenta croutons, Parmesan cheese, basil
$18
Scampi Prawn Flambé
garlic white wine sauce, drawn butter
$24
Pan-Seared Scallops
celery root, braised bacon lardons, pickled Granny Smith apples
$19
Seared Foie Gras
spiced carrot cake, golden raisins, candied pecans
$25
Lobster Risotto
butter-poached lobster tail, butternut squash, sage
$24
Tuna Tartare
soy chili vinaigrette, pickled Fresno chilies, cilantro
$19
Smoked Golden Beets Salad at Hell's Kitchen.
Salad/Soup
Smoked Golden Beets
Greek yogurt, kumquats, pistachio granola, white balsamic vinaigrette
$21
Caesar Salad
Parmesan cheese frico, garlic croutons, lemon zest
$16
Red Quinoa Salad
Honeycrisp apples, dried apricots, goat cheese, toasted hazelnuts, honey vinaigrette
$16
Pumpkin Soup
spicy chorizo, crème fraiche, toasted pepitas
$12
Beef Wellington at Hell's Kitchen.
Entrees
Beef Wellington
potato purée, glazed root vegetables, red wine demi-glace
$49
Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb
Vadouvan carrots, Bloomsdale spinach, harissa lamb jus
$39
Braised Short Rib
creamy polenta, baby vegetables, beef jus
$34
Brick-Pressed Chicken
lacinato kale, sweet potato hash, chicken jus
$29
Crispy Skin Salmon
beluga lentils, shaved fennel salad, citrus herb beurre blanc
$32
Broiled Alaskan Cod
spicy olive tapenade, patatas bravas
$30
From the Grill
Filet Mignon
8 ounces, roasted tomatoes on the vine, béarnaise
$47
Dry-Aged NY Strip
12 ounces, glazed wild mushrooms, shishito peppers, red wine demi-glace
$49
Prime 30-Day Dry-Aged Porterhouse For Two
32 ounces, choice of two side dishes, bearnaise
$125
Sides, $9 each
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
smoked Gouda, crispy prosciutto
Roasted Cauliflower
chili lime gremolata, mint
Potato Gratin
fresh herbs, Parmesan cheese
Wild Mushrooms
shallot white wine glaze
Brussels Sprouts
pickled Fresno peppers, cilantro
Potato Puree
crème fraiche, chives
Sticky Toffee Pudding at Hell's Kitchen.
HK Signature Pre-Fixe Menu, $69 ($120 With Wine Pairing)
First Course
(choice of)
Pan-Seared Scallops
celery root, braised bacon lardons, pickled Granny Smith apples
Caesar Salad
Parmesan cheese frico, garlic croutons, lemon zest
Main Course
Beef Wellington
potato purée, glazed root vegetables, red wine demi-glace
Dessert
Sticky Toffee Pudding
speculoos ice cream
Burning Question: Why Does Pineapple Irritate Your Mouth?
Recently I cut myself some fresh pineapple, then promptly proceeded to eat a lot of it before remembering that every time I eat a copious amount of pineapple, the roof of my mouth becomes itchy and sore. So why is this condition a common complaint among fresh pineapple aficionados?
Pineapples contain a plant protease enzyme called bromelain. Because it readily breaks down protein, bromelain is frequently used as a natural meat tenderizer. In addition, bromelain may also induce a prickly sensation in the mouth when consumed.
Although the enzyme is present in all parts of the pineapple plant, it's most concentrated in the stem, the hard piece in the middle of the fruit, which is much more fibrous and chewy but still edible. Many people believe that letting a pineapple sit overnight helps take away the irritation factor, but one surefire way to alleviate the burn is to cut out the core.
23 Alton Brown Recipes You Have to Try ASAP
Alton Brown recipes are always a good idea, because the Food Network chef knows a thing or two (million) about food. The Cutthroat Kitchen host and longtime TV favorite is known for treating cooking like science (nitrus oxide cold brew, anyone?), and his vast culinary knowledge makes his recipes that much more desirable. One of his biggest pet peeves is when people start a recipe without reading it all the way through, so you know he writes reliable and thorough recipes. These are 23 standout recipes either adapted from or directly from the chef, from basic guacamole to next-level crème brulée.
Disneyland Now Sells Pizza Covered in Pickles - as If You Need ANOTHER Reason to Go
While everybody is busy arguing over their favorite Disney princess, I don't even bother . . . because I'm headed straight to Disneyland to pay homage to the newest Dill-sney princess, a pickle-topped pizza that will make your mouth water. Available at Alien Pizza Planet (formerly Redd Rocket's Pizza Port) in Tomorrowland, a slice of Cheeseburger pizza ($8) comes packed with everything that makes a hearty burger worth devouring. I'm talking ketchup, mustard, sesame seeds, American and cheddar cheeses, caramelized onions, tomatoes, a slider patty, burger sauce, and the pièce de résistance: dill pickle slices.
If that description isn't enough to make you drool, just wait until you see these pictures of the glorious pizza creation. Cheeseburger pizza will be available throughout Disneyland's Pixar Fest, which ends in September, so be sure to grab a slice (or five) while you still can!
This Superaffordable Furniture Set (From Target) Totally Transformed My Ugly Living Room
I wouldn't say that I hate my living room, but I really dislike it. I am fortunate enough to live in a rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco, but along with saving money comes certain sacrifices. My place has not been updated since at least the very early 2000s and it's covered in dirt-brown carpets and light brown walls (why?). After my roommates moved out, I was left with an empty, old-looking space I had no idea what to do with. Luckily, I inherited Crate and Barrel couches from a friend, which are amazing but also brown. In an effort to spruce up and brighten my space, I decided to purchase this stylish Project 62 Loring 5 Shelf Ladder Bookcase ($100) and Project 62 Loring Console Table ($130) from Target.
After seeing the pieces while walking through the home section at Target, I couldn't get them out of my head. I strolled down the aisle several more times on my annual money-wasting trip before I deciding to finally take the plunge. I loved that they were a matching set. The light oak wood with a vintage finish was the perfect accent to brighten up my room and the black iron edging matched my black kitchen table and chairs, pulling the whole room together.
I set up the bookshelf with all my favorite fashion magazines and pretty candles, adding a touch of decor and organization to the room. I decided to use the console as an entryway table in my hall leading into the living room. Never again will my kitchen counter be cluttered with mail and lost keys. Now everything has a place and stays organized. The best part: the quality. I was shocked at the sturdiness and style of these pieces considering I didn't have to break the bank for them. Every time I have guests over, they ask me where those pieces are from and are shocked when I tell them the price.
Improve your living space and try them for yourself!
11 Ingenious Uses For Vinegar Around the House
Keeping your house livable and clean is a tricky and sometimes expensive job. From the showers to the sinks, even to the microwave and dishwasher, there are multiple products you seemingly have to buy to keep it all tidy and together. But what if I told you there really was no need to invest in all of those fancy home cleaning products any longer? That's right - you have a multipurpose product sitting in your pantry right now that you can use in all areas of your home: vinegar. Read on to learn just how many ways you can use vinegar around your house for a quick and simple fix.
25 Filling Vegetarian Dinners to Make During the Workweek
Time is of the essence when you want to cook dinner after a long day, and these vegetarian recipes are here to help you out. From comforting soups to hearty slow-cooker meals and more, these 25 easy recipes prove that meat-free eating isn't boring.
15 Classy Bites to Pass Around at a Wedding Cocktail Hour
The best part of any wedding is the cocktail hour. It's after the ceremony but before the dinner, so it's the first time that all the guests mingle. Plus, the drinks are flowing and there are plenty of delicious hors d'oeuvres to nibble on. If you're planning your wedding and looking for inspiration when it comes to the appetizer hour, we've got you covered. Here are 15 of our favorite finger foods.
Why There's So Much to Adore About the Instant Pot
Everyone has been talking about the Instant Pot. It's currently a top-selling kitchen item on Amazon. Despite its widespread popularity, is the multifunctional cooking device worth it? For a while, I scorned the Instant Pot like a unitasker. I already owned a rice cooker, pressure cooker, and slow cooker, after all. So why would I spend the cash for another appliance? Despite my initial judgments, I still felt pulled to try the cooker out and determine if it's a gimmicky fad or not. Let's just say, the results really surprised me and greatly exceeded my expectations. If you're wondering if an Instant Pot is for you (or IP, as seasoned users call it), here's a list of awesome things to know about the Instant Pot.
- Cook all the things in record time. The Instant Pot is essentially a pressure cooker that also has sauté and slow-cooker functions. Pressure cookers reduce cook time significantly. We're talking steel-cut oats in 10 minutes and chicken breasts in eight minutes. Most, if not all, dishes can be prepared in 20 minutes or less.
- The sauté function is truly awesome. You can adjust the heat, but I found it caramelizes veggies and meat faster and more uniformly than even stovetop cooking. As a bonus, nothing caked onto the bottom of my IP.
- You can switch between functions. Sear meat in the sauté function, then pressure cook or slow-cook it! Pressure cook something, then keep it warm. Changing up the functions allows you to create complex dishes in one pot.
- It's easy to use. Though there are lots of buttons on an Instant Pot and seemingly random beeps, the user manual and recipe guide (that come with the cooker) break each one down quickly so you can dive right into cooking with your device. Just be sure to read them! You shouldn't go rogue with this device.
- It does it all. While there are obvious things like making broth, soups, shredded chicken, and chili, the cooker does some extraordinary things. Make a big batch of eggs (frittata style). Steam up cake and cheesecake. Use it as a rice cooker. Defrost and cook frozen-solid meat in minutes. Forgo soaking dried beans and cook them in about 20 minutes. Make mac and cheese and other pasta dishes in only one pot. The list goes on . . .
- Cleaning is a breeze. I laughed as I lifted the IP pot and rinsed it in record time. The lightweight pot seems to be nonstick (in my experience), so all it needs is a fast, sudsy scrub-down, no exertion required.
- There's endless learning. Instant Pot's website and Pinterest's results for Instant Pot are two awesome sources of recipe inspiration and tips. There's also Facebook's Instant Pot Community that's very active (over a million users), where you can post or read troubleshooting questions and recipes.
All right, I love my Instant Pot. It's the ideal cooking appliance for busy people who are on a budget and want to cook homemade meals but lack one crucial thing: time! While I'm sure there are downsides to the Instant Pot, I haven't discovered them yet.
Cherry Cola, Kettle Corn, and Piña Colada Oreos Are Officially on Shelves - We Tried 'Em All!
Oreo fans have long anticipated the arrival of the My Oreo Creation contest winners announced last year, and the wait is finally over! Cherry Cola, Kettle Corn, and Piña Colada Oreos officially hit shelves beginning on April 30, so prepare to make some room in your shopping cart for a nonessential necessary purchase.
Like the true Oreo enthusiasts we are, POPSUGAR editors happily tasted all of the flavors ahead of the launch so that we could determine which ones to vouch for. Each flavor is wildly distinct from the next - seriously, props to the people who submitted these creative ideas - and you're sure to find a favorite quickly. Personally, I'm obsessed with the not-too-sweet Kettle Corn flavor that uses an intriguing ingredient to evoke the flavor of popcorn (my all-time favorite snack!).
Oreo received hundreds of thousands of ideas for the My Oreo Creation contest, and these are the lucky three that have become available to the public. To choose the final winner, you can vote for your must-have flavor (or flavors) from April 30 through June 30. You'll have to put your own taste buds to the test, but read ahead to see what we discovered after our thorough investigation.
Your Favorite Luggage Brand Carries More Than Just Suitcases - and We Need It All!
Traveling can be stressful as it is, so make sure you find the perfect accessories to make your trip a breeze. If you're familiar with Away luggage, you know its reliable and sleek suitcases are a total dream. You might not know that the brand has been dropping a handful of other useful items we think will make your experience even more seamless. From a stylish backpack to the perfect weekender bag, we rounded up a list of products you need to see and try. Keep scrolling to check out the classics and hot new items alike.
The Science of Happiness, and What You Can Learn From Unhappy People
If you've ever heard of "positive psychology," then you already know the technical term for what is often called the "science of happiness."
Positive psychology focuses on the opposite of what psychology has historically concerned itself with - our negative thoughts and behaviors. Scientists are researching the many various and complex factors that comprise happiness.
But this negative focus in conventional psychology also gives us great insight into what makes a person live a happy life. By better understanding what makes people unhappy, we discover what thoughts and behaviors to avoid to create happiness in our lives.
Unhappy people tend to build up negative thoughts - and dwell on them. That negativity might manifest itself in various ways:
- Constantly complaining
- Gossiping about others
- Being highly critical and judgmental
- Worrying all the time - including about what others think of them
- Constantly feeling regret
- Overreacting to difficult situations
Research in positive psychology suggests that training ourselves by creating new and positive habits is a way to rewire the brain. Just like an amateur violinist or swimmer must practice very frequently to refine her skills and eventually achieve a professional level, a person must practice actions and thoughts that lead to a more consistently positive mindset and attitude in life. This is what you'd usually call a happy person.
So now that you know the habits of unhappy people, it's time to refine your happiness skills by practicing the kinds of thoughts and behaviors that generate a positive mindset.
One way to avoid piling on the negative energy is to find a way to release those negative thoughts. You can keep a journal and write it out, you can get crafty and creative and make some art, you can go for a swim or a walk and sweat it out, or you can go and hang out with one of your most positive friends. Whatever you do, remember it's fine to have negative thoughts, as long as you let them go - the sooner, the better.
Focusing on strengths instead of weaknesses is another important step toward "happy person" mode. And that applies to the people around you, as well as yourself. Make a list of all the positive things about yourself, your life, the people you know. Tape it to your mirror and read it every day.
Not only will nonstop worrying keep you unhappy, but it will definitely take its toll on your health and your memory, and can even adversely affect your closest relationships. To help fight off anxious thoughts and feelings of regret, especially about things in life that you simply cannot control, instill some peace and quiet into your mind. How? Meditation and yoga are simple but powerful methods of calming your noisy mind. Start with five minutes of meditation a day, and slowly increase the duration at your own pace. Take a yoga class with a friend so you can keep each other accountable for sticking to the schedule. Being in a more tranquil state of mind will also help you react to complex and stressful situations in a more effective and organized manner.
Vanessa Van Edwards is a behavioral investigator and published author. She figures out the science of what makes people tick at her human behavior research lab, the Science of People. As a geeky, modern-day Dale Carnegie, her innovative work has been featured on NPR, Business Week, and CNN and her latest CreativeLive class, The Power of Happiness, teaches you how to be a happier person every day.
35 Unique Travel Tattoos to Fuel Your Eternal Wanderlust
Warning: Only committed travelers allowed. If you have a never-ending case of wanderlust, this awe-inspiring ink is perfect for you. Check out all 35 of our most favorite tattoos from those who roam the globe.
18 Books to Fuel Your Wanderlust
If you suffer from acute wanderlust, and you're constantly trying to find ways to fit another trip into your schedule, then you might be addicted to traveling. No matter where the wind blows you, it's good to bring a good book along for the ride - one that will inspire you, challenge you, and make you even more excited about every new adventure. Here are 18 books, both fiction and nonfiction, that will get you in the mood to jet off to another new place, as if you needed any more convincing!
50+ Fast and Easy Vegetarian Dinners
Two things that sometimes don't mix: weeknights and cooking. But with the right recipes, it's possible to have a satisfying and delicious vegetarian meal in no time. From pasta and stir-fry to salads and soup, these speedy dishes will actually have you looking forward to cooking dinner instead of dreading it.
- Additional reporting by Nicole Perry
Forget Trump, Let's Just Look at Pictures of 3 Former Presidents Watching Golf Together Forever
Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton came together for the Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey, and spoiler alert, THERE ARE PHOTOS.
In what can only be described as a welcome respite from the normal news cycle of increasingly frantic crazy, on Sept. 28, our three most recent presidents got together to watch some golf. To be clear, they weren't playing golf - like a certain other president we know - but Clinton, Obama, and Bush were all present for the opening round of the four-day event, which features the best male golfers from the US facing off against the most lauded international figures in the sport.
Regardless of how you feel about each of our last three presidents, it's hard not to look back fondly at the times that once were - so ahead, bask in the glory of the most nostalgic set of photos you'll see all day. And be sure to read through to the end for a bonus shot of one Barack Obama and a very well-known fan.
20 Agonizing Struggles of Growing Up Shy
Any shy person can attest to the fear that takes over their body whenever they are told to talk to someone they don't know. As a shy person whose kindergarten teacher once told her parents that she was a mute and her poor mother had to explain she was just terribly shy and didn't like to speak, I have never related more to the #GrowingUpShy tweets on Twitter.
If you're a shy person, you're going to laugh at every single one of these (but quietly, so no one notices you and asks you anything). And if you're one of the lucky people out there who's never had this fear, read on to see exactly how we feel - just don't ask us any questions about it because we will shrink into our seats.
Add These 7 Wellness Apps to Your Daily Self-Care Routine ASAP
Our busy schedules don't always allow us to drop into a much-needed yoga class, but that's no excuse to make your personal wellness any less of a priority. Luckily, there's an app for almost everything - including for yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and overall self-care. Ahead are some of our favorite tools to help you live a healthier and happier life.
5 Reasons Independent Women Make the Best Partners
Many find independent women to be incredibly attractive. What's not to love? They know what they want and don't take sh*t from anybody else. But just because they can thrive on their own doesn't mean they're incapable of love. In fact, this type of woman makes an especially amazing partner because she's choosing to be with you. If she's making the decision to commit to you when she's perfectly fine by herself, you know that she's in it for the right reasons. Here's why you should get yourself an independent woman.
1. She knows how to exist without you.
You won't have to worry about neediness with her because she has a life of her own. She also won't guilt you into spending time with her over your friends. She'll encourage you to do your own thing while still knowing how to be very present when you are together.
2. She'll push you to pursue your goals.
Independent women are typically driven and assertive. She's going after her passions, so she will want you to do the same. She'll be your biggest cheerleader and resource while she handles her own business. Also, nothing turns her off more than a lack of ambition.
3. She can take care of herself.
She's self-sufficient and doesn't need anybody but herself, meaning you won't be expected to be by her side at all times. Of course she'll appreciate your support along the way, but she's fine with falling and picking herself back up.
4. She lets you be you.
She will never try to change you or mold you to be someone she wants you to be. If she's with you, chances are that you fit the bill already. She values being her own person and wants the same for you.
5. She makes you feel wanted, not needed.
She doesn't need you, which makes your relationship even more meaningful. She's not just keeping you around just for the sake of avoiding loneliness; she wants to be with you because she loves you and values you. Remember, she won't commit to just anybody. Though you may even feel useless at times, just know that she cares deeply and will come to you when necessary.
Every Single Thing on the Fabulous Menu at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen Restaurant
Gordon Ramsay's first Hell's Kitchen-themed restaurant opened in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace in January, and it's a must visit for big fans of the chef and the show. Not sure what to order if you're planning a visit? Check out the entire dinner menu below!
Chilled Seafood
HK Grand Shellfish Tower
lobster, king crab legs, Jonah crab claws, gulf shrimp, oysters, clams
$49
Oysters on the Half Shell
chef's daily selection, HK mignonette, gin cocktail sauce
half dozen $21, full dozen $31
Lobster Risotto at Hell's Kitchen.
Appetizers
Wagyu Meatballs
slow-roasted tomato sauce, polenta croutons, Parmesan cheese, basil
$18
Scampi Prawn Flambé
garlic white wine sauce, drawn butter
$24
Pan-Seared Scallops
celery root, braised bacon lardons, pickled Granny Smith apples
$19
Seared Foie Gras
spiced carrot cake, golden raisins, candied pecans
$25
Lobster Risotto
butter-poached lobster tail, butternut squash, sage
$24
Tuna Tartare
soy chili vinaigrette, pickled Fresno chilies, cilantro
$19
Smoked Golden Beets Salad at Hell's Kitchen.
Salad/Soup
Smoked Golden Beets
Greek yogurt, kumquats, pistachio granola, white balsamic vinaigrette
$21
Caesar Salad
Parmesan cheese frico, garlic croutons, lemon zest
$16
Red Quinoa Salad
Honeycrisp apples, dried apricots, goat cheese, toasted hazelnuts, honey vinaigrette
$16
Pumpkin Soup
spicy chorizo, crème fraiche, toasted pepitas
$12
Beef Wellington at Hell's Kitchen.
Entrees
Beef Wellington
potato purée, glazed root vegetables, red wine demi-glace
$49
Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb
Vadouvan carrots, Bloomsdale spinach, harissa lamb jus
$39
Braised Short Rib
creamy polenta, baby vegetables, beef jus
$34
Brick-Pressed Chicken
lacinato kale, sweet potato hash, chicken jus
$29
Crispy Skin Salmon
beluga lentils, shaved fennel salad, citrus herb beurre blanc
$32
Broiled Alaskan Cod
spicy olive tapenade, patatas bravas
$30
From the Grill
Filet Mignon
8 ounces, roasted tomatoes on the vine, béarnaise
$47
Dry-Aged NY Strip
12 ounces, glazed wild mushrooms, shishito peppers, red wine demi-glace
$49
Prime 30-Day Dry-Aged Porterhouse For Two
32 ounces, choice of two side dishes, bearnaise
$125
Sides, $9 each
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
smoked Gouda, crispy prosciutto
Roasted Cauliflower
chili lime gremolata, mint
Potato Gratin
fresh herbs, Parmesan cheese
Wild Mushrooms
shallot white wine glaze
Brussels Sprouts
pickled Fresno peppers, cilantro
Potato Puree
crème fraiche, chives
Sticky Toffee Pudding at Hell's Kitchen.
HK Signature Pre-Fixe Menu, $69 ($120 With Wine Pairing)
First Course
(choice of)
Pan-Seared Scallops
celery root, braised bacon lardons, pickled Granny Smith apples
Caesar Salad
Parmesan cheese frico, garlic croutons, lemon zest
Main Course
Beef Wellington
potato purée, glazed root vegetables, red wine demi-glace
Dessert
Sticky Toffee Pudding
speculoos ice cream
7 To-Do List Apps to Help You Sort Out Your Life
As someone who loves planning and making lists of every single task I need to finish, it's been a struggle figuring out the right way to create a to-do list. I used to write everything down in a planner, but when I was at work, I'd end up writing other tasks on Post-it notes - and they'd never make it back to my planner. After finally giving up my planner, I decided it was time to give in and download an app to suit my to-do list needs. If you're trying to do the same, take a look at the seven apps we like ahead. Most are free to download but include premium features you'll need to pay for.
The Best Video Games of 2018
If there's one thing we can say for sure, it's that there's never been a better time to be a gamer. With more platforms, more indie developers, and more ways to play than ever, well, there's something out there for everyone, no matter what they're looking for. But it also means that making the decision as to what to buy is harder than ever, so for 2018 we've decided to test some of the hottest new releases and pull out the very best of the best, just for you. Ahead, check out what's already sent our hearts aflutter the last few months, and be sure to check back here each month for our most highly-recommended titles as we make our way through the year.
Incredible, Brilliant Women Who Left a Mark on Science
In the current political climate, it's become increasingly clear to women all over the country how important is to make their voices heard. Last year's Women's March, which took place in several cities and countries all over the world on Jan. 21, was only the beginning of what has become a global movement led by women. Whether you're marching in protests in your own town or looking to find inspiration from past groundbreaking women, look no further than these female scientists who had to overcome various struggles and obstacles to achieve their dreams.
We're paying respect to Marie Curie and other women who left their mark on modern life through science. These women prove that physics, wireless technology, and computer programming aren't just traits of a boys' club and that science is the coolest subject of all.
- Additional reporting by Nicole Nguyen and Ann-Marie Alcántara
How a 25-Year-Old Woman Is Rebuilding the College Financial Aid Process, 1 Student at a Time
Getting into college is hard. But it is often even harder to figure out how you're going to pay your sky-high tuition, especially when the paperwork required to get what you're rightfully due is damn near impossible to decipher. Every year, billions of dollars of aid are left on the table unclaimed, all thanks to the long, hard, and confusing process that is the Free Application For Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Now, there's a new way to tackle one of life's most complicated undertakings - and it goes by the name of Frank.
Frank is the brainchild of 25-year-old Charlie Javice, and it's a platform that streamlines and simplifies FAFSA, bringing the process down to only a few minutes and, according to the company's mission statement, eliminating "layers of bureaucracy, opportunity for mistakes, and hours of headache and heartache." And the results don't lie: in the time since the platform launched, Frank has helped more than a quarter of a million families benefit from a whopping $6.3 billion in free financial aid.
I caught up with Javice by phone in mid-January, and a transcript of our conversation - lightly edited and condensed for clarity - is below.
POPSUGAR: Tell me a bit about Frank, in your own words.
Charlie Javice: We make financial aid more accessible so that more people can afford college. That's what Frank's all about: making paying for college easier and giving you a solid answer as to how you're going to pay for it. We've now helped more than 250,000 families with north of $6 billion paid, and it's just so amazing and rewarding to see so many people who are much happier, more delighted, and more able to pursue the degree and the dreams that they have.
In terms of values of the company itself, I guess they almost emulate sort of my personality: being really unfiltered, having really big opinions, and not being afraid to voice them. And so we've done different work on what was going to happen with the GOP tax bill, from how that affects student loans all the way to what's going on with the 20 states that revoke your licenses - all the way back around to the Democratic side, where all of their rhetoric around this is like "the government is profiting from student loans," but they're really losing billions of dollars a year because people aren't paying it back. It's one of the worst "success" programs ever. Also, it's a regular private fund - and to manage the way that they did, they would have been out of business within three months. The administration fees are 20 percent of what their budget is; their returns have been negative forever. Each side, then, is like, "OK, let's find a better vehicle. Maybe we should just grant them the money outright; it would be cheaper to administer that than deal with all these student collection services, payments, putting people in jail, revoking professional licenses - all that kind of stuff."
PS: So what was the "eureka" moment that inspired you to start Frank?
CJ: My background is in social impact, but I've always been hugely thankful and grateful to my parents, who gave me the gift of education. Education is the one thing that you can really take with you anywhere that you go, and so it's always been the star of my life, and I've always been very aware of how many people sacrifice so many things to be able to give their child an education. So I thought, if you can do that at a large scale, in a sustainable way, it would not only have a huge impact, it would be an amazing business opportunity - and an amazing way to insert technology into a system that has not seen new technology since it went online in the '90s or early 2000s.
But I can also bring it back to my time in college. A lot of people took the first job that was offered to them, and it had to do with making minimum loan payments and a fear that they wouldn't be able to meet their financial responsibility. And so instead of being able to pursue something that they loved in terms of work, they had to take the first thing that comes along. I grew up in a household where I was told you work toward something you're passionate about, and if you are successful, you not only do well financially, you can do good in the world. And that isn't the case for most of America anymore. It's really an insane kind of light-bulb moment when you realize how wealthy you are just to be given that opportunity to do something you love without fear vs. being one of the millions of people that kind of have shackles and can't make those kinds of decisions because of student debt - because you're basically working for the government for the rest of your life.
PS: Why do you think it is that the system is so broken?
CJ: First of all, it's very important that everyone has a lot of goodwill around helping people learn in college and increasing college enrollment, so I think it's really important that we acknowledge that before we talk about the systemic failures. But one, this is a legacy system that was inherited over years and cobbled together, so financially there's a hole in the American system. It started with veterans coming back, and originally this funding was just for them. Then you had underprivileged students, civil rights, a bunch of different programs that got lumped together as one big thing. And then on top of all those programs, there's one singular common application. So, they got stuck and said, "OK, we're going to allocate need based on this application, which is the FAFSA," and the formula was based off a formula determined in the '70s - and it hasn't changed since. So while some cities have become way more expensive and costs have skyrocketed, the formula doesn't take those changes into account. A family earning $60,000 in Alabama, they'd receive the same amount of aid as a family making $50,000 in New York City. It's a huge issue.
There are also a couple of other factors. There are impossible deadlines around the FAFSA, a ton of people don't even know it exists, and, of course, there is the reality that college counselors at the high school level faced the biggest budget cut under the Obama administration. In California, you have one counselor to every 1,325 students. How do you give individualized attention to one person when there are so many waiting? So there's the framework, the resources, the technology, the legacy system, and then a general gridlock sense because part of the Higher Education Reauthorization Act needs to get reauthorized.
Also, every nonprofit that is currently helping to provide manual resources is getting paid by individual states to supplement college counseling. Their budget is basically done by people instead of innovative technologies, so that's another interesting facet of the process not aligning in places where it should. We should be fighting to advocate for students, not advocating for nonprofit stuff. There are different ways to allocate resources and different technologies out there, and we just don't necessarily have those conversations because the contract has been sticky.
PS: If there was some magical solution to fixing the education system, do you think it would come from the technology sector, or do you think it's something deeper involving personnel?
CJ: I mean, you could do a lot with technology, and doing it that way would mean you wouldn't need to wait on political systems to catch up. Leveraging technology for good is something that should be done and can be done. And then, obviously, there's the political side. I think there's finally been movement - for better or for worse - to think about things differently, like asking, "Can private companies enhance educational experience at a lower cost?"
PS: So you think that the tension is political, as opposed to being a problem that originates with the universities?
CJ: For financial aid, it's definitely politically driven. Universities are also in it, too, but universities are really just institutions of learning, and they get regulated. The government has not done a good job at being able to demand transparency from school so that we know the value and have the data to be able to understand what the value of a degree actually is. But the blame is on both sides in terms of schools being super expensive and that being the ultimate core issue. I believe school costs have increased by 531 percent of CPI (the consumer price index), and that's the real root of the problem. I believe the way to solve this is to work with families and demand a better price, something you can only do by working directly with families and always being their ally. Once you have an advocate, there's a lot of revenue in a pool from the school, and you end up being able to influence decisions because of sheer bulk power.
PS: What was the biggest challenge you faced in getting Frank off the ground?
CJ: I think the biggest challenge has to do with understanding and learning about the families in need. I say that because financial aid impacts over 90 percent of all undergrads, those who are currently on financial aid from their school. Yet it also impacts adult learners, grandparents who are doing it for their kids, and all levels on the socioeconomic spectrum, from people who have negative income to people who earn about $250,000 a year. Being able to find the messaging and the brand and, really, the understanding that you're meeting everyone's needs without being too wide so your message gets diluted, that's super important.
That's also the hardest part when it comes to fundraising and having investors who come from a typical tech space. We didn't fall into traditional tech because our consumers aren't necessarily early technology adopters; most investors have never dealt with how to make money with consumers, let alone working with consumers that might be on benefits. And because investors haven't traditionally gone through financial aid - they've either grown up personally wealthy and inherited it or they've made so much wealth that they're now in a position to invest - they don't know and feel the pain of the families; they find it really hard to have an emotional connection. That was the hard part: explaining empathy to those individuals who are lacking, to show them the value of working with families and getting involved, in depth, to unearth an opportunity to help them.
PS: Did you have a strong support system of advisers as you were building out the company?
CJ: I'm really lucky to have such a strong support system, whether we're talking about my friends, how tight I am with my family, or having such an amazing school to network. Everyone's been really generous with their time, so I try to replicate that. My number one pet peeve is that some founders get intros and think they're above meeting with a high school student or someone who needs help finding a job. But I always make the time for that, and I think it's so important to pay it forward, just like the countless people who have really been instrumental in my life, including our current investors, like Michael Eisenberg and Bobby Turner.
Bobby Turner, I will say - and he's in LA - is probably one of the most impactful people in my life so far. He's just phenomenal and has always been a rock for me. He does impact investing on the real-estate side and works with people like Andre Agassi on charter schools, Eva Longoria with multifamily homes, and Magic Johnson for urban funds, bringing big-box retailers to urban, underprivileged communities that are highly dense. He really helped me find my motto: "profit for purpose." And purpose is the most important. You can't have one without the other in your career.
Bobby's advice has always been crucial and, most of the time, also very funny. When I was going through a really tough time, he'd be like, "Charlie, promise me you'll do these three things every day." And I'm like, "What are they?" And he's literally like, "Well, you need to meditate, go to the gym, and have sex." I think that's just general life advice for people, but it's great that we're friends in the sense that a lot of investors keep things financial, and it's really amazing to see people really be human with you.
PS: So what's next for Frank?
CJ: [We want Frank] to be like an Amazon for higher education. If you think about the $100 billion that's being spent on tuition every year, and the fact that there are zero tools to shop for another option, it becomes just a purchase. They have no information, meaning they don't know what the price is before they apply, and they don't have the financial aid packets yet, and, truly, you have no idea if you'll be successful right when you graduate school. So we want to be in that process and provide a marketplace to really conduct those transactions properly, to purchase something like it was your purchase, to be the destination where people come, know the price and value of school, see the data feedback, and are actually able to file all their financial information from just one common application - all culminating in being able to lock in the lowest price guaranteed and pay for it online. Instead of the school telling you, "You're special. You've now been accepted to pay thousands of dollars a year," we're putting the power back into the people purchasing, saying, "OK, I'm the one spending this money. I want the product like this; this is what I want. So I'm giving you money." And the customer is always right. Let's take it back to American shopping principles here.
PS: Finally, what advice would you give POPSUGAR readers who aspire to make social change and make a difference in the world?
CJ: There is no age too young. You have a voice; you have a talent. Do whatever you think you can contribute most to. Many things have impact; whether it's on the company or technology side, or the media sharing amazing stories about good things and good people to inspire others. We just went through rebranding, and we picked the tagline "Dream Smart" because while there is a concept of the American dream, let's be practical about it - and let's do the things that make the world a better place, that have purpose.
Parkland Survivors Put the NRA on Blast After the Group Prohibits Guns at Pence Speech
On May 4, the National Rifle Association will host its annual NRA-ILA Leadership Forum in Dallas, TX. According to the official site, it's "one of the most politically significant and popular events in the country, featuring our nation's top Second Amendment leaders in government, the media, and the entertainment industry." Among this year's speakers is none other than Vice President Mike Pence, and the NRA is stirring outrage thanks to the following announcement on the forum's website:
"Due to the attendance of the Vice President of the United States, the US Secret Service will be responsible for event security at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum. As a result, firearms and firearm accessories, knives, or weapons of any kind will be prohibited in the forum prior to and during his attendance."
While banning weapons during a vice president's speech would normally seem like a no-brainer, the survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, FL, seized the moment to call the NRA out on their hypocrisy. It's not so much that they're willing to cooperate and ban weapons from an NRA event to protect Mike Pence, but more so that the NRA doesn't seem to be extending the same care and consideration for everyone else in America: specifically, students who are susceptible to a mass shooting at any given time on any given day as gun control legislation fails to move forward.
In response to the announcement, Parkland survivor Cameron Kasky seized the moment to put the NRA on blast. Another Parkland student named Matt Deitsch - one of the forces behind the powerful "March For Our Lives" protest - also chimed in. The reactions snowballed; another infuriated response came from Fred Guttenberg, who is the father of Jaime Guttenberg, a Parkland student who was killed in the attack.
The NRA has evolved into such a hilarious parody of itself. pic.twitter.com/6Pw6NTQAe6
- Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) April 28, 2018
Wait wait wait wait wait wait you're telling me to make the VP safe there aren't any weapons around but when it comes to children they want guns everywhere? Can someone explain this to me? Because it sounds like the NRA wants to protect people who help them sell guns, not kids.
- Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) April 28, 2018
On so many levels, this is enlightening. According to the NRA, we should want everyone to have weapons when we are in public. But when they put on a convention, the weapons are a concern? I thought giving everyone a gun was to enhance safety. Am I missing something? https://t.co/f4wgNhJ7RI
- Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) April 28, 2018
According to the official site for the convention, firearms are permitted during the weekend, just not specifically in the space Mike Pence will occupy. NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch tried to stamp out the fire by responding to the outcry on her own Twitter account.
NRA banned nothing. The media does this every year. It's Secret Service SOP and they supersede all start and local control. Don't complain about your eroding credibility and people calling you "fake news" when you publish things like this. https://t.co/aVlNuMNaw0
- Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) April 30, 2018
Also, it's funny how anti-gun advocates are infuriated that law-abiding NRA members would follow the law. You can't have it both ways, guys. https://t.co/KKvWB5rofO
- Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) April 30, 2018
Interestingly, Loesch directs concerns to "the law," and at the end of the day, this is exactly what gun control advocates are seeking to append. It's not a problem that the NRA is adhering to law to protect Mike Pence. It seems more like these people just wish there were more laws to protect everyday citizens in the same way.
Follow These 7 Steps to Erase All Your Data Before Selling Your MacBook
Thinking about buying the flashy new MacBook Pro and getting rid of your old laptop? Don't sell or give it away without first following these tips.
- Back up your Mac. Use either iCloud or an external hard drive to store any files you want to keep.
- Sign out of your iTunes account by going to iTunes > Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
- Don't just delete your texts or photos; sign out of iCloud instead. To sign out, go to System Preferences > iCloud > Sign Out.
- Sign out of iMessage so that you don't miss any texts. Go to Preferences > Accounts and then click the "Sign out" option.
- Finally, delete everything off your Mac and then reinstall the OS X system. To do this, restart your computer. As it boots up, hold the Command key and R key. You'll be taken to MacOS Utilities, where you should select Disk Utility. When you see your hard drive, select it, and then go to the "Erase" tab. Here, select "Mac OS X Extended (Journaled)" > Erase.
- Now, reinstall the OS X system. This should be an option after you erase your hard drive and exit Disk Utility. The window will show several options, but select the "Reinstall macOS" one. However, if you have an older Mac, you will need to reinstall the OS X system with the original CD that the computer came with.
- Turn off your laptop once the OS system is done installing. To do so, hold both the Command and Q keys and then choose "Shut Down."
Once you've done all of this, your laptop shouldn't have any of your personal data on it anymore. Give it away or recycle it with Apple and get a gift card.
27 PDA-Filled Moments Between Salma Hayek and Her Husband, Francois-Henri Pinault
It has been nine years since Mexican-born actress Salma Hayek and her husband, French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, married on Valentine's Day in Venice, Italy, with their daughter, Valentina, at their side. Since then, Salma and Francois-Henri have attended countless fashion shows and art exhibitions, generally looking adorable, in love, and happy to show a little PDA.
In honor of the power couple, we're rounding up their sweetest public moments from as far back as the beginning of their courtship in 2006.
The Best Reggaeton Songs, Hands Down
When we're ready ready to get hype (and maybe drop it low a few times), we always turn to reggaeton to get us there. You must know that to have a great reggaeton playlist, you have to not only have names like Daddy Yankee and Don Omar but also new artists like Maluma and Nicky Jam. Keep scrolling to see some of the best reggaetons to come out, ever!
Every Single Naked Dress Jennifer Lopez Has Worn Since 1997
You might think that Jennifer Lopez's streak of dresses with necklines down to her belly button and slits up to her thighs started with that famous Versace green dress she wore to the Grammys in the '90s, but let us tell you that after intense research, we've come to the conclusion the naked dress trend was started by J Lo much, much earlier.
The singer and actress was truly the pioneer of the barely there dress that has now invaded the red carpet, starting with no backs in 1997 and ending most recently with sheer gowns and jumpsuits that leave little to the imagination. Here, for your viewing pleasure, is every single naked dress (yes, every single one!) that J Lo has graced us with.
You Might Want to Sit Down Before Looking at Sofia Vergara's Sexiest Instagrams
The word sexy is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Modern Family's Sofia Vergara, and that's because the Colombian actress is the pure definition of the term, so flirty and hot in every photo ever taken of her. Just by taking a peek at her Instagram feed, you can see what we mean.
Whether she's posing in one of her favorite formfitting dresses or in a monikini at the beach, the star looks stunning from head to toe. And if the photo also features her hunky husband, Magic Mike XXL's Joe Manganiello, forget about it! Camera lenses steam everywhere. See for yourself by looking ahead to a list of just a few of her hottest moments.
16 Irresistible Empanada Recipes You Should Try Making at Home
We could write long, winded love letters to empanadas. We could wax poetic about their delicious dough, either fried or baked, and the delightfulness of taking that first bite only to find the yummiest filling - sometimes meaty, sometimes cheesy, sometimes neither. We could even tell you how we are not ashamed to admit that we eat them every single time we spot them on a menu.
But why should we limit ourselves to only having these delicious pastries when out for dinner? We're done with that. That's why we've decided to round up these 16 recipes that'll allow us to enjoy a good old empanada every time we freaking feel like it.
Shakira Uses an Unexpected, Genius Trick to Avoid Midafternoon Sugary Snacks
Whether she's on stage or filming a music video, it's pretty obvious Shakira loves to show off her body and amazing belly-dancing skills. As she gears up for a new world tour, she's hitting the gym more than ever, while juggling two little kids and spending time with her longtime partner, Gerard Piqué, but no matter how busy she is, the Colombian singer always finds time to eat healthy, according to her trainer Anna Kaiser.
Kaiser spoke to E! News about Shakira's diet, revealing one simple secret behind her regimen. Shakira, Kaiser said, eats three meals a day ("breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a protein in every meal and fresh veggies or small amounts of low glycemic fruit"), and for a snack midafternoon, she reaches for . . . soup. Instead of grabbing a sugary snack, Shakira has some broth. "At the four o'clock hour, when people are craving caffeine and a cookie, soup is a really great option because it fills you up and feels like a meal so it can keep you going until dinner, but it's not hugely caloric," Kaiser said.
That doesn't mean the singer doesn't indulge every once in a while, but she's definitely not grabbing processed foods. "We would do a cacao topped rice cake or half of a protein bar, or I got her some chocolate tea which kind of feels like a treat with some dehydrated fruit," Kaiser said. "So it's about allowing yourself to have a lot of different things in small quantities and keep it as fresh as possible."
So the 40-year-old singer doesn't get bored, Kaiser comes up with a colorful and varied meal plan and works with Shakira's chef to cook it. "We did some protein shakes, protein pancakes, and I would peel a couple of oranges and slice them up and top them with turmeric and cinnamon. It is pretty much about making it fun and different and also the presentation," she said.
A Look Back at Demi Lovato's Dating History
Demi Lovato has been in the spotlight for a long time, so it's no wonder she's been linked to a few different men. Some have only been brief flings you probably don't even remember, while others have been around for years and left a mark when things ended (we're not over her breakup with Wilmer Valderrama yet). From a relationship she had when she first started out her career in 2007 to her long-term BFs, here's a look at Demi's love life.
15 Things That Even Serious Camilizers Don't Know About Camila Cabello
OK, Camilizers, we're putting you to the test. You probably already know that former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello has a penchant for bows, loves bananas, and was born in Cuba before moving to Mexico and then later Miami. But there are a few things we bet you don't know about the 5'2" beauty. Read on for our favorite fun facts about the pop star - we promise you'll be surprised.
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