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.
mercredi 17 août 2016
Why It's OK to Care About Celebrity News and "Real Issues" at the Same Time
We've all been there - you scroll through Facebook, you stumble upon an article, and before you can even click in to read and judge it for yourself, you spot it: the inevitable "Who cares?" sitting atop the list of comments like a harbinger of hostility. It's typically followed by an effusive reply: "You, since you took time to comment!," which feels like vindication but really just opens a whole new can of worms. This trifecta of passive aggression is finally rounded out with some variation of "This is news?," "Focus on the real issues!," or "There are more important things going on in the world right now."
This bothers me for a few reasons, none of which involve the fact that it's literally my job to care about and cover those so-called "unimportant" things. It is, of course, entirely possible to care about more than one thing at the same time. Our brains can process, store, and maintain an incredible amount of information; that's why you can walk and chew gum at the same time, or worry about world hunger while also wondering what you're going to eat for lunch that day. But this sentiment also implies that only hard, serious news is "important," and ignores the reality: that it's just really, really exhausting to be focused on the "real issues" all the time.
It implies that only hard, serious news is "important" and ignores the reality: that it's just really, really exhausting to be focused on the "real issues" all the time.
The past two years have been pretty rough, both mentally and emotionally, where the news is concerned: I personally am simultaneously stressed out about everyday life things like succeeding at work, paying bills on time, and maintaining personal relationships while also dealing with the added anxiety of mass shootings, police brutality, rape culture, natural disasters, and Donald Trump becoming president. On top of dealing with street harassment and the possibility of being hit by a Muni bus while walking in the city, I also have to consider the chances of my family members being racially profiled by police and my friends traveling abroad being caught in a terrorist attack. There are "real issues" that plague us every day in our families, our friend groups, our romantic relationships, and our neighborhoods. I'm well aware of the "real issues." I'm fully caught up on the "actual news." And like many other people, I'm f*cking drained.
That is precisely why, when a famous couple gets engaged or divorced, a superhot actor goes shirtless on the beach, or Beyoncé shares a cute photo of Blue Ivy on Instagram, we should let ourselves care about it. We should give ourselves (and each other) the freedom and space to get excited and express enthusiasm about celebrity news, because it offers a respite from all the completely depressing things going on - at least until another completely depressing thing happens.
As Cheryl Strayed once wrote: "There are so many things to be tortured about, sweet pea. So many torturous things in this life." Life isn't easy, and we all need something to help us through it. For some people, it's yoga and meditation; for others it's reading about all the women Leonardo DiCaprio has dated, poring over photos of Prince George, or watching the drama unfold between Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift. The best part is that there's room for all of it; you can support the Black Lives Matter movement while also hoping that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner get back together, and you can follow the presidential election with the same fervor as you follow Chrissy Teigen's Instagram account.
The next time somebody tries to make you feel bad for essentially taking a break from the "more important things going on in the world," calmly remind them that as a living, breathing, human person, you are fully capable of grasping both world news and pop culture headlines. When it comes to what you turn to for self-care (especially in trying times), you just need to do you. At the end of the day: who cares?
mercredi 19 avril 2017
It's Official: Bill O'Reilly Is Out at Fox News
After numerous allegations of sexual harassment, 21st Century Fox confirmed that Bill O'Reilly is out at Fox News. "After a thorough and careful review of the allegations, the Company and Bill O'Reilly have agreed that Bill O'Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Channel," said 21st Century Fox in a statement.
The news comes after a story in The New York Times revealed the various settlements O'Reilly made with five women who all made sexual harassment claims against him.
The internet quickly reacted to the news. Most people couldn't believe it took Fox this long to finally force O'Reilly out.
FOX News sends a powerful message: a workplace culture of rampant sexual harrassment and aggression will only be tolerated for 2 decades
- John Miguel McCauley (@Mickey_McCauley) April 19, 2017
Very inspiring to see that numerous sexual harassment allegations can hurt a powerful man's career once it's bad for the bottom line.
- Elise Foley (@elisefoley) April 19, 2017
Others thought it was clear why Fox was finally deciding to act.
O'Reilly isn't being fired for what he did. Fox News has known for years.
He's being fired because they'll lose money.
Now they care.- Jordan Uhl (@JordanUhl) April 19, 2017
Please remember Fox News only Fired Bill O'Reilly because they were losing advertising dollars and they're still a soulless garbage network
- Juggalocialism (@UweBollocks) April 19, 2017
A producer at MSNBC took the time to remind everyone of what Donald Trump thinks of O'Reilly.
Reminder: Just 2 weeks ago Trump defended O'Reilly as "a good person", said "I don't think Bill did anything wrong." https://t.co/FcIuo1E7Yk https://t.co/oD5moJZvSX
- Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 19, 2017
Some people just simply celebrated.
@DylanByers http://pic.twitter.com/sH12JnsJnb
- Jennifer Hayden (@Scout_Finch) April 19, 2017
@DylanByers http://pic.twitter.com/RjxYSsV80M
- UltraViolet (@UltraViolet) April 19, 2017
@DylanByers https://t.co/RK9lLuE7K6
- JDegarson (@johndegarson) April 19, 2017
According to Gabriel Sherman, a reporter for New York Magazine, Tucker Carlson will now have O'Reilly's spot.
mercredi 3 août 2016
Why It's OK to Care About Celebrity News and "Real Issues" at the Same Time
We've all been there - you scroll through Facebook, you stumble upon an article, and before you can even click in to read and judge it for yourself, you spot it: the inevitable "Who cares?" sitting atop the list of comments like a harbinger of hostility. It's typically followed by an effusive reply: "You, since you took time to comment!," which feels like vindication but really just opens a whole new can of worms. This trifecta of passive aggression is finally rounded out with some variation of "This is news?," "Focus on the real issues!," or "There are more important things going on in the world right now."
This bothers me for a few reasons, none of which involve the fact that it's literally my job to care about and cover those so-called "unimportant" things. It is, of course, entirely possible to care about more than one thing at the same time. Our brains can process, store, and maintain an incredible amount of information; that's why you can walk and chew gum at the same time, or worry about world hunger while also wondering what you're going to eat for lunch that day. But this sentiment also implies that only hard, serious news is "important," and ignores the reality: that it's just really, really exhausting to be focused on the "real issues" all the time.
It implies that only hard, serious news is "important" and ignores the reality: that it's just really, really exhausting to be focused on the "real issues" all the time.
The past two years have been pretty rough, both mentally and emotionally, where the news is concerned: I personally am simultaneously stressed out about everyday life things like succeeding at work, paying bills on time, and maintaining personal relationships while also dealing with the added anxiety of mass shootings, police brutality, rape culture, natural disasters, and Donald Trump becoming president. On top of dealing with street harassment and the possibility of being hit by a Muni bus while walking in the city, I also have to consider the chances of my family members being racially profiled by police and my friends traveling abroad being caught in a terrorist attack. There are "real issues" that plague us every day in our families, our friend groups, our romantic relationships, and our neighborhoods. I'm well aware of the "real issues." I'm fully caught up on the "actual news." And like many other people, I'm f*cking drained.
That is precisely why, when a famous couple gets engaged or divorced, a superhot actor goes shirtless on the beach, or Beyoncé shares a cute photo of Blue Ivy on Instagram, we should let ourselves care about it. We should give ourselves (and each other) the freedom and space to get excited and express enthusiasm about celebrity news, because it offers a respite from all the completely depressing things going on - at least until another completely depressing thing happens.
As Cheryl Strayed once wrote: "There are so many things to be tortured about, sweet pea. So many torturous things in this life." Life isn't easy, and we all need something to help us through it. For some people, it's yoga and meditation; for others it's reading about all the women Leonardo DiCaprio has dated, poring over photos of Prince George, or watching the drama unfold between Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift. The best part is that there's room for all of it; you can support the Black Lives Matter movement while also hoping that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner get back together, and you can follow the presidential election with the same fervor as you follow Chrissy Teigen's Instagram account.
The next time somebody tries to make you feel bad for essentially taking a break from the "more important things going on in the world," calmly remind them that as a living, breathing, human person, you are fully capable of grasping both world news and pop culture headlines. When it comes to what you turn to for self-care (especially in trying times), you just need to do you. At the end of the day: who cares?
samedi 13 janvier 2018
Here's What You Need to Know About the Big Changes Coming to Your Facebook News Feed
Big changes are coming to your Facebook News Feed, and they're all centered on "bringing people closer together."
On Jan. 11, the social media giant announced a massive algorithm shift that, according to Facebook's Head of News Feed Adam Mosseri, will "prioritize posts that spark conversations and meaningful interactions between people" and minimize the onslaught of news stories from brands and publishers. To be clear, you'll still see content from the pages you follow, but "posts from friends and family" will be ranked above "public content."
CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the changes in a Facebook post, noting that the platform had "gotten feedback from our community that public content -- posts from businesses, brands and media -- is crowding out the personal moments that lead us to connect more with each other."
So what exactly do these changes mean for you? According to Facebook, here are four types of posts you can expect to see a whole lot more of in your News Feed going forward.
Major Life Events
You know how you've been seeing a bit more of your friends and family highlighting their most meaningful moments? Those births, engagements, first steps, first pets - all of them are going to make their way back to front and center on the News Feed.
Personal News
Instead of seeing what's going on in the world without any tether to the people you know, you're going to begin to see more of what people are grappling with on a daily basis. Be it brilliant news or the absolute worst, Facebook is aiming to make it easier to provide support to those who need it.
Big Events
Facebook uses Oprah Winfrey's epic Golden Globes speech as a touchpoint for what we'll be seeing in terms of newsy events - basically anything that gets people talking in a productive, meaningful way will be prioritized over "engagement bait" that's merely out for "likes" and comments.
Recommendations and Advice
Facebook prioritized all things local and community-based earlier this year, so it won't come as a surprise that it's going to start surfacing those little boxes that have begun popping up requesting advice and recommendations. To date, these have mainly been used to garner recommendations for a trip or a big move, but expect to start seeing this extend more toward personal advice and how to deal with the everyday issues we face in our lives.
samedi 25 mars 2017
Why It's OK to Care About Celebrity News and "Real Issues" at the Same Time
We've all been there - you scroll through Facebook, you stumble upon an article, and before you can even click in to read and judge it for yourself, you spot it: the inevitable "Who cares?" sitting atop the list of comments like a harbinger of hostility. It's typically followed by an effusive reply: "You, since you took time to comment!," which feels like vindication but really just opens a whole new can of worms. This trifecta of passive aggression is finally rounded out with some variation of "This is news?," "Focus on the real issues!," or "There are more important things going on in the world right now."
This bothers me for a few reasons, none of which involve the fact that it's literally my job to care about and cover those so-called "unimportant" things. It is, of course, entirely possible to care about more than one thing at the same time. Our brains can process, store, and maintain an incredible amount of information; that's why you can walk and chew gum at the same time, or worry about world hunger while also wondering what you're going to eat for lunch that day. But this sentiment also implies that only hard, serious news is "important," and ignores the reality: that it's just really, really exhausting to be focused on the "real issues" all the time.
It implies that only hard, serious news is "important" and ignores the reality: that it's just really, really exhausting to be focused on the "real issues" all the time.
The past two years have been pretty rough, both mentally and emotionally, where the news is concerned: I personally am simultaneously stressed out about everyday life things like succeeding at work, paying bills on time, and maintaining personal relationships while also dealing with the added anxiety of mass shootings, police brutality, rape culture, climate change, and Donald Trump being president. On top of dealing with street harassment and the possibility of being hit by a Muni bus while walking in the city, I also have to consider the chances of my family members being racially profiled by police and my friends traveling abroad being caught in a terrorist attack. There are "real issues" that plague us every day in our families, our friend groups, our romantic relationships, and our neighborhoods. I'm well aware of the "real issues." I'm fully caught up on the "actual news." And like many other people, I'm f*cking drained.
That is precisely why, when a famous couple gets engaged or divorced, a superhot actor goes shirtless on the beach, or Beyoncé announces that she's pregnant with twins, we should let ourselves care about it. We should give ourselves (and each other) the freedom and space to get excited and express enthusiasm about celebrity news, because it offers a respite from all the completely depressing things going on - at least until another completely depressing thing happens.
As Cheryl Strayed once wrote: "There are so many things to be tortured about, sweet pea. So many torturous things in this life." Life isn't easy, and we all need something to help us through it. For some people, it's yoga and meditation; for others it's reading about all the women Leonardo DiCaprio has dated, poring over photos of Prince George, or watching the drama unfold between Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift. The best part is that there's room for all of it; you can support the Black Lives Matter movement while also hoping that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner get back together, and you can follow this trash fire that is a Trump presidency with the same fervor as you follow Chrissy Teigen's Instagram account.
The next time somebody tries to make you feel bad for essentially taking a break from the "more important things going on in the world," calmly remind them that as a living, breathing, human person, you are fully capable of grasping both world news and pop culture headlines. When it comes to what you turn to for self-care (especially in trying times), you just need to do you. At the end of the day: who cares?
mercredi 17 janvier 2018
Here's What You Need to Know About the Big Changes Coming to Your Facebook News Feed
Big changes are coming to your Facebook News Feed, and they're all centered on "bringing people closer together."
On Jan. 11, the social media giant announced a massive algorithm shift that, according to Facebook's Head of News Feed Adam Mosseri, will "prioritize posts that spark conversations and meaningful interactions between people" and minimize the onslaught of news stories from brands and publishers. To be clear, you'll still see content from the pages you follow, but "posts from friends and family" will be ranked above "public content."
CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the changes in a Facebook post, noting that the platform had "gotten feedback from our community that public content -- posts from businesses, brands and media -- is crowding out the personal moments that lead us to connect more with each other."
So what exactly do these changes mean for you? According to Facebook, here are four types of posts you can expect to see a whole lot more of in your News Feed going forward.
Major Life Events
You know how you've been seeing a bit more of your friends and family highlighting their most meaningful moments? Those births, engagements, first steps, first pets - all of them are going to make their way back to front and center on the News Feed.
Personal News
Instead of seeing what's going on in the world without any tether to the people you know, you're going to begin to see more of what people are grappling with on a daily basis. Be it brilliant news or the absolute worst, Facebook is aiming to make it easier to provide support to those who need it.
Big Events
Facebook uses Oprah Winfrey's epic Golden Globes speech as a touchpoint for what we'll be seeing in terms of newsy events - basically anything that gets people talking in a productive, meaningful way will be prioritized over "engagement bait" that's merely out for "likes" and comments.
Recommendations and Advice
Facebook prioritized all things local and community-based earlier this year, so it won't come as a surprise that it's going to start surfacing those little boxes that have begun popping up requesting advice and recommendations. To date, these have mainly been used to garner recommendations for a trip or a big move, but expect to start seeing this extend more toward personal advice and how to deal with the everyday issues we face in our lives.
mercredi 4 octobre 2017
Rex Tillerson May or May Not Have Called Trump a Moron, but Trump Once Tweeted It About Obama
President Donald Trump has always been adamant that his Twitter habit is essential to his style of governance, that those individuals who truly want to MAGA are the ones he's successfully reaching with his 140-character messages. Whether or not that's actually true is up for debate, but there is one thing that we can all be certain of: thanks to years upon years of Trump sharing his thoughts with his followers, he's made it so that there's an archive of his real-time feelings about basically everything. Unfortunately for the Trump administration and its attempts at policymaking, those documented opinions don't always match up with what he's now putting forth publicly as President of the United States.
As a result, "there's always a tweet" has become a common refrain among the denizens of Twitter, the weary political media, and anyone looking to put some sense behind a pattern of seemingly illogical actions. Take, for example, the latest White House drama: a series of strange events that kicked off after news that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was unhappy with the current administration, wanted to leave, and thought that the president was a "moron." Spoiler alert: yes, there's a tweet - but let's step back and review the situation first.
On Oct. 4, NBC News published the comprehensive reporting that documented Tillerson's increasing fury with the White House and his desire to make an exit - one that was purportedly only staved off by an intervention from Vice President Mike Pence. For most administrations, this would be a small thing to address in a calm, damage control-related way - but not this one. Instead, a solo press conference was announced, and Trump immediately took to Twitter to lash out at NBC (which, for the record, he's still pissed off at for not supporting him after he gave them "great ratings" with The Apprentice.)
Wow, so many Fake News stories today. No matter what I do or say, they will not write or speak truth. The Fake News Media is out of control!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2017
NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2017
During the 11 a.m. press conference, Tillerson refuted the implication that he had ever considered leaving the administration. Trump again took to Twitter a mere 18 minutes after his secretary of state approached the podium, ostensibly to ensure that everyone knew that the story was false and that Tillerson had confirmed that fact in a public setting.
The @NBCNews story has just been totally refuted by Sec. Tillerson and @VP Pence. It is #FakeNews. They should issue an apology to AMERICA!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2017
But here's the thing. Semantics are everything when you use Twitter to communicate, and while Tillerson did in fact deny some parts of NBC News's reporting, he quite notably did not deny calling Trump a moron. And that fact wasn't lost on many who witnessed the whole thing as it unfolded throughout the morning - including California Sen. Ted Lieu.
Dear @realDonaldTrump: Many Americans watched press conference of Rex Tillerson. He didn't deny calling you a Moron, as reported by @NBCNews https://t.co/TdNZub9zcW
- Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) October 4, 2017
At this point, it's pretty clear that Tillerson said something - but we'll probably never know his exact words. Instead, we'll likely be treated to several more days of attacks on NBC and the fake news media - and, of course, the knowledge that with regard to the Tillerson-NBC-Trump saga, we can now officially continue on the legacy of there always being a tweet.
Behold: the ultimate proof that what goes around, comes around. We hope you're out there laughing your ass off, Mr. Obama.
An interesting cartoon that is circulating. http://pic.twitter.com/OPG2R2ytkr
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2014
vendredi 16 février 2018
Why 1 Female Anchor Wants More Natural Makeup on the News
For better or worse, there's an expected look for female news anchors. We're used to seeing these women do their jobs while wearing heavy makeup. In fact, cosmetics and television journalists have become so ubiquitous, we've even published a story highlighting one anchor's expert application tips. Of course, the amount of makeup a woman wears should be her decision. That said, MSNBC's Katy Tur believes we are entering a new era of more natural-looking news anchor beauty.
In an essay Tur penned for Glamour, the host and author wrote that she's "over" manicures, eyebrow work, and other beauty rituals. She recalled a moment spent on the campaign trail in 2016 that changed her perception of makeup.
As she wrote, "One of our bosses treated us to a day off the road; we all got manicures and pedicures. It was enjoyable, but two days later I had this crappy-looking manicure. Then I had to find nail polish remover on the road. I thought to myself, these beauty rituals are such a waste of time. Sure, it can be fun to put on makeup and paint your nails, but sometimes it feels more like an obligation. And I was tired of that obligation."
Since then, Tur has stopped waxing her eyebrows because she simply just doesn't want to anymore. "I have the time; I just haven't felt like it," she wrote (although she does fill in her arches before going on air). Tur wrote that, "The makeup artists probably want to strangle me because I'm like, 'Less, less, less!' (I've had a few days when I'm like, 'Oh God, we put too much on,' and I'll wipe it off during a commercial break or when somebody else is on screen.)"
Tur went on to say that her mentality toward cosmetics has changed since she got her start as a 22-year-old journalist back in 2006. "We had to take headshots, and the makeup artists put on so much makeup - I swear I looked like a 48-year-old woman . . . For one of my first TV jobs, I was required to cut my hair, dress a certain way, and wear a certain amount of makeup. I was even told to have my hair cut based on a picture in a magazine. I realized that until I complied, I wasn't going to get any airtime."
Twelve years later, Tur is pleased to report that when she wears more natural makeup, people focus on her actual job. "When you look like a normal person, people have an easier time connecting to you. On Twitter I've noticed that people have stopped commenting on my looks and what I'm wearing. When I look in the mirror, or monitor, I want to see the Katy Tur that I've known for 34 years of my life, not some made-up version of myself," she wrote.
One final sign that the movement might be hear to stay? Tur has noticed that even conservative media company Fox News, which is practically synonymous with its done-up female news anchors, has started to rein in its glam squad. She wrote, "Today most of the industry, even Fox News, is moving away from that a little. It's partially the moment we're in: There's a shift toward a real, more natural-looking beauty. But I also think people are taking the news more seriously."
mercredi 19 avril 2017
It's Official: Bill O'Reilly Is Out at Fox News
After numerous allegations of sexual harassment, 21st Century Fox confirmed that Bill O'Reilly is out at Fox News. "After a thorough and careful review of the allegations, the Company and Bill O'Reilly have agreed that Bill O'Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Channel," said 21st Century Fox in a statement.
The news comes after a story in The New York Times revealed the various settlements O'Reilly made with five women who all made sexual harassment claims against him.
The internet quickly reacted to the news. Most people couldn't believe it took Fox this long to finally force O'Reilly out.
FOX News sends a powerful message: a workplace culture of rampant sexual harrassment and aggression will only be tolerated for 2 decades
- John Miguel McCauley (@Mickey_McCauley) April 19, 2017
Very inspiring to see that numerous sexual harassment allegations can hurt a powerful man's career once it's bad for the bottom line.
- Elise Foley (@elisefoley) April 19, 2017
Others thought it was clear why Fox was finally deciding to act.
O'Reilly isn't being fired for what he did. Fox News has known for years.
He's being fired because they'll lose money.
Now they care.- Jordan Uhl (@JordanUhl) April 19, 2017
Please remember Fox News only Fired Bill O'Reilly because they were losing advertising dollars and they're still a soulless garbage network
- Juggalocialism (@UweBollocks) April 19, 2017
A producer at MSNBC took the time to remind everyone of what Donald Trump thinks of O'Reilly.
Reminder: Just 2 weeks ago Trump defended O'Reilly as "a good person", said "I don't think Bill did anything wrong." https://t.co/FcIuo1E7Yk https://t.co/oD5moJZvSX
- Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 19, 2017
Some people just simply celebrated.
@DylanByers http://pic.twitter.com/sH12JnsJnb
- Jennifer Hayden (@Scout_Finch) April 19, 2017
@DylanByers http://pic.twitter.com/RjxYSsV80M
- UltraViolet (@UltraViolet) April 19, 2017
@DylanByers https://t.co/RK9lLuE7K6
- JDegarson (@johndegarson) April 19, 2017
According to Gabriel Sherman, a reporter for New York Magazine, Tucker Carlson will now have O'Reilly's spot.
lundi 2 octobre 2017
San Juan Mayor Tearfully Tells the White House, "This Is Not a Good News Story"
"Dammit, this is not a good news story": San Juan mayor slams acting DHS Secretary Duke's comments about Puerto Rico https://t.co/mWdPEsCSHn
- CNN (@CNN) September 29, 2017
Following the devastating Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico continues to struggle without power, water, and transportation off the island. On Sept. 28 - over a week after the hurricane hit Puerto Rico - the current administration's Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke said she was "satisfied" with the progress being made. Her statement was later shared with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, who was shocked.
Speaking with the press, Secretary Duke said, "I am very satisfied . . . I know it is really a good news story in terms of our ability to reach people and the limited number of deaths that have taken place in such a devastating hurricane."
In an interview with CNN the following day, Mayor Cruz tearfully reacted to Duke's statement. "Well, maybe from where she's standing it's a good news story. When you're drinking from a creek, it's not a good news story," she said. "When you don't have food for a baby, it's not a good news story. I'm sorry, but that really upsets me and frustrates me. I would ask her to come down here and visit the towns, then make a statement like that, which frankly, is an irresponsible statement."
Cruz continued, "Dammit, this is not a good news story. This is a 'people are dying' story. This is a 'life or death' story." Adding, "This is a story of devastation that continues to worsen because people are not getting food or water . . . Where is there good news here?" Watch her emotional response above.
samedi 24 septembre 2016
Why It's OK to Care About Celebrity News and "Real Issues" at the Same Time
We've all been there - you scroll through Facebook, you stumble upon an article, and before you can even click in to read and judge it for yourself, you spot it: the inevitable "Who cares?" sitting atop the list of comments like a harbinger of hostility. It's typically followed by an effusive reply: "You, since you took time to comment!," which feels like vindication but really just opens a whole new can of worms. This trifecta of passive aggression is finally rounded out with some variation of "This is news?," "Focus on the real issues!," or "There are more important things going on in the world right now."
This bothers me for a few reasons, none of which involve the fact that it's literally my job to care about and cover those so-called "unimportant" things. It is, of course, entirely possible to care about more than one thing at the same time. Our brains can process, store, and maintain an incredible amount of information; that's why you can walk and chew gum at the same time, or worry about world hunger while also wondering what you're going to eat for lunch that day. But this sentiment also implies that only hard, serious news is "important," and ignores the reality: that it's just really, really exhausting to be focused on the "real issues" all the time.
It implies that only hard, serious news is "important" and ignores the reality: that it's just really, really exhausting to be focused on the "real issues" all the time.
The past two years have been pretty rough, both mentally and emotionally, where the news is concerned: I personally am simultaneously stressed out about everyday life things like succeeding at work, paying bills on time, and maintaining personal relationships while also dealing with the added anxiety of mass shootings, police brutality, rape culture, natural disasters, and Donald Trump becoming president. On top of dealing with street harassment and the possibility of being hit by a Muni bus while walking in the city, I also have to consider the chances of my family members being racially profiled by police and my friends traveling abroad being caught in a terrorist attack. There are "real issues" that plague us every day in our families, our friend groups, our romantic relationships, and our neighborhoods. I'm well aware of the "real issues." I'm fully caught up on the "actual news." And like many other people, I'm f*cking drained.
That is precisely why, when a famous couple gets engaged or divorced, a superhot actor goes shirtless on the beach, or Beyoncé shares a cute photo of Blue Ivy on Instagram, we should let ourselves care about it. We should give ourselves (and each other) the freedom and space to get excited and express enthusiasm about celebrity news, because it offers a respite from all the completely depressing things going on - at least until another completely depressing thing happens.
As Cheryl Strayed once wrote: "There are so many things to be tortured about, sweet pea. So many torturous things in this life." Life isn't easy, and we all need something to help us through it. For some people, it's yoga and meditation; for others it's reading about all the women Leonardo DiCaprio has dated, poring over photos of Prince George, or watching the drama unfold between Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift. The best part is that there's room for all of it; you can support the Black Lives Matter movement while also hoping that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner get back together, and you can follow the presidential election with the same fervor as you follow Chrissy Teigen's Instagram account.
The next time somebody tries to make you feel bad for essentially taking a break from the "more important things going on in the world," calmly remind them that as a living, breathing, human person, you are fully capable of grasping both world news and pop culture headlines. When it comes to what you turn to for self-care (especially in trying times), you just need to do you. At the end of the day: who cares?
mercredi 26 avril 2017
Google and the Founder of Wikipedia Just Took Major Steps to Combat Fake News
The problem of fake news is one that isn't going away anytime soon. It's led Google to announce a new change to its search engine algorithm to help combat disinformation - and even inspired the founder of Wikipedia to launch a new site to tackle fake news.
Google's search engine was under scrutiny in December 2016 for surfacing Holocaust denial stories when people searched "Did the Holocaust happen?" To fix fake news problems like these, the company is making four key changes. The first change Google is making is to its "Search Quality Rater Guidelines." Those guidelines, used by real people who evaluate Google's search results, will now include information on how to flag hoaxes, conspiracy theories, and "unexpected offensive results." The company is also tweaking its "signals" to "surface more authoritative pages and demote low-quality content."
However, if you spot some fake news, it's even easier to help Google out. Both in autocomplete searches and "featured snippets," which are search results that show a small preview answering your question, you'll find a now-easier-to-locate "Feedback" option. Highlight what's wrong with the search answer and send it away to Google.
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, has a different approach to fake news. According to Wired, the minute he heard Kellyanne Conway say "alternative facts" is the moment he came up with the idea of Wikitribune. Similar to Wikipedia, Wikitribune will also have a team of journalists and volunteers who will edit any content that goes up. The site will be free of ads and the company "will publish its financials regularly" as a means of transparency. However, to make this dream come true, it'll need donations to its initial campaign. At the time of writing, Wikitribune has 4,243 supporters and has "hired" two out of 10 journalists needed to get the project up and running.
While it's unlikely that 10 hardworking journalists will be able to eradicate fake news by themselves, with the help of citizen watchdogs and Google's more focused efforts, we're hopeful they can make a dent.
samedi 25 mars 2017
Why It's OK to Care About Celebrity News and "Real Issues" at the Same Time
We've all been there - you scroll through Facebook, you stumble upon an article, and before you can even click in to read and judge it for yourself, you spot it: the inevitable "Who cares?" sitting atop the list of comments like a harbinger of hostility. It's typically followed by an effusive reply: "You, since you took time to comment!," which feels like vindication but really just opens a whole new can of worms. This trifecta of passive aggression is finally rounded out with some variation of "This is news?," "Focus on the real issues!," or "There are more important things going on in the world right now."
This bothers me for a few reasons, none of which involve the fact that it's literally my job to care about and cover those so-called "unimportant" things. It is, of course, entirely possible to care about more than one thing at the same time. Our brains can process, store, and maintain an incredible amount of information; that's why you can walk and chew gum at the same time, or worry about world hunger while also wondering what you're going to eat for lunch that day. But this sentiment also implies that only hard, serious news is "important," and ignores the reality: that it's just really, really exhausting to be focused on the "real issues" all the time.
It implies that only hard, serious news is "important" and ignores the reality: that it's just really, really exhausting to be focused on the "real issues" all the time.
The past two years have been pretty rough, both mentally and emotionally, where the news is concerned: I personally am simultaneously stressed out about everyday life things like succeeding at work, paying bills on time, and maintaining personal relationships while also dealing with the added anxiety of mass shootings, police brutality, rape culture, climate change, and Donald Trump being president. On top of dealing with street harassment and the possibility of being hit by a Muni bus while walking in the city, I also have to consider the chances of my family members being racially profiled by police and my friends traveling abroad being caught in a terrorist attack. There are "real issues" that plague us every day in our families, our friend groups, our romantic relationships, and our neighborhoods. I'm well aware of the "real issues." I'm fully caught up on the "actual news." And like many other people, I'm f*cking drained.
That is precisely why, when a famous couple gets engaged or divorced, a superhot actor goes shirtless on the beach, or Beyoncé announces that she's pregnant with twins, we should let ourselves care about it. We should give ourselves (and each other) the freedom and space to get excited and express enthusiasm about celebrity news, because it offers a respite from all the completely depressing things going on - at least until another completely depressing thing happens.
As Cheryl Strayed once wrote: "There are so many things to be tortured about, sweet pea. So many torturous things in this life." Life isn't easy, and we all need something to help us through it. For some people, it's yoga and meditation; for others it's reading about all the women Leonardo DiCaprio has dated, poring over photos of Prince George, or watching the drama unfold between Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift. The best part is that there's room for all of it; you can support the Black Lives Matter movement while also hoping that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner get back together, and you can follow this trash fire that is a Trump presidency with the same fervor as you follow Chrissy Teigen's Instagram account.
The next time somebody tries to make you feel bad for essentially taking a break from the "more important things going on in the world," calmly remind them that as a living, breathing, human person, you are fully capable of grasping both world news and pop culture headlines. When it comes to what you turn to for self-care (especially in trying times), you just need to do you. At the end of the day: who cares?
dimanche 14 janvier 2018
Here's What You Need to Know About the Big Changes Coming to Your Facebook News Feed
Big changes are coming to your Facebook News Feed, and they're all centered on "bringing people closer together."
On Jan. 11, the social media giant announced a massive algorithm shift that, according to Facebook's Head of News Feed Adam Mosseri, will "prioritize posts that spark conversations and meaningful interactions between people" and minimize the onslaught of news stories from brands and publishers. To be clear, you'll still see content from the pages you follow, but "posts from friends and family" will be ranked above "public content."
CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the changes in a Facebook post, noting that the platform had "gotten feedback from our community that public content -- posts from businesses, brands and media -- is crowding out the personal moments that lead us to connect more with each other."
So what exactly do these changes mean for you? According to Facebook, here are four types of posts you can expect to see a whole lot more of in your News Feed going forward.
Major Life Events
You know how you've been seeing a bit more of your friends and family highlighting their most meaningful moments? Those births, engagements, first steps, first pets - all of them are going to make their way back to front and center on the News Feed.
Personal News
Instead of seeing what's going on in the world without any tether to the people you know, you're going to begin to see more of what people are grappling with on a daily basis. Be it brilliant news or the absolute worst, Facebook is aiming to make it easier to provide support to those who need it.
Big Events
Facebook uses Oprah Winfrey's epic Golden Globes speech as a touchpoint for what we'll be seeing in terms of newsy events - basically anything that gets people talking in a productive, meaningful way will be prioritized over "engagement bait" that's merely out for "likes" and comments.
Recommendations and Advice
Facebook prioritized all things local and community-based earlier this year, so it won't come as a surprise that it's going to start surfacing those little boxes that have begun popping up requesting advice and recommendations. To date, these have mainly been used to garner recommendations for a trip or a big move, but expect to start seeing this extend more toward personal advice and how to deal with the everyday issues we face in our lives.
mercredi 26 avril 2017
Google and the Founder of Wikipedia Just Took Major Steps to Combat Fake News
The problem of fake news is one that isn't going away anytime soon. It's led Google to announce a new change to its search engine algorithm to help combat disinformation - and even inspired the founder of Wikipedia to launch a new site to tackle fake news.
Google's search engine was under scrutiny in December 2016 for surfacing Holocaust denial stories when people searched "Did the Holocaust happen?" To fix fake news problems like these, the company is making four key changes. The first change Google is making is to its "Search Quality Rater Guidelines." Those guidelines, used by real people who evaluate Google's search results, will now include information on how to flag hoaxes, conspiracy theories, and "unexpected offensive results." The company is also tweaking its "signals" to "surface more authoritative pages and demote low-quality content."
However, if you spot some fake news, it's even easier to help Google out. Both in autocomplete searches and "featured snippets," which are search results that show a small preview answering your question, you'll find a now-easier-to-locate "Feedback" option. Highlight what's wrong with the search answer and send it away to Google.
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, has a different approach to fake news. According to Wired, the minute he heard Kellyanne Conway say "alternative facts" is the moment he came up with the idea of Wikitribune. Similar to Wikipedia, Wikitribune will also have a team of journalists and volunteers who will edit any content that goes up. The site will be free of ads and the company "will publish its financials regularly" as a means of transparency. However, to make this dream come true, it'll need donations to its initial campaign. At the time of writing, Wikitribune has 4,243 supporters and has "hired" two out of 10 journalists needed to get the project up and running.
While it's unlikely that 10 hardworking journalists will be able to eradicate fake news by themselves, with the help of citizen watchdogs and Google's more focused efforts, we're hopeful they can make a dent.
mardi 10 octobre 2017
Rex Tillerson May or May Not Have Called Trump a Moron, but Trump Once Tweeted It About Obama
President Donald Trump has always been adamant that his Twitter habit is essential to his style of governance, that those individuals who truly want to MAGA are the ones he's successfully reaching with his 140-character messages. Whether or not that's actually true is up for debate, but there is one thing that we can all be certain of: thanks to years upon years of Trump sharing his thoughts with his followers, he's made it so that there's an archive of his real-time feelings about basically everything. Unfortunately for the Trump administration and its attempts at policymaking, those documented opinions don't always match up with what he's now putting forth publicly as President of the United States.
As a result, "there's always a tweet" has become a common refrain among the denizens of Twitter, the weary political media, and anyone looking to put some sense behind a pattern of seemingly illogical actions. Take, for example, the latest White House drama: a series of strange events that kicked off after news that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was unhappy with the current administration, wanted to leave, and thought that the president was a "moron." Spoiler alert: yes, there's a tweet - but let's step back and review the situation first.
On Oct. 4, NBC News published the comprehensive reporting that documented Tillerson's increasing fury with the White House and his desire to make an exit - one that was purportedly only staved off by an intervention from Vice President Mike Pence. For most administrations, this would be a small thing to address in a calm, damage control-related way - but not this one. Instead, a solo press conference was announced, and Trump immediately took to Twitter to lash out at NBC (which, for the record, he's still pissed off at for not supporting him after he gave them "great ratings" with The Apprentice.)
Wow, so many Fake News stories today. No matter what I do or say, they will not write or speak truth. The Fake News Media is out of control!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2017
NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2017
During the 11 a.m. press conference, Tillerson refuted the implication that he had ever considered leaving the administration. Trump again took to Twitter a mere 18 minutes after his secretary of state approached the podium, ostensibly to ensure that everyone knew that the story was false and that Tillerson had confirmed that fact in a public setting.
The @NBCNews story has just been totally refuted by Sec. Tillerson and @VP Pence. It is #FakeNews. They should issue an apology to AMERICA!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2017
But here's the thing. Semantics are everything when you use Twitter to communicate, and while Tillerson did in fact deny some parts of NBC News's reporting, he quite notably did not deny calling Trump a moron. And that fact wasn't lost on many who witnessed the whole thing as it unfolded throughout the morning - including California Sen. Ted Lieu.
Dear @realDonaldTrump: Many Americans watched press conference of Rex Tillerson. He didn't deny calling you a Moron, as reported by @NBCNews https://t.co/TdNZub9zcW
- Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) October 4, 2017
At this point, it's pretty clear that Tillerson said something - but we'll probably never know his exact words. Instead, we'll likely be treated to several more days of attacks on NBC and the fake news media - and, of course, the knowledge that with regard to the Tillerson-NBC-Trump saga, we can now officially continue on the legacy of there always being a tweet.
Behold: the ultimate proof that what goes around, comes around. We hope you're out there laughing your ass off, Mr. Obama.
An interesting cartoon that is circulating. http://pic.twitter.com/OPG2R2ytkr
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2014
dimanche 30 avril 2017
Google and the Founder of Wikipedia Just Took Major Steps to Combat Fake News
The problem of fake news is one that isn't going away anytime soon. It's led Google to announce a new change to its search engine algorithm to help combat disinformation - and even inspired the founder of Wikipedia to launch a new site to tackle fake news.
Google's search engine was under scrutiny in December 2016 for surfacing Holocaust denial stories when people searched "Did the Holocaust happen?" To fix fake news problems like these, the company is making four key changes. The first change Google is making is to its "Search Quality Rater Guidelines." Those guidelines, used by real people who evaluate Google's search results, will now include information on how to flag hoaxes, conspiracy theories, and "unexpected offensive results." The company is also tweaking its "signals" to "surface more authoritative pages and demote low-quality content."
However, if you spot some fake news, it's even easier to help Google out. Both in autocomplete searches and "featured snippets," which are search results that show a small preview answering your question, you'll find a now-easier-to-locate "Feedback" option. Highlight what's wrong with the search answer and send it away to Google.
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, has a different approach to fake news. According to Wired, the minute he heard Kellyanne Conway say "alternative facts" is the moment he came up with the idea of Wikitribune. Similar to Wikipedia, Wikitribune will also have a team of journalists and volunteers who will edit any content that goes up. The site will be free of ads and the company "will publish its financials regularly" as a means of transparency. However, to make this dream come true, it'll need donations to its initial campaign. At the time of writing, Wikitribune has 4,243 supporters and has "hired" two out of 10 journalists needed to get the project up and running.
While it's unlikely that 10 hardworking journalists will be able to eradicate fake news by themselves, with the help of citizen watchdogs and Google's more focused efforts, we're hopeful they can make a dent.
Google and the Founder of Wikipedia Just Took Major Steps to Combat Fake News
The problem of fake news is one that isn't going away anytime soon. It's led Google to announce a new change to its search engine algorithm to help combat disinformation - and even inspired the founder of Wikipedia to launch a new site to tackle fake news.
Google's search engine was under scrutiny in December 2016 for surfacing Holocaust denial stories when people searched "Did the Holocaust happen?" To fix fake news problems like these, the company is making four key changes. The first change Google is making is to its "Search Quality Rater Guidelines." Those guidelines, used by real people who evaluate Google's search results, will now include information on how to flag hoaxes, conspiracy theories, and "unexpected offensive results." The company is also tweaking its "signals" to "surface more authoritative pages and demote low-quality content."
However, if you spot some fake news, it's even easier to help Google out. Both in autocomplete searches and "featured snippets," which are search results that show a small preview answering your question, you'll find a now-easier-to-locate "Feedback" option. Highlight what's wrong with the search answer and send it away to Google.
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, has a different approach to fake news. According to Wired, the minute he heard Kellyanne Conway say "alternative facts" is the moment he came up with the idea of Wikitribune. Similar to Wikipedia, Wikitribune will also have a team of journalists and volunteers who will edit any content that goes up. The site will be free of ads and the company "will publish its financials regularly" as a means of transparency. However, to make this dream come true, it'll need donations to its initial campaign. At the time of writing, Wikitribune has 4,243 supporters and has "hired" two out of 10 journalists needed to get the project up and running.
While it's unlikely that 10 hardworking journalists will be able to eradicate fake news by themselves, with the help of citizen watchdogs and Google's more focused efforts, we're hopeful they can make a dent.
vendredi 29 décembre 2017
Take Back Control of Your News Feed With Facebook's Snooze Feature
There's never been a civil way to handle that twice-removed aunt or former childhood bestie who cannot help themselves from oversharing on Facebook. You know the one I'm talking about, that person who constantly posts photos of the same thing (a pet, a child, their meals) and clogs up your News Feed day after day. The statement that unfriending them would make is just not worth the headache, and honestly, you love to see what they're up to, but you don't want to be inundated with that (pet, child, meal) every time you open up Facebook. Well, as of Dec. 15, we finally have a way to properly filter our News Feeds - all while being completely invisible to those social media offenders who drive us up the wall.
The new feature is called Snooze, and it allows you to hide all posts from any given Facebook friend for 30 guilt-free days. The best part, though, is that you're not actually unfriending or blocking the individual - so while your News Feed gets a little breathing room and you get more visibility on what your other friends are doing, you can always view that person's profile directly and see all of what you're not seeing in your News Feed on your own time. The process is also simple; in the drop-down menu on the top-right corner of any post, click "Snooze" - and voila, you've just taken a much-needed step toward restoring your social media sanity.
Oh, and did we mention that this works for groups and pages as well? If you're tired of hearing about the same old bad news from a website but don't want to permanently kiss it goodbye, it's super easy to just Snooze it, too. Ultimately, it's the first time we've been able to have this level of control over what we see day to day in the News Feed, and I can't recommend highly enough that you test out some social hygiene over the holidays and see what your life would be like without feeling super jealous of your friend who travels the world or that page that constantly shows you delectable dishes that will kill your Winter diet. Unlike most things in 2017, it's a temporary decision that you can extend if you so choose - so don't be afraid to take the plunge, and give Snooze a whirl today.
samedi 6 janvier 2018
Take Back Control of Your News Feed With Facebook's Snooze Feature
There's never been a civil way to handle that twice-removed aunt or former childhood bestie who cannot help themselves from oversharing on Facebook. You know the one I'm talking about, that person who constantly posts photos of the same thing (a pet, a child, their meals) and clogs up your News Feed day after day. The statement that unfriending them would make is just not worth the headache, and honestly, you love to see what they're up to, but you don't want to be inundated with that (pet, child, meal) every time you open up Facebook. Well, as of Dec. 15, we finally have a way to properly filter our News Feeds - all while being completely invisible to those social media offenders who drive us up the wall.
The new feature is called Snooze, and it allows you to hide all posts from any given Facebook friend for 30 guilt-free days. The best part, though, is that you're not actually unfriending or blocking the individual - so while your News Feed gets a little breathing room and you get more visibility on what your other friends are doing, you can always view that person's profile directly and see all of what you're not seeing in your News Feed on your own time. The process is also simple; in the drop-down menu on the top-right corner of any post, click "Snooze" - and voila, you've just taken a much-needed step toward restoring your social media sanity.
Oh, and did we mention that this works for groups and pages as well? If you're tired of hearing about the same old bad news from a website but don't want to permanently kiss it goodbye, it's super easy to just Snooze it, too. Ultimately, it's the first time we've been able to have this level of control over what we see day to day in the News Feed, and I can't recommend highly enough that you test out some social hygiene over the holidays and see what your life would be like without feeling super jealous of your friend who travels the world or that page that constantly shows you delectable dishes that will kill your Winter diet. Unlike most things in 2017, it's a temporary decision that you can extend if you so choose - so don't be afraid to take the plunge, and give Snooze a whirl today.
Articles
