WARNING: Spoilers from Season 6 of American Horror Story below. Do not continue reading unless you want all the mind-blowing (pun intended again) tidbits about what's to come this season.
Though I'm still missing some Evan Peters in my life this season, the show kind of made up for it tonight with the introduction of psychic Cricket (Leslie Jordan). Not only did Cricket serve to seriously move the plot forward in a much-needed way, but he also helped put together the bigger pieces of the puzzle for the series.
It seems like things with the show are finally gearing up after a confusing and, admittedly, pretty cliché first couple of episodes.
So what's creator Ryan Murphy getting at this season?
Well, it's definitely something, and it's coming in Episode 6.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Cuba Gooding Jr. explained, "The first season to me, if you watch those 13 episodes — it’s like what The Twilight Zone did with one episode. This season, remember I said that. When you see this season, you’ll realize how to interpret that Twilight Zone idea to an entire other level. When your head goes ‘boom’ and you’ve got brains all over the wall, you’re going to be like, ‘Motherfucking Cuba Gooding Jr.' I wish I could tell you when it happens, but I can’t."
Thanks to statements like that, fan theories have been igniting the internet like crazy. The main theory is that Roanoke will connect the previous five seasons in a bigger, overriding story arch.
Each episode this season thus far seems to confirm that theory.
Episode 1: "Murder House"
Happy, attractive couple buys haunted house.
Episode 2: "Asylum"
Matt wakes up in the middle of the night to discover two crazed nurses murdering an elderly patient. We then get the backstory on the retirement community gone wrong.
Episode 3: "Coven"
Leslie Jordan returns to the show as medium Cricket. Though he's playing a different character in Roanoke, the only other season Jordan appeared in was, conveniently, Coven. He also references New Orleans in the episode, where Coven took place.
Episode 4: "Freak Show"
Though we don't know exactly what's in store for Episode 4, we can only assume it will follow the pattern of the last three episodes. We know that Freak Show will definitely play a role at some point, at the very least.
Murphy told Entertainment Weekly, "We explain how the Motts began, which is funny." The Motts appeared in Freak Show, specifically, killer Dandy Motts played by Finn Wittrock.
That means Episode 5 will be something about Hotel. Maybe the Millers will finally get a clue and get the heck out of that house only to head to a precarious hotel?
And it also means that Episode 6 is going to get real weird.
The big theory out in the world of the internet is that the show will be breaking the fourth wall, meaning the characters who have just been sitting being interviewed thus far will be getting in on the action in some Twilight Zone kind of freaky way.
Do you think American Horror Story will connect all the previous seasons in Episode 6 of Roanoke?
Anti-virus software pioneer John McAfee has been making headlines this week because the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission subpoenaed information from his company, MGT Capital Investments, resulting in its stocks plummeting. But aside from his stock issues, McAfee has also been the subject of some incredibly damaging allegations.
According to Huffington Post, McAfee is the subject of a Showtime documentary titled Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee, which, among other things, links him to the murders of two men in Belize.
The documentary is helmed by Nanette Burstein and takes a look into what happened in Belize — a country from which McAfee allegedly fled in 2012 after police wanted to question him in connection with the death of his neighbor. Burstein spent three months in the country, investigating and interviewing many of McAfee's former confidants, bodyguards and even his ex-girlfriends, who make him seem like a very dangerous man.
The film debuted at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month, and while there is a buzz surrounding it, one person who is incredibly unimpressed with the film is McAfee (obviously). And although he declined to be interviewed as part of the documentary, he has wasted no time in rubbishing the claims that it made.
Taking to Twitter, McAfee referred to the documentary as "fraudulent."
John McAfee Twitter 3
John McAfee Twitter 3
John McAfee Twitter 2
John McAfee Twitter 2
He also posted a photo from a newspaper in Belize that features some of the people in the documentary, and he claims that they were paid by the filmmakers in return for their interviews.
John McAfee Twitter
John McAfee Twitter
However, Burstein denied these allegations, telling Huffington Post that McAfee gets what he wants because of "scare tactics."
"He's literally using scare tactics and money, the same things he was doing when he was living [in Belize] to accomplish what he wants. He has people on the payroll there," she claims.
On the other hand, McAfee has made a statement to People magazine, in which he calls the claims "nonsense." He said, "Let me make this perfectly clear. I had absolutely nothing to do with the murder of [his neighbor] Gregory Faull or anyone else. And I have certainly never raped anyone."
Claims that Burstein counters, as she told the publication, "He's incredibly smart and charismatic, but at the same time he obviously likes to bend the rules and often talks about how he pushes the limits. When he went to Belize, I think he thought he could bend the rules quite a bit."
Documentary on John McAfee
Documentary on John McAfee
McAfee has also written a long rebuttal to the film, published in Medium and titled Showtime: Send the Money to this Address. In it he slams Showtime for "inducing people to fabricate stories for their documentary."
What do you think of the documentary and the claims made within it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
If you've ever spent time with a Chihuahua, then you know that not all dog breeds are made for hunting. And yet some breeds take to the blind better than others because it's what they were bred to do. For example, Labs are known for being some of the best duck hunters around, while pointers will excel on any quail hunt.
Of course, these breeds still make for great companions — they're man's best friend, after all. But when you're looking for a furry buddy that also loves the thrill of the chase, these hunting dogs are some of our top picks.
1. Labrador retriever
Image: RubberBall Productions/Getty Images
There’s a reason these family-friendly dogs have moisture-repellent coats and webbed feet and it’s not just to go chasing after balls thrown in the pool. Labs are great swimmers, which makes them a great choice for duck hunting. The name says it all: These dogs are the perfect retrievers and their gentle bite means they will bring you back your kill without harming it. Labradors are smart, eager to please and good-natured, making them a great hunting companion in a variety of situations.
Another dog that lives up to its name, you’ll often see coonhounds with their noses to the ground. They are persistent and determined hunters who will stay on track regardless of the conditions or terrain. This outgoing and friendly breed is relatively laid-back compared with other hunting dogs, but don’t be surprised if they tree the neighborhood cats.
This breed is best known as a bird dog but is equally adept at tracking land animals, from raccoon to deer. They are highly intelligent and easy to train. They are considered to have the best scenting ability of all the bird dogs. As their name suggests, they don’t flush but rather stop and point. This loyal watchdog requires a lot of activity and stimulation.
4. Brittany
Image: digitalfarmer/Getty Images
This breed is intelligent, high energy and eager to be trained to hunt. It is best known as a bird dog and has the ability to point and retrieve. They are good-natured and relatively smaller than most hunting dogs, making them a popular choice for families as well. Brittanys have a tendency to roam due to curiosity, so good training is necessary.
The familiar howling that might get this breed in trouble with your neighbors is the reason it is an excellent hunting companion. Combined with its strong scenting ability, its high energy and its merry personality, the beagle is a great hunting dog both alone and in packs. Beagles are trackers by nature and tend to be a bit stubborn, so they need good training. Their small size makes them a good option for rabbit or quail hunting.
Not to be confused with the famous First Dog, the Obamas' Portuguese water dog, Bo, although the breed likely descends from the Portuguese water dog and the spaniel. In other countries this breed is often used to herd sheep or goats but is most efficient as a bird dog in water; its thick coat makes it a bad option for hunting in dense brush. These dogs have also been used in search-and-rescue missions and in law enforcement bomb and narcotics divisions.
Like the Labrador retriever this family friendly and popular breed is the perfect companion on a duck hunt. Golden retrievers are highly intelligent and easy to train, have a friendly disposition, and are hard workers. They are often used as search and rescue dogs. Golden retrievers are active and energetic and thus require a lot of activity.
This breed is thought to be the combination of foxhounds, greyhounds and coonhounds. That combination makes it not only a good hunter but strong, with good stamina. As the name suggests, these dogs point out the birds or other prey so the hunter can make her move. They can stay on a hunt for hours without losing energy -- which means they need a lot of activity when they are not on a hunt.
Don’t let their small size and sweet disposition fool you -- these dogs make excellent hunters. They are known for their high energy, which sustains them through long hunts, and their ability to adapt to a variety of terrain. They have a gentle grip, which is perfect for retrieving birds. As the name suggests, they typically track prey and “spring” to scare the birds out for the hunter to shoot. They are eager to please and make a great family companion.
These dogs were originally bred to hunt fox, as the name suggests. Their keen eyesight, small size and stamina make them a great choice for small animals and birds. They are rarely used for hunting today but they are known to dig for vermin and make an apt choice for anyone looking for a small hunting dog. Their small size allows them to fit into cramped spaces and chase animals right out of their dens.
Originally published March 2012. Updated September 2016.
It's been four months since Calvin Harris and Taylor Swift broke up, and yes, people are still talking about their split. But what was once a bitter breakup (there are even rumors that Harris threw low-key shade at Swift and Tom Hiddleston in his track "Olé") may be becoming more civil as time goes on.
According to a new report from HollywoodLife, there's a reason Harris wants to be friends with Swift — and before you get too excited, it's got nothing to do with his hopes of their getting back together.
A source told the publication: "Calvin wants to be friends with Taylor because he makes hits with her, and he doesn't want to be a future hit for her." That's right, people: According to this report, it's all about business for Harris, and instead of becoming the inspiration behind another one of Swift's breakup songs (which we're not knocking, because she's an incredibly talented songwriter), he'd rather collaborate with her — and we all know just how successful their last collaboration on "This Is What You Came For" was.
"He doesn't want to be a punchline and reached out to her to make amends with her," the source revealed, adding that, unlike most other celebs, Harris prefers to stay out of the limelight and live a relatively drama-free existence. "He lives his life mostly drama free and wants that to continue with his relationship with Taylor even if they don't return to romance," the source adds.
It's no secret that Harris' split from Swift was particularly difficult for him because it played out so publicly, but if this report is true, we're happy to hear that he wants to be friends with Swift, because really, life is too short to be bitter. Oh, and we also have selfish reasons for wanting Swift and Harris on good terms — we'd love to hear another Harris-Swift collaboration.
I used to believe the stereotype that pit bulls are dangerous dogs. Whenever there was a dog-on-person attack in the news, it involved a pit bull or pit mix. Why would anyone want these dogs for pets? As far as I knew, the only people who wanted them were illegal dog fighters; boy was I wrong.
When I started volunteering for a pet rescue, I became more exposed to pit bulls. They still intimidated me, but I started to see that despite their neglect and abuse, they were still forgiving and trusting animals. It broke my heart. Then came the pit bull mix that forever changed the way I felt about the breed: Mr. Bones.
The big black dog
Image: Linda Morrissey Witmond
For starters, Mr. Bones is a bull mastiff/pit bull mix. Both breeds can be intimidating just by the way they look. I first saw Mr. Bones in a Facebook photo posted by a rescue dog foster group, begging for someone to foster him. To look at him was heart-wrenching; he was in such bad shape that initially, it was believed that he was hit by a car. Once the vets examined him, it was evident that his injuries were caused by attacks from other dogs. The poor dog was chained in a yard and repeatedly attacked by other dogs, resulting in several fractures in his jaw that had to be wired. On top of all of his physical injuries, he was also heartworm positive.
A foster did step up to care for Mr. Bones, and she spent the next few weeks tending to his fractured jaw and injuries. More importantly, she gave him the love he'd never had while being chained and left defenseless in a yard. As his injuries healed, his foster mom started sharing pictures of her new charge on social media. She dressed him up in clothes and he modeled them with no complaint. What captured my attention the most were his eyes. They are the most beautiful shade of amber and full of kindness. Every day I would check my Facebook in hopes of seeing a new picture of Mr. Bones. Finally, I decided to meet him.
Meeting the famous Mr. Bones
Image: Linda Morrissey Witmond
As I approached the front door of Mr. Bones’ foster home, I heard a cacophony of noise behind the door: a combination of barks, excited whimpers and scurrying toenails. There was one bark in particular that caught my attention: deep, slow and deliberate. “That has got to be him,” I thought to myself.
Linda, Mr. Bones’ foster mom, poked her head out, apologized for the chaos and asked me to give her a minute to put her personal dogs outside. I saw a big, black head with striking amber eyes peeking at me behind Linda.
Once inside, I was face-to-face with the biggest dog I had ever met. Seriously, he was huge — 90 pounds of pure muscle. Linda was trying to restrain his excitement, but any average person would have a hard time hanging on to this guy. I gave her a nod to indicate it was fine to let him go. She did and he barreled into me and jumped up to give me the biggest, most slobbery kiss. After all he’d been through, his greeting somewhat shocked me. Dog, you don’t even know me, yet you are acting like I’m a best bud you haven’t seen in years.
Linda told me that from the beginning, Mr. Bones was never aggressive toward people. Even when he was injured he was very sweet. Since he was probably used as a guard dog in someone’s yard, he had been chained up for most of his life. Neighborhood dogs would attack him, but no one ever broke up the fights. As a result, he has multiple scars all over his face and body. What landed him in the shelter were the multiple fractures to his jaw that his owners could not — or would not — treat.
Due to his experiences, he is suspicious of any dog that comes near him. Can you blame him? His foster mom has spent a tremendous amount of time rebuilding his trust. She has successfully integrated him into her pack of dogs. He still has a way to go in building up his trust toward other dogs, but he shows improvement each and every day.
Lessons learned
Image: Debbie Wolfe
As far as my opinion of one of the most intimidating looking dogs I’ve ever met? He’s a sweet little puppy in a big dog’s body. He’d gladly sit on your lap and catch the latest game. Overall, he’s so laid-back that even his game of chase-the-tail is in slow motion. This gentle giant has taught me a lot about first impressions. First, that first impressions can be misleading. Second, look at the eyes. The eyes of an animal will tell you everything. Finally, pit bull, bull mastiff, or Labrador — the outside doesn’t matter. It’s the inside we need to see. If only we could do this with people, too. Thank you, Mr. Bones, for teaching me a lesson about not judging the book by its cover. By the way, you look super dapper in a bow tie.
Mr. Bones is looking for a forever home. If you’d like to learn more about him, check out his Petfinder profile.
Being in a relationship is about having a positive experience together and growing as a couple to build a healthy union. There must be use of kind words and supportive comments. On Married at First Sight, one of the wives, Sonia, had an experience with her husband of 25 days, Nick, who made some very negative comments about not being attracted to her. She felt hurt by his words and chose to leave their home to get some distance from him. She tells the camera that he did not "build her up," which she expects from a husband, and she feels "anger and betrayal.” The expert, Rachel DeAlto, says that “Nick and Sonia can overcome this" and she supports that Sonia not move back in with Nick until she feels "emotionally safe.”
I very much agree that a couple needs to have emotional safety, but it is really difficult for a person to take back words after they have been spoken. Can they overcome this problem in the relationship?Nick tells the camera that he should "not have to work at anything" and he "cannot change how he feels.”
Pastor Calvin Roberson decides to talk to him to save the relationship. Pastor Calvin has the couple meet together to talk about what happened and Nick apologizes to Sonia.Sonia shares her feelings and appears to be able to communicate well with Nick, but it seems like Nick needs to figure out how to open up and share with her, as well as understand his own emotions.Sonia appears to maintain a positive outlook but decides to remain in her own place and the two continue to get to know each other after this obstacle.
To be able to support each other in an emotional connection comes means each person must understand and manage their own emotions. How does one learn about emotional expression or awareness? Often it takes a professional to help someone sort this out.
Sure, those ladies are pretty inspirational, for being dedicated enough to give their babies breast milk while still pursuing the athletic endeavors they enjoy. But maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to praise them. After all, the runner was only pumping, while the hockey player actually had to step off the ice to feed her child. I won’t be impressed until I see the following scenarios:
The figure-skating mom who is able to nail a triple axel with a child at her breast (the baby also needs to be wearing an outfit that coordinates with the mom’s, but isn’t too matchy-matchy).
The Olympic swimmer who can breaststroke while breastfeeding, but who can also successfully down anyone who tries to make any sort of pun about what type of stroke she’s doing because swimming while breastfeeding is a serious achievement and will not be diminished by tomfoolery.
The yogi who can breastfeed in a headstand position and the baby is also in a headstand. Namaslay, Mama.
The mom who only breastfeeds while she’s in plank position and her baby is laying on its back on the floor. Her core is, like, whoa.
The pumping pro tennis player who is able to nab a design deal from Nike and totally change the landscape of fashionable pumping-friendly on-court style. By the time she is retired and the baby is weaned, her baby has also earned its own endorsement deal.
The ultra-marathoner who runs two back-to-back marathons and breastfeeds a different child every mile (that’s 52.4 babies if you’re doing the math).
In a new video teaser for their reality show, Rob and his fiancée, Blac Chyna, admitted which celebrities they had crushes on when they were kids.
Chyna was pretty unapologetic about her childhood crush being Ricky Martin, and even busted out a quick rendition of "Livin' La Vida Loca."
Kim K was rob's childhood crush and twitter is dead 4
Kim K was rob's childhood crush and twitter is dead 4
Then she named Rob's childhood crushes. First was J-Lo. OK, we can deal with that. "That's pretty accurate," Rob said when Chyna threw Jennifer Lopez's name out.
Then, the worst possible thing happened. "J-Lo and..." Chyna said, pausing for effect. "Kim Kardashian."
And Rob's response? "That's also pretty accurate."
While we're over here cringing at our desks, so is the rest of the internet, apparently.
Kim K was rob's childhood crush and twitter is dead 1
Kim K was rob's childhood crush and twitter is dead 1
Kim K was rob's childhood crush and twitter is dead 2
Kim K was rob's childhood crush and twitter is dead 2
Kim K was rob's childhood crush and twitter is dead 3
Kim K was rob's childhood crush and twitter is dead 3
Seriously, though. Rob has always been kind of weird in a quirky way. But this crosses a new line. This is just gross and uncomfortable and awkward and not cute. Stop it, Rob. It's too early for this shit.
Her elimination is still a head-scratcher. Mari Takahashi went from being an early fan-favorite to surprisingly becoming the second person voted off Survivor: Millennials Vs. Gen-X. Although filming wrapped in Fiji months ago, Mari tells us in our one-on-one interview that she's still upset about her tribemates blindsiding her. Plus, she reveals which castaway she harbors the most saltiness toward.
SheKnows: It was such a disappointment to watch you get voted out of the game so early. Based on first impressions, I figured you would go really deep.
Mari Takahashi: You and the rest of the internet, man. You and the rest of the Reddit-ers. I usually don't go on Reddit because I'm afraid of it. I was like, "Oh, man, people are going to be talking crap about me." But one night I went and looked at it. There are so many people who thought I was gonna go to the end. I'm so humbled by that. I'm just sorry that I disappointed, man.
SK: But you didn't really disappoint anybody because you didn't know it was coming. What was going through your mind when you were eliminated?
MT: Nobody walks into Tribal comfortable. At the same time, we were kind of distracted by the fact that we were at the legendary Tribal Council that we've seen on television so many times. Did that knock me off kilter? Was I soft? I don't know. There's a huge maybe in my mind because going up to it I thought the votes were solid [against Figgy] and if it was gonna go another way I sure as hell did not think it was my name being thrown out there because I never heard about it all day. During Tribal, we all know the side conversation was happening [between Michelle, Jay and Hannah]. I should've questioned it and been aggressive and asked what they were talking about. I think I sat back and was polite rather than going aggro. That was bad game play on my part, and I do blame myself for that as much as people say I can't blame myself for not seeing it coming.
Image: CBS
SK: You couldn't hear anything they were talking about before blindsiding you?
MT: No. The whispers were good. We all have mics on, so I guess it's picked up by them. I wish I had tipped the sound guy like $5 before to give me a signal if he heard anything. That would've been awesome. They were on the other side of Tribal, and it's interesting because it's done in a way that you really have to lean in in order to see the other people. I didn't see it coming. I felt like I got sniped.
Image: CBS
SK: When your torch was snuffed out you said one word: "Salty." How do you feel today?
MT: Salty. I'm still salty, dude. Salty is a word that is often used on the internet or gaming scene if you lose in a way it was cheesy, salty is what you say. I think it's really funny I said it because I don't think I even consciously knew what I was saying, which is pretty much what I would do in real life with a real game. I figured I just have to make it a thing now because it's funny I said it.
SK: Do you have any hard feelings or do you respect the move they made in taking you out?
MT: It's a little bit of both. If I remove myself enough from the emotions of the game, then I can absolutely say this was a smart move. Including Hannah who switched at the very last minute. It's important to remember Hannah's vote was not the catalyst for me going home. That was not the reason. She was just another vote in a number of votes that was already going one way. From that perspective, she made the right move. She found out during Tribal Council where the votes were going and she voted with the majority to keep herself safe. In that sense, I think it was smart. I can respect that. If salt-queen Mari with her emotions gets in the way, I'm still asking why. Of course, I'm upset but I try to be the removed Mari more than the other.
Image: CBS
SK: You say it was smart for Hannah to switch, but was it really? Just days earlier she was plotting with you to take out the "cool kids" like Taylor and Figgy, but she suddenly swaps her strategy and votes with them. Is that strong play considering that she's now turned to a group of people who down the line may not care she's even there?
MT: I think it is smart for the short-term because that evening she knows she's not on the bottom. Long-term she has to know she's at the bottom.
SK: Is Michelle the sole reason Figgy was spared?
MT: Yes. Michelle gets all the credit. Figgy is like the one banging all the pots and pans making a lot of noise, but Michelle is the one cooking the dinner. Does that make any sense? Michelle really got the ball rolling in a way which was sly and a good game move. Of course I'm not happy about that, but it was a good game move and I have to respect her for that. Within their four-person alliance [Jay, Taylor, Figgy and Michelle], she knew that Figgy's name was on the chopping block. So if Figgy goes home, the next person in that particular alliance has to be Michelle. There's no way the tribe is gonna take their two strongest physical players out of the game this early, and that would be Jay and Taylor. She really needed to keep Figgy to save herself, and that's a great move on her part.
SK: Are there any hard feelings toward the people who voted you off?
MT: I go back and forth. If I'm able to remove myself from it, I know it was a great game play. At the end of the day, I like them as people. But yeah, there are hard feelings. Like I said, I'm still salty and I don't think that's really gonna go away. That's not like me saying I hate these people. Salty is just the best word to describe it. There's a bitter taste in my mouth, and I want to play again. I almost wish it would be the same people, but I get a replay.
SK: Is there anybody in particular you're most salty with still to this day?
MT: I'd say the popular kids. That's probably me projecting high school Mari asking why they can't let everyone into their group. I think I'm the most salty with Figgy because she was so outspoken about her love connection with Taylor. She was basically running our tribe. She was very much loud and out there, yet she didn't see the consequences of all those actions. Instead, it was me that went home and I am salty about that.
SK: Do you think Taylor and Figgy have a future together?
MT: I don't know. We'll have to see.
Image: CBS
SK: If you could vote for a winner right now out of all the remaining players, who do you think is most deserving at this point?
MT: I gotta go with the charmers. I think David and Zeke are really charming, and they're not seen as direct threats. I think those are always the most dangerous ones. I could watch their confessionals all day. Give me an uncut version of all their confessionals.
Image: CBS
SK: How does somebody like you, a well-known video gamer, end up on Survivor?
MT: How did a ballerina become a video game player? Honestly, I don't know. All of my life is extremely random. Usually a video game player doesn't climb Kilimanjaro, and a ballerina doesn't jump out of airplanes or do stunt training. I feel like it's a hodge podge of random things that are probably all related to being very inspired by Lara Croft and Tomb Raider at a young age.
SK: So did you seek out Survivor? Did you apply?
MT: I didn't seek it out on my own. I was recruited by the casting people who casted my friends Joslyn and Erin on the last season of The Amazing Race. So they found me through their social network and I was pulled in. In that sense, I like to say I was training for Survivor my whole life and I didn't even know it.
Image: CBS
What are your thoughts on Mari's comments? Are you surprised by anything she said? Would you ever want to see her play the game again? Join the conversation and leave a comment below.
Combine blacklight with emojis and you have one memorable Project Runway concept. It's only fitting, then, that the most memorable look of the episode came from the most memorable cast member — Cornelius Ortiz, the most hated contestant of the season.
The challenge of the evening was the most intriguing thus far: transitioning from day to night. And not just any night on the town outfit — something that looks good under blacklight. I am all about multi-purpose outfits, so I was eager to see how the designers would take a basic, conservative look and transform it into a flashier, nightclub-worthy design.
Image: Lifetime
I learned a lot about blacklight fashion and seductive style tonight (including this very important tidbit: Tim Gunn's not a nipple guy). But the biggest lesson? The person everybody loves to hate often has the best ideas. Ortiz took a simple, tailored dress and transformed it into a barrage of emojis under blacklight. Normally, I'd scoff at the thought of an emoji dress, but this one was pretty cool.
I'm still not sure if Ortiz's concept resulted from laziness, condescension or a genuine love of emojis. Perhaps a mix of all three? It quickly became clear that he didn't take the challenge seriously and was merely hoping for a quick laugh. Ultimately, however, it didn't matter, because he brought a smile to the judges' faces, just as he wanted. Klum even said that she loved the look because it was so "now."
Image: Lifetime
The judges seemed to like Ortiz and his design a lot more than the show's viewers. While some critics took issue with the emoji-based design, most were more annoyed by the unsavory personality of the person responsible for the outfit. Ortiz is known for his shade, and he was just as condescending this evening as ever. His superior attitude and rude behavior could have made witnessing a fall from grace super enjoyable, but as annoying as he can be, you have to admire his ingenuity.
Cornlius emoji dress tweet
Cornlius emoji dress tweet
Cornelius hate tweet
Cornelius hate tweet
Personally, I like having a "love to hate" character on the show — especially one with just enough talent to deserve to be there. I get why viewers want Ortiz out, but they'll just have to wait. He's too talented to go home just yet.
While I can't say that the whole Jolex-DeLuca drama was resolved in any huge way on this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, I will say it was a powerful episode. To be honest, I felt like I was being punched in the guts through most of it — it was that emotional.
After more than a decade of getting invested in this character, watching Alex fall apart before our eyes was brutal. First, we find out that he is being charged with felony assault instead of a misdemeanor. Jo shows up at the hearing, but she stands in the back and expresses no solidarity for Alex.
Then, back at the hospital, he gets distracted and dismisses Ben's warnings that their young patient is showing signs of infection. Ultimately, it leads to the patient nearly losing the kidney he'd only recently received via transplant.
When Alex's ride-or-die, Meredith, comes to his defense, he tells her to open her eyes. "You're betting on the wrong horse, Mer." No, I'm not crying... fine, whatever, I totally am a little. But can you blame me?
We've all watched Alex evolve over the years into this great man. He's a great doctor — a pediatric surgeon, for goodness sake — and a great friend, to boot. Just as he has become Meredith's person in Cristina's absence, he's kind of become that person for every Grey's fan.
He's our guy.
So it was a bit of a bummer tonight when Bailey relegated him to the clinic. Or, wait... was it? For starters, did we know that the Denny Duquette Clinic was still in existence? I think not. They've referenced it a few times over the years, but little has been made of it the last few seasons.
Grey's: Clinic 1
Grey's: Clinic 1
Grey's: Clinic 2
Grey's: Clinic 2
Grey's: Clinic 3
Grey's: Clinic 3
Grey's: Clinic 4
Grey's: Clinic 4
Grey's: Clinic 5
Grey's: Clinic 5
When it has come up in conversation, it has generally been referred to as "the clinic." During this week's episode when Bailey tells Alex his penance, he very specifically says the full name. Obviously part of the reason is to underscore him going to work in a clinic named after the dead fiancé of his ex-wife. But could there be more to it than that?
Hear me out. We've all heard the rumors over the last year or so that Katherine Heigl's character, Izzie, could possibly be coming back to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. For the most part, these rumors have been debunked. However, until Shonda Rhimes herself says it will never, ever in a million years happen... there's still hope.
Alex being sent to work in the clinic is kind of taking the show back to basics, which is an intriguing move. Grey's has been around for a while, and it needs to find ways to keep viewers on their toes. And didn't Rhimes say at some point last year that this season would mark a return to its roots?
I've already speculated that Alex could be leaving the series soon, considering this latest storyline. After all, where would he go from here? Jo seems done with a capital D. He won't be able to work in the hospital until after the whole DeLuca drama dies down.
I'm not saying this is definitely going to happen, but isn't it possible they are setting his character up for a spinoff? You might be thinking a secondary medical series based off the Grey's franchise would be overkill, to which I would remind you that it worked for Addison's character with Private Practice.
She left Seattle for sunnier climes in Southern California at Seaside Wellness Center, and that show ran a respectful six seasons.
If Rhimes somehow spins a secondary series out of Alex and the clinic, it would — just like Private Practice — leave plenty of room for crossover episodes. It would also open the proverbial door for Izzie to come back. I mean, c'mon. She did pay for the clinic in the first place.
What are your thoughts? Would you tune into an Alex spinoff?
All the stops were pulled out for very special party guests Prince George and Princess Charlotte at a bash for military families at Victoria's Government House. Balloons, bubbles, a petting zoo, a puppet show… This is the young royals' first official public appearance since their arrival in Canada last Saturday, and they look like they're having the best time ever.
Princess Charlotte was dressed for the occasion in a blue and coral smocked dress by Pepa & Co, while her big brother was in a red and blue outfit of shirt, shorts and cardigan.
Image: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Princess Charlotte was rather taken with the therapy dogs.
A healthy vagina needs the same hygienic attention as any other part of your body and is similar to the way we care for our face. Between urine, sweat and being so close to the anus, cleaning the vagina regularly is critical to prevent dirty bacterial buildup, and the skin of the vagina is susceptible to dryness if not taken care of properly.
The vagina has a preferred pH balance that is perfect for the many protective organisms that live happily together in the vagina. Anything that disrupts this delicate balance could lead to vaginal misery such as an infection, dryness, itching or burning.
Causes of vaginal dryness
The causes of vaginal dryness can be obvious while others are less suspecting.
A main cause is hormonal influences. The two main hormonal assaults on the body causing a drop in estrogen and leading to vaginal dryness and dehydration are breast feeding and menopause. As long as you are breastfeeding, your estrogen levels plummet, causing vaginal dryness, burning and pain with exercise and sex. Once you stop breastfeeding, your estrogen levels return to normal and the vagina will return to its normal healthy and hydrated state.
Another common cause of vaginal dryness is menopause, which typically happens around age 51. Your ovaries permanently stop making estrogen. This leads to vaginal dryness, burning and pain with sexual activity. With the loss of estrogen to nourish and hydrate the vagina, the tissue becomes dry, pale, itchy and dehydrated. During menopause, there are helpful treatments to restore and hydrate the vagina caused by low estrogen levels.
Both of these hormonal conditions leading to vaginal dryness can be reversible by regularly rehydrating the vaginal tissue with products especially made for this sensitive part of our body.
But there are also plenty of other reasons for dryness. The vagina can be sensitive and temperamental, often affected by everyday routines including diet, stress, douching, and sex, especially if you haven’t had adequate foreplay.
Every day, unsuspecting feminine rituals can disrupt the pH balance and irritate all areas of the vagina. The list is long and some of the common offenders may surprise you. From fragrant soaps, to sanitary wipes and pads, to saliva or semen, to medications including the birth control pill, there are a number of products that could affect the moisture of your vagina.
What you can do
The effect of aging on our entire body, including our vagina, is inevitable. Regularly using a gentle, non-fragranced wash and natural skin moisturizer is ideal, especially ones made specifically for the vagina. Use a product that works with your body’s natural lubrication for times of dryness. Keeping your skin hydrated, clean and cared for will help prevent dryness, itching and premature aging. Adding oral or vaginal probiotics to your regimen will also keep the vagina in complete balance and harmony.
We can all agree: A hydrated vagina is a happy vagina!
Check out this video recap of Vagtails - a shameless conversation about vaginal health at #BlogHer16!
These happy little Frankenstein's monster pops don't seem to be bothered by having a bad hair day — they still manage to sneak in a smile. These cuties are easy to make and require only five ingredients plus the lollipop sticks.
Having some Styrofoam on hand is helpful so the pops can stand up while the candy coating sets and also when making a fun display of these edible creatures.
Image: Nancy Foster/SheKnows
And what's a Frankenstein's monster pop without bolts coming out of his neck? But it's not like there are a lot of "candy bolts" available at the store. So what I used was candy sprinkles that were colored to look like metal. Can you tell what these bolts really are?
Image: Nancy Foster/SheKnows
The "bolts" are actually candy Halloween spider sprinkles, but they were a great color for a metal "bolt." I guess spiders coming out of Frankenstein's neck are in line with Halloween, so why not?
Poke the lollipop sticks into the bottoms of the marshmallows.
To a microwave-safe bowl, add the candy melts, and melt them in the microwave according to the instructions.
Pick the first marshmallow that was lightly roasted to start with, because it will be the coolest. Holding the bottom of the lollipop stick, tilt the marshmallow over the bowl with the melted candy coating, and carefully spoon (using a small spoon) the coating onto the marshmallow. Use the back of the spoon to smooth out the coating on the sides and bottom of the marshmallow.
Add the eyes and candy sprinkles (for the neck "bolts").
Set the pop securely in the Styrofoam so that it stands upright. When all the pops are done, chill them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes so the candy coating sets.
Using an edible color marker, draw the mouth, scars and eyebrows on the faces.
These are best when served right away so that the roasted part of the marshmallows will stand up nicely. After a while, the roasted part of the marshmallow may sink in slightly.
Luckily, we've got the clip for you in all its painful detail before the show airs tonight.
Said entrepreneur, Nick Massie, presents his paleo microwave meal brand Ice Age Meals to the sharks and makes his first mistake by telling the sharks that his product will be a billion dollar industry. Rookie move, since the sharks don't like those grand ideas because they're usually false.
The sharks really smell the blood in the water, though, when Massie makes his second fatal error. When asked why the business will be a billion dollar industry, he stumbles and gives the deadly, "Uh..." of hesitation.
Kevin "Mr. Wonderful" O'Leary is the first to bite. And I don't mean "bite" because he wants to make an offer. I mean because he's ready to take a bite out of this guy.
"You've moved me," Mr. Wonderful tells the self-proclaimed "culinary ninja". And he says it in that Mr. Wonderful voice of his where you know it's going to be bad for poor Massie, who is pouring his heart and soul into this business.
O'Leary's poem goes as follows, "In cash I know, because I like to watch it flow; when I ask valuation, I want no hesitation; are you worth $10 million? Hell no."
Ouch.
O'Leary quickly gets right to the blunt end of the stick and tells Massie that his paleo warm-up meals are definitely not going to impress the sharks enough for a deal today.
Image: ABC
We'll have to wait and see if any of the sharks disagree when the show airs tonight.
Personally, I think it sounds like a brilliant idea. Massie equates his meals to the paleo version of Amy's, which are vegetarian microwave meals you can find in almost any grocery store. I would definitely go for paleo meals made easy. I try to keep my diet clean and, while I love Amy's, I do need some good protein in my day.
Look, getting in shape is hard work. It requires time, commitment and perseverance... but it doesn't need to overwhelm your life, especially when you're just getting back into the swing of things. Instead of diving into a two-hour-a-day, five-day-a-week program you know you'll just quit once you end up too sore to roll out of bed, why not ease your way in?
That's why I put together this simple 30-day fitness challenge. Even exercise physiologists with master's degrees in exercise science (yes, I'm talking about me) sometimes fall off the fitness wagon and need to ease their way back into an active life. If you want a simple start, you won't do better than this challenge. It's just one exercise a day, every day, for 30 days. You can even accomplish the suggested sets and time as you see fit. For instance, if three minutes of jumping jacks is too much to do at once, break it into six, 30-second segments. The point is to prioritize and complete each daily challenge, setting yourself up to build the baseline strength and confidence you can apply to a more stringent program.
Of course, you should always speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, so schedule an appointment before you get started.
Just like you used to do in PE class, start with your feet together, your arms at your sides. Hop both feet out laterally as you swing your arms out to the side and over your head. Immediately hop your feet back to center as you swing your arms back to your sides. If you have knee, hip or back pain, try stepping the exercise out by tapping one foot out laterally each time you swing your arms over your head, alternating which foot you tap to the side.
Air squats
Form is important when it comes to squats, so if it's been a while since you've done a few, you might want to set a chair behind you as a prop to help promote good form.
To do air squats, sometimes called body-weight squats, stand with your feet roughly shoulder distance apart, your toes angled slightly outward. Keep your weight centered over your heels (not the balls of your feet or your toes), then initiate the squat by pressing your hips back as if you were about to sit down in a chair. As you press your hips back, begin bending your knees to lower your glutes toward the floor. Keep your abs contracted, and look forward to prevent your chest from tipping toward your thighs. When your knees are bent to roughly a 90-degree angle (or, if you're using a chair as a prop, when your glutes tap the chair lightly), press through your heels, and reverse the movement to return to standing.
Modified pushups
Start on your hands and knees on the floor, your feet lifted, ankles crossed. Position yourself so your palms are slightly wider than shoulder distance apart and your body forms a straight line from your knees to your forehead. Bend your elbows, and lower your chest toward the floor, allowing your elbows to angle backward slightly, forming a 45-degree angle between your upper arm and your body. When your chest is about 3 inches from the ground, press through your palms, and extend your arms to return to the starting position. Make sure you don't crane your neck or drop your head between your arms as you perform each pushup.
You can perform the plank in a modified (knees on the floor) or full plank position. To perform the full plank, start with your forearms and knees on the floor so your elbows are positioned directly under your shoulders. Contract your core — the muscles spanning between your hips and your shoulders — and step your feet behind you so your body is fully extended, forming a straight line from heels to head. Make sure your hips don't sway toward the floor or jut up toward the ceiling. Hold the position steady for the time allotted.
To modify the plank, simply perform the same exercise but with your knees on the floor. It's best to try the modified position on your first few tries, then move to a full plank when you feel ready.
High-knee marching
Stand tall, your feet hip distance apart, your knees slightly bent and your core engaged. Shift your weight to the left, and draw your right knee as high as you can in front of your body as you swing your left arm forward, right arm back. Place your right foot back on the ground, shift your weight to the right, and draw your left knee as high as you can in front of you, this time swinging your right arm forward, your left arm back. Continue this alternate-leg marching movement for the duration of the exercise.
Stand with your feet hip distance apart, your knees slightly bent and your core engaged. You can place your hands on your hips or allow your arms to swing freely. Take a wide step forward with your right foot, and plant your right heel on the ground, allowing your left heel to come off the ground. Keeping your torso tall and centered between your feet, bend both knees, and lower your back knee toward the ground. Just before it touches down, press through your front heel, and return to standing. As you do so, lift your left foot from the floor, and swing your left leg forward into another lunge. Continue walking forward, alternating the lead leg as you perform the recommended number of lunges.
Make sure to keep your front knee behind your toes (your weight focused in the heel of your front foot) as you perform each lunge.
Chair dips
Sit on the front edge of a sturdy chair, your knees bent and feet together, and grip the front of the chair with both hands, just to either side of your hips. Press through your palms to lift your glutes from the chair so you're supported by your hands and feet. Keeping your core engaged, bend both elbows, and begin lowering your glutes toward the ground, just in front of the chair. When your elbows form roughly 90-degree angles, press through your palms to extend your arms, and return to the starting position.
This post was sponsored by Nicorette® and NicoDerm® CQ®.
UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got together on Wednesday to chat about feminism. Can these two just rule the world, please?
Watson, who has been a driving force behind the HeForShe campaign, was in Ottawa to attend the One Young World Summit and took the chance to touch base with PM Trudeau, the newest HeForShe ambassador, on Parliament Hill.
Trudeau, an outspoken feminist, made international headlines last year when he announced his cabinet would be have an equal number of men and women, a move Watson described as "inspiring". Earlier this year, the PM gave men some simple advice on how to be better feminists: "Don't interrupt women, and notice every time women get interrupted in conversation".
He also said during a discussion on gender equality at the United Nations in New York last month, "I'm going to keep saying loud and clearly that I am a feminist until it is met with a shrug".
Watson couldn't hide her joy at welcoming PM Trudeau to the HeForShe team, saying, "It’s been such an exciting visit for me to come visit your Parliament. It was so inspiring that you made your cabinet 50/50… We’re very excited that you’re a HeForShe Youth ambassador. I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do with that title".
And the admiration was mutual. Trudeau told Watson, “The HeForShe campaign has extraordinary impact around the world, making men champions of women’s issues that are everyone’s issues. Your voice is extremely important in making people realise how important this is”.
There's no doubt about it — Watson and Trudeau are a match made in feminist heaven.
A whimper. A growl. A twitch. Often, when she is sprawled out on the floor during one of her many daily snoozes, my dog Idgie appears to be lost in dreams — so much so, that I sometimes crawl on the floor and stroke her gray-flecked muzzle to comfort her when the dreams seem to be especially nightmarish. But do dogs really dream? And if so, about what?
Sometimes, when Idgie seems particularly restless in sleep and can't stop whining or whimpering, I wonder what tragedy she might be imaging mid-REM cycle. After all, she leads a pretty charmed life and has since she was a puppy.
While I may never know exactly what occupies Idgie's dreams, scientists do think they have at least one thing figured out about dogs and dreaming: It's the real deal. And on top of that, it's probably not too terribly different from dreaming in humans.
Here's how they came to that conclusion.
In 2001, researchers at MIT tracked the brain activity of rats as they tried to run a maze. They then measured the same rats' brain activity while they were in their REM cycle of sleep. The results? The brain activity was identical. The researchers therefore drew the conclusion that, when the rats were sleeping, they were actually dreaming of the maze they'd run earlier in the day.
As for how it pertains to dogs, researchers deduced that dogs and cats would experience dreams just as rats do, considering rats are intellectually less complex than these popular domestic pets. But what do dogs dream about, exactly?
According to Psychology Today, there is evidence to suggest they dream about, you know, doggy things: fetching, pointing, chasing cats. The dreams likely differ among breeds based on their genetic predispositions, in fact.
For example, a bird dog might dream he or she is flushing a covey of quail. A guard dog might dream of protecting his or her turf.
So if you see your dog dozing and realize their breathing has become slightly shallow and irregular, don't freak out. Your pup is probably just entering into his or her first dream, which happens about 20 minutes into any particular snooze sesh. This is when you'd notice those hallmark dream quirks my dog is so famous for in our household — the muscle twitches, the whimpering, the sniffing, etc.
And, just like humans, dogs probably also have nightmares. What exactly does a doggy nightmare look like, and how do you know if your pup is having one? Scientists would presume that dogs' nightmares are related to memories. If your dog had a scary moment IRL, there's a good chance that moment could haunt his/her dreams as well. Without a canine mind reader, it's hard to nail down whether your dog is having a regular 'ol dream or a nightmare, but there are a few signs that might indicate your dog is not having a dream of the happy variety. If you notice extreme twitching, whining or fearful behavior when they wake up, they may have experienced a nightmare.
Experts advise dog owners to fight the urge to calm their pet during a nightmare, despite how uncomfortable it can be for you to watch. We all want to be able to comfort our dogs when they are scared, but waking up a dog that is scared could potentially be dangerous. So as they say, let sleeping dogs lie and remember it's just a dream.
The soccer ball is on the neighbor’s garage roof again. As my 6-year-old son improves his drop-kick, practicing in the alley sometimes leads to hauling out the ladder. Part of the fun is watching my husband balance on the top rung, a long stick in hand, nudging the ball back down.
Such is life when your kid plays in an alley. It’s a wide one, recently paved, lined with ivy-covered buildings that are low enough to let in some sunlight, but still. It is not the undulating suburban yard that his cousins in Michigan enjoy, dotted with hockey goals and anchored by a swing set. It is a roadway in Chicago, and there are sometimes dead rodents on it. And man, does he love playing out there: baseball, soccer, bike-riding, remote control truck-driving — we do it all.
We play in an alley because we live in a city. We live in a city because my husband and I love it and don’t want to move, even though we have a child.
We’re luckier than a lot of city people in that we do have a small backyard. It’s about the size of two queen beds, and that’s where we set up the inflatable pool in the summer and build snow forts in the winter. About three blocks from our home are two playgrounds and a school soccer field and track. That’s where we go when we really need some space.
My son seems pretty darn happy with these arrangements. But equally as important — his parents are happy.
The move to the suburbs is a common migration for many couples: come to Chicago in their 20s, enjoy a few years of city life, have a baby, maybe two, and when kindergarten is in sight, head for suburbia for a bigger house, better schools and a yard. It’s a natural progression — and for some, a sacrifice made for the good of their children. Many parents seem wistful about leaving the city or talk about when they’ll return as empty nesters. It’s as if they feel they’re required to move because "responsible parents don’t raise children in a city." I want to pull them aside and say, “Pssst. Guess what. You could actually stay!”
Proof? There are close to 700,000 people age 18 or younger living in Chicago. Now, not everyone's experience in the Windy City is the same. There are vast differences in quality of life depending on where you live. My son’s experience is not the same as a boy living in a neighborhood torn apart by violence, poverty and drugs. (Although many non-Chicagoans seem to equate the city with those areas only. “Is it… safe where you live?”) For families in those neighborhoods, moving to a suburb may have a very different meaning.
But many Chicago children are thriving, just like their suburban counterparts. In our neighborhood, kids go to good schools, they play park district sports ($32 for eight weeks of soccer), they run around outside, they have lemonade stands. They might spend their summers at the Lake Michigan beach just blocks from home or at day camps for sports or languages or science or art or at outdoor festivals celebrating China or Puerto Rico or Poland.
I won’t say that urban parenting is always easy. It can be challenging to find quality education — especially the free kind. Traffic and parking are as bad as everyone says. Maneuvering a stroller onto a bus in the winter can induce sweaty panic. Children have less freedom to safely wander. There’s never enough closet space. And then there’s the soccer ball on the roof.
But for us, it’s worth the challenges, and it comes with huge benefits. My son goes to school with all sorts of kids — different races and ethnicities, different family structures. He loves riding the bus and train, where he’s exposed to all sorts of people. He hears multiple languages every day. He can ride his scooter alongside us to the grocery store, the library, the toy store, his dentist, music class, the pool and scores of restaurants. He understands what panhandling is. He sees women in chadors. He knows women who are married to each other.
He can learn to play Korean drums or visit a Korean market (which is especially valuable because he’s Korean). He can eat Cuban, Japanese and Middle Eastern food. He’s already visited more museums than I had when I started college. He has definitely been exposed to a much greater variety of experiences than I ever was as a child. We hope that he’s going to be more open-minded, well-rounded, intrepid and curious as a result.
On top of all this, my husband and I are just city people. For so many reasons — because we can walk everywhere and live simply in a smaller home and be part of such a big slice of the world. We won’t sacrifice urban life for suburban life, despite the bigger yards and better schools. The stimulation and just plain old interestingness of this lifestyle keep us here. It’s a rich experience that I want for my child, but also for myself. So we unfold the ladder and climb up once again, balancing the hassles with the joy.
Take Amber Rose, for example. The woman who has appeared on a red carpet wearing basically nothing but some gold chains admitted she felt shamed by Dancing With the Stars judge Julianne Hough during her performance this week.
"It was a point in the dance where I had to lift my leg up and Maks [Chmerkovskiy] dipped me and [Hough] said, 'Oh, I'm uncomfortable,' and instantly, I felt — I did feel body-shamed," Rose said to Loveline via a clip from E! News. "You know, all the beautiful professional dancers that are on Dancing With the Stars, I mean, they dress very sexy and they do the splits and they grind up on these guys and they look absolutely stunning and get a standing ovation."
She added, "And me, and my body, my hips, my ass, my breasts made her uncomfortable."
Hough later clarified her comments, and said that when she said, "I'm uncomfortable," during Rose's dance, it had nothing to do with her body.
"My 'uncomfortable' comment was about the fact that I felt like I wanted more out of the performance — when someone is doing a hot, sexy dance like that without the right amount of energy that is required, it can be uncomfortable to watch," she said. "Trust me, I'm all for a sexy booty dance!! We all know that! And any kind of body-shaming goes against everything I believe in."
Still, the misunderstanding highlights how difficult it can be for curvy women to participate in something like a dance competition, where the pros tend to be super-slender. If a woman as beautiful as Rose can lose her confidence, you know it's time to watch your words and make sure to be welcoming toward women of all shapes and sizes.
