Something strange happens to people when you have a baby.
At first, it's all congratulations and smiles and baby showers.
And then gradually, people begin second-guessing what you eat ("Are you sure brie is ok when you're pregnant?"), what you drink ("Well no, one sip of wine probably won't hurt the baby, but why would you ever take that risk?!") and what you do ("You're still running? But you're pregnant!!!").
It doesn't get any better when the baby's born, either. Your every decision is judged and scrutinized and literally nothing you do is right. If you breastfeed in public, you're a harlot who enjoys flashing her tits at innocent strangers. If you bottle feed, you're denying your child nature's most perfect substance, presumably out of pure spite. If you cloth diaper, you're a smug hippie who thinks she's better than everyone else. If you use disposables, you're slowly killing the planet one shitty diaper at a time.
It's an incredibly hard line to walk, and although I've had many times when I've felt overcome with gratitude at the way strangers have stepped in to help and encourage me since I became a parent four years ago, there have also been many times where I just wanted to snap, "Oh you can just fuck right off!"
Chrissy Teigen isn't just thinking it, though. She's saying it.
Teigen took to twitter once again to bluntly call out her worst critics in her typical sharp-witted way, and I for one fucking love her for it.
Chrissy Teigen parenting tweet
Chrissy Teigen parenting tweet
In this one screenshot, there are four different terrible comments:
One attacking adorable baby Luna for her apparent lack of emotion (um, what the actual fuck?).
Two offering standard "OMG your baby is freezing!" comments that all parents are used to hearing.
And the final one, which comes from someone incensed by the holes in Teigen's pants, the corresponding holes in her brain (what does that even mean?) and her hat, which they deem too expensive.
Let's break down this fuckery point by point:
First, baby Luna is the cutest thing ever and we have absolutely zero tolerance for baby shaming, kid-shaming or sideline judgments about whether or not a child displays appropriate levels of emotion. Boy, bye.
Second, stop telling parents to put more clothing on their kids. Seriously, just stop. With younger kids, trust that their parentsknow what clothing is or is not appropriate for their own children. With older kids, trust that the child is adequately able to decide for themselves.
Case in point: My daughter is a heater. She never wants to wear clothes. Since she was two years old we've had an agreement that she needs to wear pants, a shirt and shoes at the bare minimum, and I offer her additional sweaters and jackets and mitts and hats if I feel she needs them. From there on out, it's her choice whether she wears them or not.
If she doesn't wear them, guess what? She doesn't die, she gets cold, at which point I point out a sweater/coat/mitts/hat would have been a good idea, and she learns from natural consequences that she might want to make wiser decisions about her clothing next time.
And whereas I would have written an overwrought 1,300-word blog post about how these terrible comments affected me and why they're wrong, Teigen shuts it down with just four words: "Imagine being this miserable."
BAM!
I think I speak for all of us beleaguered parents (and my daughter, who to this day finds socks deeply offensive) when I say Chrissy Teigen, thank you.
On the morning of International Women's Day, morning commuters on Wall Street were met with a new and awesome presence: a bronze statue of a defiant little girl, arms akimbo and with a determined expression, facing down the district's famous "Charging Bull" statue. "The Fearless Girl" quickly drew crowds and has been the hottest selfie spot in New York City this week. Meanwhile, on the internet, the 50-inch, 250-pound statue, ponytail and all, has been a regular sight on every social media scroll.
Surprisingly, the story behind the overnight feminist sensation are two behemoth corporations: State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), a trillion-dollar financial firm, and McCann New York, one of the leading creative agencies in the world (who works for State Street). Unlike the bull statue, which was installed illegally by artist Arturo Di Modica in 1989, "Fearless Girl" was a well-executed "brand experience" masterminded by some of the best advertising minds around–and they got a permit to install the statue. Does that make the statement less meaningful? Some people thought so, including Huffington Post writer Emily Peck, who declared the stunt "kinda bull" and pointed out that State Street is still a Wall Street giant that doesn't have a great hiring history with women. The Twitter response was also mixed, with some finding offense at the marketing angle and others not loving that the statue is of a little girl, not a woman:
While Peck makes more than a few valid points, I think "The Fearless Girl" is all of the best parts of a marketing stunt, and that other businesses should follow its example.
First and foremost, the statue is more than an empty gesture. The stunt is the launch of a new campaign by SSGA actively encourages the 3,500 companies that it invests in to increase the number of women on their corporate boards–and it does so by pointing out that companies with women leadership are more financially successful.
Secondly, the piece was created by a woman (sculptor Kristen Visbal) and the campaign was brought to life by a creative team that included women at every level. It is not as if SSGA is not taking its own advice when it comes to the employment of women, even if there is much more work to do.
Finally, even though the statue does have something to do with marketing and branding, it shouldn't negate the impact of the piece on others. The art is real art, by a real artist, and even if it didn't make you feel something personally, there is no doubt that it has inspired and provoked millions of people across the world, in just a few days. No matter its origin, it has an effect–and that effect is overwhelmingly positive and, if the little girl is allowed to stay, long-lasting.
Marketing is usually a solely for-profit act–why should we be upset if companies are beginning to put more thought and and more activism into what has historically just been selfish, by-the-book advertising? The end result helps everyone. The fact that "The Fearless Girl" is a PR stunt should add to our praise of it, not take away from it.
After the presidential election, many individuals on both sides of the aisle have decided to stop being silent and to take open political actions. What is more surprising, though, is that corporations have also started speaking out politically. Budweiser, Audi, and Coca-Cola all premiered political ads during the Super Bowl this year, and other companies, like Airbnb and Penzeys Spices have taken vocal stances against new policies like the Muslim travel ban. If, as the Supreme Court decided, corporations are people, they have a responsibility to forward good causes and stand up for what's right just like anyone else. If they do so while also trying to build their reputation and improve their PR, that also only sounds human.
Do you think that businesses should be getting political? Sound off in the comments.
Rayna James [SPOILER] may have died, but the show must go on, as in literally, the show Nashville is still on the air. I know I told you that it wouldn’t be worth watching past Rayna’s (Connie Britton) funeral—but I was in mourning. We all say things we don’t mean when we’re in shock. Which seems to be the case since it was just announced that Rachel Bilson will be joining the cast in a recurring role, and I'm totally here for that.
We don't know what her roll will be yet, but we can and will delightedly speculate. Does Rachel Bilson sing? Will Rachel Bilson be a Juliette mean girl or a doe-eyed Scarlett? Does Rachel Bilson have a southern accent? She did drop a hint, posting a photo to Instagram of the Highway 65 logo—Rayna’s record label—with a headphone emoji.
Rachel Bilson Highway 65
Rachel Bilson Highway 65
Definitely reading into an emoji here, but with the combo of the record label mention, and the sound booth headphones nod, might we hope that she’ll be a new recording artist? If so, she’s going to have a lot of drama on her hands, because nothing heats up Nashville like some fresh competition (see: Scarlett and Zoey’s feud, Rayna and Juliette’s feud, Scarlett and Juliette’s feud, Layla and Juliette’s feud…okay, most of it has to do with Juliette, but you get my point).
Last we saw Bilson she was Dr. Zoey Hart on the CW’s Hart of Dixie — a totally underrated show in my opinion that was as much of a satire on the self seriousness of small town shows (True Blood, Friday Night Lights, Gilmore Girls), as it was it's own drama, but with a sense of humor. HOD’s fictional BlueBell, Alabama was about as stereotypically southern as it gets, with a full antebellum yearly fair, lots of shirtless dudes outside, baked goods obsessions, and plenty of hunting and fishing references. So Bilson is no stranger to southern tropes and accents. But Nashville is a different beast, being based on a real city that takes itself much more seriously. So here are some tips for Bilson as she goes from backwoods doctor, to (fingers crossed) Nashville songstress.
That girl is deeply unhinged. Fans of the show (myself included) have of course learned to love her over time, understanding that her rough childhood led her to being a catty tornado (literally she can be a tornado made of cats sometimes). And also everyone loves a female character that makes them feel a little bit better, or at least more understood, when they knock back a few martinis and then go snapchat their boobs in the bar bathroom. But Juliette has also has had some great growing moments, like helping Maddie to sing her mother’s tribute song after her death, and Juliette becoming a mother herself (not to mention becoming a great role model for overcoming postpartum depression). But we’ve seen a lot of good Juliette recently, so Bilson just might be what she needs to come unglued again.
She will make you dress like a sad fairy princess who lost her kitten, and probably make you get a matching twine hippie necklace with her– as seen below – which she always has on, and I'm always really worried what it smells like.
I know he’s all sad, and “I lost the love of my life, I don’t even know if it’s raining outside or not," but like I said before – Deacon could teach one of those internet master classes on being a Fuck Up. He could out Fuck Up Hulk Hogan and Sean Spicer put together. He is the human equivalent of a drunk advertising mascot. And nothing would be more Deacon than to rebound from his dead wife with the new singer at her label. Not only would that be a bad look for Bilons' character in an ever-gosspy town like Nashville, but once you have sex with a Deacon in mourning, who may or may not also fall off the wagon (again), I think your vagina just turns into a rain cloud that you have to mist daily or it floats away.
The show Nashville is obsessed with keeping the real Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe alive. It’s really...cute. But in reality, that place hasn’t been the mecca of songwriting and legend that the show portrays it to be since the 90’s. It’s in quite literally the worst part of town. It’d be like if the club that everyone wants to sing at in New York City was in the basement of a Time Square Applebee’s. There are just bigger, better, and more historical places to play in town. And no one's gotten their start there since Rene Zelwegger and Kenny Chesney’s marriage—and we all know how that ended.
Are you excited Rachel Bilson is joining the Nashville cast? Let us know in the comments below.
Close your eyes for a second and picture this: You've got a dream. A really big one. To be an athlete, a CEO, a lawyer, an astronaut, a performer. This dream – whatever it may be – calls to you; it hijacks your thoughts; it leaves you filled with despair when you're not pursuing it. You can't imagine doing anything else because it's not just your passion, it's your purpose. Its what you feel you were put on this Earth to do.
Now imagine this: You're not allowed to do it. Actually, your society forbids you from doing it. You have to leave everything you know – your friends, your family, your home – to pursue your dream in another country because it is impossible in the only one you've ever known.
That's exactly what happened to Rotana – a Saudi Arabian woman who left everything she knew because her freedoms as a women were (and still are) limited, and she wasn't allowed to pursue her true passion: singing.
Now, four years after moving to America with no professional singing experience, Rotana is a rising star. She hopes to not only continuing gaining recognition in the States, but to simultaneously enact change back in Saudi Arabia so that other women have the right to dream, the right to express themselves and the right to live the life their meant to lead.
Get to know Rotana before she's about to take the world by storm.
Rotana music video
Rotana music video
SheKnows: Tell us about the town you grew up in. What did it look like? What was your upbringing like living there?
Rotana: I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. Growing up there was really special and magical. As a kid, I lived in this gated community that is more like a city called “Saudi Aramco” which was an oil company, there were a lot of expats at the time so I was immersed in America, Pakistani, Asian and other cultures as a child. I would leave the gates everyday and go to Saudi schools so I was really getting the most diverse experience you could possibly get in Saudi Arabia.
SK: When did you first discover your dream of becoming a singer?
R: It happened later for me. it was never in the realm of the possible for me. I didn’t know that was an option for me, that that could be real. I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, an environment where that kind of pursuit just didn’t happen. Especially as a woman. I grew up aspiring to be an executive in the corporate world. I was aggressive in that pursuit and one day I woke up incredibly depressed realizing that I had no idea what I believed in or what I actually wanted. That was when music out of nowhere started to come up in my mind as a thought of “what if I tried this?” “Could this actually happen?”
I remember listening to Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill“ and even as a little girl being so excited!! She was exploding and you could feel her wrath and passion. I remember understanding how much I loved that as a kid. I was a weirdo child that listened to that record on repeat.
SK: Tell us about the first time you told your parents you wanted to be a singer. How did they react?
R: They reacted the way any parents would honestly. The arts were just not a thing we did back home. No one in my family had ever pursued it. I was a woman. I had never written or sang professionally before. I am Saudi. They were worried, but also I don’t think they understood that I could actually be successful at this and compete with the industry. At the time, I didn’t really believe that either. I was just following a hunch inside of me that wouldn’t go away.
They let me go though, they understand that when I set my mind on something, I'm not messing around. I am a very passionate person so if I am happy, I am passionately happy and visa versa. My parents ultimately just want me to be passionately happy.
SK: Tell us about your move to Los Angeles. How did you feel? Why did you make the move?
R: It was terrifying. I had never sung or written before, but I knew I could. I knew nothing about the music industry. I was leaving my family and the familiar/safe. I was so fresh off the camel's ass.
I moved because I was depressed and I couldn’t stop thinking about music. It made no sense to me, for the first time in my life I was hearing this “inner voice” thing I kept hearing about so clearly telling me I needed to pursue music. In Saudi Arabia, it would be forbidden for me to do a show so needless to say, there is no industry. I moved to Los Angeles to find opportunity and because if I was going to do this I wanted to be around the best and play in the big leagues.
You wake up one day and you feel this sensation of “Holy shit! What do I believe in? What do I want to do with my time on this planet!” All those questions for me led to the thought music.
SK: What’s been your experience being an immigrant in the U.S.?
R: I am very inspired to tell stories through my music. I truly believe that the ultimately powers that be are not world leaders but those that tell the greatest stories. As a writer and artist I feel there is no better time to reflect the times!
I'm just gong to continue doing my work and writing about the human experience. Love, darkness, fear, courage, heartbreak. These are my experience as a human and an artist, just as they are everyone else's. We are all human. We are so much the same. I intend to show that as deeply as I can with good music.
Rotana IG post about girls
Rotana IG post about girls
SK: How did you find the courage to be different and resist societal expectations?
R: I just do what I love. It doesn’t feel like a choice. I feel so strongly as a human being, I'm an emotional overflow most of the time. How amazing that I get to put that into a medium that moves people all around the world? That can break down fear and expectation and create new cultural norms. When you think of all that, it doesn’t take much courage. Sure, there's opposition and yes I'm terrified much of the time because I have given up a lot. But I am so much more inspired by living a full life with no apologies and inspiring others to do the same.
SK: What is your relationship like with your family now, now that you’re in LA pursuing your dreams?
R: Beautiful. They love and are proud of me, the love my music and see that dreams and are not just for the movies and people outside of where we come from.
SK: Now that you have a platform, why do you think it’s important to use your voice to inspire women both in the US and Saudi Arabia?
I think that no matter where you are from, we come into this world and it serves as an understanding of what is possible for us, what we are “supposed” to do, look and feel like. Especially as women. We are bombarded with societal norms and media that limit what we think is possible. I don’t think you can really be a happy person if you listen to all that. I want to get in touch with the animal in me, the intuitive compass in me. I think we would all be so much more bad ass if we got a little more animal with it all. A little less conditioned and a little wilder.
My single “Daddy” is about that. “Daddy” is the bully, the oppressor. Anyone of anything that is coming in the way of being fully who you are. The song is about the moment you step into your power and decide that you aren't going anywhere or diluting yourself to please anyone. In that moment it's all heat and “Whachu gon do, Daddy?”
SK: What are some causes or movements your most passionate about?
R: The movement of being fully independently you, doing it out loud with all the passion and lust for life. It is the most peaceful form of rebellion that this world so desperately needs.
SK: In ten years, where do you see yourself?
R: I see myself performing on a massive stage, or a very intimate room, ill just always be performing. Ill be on the Asian leg of my world tour and will have just finished a show in a city most pop artist don’t performs. I will be preparing for my TED talk or will have just given it. I will have at least two films out. I will have started infrastructures of support for young Saudis wanting to pursue the arts. The brand of Rotana will be established in all mediums, all marketing the same value of getting animal with you are and living out loud.
A new Yale study found just how profound Zika virus ramifications could be.
While the headlines around Zika usually centered on how a woman who had the virus could pass it along to her fetus, a study out of Yale University found that men are just as susceptible to the virus.
The study updated research that had yet to conclude how the virus affected the male sex organs.
“These results suggest that infection can cause reproductive deficiency in males,” explains Ryuta Uraki, a lead author of the study.
The strain of Zika that was tested on mice showed two things — that the virus continued to multiply even after it was removed from the mice’s blood and that the size of testes were smaller following the infection.
Zika can be sexually transmitted, which is why it is a noteworthy update for heterosexual couples who are looking to get pregnant.
The impact of the Zika virus on males could also be more long-term, as the change in testes size could ultimately lead to infertility.
On Day 4 of our family vacation in Boston, I dragged my 4-year-old to the Museum of Fine Arts. At the information desk, we picked up a bag of activities, including a coloring book and treasure map, and set out to explore. He made it through the mummies and then lay down on the floor, stared up at the ceiling and announced, "I'm done, Mommy." Attempts to interest him in any of the other exhibits failed. We left after less than an hour. When the admission charge hit my credit card, I winced.
I've since learned through trial and error a number of tricks for planning and executing a successful museum trip with a younger child.
1. Start preparing them for their visit at home
Katie Wildfong, family and teen programs associate at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, advises building familiarity with art materials with your kids before a museum visit. Let them play with crayons, paints, brushes, clay, and get comfortable with the materials. This may sound odd — after all, you don’t want your kid trying to touch the priceless van Gogh once you’re at the museum, but she has found that a “major connection point for children is understanding that everything on display in the museum has been made by real people.”
2. Keep it positive
I’d talked to my son about not running in the galleries, not touching displays and not yelling, but in covering all the negatives, I’d forgotten about the positives. While, yes, they need to respect the artwork, try to phrase requests positively: “Be sure to stand a foot away!” Make it a game of counting out feet and distance.
3. Visit before you go
The MIA, like many museums, has much of their catalog online. A quick scan of those images can help you plan where to go in the museum based on what you think will appeal to your child. The Museum of Modern Art has a kids’ website and an app that parents can download before their visit. The more prepared you are, the more likely it is that the visit will go well.
4. Look for family days
Look for museums that have family days — when admission is often free. Not only will you not have to eat the $50 admission fee if your kid wants to leave after an hour, they often have activity stations and interactive displays set up throughout the museums on those days. At the MIA, they have live music and artists engaging children in discussions. On family days at the Walker, my son has made musical instruments, and at MoMA, they offer free audio tours for children as young as 5. And in a museum full of other children, both you and your child are more likely to feel comfortable and at home.
5. Know your kid
With a little forethought, you can tailor your visit to your kid's interests. Elizabeth Margulies, director of family programs at MoMA, suggests that parents “[s]tart with what they know or already enjoy. Art is personal, and every person (kids included) may have a different reaction to a work of art.” I followed her advice when I took my son to the MIA on a recent cold January weekend. My son is competitive and loves animals, so I made the trip into a treasure hunt. We counted all the horses, birds and mountains we could find in the Chinese and Japanese galleries. When he won, he got to pick a small prize from the gift shop. The trip was an unqualified success, and he’s asked when we can go back.
6. Engage them in the experience
Bring pencils, paper and a clipboard for drawing and have your children sketch what they see. Don’t just stand and stare at displays. Ask your kids questions. “Which painting in this room would you like in your bedroom and why?” “Do you think anything in here is yucky?” “How do you think the artist made this? Did they paint it? With what?”
Margulies reminds parents that a simple game of "I Spy" that singles out colors, shapes and objects in the artwork can be a great way to engage your child. Snap pictures of artwork they really love and look up the artist online when you get home. The more you interact with your child, the more you will both enjoy the visit.
7. Keep your expectations low
Despite all this planning, your child may decide that it’s more fun to run up and down the grand staircase than look at the sculptures. Don’t be embarrassed! As Wildfong told me, “We want you to be yourself at the museum. There’s no rule against talking above a whisper in the galleries!” If you are concerned that their behavior may be bothering other patrons, take a break to visit the café and have a snack. If the museum has a family center, go build with the blocks or read a picture book. I’ve found baskets of children’s books in museums all over the world, even if they didn’t have a dedicated space for children.
8. Talk to the staff
Be sure to ask the museum staff for options that may not be obvious if it’s your first time visiting. I found out after my visit that the MIA provides activity sheets with preplanned scavenger hunts, which would have saved me the time planning one myself. Utilize other nongallery spaces that allow your child to blow off steam. In spring and summer, many museums have enclosed courtyards, like the Cooper Hewitt in New York City — which even has a pingpong table outside — where kids can run around and play. As Margulies puts it, “Everyone gets museum fatigue!”
If you haven’t been to a museum since your last high school field trip, they’ve changed. Museums of all sizes are working to engage with their communities and create spaces for social empowerment and change. Children are welcome and encouraged to visit. Even museums that aren’t specifically children’s museums have created spaces for their younger patrons. In the Reykjavik 821 +/-2 museum in Iceland, there’s an area where children can play at living in a longhouse, complete with a pretend fire, utensils and games. When I visited the Cooper Hewitt, they were hosting a temporary exhibition where children could design their own cartoon characters. MoMA has ArtLab, with rotating installations that kids can touch and explore.
9. Think outside the paintbox
Don’t forget that not all museums focus on painting and art. At The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, your plane-crazy toddler can see some of the first airplanes, interact with space shuttles and lunar landing pods and look at rockets. There are sports museums, science museums and museums of natural history. With the wide variety of subjects found in museums, you will be able to find a topic that interests your child. Kids are naturally curious and eager to explore. And an afternoon of undivided attention from their parent or parents is wonderful for both of you.
A trip to a museum can introduce children to new worlds and new forms of expression while building creativity, critical thinking and empathy and provide exposure to other cultures, religions, history, geography and science. One museum visit can open doors that lead around the world and beyond. And isn't that worth a little advance strategizing?
Buffy The Vampire Slayer premiered 20 years ago this weekend, and that is an anniversary worth taking some time to reflect and honor what the chosen one, and the her Scooby gang have meant to us over the past two decades #BuffySlays20 It’s a little surprising that having been based on a crappy movie, the show not only became a cult hit, but Buffy changed history. I’ll fight anyone who disagrees with me.
(And I’ve picked up a move or two watching Buffy on repeat over the years. So you don’t want to fight me.)
Let's go girls
Buffy put a strong woman at the heart of a show. A literally strong woman. Which for its time, and even today, is undervalued in its impact. The fact that in the Buffy universe, slayers in general were always female was a very feminist, coded message.
The show tapped into the tribal, instinctual physical and emotional power of women that is so often overlooked, suppressed or gaslit as insanity. Buffy also grew up in a matriarchy, and her strength despite her fatherlessness, with her father almost being presented as an emotional hangup that held her back, communicated a powerful message about motherhood. (Also RIP Joyce).
The show was also important for portraying the LGBT community on television, as Willow blossoms into her homosexuality over the seasons, ultimately falling in love with Tara. In an interview with Tom Lenk, who played the lovable nemesis turned ally, Andrew, Lenk said, “Joss Whedon incorporated LGBT storylines when other bigger shows and networks would not. He’s an amazing ally for our community and it’s incredible to have met so many fans over the years who were so personally moved by these storylines.
Also just watch the episode “Once More With Feeling" if you need proof that the Buffy was a fundamental building block for the television renaissance we're having today, with TV being just as good or better than movies nowadays #bingewatch.
Of course Buffy also had some misses. Faith—although crucial to some plot arcs, and important to contrast Buffy's goodness—was so. annoying. There was nothing “5 by 5” about her, and also who says that!? Zander was the absolute worst. Always. He exclusively spoke in whining exclamations, all butt hurt he wasn’t a super hero. He also pretty much exclusively thought with his dick. And displayed some very toxic masculinity when he felt rejected. He totally played with Willow’s heart and then threw her under the bus. And he left beautiful, quirky Anya, a woman he was terribly lucky to have love and fuck him, at the altar just because a weird demon made him see his future of them being old and cranky together—boo hoo. When you’ve been with someone until you start saying things like, “Where did I leave my teeth?” it’s okay to be a little crotchety.
But those aspects were in no way missteps, rather they added to the brilliance of Buffy. Part of its greatness was its realness. Like Buffy falling in love with Spike. He may have been evil, and certainly not her type (Hey Angel!) he understood her. I think we all can relate to wanting to fuck someone you kind of hate.
If you’re unfamiliar with Bounce, do yourself a favor: Pour a glass of something strong and go deep into a Google search. Then pour another strong cocktail or a glass full of wine, turn some Big Freedia up full blast and shake your fucking ass.
Bounce is a type of New Orleans hip-hop that’s been growing since the ‘90s and that is really fucking cool. It features call-and-response type shouts, inspired by Mardi Gras Indian chants, over a high-speed beat and thematically sticks to partying and sex. Bounce is also where twerking came from, so you owe it a thank-you.
And from Bounce, Sissy Bounce was born, after Katy Red took the mic one night at an underground club. Sissy Bounce is essentially cooler, queered up, no-fucks-given, gender-bending Bounce music — because if the LGBT community does anything, they take regular things and make them better. The term is divisive, though, as some Bounce rappers denounce Sissy Bounce altogether in what can be a very homophobic hip-hop world. Some Sissy Bounce performers also separate themselves from the term because it categorizes them as lesser or outside of Bounce music just because they’re gay.
Big Freedia, however, is above the drama, probably because she’s a fucking superstar. Along with making some of the catchiest Bounce music and having unicorn-level charisma (which you can catch on any of the five seasons of her show on the Fuse network), Freedia is a formidable ambassador for part of what Sissy Bounce sets out to do: confront homophobic stereotypes and just all-around stuffy heteronormative shit through music. She told Out, “I am not transgendered; I am just a gay male... I wear women’s hair and carry a purse, but I am a man. I answer to either ‘he’ or ‘she.”
Freedia went on NPR’s Ask Me Another this weekend and further clarified her queen status and where both she and Sissy Bounce are coming from. When asked by Ophira Eisenberg about being categorized as a “gay artist,” Freedia explained that people "always want to put us in a category separate from everybody else... First and foremost I’m a human. I am a person. I am an artist.” Fuck yes she is.
She also explained that the name Sissy Bounce actually came from something as simple as the title of a magazine article, which sparked the conflict in New Orleans with Bounce artists accusing Sissy Bounce artists of stealing the style. Freedia clarified, “It’s all Bounce music. We all equal, no matter if you’re straight or gay.” But she of course also threw in the perfect shade, saying, “We just go a little bit harder and different. We’re just more fierce with our sound.” And right after that, she goes into how Queen Bey called Freedia herself to ask her to be part of “Formation.”
Side note: The game show also altered one of Freedia’s songs for the trivia game, proving that NPR doesn’t always have to be insufferably white. Thanks for that too, Freedia!
The week opens with a potent and powerful full moon in Virgo on Sunday morning, a moment that’s coupled with the potential for a very serious exchange. Thinking is lighter starting Monday evening; however, the same issue reverberates throughout the week, peaking in full force on Friday. The tension stems from restrictions imposed on the way we think, act and dream — a true killjoy! Realistic rationale eases the way.
On Saturday, we’re offered more clarity around our values. If you’re struggling with a romantic, financial or friendship issue, the picture might become a little clearer, helping you realize what matters most — to you.
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Image: SheKnows
Sunday provides a busy pace and the opportunity to acknowledge, celebrate or bring to fruition a work, health or service project that showcases your efforts.
This week prompts sober thinking (perhaps where your dreams or vision are concerned). Process information on your own terms; you’re promised increasing clarity as switched-on Mercury enters your sign on Monday, while Saturday the 18th puts charming delivery in your hands. A very personal issue that’s had you perplexed becomes apparent — talk your way around it with utmost grace.
The full moon lights up the most passionate area of your horoscope, heightening affections and announcing love! However, with your ruler retrograde, be sure to keep a clear head when the tides ride high. Mars in your sign gives you extra potency now, so find a productive way to work out all your energy.
Later in the week, you could feel commitments are clipping your wings. Saturday brings extra awareness to all the deep emotions you’re processing now — listen up.
Home draws the twins close over the weekend, with the full moon illuminating the nest, so spend Sunday with those you consider family. The next few weeks are low-key as you recharge; give yourself a chance to exhale busy bee and conserve your energy for friends that pep you up.
You enter your most sociable phase on Monday, and by Saturday, you’ll gain insight and awareness around your group of peers. Others might try to rein in your ambitions this week, calling for firmer boundaries.
Information can come to light over the weekend that leaves you questioning your journey — but don’t discount the progress you've made. Though news delivered might seem to restrict your dreams, it could be that your day job or busy schedule won't hamper your ability to travel, learn or fulfill your cherished vision.
You’ll be thinking ambitiously on Monday and by Saturday, can gain real clarity on the way you’re presenting yourself at large. Taking stock on this day helps you in weeks to come.
The weekend might have felt extra special and rewarding, with the things you value most highlighted. You’ll enter the week refueled and ready to think broadly and positively; however, the days ahead could feel slightly deflating — no one denies you’re a star, but you may have to set aside your ego to work through some important matters on the table.
Friday may be particularly trying, but show tolerance, compassion and understanding. On Saturday, you’ll have reason to smile, with clarity around your exciting adventure.
Take a pause on Sunday to review the past six months — something very personal worth celebrating is coming to fruition now. Seize your moment to shine, even if you’re not feeling positive or totally enthused.
You’ve worked hard to develop a sense of structure, which could now be proving restrictive rather than supportive; however, this is fleeting. Perhaps there’s wisdom in the family folds that can benefit you and your relationships. You’ll know more about a love situation or private affair on Saturday.
Take it easy on Sunday morning. It’s a great time to exhale and gently allow thoughts to surface. Information or feelings could be roused, and though you might want to be productive and get on with the day, it's time to pause.
It’ll be much easier to talk with significant others starting on Tuesday — partners across business, love and even a strong family connection. Opening up will ease the tension. On Saturday, the qualities you love and value in them are unmistakable.
The full moon puts your circle in full view, so spend Sunday being sociable or acknowledging your efforts in a group. Reap the rewards of community-based projects. FYI, this is a time to enjoy! It’s all too easy to rein in the good times this week, but don’t impose your usual self-control or you'll miss out on all the fun.
It’s a productive time for you, and Saturday’s perfect for taking stock of day-to-day matters that have been keeping you busy — it’s set to continue.
Step into the spotlight in a professional or public capacity on Sunday. The full moon puts your name in lights and honors your achievements over the past six months — don’t downplay your successes or disciplined efforts. While it’s good to manage expectations, you can draw satisfaction and security from your own reserves if others aren’t so forthcoming.
It will be far easier to express yourself (and your affections) on Monday evening. Saturday can be passionate and enlightening — double your pleasure!
Sunday offers reason to celebrate and permission to launch. Perhaps your venture’s now ripe and ready or the broader picture’s clear. With your path illuminated, it’s a choice day to make an announcement; however, expressing exactly what you’d like could prove elusive.
In fact, communication could be trying all week — even if you mean well, exchanges can be misinterpreted, so go a little slower and use due diligence to see you through. Saturday adds another dynamic to your home story.
You’ll have a clear picture of resources and your closest relationships on Sunday. Use it to celebrate stronger, intimate bonds and what each of you brings to the table or your progress toward a financial, legal or property goal.
Progressive Aquarius moves in ever-expanding circles; however, you might find your social network deflating, especially on Friday. Don’t measure your ability to feel good by other people’s standards, and similarly, don’t impose your way in the world as the be all and end all.
Others are front of mind over the weekend — you might realize a sense of empowerment gained in a significant relationship. And yet, your newfound status might not prompt you to speak up. Or perhaps it's a reluctance to challenge someone in authority that's creating tension.
Confidence may fluctuate, particularly on Tuesday and Friday. You may feel restricted — even questioning your role — but you have all the tools to process the situation. Further clarity comes on Saturday, when you’ll know exactly what you need to feel valued.
If you have long, thick, shampoo-commercial-worthy hair, then, uh, go away, because we’re really envious of you. OK, OK, come back. We know (or, we’ve been told, at least) that having long hair isn’t always the joyous event it appears to be, because sometimes, you just don’t want your heavy hair hanging on your neck. Sometimes, you want to have a cute little updo like your thin-haired friends, without needing 200 heavy-duty bobby pins and a can of hairspray. And that’s where we come in.
We scoured the interwebs to find a definitive list of the best long-hair tutorials that even hair newbs can do on themselves. And no, not one of these looks involves sausage curls or prom-like poofs. So keep reading to see our favorite videos, then break out your brush and mirror, because someone’s getting their hair done tonight. (It’s you.)
Twist-and-Rolled Bun
Alright, yes, this one looks a bit fancier than your average ponytail, but we promise it won’t look stuffy, as long as you don’t spray the hell out of it with hairspray.
Easy and Fantastic Updos: Twist-and-Rolled Bun
Easy and Fantastic Updos: Twist-and-Rolled Bun
Triple-Layered Updo
This insanely pretty updo looks sculpturesque, but is actually the result of multiple two-strand twists and braids wrapped and pinned together.
Easy and Fantastic Updos: Triple-Layered Updo
Easy and Fantastic Updos: Triple-Layered Updo
Super-Soft Lace Braid
If you can braid your hair, tie a messy bun, and make the whole thing look a bit messy (trust us—you can), then you can master this super simple, and surprisingly pretty bun.
Easy and Fantastic Updos: Super-Soft Lace Braid
Easy and Fantastic Updos: Super-Soft Lace Braid
Halo Braid
Do not fear the crown braid. Sure, it looks unattainably pretty and difficult, but we promise it’s weirdly easy with long hair. Just braid, braid, braid until you’re out of hair, and wrap it around your head like a crown. Boom.
Easy and Fantastic Updos: Halo Braid
Easy and Fantastic Updos: Halo Braid
Messy Top-Knot Bun
Alright, we’re throwin’ in a half-updo, because vlogger Bree Kish has the hair of our dreams, and we can’t not share this style. Check out her super fast and simple topknot, using only a few pins and elastics.
Around 19 percent of trans and nonbinary people have been refused medical care due to their gender identity, 28 percent have experienced “harassment in a medical setting” and 2 percent have been subjected to physical violence in a doctor’s office according to the same study from The Task Force.
This is why it is so crucial to have websites like the newly fundedMyTransHealth. MyTransHealth is similar to the Referral Aggregator Database Remedy, formerly mentioned here, but the difference is that MyTransHealth focuses solely on trans and nonbinary people, not other LGBTQ folks as well. MyTransHealth also allows users to find more than just a competent doctor; the website will show options for “medical, mental health, legal, and crisis care.”
MyTransHealth is a free website designed “for trans people, by trans people.” The website will allow you to enter your location, choose the type of care you are looking for and then filter results by what you deem most important. Filters include language, insurance and accessibility, as well as citizenship status. Users will be able to provide ratings and reviews of the providers they connect with through the website. MyTransHealth will also recommend providers they themselves have researched based on the provider’s history with transgender patients, sensitivity training among the provider’s staff and more.
For now, MyTransHealth only has the funds to serve New York City and Miami. However, if the website proves successful in these cities, they have big plans for expansion. To learn more about MyTransHealth and share feedback with the creators, you may reach them though info@mytranshealth.com or their wonderfully informative Facebook page, Twitter and Tumblr.
We’ve all experienced “menu panic,” that phenomenon in which you sit down at a restaurant and are immediately overwhelmed by the options and not sure where to begin, let alone how to figure out what’s actually good, so you just blurt out the first thing you think of when the server arrives. It’s a real disorder — but don't worry; we’re here to help.
To be honest, before heading back to Applebee's to test out the newly overhauled menu, I was nervous because my last experience (more than eight years ago) was terrible to the point that I didn't return for nearly a decade. But I was surprised in a great way — and my kids are already nagging me to go back, so be forewarned that might happen to you too.
In the event you don’t have a similar “perfectly cooked” experience, feel free to let management know (politely!) and send your dish back. Applebee's rebrand doesn’t have an over-the-top concept or a fad-driven menu — it's just about doing a few things right. Here are the ones I thought they did the best.
My only complaint is that there were not more of these. I’ve become so used to sad, lethargic pretzels when dining out that I had almost forgotten how good they can be. They're served with white cheddar craft beer cheese dip — a term that is normally used as a cheap gimmick with minimal thought given to the quality of the recipe. It was perfectly balanced, with the beer adding a high note of acidity to the richness of the cheese. They should be pouring this stuff on everything. I’d actually go to a restaurant that just served it in buckets.
Cheeseburger Egg Rolls
I enjoyed these far, far too much, which scares me. I may now start demanding all my meals in egg roll form. Has someone already come up with that concept? I hope they’re calling it “Leggo My Egg Roll,” because that would be perfect.
Salsa Verde Beef Nachos
For something that’s served in approximately 95 percent of restaurants in America, it's a national travesty that most do it wrong. Applebee’s used to be one of these offenders, but they have not only rectified that, but elevated the nacho. These have the proper ratio of chips to cheese, evenly distributed through the layers, and a highly generous serving of toppings. I threatened to stab my husband with a fork over the last chip. (I didn’t because people were watching, but I’d consider it next time.)
Bone-In Pork Chop
I never order the pork chop because, well, everyone screws up the pork chop. Restaurants do, my mom does, your mom does — everyone. At Applebee's? Order the pork chop. They’re cut in-house, and so juicy that I was shocked to learn they weren’t brined. If it’s dry, send it back and get a new one. I’ve seen their potential. They know how to do it, and if they don’t, whip out your phone and show them this article.
This tastes like the inside of a Taco Supreme from Taco Bell, which, if you’ve read my previous columns, is my not-so-secret fast food addiction. The grilled skirt steak it comes with is a meal on its own, so if you’re feeling the least bit guilty about eating a giant plate of lettuce topped with tortilla strips and a sour cream dressing, ask for a container and take the bulk of the salad portion home. Do you know what happens once it sits in the fridge overnight? It gets better. Leftover breakfasts are the king of all breakfasts.
The American Standard Burger
I don’t think I can say it’s the best burger I’ve ever had — I mean, I’ve eaten a lot of burgers in my life, and it’s not fair to choose amongst the greats — but is it the best from a chain restaurant? Quite possibly. Here’s what I was served: a juicy, perfectly medium-rare 1-inch-thick beef patty cooked on a hot flat top griddle with pickles, onion and bacon seared right into the meat covered with melty American cheese and slathered with “signature sauce” (pretty much their version of Big Mac sauce). For something that probably contained a million grams of fat, it wasn’t the least bit greasy. Pure, delectable burger nirvana. I’m grateful I live far enough away that these can’t become a three-times-a-day habit because I’d probably only be able to resist that impulse for a week at best.
All-Day Brunch Burger
It’s pretty much the same as above, but with hash browns and a fried egg on top, because yeeeah, America! If you can’t pick between both burgers, order both and take one home. The next day, wrap the spare in a paper towel and microwave for two minutes. It holds up.
Shrimp & Parmesan Sirloin
I was tempted to skip this because cream sauces on steak and shrimp are normally heavy, greasy and overpowering. My first bite was a shock because their version has a shocking brightness you don’t expect thanks to a hefty pinch of lemon zest. It should be the standard for all other surf and turfs. Take note, chains of America!
Apple Chimi Cheesecake
I ate all their desserts (my job is so hard), and this was unquestionably the best. It’s a burrito stuffed with cheesecake and caramel apples, then deep-fried, tossed in cinnamon-sugar, served with ice cream and another huge scoop of caramel apples. I shouldn’t even have to tell you to order this. You didn’t come to Applebee’s to deprive yourself. That’s just crazy talk.
On Sunday, E! premiered its second scripted television show, The Arrangement. But after watching the first episode, I can't help but think that the fictional TV drama takes more than a healthy serving of its story from reality. Although the producers and cast have been straight-up denying that the plot was purposefully inspired by the relationship between Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, the pilot has a few more parallels to it than could possibly be coincidental. At the same time, though, the story has enough original elements to keep it fresh, different, interesting and out of the courtroom.
First and foremost, let's take a look at the basic facts about The Arrangement. It's an hourlong drama about an aspiring actress, Megan Morrison (played by Christine Evangelista), and a Hollywood superstar, Kyle West (played by Josh Henderson). When Morrison reads for a part opposite West, he immediately becomes enamored with her, but there's a catch: He is deeply involved in a self-help organization run by his best friend, and the organization thinks it's best for West to ask Morrison to sign a $10 million marriage contract before continuing the relationship. After some reflection, Morrison agrees.
How The Arrangement is similar to the relationship between Cruise and Holmes
Here's a list of ways that The Arrangement follows the story of TomKat:
It's the story of two Hollywood talents who quickly fall into a passionate, public relationship.
West and Cruise are both closely connected to a mysterious group with a cultlike following. Both men credit the cultlike group with their acting success.
Cruise and Holmes, like Morrison and West, reportedly met during an audition for a blockbuster — in the former case, Holmes was reading for a part in Mission: Impossible III.
Both stories involve a relationship contract (though the contract between Cruise and Holmes has never been solidly verified). While we don't know the full story, rumor has it that, at the very least, the Church of Scientology vetted several of Cruise's potential girlfriends and had them sign nondisclosure agreements.
In both stories, the couple had a whirlwind relationship and became engaged very soon after they met.
In both stories, all parties were rebounding from breakups when they met. In real life, Cruise had somewhat recently divorced Nicole Kidman, and Holmes had broken up with actor Chris Klein a few months earlier. In The Arrangement, Morrison discovers that her boyfriend of two years has been cheating the day before her audition, while West was left at the altar by a fiancée with cold feet.
How The Arrangement is different from the relationship between Cruise and Holmes
Obviously, for legal reasons as well as for the good of the story, The Arrangement also takes a number of departures from the relationship between Cruise and Holmes. Here are a few from just the first episode:
In The Arrangement, Morrison is a struggling actress. Holmes was well established when she met Cruise (although, arguably, he was still a bigger star).
In The Arrangement, the cultlike group that West is involved in is a self-help organization called the Institute for the Higher Mind. In real life, Cruise is part of a religion called Scientology.
In The Arrangement, West becomes involved with the Institute through his best friend, who seems like he will play a major role in the series. Cruise became interested in Scientology through his first wife, Mimi Rogers.
We'll have to watch to see what's ahead
The first episode did a fantastic job of developing the Morrison/Holmes character as complex, interesting and likable. Evangelista is an extremely talented actress and someone to watch. The pilot also did well establishing the tone of the story and setting up what are sure to be at least a few dramatic plot points later this season. If the story follows the rest of the Cruise/Holmes roller coaster, we are in for lots of ups and downs, not to mention some very shady moves from the Institute of Higher Learning. Since we will probably never know the full story of what happened between Cruise and Holmes, The Arrangement will have to fill in some big plot holes. But whether the story continues to follow the rise and decline of TomKat or whether it blazes a new path, I'll be watching.
Saturday Night Live continued to ride its wave of newfound popularity through political commentary this weekend, this time having guest Scarlett Johansson contribute her scathing impression of Ivanka Trump. The award-winning actress appeared in a two-minute parody commercial for a fragrance called "Complicit."
Ivanka SNL commercial
Ivanka SNL commercial
The commercial shows Ivanka walking into a cocktail party, in a sparkling, slinky dress. As she turns to the camera, her facial expression hilariously reflects her father's as a voiceover begins to hock the perfume: "Because she's beautiful. She's powerful. She's Complicit."
The pre-filmed bit is a step away from what SNL has been engaging in since Donald trump entered the political sphere–before, writers and producers seemed content to focus on Trump and his administration. But this harsh critique showed that the long-running sketch comedy show isn't about to forgive people close to Trump who don't speak up or who stand to profit under his presidency.
The commercial continues: "She knows what she wants and knows what she's doing. A feminist. an advocate a champion for women, but like, how?"
Just when you think that the commercial couldn't get much more scathing, it adds: "She's loyal. Devoted. But probably should have bounced after that Access Hollywood bus thing."
It finishes: "The fragrance for the woman who could stop all this, but won't."
In just a few sentences, the sketch sums up why many are uncomfortable with Ivanka Trump, who is one of the more liberal Trump family members, and who has spoken up for a number of left-leaning causes, such as childcare and equal rights for women. At the same time, she has remained silent on a number of controversial issues–and many believe that she is trying to profit from her father's position of power.
Also last night, Alec Baldwin also reprised his now-iconic impression of Donald Trump during the show's cold open. In this sketch, aliens from the planet Zorbatt 9 land on planet earth and start a terrible interstellar war, and Trump makes what is supposed to be an inspiring speech. Instead, he goes off on stereotypical Trump tangents, asking, "Who loves Trump?" and saying, "We don't win anymore and the aliens are laughing at us." Also during the speech, he mentions his ongoing fixation with the popular vote and that "We're going to bring coal back."
Trump Alien SNL
Trump Alien SNL
Also in the sketch, Trump claims to be getting his information from InfoWars, a heavily right-leaning news source famous for spreading fake news. The information he shares? "Aliens" are among us, here illegally, and posing as humans. When the aliens finally arrive, Trump denies he's the president, and the alien leader declares, "This is going to be so easy!"
trump alien SNL tweet 1
trump alien SNL tweet 1
trump alien SNL tweet 2
trump alien SNL tweet 2
What at first seems like a generally goofy cold open has at its heart something far more serious: while Trump is supremely distracted by his pet problems (like illegal immigration and refugees), more pressing matters are being ignored that could lead to a serious problems later; that is, as aliens are attacking, Trump can't seem to focus on anything but the petty. Even when a member of the military announces that everyone in California has died, Trump asks, "Even Arnold?"
Both sketches represent comedy and political commentary at its best: they bring a laugh while sending a clear message to viewers about exactly what is wrong with the Ivanka and Donald Trump's actions. At the same time, they are also sending a clear message to the individuals they are roasting: if you act ridiculous, we will make you look even more ridiculous on our show.
It's been a minute since someone died on The Walking Dead and, as we all know, that's all it takes. Season 7 started off on a devastating note with the deaths of Glenn and Abe, but then we were given a brief reprieve until mid-season — when Olivia and Spencer were taken out in the same episode.
And this week, we bid adieu to poor Benjamin and Richard-with-the-bad-judgment. These deaths were shocking, sure, and Benjamin's even stung a little. But mostly they struck fear into our hearts, because we know even greater losses are coming.
With the battle to bring down Negan heating up, it's only a matter of time before another major character goes. But who will it be?
No matter what happens and to whom, suffice it to say it will suck. No one likes seeing a survivor die. OK, fine... admittedly, it wasn't the worst when Spencer got his guts spilled by Negan. But, for the most part, it's always sad to see someone's light extinguished in this already dark world.
Because it seems to temper the sting a bit if we feel like we're prepared, here's a look at who could go next — in order from least to most likely.
15. Jesus
Image: Gene Page/AMC
This guy kind of gets a buy since (a) he's technically still a tertiary character, and we've lost plenty of those thus far this season and (b) we just don't want him to die. Kthxbye.
14. Rick
Image: Gene Page/AMC
C'mon. They're not gonna kill off Rick. He's kind of the crux of the show, y'know? That's not to say he'll never die, but it's highly unlikely he'll go down before Negan falls out of power.
13. Carl
Image: Gene Page/AMC
The poor kid has been through so much already. He's due a little mercy from TWD gods (aka Scott M. Gimple and Greg Nicotero). There was a time we all kind of wished he'd get eaten, but he's grown on us.
12. Maggie
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Maggie is poised to become the leader of Hilltop. Besides, she has lost nearly everyone she loves. Let's be real: like Carl, she falls under the umbrella of "people-who've-had-too-much-shit-heaped-on-them-already."
11. Negan
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Yes, the whole goal of the uprising is to take Negan out. But if the comic series is to be trusted, Negan doesn't actually get killed — rather, he gets taken out of power and imprisoned by Rick and his crew.
10. Morgan
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Morgan just got interesting again. He can't go anywhere! In fact, Morgan may now become more interesting than he has been in years, because he's back to being the rage-filled Morgan we only really knew in the very beginning of the zombpocalypse.
Whether Eugene is pretending to be loyal to Negan to save his own ass or all the perks Negan has thrown at him have truly converted him, this chameleon currently has everyone convinced he is an invaluable member of Team Negan.
8. Tara
Image: Gene Page/AMC
There's really nothing pointing toward Tara being in any direct danger for the time being. And since she is the only person who knows about the Oceanside Community and the potential firepower-slash-reinforcements there, it seems likely she'll live long enough to bring that to light.
7. Aaron
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Aaron's name gets tossed around a lot on the interwebz when it comes to potential casualties, but he actually survives the war with Negan in the comic series. I see him being someone who could be really instrumental should Rick get injured or sidelined, so I'm keeping the faith.
6. Father Gabriel
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Despite the fact that Gabriel seems to be doing and saying all the right things lately, I trust him about as far as I can throw him — and, truth be told, I lack any upper body strength. Odds are good he either goes down doing something shady or surprises the hell out of us by sacrificing himself for the greater good.
5. Ezekiel
Image: Gene Page/AMC
The only reason I can imagine Ezekiel being killed is if his death serves as a catalyst for Carol. They obviously care deeply for each other (in a platonic way, at the very least), so his murder could certainly cause Carol to return to her badass roots.
4. Carol
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Speaking of Carol, the fact that she has had so little screen time this season is still a bit nerve-wracking. Are they trying to phase her out? She told Daryl that if she went back to her old ways and kept killing, that she would cease to be. Could that have been a coded hint at her upcoming demise? Let's hope not.
No one — and I mean no one — wants to see anything happen to Daryl. The ensuing riots that have been foretold would cause a ripple in the space-time continuum. But since Ride with Norman Reedus was picked up for at least one more season, it's possible he could leave to pursue other opportunities. Still, it would be a low blow indeed if TWD took Glenn and Daryl from us in the same season.
2. Rosita
Image: Gene Page/AMC
At this point, Rosita is basically trying to get killed, so there's that.
1. Sasha
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Sasha is a woman with nothing to lose, which is a dangerous place to be personally — hence her accepting Rosita's invitation to join the kamikaze mission to kill Negan. Not to mention, by now we all know that Sonequa Martin-Green (Sasha) landed a starring role in CBS All Access' Star Trek: Discovery.
With only three episodes left until The Walking Dead closes out Season 7, the tension is practically palpable — we all know the actual battle to bring down Negan is near, and it's nerve-wracking. One small measure of comfort, though? This week, Morgan got mad. Murderously mad, in fact.
First things first, this is your spoiler alert, people. This article contains plot points pertinent to The Walking Dead episode "Bury Me Here." You've been warned.
Now, back to Morgan. For many, many seasons now, Morgan has wielded his staff with the sole intention to only kill when he has to and, even then, only kill walkers. A self-professed pacifist, he's a far cry from the somewhat bitter, angry man Rick met in the beginning of the zombpocalypse.
Back then, Morgan was a man who'd just lost his wife (and not long after, his son), and Rick was a man just stumbling into this weird world — he hadn't yet been there long enough to become hardened.
Later, when their paths crossed again at Alexandria, the tables had turned. Morgan watched Rick kill Jessie's husband, Pete, and he realized this was not the same man who once tried to instill hope in Morgan's cynical heart.
But this week, we saw the reemergence of Mad Morgan. When Morgan and other members of The Kingdom met the Saviors to make their weekly drop off, everything went horribly awry. The saviors counted 11 melons instead of 12, and one of them (a Savior, not a melon) fired a gun into poor, sweet, young Benjamin's leg.
Despite their best efforts to save him, the bullet severed Benjamin's femoral artery... and he bled out.
That in and of itself was nearly enough to send Morgan into a downward spiral, but he then realized Richard had orchestrated the entire conflict by hiding the missing melon. He lets Richard try to explain, and it seems as though he might move forward with no major hitch (albeit livid).
However, when the group takes the lone melon back to the Saviors, Morgan loses it and literally kills Richard with his bare hands. Wowza.
Not only is Mad Morgan back, but this is Morgan like we've never seen him. He's practically unhinged.
That much is made evident when he shows up bloody and bedraggled at Carol's door, and he reveals the truth about Glenn, Able, Spencer and Olivia. If you got a little choked up when Carol learned about Glenn and Abe, you'll find no judgment here, friend.
Although Carol convinces him for the time-being to hole up in her cabin while she returns to The Kingdom — more on that in a minute — Morgan can be seen at the episode's close sharpening his peaceful staff into a spear. A spear, y'all! Clearly, shenanigans will soon ensue.
With Mad Morgan on the rampage, it's obvious the last three episodes of the season are going to be a wild ride. Coupled with Carol's call to arms? Well, hell... all bets are off.
What does this mean for these characters moving forward, though? Carol told Daryl that if she went back to killing, there would be nothing more left of her. As for Morgan, the implication with his arc was always that he couldn't retain any of his humanity if he returned to anger and violence.
Could Morgan or Carol (or worse, Morgan and Carol) be headed for untimely demises in the great battle to bring down Negan? At this point, anything is possible. But one thing's for sure: it's nice to see some fire in those two's eyes for the first time in what feels like forever.
Remember when Donald Trump promised to repeal Obamacare and replace it with something more effective and more affordable? Yeah, we never expected that to happen. But we also didn't expect the Republican-led Congress' response to the ACA to be so terrible — and, as we gather, neither did Trump.
The latest episode of Last Week Tonight delved into the horrendous health care bill, known as the American Health Care Act (AHCA) or Trumpcare, depending on who you ask.
As John Oliver correctly observed, nobody really likes this bill. Democrats and a few Republicans take issue with its reverse Robin Hood characteristics. Hardcore conservatives refer to it as Obamacare Lite. Even its champion, Paul Ryan, struggles to demonstrate any real enthusiasm.
Image: HBO
Most notable, however, is how reluctant Trump is to embrace what he probably hoped would be one of the crowning achievements of his first few months in office. This was evident when he prefaced all talk of the bill by claiming that nobody could possibly know how complicated health care is. According to Oliver, this assertion is akin to claiming that nobody could possibly know that King Tut is already dead.
Trump has already indicated that he doesn't want the AHCA referred to as Trumpcare. If we were talking about anybody else, something like modesty could be to blame, but let's be real — this is the guy who loves to have his name on everything. If the likes of Trump is worried about having his name attached to something, you know it's bad.
Trump's biggest beef with the AHCA probably has something to do with its lack of health care options crossing state lines. But did you know that there's a clear reason why this tenet of the Trump campaign is missing from the bill?
John Oliver Health Care
John Oliver Health Care
As Oliver explained, there's no way for Republicans to pass the AHCA unless it's presented as a strictly budgetary program. Include anything else, and it would need 60 votes to pass. As is, only 51 votes are necessary.
Like nearly everything about the Trump presidency and current Republican Congress, this is all an effort for the powers that be to get their way, regardless of the consequences or the quality of the product.
What do you think of the AHCA? Comment and share your opinion below.
We’re all guilty of being lazy as hell in the sack sometimes—I mean, the majority of sex happens in bed. It’s hard not to be tempted to drift off for a nap when you’re exhausted, not feeling frisky, or whatever. However, being tired or even feeling not-so-horny definitely doesn’t mean you won’t change your mind about wanting to get some action if your partner (or you) put on the right moves. And, as you’ll learn here, those moves don’t have to take much energy—or even much motion, in some cases.
I asked sex therapist Marissa Nelson, LMFT, about how to max out the feel-good factor in a variety of low-effort sex moves. Below, she gives her best tips for getting off during sleepy midnight delights or lazy Sunday mornings. You’re welcome.
"Spoons feels amazing for heterosexual couples because the angle and position actually squeeze the penis and make it tight with each thrust," explains Nelson. "It works great for female couples, too, since the big spoon partner can reach around and finger the little spoon."
*Gay, lesbian, and hetero-friendly
Image: Jenny Yuen
Inverted Missionary
"In this one, the bottom can thrust their hips upward to assist in pleasuring their partner," says Nelson. "It's a great one for intimacy, since the partners can look into each other's eyes, hold hands, and let hands and fingers wander all over each other's bodies."
*Gay and hetero-friendly
Image: Jenny Yuen
Screw
"If it's midnight nookie and you're only half-awake, this position is great, since you can lay on your side sitting up on your elbow, or just lying flat," says Nelson. "For maximum enjoyment, grind your pelvis in a circular motion to increase orgasmic potential."
*Gay, lesbian, and hetero-friendly
Image: Jenny Yuen
Launch Pad
"This position is one of the best for deep penetration and G-spot stimulation," says Nelson. "With your feet flat against your partner's chest, you can control the depth of the thrust or tickle his balls. Place a pillow or wedge for back support and superior positioning to aid in stimulation and orgasm."
*Gay and hetero-friendly
Image: Jenny Yuen
Rear Entry
"This modified doggy-style is one of the best for G-spot stimulation, and for those times when you're feeling lazy. Open legs will give you deep penetration, and closed legs close will be ideal for G-spotting. Plus, your partner has a great view to smack you on the butt or for anal and vaginal fingering," says Nelson.
*Gay and hetero-friendly
Image: Jenny Yuen
Deck Chair
"To make this position feel amazing for both partners, with every thrust, the top partner should squeeze and release the penis or toy with her vagina through a kegel," says Nelson. "The sensation of tightening will drive male partners crazy, and the squeezing and thrusting will help you on your way to orgasm."
*Gay, lesbian, and hetero-friendly
Image: Jenny Yuen
Poles Apart
"Lesbian couples will enjoy this head-to-foot position where your bodies are smushed together and one partner can finger the other," says Nelson. "For straight couples, the penis is at an unusual angle, so you can try holding open your butt cheeks to help him better slide in," says Nelson.
All right, to be completely honest, even as a beauty product hoarder and new-release stalker, I’m surprisingly extremely lazy when it comes to applying makeup. But even on my most hesitant, reluctant-to-make-an-effort mornings (you know, the days that you run out the door after smacking your alarm a million times), there’s one product that I always take time to apply: a matte lipstick. And although I’ve tested and tried a shit-ton of matte lipsticks at this point, I had never found my perfect lazy-girl-approved match — until now.
Enter Maybelline’s Color Sensational Inti-Matte Nudes, my favorite line of matte lipsticks to date. Aside from the fact that these nudes come in 10 neutral shades that fit pretty much every skin tone (shoutout to Maybelline for actually thinking of diversity, here), their main selling point is that they happen to be made out of magic and fairy dust — or at least that’s what I thought when I first swiped one on. Because unlike most matte lipsticks that suck the moisture out of your lips or flake by lunch, these mattes actually stay on and stay hydrating, even through two cups of coffee (uh, zero lipstick marks on my mugs, by the way) and a soupy lunch. In fact, by the time my first coat of Brown Blush faded after a good six hours, my lips felt noticeably softer, like I had used a balm instead of a lipstick.
Image: Maybelline
And if that glowing, fangirly review wasn’t enough to entice you, maybe the fact that each of these suckers is only $7.49 will, meaning you won’t have another repeat episode of the last time you fell in love with a product only to discover it was incredibly out of your price range (sorry, Tom Ford — it’s not you; it’s me).
And seeing as I readily admit how deeply, deeply low-maintenance I am and that I will throw a tantrum if I have to spend more than 23 seconds on something like lipstick, trust me when I say that Maybelline basically just made my life — or at least my mornings — significantly better. So I suggest that you promptly go buy your nude and test it out for yourself while I sit here and pray to the beauty gods that it never gets discontinued, lest I cease to exist.
When you're pinched for time, it's easy to be tempted by the call of the drive-thru or those sodium-blasted cans of condensed soup. That's why stocking your pantry with versatile, healthy ingredients is so important — when you start getting hangry, these foods step in to make easy meals that taste great (and make you feel pretty good too).
Image: Gabriela Arellano/SheKnows
1. Quinoa
Quinoa is a great source of vegan protein, perfect for solving your #MeatlessMonday woes.
2. Canned beans
Beans taste great in a variety of dishes, and the canned variety cook up fast. They're high in fiber, so they'll keep you feeling full for longer, and do wonders for your digestion.
3. Tomato paste
Tomato paste is rich in umami — just a tablespoon can enhance the taste of an otherwise dull soup or sauce. It's also full of lycopene, an antioxidant that can reduce the risk of disease, including some forms of cancer.
Two servings of seafood each week can reduce the risk of heart disease — all the more reason to stock up! Tuna and salmon are high-protein seafoods that are rich in a range of nutrients. Buy it in a pouch so it's ready to eat, no draining required — this way, you're always ready to add seafood to your pastas, salads and sandwiches.
5. Brown rice
Simply swapping brown rice for white can make your pantry a healthier place, and may even lower your risk of type-2 diabetes according to a study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard. Choose a quick-cooking variety to get dinner on the table faster.
6. No-salt-added canned tomatoes
Canned tomatoes are great for making quick sauces or adding flavor to chili, soups and stews, and they often taste as good (if not better) than fresh tomatoes. Best of all, tomatoes boast a variety of important nutrients, including vitamins A and C.
Why ancient grains? They're full of fiber, keep blood sugar stable, help lower cholesterol and more. Quick-cooking versions of ancient grains like barley and quinoa make it easy to incorporate these grains into your meals.
8. Whole-grain pasta
Pasta is delicious, and whole-wheat pasta has more fiber and protein than its more refined counterparts, meaning you stay full longer.
Nuts are packed with nutrients and protein, so they're a great food to keep on-hand. Use them to top a salad or yogurt, or grab a handful for a quick and nutritious snack.
11. Dried fruit
Add a pinch of sweetness to your salads, cereals and desserts with dried fruit — there's no prep involved, and it has a much longer shelf life, making it an easier choice than fresh fruit.
This post was sponsored by StarKist® Tuna and Salmon Creations® Pouches.
