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This Boy With Down Syndrome Singing Whitney Houston Will Melt Your Heart

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If Whitney Houston were still here, we think she would more than approve of her biggest fans sing along to her hit song, "I Have Nothing."

Dane Miller is a 9-year-old boy from Texas who happens to have Down syndrome. He apparently fell hard for Whitney Houston after watching a documentary about her with his mom, Danna Miller, about a month ago.

"We did just watch a documentary on her about a month ago," Miller told Click2Houston. "And so he started downloading some of her songs and that was the one he just got stuck on."

More: Don't Ask "What's Wrong?" with My Son With Down Syndrome

Dane's aunt, Jeanne Miller, posted a video of Dane letting loose in high Houston style in the backseat of his dad's car. She captioned the video, "Is this boy not the sweetest thing ever?! He loves to sing. Whitney would be proud #getthatboyamic #mynephewDanerocks."

What Dane's awesome auntie could not have predicted was how popular her video would become. The original Facebook video has more than 23 million views and 330,000 shares, with hundreds of comments from well-wishers.

Dane sings

Dane sings

Dane's mom is overjoyed by the response his video's gotten.

More: Parenting My Child With Down Syndrome Is Challenging

"Just reading the comments, they're so sweet. I get emotional,” she said. “Even some other families that have Down syndrome children have posted pictures of their kids."

How does Dane feel about all the attention and his new cadre of adoring fans? "Happy," he said.

James Corden, we think you've got a new Carpool Karaoke contender. And if you don't snap him up, believe us, someone else will — the video's popularity inspired the family to kick off a YouTube channel, Amazing Dane, where we're hoping to see lots more of him very soon.


These Instagrammers Want to Change How You Think About Gender

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If you’re a cisgender person (i.e., someone whose personal identity matches their gender assigned at birth) who knows someone who’s transgender or gender-nonconforming, you probably have some questions. Because of the binary way we’ve been taught to conceptualize gender and bodies, we want to know things about surgery, hormones and gender pronouns. But just because you’re curious doesn’t mean asking your friend about these deeply personal choices is the right thing to do. Instead, now is a great time to start educating yourself. Here are four Instagram accounts that will help you learn about the experiences of trans and gender-nonconforming folks.

More: Hatch Kids Talk About Gender Identity — and So Should We

Jaimie Wilson

Jaimie Wilson, a Florida musician, took to Instagram to document his female-to-male gender transition. He’s let his followers (currently he has 311,000) in as he’s started on testosterone, had top surgery and started to see the results of long-term testosterone use. Wilson frequently posts pictures of himself pre-transition, talking openly about his experience coming out as a lesbian, and then out as trans, in an extremely conservative community.

He also uses Instagram to tackle questions about his transition, such as, “Do you have male private parts now?” Wilson’s answer: “Me nor my fellow brothers and sisters should ever have to deal with these types of questions. It should be common sense NOT to ask a complete stranger what their private parts consist of.” Watching other trans folks transition on Instagram gave Wilson a glimpse of what was possible in his own life. “[The images] gave me hope that I could physically change my features, and [an understanding of] how much testosterone can change someone,” he told Cosmopolitan.

Julia Kaye

Julia Kaye, an artist at Disney Television Animation, is the author of Up and Out, a comic about her gender transition. She started making Up and Out, a lot of which you can find on Instagram, “as a way to handle dealing with the external and internal stress that comes with going on hormonal replacement therapy.” Kaye’s work is as much about the emotional and mental aspects of coming out and transitioning as it is the physical.

“More fun times with internalized transphobia and a lack of self-acceptance,” she posted in August 2016 alongside a strip in which she confessed to feeling that she still felt like an imposter referring to herself with female pronouns. In addition to relaying what it’s like to be misgendered and dealing with her family and friends, Kaye also confronts the beliefs she had about gender and sexuality, such as that trans people have always known they were trans and that a trans person can somehow not be “trans enough.”

Alok Vaid-Menon

Gender identity and presentation exist on a spectrum. While Kaye and Wilson are trans folks who represent transitions that look like they might adhere to more binary gender standards, Alok Vaid-Menon is a gender-nonconforming transfeminine writer and performance artist whose love for fashion, which they utilize for political power as well as expression, is recorded on their Instagram. Vaid-Menon uses Instagram to urge their followers to think beyond the gender binary as well as to chronicle what it’s like to be a person of color with a beard in a world that selects those folks for racial profiling and their tips for coping and confronting fear and hate so one can find and celebrate beauty in all of its manifestations.

More: A Reminder That Gender Identity and Sexuality Are Not the Same Thing

Leo Sheng

Leo Sheng shows the various aspects of his transition from female to male on his Instagram, including his updated driver’s license. In a 2014 Huffington Post interview, Sheng said that at first he’d been reticent to reveal photos of himself as a child since those images didn’t reflect who he was, but, like Wilson, was fortified by other trans folks on Instagram and then “decided [he] wanted to own up to [his] past.” Sheng often posts about privilege and masculinity as well as the violence against black trans women.

By Chanel Dubofsky

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Jesse Wiliams' Insta Is Making Us So Hungry for Grey's Anatomy

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Jesse Williams' Instagram lately has been a behind-the-scenes look at the cast of Grey's Anatomy when the cameras aren't rolling, and we're loving it.

jesse williams greys anatomy cast instagram pic 1

jesse williams greys anatomy cast instagram pic 1

More: Praise Shonda! A Steamy New Grey's Anatomy Spinoff Is Coming to ABC

Since we have to wait about another two months until the show's Season 4 premiere on Sept. 28, Williams' Instagram pics are just the fix we've been looking for.

jesse williams greys anatomy cast instagram pic 2

jesse williams greys anatomy cast instagram pic 2

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jesse williams greys anatomy cast instagram pic 3

jesse williams greys anatomy cast instagram pic 4

jesse williams greys anatomy cast instagram pic 4

Of course, Williams didn't share any of the details of Season 14 filming in his posts, but we do have a few clues about the upcoming season already.

More: 32 Most Shocking Moments From Every Grey's Anatomy Finale Over the Last 13 Years

Season 14 of the show is also adding some new faces and some familiar faces back into the mix. It was just announced that Abigail Spencer will take on the role as Owen's sister, Megan, while Matthew Morrison teased that he will be returning to the show as Dr. Paul Stadler, Jo's estranged abusive husband. Kim Raver is also returning to the series as Dr. Teddy Altman, who left the show in Season 8 to take her dream job with the Army.

That being said, the upcoming season is sure to be chock full of old drama reemerging and new drama unfolding. But, judging by Williams' Instagram feed as of late, the cast saves the drama for the cameras. Behind the scenes, it's only love.

More: Grey's Anatomy's Finale Had a Sad Goodbye, but These Deaths Were Way Worse

Which storyline are you most looking forward to seeing in Grey's Anatomy Season 14?

Kaley Cuoco Looks Really In Love On Vacation With Boyfriend Karl Cook

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Kaley Cuoco and her boyfriend Karl Cook have been busy hamming it up in Australia.

More: Kaley Cuoco Receives A Torrent of Hate for Wearing Her Heart On Her Sleeve

The couple looks like they're having a blast, though they are trying to keep it serious in front of the cameras.

kaley cuoco and karl cook instagram pic 2

kaley cuoco and karl cook instagram pic 2

Trying and failing that is... Even Cook's family, who joined the couple on their Australian adventure, played along with the funny photo.

More: Kaley Cuoco's New Boyfriend Brings Out the Haters — But They're All Wrong

kaley cuoco and karl cook instagram pic 5

kaley cuoco and karl cook instagram pic 5

kaley cuoco and karl cook instagram pic 3

kaley cuoco and karl cook instagram pic 3

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kaley cuoco and karl cook instagram pic 4

Except on the hike. Cuoco's face would suggest she's actually all business climbing up that hill.

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kaley cuoco and karl cook instagram pic 6

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kaley cuoco and karl cook instagram pic 7

Cuoco and Cook have been dating since the beginning of 2016, and are clearly taking the relationship seriously.

kaley cuoco and karl cook instagram pic 1

kaley cuoco and karl cook instagram pic 1

Us Weekly reports Cuoco has said the relationship is "very much meant to be."

Cuoco deserves some luck in love, after her much-publicized relationship to Ryan Sweeting ended in divorce in 2015 after only 21 months of marriage.

More: Can We All Just Get Over the Fact That Kaley Cuoco Falls in Love Fast?

Cuoco has been open about her struggles in love and now seems to have finally met her match. She even joked recently that she had a bit of baby fever. So should we expect a ring for Cuoco by the end of the year? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Do you think Cuoco and Cook will get engaged in 2017?

Concussions Linked to Period Irregularities in Young Female Athletes

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A new U.S. study published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that young women who suffer a concussion might be at an increased risk of experiencing menstrual irregularities in the months following the injury.

Researchers surveyed 128 girls and women between the ages of 12 and 21 who had acquired either a concussion or an orthopedic injury from athletic or recreational activity within the 30 days before the study began. Of the 68 girls who had head injuries, 23.5 percent experienced two or more abnormal bleeding patterns in the 120-day span after their injuries. This same pattern of irregularity was only found in 5 percent of the girls without concussions.

More: What caused this woman to have her period for 5 God-awful years?

According to senior author Anthony Kontos of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program, irregular menstrual cycles disturb the body’s hormones and can lead to delayed body development, reduced bone density and reduced estrogen production in young females.

The study found that concussions might increase the risk of irregular periods by disrupting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, the part of the brain that helps develop and regulate the body’s reproductive systems. Hormone disorders are known to occur following traumatic brain injuries.

Dr. Dennis Cardone, co-director of the Concussion Center at NYU Langone Medical Center and an associate professor in the department of orthopedic surgery pointed out to CNN that the study, which he was not affiliated with, did not control for where the participants were in their sporting seasons.

More: 5 Ridiculous Menstrual Myths, Busted

“If you took a female population in the beginning of their sporting season compared to middle or end, in an intense strenuous sport, then the likelihood is that a decent amount probably are going to have menstrual irregularities, just related to the strenuous exercise that they’re doing,” Cardone told CNN. “So the timing really would make a big difference here.”

This is not the first round of research to link concussions and menstrual patterns. In 2013, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that women who were concussed during the two weeks leading up to their period experienced a slower recovery and worse health one month after the injury as opposed to women who were concussed during the two weeks directly after their period.

While the conclusions of the study fail to prove that concussions actually cause abnormalities in menstruation, the study itself has opened the door for further research to be conducted on this topic.

More: What's happening to your body each day of your menstrual cycle

Kontos told Reuters that he advises women who experience concussion to discuss the potential for an increased risk of irregularities with their health care providers. “It’s important for care providers to be concerned about menstrual patterns and encouraging women to track that after their injury.”

By Shaye DiPasquale

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Babywearing Made Me Feel Like a Badass After Birth

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Being a city mama, I knew ahead of time, when I was pregnant, that babywearing would be my main means of transporting my tot. Our monster of a stroller would be reserved for days spent in our neighborhood (i.e., no subways involved) or when my husband was with us for weekend adventures. But for the day-to-day, babywearing it would be.

More: Parents in a Mad Dash to Snag Doll That Lulls Babies to Sleep

I gave birth at a hospital in our neighborhood, and the day we took our baby daughter home last summer, my husband was actually the first person to wear her so I didn’t put any weight on myself during the walk home. It was the cutest thing ever: she was just big enough to be worn at all, and her tiniest baby feet peeked out the bottom openings for my swooning pleasure. But from then on, it was my turn, and I loved every moment of the experience.

I wore her everywhere — even just around the house. It allowed for her to nap in longer stretches so I could get basic household chores done and even some computer work — even though typing around her little body was sometimes difficult, it helped me meet those deadlines.

During those first few months, my baby girl grew — rather quickly. In the blink of an eye, I had a 14-pound babe that I was carting around everywhere, and even though it was still a great bonding experience, it also turned into a workout. And you know what? I was starting to feel like a badass every day of my life because of it.

More: Babies Dressed as Disney Princesses for a Photo Shoot Are Everything

We all know that the first year after having a baby is tough. Our hormones are all out of whack, we look in the mirror to see a body we don’t recognize, and some days we're lucky to find time to sleep or shower. Like any new mom, I wasn't really feeling like myself. My daughter created a shift inside me that was almost tangible.

I was kind to myself, though, and gave myself time to work through the cycle of postpartum emotions. And when I strapped that baby carrier to me and placed our little nugget inside, I felt like I could take on the world. I suddenly had two hands again! Two hands to be used for all my mom duties while my daughter slept soundly. It might sound silly to some, but I feel like babywearing kind of saved me.

When it came to starting a fitness routine again, I slowly crept back into that too. About eight weeks postpartum, I got sick of the slow-paced postpartum yoga and started with some squats and weights while my little bundle was cozied up right next to my heart, and it felt great. I was able to involve her in almost everything I did while slowly starting to feel like my prepregnancy self again.

And because my little girl gained weight at such a rapid pace (yup she’s a cute little chucker that you want to squeeze all day long), so did my strength. Babywearing added a lot of extra weight for me to cart around  — with an equally heavy diaper bag backpack doubling my load. I felt stronger every day and especially every time we left the house. I felt my self-confidence begin to build again, and a lot of it is down to babywearing.

More: 10 Baby Products New Moms Are Obsessed With

Since I became a mom, I believe the phrase "strong is the new sexy" more than ever because I genuinely began to feel that. I want my kids to look up to a strong mom who takes on each day and its challenges head-on and knows within my every movement, every decision and every example that I show them, it’s powered by confidence and strength.

Thank you, babywearing, for helping me reconnect with myself postpartum.

This Sex & The City Actress Might Run for Governor of New York

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If there were one character from Sex and The City to run for public office in New York, who would it be? Yeah, exactly. Miranda. AKA, Cynthia Nixon.

More: 25 Sex and The City quotes that'll make you want to re-watch the entire series

In true Miranda fashion, the actress is fully considering a 2018 run for governor of New York against current governor Andrew Cuomo. According to The Hill, Nixon has expressed her disapproval of Cuomo before, specifically in an op-ed she wrote this year for USA Today that blasts his education policies. Her distaste for his politics have led her to a full get-up-and-do-something-about-it attitude. And we’re living for it.

Nixon, who just won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for The Little Foxes, and reached peak popularity as the crowd-favorite character, Miranda Hobbes, on HBO’s hit show Sex and The City, has been politically active for years. In an interview on The View, she summed up her issues with the six-year governor. “Basically, Gov. Cuomo is shortchanging the children of New York state,” Nixon said. “He is not against public schools but he doesn’t like to pay for them.”

More: 5 best Sex and The City episodes

Nixon has also even gone as far as to say, “These are policies we expect from Betsy DeVos, but from Andrew Cuomo?” Comparing a mostly democratic politician to one of Donald Trump’s cronies within the White House, especially one who has been criticized for her lack of understanding of the actual job at hand, definitely strikes a chord within New York government.

As Cuomo prepares for his third campaign as governor, the Democrat’s team seems a bit shaken. In a statement following Nixon’s criticisms, Bill Murlow, Cuomo’s 2018 campaign chairman, looks to pull at strings about his candidate’s work in office thus far. “Governor Cuomo has the strongest progressive record of any elected official in the country - period - and we look forward to building on that record in the third term.”

More: Cynthia Nixon won't cop to being bisexual

Watch out, Governor Cuomo. Miranda Hobbes rarely loses. So why would Cynthia Nixon?

Serena Williams Threw the Cutest Throwback Baby Shower

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Serena Williams, true Goddess of the Tennis Court, is about to pop out a baby as badass as she is. So, of course, she had the coolest '50s-themed baby shower to match.

More: Pregnant Serena Williams Poses Nude, Talks Falling for Alexis Ohanian

The entire party was the most Instagram-worthy thing to happen since Beyoncé’s twins announcement. (See a pattern here? Babies and goddesses.) Williams' shower was held at Nick’s '50s Diner in West Palm Beach, Florida, and was attended by only the soon-to-be mom’s closest friends, including Eva Longoria, Kelly Rowland, La La Anthony and Ciara. Officially in the books as one of the coolest crews ever.

Serena Williams Baby Shower

Serena Williams Baby Shower

Everyone dressed the part in poodle skirts, saddle shoes, pearls and bandanas. A few put some modern touches on their looks, but Williams went the whole nine yards with a bright yellow skirt, black top, pearl necklace and earrings, red bandana with her hair in an updo, and ankle socks with those black-and-white saddle shoes. Even Serena’s sister Venus showed up ready for the '50s, wearing a black-and-white polka dot dress and a big red hat to match her bright red pumps.

Serena Williams Baby Shower

Serena Williams Baby Shower

More: 10 Things We Learned About Serena Williams at #BlogHer17

I’m sure there were gifts and drinks and downtime for the gals to chat, but the party just looked like one big photo shoot. As it should be! There were perfect props everywhere: a jukebox, a red pickup truck and black-and-white tiled floors.

Williams is set to have her first child with her fiancé, Alexis Ohanian. The two planned to keep it a secret, but in April, Williams accidentally sent out publicly what was meant to be a private Snapchat of her baby bump. What was meant to be is meant to be! And now the couple is more supported than ever.

More: Venus Williams Sends a Message to Her Sister From the Wimbledon Court

The couple doesn’t know if the baby is a boy or a girl, but they’re thinking it’s a girl. Ohanian told Jimmy Kimmel that Serena "won the Australian Open while pregnant. She remarked that she feels it has to be a girl because everything that little baby went through and handled like a champ, only a woman could be strong enough to take on."


Fixer Upper's Chip Gaines Responds to Rumors of Split From Joanna

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HGTV royalty and Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have recently been through the rumor wringer and are speaking out against the accusation that the two are splitting up. “Won’t ever happen,” said Chip.

More: So This Is What Fixer Upper's Joanna Gaines Has Been Up To

The couple have been married since 2003 and now have four children together — and a home improvement empire. A fan wrote on Twitter about her disgust with the false rumors coming out about the happily married pair: “I’m so sick of these ‘stories’ claiming [Joanna] and [Chip] breaking up. Leave this couple alone they are wonderful together.”

Rumor Tweet

Rumor Tweet

A very Chris Crocker approach by an intense Fixer Upper fan. But it worked! Chip responded to the tweet by saying, “Won’t ever happen… you can take that to the bank! #LoveOfMyLife” It’s seriously adorable.

Rumor Tweet

Rumor Tweet

Their love story is pretty normal. Joanna was working in her dad’s auto shop and Chip walked in for some regular old business. He saw her picture displayed on the wall on the shop, and that was it. “I knew I’d marry her one day just by the picture on the wall,” Chip told PopSugar.

More: 8 Reasons HGTV's Fixer Upper Is the Best Home Renovation Show

The couple also told their love story to Us Weekly in January 2016, so it’s no secret how stable they are and why these rumors simply make no sense. Chip was the first one to say “I love you,” he said. “And then I said ‘thank you,’” Joanna told Us.

The contractor and designer had the cutest engagement, too. Chip says he put a lot of thought into his proposal, and Joanna says she didn’t even see it coming. “I didn’t even know he was gonna propose to me,” she starts. “He takes me to a ring shop I’ve never been in, in this small little town, and said there was a concert. So I’m thinking behind it there were going to be a bunch of these people. This man [Chip] comes out and he’s wearing an apron. He’s like, ‘Welcome to my jewelry shop, you get to design your ring.’ It was very sweet. It completely blew me away.”

More: Chip and Joanna Gaines Are Opening a Restaurant

So, yeah. There’s no way these two are breaking up. Probably not ever.

How to Deal With a Grown-Up Mean Girl

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When I was 12 years old, I was bullied by my best friend. She and I had been inseparable for years: playing basketball after school each night, attending church together, chatting for hours on the phone. So when she suddenly dropped me as a friend and cunningly created an army of fellow seventh-grade girls to simultaneously protect her and fight me — a move worthy of Cersei Lannister — it was a straight kick to the gut; a literal heartbreak of the gold Best Friends Forever necklace we had bought together at our local shopping mall.

Her personal vendetta against me turned so ugly that I would regularly fake being sick to stay home from school. Even the principal’s eventual involvement barely made her flinch. It was only through time and patience and strict observance from the adults around us that I was able to finish off the year without suffering another anxiety attack. But our friendship and my self-esteem concerning female relationships were irrevocably damaged. I ended up changing schools the following fall, and thankfully, I never saw or heard from her again.

More: Blowing Out Candles on a Birthday Cake Is Just as Gross as You Think It Is

After some self-reflection and therapy, I was able to forge new healthy friendships with other women in high school and university. I had a healthy self-image and I felt free to be myself around others. I felt like the sixth Spice Girl, an ambassador of female friendships and #GirlPower. Like braces and aggressive hickies, I thought that my experience with bullies would be over post-adolescence.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. Whether it was the co-worker whose constant silence sliced like a knife whenever I entered our shared office or the new “girlfriend” who only wanted me around to build herself up or the woman at the gym who berated and threatened me when I gathered up the courage to call her out on her dishonesty, my experience has proven that some mean girls only grow up to be mean women.

MoreWhy I'm Planning to Give Birth Without an Audience

I’m not alone either. Many female friends have shared with me their own experiences of dealing with grown-up Regina Georges. One fought to get her female friend a job at her company only for her friend to go behind her back in an attempt to take her job. Another had a sneaky female boss who asked her to spy on other employees and report back whatever dirt she could find on them. Another had a mean girl as a “friend” who ended up turning an entire neighborhood against her simply because my friend had wanted some space from their friendship.

So what’s the deal with these mean women? Quite simply, “Adult mean girls are grown women who are bitter and/or insecure,” says individual and couples therapist Irina Firstein. “Sometimes they have been bullied or had mean friends or sisters in childhood. They normally are also jealous and competitive with other women. They are threatened by women and threaten first.” She adds, “Also, bullies can smell a potential victim who can't defend themselves and will [unfortunately] take the abusiveness.” 

Common grown-up mean girl scenarios that Firstein has counseled involve everything from a female boss abusing her power to highly competitive co-workers to a female who inserts herself between two close friends and tries to “win” one of them over, leaving the other in the cold.

So what do you do if you find yourself encountering a grown-up mean girl? “In general, adult bullies, just like young ones, respond to assertiveness and confrontation,” says Firstein. “So when possible, they should be called out on their behavior.” And the sooner you call out your bully on their mean ways, the better. “I don't suggest passively taking in [their abuse] as a long-term approach,” says Firstein. “[Constant bullying] is traumatic and can cause depression and/or self-esteem issues.”

MoreWhat Changed About Exercise After Giving Birth

If the bullying has occurred in a casual environment, such as the gym or at a church group, Firstein suggests walking away if she’s a stranger. “If it is someone who you know, you may want to have a conversation and ask what is going on? Being assertive and not showing fear usually helps to tame the mean girl. If you’re in a casual environment like a gym, and things get contentious, you might want to seek help from a manager.” 

And if the grown-up mean girl is your boss? “I would say stay away,” says Firstein. “You can and sometimes should stand up for yourself, but be prepared to potentially lose your job.” Also, contacting HR about your concerns regarding your boss is always a must before you speak directly to the Miranda Priestly in your life.

But perhaps the biggest question remains: With women fighting for unity and equality, why are we still so divided?

“I think there are more adult female bullies than male because women feel more victimized than men in general,” says Firstein. “They may feel that they have had less opportunities than men in the workplace and may feel angry or bitter about it. There is also a lot of competition and disappointment on the single scene for women, so they may also feel mistreated and bad about themselves.”

To paraphrase Tina Fey in Mean Girls, we’ve all got to stop calling each other sluts and whores. It just makes it OK for guys to call us sluts and whores. We should welcome one another to sit with us whether we wear pink on Wednesdays or not. Because when women work together, we are unstoppable.

Chris Pratt & Anna Faris Are Breaking Up, & We're Emotionally Breaking Down

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This is truly saddening news: Your favorite Hollywood couple, Anna Faris and Chris Pratt, announced their separation on their respective social media accounts on Sunday evening. The news is a complete blindside to the general public, mostly because there had seemingly been no stirrings of discord between the couple in the time leading up to this announcement. While that is of course not the case for the pair, who clearly have their reasons for breaking up, it does not soften the sting that comes with learning a beloved and truly well-liked couple is now splitting up.

More: Anna Faris Is the Live-Tweeting Queen We Don't Deserve but Definitely Need

The news came late Sunday evening, with Faris and Pratt releasing the same signed statement to Faris' Instagram and Pratt's Twitter and Facebook. The statement reads: "We are sad to announce we are legally separating. We tried hard for a long time, and we're really disappointed. Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward. We still love each other and will always cherish our time together." The pair also signed their names to indicate a united front this matter.

Anna Faris Chris Pratt Separation Announce

Anna Faris Chris Pratt Separation Announce

What is most clear in their joint statement is that they appear to be amicably splitting up. They also appear focused on their son, Jack, and his well-being; it's understandable they'd want to keep this process to themselves if only so Jack's life is not upended.

More: Seriously, Chris Pratt Needs to Consider Going Into Politics If Acting Stalls

It would seem they've already been keeping this issue to themselves for quite some time, as they've been appearing with one another at public events until very recently, but their statement implies that there may have been issues brewing for a long time.

The couple has been a longtime favorite of many people since they first got together back in 2007 when they met on the set of the film Take Me Home Tonight. Pratt and Faris have been openly affectionate and supportive of one another in their professional and personal endeavors over the years, giving fans a peek into their goofy yet good-natured marriage through social media. As such, the news of their separation has caused strong reactions from fans.

Anna Faris Chris Pratt Separation Announce 3

Anna Faris Chris Pratt Separation Announce 3

Anna Faris Chris Pratt Separation Announce 4

Anna Faris Chris Pratt Separation Announce 4

Anna Faris Chris Pratt Separation Announce 5

Anna Faris Chris Pratt Separation Announce 5

Anna Faris Chris Pratt Separation Announce 6

Anna Faris Chris Pratt Separation Announce 6

More: Chris Pratt Almost Lost Acting Roles Because of His Weight

We may never know what the root cause of their separation is, and truly, it's none of our business. At any rate, it might be best to send out some good wishes that this matter resolves itself peacefully and the two actors find happiness as this chapter of their lives comes to a close.

38 'Weird' Celebrity Baby Names People Love to Hate

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There's no denying the fact that most celebrities love to create a little attention for themselves. More often than not, they're also creative types. So what do you get when you have a group of people that craves attention and lives for coming up with stuff no one has ever thought of before? A whole grip of crazy baby names, that's what.

There are some celebrities who go with good old-fashioned names (Anne Hathaway named her baby Jonathan, for example), but then there's the category of stars who go all in and come up with names for their kids than many of the general public would consider downright weird.

Like these.

38. Heiress Harris

That's a tongue twister! But luckily this little girl is the daughter of rapper T.I., so she can probably handle it.

37. River Rocket

Rocket as a middle name only reminds us of "pocket rocket." Still, Jamie Oliver went ahead with it.

More: When Celeb Parents Posted These Photos, the Internet Blew a Gasket

36. Henry Wilberforce

We love Henry, but may the force be with the newest member of the Duggar-Seewald clan if any of his classmates ever find out his middle name. Hey, at least his first name isn't Spurgeon — like his older brother.

35. Audio Science

No, it's not what Shannyn Sossamon majored in while at college, it's what she chose to name her baby.

34. Phyllon Gorr

Doutzen Kroes and her husband, DJ Sunnery James, have a son named Phyllon Gorr, which sounds a little bit more like a character on Star Trek or Star Wars than a little boy who roams Earth.

33. Ace Knute

Jessica Simpson's little boy is adorable, and the name Ace is pretty cute — but there's just something about that Ace/Knute combo that doesn't mesh.

32. Ode Mountain

What else would you expect from the passionate Hunger Games star Jena Malone? Malone welcomed her son with her boyfriend, photographer Ethan DeLorenzo, in 2016 and named the little guy Ode Mountain DeLorenzo Malone. Malone hasn't revealed the inspiration for her son's name yet, though we think it makes a great "ode" to new parenting.

31. Jagger Snow

Ashlee Simpson already has a 7-year-old son with rocker Pete Wentz named Bronx Mowgli, so it would only make sense that her next baby's name with husband Evan Ross, Diana Ross's son, would follow suit. The couple welcomed their daughter in 2015 and gifted her with a very unique name that nodded to her musical roots: Jagger Snow.

30. Rocket Zot

Avatar star Sam Worthington's baby name choice for his first child with wife Lara Bingle Worthington came out of left field. In 2015, the couple named their baby boy Rocket Zot -- just because they liked the way it sounded. Rocket was a fun first name the Worthingtons chose at random, and Zot was Bingle Worthington's late father's nickname.

29. Rainbow Aurora

Holly Madison of The Girls Next Door is known for her glitz and glamour, and she used the same panache when naming her baby girl in 2013. As Madison tells it, adorable little Rainbow Aurora was named after a sporty girl she knew (and was jealous of) in school. Despite what the haters had to say, Madison stood behind her daughter's ultra-unique name choice.

28. North West

Everyone initially thought it was a joke when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West named their daughter the direction-inspired name North West. As it turns out, both Pharrell and Vogue's Anna Wintour encouraged the name.

"It was a rumor in the press, and we'd never really considered it seriously at all, but Kanye and I were having lunch right over there at that table about a year ago, and Pharrell [Williams] came over to us and said, 'Oh my God, are you guys really going to call your daughter North? That is the best name.' I said, 'No, we're not. That's just a rumor,'" she told GQ. "Then a little while later, Anna Wintour came over and asked the same thing. She told us, 'North is a genius name.' Kanye and I looked at one another and just laughed. I guess at that point it sort of stuck."

More: This Printable Guide is About to Solve All Your Baby-naming Squabbles

Kimye continued their baby name "winning" streak when they introduced their second son to the world in December 2015, named Saint West (not Easton West, as the Internet rumored it to be).

Next Up: Sno FilmOn Dot Com Cozart

Updated by Sarah Long on 8/7/17.


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27. Sno FilmOn Dot Com Cozart

As hard as this little guy's name is to decipher, no, we are not making this up. Rapper Chief Keef, who also goes by the names Keith Cozart and "Sosa," opted to name his newborn son this mouthful — Sno FilmOn Dot Com Cozart — to promote his album release in September 2015. We are going to look on the bright side with this one and celebrate the fact that young Sno has plenty of nicknames to choose from.

26. Elsie Otter

Zooey Deschanel is nothing if not quirky, and we wouldn't expect anything less from her choice in a baby name. Deschanel made the big name drop three months after giving birth to her daughter, named Elsie Otter, with her producer husband, Jacob Pechenik. Say the name a few times fast, and you might catch that it's a play on the words "sea otter," which Deschanel confirmed was the true inspiration for her daughter's offbeat name.

25. Apollo Bowie Flynn

Far before David Bowie's passing in 2016, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale got a jump on paying homage to the rock legend, naming their third son Apollo Bowie Flynn in 2014. However, the tribute may have been entirely accidental, as Rossdale tweeted that Bowie and Flynn were actually the couple's mothers' maiden names. Chalk that one up to a clever coincidence.

24. Apple

It's the forbidden fruit, it'll keep the doctor away, and it's the epitome of Americanism. But Apple is also the name of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's first daughter. They got the idea from one of Martin's bandmates, who also has a child named Apple.

In an interview with Oprah, Paltrow said she liked how it sounded "wholesome" and "clean."

23. Poppy Honey, Daisy Boo and Petal Blossom Rainbow

Leave it to a renowned chef to bring vibrant names to the table when naming their children. Jamie Oliver and his wife, Jools, named their daughters Poppy, Daisy and Petal. Apparently the floral motif is big for naming in the Oliver clan.

Next Up: Rocket Ayer

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22. Rocket Ayer

Another "Rocket" fan in the house: Producer, singer and The Voice judge Pharrell Williams and his wife gave their son the unusual name of Rocket Ayer, and he explained to Oprah the deep meaning behind the name.

"In the same way that the Indians name their children, like, behind a force or an animal or an element, we named him after a man-made machine that was meant to go up. Meant to ascend. And metaphorically, it was because of, you know, Stevie Wonder’s 'Rocket Love,' Elton John’s 'Rocket Man' and Herbie Hancock’s 'Rocket.' All of my favorite musicians. And [Rocket's] middle name is not Man. It’s Ayer, after Roy Ayers.”

21. Sage Moonblood and Seargeoh

When you hear the names of this pair, you can't help but get stuck on Sage Moonblood. What does that even mean? But look past it, and see Seargeoh... then picture dad Sylvester Stallone pronouncing it. It just fits.

20. Aurelius

Back in the time of the Romans, Aurelii was the name of an elite group of families. Aurelius was the male version of the name, and it's also the name of the youngest son of Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson and Arpad Busson (who's now engaged to Uma Thurman).

More: Hunger Games Star Gives Baby a Heroic Southern Name With a Fiery Kick

19. Blue Angel

Some people name their children after family members; others name them for Biblical figures. But U2's The Edge and Aislinn O'Sullivan? They went for Blue Angel. Sounds like a clothing line, doesn't it?

18. Bluebell Madonna

Back in the late '90s, the Spice Girls were known for their shrinking hemlines and get-up-and-move music. These days, though, many of the Spice Girls have taken on a new role: mom.

Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) is no exception, and her daughter's name pays homage to both music and beautiful flowers: Bluebell Madonna. The British mother-daughter duo are pictured at right.

17. Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches and Pixie

File this one under "What were they thinking?" Bob Geldof and Paula Yates named their firstborn daughter Fifi Trixibelle. (Can't help but wonder if a boy would have been Fido.)

Meanwhile, their other daughters fared no better with Peaches Honeyblossom and Pixie. The late Paula Yates went on to have one more daughter, this one with (also late) INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence. The child is known as Tiger, which is a whole lot simpler to remember than her given name: Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily.

Next Up: Destry

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16. Destry

Somewhere between destiny and destroy is Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw's daughter Destry.

15. Diezel Ky

Alternate spellings can be a cool way to customize a name, and that's what Toni Braxton and Keri Lewis did with their son, Diezel Ky. Diezel's older brother is named Denim Cole.

14. Bronx Mowgli

Making our list twice -- Ashlee Simpson and her ex-husband, Pete Wentz, raised some eyebrows when they named their son Bronx Mowgli. Wentz wouldn't say how they came up with the name Bronx but did say that Mowgli came from The Jungle Book.

"The Jungle Book was something that me and Ashlee bonded over. It's a cool name," he said.

13. Blue Ivy

There have been several rumors as to why Beyoncé and Jay Z named their daughter Blue Ivy (Illuminati, anyone?), but both singers have a fondness for the color blue (remember when Jay Z rapped "My favorite hue is Jay Z blue?") as well as for releasing three Blueprint albums. As far as her middle name, Ivy stands for the Roman numeral IV, or four, which is Beyoncé's birthday (Sept. 4), Jay Z's birthday (Dec. 4) and their anniversary date (April 4).

12. Zola Ivy

Parents Eddie Murphy and Nicole Mitchell created one of those names that flow nicely together, although it's an unexpected combination. The name? Zola Ivy. Eddie Murphy's other kids include Bella Zahra, Shane Audra, Brea and Angel Iris Murphy Brown (the last was with Spice Girl Melanie Brown).

11. Tallulah, Scout and Rumer

You can't bring one of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's children into the name list without the other two. The couple, who divorced in 2000, named their kids Tallulah, Scout and Rumer. And boy, did Demi make rumors when she started dating her current husband, Ashton Kutcher, who is 16 years her junior. Pictured: Demi and Rumer posing on the red carpet.

Next Up: Ocean, Sonnet and True

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10. Ocean, Sonnet and True

There is something poetic about Forest Whitaker's kids names: Ocean, Sonnet and True...

9. Shiloh Nouvel

Parents of six Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have a cache of unusual names, but their biological daughter Shiloh's name takes the cake in the clan (siblings include Maddox, Zahara, Pax, Knox and Vivienne). Pictured is Shiloh with Papa Pitt.

8. Seven Sirius, Puma Sabti and Mars Merkaba

Naming a baby really is serious business. When André Benjamin and Erykah Badu named their son, they took that to heart with Seven Sirius (say it out loud). Badu has since given birth to two more kids, Puma (hello, sneakers!) and Mars (the red planet?).

7. Satchel

Babies are so cute you just want to scoop them up and keep them close. Maybe that's why Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee named their child for the bag that's great for carrying things: Satchel.

6. Kyd

David Duchovny and Tea Leoni spared no creativity here, naming thier son... wait for it... wait for it... Kyd. Guess that makes calling the child over a cinch.

Next Up: Moxie CrimeFighter and Zolten

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5. Moxie CrimeFighter and Zolten

Illusionist Penn Jillette isn't fooling anyone with the unusual names for his kids: Moxie CrimeFighter and Zolten. Do you think Zolten is a CrimeFighter with Moxie?

4. Pilot Inspektor

Some things just aren't intended to be names. Sometimes, if you want to choose an unusal name, it's better to balance it with a more traditional name. Of course, Jason Lee and Beth Riesgraf didn't get that memo when they named Pilot Inspektor.

3. Kal-El

Superman has a fan in Nicolas Cage, who named his son Kal-El, which is the first name of the Man of Steel.

2. Jermajesty

Jerm-Jerma... no, no, no. This name is pronounced like Her Majesty, but with a J at the start of it. That one comes from parents Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza. 'Nuff said.

1. Moon Unit, Dweezil and Diva Muffin

You can't have a list of unusual celebrity baby names without mentioning the kids of Frank Zappa: Moon Unit, Dweezil and Diva Muffin. The man (in the photo above with "Valley Girl" singer Moon Unit) is a pioneer in the naming division, for sure.

Christina Perri Is Going to Be a Mom

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Singer Christina Perri is expecting her first child with fiancé Paul Costabile.

More: How to Teach Your Kids the Meaning of Labor Day

Perri ("Jar of Hearts," "A Thousand Years") thrilled her fans with an Instagram post announcing the happy news.

Christina Perri

Christina Perri

That's Perri's completely adorable 3-year-old niece, Tesla, snuggling up to Perri's bump. Awwww. There is so much sweet in this picture, we just want to hug strangers and watch kitten GIFs all day.

More: Babywearing Makes Me Feel Like a Badass

Perri and Costabile are having a pretty great year. The couple got engaged in late June, and Perri was more than happy to share the news on Twitter.

Perri tweet

Perri tweet

"Paul asked me to marry him tonight and i said yes!" she tweeted.

More: Behati Prinsloo Talks "Next-Level Love" for Baby Dusty Rose

For his part, Costabile — a TV personality — said he knew Perri was the one for him the minute he met her.

"I knew I wanted to ask this girl to marry me the day she walked into the green screen for an interview almost 4 years ago," he said in an Instagram post. "I finally asked her right here tonight and she said yes!!"

Costabile tweet

Costabile tweet

We think these two will be naturals at this parenthood thing. Congrats!

9 Things J.C. Chasez, the Best N*SYNC Member, Is Doing These Days

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Yes, Justin Timberlake is a huge star who is extremely talented in music, on TV, in film and whenever he's standing next to his real-life BFF, Jimmy Fallon. That said, it's time to talk about J.C. Chasez (aka the best N*SYNC member, in my opinion), who you don't hear much about anymore.

More: 20 Things the Guys of 98 Degrees Were Doing 20 Years Ago

Many fans will probably disagree with me that the now-41-year-old Chasez was the true star of the beloved boy band. But ever since I first heard and saw the five guys of N*SYNC back in the late '90s, Chasez had a special place in my heart. I don't think he ever got enough credit for his voice or his dance moves. His talent was up there with Timberlake's, and it's a shame he isn't as famous as the "Can't Stop the Feeling" artist.

Unfortunately, Chasez's fame faded, but that doesn't mean he is completely forgotten. I still think about him every now and again — so much so that it's time to talk about what the singer has been up to these days.

1. He still looks the same

J.C. Chasez

J.C. Chasez

As you can see above, Chasez hasn't changed much in looks but he is sporting some gray, which gives him kind of a silver fox vibe.

2. He doesn't seem to be in a relationship

J.C. Chasez appears to still be single
Image: Giphy

If you've been wondering about his relationship status, according to an April 2017 People article, "Chasez is currently single."

3. He starred in a movie

J.C. Chasez #6

J.C. Chasez #6

June 2 was the release of the film Opening Night, which just happens to feature Chasez. The best part? He plays himself. Per IMDb, the movie is about "a failed Broadway singer who now works as a production manager" and who "must save opening night on his new production by wrangling his eccentric cast and crew." It has a huge cast, including Topher Grace, Anne Heche, Alona Tal, Taye Diggs, Paul Scheer and Rob Riggle.

4. He hasn't given up on music

J.C. Chasez #7

J.C. Chasez #7

According to People, Chasez is still very much involved in music. He has apparently worked with Basement Jaxx, McFly, Girls Aloud, David Archuleta and Matthew Morrison as both a writer and a producer. And, as you can see, he was in the studio in May working with producer Dallas Austin and singer/songwriter Aloe Blacc.

More: All 40 Rumors We've Heard About Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel

5. He supports female music producers

J.C. Chasez #2

J.C. Chasez #2

On June 21, Chasez made it clear that he's all about supporting women in music. He posted a photo at Lyre, a Los Angeles-based pop production and writing team, and wrote as the caption, "Loved working with @lyreofficial this week. We need to be shining more light on talented female producers." Preach, J.C., preach.

6. He's all about the motivation

J.C. Chasez #3

J.C. Chasez #3

This Instagram shot says it all. Chasez is loving life and making people smile. "I love traveling to new places and meeting cool people," he captioned the image. "Hope everyone out there is having a great day today."

7. He's not very active on social media

J.C. Chasez #7

J.C. Chasez #7

Unlike many celebrities, he isn't on social media 24/7. So far, Chasez has only posted 10 Instagram photos, and the last time he tweeted (as of Aug. 4) was on June 2.

8. He's loved by Topher Grace

JC Chasez starred in Opening Night with Topher Grace
Image: Dark Factory Entertainment

While chatting with HelloGiggles in June 2016, Grace opened up about working with Chasez in Opening Night, and he had nothing but kind words to say. "He is a wonderful guy, despite playing a complete jerk version of himself," the former That '70s Show actor said of Chasez. "He was completely open to the role and he had never done a movie before and said, 'I’ll do anything. I trust you guys.' I was really moved by his trust. I had never sang before and he was in the studio with me, helping us out. He has such a great sense of humor about himself and the role he played."

More: N*SYNC Is Reuniting, I Repeat, N*SYNC Is Reuniting

9. His friendship with N*SYNC remains

J.C. Chasez #4

J.C. Chasez #4

In August 2016, Chasez celebrated his 40th birthday with Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick. This just goes to show you that despite no longer being a group, these guys remain close and get together for special occasions.

More: 11 Hilarious Justin Timberlake & Jimmy Fallon Skits

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go listen to all of N*SYNC's old music and get my fill of Chasez, since, you know, he hasn't put out any new music in forever.

Baby in Paradise: Carly Waddell & Evan Bass Are Expecting

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It's a classic tale of boy meets girl, boy and girl go on a campy reality TV show, boy and girl get rejected and cry a lot, boy and girl go on another campy reality TV show, boy likes girl, girl doesn't like boy, girl changes her mind, boy and girl hook up, boy and girl get hitched, boy and girl are expecting a baby (and lucrative offers to give birth on live TV).

Yes, the latest Bachelor franchise couple to procreate is maybe our favorite couple ever to survive the mega-popular series: the adorably offbeat (and surprisingly relatable) pair that is Carly Waddell and Evan Bass.

More: Singer Christina Perri Is Expecting First Child

Waddell (the cruise ship singer) and Bass (the erectile dysfunction specialist — no, no, he helps people with ED, he doesn't personally specialize in erectile dysfunction) were dumped on their respective seasons of The Bachelor (Iowa farmer bachelor with hyena laugh Chris Soules) and The Bachelorette (Texan JoJo Fletcher with Pantene locks and a weakness for pretty, bad-boy football players).

Waddell and Bass have a lot in common, having survived televised heartache (multiple times in Waddell's case) and brutal, weepy limo rides to the airport. They went on to find love with each other on an alcohol-soaked beach in Mexico during their stay on Bachelor in Paradise, and fans were completely enamored with the coupling. Even when Bass faked an illness to keep Waddell intrigued. You rogue, Evan.

Waddell IG

Waddell IG

Waddell and Bass married in June in a ceremony near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — officiated by Bachelor franchise host Chris Harrison, naturally. The Bachelor family was in full force: Jade Roper was a bridesmaid and Wells Adams was a groomsman, proving it is totally possible to share a boyfriend (or a girlfriend) and later be best buds.

More: Babywearing Makes Me Feel Like a Badass

We can't even pretend we're not thrilled by this development. Seriously, Waddell and Bass have never quite fit the Bachelor mold, which is undeniably why they are so popular. They're almost — dare we say it? — normal human beings with one of the most normal relationships we've ever witnessed in Bachelor-land. So we were pretty stoked to hear their baby news (though we could use more details).

The couple released a statement to People. “We are so happy to be expanding our family as we welcome Baby Bass in 2018."

Bass and Waddell share a home in Nashville with Bass' three sons, Nathan, Liam and Ensley. We'd totally watch a show about this blended family. Like, OMG, so much. With popcorn.

More: 5 Things Nobody Tells You About Having a Baby

Carly IG

Carly IG

Are you listening, Chris Harrison?


The Internet Is on Fire After Last Night's Game of Thrones Episode

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I have so many words swirling around in my head right now, and none of them are really appropriate to start off this Game of Thrones article.

WARNING: If you have not watched the most recent episode of Game of Thrones, do not read on (unless you want it to be spoiled for you).

More: Game of Thrones' Daenerys & Jon Snow Totally Got Their Eye-Flirt On

Luckily, Twitter has my back on this one because WTH OMFGD.

got episode reaction 1

got episode reaction 1

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got episode reaction 7

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got episode reaction 8

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got episode reaction 9

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got episode reaction 10

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got episode reaction 11

There are also questions. So many questions. Is Drogon gonna die?

got episode reaction tweet 6

got episode reaction tweet 6

Is Jaime gonna die?

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got episode reaction 3

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got episode reaction 5

What about Daenerys?!

Who was it that saved Jaime from a fiery death? Was it Bronn? Was it Dickon? Did Tyrion somehow swoop down on the back of a Dothraki horse? Kidding... kind of. (Never underestimate Game of Thrones.) In all seriousness, my money's on Bronn.

More: The Game of Thrones Comparisons to Donald Trump Are Apt & Terrifying

But then... Will Tyrion and Jaime reunite? So many potential reunions this season.

got episode reaction 2

got episode reaction 2

Also, I really, really hate that dragon crossbow. I hope Drogon destroyed it and there's no hope of it ever coming back because if the show kills a dragon this season (which I think they might), I'm going to lose my mind. A dragon death might be the worst death in the history of this show. Don't touch those precious fire-breathing behemoths!

Oh and, last thing, can we just take a second to remember Khal Drogo in this moment.

got episode reaction 3

got episode reaction 3

He would have been so proud of his Khaleesi.

More: Kit Harington's Fake GoT Audition Tape Is the Best GoT Pregame

I on the other hand can't decide if I was on her side or Jaime's side. I mean, obviously I don't want the Lannisters to win because... Cersei. But I really don't want Bronn to die. Or Jaime. And that Dickon is kind of growing on me too. On the flip side A Song of Ice and Fire just doesn't exist without the fire, so Daenerys can't go anywhere.

Who were you rooting for tonight in Game of Thrones' epic dragon battle?

P.S. R.I.P. GoT Ed Sheeran.

got episode reaction 12

got episode reaction 12

When Breast Is Not Best

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Right after my son was born, the nurse placed him on my breast. He wiggled his newborn body up and his mouth immediately found my nipple. It was hospital protocol to do this and to encourage breastfeeding. I sighed happily and thought that this was the beginning of a beautiful breastfeeding relationship.

I was wrong.

More: Does your parenting style fit your star sign?

A lactation nurse came to see me in the hospital shortly after and shared some tips for proper positioning. The baby was having trouble latching, and she told me how important it was to keep trying as she pushed his little screaming head into my breast. My baby was frustrated, his little face red from crying, his body shaking from upset.

Still, I persisted.

“I don’t think anything is coming out,” I said.

The nurse comforted me with a reminder that the first incarnations of sustenance for baby is the colostrum, which comes in very small amounts and that baby didn’t need anything more. She helped me express a spoonful and fed it to the baby.

When the nurse left the room, I tried to repeat what she taught me about how to hold the baby and position the nipple and when to move in for the latch. But my baby did the same thing — he rooted frantically, not coming close to the nipple, and then started screaming. I got ready to push his little head in toward me the way she had, but I couldn’t bring myself to upset him further. I instead hand expressed and fed him by spoon.

That night was my first time alone with my new baby. He was less than 2 days old. It was 3 a.m., and he slept in his bassinet while I lay in the hospital bed several feet away. I was exhausted after 18 hours of labor followed by 24 hours of family visits and no sleep, but still awake. I was afraid to let him out of my sight, to slip into dreamland and miss a cue to help him.

I was also still running on the adrenaline and happy hormones from giving birth, in awe that my body had created a little human.

The calm rise and fall of my tiny baby’s chest as he slept soon gave way to a wakeful cry. I picked him up and tried to rock him back to sleep, but his cries only grew louder and more urgent. I changed his diaper and rocked him some more, walking around the room to try to calm him to no avail. He was crying blood-curdling yelps.

I pressed the call button for the nurse (don’t we wish we all had those at home too?!), and she came a moment later.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with him,” I said.

“He’s hungry,” she told me.

I didn’t know what to do. I had expressed every bit of colostrum that I could. He wouldn’t latch to try to get more. His screams were heart-wrenching. I felt there was no other choice. “Can I have some formula?” I asked.

More: The craziest things bottle-feeding moms have heard

He took a long swig of the formula bottle and immediately relaxed. After feeding for a bit, he fell into a calm and deep sleep. Rather than feeling relieved that my son was fine, even satisfied and healthy and doing what babies do best, I felt nothing but guilt. I had planned to exclusively breastfeed. The hospital staff had even taped a “breast milk only” sign to his bassinet so no one accidentally fed him formula.

“It was just one time,” I told myself, reassured that I would go home and resume my plan to breastfeed exclusively. My little guy clearly had other plans, though.

Perhaps because I had a C-section or because something else was going on or perhaps because my baby or the universe knew it wasn’t meant to be, my supply was incredibly slow to come in.

After nearly a week, I still wasn’t producing enough milk to feed my baby, and he still wasn’t latching properly. I had two lactation consultants come to the home and consult by phone, plus our doula and advice from anyone and everyone who would offer it up. And despite my guilt, after that night hearing my baby scream out in hunger, I vowed never to let him go without the nourishment he needed again. So I started supplementing with formula.

In efforts to increase my supply, I took herbs including fenugreek and milk thistle, drank nonalcoholic beer (the yeast is supposed to aid in milk production) and pumped every three hours interspersed with power pumps. I also continued to try to get Baby to nurse and fit in plenty of skin-to-skin time.

Finally, after three weeks, my supply started to match what he was eating and we switched to breast milk (though expressed in bottle because he never did latch properly or for long enough). As luck or fate would have it, he immediately became gassy and fussy and bloated and basically just plain miserable all day and night.

It went against all popular wisdom that my breast milk might be causing my baby distress. I was in disbelief and tried everything from cutting out the milk-enhancing herbs to an elimination diet of the obvious things that tend to upset babies, but nothing seemed to work. I did research on the most obscure corners of the internet — could it be a lactose sensitivity that only people in Australia seemed to talk about? Could he be allergic to something more obscure like tomatoes or green beans? Or perhaps his digestive system just wasn’t developed enough to handle anything but sensitive formula.

We cut out the breast milk from his diet, and I continued to pump to keep my supply up, waiting several weeks to see if his system might be more tolerant as he grew. Sadly, the same thing happened. He was a happy and healthy baby on the formula, and when we switched back to my breast milk he became a screaming, gassy, bloated mess. He would cry through feedings and slept fitfully, waking every hour crying.

I felt I had no choice but to throw in the towel on the breast milk. I felt like a failure, that my body was a mystery, because the breast-is-best philosophy just didn’t pan out in my situation.

I read forums on the internet and Facebook feeds about moms and breastfeeding and how much they loved it and how it was the best thing for the baby, and I cried. I had worked so hard to get my supply up to meet demand, and now it was all for waste.

Except in the end, it wasn’t all for nothing. I had 1,200 ounces of frozen breast milk that I donated to preemie babies in need. After meeting one of the babies that I donated my milk to — a 28-week girl who spent three months in the hospital and was severely underweight. She couldn’t tolerate anything but breast milk and mom’s had dried up — I realized that I had nothing to feel bad about.

More: I can't believe I had to pump there

The culture of shaming women for not breastfeeding when there are plenty of perfectly good reasons not to is intense.

All that mattered was that my baby was getting the sustenance he needed and he was thriving. How he got there was just a minor detail.

9-Year-Old 'Guardian of the Galaxy' Applies for NASA Job

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NASA recently opened a search for the coolest-sounding job ever: a new planetary protection officer (yes, really, it's a thing).

There's been no shortage of applicants — including one self-professed "Guardian of the Galaxy" named Jack Davis.

Jack, a fourth grader in New Jersey, sent a handwritten letter to NASA expressing his interest in the very cool gig. "I may be nine but I think I would be a fit for the job," he wrote.

Jack carefully described his planet-protecting work experience and research for NASA's HR team. "I am great at video games... I have seen almost all the space and alien movies I can see," he said. "I have also seen the show Marvel Agents of Shield and hope to see the movie Men in Black."
Jack also suggested he would be put to good use in matters of alien espionage. "I am young, so I can learn to think like an Alien."
NASA was impressed by Jack's letter. Not only did the organization respond with one of their own, the planetary research director, Jonathan Rall, even phoned Jack. (No big deal, just fielding calls from NASA at the age of 9. Totally going to play Xbox afterward.)
NASA

NASA

James L. Green, director of NASA's planetary science division, drafted the response letter to Jack and shared more about the job.
"It's about protecting Earth from tiny microbes when we bring back samples from the Moon, asteroids and Mars. It's also about protecting other planets and moons from our germs as we responsibly explore the Solar System," Green wrote.
"We are always looking for bright future scientists and engineers to help us, so I hope you will study hard and do well in school... We hope to see you here at NASA one of these days."
So it sounds like Jack didn't get the job this time around — but this chapter of his life sure won't hurt when it comes to getting into college. And it sounds like he'll have a definite in at NASA in the future.

6 Tips for Dating Someone With Kids

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It’s no secret that dating someone who has kids is going to be pretty different than dating a nonparent. Late dates, spontaneous overnight stays and the ability to do anything last minute are pretty much out of the equation. Plus, there’s the fact that your S.O. has other (incredibly important) priorities in their life that aren’t you.

It’s definitely more challenging to date a parent, says licensed marriage and family therapist Lesli Doares, author of Blueprint for a Lasting Marriage. The needs and schedules of the kids will impact how and when you’re able to be together, and babysitters and custody agreements may be part of the equation. “It also becomes not just how you feel about each other that matters because you aren’t the only ones involved,” she says. “The person with the children will take into account how [the kids] are dealing with this relationship too.” 

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t date someone with kids — it’s just good to know up front that it’s probably going to be a different experience than your last kid-free relationship. Here are a few important tips for navigating the situation.

1. Have realistic expectations

“Just because you and the parent get along doesn’t mean you and the children will,” Doares says — and that can be a deal-breaker for many parents.

There’s also a chance that the children could be jealous of you and your relationship with their parent and may even try to sabotage it, says clinical psychologist Dr. John Mayer, author of Family Fit: Find Your Balance in Life. Obviously, this doesn’t happen all the time, but it can — and it’s important to be aware before you get in too deep.

2. You have to be OK with your S.O. not being reachable all the time

Kids require a lot of time, energy and focus — especially if they’re young. That can make it tough for parents to be able to answer calls and texts quickly at times. “Kids are the priority,” says Mayer, and that can be tough for someone who doesn’t have them to understand—at least, at first.

Doares recommends that you both get clear about your time constraints, not just with the kids, but with work, activities and life in general so you both have realistic expectations of how available you’ll be.

3. Things might move slower than you’re used to, & that’s a good thing

Your partner likely takes their kids’ opinions into account when it comes to dating someone new or whether they should even be dating at all — and it’s understandable they might be cautious about introducing someone new to the equation. Plus, you’re also dealing with multiple people, which can be a lot to handle. “Taking things slow allows you to deal with these extra challenges more effectively,” Doares says. Moving slowly also lets the kids get used to the idea of their parent dating and of you being in the picture, Mayer says.

4. Watch what you say about the kids

At some point, your S.O. is probably going to gripe about an experience they had with their offspring, but it’s best for you to take a backseat about things. “If they want to talk about something going on at home, try to only ask open-ended questions and listen without weighing in,” Doares advises. Responding otherwise could be seen as criticism of their children, which won’t go over well.

5. Be neutral about the ex

If the ex is still in the picture and things get serious, you’re going to need to interact with them on some level. Even if the split was bad and your partner isn’t crazy about their former S.O., it’s crucial for you to be civil about the ex, Mayer says. Bad-mouthing them or refusing to interact with them will only cause trouble.

6. Don’t push to meet the kids

It’s super-tempting given that they’d be yours one day if things work out, but it’s important to slow your roll. “Don’t be too eager to meet them [and] be prepared to let the parent take the lead about including the children,” Doares says. “They know their children best.” In a perfect world, you wouldn’t meet the kids until your relationship was super-solid, like after you’ve dated for at least six months, she says.

When you do meet the kids, keep it short and meet up in a neutral place like the zoo or a restaurant, says Mayer. This can help make the situation more comfortable and less threatening for everyone.

Amber Heard & Elon Musk Have Split After a Whirlwind Romance

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Did we really need more bad news? On the day we learned that Chris Pratt and Anna Faris have separated, it feels like things couldn't get much worse. But when it rains, it pours, as yet another celeb couple we were rooting for, Amber Heard and Elon Musk, have reportedly broken up too.

More: Amber Heard and Boyfriend Elon Musk Are Fighting Separate Battles

Multiple sources revealed to E News that the pair has called it quits, with a few saying their busy schedules made it impossible to pull off a relationship right now.

"The timing wasn't good for them," one insider told Us Weekly. "He's super busy and works all the time. Amber is filming [Aquaman] in Australia until October. She's in no position to settle with him. She feels her career is just starting."

More: Now Johnny Depp Is Demanding Money From Amber Heard for Some Reason

This news comes after a sweet love story we couldn't help but swoon over. Musk has been low-key in love with Heard for literally years. No really. He reportedly sent a note to their mutual pal, director Robert Rodriguez, writing, "Can you send her a note saying I would like to get together for lunch in L.A.? Am not angling for a date. I know she's in a long-term relationship, but …Amber just seems like an interesting person to meet." That was when she was still married to Johnny Depp, but Musk has been in the background, biding his time until she was available.

They eventually did meet and become friends, and when Heard and Depp divorced, the rumors started flying. It wasn't long before the two went Instagram-official when Heard posted a photo to Instagram that showed her sitting next to Musk with her lipstick print still fresh on his cheek.

More: Amber Heard Confirms Divorce Drama With Johnny Depp Is Still Not Over

R.I.P. love.

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