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VIDEO: Using sex toys and kids to promote gun safety?

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Every year, 100 kids die from accidental shootings. Most of these kids shot themselves or were shot by other kids. Every single one of these deaths was preventable. Gun safety advocacy group Evolve hopes to educate gun owners about responsibility, especially when it comes to kids. In this clever ad, they catch our attention with an unexpected prop — dildos.

Kids will play with anything

I grew up around handguns. My dad showed my brother and I how to clean them and how to tell if the safety was on or off while we were still in elementary school. As a tween being left home alone for the first time, curiosity got the better of me and I looked for my dad's guns once or twice. The guns were always locked away in gun safes.

I'm mortified to say that I've witnessed my toddler running down the hallway brandishing a bright yellow dildo like a little sword. It wasn't my finest moment. Kids, like cats, will play with just about anything they come across. I've seen my kids play with Amazon boxes, masking tape, brooms, hair from the shower drain and screwdrivers. It's simply in kids' natures to play to improvise playthings — and if kids find a gun, that could mean horrific injury or death.

This clever video uses sex toys and kids to promote gun safety

Photo credit: Evolve via YouTube

Responsibility saves lives

Sometimes it takes the shocking sight of two kids having a dildo war to get people talking. If that's what it takes to save lives, I'm all for it. Evolve proposes a code for all gun owners, with basic statements meant to appeal to both sides of the gun debate. Part of the code says, "I will talk to my kids about the fact that there are guns in our home and those guns will be properly stored." That sounds reasonable to me.

I don't own a gun, but I'm definitely looking for a lock box right now. Just sayin'.

More gun safety

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Tabloid claims Bachelorette star Andi Dorfman is pregnant

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AndiDorfmanblackdress

Photo credit: FayesVision/WENN.com

Nice try, tabloids. In Touch magazine has a new cover story that is totally false. The latest issue claims that Bachelorette star Andi Dorfman is pregnant.

The headline reads "A Baby for Andi," and the article reveals Dorfman might have gotten pregnant during her time in the Fantasy Suite with one of her final three contenders.

Bachelorette reject Cody Sattler joins Bachelor in Paradise >>

The article says she "took things to the next level in the Fantasy Suite with more than one man." The In Touch source shared, "She slept with two of the three guys who were left."

Another insider said, "I'm convinced she's pregnant."

While it's no secret that many of the contestants sleep together on that final night in the Fantasy Suite, the magazine claiming to know that Dorfman is pregnant takes the story to a whole different level.

The In Touch article also quotes a friend of the ABC star saying, "She and [the winner] are inseparable and he's very protective of her."

The Bachelorette: 17 Hilarious quotes from the lie detector episode >>

GossipCop has an interesting theory as to why this story even made it to press. They suggest Courtney Robertson's salacious tell-all book about The Bachelor inspired the idea that Dorfman might be pregnant. Robertson claimed that the show failed to provide condoms in the Fantasy Suite, even though its producers know that many contestants have sex.

One person who is close to the story is speaking out, so take this as the final word on the topic from The Bachelorette herself.

Why promoting Mary Barra is General Motors' best decision in years

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Mary Barra

Photo credit: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images News/Getty Images

As the Today show interview began, Matt Lauer asked Mary Barra, "I want to tread lightly here, but you've heard this. You've heard it in Congress, you've heard it in the headlines: You got this job because you are hugely qualified — 30 years in this company, a variety of different jobs — but there are some people who are speculating that you got this job, as a woman, and as a mom, because people within General Motors knew this company was in for a very tough time. And as a woman and a mom, you could present a softer face for this company as it goes through this horrible episode. Does it make sense, or does it make you bristle?"

The offensive undertones of this statement/question turned several heads, but Barra responded without blinking an eye. "It's absolutely not true," she explained. "I believe I was selected for this job based on my qualifications."

Lauer then went on to question Barra about the challenges of juggling a career with the role of motherhood. "Given the pressures of this job at General Motors," he asked, "can you do both well?" Barra responded with a resounding yes, commending the talents of her team and showing gratitude for the support of her family.

Though Barra currently includes words like "I believe" and "I think" in her vocabulary, we believe that she's just settling in, and we'll be excited to see those words placed aside as her confidence continually grows. The truth is, she can juggle this new role and motherhood, doing both equally well. To even suggest otherwise is completely offensive. Barra began working for General Motors at age 18. She has worked her way up from administrative positions and mid-level management roles into executive positions such as Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Engineering and Vice President of Human Resources.

It is disappointing that the media has made such speculations about Barra, the first woman CEO of a major automaker. Clearly, Barra has worked hard to get where she is. Clearly, she is an educated woman with impeccable leadership skills. Yet one of the first obstacles she must face in this new role is proving herself to the world.

Thankfully, Barra doesn't seem to be worried about what's being said or affected by the media's unfair judgement of her. And this is why we can't wait to see what Barra's next move will be. We doubt it will take long before everyone realizes that her promotion was the best decision General Motors has made in years.

Learn more about Barra and her vision for GM

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Burn victim's unaltered cover shoot turns heads in a good way

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uria Pitt posing on the cover of The Australian Women's Weekly

Photo credit: The Australian Women's Weekly

Before that day in 2011, Pitt's life appeared to be perfect. She was an Australian model and a mining engineer, and seemed to have it all going for her. After the brush fire, however, nearly 65 percent of her body was covered in burns, and it was deemed unlikely she would survive.

But when you hear more of Pitt's story, you'll see she is not only a survivor, she’s also not a quitter. Rather than be defeated by circumstance, Pitt became an advocate for burn victims in developing countries by raising awareness and donations for their aid. In addition, she began sharing her story as a motivational speaker, through her book, Everything to Live For, and most recently, by posing on the cover of The Australian Women’s Weekly.

A powerful message we should all take to heart

When I saw Pitt's image on the cover of The Australian Women's Weekly, it was refreshing to finally see the media promoting a real person with a truly inspirational story, rather than an airbrushed fallacy of beauty and life.

Our culture has become so obsessed with perfection, and the message we've been sending is warped. To see what I mean, just take a stroll down the aisle at the grocery store. See who graces the covers of women’s magazines. Chances are, you'll find Keira Knightley, Jennifer Lopez, Mila Kunis and Miranda Kerr — some of the world’s most physically beautiful women, and who despite this are still retouched before appearing on covers. Why does society idolize the perfection of these women when we should be admiring someone for who they are and what they’ve accomplished, not what they look like on the outside?

Pitt's image really struck home for me personally because a situation this scary took place in my own family, when my sister's 5-year-old son was burned in a grilling accident last summer. After spending five weeks in the hospital and undergoing skin-graft surgery, he's back to school and doing well, but will continue biweekly checkups to confirm his progress.

It was a concern for my family when my nephew returned to school that the other kids might take notice of his burns and point them out or even make fun of him. However, they all accepted him with no difference, and he's made several friends. If only the world could be so accepting of anyone who might not portray society's ideal view of beauty.

When I asked my sister what she thought of the magazine cover, she said, "Not only is it inspiring for burn victims, but anyone who might look different. Young people will see that beauty comes from within, and in all shapes, sizes, colors and ages. What makes someone beautiful is compassion, integrity, and most importantly, how they treat others.

"I want to teach my son that people will ask him what happened," she continued. "People might stare. And that's a reflection of their own insensitivity, intolerance or lack of awareness."

According to the editor-in-chief of The Australian Women's Weekly, Helen McCabe, there was no doubt that Pitt had to be on the cover of their issue dedicated to the magazine’s annual Women of the Future awards, which gives scholarships to our future’s brightest. And we think that if any of those children turn out like Turia, the future is in pretty good shape.

Watch Turia's full-story

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VIDEO: Doctor Who returns with an identity crisis

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Doctor Who Photo credit: BBC America

Take a deep breath, Whovians, and get ready to freak the f*** out: We have a solid return date for Doctor Who. The Doctor and Clara will return to your television on August 23, following their first-ever world tour. There's even a very small, very enigmatic teaser for the episode entitled "Deep Breath."

The Doctor gains a new semi-companion: Is he Clara's boyfriend? >>

It's been months since we've caught up with the Doctor and Clara and, admittedly, we're getting a little anxious. We're still not sold on Clara as a proper replacement companion after Amy and Rory. We're worried we'll never see River Song again. And, while we do adore Peter Capaldi, we're not exactly swooning over him (yet) like we have for David Tennant and Matt Smith. We're curious to see where this all goes, especially knowing that Gallifrey is still out there.. somewhere... in a pocket dimension, just waiting to be told it's safe to return.

It's a new Doctor, but we should probably expect the same enemies. After all, while he may have destroyed everyone trying to attack the town called Christmas, there are always more Daleks and Cybermen. Until they're all gone, the Doctor's home planet, friends and family must remain in hiding. After the Doctor was granted a whole new set of regenerations by the Time Lords (read: Moffatt), it could technically be many, many moons before we return to Gallifrey. Taking down your greatest enemy is easy when you can shoot Time Lord bolts of doom, but now that the Doctor's regeneration has simmered down, he'll be back to just his regular amount of alien coolness.

Moffatt and Smith both think someday the Doctor might be a woman >>

After everything that's happened and after seeing what some extra firepower can do, will this new Doctor change his stance on guns? As the new promo reveals, the Doctor is going through a bit of an identity crisis. Whether he decides he's a good guy or a bad guy could greatly shift his stance on a lot of things.

We only have two more months of waiting until we can find out just where Peter Capaldi's Doctor stands. We can't wait for Doctor Who's August 23 return to BBC America.

Want more TV news and reviews? Sign up for our newsletter >>

Eminem's daughter Hailie Jade graduates from high school

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Eminem

Photo credit: WENN.com

Eminem's daughter was the subject of many of her father's hit singles, including "Hailie's Song," which was released on his 2002 album The Eminem Show. Most images of Hailie Jade Scott Mathers are from that era, when she was only about 6 years old. Now, Marshall Mathers' baby girl is all grown up and has graduated from high school.

Top graduation gifts for high school seniors >>

The teen graduated from Chippewa Valley High School in Clinton Township, Michigan, at the beginning of June, according to Us Weekly. Hailie wasn't clowning around, either. She graduated summa cum laude, which means she maintained at least a 3.9 GPA; she received a Department of Psychology Award and she was honored with an Academic Excellence Award as well. According to the school district's website via Us Weekly, Hailie was also very active in extracurricular activities, participating in National Honor Society, Art Club, Key Club, volleyball and the student council.

Although Hailie most likely kept her nose buried in the books throughout her high school career to earn all of those distinctions, it wasn't all work and no play for the teen: she was named homecoming queen last fall. "Hailie came out with her mother, Kim (Scott), when she was introduced with all the other kids, but her father watched from inside the school because he didn't want to cause a scene — he wanted Hailie to have her own moment," a parent told the Macomb Daily News in October.

Hailie stays pretty under the radar as far as celebrity offspring go, but she was involved in a Twitter feud with none other than Taylor Swift in December 2012, when Swift began dating One Direction's Harry Styles and upset then-16-year-old fan Hailie. "If @taylorswift13 is really dating the love of my life @Harry_Styles i will not be happy.!" Hailie tweeted on an account that has since been deleted. "Dear @taylorswift13, please stop whoring around with every guy you see. We all know you're only doing it so you can make another album," she also posted, and followed up with: "I, am never, ever, everrrrrr, listening to your music againnnn @taylorswift13. LIKE EVER." Don't mess with a One Direction fan, whether their dad is famous or not.

Hailie plans to study either psychology or entrepreneurship at Michigan State University, according to Us Weekly.

Ice-T's grandson arrested in shooting death of roommate

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Ice-T

Photo credit: WENN

Ice-T's grandson Elyjah Marrow was arrested on Tuesday after an incident in which he allegedly shot his roommate with a handgun. According to TMZ, Marrow was with his roommate in their Georgia apartment when the gun accidentally went off. Marrow's roommate, Daryus Johnson, was fatally wounded by the gunshot.

Ice-T to Rush Limbaugh: I'm not your pro-gun poster boy >>

"Marrow was not using proper firearms safety when handling the gun," Marietta police officer David Baldwin told the Marietta Daily Journal. "That reckless handling of the firearm is what led to Johnson being accidentally shot and eventually killed."

The 19-year-old is the son of Ice-T's first daughter LeTesha, who was born when the rapper himself was a teen. Marrow has appeared with his grandfather Ice-T on Ice Loves Coco, a show that follows the rapper/actor and his life with new wife Coco Austin.

Back when Marrow was only 16, the proud grandpa had nothing but praises for his grandson. On the show, he said, "Elyjah is getting bigger every time I see him. He's doing good."

"He's going great, he's playing football, getting good grades in school," LeTesha added.

The Law and Order: SVU star hasn't yet commented on his grandson's arrest, but Marrow's dad has been tweeting all week about the news.

"I can't live without my son!! please tell me this is all a joke," he wrote on Tuesday.

On Thursday, June 26, he tweeted: "I take all the blame!!! Don't judge me son... I raised him so blame me!!!"

Ice Cube to Paul Walker fans: "Don't trip" over MTV Awards >>

Marrow is currently in custody on charges that include include involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, reckless conduct, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of a stolen firearm.

Hope Solo says her name will be cleared after arrest

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Hope Solo
Photo credit: WENN.com

Olympic soccer player Hope Solo released a statement on Facebook yesterday regarding her domestic violence arrest, which went down last week, and the theme of the message seems to be apology and redemption.

Columbus Short's wife alleges he threatened murder/suicide >>

"I would like to apologize to my fans, teammates, coaches, marketing partners and the entire US Soccer and Seattle Reign FC communities for my involvement in a highly unfortunate incident this past weekend," Solo said in the Facebook post. "I understand that, as a public figure, I am held to a higher standard of conduct. I take seriously my responsibilities as a role model and sincerely apologize to everyone I have disappointed."

Solo, who accused her Dancing With the Stars partner of being abusive in 2012, doesn't seem to take all of the blame for the situation involving her sister and 17-year-old nephew. "I love my family dearly. We, like all families, have our challenges but my sincere hope is that we are able to resolve this situation as a family. Adversity has always made us stronger and I know this situation will be no different," she wrote. "I would also like to thank everyone who has reached out with messages of support and encouragement. I truly appreciate your loyalty, concern and well wishes. Due to pending legal issues, I cannot comment further at this time. However, I am confident in the legal process and I believe my name will be cleared."

In 2012, Solo found herself on the other side of domestic violence charges. Her husband, Jerramy Stevens, was arrested the day before the two exchanged vows on suspicion of assaulting his soon-to-be wife.

The Olympic gold medalist also revealed in her 2012 autobiography Solo: A Memoir of Hope that her family life growing up was less than perfect, and she was conceived during a conjugal visit while her father was serving time in prison for embezzlement.


Video: Re-living history, one teacup at a time

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A time machine that enabled us to go back and experience some of America's historic moments would be great. But, believe it or not, you can re-live history by taking a trip to your local antique shop.

How Google plans to connect your TV, car, wrist and more

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David Singleton, Director of Engineering of Android at Google, speaks on stage during the Google I/O Developers Conference at Moscone Center on June 25, 2014 in San Francisco, California. The seventh annual Google I/O Developers conference is expected to draw thousands through June 26. (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images)

Photo credit: Stephen Lam/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Android is a software platform of choice for app developers, both because of its open flexibility and the sheer number of mobile devices running any one of its delicious-sounding versions: Froyo, Gingerbread, KitKat, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean. In fact, at this year's Google I/O, the company announced that there are 1 billion people worldwide using Android devices. Here's an idea of what Android users do, according to Google Senior Vice President Sundar Pichau:

  • Send 20 billion texts each day on an Android device
  • Take 93 million selfies each day on an Android device

Android L with Material Design

From the connected home to the connected car and even on your wrist, Google's latest releases are aimed at seamless integration with the most mundane details of your daily life. Most notably, the release of Android's latest iteration — simply called "L" with what Google calls "material design" — gives developers the illusion of a 3-D look and tactile experience on any device. The result is a view that lets users know the old days of interacting with a flat, lifeless 2-D screen on a desktop is decidedly old-school.

"What if pixels didn't just have color, but also depth?" asked Matias Duarte, vice president of design for Google. "What if there was a material that changed shape in response to touch? We were inspired by paper and ink."

The result is a slick, multilayer interface that will be integrated across Android and Chrome from the device to the desktop.

Android Wear

Android Wear is a new software platform Google hopes will finally make mobile, wearable technology a viable everyday reality. Android Wear uses your wearable smartwatch, or other future wearable device, as the security key to unlock your phone and tablet, and it promises to interact seamlessly with these other devices. You can tell your Android Wear watch to give you reminders or ask it questions. It's Siri without the personality. With any luck, Android will be far more accurate and responsive. Nice lady, Siri is, but not terribly bright.

The other notable feature of Android Wear is that it works with both square and round screens, something Google hopes will help drive a more fashionable connected device look — although, from the look of the devices previewed at the Google I/O keynote, that might be a bit further off than Google hopes.

"The LG G watch will be available later today on the Play Store," David Singleton, director of engineering for Google, announced in the keynote address. "Samsung is rolling out the Samsung Gear Live, also available later today. The Moto 360, the first round Android Wear watch, will be available later this summer."

The preview of the Moto 360, with its round-screen face, drew audible groans from the crowd.

A presenter demonstrates Android Auto on stage during the Google I/O Developers Conference at Moscone Center on June 25, 2014 in San Francisco, California. The seventh annual Google I/O Developers conference is expected to draw thousands through June 26. (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images)

Photo credit: Stephen Lam/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Android Auto Connected Cars

Connected Cars are coming soon to a dealer near you. In the next year, new cars rolling off assembly lines all over the world will be fully equipped rolling, mobile connected devices with big bandwidth and the functionality of the sweetest smartphone.

Android Auto is Google's answer to enabling Android users to access their apps and functionality from the connected car. According to the Google I/O presentation on Android Auto from Google’s Patrick Brady, a director of engineering for Android, the first cars equipped with Android Auto will be available by the end of the year.

The Android Auto platform provides a seamless interface with Android smartphones and connects drivers by voice to maps, text and audio entertainment. With the voice interface, Google hopes to create a connected-car driving experience without dangerous distraction. Google also announced it will soon release a toolkit for software developers to help them develop cool new messaging and audio applications for Android Auto. This is Google's answer to Apple's CarPlay.

Android TV

With Android TV, your living room television becomes just like any other Android-connected device, from accessing Google Play Games to enabling voice-recognition search of your favorite shows.

"We’re simply giving TV the same level of attention as your phone and tablet," said Google’s Dave Burke.

And it's all going to be available as fast as you can say Orange Is the New Black. Google says that, by the fall, a dedicated store will open to provide content tailor-made for the Android TV. TV manufacturers including Sony, Sharp, TP Vision, and more have already signed on.

Chromecast, which is Google's low-cost TV device, has already sold millions of units in many countries. In fact, Google says YouTube reports more activity from Chromecast than any other streaming solution. Chromecast is now offering the ability for app developers to take apps across Android, iOS and Chrome and sling, or "cast," that app right to the TV. Chromecast has its own listing service at chromecast.com/apps. Google also says it wants to make it easier for other users to cast content to your TV without sharing the same Wi-Fi network, according to Rishi Chandra, director of project management from Chromecast.

These new releases, and the entire Google I/O event, are intended to fire up the thousands of participating developers — and the more than 1 million nationwide viewers touted by Google — to engage with Android and Chrome and build the next Facebook or Uber on top of these platforms. Only time will tell what these new technologies will bring and the ever-growing number of ways they will impact our daily lives.

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No Kristen Stewart in testosterone-fueled Snow White sequel

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Snow White and the Huntsman

Photo credit: Universal Pictures

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Kristen Stewart will not be part of a movie spinoff centered on Chris Hemsworth's character, the Huntsman, that will not include Snow White at all.

Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the original plan was to "make two films featuring the Snow White character and a third film spinning off the Huntsman, similar to how Fox's X-Men series has spun off Wolverine."

But that plan was nixed in favor of creating a fantasy movie with a very macho dude in the lead instead of a badass chick who could fight her own battles. This move seems incredibly strange, considering Hollywood was just learning to love strong female protagonists.

The Hunger Games is a popular female-driven franchise that continues to perform exceedingly well at the box office. But the fact that Hollywood is swapping out Snow White for the Huntsman just sounds like a flimsy strategy to us, since there are so many male-focused films to compete with.

Quentin Tarantino, Michael Bay, Bryan Singer and Seth MacFarlane seem to all be keeping the theaters full of big-gun, fast-car dude films and, while we love Chris Hemsworth, The Huntsman just doesn't seem like a good addition to the over-dominating genre.

Both Jack the Giant Slayer and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters featured studly male lead characters, and neither had huge success at the box office.

Nicholas Hoult spills the beans in Jack the Giant Slayer >>

Snow White and the Huntsman

Photo credit: Universal Pictures

We can understand if it might have been awkward for KStew and director Rupert Sanders to work together again after they were caught having an affair, but usually a studio keeps the star and looks for a new director.

We hope that cutting strong female characters from movie franchises doesn't become a Hollywood trend. We all want our daughters and sisters to see strong, spirited women up on the big screen. There have always been and will probably always be plenty of movies about men with big guns, swords, hammers or axes. We want our Snow White!

Everyday inspiration: Take a five-minute yoga break

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Yoga break | Sheknows.com

Photo credit: Henk Badenhorst/Photodisc/Getty Images

Challenge: take a five-minute yoga break

Why? Take just five minutes and practice the moving meditation of yoga. Focusing on your breath and nothing else will calm your body and your mind.

Yoga crow pose | Sheknows.com

Raina: A five-minute yoga break. I expected the stress-relieving qualities of this activity, but what I found remarkable was the empowerment. I always seek out poses that challenge my ability. Struggling one week and then being able to hold them confidently the next is such a rewarding feeling. Afterward, I walk taller, feel stronger and am more mentally focused. The feeling of overcoming and seeing measurable progress is thrilling. At the same time and on the opposite side of the spectrum, I am always amazed how much more calm and relaxed I am afterward. What a treat.

Patrice: I haven't done yoga in forever. Today I realized I need it back in my life. I decided to do my yoga break first thing in the morning. Ha ha. I was lying in bed and saw the sunshine peeking through the drapes. It was a gorgeous spring morning here in Philly. Birds chirping, sun shining, the sound of people buzzing around outside. I felt it was perfect for my mini yoga session. I pushed the drapes aside, opened the window and said hello to the world. Sun salutations in the morning sun give you so much energy. I was pumped for the day.

Our Everyday Inspiration series wants to inspire you with small ways to improve your life. We've asked 20 women to take on a variety of small challenges and share their results. See all of our Everyday Inspiration challenges here, and meet the women here.

Why I use flash mobs as a form of therapy

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Flash mob

Photo credit: monkeybusinessimages/iStock/360/Getty Images

I woke up this morning at 4:30 when my daughter peed in my bed. Morning bath, morning coffee for me and milk for her; fed the dog, packed lunch and took her to day care. Check, check, check. I sat down at my computer to check my emails and do a little research, and I stumbled across this wedding proposal flash mob video. Within a minute, I was smiling. Within three, I was crying tears of relieved stress that I didn't even know were lurking under the surface.

The surprising beauty of a good flash mob

Flash mobs aren't exactly a new phenomenon, but they do something to the human spirit that is nonetheless surprising and refreshing. It took three minutes of a flash mob video to completely reset my mood. For a moment, life didn't feel like drudgery and responsibility and challenge. It didn't feel like a never-ending slog through a work and parenting checklist. It took me a few minutes to figure out what the heck had happened to me, but I've narrowed down my emotional response to the inherent playfulness of a good flash mob.

In a world of spreadsheets, flash mobs are wildly creative. The American culture rewards organization, financial success, logistics and efficient production. Certainly, flash mobs require logistics, but they are fundamentally a creative endeavor. And they matter. Creativity and playfulness matters — and flash mobs remind us that our hearts yearn for the "inefficiency" of delight and joy.

Consider, for instance, the smile that spreads across your face when you see a model of efficiency, like an international airport, host a creative dance flash mob like this one.

They remind us that we belong to one another. It was Mother Teresa who said, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten we belong to each other." In a world that bickers, fights and competes, a flash mob unites and edifies us in a clear example of peacemaking. The success of a flash mob relies on the cohesion of its many parts, and they remind us that working together for good is worth our time and energy, even if it seems frivolous.

We see that beauty takes shape in community. Flash mobs just aren't the same if they're composed of a single person. After all, a person dancing by himself in a park might be considered a weirdo. In a culture that worships individual successes, flash mobs are a reminder that beauty is amplified in community.

Don't you agree that this flash mob just got better and better as more people joined in?

Flash mobs reveal the state of our inner world. If you're anything like me, you might use busyness to shut down your emotional world when it's inconvenient to feel sadness or even hope. Part of my emotional response to the proposal flash mob was a longing to experience love again after a bad divorce. It's hard to watch a flash mob without feeling something, and feeling something is always better than feeling nothing (even if it hurts a little bit). I wouldn't have uncovered my hidden longing to love again without seeing this unabashed and playful testimony of a man's love for his future wife.

Tell us! Have you ever felt emotionally moved by watching a flash mob?

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Flowers bring local flavor home

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There's nothing that brightens a home more than freshly picked flowers. Pike Place Public Market offers Seattle locals a chance to freshen their homes with flowers that were picked almost in their own back yards.

Bring sexy to your back

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3 Pushups variations every woman should know

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Video: Boston-area antique shop offers unique finds

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Does DOGTV actually relieve separation anxiety in dogs?

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Dogs watching tv

Photo credit: Manabu Ogasawara/Stockbyte/Getty Images

How it works

Boldly promising stay-at-home dogs escape from boredom and loneliness, DOGTV offers a network of scientifically curated television content comprised to mentally stimulate canines through sight and sound. Featuring a variety of sense-stimulating shows, like the relaxation clip shown below, each program is targeted toward one of three categories: relaxation, stimulation or exposure.

Because dogs are color blind, DOGTV specially colors its programs by putting emphasis on hues dogs can see, like blue and yellow. According to the network, unique canine considerations are also incorporated in terms of contrast, brightness and frame rate, as well as the use of special sound effects to pique a dog’s particular sense of hearing without startling or annoying its sensitive ears.

Does it work?

Don't knock it until you try it. Critics of DOGTV argue that the network lacks the ability to provide olfactory and tactile stimulations. Meaning, because DOGTV cannot be smelled, pawed or chewed, the television show, therefore, does not provide a fully enriched environment. However, according to DOGTV, the company spent years of research to develop content that addresses specific attributes of a dog’s sense of vision and hearing and that supports its natural behavior patterns. Vouching for the product, CEO Gilad Neumann tells Forbes in a recent interview that the concept can act as a cure for the gnawing emotional distress that many housebound animals experience.

Is it for you?

All dogs, households and activity levels are different. Depending on your dog, this might be the best option or not an option at all. The only way to really know if DOGTV is right for you and your pet is to try it. And for less than $5 per month, what do you have to lose? To measure its success, monitor your pet's behaviors daily by jotting them down in a journal (trust us, you won't remember the subtle differences by relying on memory alone). If you're really curious, set up a remote camera to monitor you pet's behaviors. Watch from your mobile device or stream it at work. Watching your pet watching TV could be the highlight of your workweek.

Has your pet tried DOGTV? Let us know what you think.

More pet tech

Feed your pet while on the go by tapping into WiFi
6 Ridiculous pet gadgets you might actually want
Using GPS to track your pet

Video: Turn your yoga practice on its head

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Everyday inspiration: Do at least one thing that brings you joy

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Woman smiling joyfully | Sheknows.com

Photo credit: Dirima/iStock/360/Getty Images

Challenge: do at least one thing that brings you joy

Why? Women tend to put others' needs before their own. Remember that you'll be a better wife, mother, friend or daughter when you take care of yourself. So go ahead and treat yourself to something indulgent today. You deserve it.

Marcy: There's nothing better than spending weekend mornings with my dog, all cozy in bed and putting on my favorite movie. On days when you don't want to leave the house, having the luxury of indulging in Starbucks right at home is such a pleasure. I have been telling everyone to discover Starbucks' in-home treats: Starbucks Discoveries.

Margaret: You would think that staying home with a toddler and freelancing would give you some time to do the things you love, right? So wrong. It’s even easier to become a workaholic and neglect yourself and the things you love. For this challenge, I made a conscious effort to take time out of my day (and away from my phone) and focus on doing the small, happy things: sitting down and coloring with my daughter, singing in the car and even planning an overdue family vacation. My family brings me joy and I needed to spend more time with them.

Kristen: Since becoming a parent five years ago, "me" time disappeared. No more two-hour workouts. No more going to the beach with just a towel. And no more reading grown-up books, until this past Mother's Day. I decided on this day dedicated to the hardest-working species on earth, I would read a book. Reading to me equals pure joy. I lay next to my pool with a frivolous novel and just relaxed as the warm sun seeped into my skin. There's something so magical about escaping into a book. Can it be Mother's Day every day?

Our Everyday Inspiration series wants to inspire you with small ways to improve your life. We've asked 20 women to take on a variety of small challenges and share their results. See all of our Everyday Inspiration challenges here, and meet the women here.

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