Quantcast
Channel: What's New
Viewing all 33701 articles
Browse latest View live

The Mamafesto: Sorry, but feminism isn't to blame for family 'breakdown'

$
0
0

The conference also included a panel on family, which included a lengthy discussion on single motherhood and how it's the root of many evils. And, just to make sure they included all the necessary buzzwords, all of the panelists blamed feminism for the breakdown of the traditional American family.

Panelists talked about all the problems that come out of single-mother led families, with one panelist calling single mothers the "frequent fliers of welfare programs." This sentiment is one favored by the Conservative Right, being trotted out frequently to help prove points about why traditional families are better — not only for kids, but for America. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a red herring, as the demographic group who receive the majority of "direct cash entitlements" are those over 65 years of age, followed by disabled people. Yet, information like that doesn't fit into the "Welfare Queen" narrative, so it's ignored.

The discussion was also incredibly insulting to the single mothers who are out there doing everything they can to support their families and raise their children, much of the time while working more than one job. I also wonder how much time was given to the fathers, as these mothers weren't made single all by themselves. But, instead, the blame was placed on the feet of feminism, for breaking down the supposed ideal, traditional family.

One panelist said that feminism has taught generations of girls that men are "inconsequential," and that calls for talking about diversity are actually a part of the "silencing agenda." I'm not even sure where to start with these ideas. First, feminism is not about destroying or feminizing men. Saying that feminists hate men is the oldest trope in the book and frankly, so overdone. Feminism isn't about women being better than men or men being "less than." It's about finding ways to put men and women on equal footing, especially when it comes to things like paychecks and treatment in the workforce. I'm raising a son, and you better believe I ensure he knows he's not inconsequential, but I also make sure he understands that he has a leg up in some instances because he's a boy, and to be aware of that.

Also, including much-needed conversations about diversity is the exact opposite of silencing. It's opening the doors to add more seats at the table. The conversations have been steered by the same types of people for far too long, leaving out many who are affected and impacted by policy and programs they have no voice in. Feminism wants all families — regardless of their structure — to be supported and do well. It's frustrating when feminism continues to be trotted out as an excuse for why things are failing instead of actually looking at systemic and societal issues that are actually impacting families.

More from The Mamafesto

The Mamafesto: Are we getting closer to equality in the home?
The Mamafesto: The shackling of women birthing in prison needs to end
The Mamafesto: Why race and class matter when it comes to parenting


Anti-vaxxers condemn Jimmy Kimmel for his speech on vaccinating kids (VIDEO)

$
0
0

But the host refuses to apologize to anti-vaxxers, comparing the statement that vaccinations are bad for your children to saying pancakes will make you gay.

More: LOL! Watch the famous read mean tweets about themselves

Of course, anti-vaxxers have gone on a Twitter rampage against Kimmel, spewing a ton of "reasonable" (as Kimmel jokes) insults at the host. And, in true Kimmel fashion, he read the worst of the worst on his show.

Jimmy Kimmel reads vaccination mean tweets

Jimmy Kimmel reads vaccination mean tweets

Kimmel, who has an 8-month-old daughter with his wife, Molly McNearney, doesn't understand why the vaccination debate even exists since "99 percent of doctors" agree getting vaccinated is the right decision. Kimmel says if you think these doctors are lying to you, you "need to see a doctor."

In fact, Kimmel recruited a handful of them for a curse-word-laden PSA.

More: VIDEO: NBA players get their feelings hurt by mean tweets

"See, the thing about doctors is they didn't learn about the human body from their friend's Facebook page," Kimmel said in the show. "They went to medical school where they studied all sorts of amazing things like how to magically prevent children from contracting horrible diseases by giving them a little shot... but some people do not buy into that because they did a Google search and Jenny McCarthy popped up and she had clothes on so they listened to what she had to say and decided not to vaccinate their kids."

In case you didn't get the reference in Kimmel's rant, McCarthy is one of the most outspoken celebs in the anti-vaxxer movement.

Kimmel concludes his rant by saying that he thinks people who think they "know more than doctors" shouldn't be allowed to go to the doctor's office anymore.

More: Jimmy Kimmel, Steve Carell and others slam Sony for pulling The Interview

"Oh, by the way, you should also let your kids smoke," Kimmel adds. "Why wouldn't you? The only people who say not to are doctors, and they don't know!"

Jimmy Kimmel pro-vaccination monologue

Jimmy Kimmel pro-vaccination monologue

Do you agree with Kimmel's pro-vaccination monologues?

7 Things that will scare you into becoming a vegan

$
0
0

1. The tongue-eating louse

Tongue eating louse

Tongue eating louse

These photos went viral on social media after 28-year-old British woman, Zoe Butler, found a pair of beady eyes watching her as she ate her tuna. There's still some debate over whether the mysterious creature found in the can is a tongue-eating louse or a harmless juvenile crab. Foreign objects aside, tuna has higher levels of mercury than most other canned fish.

2. The pork tapeworm

Pork Tapeworm

Pork Tapeworm

Image: Animal Planet/YouTube

Hold the bacon! Did you know pork contains tapeworms that can invade your intestines, nervous system and brain? Headaches, strokes and epilepsy are just a few of the complications associated with an infestation. You're more at risk if you eat undercooked pork in Asia, Africa or Latin America, but with international imports, it may be worth checking that what you are eating is Australian made.

3. The random animal parts

Chicken head mcnuggest

Chicken head mcnuggest

KFC and McDonald's have both done their share of including extras their customers did not pay for, including battered chicken heads and fried brains and rats' tails. It's enough to make our stomachs churn.

KFC rats and brains

KFC rats and brains

4. The protein that increases cancer

Cow milk causes cancer

Cow milk causes cancer

We've always been taught we need milk for strong teeth and bones, but in one of the world's most comprehensive studies on diet, it was discovered that casein, the protein in animal milk, is responsible for an increase in cancer growth. It's time to crack open the almond, rice or soy milk for me.

5. The chicken twister that caused brain damage

KFC Chicken Twister

KFC Chicken Twister

Back in 2005, a 7-year-old western Sydney girl was left unable to walk and talk after eating a chicken twister that made her violently ill. While fast food giants denied responsibility, the matter went to trial and the family was awarded $8 million in compensation.

6. The bacteria that causes urinary tract infections

Image: Quickmeme.com

If you've ever been plagued by UTIs, it could be related to a strain of bacteria found in supermarket meats, particularly chicken. According to studies conducted at a Canadian university, bacteria can exist in the intestines without any symptoms.

7. The diet of a prawn

Prawns

Prawns

You might think twice before throwing another prawn on the barbie if you are a firm believer in the old saying that you are what you eat. Prawns dine on a diet of parasites and dead fish. Before you eat them, they need to have the poop chute removed, but as you are doing so, the contents can spill all over the meat.

More on being a vegan

Is veganism harmful during pregnancy?
The difference between vegetarians and vegans
Labelling your cheese choices

Mo'Nique calls out Lee Daniels for being 'inaccurate' (VIDEO)

$
0
0

More: 16 Things viewers had to say about Empire's premiere in tweets

"Mr. Daniels [show executive producer, Lee Daniels] offered me the part of Cookie," Mo'Nique claims in an interview with Access Hollywood, "and I have the e-mails and the sides to go along with it, and what he said was, 'I'm new to this TV thing. This is just a technicality... you have the role.' OK. I have the e-mails. Well, four days have gone by because I didn't receive a phone call or another e-mail for the location of where I was supposed to go to do this screen test."

Instead, that call came in the form of a conversation that Fox thought Mo'Nique was difficult, according to the actress. Taraji P. Henson landed the role of Cookie instead.

More: 15 Times Cookie stole the show on Empire

Empire cocreator, Danny Strong, rebuked Mo'Nique's claims on Twitter.

Danny Strong Mo'Nique tweet 1

Danny Strong Mo'Nique tweet 1

Danny Strong Mo'Nique tweet 2

Danny Strong Mo'Nique tweet 2

According to Mo'Nique, this isn't the first time Daniels has lied to her about a role. She was also supposed to be cast in The Butler.

"Mr. Daniels and I had a conversation. I had the script, the e-mail that goes along with it in reference to the character, read the script, loved it. Then I never heard from Mr. Daniels again, and the next I saw was that Oprah Winfrey is now playing the part."

More: 13 Things to know about Tina Fey's new Netflix show

Though Mo'Nique insisted there is no beef between she and Daniels, the actress was also sure to say that the director wasn't always truthful about the things that happened between them.

"My relationship with Lee Daniels is I love that brother," Mo'Nique explained. "I also have empathy for my brother because when I watch him do interviews and I watch him say things that he and I both know that they're inaccurate, that makes me have empathy."

Watch Mo'Nique's full interview with Access Hollywood below.

Mo'Nique Access Hollywood interview

Mo'Nique Access Hollywood interview

Do you think Mo'Nique would have been a good choice for Empire's Cookie?

Lily James admits to a liquid diet for Cinderella, but it wasn't her choice

$
0
0

More: Did someone Photoshop Cinderella's waist away?

The actress told E! that eating wasn't really possible. "I think I may be trying to get sympathy a bit there. I'm being a bit over the top," she prefaced. "When [the corset] was on, we would be on continuous days so we wouldn't stop for lunch or a lovely tea like this — you'd be sort of eating on the move. In that case, I couldn't untie the corset. So if you ate food it didn't really digest properly and I'd be burping all afternoon in [Richard Madden]'s face, and it was just really sort of unpleasant. I'd have soup so that I could still eat but it wouldn't get stuck."

Uh, no wonder Cinderella leaves that ball in a hurry. She doesn't want to burp in Prince Charming's face!

More: "50 Shades of Buscemi" and other Fifty Shades of Grey parodies

OK, aside from how uncomfortable that sounds, what's even more unpleasant is that that's our society's ideal image of beauty: A girl whose waist is so small she literally can't eat anything but liquid calories.

Thankfully, James recognizes this is completely unrealistic and encourages younger girls to have a healthier outlook.

"For girls growing up, sometimes I think they get the wrong idea for what women should look like," the actress said. "And I think it's so important to be healthy and confident and natural. And not put too much stress on trying to be thin — I don't get the thin, thin thing at all. I'm actually finding it really hard not to eat right now."

More: Cinderella remake is more like Fifty Shades than you realized (VIDEO)

And that's when James and E! host, Ali Fedotowsky, decided to chow down on some of the gorgeous macaroons laid out in front of them with a host of other delectable treats.

So while waist-cinching devices may be popular in movies and with some celebs, we're glad James would rather opt for the macaroons.

Do you think Disney should depict healthier-looking princesses?

Christ, Lucifer and other baby names that have been banned

$
0
0

New Zealand made headlines when it rejected parents' requests to give their babies controversial baby names. The nation has rules about such things and names with rank or royal connotations are off limits, as are names that are too long or contain a symbol.

Want your kid to have a title? He's going to have to earn it. Among the names turned down by the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs were Senior Constable, Corporal and Justice (and the alternate Justyce and Justis). Many parents were disappointed when they were unable to call their kids Prince (and Prynce), Princess, King, Queen and Royal Rule.

Five different parents attempted to add the / symbol to their child's birth certificate and one petitioned for ( ), according to the Australian Associated Press. Others tried "3rd" and "09." New Zealand rules also forbade one attempt to name a child Christ and another's desire to use Lucifer.

Others that didn't make the cut include Bishop, Duchess, Duke (and Dukey), Knight, Majesty, Major, Mr. and Sex Fruit. And the country's specific rules apply to more than just newborns. A 9-year-old girl was placed into court guardianship until her name, Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii, was legally changed.

New Zealand isn't the only nation with strict baby name rules. In the United Kingdom, for example, parents cannot use names that promote hate, vulgarity or drug use, or names that poke fun at government officials.

In Portugal, it's all about formality. If you want to call your child Mike or Sue, be prepared to enter Michael or Susan on the birth certificate.

In China, the @ symbol is pronounced ai-ta. One baby's name was filed as Wang @, but the Chinese government said no go.

Want to name your daughter Metallica? Then don't file for a birth certificate in Sweden, where the name Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116 (pronounced Albin) was also rejected. (For the record, Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116's name was a parent's attempt to make a statement about Sweden's strict naming laws.)

The Mexican state Sonora bans names that are "lacking in meaning." Among the rejected names are Circumcision, Facebook, James Bond, Lady Di, Robocop, Terminator and Traffic.

The Saudi Arabian culture is not fond of western names or names with royal undertones. Don't go there if you want your daughter to go by Alice, Elaine or Linda.

Now, in the good ole U.S., you are free to name your child whatever you want… but you are also free to express your opinion about names you don't like. When Heath Campbell ordered a birthday cake for his son, Adolf Hitler Campbell, the cake shop refused. (It likely also did not decorate cakes for Adolf's sisters, Eva Braun and JoyceLynn Aryan Nation.)

More baby name fun

SpongeBob baby names
More baby names forbidden in New Zealand
Baby names that are unique (but not weird)

Teen Mom's Catelynn and Tyler reveal shocking details of drug-filled past

$
0
0

More: Teen Mom's Amber Portwood reveals shocking details about drug addiction

The two reality stars, who got engaged in December 2014, opened up about their difficult, drug-fueled past in the hope of helping other kids going through the same thing, with a goal to break "the cycle of dysfunction."

The two had rough family lives growing up. They lived in a trailer park and their parents were involved with drugs and violence, spending time in jail.

Lowell and Baltierra fell in love when they were just 12 years old and began having sex not long after.

"Once we'd done it once, we were doing it all the time!" Catelynn writes. "After waiting so long [10 months] we turned into crazy horny teenagers. It was so bad."

More: Teen Mom's Catelynn Lowell teases us with pic of her new "little girl"

"Unfortunately, we were not being safe at all," Tyler adds. "We were using the pull-out method, and that was it. I didn't wear condoms and Cate never went on birth control."

As irresponsible as the teens were being with sex, they were also misusing substances and consuming large quantities of drugs — anything they could get their hands on.

Tyler admits he was smoking cigarettes and weed and drinking booze when he was only 8 years old. He also huffed air duster which caused him to have a seizure.

As for Catelynn, she started at age 10 after smelling weed in her home. She said she would get high on sleeping pills, as many as five or six at a time.

"And there was Robotrippin', where we chugged a bunch of cough syrup to get high," the couple writes. "We did ecstasy when we had that. Basically, anything we could get our hands on to get high with, we'd do it."

More: Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra get sweet tattoos for baby No. 2 (PHOTOS) 

Those reckless decisions led to Catelynn getting pregnant when she was just 16. And it might have been an event that saved their lives, because with a positive test result, the teens gave up drugs.

"Once that pregnancy test came back positive, there was no more room for drugs and alcohol in our lives," they explain in the book.

Though the couple decided to give their first baby up for adoption, they stayed on a healthy path. Now both 24 years old, Lowell just gave birth to the couple's second child.

Conquering Chaos is available on Amazon.

Food policing is causing anxiety, not reducing children's weight

$
0
0

Schoolyard lunch boxes used to be filled with chip packets, juice cartons, lollies and the odd piece of fruit. Friends would eagerly swap a ham and cheese sandwich for a chocolate bar Mum wouldn't dare put into their own lunch box.

But swapping sandwiches for sweets seems to be a big no-no now, at least on some lunchtime playgrounds, as schools have introduced food policies that stop kids from bringing unhealthy lunches to school at all. This is no new concept, but it looks like such policies are causing anxiety among children and are leading to unhealthy relationships with food.

In her piece published by the Sydney Morning Herald, Kasey Edwards remarks about how some schools ask their students to show what's in their lunch boxes to their classmates each morning. She makes mention of other schools that have what she calls "Food Police" making sure the likes of a chocolate bar or snake lollies can't even be taken onto the grounds.

Children are filled with fear and anxiety at the thought of bringing "bad" food to school, one child being so fearful, he doesn't even want to go to school at all.

While the intention is clearly to pass on healthy lifestyle choices to children through knowledge about good food choices, surely schools making decisions for them, and prohibiting certain foods altogether, not only leads to anxiety around certain foods, but also creates a desire for the prohibited foods. Unbelievably, junk food is even being sold on the schoolyard black market.

According to the National Health Survey, it was estimated that 30 per cent of children and young people were overweight or obese in Australia. There's no discounting the fact that obesity is a big problem in Australia, and educating children about healthy food and lifestyle factors are the way to go.

But shaming children for having the "wrong" food in their lunch boxes is sure to cause anxiety or even cause children to gravitate towards what they're not allowed to have.

Research from the U.S. has found that food policies haven't resulted in a lower rate of childhood obesity. If anything, children are developing anxieties around food and even fear certain foods as a result, possibly leading to eating disorders.

Publicly shaming children in front of their peers and saying their food choices are wrong encourages them to hide their eating practices. It means kids are more likely to binge eat when no one is looking. If we really want children to make better food choices, then allow them to make the decisions for themselves after they've been given the tools and the knowledge to do so.

While schools may mean well, it's entirely likely they are actually contributing to the problem of unhealthy eating practices and are doing more harm than good.

More on children and food

Warren Buffett has found the key to good health and we're totally on board
DIY lunch boxes and bags for kids
Pack a better lunch for your kids


Taylor Swift is getting death threats after crazy Tumblr drama

$
0
0

More: Taylor Swift reportedly body-shamed by her own mom

Since joining the blogging site last summer, Swift has been on it almost constantly. She's used it to connect with her fans like no other celebrity has, even going so far as to learn their likes and dislikes and send them personalized Christmas packages.

But this week's drama has Swift insinuating she may be thinking about leaving the site. It all started with a photo she posted to Instagram last Wednesday, showing herself with a fan named Johnnie on the Brit Awards red carpet.

Taylor Swift death threats 1

Taylor Swift death threats 1

But it turns out some of Swift's fans, often called "Swifties" on Tumblr, aren't huge fans of Johnnie. Quite a few of them actually claim that he's bullied other fans on the site and they view the photo as Swift accepting — or even defending — Johnnie's alleged actions. One user posted a series of screen grabs in which she said Johnnie called her feed "ugly," said one post was "dumb and annoying" and called her an "attention seeker" and said he hated her.

Images: 1989/Tumblr

Tumblr fans got more and more divided and things escalated to the point that #SwiftiesWantTaylorSwiftDead was actually trending worldwide on Twitter. Luckily, most of the tweets using the hashtag seemed to be showing how shocked people were that it had been started at all.

Taylor Swift death threats 2

Taylor Swift death threats 2

Taylor Swift death threats 3

Taylor Swift death threats 3

Swift has yet to comment directly on the whole dramatic situation, but she's been back on Tumblr since it started and she's liked posts that defend Johnnie and say that she might leave the site if the drama continues, leading some users to believe she may be considering leaving already.

Image: ellie/Tumblr

Johnnie has since posted a long note on Tumblr defending himself.

Taylor Swift death threats 4

Taylor Swift death threats 4

More: Lady Gaga sends Taylor Swift relationship advice that all girls could use

Is Taylor Swift right to distance herself from all this internet drama? Do you think her photo with Johnnie showed support for online bullying? Should she address it? Tell us what you think down in the comments.

So, Tony Abbott has joined the #HeForShe campaign

$
0
0

The commemorative breakfast was held and politicians were invited to sign the pledge, which commits signatories to "take action against all forms of violence and discrimination faced by women and girls" and to acknowledge that "gender equality is not only a women's issue, it is a human rights issue that requires [their] participation".

This is no doubt a big step in the right direction for the prime minister, who has previously been labelled as sexist for his comments about women in both the parliamentary domain and the general public.

The minister for women is now on board with the other 10,000 people who have signed the pledge, which was launched by Emma Watson last year and encourages men and boys to take a stand on gender equality.

"Real men don't threaten or bully women," Abbott said at the breakfast. "Violence against women is abhorrent."

The gesture is certainly there, but he's still got a lot to prove before we go giving him a big pat on the back or anything. Here's what we'd like to see from him to know he's really invested in the #HeForShe campaign and gender equality.

Putting flexible working arrangements on the table

In a recent report, it was found women are receiving less pay than men because they don't go for high-paying roles, reportedly because such roles don't allow for flexibility, especially if having and raising a child is a priority. Let's have a discussion about what more flexibility at work can mean for both men and women and how that can impact closing the wage gap between the sexes.

Engaging in the violence against women debate

A discussion was had by ABC panel program, Q&A, last month about how domestic violence is a serious issue in Australia, resulting in one woman each week being killed. Noticeably absent from the discussion was Tony Abbott. We'd like to see the minister for women address issues women face as a result of domestic violence, including support programs for women who leave violent relationships.

An open dialogue about the rights of women and their bodies

How can we forget the time Prime Minister Abbott came out saying women were basically getting abortions because they're lazy? Here's the quote if you've blocked it from your memory. "The problem with the Australian practice of abortion is that an objectively grave matter has been reduced to a question of the mother's convenience." A better dialogue about women and the right to manage their bodies would be a great start to Abbott's #HeForShe campaign.

Stopping the patronisation

Prime Minister Abbott isn't known for being politically correct, but some sweeping changes to his comments about women are required. This is one unforgettable comment he made back in 2010: "What the housewives of Australia need to understand as they do the ironing is that if they get it done commercially it's going to go up in price and their own power bills when they switch the iron on are going to go up, every year."

Working to eradicate sexism in party politics

His own chief of staff, Peta Credlin, as well as former prime minister, Julia Gillard, have been met with gender bias in the political domain, but we'd like to see more support coming from Abbott for women in high-profile positions, like this comment he made about Credlin: "Do you really think my chief of staff would be under this kind of criticism if her name was Peter as opposed to Peta?" Abbott said, adding, "I think people need to take a long hard look at themselves with some of these criticisms."

What do you think Prime Minister Tony Abbott needs to do to prove he's taking the #HeForShe campaign seriously?

More on current events

Teachers denying your children access to the toilet are doing you a favour
Woman scores a date like a boss by leaving a note for hunky dog walker
10 Hot guys with cats who can stop the crazy cat lady stereotype

Kate Gosselin has a serious message for all her haters (VIDEO)

$
0
0

More: Kate Gosselin's got a new boyfriend, and we've got the details

The former Jon & Kate Plus Eight — and current Kate Plus Eight — star took a moment on a recent episode of her show to send a message to those who openly disapprove of her parenting — and especially her rumored strict disciplinary tactics that have garnered controversy for the reality TV mom.

"To a degree, I try not to let it get to me," Kate said of the negative publicity she's received. "I ignore a lot of it because I'm busy."

Kate's comments are undermined by the fact that the show is edited to intersperse them with a montage of some of her nastier moments — yelling at and berating her kids, taking their toys away and screaming at them to stop talking and making noise.

More: Jon and Kate Gosselin's latest publicity stunt made us throw up a bit

Kate has denied a number of rumors about her parenting style, including one that surfaced in 2012 saying she punishes her kids by hitting them with a wooden spoon. She continues to come under fire for moments on her show in which she loses patience with her sizable brood of toddlers.

"To this handful of people who decided to devote their lives to hating me: I feel bad for them," she said. "I mean, what a sorry, sad life to try to take down another individual — like, do you really think you have an effect on my life? You don't."

She continued, "I've always told my kids — I mean, people that are negative and mean. It says more about them than it does about you. You can be a faceless face and try to affect people's lives negatively and I'm not buying it, because you've never met me. You see snippets on TV, but you don't see the whole thing. Rest assured, you don't know the whole thing. So I mean, for people to just make judgments on people they've never met in general is just disgusting and I have taken that and tried to turn it around. I teach my kids, 'You don't know the whole story. You don't judge someone until you've met them, and even so, I try not to judge people.'"

More: Celebrity moms share adorable back-to-school pictures

Do you think Kate has a point? Or is she too harsh with her kids? Check out the video below and then head to the comments and tell us your take.


Kate Gosselin on haters

Kate Gosselin on haters


Kelly Clarkson doesn't care if her kids are gay, and we love her for it

$
0
0

More: Kelly Clarkson's duet with Jimmy Fallon sparks a body-shaming debate (VIDEO)

The American Idol winner and leader of the "Kezbos," a group of die-hard lesbian fans, opened up to Pride Source about how she would react if her newborn daughter, River, turned out to be gay.

"I think it's silly that we're still talking about gay rights," she said. "I just live in this world where people are accepted, so it's very hard for me to even realize that that still exists. It's hard for me to wrap my brain around it."

As for River?

"Oh, I don't care," Clarkson said about the idea of her daughter coming out. "I mean, here's what I hope for her: I just hope she finds love. It took me a while, man. And there was a lot of heartache throughout those years. You know, as long as she's happy, I don't care either way, and neither does my husband. And we have two other kids as well, and we don't care either way for all of them. I'd be like, 'Awesome! When do we meet him or her?' Honestly, it's so funny, it doesn't even register in my world as different. I don't know why. But yeah, it doesn't. I'm glad it doesn't!"

More: Kelly Clarkson, is that you? Or is this Jimmy Eat World?

According to the interview, Clarkson's accepting views have a lot to do with her family, her childhood and the way she was raised — in a very accepting home.

"At my church, whenever I did attend Sunday service, that was never talked about," she shared. "I know that is what the doctrine of Southern Baptist is, but they also said don't drink and dance, but we drank and danced! I don't think I grew up in some hardcore community where people were like that. I grew up in a very accepting household. I was taught to accept everybody how they are, and I admire my mom for that. She's never taught me hate."

She continued, "Honestly, I grew up in such a creative environment. Even in our choral group — even with my friends — nobody really talked about it, nobody was against or for it. There were no flags of any kind — of race, of who liked who. I feel like I grew up in a really incredibly good bubble. I never experienced people hating — no hate crimes or anything like that — until well into the industry."

More: Kelly Clarkson breathes a little soul into Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off"

Do you agree with Clarkson's views? How would you react if your child was gay? Head down to the comments and let us know what you think.

Q&A is celebrating International Women's Day with an all-female panel

$
0
0

"Celebrate 40 years of International Women's Day with guest host Annabel Crabb," it was announced on the program's webpage.

The panellists include non-feminist foreign minister, Julie Bishop, author Roxane Gay, feminism icon Germaine Greer, founder of Youth Without Borders, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, and Best & Less CEO, Holly Kramer.

It's thought that the all-female lineup, and the boot given to Tony Jones for the night, was in response to the backlash the show received following its discussion on domestic violence, namely violence against women.

The consensus was that it seemed odd the panel was dominated by men. And it raised the question of if we need men on a panel to legitimise a debate about women.

Q and A all-female panel

Q and A all-female panel

I'd have to say yes.

Having men on a panel discussion about men acting violently towards women is necessary in order to add both sides to the conversation. But not only for that reason. After a catch-up with a girlfriend last week, who told me how her six-foot-something brother was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of his five-foot-nothing girlfriend, it really painted a different picture about what domestic violence is all about.

Women are more often the victims of domestic violence, but the issue is a social one, one which needs to be discussed, understood and picked apart by all people. The same goes for feminism, which Monday's all-female panel is set to discuss.

Feminism might very well need a makeover, with many still thinking it's a dirty word that alienates men, but modern takes on feminism aside, the word means equality among the sexes. Equality.

And equality, to me at least, is explored through difference. It's not about being the same, being just as strong or just as smart or just as capable of doing the same tasks. Equality means recognising that there is difference, there are situations that each sex performs differently in and the equality lies in acknowledging those differences and saying, despite them, we are equal. Equal doesn't mean the same.

While it is wonderful to see women dominating the Q&A panel, I worry that it just portrays an "us versus them" mentality. Feminism and gender quality is a social issue, not a women's issue, after all.

More on gender equality

So, Tony Abbott has joined the #HeForShe campaign
10 Hot guys with cats who can stop the crazy cat lady stereotype
Does online gender abuse have a connection to domestic violence?

Tinder wants your money, but these 20 free dating apps are just as good

$
0
0

The new product is called Tinder Plus and it allows users to undo accidental left swipes and also search for people outside of their geolocation.

With the new added flexibility comes a price tag, though, but that price depends on what side of 30 you're on. If you're in your 20s, then you'll have to fork out $9.99 per month to access the new version. But if you're 30 or over, well get out your wallets because it'll set you back $19.99.

Tinder reasons that 20-somethings are less likely to dish out their cash, because, well, they don't have any, while 30-somethings are likely to be more established in their lives and their careers and have a higher disposable income.

Doesn't it sound like Tinder is trying to sift out the ancient 30-somethings from the group? Like they're expected to steer clear and take their affinity for '90s music and Kevin Smith movies elsewhere?

Well, Tinder can keep their 20-year-old, cashless candidates. These dating apps are just as good and they're free.

Happn

Much the same as Tinder, Happn connects you with people in your area, showing matches within just 250 metres from you. You had better hope you and your perfect match just happen to be at the same place at the same time.

Hinge

Said to be the more stylish and elegant version of Tinder, Hinge only connects you with people in your extended friendship circle — like friends of your friends.

HowAboutWe

The first rule of online dating is to meet before you start developing a connection with the person on the other side of the screen. You might not have any chemistry once you meet and that's just awkward if you've already developed feelings. The great thing about HowAboutWe is that it encourages quick meet-ups by asking users to post dating ideas and to connect in person rather than connecting by text.

Bumble

With Bumble, ladies, the ball is in your court. "Run by ladies", the dating app doesn't allow men to send the first message, meaning women can open the flow of communication only if and when they want to, reducing the chance of getting unwanted messages. For same-sex relationships, though, people can message anyone they like.

Plenty of Fish

Plenty of Fish is one of the biggest dating sites in the world and it is in app form, too. With over 55 million people signed up to the site, there's bound to be a love match for you there.

Down

Down sells itself as the "secret way to get down with friends and people nearby". You can discreetly choose hot Facebook friends and hope that they select you, too. If they do, only then will they know you're into them.

Are You Interested?

Are You Interested? makes dating life so easy. Not only do they find local matches for you, they also have single lady chat rooms and offer date night ideas specific to your area.

Tingle

Tingle is the kind of app you'd use while out and about. So postmodern. Instead of, I don't know, talking to people in a bar, you just log in to your Tingle app and see if any of the users are around. You can message each other via the app and then organise to meet up if you wish.

Skout

The dating app for travellers, Skout works in more than 100 countries. Just search the app for nearby candidates and get chatting. You just might find a travel partner or a holiday romance.

RSVP

RSVP is one of Australia's largest dating sites. But while it's free to sign up, you're going to have to hand over some cash to send and receive emails with your prospective candidates.

Grindr

This is one for the men and women of the LGBTI community. There are more than 7 million people on Grindr, so get on it; there's bound to be someone there for you.

Tease

Tease is a small dating app run "by a couple of guys in a really small office in Perth". The website is easy to navigate and has been absolutely free since 2005.

Meet Me

Not just a dating app, Meet Me gives people the opportunity to catch up with new and existing friends in the area. Catch up with someone new for a coffee — it might be nothing more than friendly conversation or it might be something more.

OkCupid

There's no fuss with OkCupid; it gets the job done. You sign up, you browse for potential connections and see if the app can make magic happen. It's one of the more popular apps around, too, so there's a whole lot of people with whom you could potentially make a connection.

Zoosk

Zoosk is a dating app with a difference. The company teamed up with Facebook to create an online dating experience based on behavioural matchmaking techniques. Your personality and personal preferences dictate who the site might consider a good match for you.

Badoo

With more than 200 million people signed up to Badoo, you've got pretty decent chances of hitting it off with someone. Badoo is a playful dating app that encourages candidates to get to know each other through games and chatting.

Let's Date

Let's Date looks like only cool people need apply, but that's probably not the case. Users sign up with their Facebook account and create what's called a "dater card". You can then browse other people's dater cards until you spot someone you like. Click the "Let's Date" button and hope like hell they respond.

Hitch.me

Hitch.me is a dating app that connects LinkedIn professionals looking for love. Because people are linked through their professional profiles, there is a sense of security for the dating app users.

Alikewise

An absolutely genius concept, Alikewise pairs people up based on what books they like. From politics to novels, if you're reading about it, chances are someone else will be, too.

Tastebuds

Music connects people so Tastebuds is joining together people with the same taste in music. Here you can "discover new bands, find concert buddies and chat with music fans" and perhaps even find love.

What other free dating apps have you come across?

More on relationships and dating

89-Year-old man goes on best Tinder dates in history
Woman scores a date like a boss by leaving a note for hunky dog walker
Brisbane woman stabs her Tinder date; should you still be using this app?

Pan-fried halibut with lemon-yogurt sauce in 20 minutes flat

$
0
0

Good news is, perfectly crispy fish can be achieved with a quick breading and pan-fry approach too. It's also a 20-minute meal from start to finish, making it a great weeknight dinner.

Serve it with a simple side salad and this refreshing lemon-yogurt sauce, and you've got a quick and healthy dinner on your plate without any of the deep-frying annoyance.

Pan-fried halibut with lemon-yogurt sauce recipe

This pan-fried halibut proves it's possible to get crispy fish without deep-frying. This method will work with any white fish if halibut is too pricey or you have difficulty finding it.

Serves 2

Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

For the halibut

  • 1-1/2 pounds halibut, about 2 large fillets
  • 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 4 tablespoons butter

For the lemon-yogurt sauce

  • 1/3 cup plain yogurt
  • Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Directions:

  1. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Rinse and pat dry the fish.
  3. In a shallow dish, combine the cornmeal, breadcrumbs, flour, salt and pepper.
  4. To another shallow bowl, add the milk.
  5. Dip the fish into the milk, then coat it in the cornmeal mixture on both sides.
  6. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Once the butter has melted, place the fish into the skillet, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden brown. Flip carefully, and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, until the fish is cooked through and crispy.
  7. Repeat with the other fillet, using the remaining butter to re-grease the skillet.
  8. In a small bowl, mix together the lemon juice and yogurt, and serve with the fish.

For tons of great recipes, like our I <3 Comfort Food page on Facebook.

More halibut recipes

Healthy Alaskan halibut
Halibut chowder
Roasted coconut-pineapple halibut


I 'waist trained' after my 5th baby and the results were dramatic

$
0
0

Other celebs like Real Housewives of Atlanta's Kim Zolciak have also jumped on the waist training trend and at first glance, it may seem like one more silly celebrity-started trend bent on making women feel bad about their current figures. Yet, I have to agree momma Kim K on this one (which may be the only time I ever write that sentence). Belly binding is awesome.

I've given birth to five babies, so when it comes to the toll that pregnancy takes on your body (Hint: You're never going to be the same, and that's OK.), I have a lot of experience. For my first four, I recovered the traditional way, which just meant a lot of rest and yoga pants. But, by my last baby, devices like The Taut and the Belly Bandit had reintroduced the concept of postpartum belly binding.

Kim K on instagram in a corset

Kim K on instagram in a corset

"This is so good for you! I will never understand why more American women won't do this," my sweet Trinidadian nurse huffed as she helped wrangle me into a postpartum girdle hours after my last baby was born. "Everyone does this where I am from!"

At first, I was leery of the idea of forcing my poor middle to do anything after childbirth, but the instant she helped me sit up, I realized why women have been wrapping their bellies postpartum for millennia: It felt amazing. The band supported my Jell-O core and made me feel like my organs were returning to their anatomically appropriate locations. It didn't make me look much thinner (it was very visible under clothing), but I wore the waist cincher for 40 days after my baby was born, and I can honestly say that the recovery from my fifth baby was quicker than any of my previous four.

When I went in for my six-week postpartum checkup, rather than being disapproving, as I had feared, my doctor was delighted I'd done it. My diastasis recti, the separation between my abdominal muscles in the front, was almost completely healed — something that had never happened this quickly or completely with my other babies. My doc explained the girdle had acted as a splint, allowing my muscles to neatly knit back together by taking the pressure off them to hold up my core. Not every woman gets a diastasis during pregnancy but for those of us who do, recovery can be a long and painful process. Often surgery is the only treatment for severe cases, so the fact that I could help it at all with a simple piece of elastic was awesome.

But, waist training — the practice of wearing ever-tighter corsets to shrink one's waist size for cosmetic reasons — is a more controversial practice than postpartum belly binding. While it doesn't seem to cause the skeletal damage that people once feared, there are some concerns about compressing organs making it harder to eat, digest and breathe (i.e., the important life stuff).

In addition, experts caution that wearing a corset too much can weaken your core muscles, making you dependent on the corset for posture and comfort. They also point out that, despite claims by manufacturers, corsets simply move around soft tissue and don't help you lose fat or weight (unless yours is so tight you can't eat, I suppose).

Still, women have used corsets for centuries and many modern ladies are quite happy with their results. And from my personal experience, it's only as painful as you want it to be — if you're having fainting spells, then wear a looser model or take it off. Plus, it's generally considered much safer than other ways of making your waist smaller like extreme diets, pills or surgeries. But, I do think it's important to ask yourself why you're doing it.

"There’s misinformation that body shape and body weight can be easily changeable to society’s standards," says Leslie Heinberg, M.D., director of behavioral sciences for the Bariatric (weight loss) and Metabolic Institute at Cleveland Clinic, to Ebony. "But we come in all different shapes and sizes and some of us aren't meant to have a tiny waist."

More on health and wellness

The food pairing that will help you absorb more nutrients
What is really in your orange juice
5 "Healthy" foods that can hurt your gut

The Kardashians' $100 million contract isn't split up evenly at all

$
0
0

Somewhat surprisingly, the money was not split up remotely evenly. In fact, one sister in particular is netting a huge chunk of the money: Kim.

Here's how it breaks down:
Kim Kardashian: $30 million
Kris Jenner: $15 million
Khloé Kardashian: $13 million
Kourtney Kardashian: $12 million
Kylie Jenner: $8 million
Kendall Jenner: $8 million
Scott Disick: $8 million

You may notice that some family members seem to have been left off this list — and that's because they were. Bruce Jenner will not be getting a piece of this delicious money pie, but that's because he inked his own deal separate from the rest of the family for a docuseries reportedly about his alleged gender transition. Kanye West, Rob Kardashian, Brody Jenner and the next generation of Kardashians, including Kim and Kanye's daughter, North West, and Kourtney and Scott's three children, Penelope, Mason and Reign, are also missing from the list. But don't worry that they'll end up on Skid Row — there's an extra $6 million allocated after the big players are paid for "family support staff," from which these players (along with the glam squad) could be paid.

And if you're still wondering how exactly 17-year-old Kylie managed to buy her own $2.7 million mansion, a source has a compelling inside scoop. The insider revealed that she was not happy about getting millions less than her mom and older sisters and used some inside info as leverage. "She knows a lot of family secrets, so after she flipped over the salaries, Kris bought her a house and let her move out at 17," the source told OK! magazine. "It was hush money, basically."

Interestingly, Kris is the manager of almost everyone involved, so she is the one who would have had the most say in how much money each sister earns. We're sure it has to do with each cast member's Q score and anticipated screen time, but still, can you imagine your mom being like, "Your sister is worth $30 million but you're honestly worth nothing. Oh and by the way, I'm worth more than you, too." Might make Thanksgiving a little awkward. We're just saying.

Tell us: Do you think the Kardashian kash was divided fairly?

Seth Rogen denies those Amy Pascal weed rumors

$
0
0

More: 8 Times it sucks to be Amy Pascal since the Sony e-mail hack

The actor used social media to post the Hollywood Reporter's headline from today, which read "Sony's Amy Pascal Delays Office Move Due to Seth Rogen Pot Stench."

First of all, Rogen calls the story "completely untrue" and says he isn't sure if the lies are the most irresponsible part of the story or if the fact that the Hollywood Reporter would refer to the way weed smells as a "stench" is even more shameful.

More: Sony hackers issue terrifying threat to theaters showing The Interview

Seth Rogen denies Amy Pascal office odor

Seth Rogen denies Amy Pascal office odor

Pascal is in the process of transitioning from her office as Sony's cochair to a position as an on-the-lot producer, a position that comes with a new office. But the move has been delayed, according to the media outlet, because Rogen, who most recently occupied Pascal's new office with producer and director, Evan Goldberg, stunk up the place with all his marijuana fumes.

More: President Obama can't believe North Korea is scared of Seth Rogen

Another source who spoke with the Hollywood Reporter seemed to confirm Rogen's claim that the story is being blown way out of proportion, saying Pascal simply wants to put her own personal flair on the place and is having it repainted. But another source says the smell is so bad, it's "seeped into the flooring," according to the article.

And while Rogen is clearly commenting on the story, Pascal has yet to confirm or deny the rumors.

Do you believe Rogen is responsible for Pascal's office delay?

Teresa Giudice is allegedly in danger, thanks to feuds with fellow inmates

$
0
0

At first, reports surfaced that the reality star was being treated pretty nicely, even getting her makeup done before her daughter's visit. But it seems like the silver linings are few and far between as she settles into life in jail.

More: Teresa Giudice hits the slopes before heading to the slammer

According to a source who spoke with In Touch, inmates are taking issue with Giudice's attitude, saying she acts like she's better than everyone.

Furthermore, the source claims that Giudice's status in the prison has gotten so bad, she "told officials that she was afraid for her life. Once you start complaining about certain prisoners, you become a target."

Another thing that isn't winning Giudice any friends is her reported plan to write a tell-all book about her experiences in jail.

More: Teresa Giudice is standing by her man

"She's documenting everything for her book," In Touch's insider claims. "Who's sleeping with whom, who's been caught having sex, even little things like who's arguing over the flatiron. She's in a lot of debt and sees it as her opportunity to make a lot of money when she's released from prison."

Giudice is being confined at the same prison that is used as the basis for the hit Netflix series, Orange Is the New Black. Perhaps she thinks if she can come out of prison with some similar stories, she'll be able to capitalize on them just like the show has successfully done.

More: Teresa Giudice makes odd New Year's resolution before heading off to prison

Of course, the article did come from In Touch. And the cover photo shows an obviously Photoshopped Giudice looking nothing like herself in a ridiculous orange T-shirt. The point: Take this information with a grain of salt. A book deal wouldn't be that surprising, but the prison drama does sound reminiscent of the fictitious variety we love to binge-watch.

In Touch Teresa Giudice


Image: In Touch

Do you think Giudice's attitude could really be getting her in life-threatening trouble behind bars?

Don't host your International Women's Day event at a men-only club like the LNP

$
0
0

I'm going to try for a second to see the positive in this whole situation. Like, for example, we could look at this and say, "That's great that an all-men establishment is opening its doors to celebrate and include women. Good on them for loosening the belt on discrimination for just one day, so both male and female members of parliament can celebrate International Women's Day together."

But my first reaction, unfortunately, isn't a positive one and leaves me wondering why in the heck the Liberal Party decided it would be a good idea to host a function in celebration of women in a place that clearly is stuck in some 1950s time warp where women are forbidden from certain circles and establishments.

The International Women's Day celebrations will be hosted at exclusive club, Tattersalls, in Brisbane on Friday.

"Nearly half of the LNP's 14,000 members are women and this event aims to discuss and promote the involvement of more women in politics at all levels," a spokesperson for the LNP said.

"The venue was chosen simply on the basis of availability, price and flexibility in a CBD location.

"LNP Women appreciate the efforts of Tattersall's Club in accommodating their function at short notice."

The worrying thing is that politics already attracts so few women to the profession, with less than 30 per cent of politicians in Australia being women, according to Australian Parliament House's report on the representation of women in Australian parliament. Actions like this only perpetuate the boys club mentality.

International Women's Day event hosted at men-only club

International Women's Day event hosted at men-only club

International Women's Day event hosted at men-only club

International Women's Day event hosted at men-only club

Parliamentary speaker, Fiona Simpson, who will be attending the event, told News Ltd that she was "less troubled by openly male-only clubs or openly women-only gyms than by areas of society that have a veneer of equality but which hide structural impediments or unconscious bias that block women from opportunities."

Prime Minister Tony Abbott seems to think there's nothing wrong with the idea, either. Actually, he uses some very colourful vocabulary to give the celebrations a wordy pat on the back.

"Good on the Liberal National Party, smashing the glass ceiling yet again. I say congratulations and thank God that bastion of old-fashioned chauvinism has finally collapsed like the walls of Jericho at the trumpet cry of the Liberal National Party."

I'm inclined to agree that, yes, this could have been a sweeping gesture of eradicating the glass ceiling from a domain where that needs to happen. But the very fact the LNP organised the event at Tattersalls "on the basis of availability, price and flexibility", and not because of the important message it sends about equality and gender, is enough of a reason to assume this is another example of the government being out of touch with the public.

What do you think about the International Women's Day celebrations being held at Tattersalls? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

More women's issues

Does excluding men from Q&A's feminism panel discussion legitimise the debate?
Now that Tony Abbott is a #HeForShe campaigner, we can put him to work
10 Hot guys with cats who can stop the crazy cat lady stereotype

Viewing all 33701 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images