Sure, Michaela and Brandon's wedding made me bawl like a baby because it was so fairy-tale romantic, but tonight's episode struck me for a different reason.
This episode was all about giving back and it definitely touched me right in the heart.
First, the family headed out to spend a day training with the local sheriff's department after being inspired by eldest son Zach's recent graduation from the academy.
The family was sure to make a point of expressing just how grateful they were to the men and women at the academy who keep our streets safe. But more than that, it was inspiring to see Zach take the lead and show his family the ropes. Gil could barely get through one day of training and yet Zach had endured 11 weeks!
But then I had to grab the tissues for the next part of the episode when Lawson, Kelly Jo and a few of the siblings headed to the local children's hospital to spend some time with the kids.
We were introduced to Lawson's buddy AJ Cucksey, who is a patient at the hospital and has a tumor that's pressing on his optic nerve.
"It's serious," Lawson explained. "But you meet him and he's just like a lightbulb. His energy is just — it's amazing."
AJ even brought his electric guitar for the jam session with Lawson.
Kelly Jo put it best, "You could tell that Lawson has kind of became a role model to him. It was a tear-jerker because, I mean, if anybody should be admired it would be this little fella."
But more than making me grab for the tissues, this episode served to show the importance of giving back and how a simple hospital visit can mean so much to these kids who just want to be normal.
Did this episode make you even more emotional than Michaela and Brandon's wedding?
Now, I'm not sure what's in the hearts of many of our real-world candidates, but it's hard to imagine they're as passionate and excited about the chance to make big changes as Scandal's candidates are. And that's just unfortunate.
2. They are educated on the issues
And not only are they educated, but they have ideas about how to fix things. Our real-world candidates seem to have a lot of big, idealistic ideas to throw around without a lot of application to back them up.
3. They don't bicker like little boys and girls
I was shocked in the last Republican debate when most of the candidates spent more time arguing and throwing insults than actually discussing the issues. It's a shame.
4. They don't feel the need to talk about their genitals just to get attention
Enough said.
5. They're more qualified
A senator, a governor and a senator/first lady. Now, we definitely have comparable real-world candidates in the running, but some of them leave a lot to be desired.
6. Olivia Pope would have their back
Sure, right now she's Team Mellie, but assuming that Susan or Vargas were to win, I'm sure Olivia (Kerry Washington) would still be game to offer advice, and that's a world I want to live in.
He was initially very hesitant to appear on Sally's program because he didn't want the attention. Wait, a politician who doesn't want attention?
8. Vargas genuinely cares about education
He's all about helping America work to get free education for the sake of his children. Can we do that in real life, please?
9. And Vargas thinks using his shooting tragedy as a political advantage would be "unseemly"
It makes him even more of a hero because he doesn't want to use his hero-making situation as a political platform. Most of our real-world candidates can't get enough of the words "I" and "me."
10. They have integrity
Uh, what a concept!
11. They don't want to compromise that integrity by making decisions just for political gain
Susan compromised herself tonight when she didn't support Vargas' plan despite the fact that she actually liked it. But all it took was some words of wisdom from Fitz and she snapped back to her old, passionate self.
12. I'm having a hard time deciding who I want to win because they're all so good
Unlike our current race, which has me undecided because I feel like there aren't any truly inspiring candidates running, I'm undecided on Scandal because they're all so good. Last week, I was Mellie all the way, but Susan is definitely catching up and Vargas also may end up winning me over.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that all of our real-life candidates are missing all of these qualities — but maybe they are. Unfortunately, it's become a hard game of figuring out who among them isn't lying. And it's a sad game we shouldn't have to play in the race for the biggest, most influential position in our country.
Which Scandal character would you most like to see run for office in real life? Which of their qualities do you wish our real-life candidates actually possessed?
Here's a tweet that sums up how many Top Chef fans are feeling about Part 1 of the Season 13 finale:
Top Chef 1
Top Chef 1
To bring you up to speed: Marjorie, Jeremy and Isaac were dubbed the final three cheftestants. On Thursday's episode, we learned that Amar won Last Chance Kitchen, meaning he has another chance to compete for the Top Chef title, and after Marjorie and Isaac were eliminated, it will be Jeremy vs. Amar in the season finale.
Only three women in the history of Top Chef have won it all, and many fans (including me) were hoping Marjorie would be the fourth. It's a disappointment to see two men competing yet again for the title, and it definitely reinforces the terrible reality that if you don't create an equal balance of male and female contestants, it makes it less likely that a woman will win. There's no lack of talented women chefs out there, but as I wrote a few weeks ago, we know that the conditions for women in kitchens are made deeply unpleasant by sexism, and if Top Chef doesn't make an effort to make sure women get on the show, we're going to keep seeing men competing against each other in finale after finale, while all the women on the show end up getting eliminated earlier.
Fans on Twitter weren't shy about expressing their discontent about how things ended up on Thursday.
Top Chef 2
Top Chef 2
Top Chef 3
Top Chef 3
Top Chef 4
Top Chef 4
Top Chef 5
Top Chef 5
Top Chef 6
Top Chef 6
Top Chef 7
Top Chef 7
When Karen was eliminated a few weeks ago, we were reminded that it's the dish that the judges are reacting to and not the chef (most of the time). Marjorie has proven herself over and over this season to be a major culinary force. The fact that she won't win Top Chef doesn't negate that, and at the same time, for those of us who were rooting for her, it's a disappointment not to see her take on Jeremy, Amar or Isaac. Jeremy's won many challenges this season and Amar just fought his way back to the show from Last Chance Kitchen, but this isn't all about whether or not they deserve to be there. The point is, when the deck is stacked against women, as it has been this season and in previous seasons, we just aren't likely to see women winning the Top Chef title. It is possible to change that, with more pointed and strategic casting, so that the future doesn't have to look so much like the past and present.
The TBBT fandom, of course, was ecstatic to learn of Bernadette's pregnancy in a recent episode, and took to Twitter to express their elation.
The Big Bang Theory Berndatte pregnancy tweet 1
The Big Bang Theory Berndatte pregnancy tweet 1
The Big Bang Theory Berndatte pregnancy tweet 2
The Big Bang Theory Berndatte pregnancy tweet 2
Like fans, Bernadette's little hunka hunka burning love Howard was initially excited at the baby news. But as we witnessed, his excitement quickly deteriorated into a full-on Wolowitz-style meltdown.
While Howard might have entered DEFCON 5 concerning his impending fatherhood, Melissa Rauch — the actress who plays Bernadette — recently revealed that Simon Helberg's real-life reaction to his character becoming a dad was much sweeter.
"At the table read, I was just so in awe of how Howard was excited, and then it started chipping away at his brain," Rauch told Us Weekly. "I looked into Simon’s eyes, and they were filled with tears. It was such a beautiful moment!"
Rauch also disclosed that she has much more confidence in Howard's future parenting skills than he does, and that her real concern lies in Bernadette's maternal instincts.
"I think Howard is going to be a phenomenal father," she said. "I’m interested to see what the writers will do with Bernadette as a mother. We haven’t really seen her as the most maternal person. She does mother Howard quite a bit, though."
Will Bernadette's pregnancy lead to a rash of baby fever on The Big Bang Theory? There's no shortage of couples on the show that could provide a playdate for baby Wolowitz, especially now that Shamy are officially doing the dirty.
But the bigger question is, now that we have a lady with a baby coming through, can they finally fix that dang elevator?
Image: Michael Yarish/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Were you excited about the news of the Wolowitz baby? Do you think Howard will be a good dad?
The latest chef to get kicked off? Louisiana-based Isaac Toups. He dishes on whether he was surprised by his elimination, who he thinks should win and more.
SheKnows: Who is your favorite Top Chef contestant of all time and why?
Isaac Toups: I liked Fabio quite a bit. I thought he was entertaining.
SK: Were you surprised by your elimination?
IT: Yes and no. I was in it to win it, but honestly, I think everyone was worried about being eliminated every single episode.
SK: What was it like working with all the judges on the show?
IT: I felt like everyone was really fair. They all have very strong opinions about food. I can respect that.
SK: Which contestant do you think deserves to win? Or who are you rooting for?
IT: I'm pulling for Amar. They are both extremely talented chefs and real good guys. Either one will deserve the win.
SK: Was there anyone on the show you really clashed with? Who was it and why?
IT: No, I can get along with a rock. I consider myself friends with everybody there.
SK: Who is your favorite out of the judges and why?
IT: I don't think I have a favorite. Padma surprised me the most with her food knowledge. She has a great palate.
SK: Who do you think deserved to go home on last night’s episode?
IT: The judges thought Marjorie and I should have gone home, and we did. I have no regrets and I'm not going to try and take anything from Amar. He put out a great dish.
SK: What was the best experience you had on the show?
IT: Hands down, having a meal cooked by Hubert Keller and having wine poured by Emeril.
SK: What was the biggest challenge for you on the show?
IT: The last one was probably the biggest challenge because it was most out of my comfort zone. I don't use smoke and mirrors in my food. I'm a flavor first man.
Stretching is an essential part of any workout routine. Studies have shown that stretching helps increase flexibility and improve athletic performance, while decreasing the risk of activity-based injuries by delivering blood to the muscles and loosening up your body. It also helps separate and lengthen your muscles, giving your bod that super-slim, toned appearance.
So what's the ultimate test of one's stretchability? Well, the answer to that is obvious — it's the splits, of course! But don't start panicking on me just yet. I promise to ease you into this pose nice and slow. Check out my top five stretches to help you master the splits below!
1. Standing forward bend
Image: Maggie Giuffrida/SheKnows
Standing straight up, feet together, arms by your side, reach your hands up and overhead into a prayer position and then swan-dive your arms and chest down toward the ground. Let your fingertips or palms fall to either side of your feet and slowly start to bring your chest in towards your knees. If you have a hard time reaching your toes, put a little more bend in your knees until your hands are on the floor. Keep pressing your chin and chest in towards your knees and thighs for the maximum stretch. Remember to never lock your knees and always keep a slight bend in them to avoid injury.
Stretches hamstrings and back, alleviates anxiety, relieves headaches, improves digestion and quiets the mind.
Starting in Tadasana, or mountain pose (standing straight up, feet together, arms by your side), gently step one foot about 3 to 4 feet behind the other, allowing the toes to turn out slightly to the side and aligning your back heel with your front heel. Note: It's important that your feet should not be directly in line with one another. Instead, your back foot should be a few inches to the side to balance more effectively. Once your legs are in place, bring your hands to either side of your front foot and lower your chest and chin in towards the top of your thigh. Continue reaching your fingers and hands behind the front leg for more of a stretch.
Stretches the spine, shoulders, wrists, hips, hamstrings and strengthens the legs. Improves posture and balance and calms the brain.
Coming into a low lunge position with your front knee bent, knee aligned with ankle, and your back leg extended behind you. Keep your back knee off the ground or lowered to the ground, allowing it to gently rest on the floor; then bring both hands to the inner side of your front foot.
From here, begin to work your way to the ground by coming onto your forearms and allowing your chest to move closer to the ground, continuing to reach your head and back heel in opposite directions. You can modify this pose by using a block to support your forearms.
Stretches the thighs, hamstrings, groin, abdomen, shoulders and neck. Opens up the chest and lungs.
4. Pigeon pose
Image: Maggie Giuffrida/SheKnows
From down dog position, bring your right knee in toward your chest, moving your body into a one-legged plank pose. Next, bring your right knee toward your right wrist and your ankle toward your left wrist, trying to get your shin as parallel to the front of your mat as possible.
Image: Maggie Giuffrida/SheKnows
Lower your hips and body to the ground, stretching your left leg back behind you. If this causes too much pain/discomfort, pull your right ankle in closer to your body to relieve some of the strain.
Image: Maggie Giuffrida/SheKnows
Once you feel comfortable, walk your fingertips out in front of your leg and lower your chest to the floor.
Stretches the thigh, groin, abdomen, chest, shoulders and neck. Stimulates abdominal organs. Opens the shoulders and chest.
Sit with your legs extended straight out in front of you, place your hands behind you and allow your legs to open as far as they will go. From here, bring your hands to the empty space between your legs and begin to walk them out in front of you until you feel like you can't reach further.
Image: Maggie Giuffrida/SheKnows
Once you hit this point, try to lower your head and chest closer to the ground.
Image: Maggie Giuffrida/SheKnows
It's also beneficial to stretch each leg individually while in straddle pose. To do this, bring your left arm overhead and stretch over toward your right foot, trying to grab your toes with your fingers. Hold here for about eight breaths.
Image: Maggie Giuffrida/SheKnows
Next, turn your head and chest so that your body is now facing your right leg and begin to lower your nose to your knee. Again, hold for around eight breaths and then repeat on the other side.
Stretches the spine and insides and backs of legs. Stimulates abdominal organs. Releases groins.
So there you have it, yogis, my secret poses to mastering the splits. Keep stretching those limits (and ligaments), and I promise you'll be splitting in no time! And remember — the more flexible you are, the less life will bend you out of shape. Until next time, namaste.
According to Us Weekly, multiple sources have confirmed that Caila Quinn is the leading lady for the 12th season of The Bachelorette, after she was spotted reportedly filming her The Bachelorette intro package in her hometown of Hudson, Ohio, last Friday.
However, the publication does note that ABC has declined to comment and the Season 12 premiere date is yet to be announced, but if the report is true, I think they've chosen a pretty great leading lady in Quinn. She's already proved that she's looking for love, as she confessed her feelings to Higgins during their date in Jamaica, shortly before he sent her home.
There's certainly a lot of chatter surrounding Quinn and whether or not she will be the latest Bachelorette; some people feel JoJo Fletcher or Becca Tilley would be better choices.
The new Bachelorette poll
The new Bachelorette poll
And would Quinn be up for The Bachelorette after having her heart broken so recently?
It seems she definitely would be.
Quinn previously told E! News that she would definitely consider it. "Because I fell in love before, I could see myself falling in love again... but I definitely need to take a deep breather for myself and kind of take some me time."
Do you think Quinn would make a great Bachelorette? Or is there another woman you think would be better suited? Share your thoughts with us in our poll.
Jenner is getting absolutely torn apart on Twitter, and for more than one reason.
First, there was the announcement that she's going to be the new face of H&M's sportswear collection.
Caitlyn Jenner H&M ad
Caitlyn Jenner H&M ad
"For H&M, it is important to show diversity and a range of personalities in everything we do," a spokesperson for H&M said about the campaign. "We have picked Caitlyn Jenner, one of the world’s most celebrated athletes, as part of this H&M Sports campaign because we want to illustrate that everything is possible — in sports, and in life. It is a collection of performance sportswear made to celebrate individuality and self-belief."
That announcement drew pretty predictable online trolling: transphobia, comments refusing to acknowledge that she's a woman, etc., etc.
And it was very quickly overshadowed by the next Jenner news to break.
Caitlyn Jenner endorsed Donald Trump for president. And she did it because he would be "good for women's issues."
Hold up.
I have done my absolute best to give Jenner the benefit of the doubt. I support her decision to be a woman. I wish for her to be who she truly is. I know that, as a trans woman, she has experiences and views that I can never know or understand.
But this is the last straw. I have to say it: Caitlyn Jenner does not speak for women. As women, we cannot let her continue to speak for women.
Caitlyn Jenner supports Donald Trump 2
Caitlyn Jenner supports Donald Trump 2
Caitlyn Jenner supports Donald Trump
Caitlyn Jenner supports Donald Trump
To say that Donald Trump, with his well-documented and unabashed 30-year history of blatant sexism, will be good for women is completely wrong. There is no way around it.
Donald Trump has publicly called women "fat pigs," "slobs," "dogs" and "disgusting animals." When challenged by a female reporter, he called her a "bimbo" on Twitter. He tweeted that sexual assault in the military is to be expected, because, as he says, "What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together?" He claimed that when women did well on his reality show, The Apprentice, it was "to a very large extent, dependent on their sex appeal." He objectifies the women he dates. He says female journalists are only successful if they're good-looking. He says that women pumping breast milk or using the bathroom is "disgusting." These statements are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Trump's habit of degrading, objectifying and insulting women.
For Jenner to say that a Trump presidency would be good for women is not just her opinion. It is a claim that has no basis in evidence or fact.
But don't skip the shellfish — it adds a lot to the flavor of the dish. Mussels, clams or both are great, along with some squid or shrimp and whitefish if you can get them. You don't need to use a lot, just enough to give the proper flavor to the risotto.
Although risotto has a reputation for being a complicated dish, it's really not. Just remember that a good seafood risotto depends on a little patience, the freshness of your ingredients, the proper rice and the extra-virgin olive oil that you drizzle afterward. Buon appetito!
Image: Rowena Dumlao-Giardina/SheKnows
Seafood risotto recipe
Feel free to substitute the types of seafood depending on what you like and what's available.
1 pound shellfish (like mussels, clams or both), purged
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/2 pound shrimp, squid (sliced into rings) or both
1/2 pound whitefish fillet (like red mullet, bream, cod or similar), diced big
1 cup dry white wine , divided
1/3 cup passata di pomodoro or tomato sauce
1 small onion, coarsely chopped
1-3/4 cups rice for risotto (like carnaroli, Vialone Nano or Arborio )
2 – 3 cups hot fish broth (store-bought or homemade)
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Fresh parsley, coarsely chopped
Directions:
In a medium saucepan with extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat, sauté the shellfish until they open, about 8 minutes. Turn off the heat, and separate the shellfish from the liquid. You can also separate 1/2 of the shellfish from the shells, leaving some for garnish. Pass the liquid through a sieve to get rid of the sediments. Discard them, and save the broth.
In the same saucepan over medium heat, add more olive oil. Sauté the garlic until fragrant. Cook the squid for 3 minutes, then add the shrimp and fish. Cook for another 5 minutes, then add 1/2 the white wine. Let it evaporate. Add the tomato sauce. When it is almost reduced, turn off the heat, and set aside.
To prepare the risotto, in a large pot with olive oil over low-medium heat, sauté the onion. When it turns transparent, about 1 minute, add the rice, and cook for 2 minutes. Turn up the heat to medium, and add the remaining white wine. When it has evaporated, add the broth of the shellfish and 1/2 the hot fish broth, and simmer until it boils. Stir frequently, and gradually continue adding the remaining fish broth if needed.
When the risotto has been cooking for about 15 minutes, add the cooked squid, shrimp, fish and shellfish. Let it cook for another 4 minutes or until the risotto becomes creamy. Adjust the taste by adding salt and pepper. Sprinkle on the parsley. Turn off the heat, and let it rest for a couple of minutes.
Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil before serving.
Fuller House star Stamos recently revealed that he's been dating a mystery someone, and now he's been spotted on an adorable afternoon date with his new leading lady.
The dark-haired woman on Stamos' arm hasn't been identified, but they looked flirty and happy as they met up for lunch at Toast in Hollywood, followed by ice cream cones at Carmela Ice Cream Co. The pair parked it side by side on a bench outside of the shop, enjoying their ice cream and trading bites of each other's flavors, while Stamos' girlfriend's sweet dog curled up at their feet.
John Stamos finally spotted out with new GF 1
John Stamos finally spotted out with new GF 1
They also walked together, Stamos baring his chest in a half-unbuttoned shirt, while his lady smiled and played with it. By the look on her face, those two are definitely smitten.
Stamos, who is on tour with the Beach Boys, casually let it drop on The View last week that he's been seeing this mystery woman.
"The other night, I grabbed my phone because there's this girl I'm dating," he said. "She loves this song 'Disney Girls.' So I grabbed my phone and put it in front of [me] to shoot the whole thing. I thought I got away with it. And people were like, 'Who are you FaceTiming?'"
Just because we don't wear spandex bodysuits under our clothes or have a secret lair in the basement (we wish!) doesn't mean moms aren't superheroes. The everyday tasks moms handle are actually pretty impressive when you consider that we don't have magical powers to help us pull things off. Here are 11 superhero acts moms perform all the time that you've probably never considered before.
You can forget to tell a mom about tomorrow's bake sale until after dinner the night before, and she'll still manage to pull off baking or buying eight dozen cupcakes by the following morning. Beat that, Superman.
Moms don't need a Bat Signal to know when there's trouble afoot. When the house gets just a little too quiet, that's our cue to spring into action and prevent the kids from using that baby powder to make an indoor snowstorm.
Be it doctors' appointments, the family's favorite ice cream flavor or what their child's very first word was, moms can recall an impressive number of details and facts.
Chopped is an entire television show where professional chefs can win money and accolades trying to make delicious meals out of just a few mismatched ingredients. But moms regularly face the challenge of making dinner with a depleted pantry and a kid with a picky palate that could give a television judge a run for their money any night.
Moms have the ability to function surprisingly well on small amounts of rest. Some suspect caffeine may be the source of this power, but we're not sharing our secret!
Construction superintendent Jack Losey, who is dating The Real Housewives of Orange County star Gunvalson, was accused of aggravated assault after an acquaintance claimed he pushed her into a bonfire, and her injuries were gruesome.
Back in 1999, Tammie Jordan accused Losey of pushing her into the fire after she tried to stop him from attacking his now ex-wife Sarah Losey. She suffered terrible first and second-degree burns, which can be seen on Radar Online.
Losey turned himself in to local police, but his lawyer later argued that witness statements given to officers after the incident were false and misleading. Losey also claimed that Jordan was actually the aggressor, and he was simply defending herself when he pushed her away, leading to her falling into the fire.
Losey was also accused in several domestic violence incidents against his ex, but was never charged.
Interestingly, Radar Online says, Losey was on probation for a weapons misconduct charge when this all went down, after threatening to kill himself and firing a shotgun through the ceiling.
Even more interestingly, there is no record of how the case was resolved.
Gunvalson went public with her romance with Losey earlier this year, although the pair has known each other for far longer. Her ex, Brooks Ayers, tried to start drama when she posted some date pics on Instagram of her and Losey, implying she had cheated — a charge she adamantly denies.
Affleck revealed that one of the people closest to Batman has died before the opening scene, and that death makes him question everything he has been fighting for.
"He's bitterly disappointed in the past that he's lost this guy who fought by his side," he told Entertainment Weekly. "That character's death must have been devastating to him, and he's suffered. We get the sense that he's suffered a lot of devastating losses before this movie even starts."
Who is he talking about? Batman's ever-trusty sidekick, Robin.
While we don't yet know how Robin meets his untimely demise, we won't get to see it in the movie — he is already dead when the first frame rolls. However, in Frank Miller's graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns, which director Zack Snyder has said was a major influence on Batman v Superman, Robin is killed by the Joker and Batman takes on a new, female Robin.
Affleck also revealed one surprising character who has a tremendously positive effect on his Batman: Wonder Woman, aka Diana Prince.
"It inspires in him the idea that well, if there's one of these kinds of people out there, then maybe there are in fact more," he said of his fellow superhero. "If there are more, then maybe that's hopeful and also terrifying to him, because then they could make humans even more powerless — or they could serve on our side. You've got to remember that Batman is the world's greatest detective, and if he suspects that there may be more, and if he suspects in particular that Diana may be somebody special, he gets inspired.
"I think it's exciting to him that she's out there and, ultimately, without giving too much away, he realizes that it's not only exciting, but also necessary that he finds more of them if they are, in fact, out there."
See the new, jaded Batman when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters March 25, 2016.
These gorgeous baby names all mean precious, loved or some combination of the two. And we can't think of any better words that describe how you feel about your baby boy.
From a variety of different languages and cultures, these names capture those first feelings of intense love you feel for your child (whether it's the sort of fairy-tale "instant love" that some moms experience at their child's birth, or that which develops over time). The sometimes overwhelming love a parent feels toward her child cannot be bottled up, sold or bartered for — but will likely be something that she always feels, and definitely never forgets.
From beloved traditional names like David to those that have a more exotic flair like Erasmus, try these baby names on for size and see if one makes its way to your baby name list.
Adal: This name with Old German roots means "noble, precious"
Adalgiso: This name is similar to Adal, but has a deeper meaning: "noble, precious promise"
Alain: Meaning "precious," this name also has Old German roots
Alan: A traditional name we're familiar with, this means "precious"
Almanzo: This name is a little more unique and means "precious man"
Alvin: This name means "elf, friend" but may also mean "precious friend"
Amadeus: While this name isn't used often, it means "God's love"
The episode was focused on the usual "hopeless case" dog: Simon, part French bulldog, part terrier, has often been described by those who know him as a terror who hates all dogs. However, it's Simon's strange hatred of pigs that might land Millan in hot water.
According to the Washington Post, during a training session where Millan was trying to recondition Simon to be less aggressive toward pigs, Simon bit a pig on the ear. The episode outraged many viewers because you can plainly see one of Millan's assistants restraining the pig as the obviously violent and out-of-control dog attacks him several times. The whole moment looks like it had been orchestrated for drama. As a result, Animal Welfare received many calls and emails from angry viewers who demanded that Millan be held accountable.
According to NBC, police officials tried contacting Millan and even visited his psychology center in Santa Clarita, California, but he was apparently away on a business trip. As a result, he was given a 24-hour window to report to the police what became of the wounded pig. While many viewers claim that Simon had bitten off part of the pig's ear, representatives from National Geographic swear this was not the case. Here's what they said in a statement on the issue:
"It is important to clarify that Cesar took precautions, such as putting Simon on a long lead to assess his behavior, before making initial corrections and removing the leash. The pig that was nipped by Simon was tended to immediately afterward, healed quickly and showed no lasting signs of distress."
However, despite this clarification, animal activists have taken to bashing Millan on social media. Many believe Millan has implemented unsafe training methods on his show for some time and are using this instance as a reason to have the show taken off the air.
And the backlash is not dying down. So far, over 10,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for Millan to be banned from television entirely. And all that for a little high-intensity moment on your show, Mr. Millan? For shame.
What seems to have people most riled up is that Simon is a known pig abuser (apparently he's killed before), so they can't understand why Millan would let him off leash so early in the training process. While it was likely not Millan's intention to have the encounter result in an injured pig, viewers think his overconfidence has made him a reckless trainer.
I agree that the incident doesn't make Millan look like the capable, trustworthy trainer he has proved to be in the past, but I think jumping to animal abuse is a tad hasty. He will likely walk away from this inquiry relatively unscathed, but hopefully the viewer response will scare him into treating animals with a little more caution and respect.
In an emotional new interview with Inside Edition, Hulk Hogan's former wife spoke again about her marriage, which ended in 2007.
"I want the world to know how I feel about him," Linda said. "I gave that man everything. I gave him everything that I had."
She continued, "My kids to this day are still reeling, and they can't get their feet back on planet earth. I can't get my life back on track either. I don't know, what am I supposed to do? Start over now that I'm 57? I don't know where I fit in in this world any more."
The couple's divorce came amid allegations that Hulk abused and cheated on Linda. Her allegations were at least partly confirmed when, in 2012, a sex tape was released showing Hulk having sex with his best friend's wife.
"I was honest, I was a good wife," Linda said during her interview. "I never cheated on him."
Linda Hogan opens up about her divorce
Linda Hogan opens up about her divorce
She also took time during the show to tearfully read an emotional letter she had written to her ex-husband.
"You have single-handedly ruined our 25-year marriage and our family," she wrote. "My trust, my love, my future, our future family with grandchildren, holidays, weddings, our kids' lives, homes, their ability to trust, our poor animals, friends, neighbors, your career, finances, trademarks, retirement, your legacy, your reputation, your health... even your soul... You lost it all."
She continued, "You took me for granted and never appreciated me or our beautiful family... blaming me for your horrendous mistakes. And yet you continue in life this very way, still... Hiding behind those sunglasses, false smile, oh... and the bandanna! Until you can really apologize, to me... and to our children... I will never ever forgive you."
The two drugs, Tykerb (known as Tyverb in Canada) and Herceptin, are already on the market and have been used to treat cancer independently of each other in the past. However, new research conducted in England shows that their powers combined may have incredible, cancer-shrinking abilities. Here's what you need to know about this possible game-changing drug therapy.
1. Scientists have never seen results like this before
The study, which was carried out by the University of Manchester and the Institute of Cancer Research in London, was originally just looking to shrink tumors somewhat before surgery. However, 11 days after the drug combination was administered to breast cancer patients, surgeons found that a number of the tumors had either shrunk significantly or vanished entirely.
"For solid tumours to disappear in 11 days is unheard of. These are mind-boggling results," study leader Professor Nigel Bundred told Daily Mail.
2. The women who received the treatment had a specific kind of breast cancer
HER2-positive (human epidermal growth factor), to be precise. It's a more aggressive cancerous gene that occurs in 1 in 5 breast cancer cases. Even though it's more deadly, HER2-positive breast cancer patients usually respond well to this type of drug treatment.
3. Herceptin alone was dubbed a "wonder drug" when it came out 10 years ago
Herceptin was the first gene-targeted breast cancer drug, and when it appeared a decade ago, it changed the lives of women with HER2-positive breast cancer. Usually given after tumor removal surgery and/or with chemotherapy, it's been proven to boost the five-year survival rate from 66 percent to 95 percent.
4. This new drug combination may make chemotherapy for this type of cancer no longer necessary
If given within the first few days of an HER2 breast cancer diagnosis, the combination of Herceptin and Tyverb may do just as well at shrinking tumors as months of chemotherapy would. It all comes down to how the drugs work together to combat the cancer cells from all sides.
5. Here's how the drugs give the one-two punch
One drug goes to work on the outside of the cancer cells, while the other penetrates the interior of the cells, thereby effectively weakening them. Doctors believe the dual attack on cancer cells is akin to fighting off one strong bully with two smarter, quicker friends. They essentially unarm the cells, blocking their ability to keep growing.
Herceptin is given in drip form, while Tyverb can be taken in a pill.
7. There is still more research that needs to be done
While the results are pretty astounding, the study was relatively small — only 257 women with the disease were involved, and out of them, only 66 took the combination treatment. To be sure this treatment is as effective as the scientists believe it to be, more trials and tests will have to be run. However, they remain cautiously optimistic that this early study could be a breast cancer treatment game changer.
Last Friday's episode ended with Nick and Monroe uncovering what appeared to be a church's foundation in the forest. Even though the episode left fans on a cliffhanger and with Nick and Monroe falling into an opening, it all worked out in the end.
The two fell into the catacombs of a church and using their National Treasure minds (Nicolas Cage would be proud), they finally found the hidden treasure. Unfortunately, they couldn't get it open without Monroe's lock picking set, so they decided to just go back to Portland and open it there.
Obviously, their journey back home wasn't without adventure. Remember the priest and the group of Wesen hunting down Nick and Monroe? To make a long story short, Nick and Monroe managed to escape them, but not without one of the Wesen biting Monroe first. More on that bite (yeah, it's worse than it sounds) in a bit.
After finally arriving in Portland, Nick, Monroe, Rosalee, Wu and Hank gathered in the basement of the spice shop and finally cracked open the box. So, what was in it? A stick. That's right, a stick, which is what nobody expected. Before anyone could try to figure the true meaning behind this stick, Monroe fell very ill because of his bite, which Rosalee thought to be blood poisoning.
While helping Monroe, Nick had the stick in his hand, which touched his friend. Before anyone knew it, Monroe was healed and totally fine. Boom. End of episode. That's what a 100th episode should be. With that, let's talk about this stick and what it means.
1. Its healing abilities are beyond powerful
Most obviously, it's a healing stick. I mean, how else do you explain Monroe's wounds going away on the spot? That said, can it heal anyone and anything? Does it have a healing expiration date? There are so many questions, but there's no doubt this is the most magical and powerful thing anyone has seen yet on Grimm.
2. It might cause an even bigger war
A Wesen uprising is already in full effect, but can you imagine if anyone else finds out about a healing stick? A lot of blood could be spilled for its powers. There's a clear reason the seven knights hid it for nobody to find.
Is Grimm entering the world of Hogwarts? Whatever the case, that stick sure looks like a magic wand. Maybe it can do more than just heal. If you notice the GIF above, it looks like Wu has been onto something for a while now.
4. It might be Adalind's saving grace
Adalind's Hexenbiest side is coming back, and she is not happy about it. Can you really blame her? Anyways, since the suppressant is wearing off, Adalind will soon turn back into the thing she hates most, but maybe, just maybe, this stick is her answer? If it can heal wounds, maybe it can cure her as a Hexenbiest once and for all. It's Grimm, anything can happen.
5. It may even get rid of someone's Wesen side
In keeping with what's mentioned above, maybe the stick can take away someone's Wesen abilities? Who knows? I'll be curious to see how Monroe acts now that he's been healed, especially if he's still the same Blutbad fans know and love. Basically, this stick is pure mystery, and I need to know more about it, stat.
High up atop Mont Blanc in France, the teams had to scale the 11,000-foot mountain to get to their challenges, and both the contestants and the Internet freaked out about it.
One half of the Dancers team, Dana Borriello, had a full blown panic attack while trying to climb atop the mountain to deliver some lunch (and explosives!), which is ironic because her boyfriend, Matt Steffanina, revealed later in the show that he was a professional snowboarder before he was a dancer.
Many of the teams began to sweat, despite the apparently freezing temperatures on the gondola ride up to the challenge, including social media faves Tyler and Korey, Zach King, and mother-son team Sheri and Cole LaBrant.
Fans of the show were quite literally biting their nails and gripping the edges of their seats, and of course tweeting the crap out of their anxiety over what was unfolding on their television screens.
In addition to being terrified from the heights that the contestants were having to climb, people were losing their minds over the fact that they were having to deliver dynamite to be used for a controlled explosion on the side of the mountain.
This episode really ramped-up everyone's heartbeats. Once the challenge was complete, the contestants had to paraglide back off the mountain to complete a detour.
Ultimately, Erin White Robinson and Joslyn Davis were the last to get off the mountain and back to host Phil Keoghen, and were sadly sent home. This episode was telling in that it showed many more people than you'd think are really, really afraid of heights, and that The Amazing Race has some amazing camera people and a heck of a lot of insurance.
