Welp! It's finally happened. Buzzfeed produced a video so epically awful that, although it went viral, it also spawned the hatred of collective black voices across the interwebs. As Damon from Very Smart Brothas put it,"It’s like they rounded up the best and brightest of the snowflake millennial Blacks — the ones who believe they’re shunned by other Black people for “talking White” and that they’re the only Black people on Earth who happen to like anime and Sara Bareilles — filled them with peanuts and Ciroc, turned the camera on, and said “Go!"
If you're still scratching your head wondering what was so awful about it, my husband summed it up with a more appropriate title: "27 Ignorant Questions Non-Black People Have For Black People But Are Not Comfortable Asking."
The entire video is nearly three minutes of black people recounting trope stereotypes about other black people. Which is to say, it is incredibly ignorant and actually offensive on so many levels. I felt personally attacked, violated even. The video seemed to perpetuate an "us vs. them" mentality, except in this case the "them" is "us."
A few of the most appalling gems:
“Do you really believe that black is beautiful or is that just something you say because it sounds good?”
“Why is being educated considered a white thing?”
"Why is it so hard to be on time?"
"Why is growing up without a father so common in our race."
It made me wonder — what other black people do they know? Who is doing all of these things? Do they really believe this to be true? I mean, they can't, can they?
I wasn't the only one completely put off by the video. Twitter essentially blew up.
BF video tweet 1
BF video tweet 1
BF video tweet 2
BF video tweet 2
BF video tweet 3
BF video tweet 3
BF video tweet 4
BF video tweet 4
While I can understand the sentiment behind the video — we are not a monolith, we are all different, we are all unique — it fell flat. This question asked in the video sums it up perfectly: "Why can't we just acknowledge that there are a bunch of different types of black people walking around and they are all amazing and unique and special in their own way?" But I was already so offended, so hurt, that I had to watch the video twice to let that sink in.
This was a fail on Buzzfeed's part, plain and simple, and I hope that their audience doesn't use this as an excuse to continue to perpetuate black stereotypes with a "see even they think that way" mentality.
Simple syrup, as the name implies, is simple to make at home. Infusing it with flavor adds an extra layer of depth to your cocktails (or even soda or coffee).
Simple syrup is important for two reasons. First, the key to a really amazing cocktail is balance. Cocktails are often packed with the burn of booze, bright citrus and sometimes even bitter or earthy flavors. Getting a little sweetness in the mix keeps your cocktails from being too pucker-inducing.
Second, standard sweeteners like granulated sugar and honey don't dissolve that quickly in cold liquids, and alcohol inhibits the ability of sugar crystals to dissolve. A simple syrup just pre-dissolves the sugar. Doing it yourself means the flavor combinations are endless.
The happiness of Amy Duggar's newlywed period is being marred by a huge debt, and now it's going to court.
Duggar's husband Dillon King is being sued by the Bentonville Northwest Medical Center for $51,940.53 after failing to pay for his hospital treatment for over a year.
"The Plaintiff demanded of Defendants that said items be paid for in full on numerous occasions including: at or immediately following the time of providing the various items; within the 30 day period following the providing of said items; on or about June 26, 2015; and on numerous other occasions since said items were provided," the medical center's attorneys wrote in documents submitted to Arkansas' Benton County Circuit Court.
While the court redacted what specific procedures King received due to privacy laws, Duggar's own Instagram revealed he was in a car accident the same week the medical center cites in the case: January 22-25, 2015.
"Well God spared his life!!" Duggar wrote. "He has a broken femur, he has an 18 inch rod in his leg! He had a head on collision yesterday, someone drove directly into his lane and hit him at 45mph... pray for a fast recovery! He is so loved by so many."
The hospital is trying to collect the charges from the original bill, plus $7,791.07 in attorneys' fees, $2,134.54 in interest, and 6 percent interest from March 2, 2016 until the judgment date.
Despite the fact that she is of prime childbearing age and in a committed relationship, actress Olivia Munn said she froze her eggs as an insurance policy against infertility later in life.
Munn is 35 years old, and despite common thinking, women of that age are still very likely to conceive without resorting to medical intervention. However, she says she decided to freeze her eggs just in case it didn't happen early enough in her life.
"I did, years ago, I froze a bunch of eggs," she revealed on pal Anna Faris' podcast, explaining that her friend's experience scared her into making the decision.
"A girlfriend of mine — we're the same age — she'd gone to the doctor and had a test and she had the egg count of a 50-year-old. For me, this is the count you'll have until your 30s even 40s, you'll always have a lot," she explained.
She was so happy with her decision, she said, that she encouraged her friends to follow the same path.
"I actually started telling my friends about it," she explained. "It's no longer on the experimental list and I think that every girl should do it."
Munn has been dating Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers since May 2014. No word on if they plan to wed or use her frozen eggs to make any babies of their own anytime soon.
If not, that's cool — Faris certainly didn't sound encouraging about the joys of childbirth during their chat.
"You finally understand what a 'pelvic floor' is," Faris said. "It's the muscles that surround your vagina. They throb for like two weeks… we should've been given more holes in general."
Not exactly a glowing recommendation for baby-making. Munn might want to hold onto those eggs a while longer.
When you take your kid's phone away or tell your child they can't have that extra cookie, it probably leads to crying, screaming and outrageous behavior. That's exactly what went down on Survivor when the game's biggest bullies found themselves on the bad end of a blindside when their buddy, Nick, was extinguished at the previous Tribal Council.
Instead of taking it like grown men, the dastardly duo concocted a revenge plot to steal the tribe's hatchet and machete while refusing to provide any additional food. Jason called it psychological warfare. "You cut off all their ties, mess with their mind, keep them weak, look for the cracks, look for the weaknesses, read between the lines and try and strike. I love psychological warfare."
They woke up early the next morning and executed their sabotage before the sun had risen. When the rest of the group wiped sleep from their eyes, they suddenly realized their tools were missing. It didn't take long for them to deduce that somebody had taken them. But instead of letting it break them down, they found creative ways to work around camp with what they had left. Cydney used a saw to hack open a roasted coconut, which only infuriated Scot more because he felt like his victims were bragging about how to solve the sabotage.
Image: CBS
So he did what all walking turds would do. He rose to his feet and angrily doused the tribe's fire with a large container of water. Jerk. He then told Joe that since he is the fire master to go ahead and rebuild it.
Twitter erupted with more anger directed at Scot and Jason.
Survivor viewer hopes Scot is ashamed
Survivor viewer hopes Scot is ashamed
Survivor viewer on game bullies
Survivor viewer on game bullies
Survivor viewer angry with Scot Pollard
Survivor viewer angry with Scot Pollard
Survivor viewer on game's jerks
Survivor viewer on game's jerks
Survivor viewer tweets about bullies
Survivor viewer tweets about bullies
The saddest part of all this? Tai, who has won America's hearts, has disappointingly landed on the dark side as an ally with Scot and Jason. Later in the episode, he played mini Scot and secretly woke from his sleep to put the fire out again while everybody was asleep.
Sure, everybody gets upset about being on the losing side, but acting foolishly vengeful is something that will never lead to a Survivor winner. Three-time castaway Russell Hantz is living proof that poor social strategy can get you to the final Tribal Council, but it doesn't pay off. The game is about doing everything to win, not alienating yourself and being content with second or third place.
Things took a stranger twist at the Reward challenge when Jeff Probst asked for the castaways to divide themselves into two separate teams for the competition. Julia volunteered to join Scot, Jason and Tai, which did nothing more than put an enormous target on her back.
After the bad boy trio won the challenge with Julia, the foursome shared copious amounts of takeout Chinese food. As Julia vowed her allegiance to them, Aubry was plotting to get her out of the game ASAP.
While Debbie wanted to vote Scot and Jason out, Aubry tried to convince her the more logical move would be to target Julia. She felt it was a smarter move to flush any potential hidden Immunity Idols out. But that scheme was cut way short when Julia won Immunity.
Image: CBS
A new plan
Back at camp, Debbie made the bonehead move of openly discussing with Julia her alliance's plan of splitting the votes between Scot and Tai. Not surprisingly, Julia ran off like a gossipy kid at the playground and told Scot everything.
It was a moment that suddenly turned the tides against Debbie. Aubry felt that her over-the-top conversations were going to get in their way and made a push to blindside her. Cydney was on board. So was Michele. Joe, not so much. He felt like taking her out would hurt their numbers. In an ironic twist, Cydney and Michele had to ask Julia to vote with them against Debbie. Wow.
As Tribal Council unfolded, Jason and Scot continued oozing their arrogance by telling everybody Tai has a hidden Idol. Without hestitation, Tai proudly pulled it out of his pocket and showed it off like the kid who got the hottest, new toy. It got more intense when Jason taunted everybody by revealing his hidden Idol, which sent Tribal Council into a whir of whispers as the group quietly evaluated what their plan was now.
Moments before the votes were read, Jason and Scot played rock, paper, scissors to see which of them would play the Idol. It was all another mind game for them as they handed off the Idol to Tai, who played neither Idol despite threats that both would be put into action.
As the votes were read, two fell against Scot, three against Cydney and the majority against Debbie. She was blindsided by her own allies. Ouch.
Image: CBS
Final thoughts
Let's make one thing perfectly clear: Aubry is playing this game to win. Much like we saw with Jeremy Collins last season, she is also the only castaway getting a winner's edit. Her confessionals are among the only ones discussing smart end-game strategies. She's also getting loads of airtime, most of which puts her in a positive light. I'm putting my money on her.
Image: CBS
Next, as much as it's easy to hate them, it would be absolutely brilliant to bring Scot and Jason to the end of the game. There's no fathomable way the jury will reward their childish behavior with a $1 million vote. The trouble is it seems everybody knows this, which is why we may have to suffer with their slimy attitudes until finale night on May 18.
Finally, with Tai holding both Idols, he technically has what is dubbed the "Super Idol." This means both halves can be combined into one powerful safety net in which it can be used to save somebody from elimination after the votes have been read.
What did you think of the episode? Are you tired of Scot and Jason? Are you disappointed Tai is on their side? What did you think of Debbie's blindside? Who do you predict will win the entire season? Join the conversation by leaving a comment now.
Disney’s Debby Ryan was arrested for a DUI on Tuesday in Los Angeles. The star was initially charged with a felony DUI when she was pulled over, but it was dropped down to a misdemeanor. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Ryan was trying to make a left turn when she crashed into an oncoming car. When the police arrived, her blood alcohol level was a .11 — just slightly over the legal limit of .08.
Ryan was released on bail and after spending some time thinking about what happened to her, she took to Twitter to talk about the entire incident. She wrote, "Over the last few days I have had the chance to think about my actions, and I wish I had used better judgement (sic). I recognize that I am a role model and have always worked hard to set a good example for my millions of fans. I am so sorry to disappoint everyone.”
DUIs are no joke and she definitely needs to take it seriously in her own life. But I wonder if she needs to apologize to her fans. At what point do we allow our favorite celebrities to live their lives and not force them to deal with personal and public shame?
I am glad that she offered the apology anyway, though. More than apologizing for her actions, it teaches her young fans the importance of accountability and apologizing when you mess up. Before the times of social media, celebrities could get in trouble and rarely were forced to talk about it. Britney Spears still hasn’t acknowledged most of 2007. If celebrities did acknowledge anything, it was in a general statement from their publicist — something their fans couldn’t relate to or learn from.
Now, on social media, kids get a real-time example of how adults handle real repercussions from mistakes they make. And I think Ryan did a great job at giving an example. She didn’t offer excuses, she expressed regret and she apologized. She doesn’t need to do more or less.
The list of people speaking out about Rob Kardashian’s engagement is getting longer and longer. Khloé Kardashian’s BFF Malika Haqq talked to E! News earlier this week about Rob’s engagement and commented on how happy he is.
"I actually haven't spoken to Rob. I saw him a couple of months ago. I get all the reports from his sister and his mommy," Haqq shared. "I know he's happy. He's a lover. We're Pisces, that's just what we do. Being happy changes everybody."
Seeing Rob happy certainly hasn’t changed his sisters' or his mom’s minds. None of them have released any kind of statement congratulating their brother on his newfound love. And it’s starting to get awkward.
This is what they do, though. When Caitlyn announced her transition, the Kardashians were the last family members to comment or give their support. It’s almost as if they have to formulate exactly what they’re going to say before any of them say anything.
I understand that they have a brand to protect. And it is entirely possible that they have given their support in private. But this is their brother they’re ignoring. And it’s not like this is the type of family who cherishes their privacy.
Families are complicated and who knows what’s really going on? But if the Kardashians want my advice, I’d say just announce you’re happy for Rob. It doesn’t have to be sincere, it doesn’t even have to be true. But not saying anything just makes them look like they’re pouting or trying to teach a grown man a lesson by withholding their congratulations.
Now that Malika has come out to publicly congratulate Rob, maybe Khloé will be next. If any one of them is going to break the silence first, it will be her (even if it should be his mom, Kris).
What do you think? Do the Kardashians need to say anything about Rob’s love life?
MAC is introducing a Selena-inspired makeup collection that will launch this fall, her sister Suzette Quintanilla announced on Twitter. Though details are scarce, the collection — curated by Suzette — features the singer's signature colors, including "Como La Flor," an exact match of the red lipstick she was known for. The packaging will be royal purple emblazoned with the singer's signature.
Selena MAC collection
Selena MAC collection
"I wanted the colors to be about her personally, what she wore on and off stage," Suzette said in a statement, according to People.
The collection has been rumored for years, but never materialized until now. "It just shows the love her fan base has even though she’s gone; that her music still lives on and her legacy has grown tremendously since she’s passed," Suzette continued. "It’s a great honor to have MAC collaborate with Selena’s name and her fans — for her fans."
Selena was a fashion and beauty mogul in the making, with several successful boutiques open when she was killed in 1995. The MAC collection continues her dream, Suzette said.
"Helping to create this collection brings me back to all those late-night conversations on our tour bus when she spoke of having her own makeup line one day," Suzette says. "If Selena were here she would be beyond ecstatic to have this happening. History is being made."
This week's episode of Empire was nothing if not full of family drama, which speaks to the heart of the show — this is a family still trying to stitch itself back together following the matriarch's 17-year absence and, well, a whole lotta other stuff since she returned.
It's been very clear from the onset that Lucious Lyon is a troubled man. Brilliant? Yes. Smart? Undoubtedly. Calculating? Always. But troubled too, and this week's episode did a good job of pulling back the curtain so we could start to see the real Lucious Lyon.
Which, for the record, isn't even his real name.
Here's where the plot thickens with regard to the head of the Lyon family. As we had gleaned prior to this point from brief flashbacks, Lucious' mother was bipolar. What we essentially learned tonight was that after a manic episode in which she almost drowned him in the tub, she shot herself right in front of Lucious.
It would have been impossible for such a traumatic event not to change a child, so some of Lucious' particularly rough edges make a bit more sense.
However, Lucious' past doesn't justify his behavior in the present. What happened in his childhood was tragic and devastating and breaks the heart to think about, but Lucious is now a grown-ass man with the capacity not to inflict pain in the lives of his own children.
This may be an unpopular opinion but, if we're really being honest, I'm kind of over Lucious Lyon.
As a persona, he's interesting; don't get me wrong. He's fun to watch, and Terrence Howard — who is kind of abrasive and eccentric IRL — plays the role right up to the edge of sanity. It's a fascinating character study.
And if I look back on the first season, I think there were more times than not I actually rooted for Cookie and Lucious to get back together. Something about the way his ruthless nature belied such fiercely loyal and sometimes tender moments was oddly endearing.
If I really think about it, though, I think the thing I've always liked the most about Lucious is Cookie. Viewing the character through her empathetic eyes (their history keeps her tethered to him in many ways) has made me give him the benefit of the doubt thus far.
Let's face it, though: The man has done some seriously shady things and, above that even, said some deeply hurtful and damaging things to his own children.
We winced watching flashbacks of his appalling ignorance in his early interactions with Jamal. Only recently, Lucious used Jamal's sexuality as a pawn in a bid to beat out his son for an ASA Award.
We saw him steal an artist right from beneath Hakeem's nose and, just last week, convince Hakeem's ex-lover/boss to commit suicide — and then suggest to Hakeem it was his fault.
He's lied, he's killed, he's offended, and he's done it all repeatedly. But it was a fight Lucious had with Andre on this week's episode that finally pushed me past my threshold for the Lyon patriarch's deplorable behavior.
After Cookie played the rough cut of Lucious' new autobiographical music video, Andre realizes his grandmother had bipolar disorder as well. Naturally, he confronts Lucious about it. As you'll recall, Lucious has never shown Andre any true respect. He has either largely ignored Andre's bipolar disorder or he has made Andre feel "crazy."
During the heated exchange, Lucious says the kind of things you just can't take back, particularly, "The truth is my mom was a nutjob. I was embarrassed by her, same way I'm embarrassed by you."
Image: Chuck Hodes/Fox
Aaaaand I was out.
I'm sure the argument will be made that this type of behavior isn't out of character for Lucious — that he is a flawed and very complicated man who has no clue how to love anyone, including himself. Still, I'm just kind of over it. All of the other characters have experienced impressive growth between the first season and now... with the exception of Lucious.
He's still the same selfish ol' asshole he was when we first met him.
If there was any doubt about this fact, it looks as though next week's episode will at least in part corroborate it when Lucious tries to sabotage a public appearance by Hakeem. He's becoming so unlikable that I half-wish he'd go back to jail and get eaten by the ghost of Frank Gathers.
I'm a huge fan of Empire's writers, so I want to have utter faith they'll somehow imbue his character with any semblance of a redemptive quality or moment, but I'm honestly not confident Lucious Lyon can ever be likable.
What do you think? Is Lucious destined to be the anti-hero of Empire forever?
The Mindy Project asks us to be Mindy allies. She has the funniest lines and the best outfits, and there is always an amazing soundtrack playing when she performs surgeries. As a well-conditioned viewer, I have found myself loving her banter and her sartorial choices and wanting to put a statue of her on a pedestal, taking it off only to polish it and to show it off to my friends. As I deify her, I want her to be a flawless feminist, one who never makes mistakes and who never humors the men who hurt her. I secretly want to see myself in her as reassurance that I, too, am the kind of mystical, confident woman who speaks her mind, never doubts herself and who can just shake it off.
But the fourth season showed us a Mindy who was vulnerable, reserved and at times irresponsible and discontent. When her fiancé, Danny, demanded she quit her job to take care of their son, she considered it even though she did not want to. When he initiated anal sex without asking her, she was mad but not that mad. As she, time and time again, made sacrifices that he didn’t even recognize; she was forgiving and loving rather than angry. Even after she moves out in this week’s episode, we see Mindy shirking work responsibilities to spend time with Danny.
I find myself irrationally frustrated with this Mindy as I realize that I disagree with some of her choices, but also viscerally relate to them. The secondhand frustration I feel should be channeled entirely toward Danny, who is actively oppressing Mindy, but when I am used to projecting my aspirations onto my female role models, when I see her as an extension of myself, any kind of misfortune also feels like a personal mistake. As I realize that I am much closer to this complicated character than I am to one who is always assertive and satisfied, I am reminded that I cannot pretend to have transcended sexism; that I need feminism not just because I desire a platform from which to flaunt my empowerment, but also because it allows me to understand the ways in which I continue to be oppressed.
When I think of the unfair expectations I have had of Mindy, I am reminded of a professor who once told me she saw a lot of herself in me. When it later came up that I had, on multiple occasions, turned down job opportunities to be with my boyfriends at the time, she responded, “Oh. I would never do that.” It seemed our similarities only extended as far as my "good" behavior — good, in this instance, defined as my ability to be independent, impenetrable and unattached without any consideration of why I might feel compelled or forced to make sacrifices for certain relationships.
Similarly, I have realized while watching The Mindy Project that I expect female heroes to be role models first and human second, and that the standard is impossibly high and narrow and is, in fact, insulting to the complex desires and external factors motivating these characters. It is especially unfair to hold all women to the same standard without any attempt at intersectionality. For example, while Mindy’s position as an Indian-American woman is not the focus of the newest episode, how could it not affect her relationship with Danny, her professional life and her relationship with her son? How is it unfair to hold her to a standard that is much easier to achieve as a white woman?
A penchant for a narrow definition of “valuable women” is not surprising given the kind of womanhood that is validated in pop culture. I do not mean to dismiss women who celebrate their strength: It is significant that celebrities are decorating their concert backdrops and their talk-show advertisements and their book covers with the word "feminist," showing us, “Here is my power.”
Image: GiphyCertainly, when very privileged women who rarely acknowledge their positions or make attempts to foster inclusive spaces become the voices that gain traction, pop culture feminism feels commercially motivated, opportunistic and shallow. But nonetheless, there is a significance in representation. It is possible to pull inspiration from problematic faves and to form meaningful friendships conversing over Kimoji updates.
It is pivotal, though, that this media diet of sugary, addictive “I am always empowered” rhetoric be supplemented with less immediately palatable conversation about continuing struggles. While it should be noted that Mindy is still incredibly privileged, conventionally strong and successful, her vulnerability provides an important reminder that yes, empowered women are inspirational, but we must not censor ourselves when we are frustrated, conflicted about our interests or unable to leave people and situations that hurt us. The frustration I felt throughout the fourth season was Mindy showing me, “Here is why we still need to fight for gender equality,” a statement that complements rather than denies women saying, “Here is my power.”
We rarely see our female heroes when they are fumbling, held back by the people they love and unable to succeed because strangers don’t want them breastfeeding, their partners dismiss their sexual agency and their co-workers doubt their intelligence.
And we are not shown the emotional labor required to appear strong. Yes, Mindy ultimately chooses her career over a man. Yes, she stands up for her desires and her talents. Yes, she is a feminist. But in the newest episode of The Mindy Project, we are reminded that these choices necessitate losing someone she loves and interacting with co-workers who are condescending. And in earlier episodes, we were shown why a woman who believes in gender equality might not be in the position to advocate for her own just treatment.
Ultimately, The Mindy Project has asked me to root for Mindy, and then to question the kind of hero I expect her to be. It has shown me a woman whose self-advocacy hurts, whose regrets are numerous and who does not always know what she wants. And yet, in showing us her vulnerabilities, the show does not make Mindy an outlier. She is still Beyoncé pad Thai; she is her own role model. She is a self-identified hot, smart woman with an ass that doesn’t quit. If someone took notes on all my sleepover conversations and spun them into a character, it would be Mindy. The importance of Mindy’s character is that she will not be excluded from girl power even as she complicates it.
Whether you are new to the gluten-free lifestyle or an old hat, there is no reason to curtail your travel dreams because of your diet restrictions. As an "expat expert," and a long-term traveler, I have traveled gluten-free and dairy-free throughout Europe, Asia and North America with my family for almost 11 years! Here are my top 5 tips for globetrotting gluten-free.
If possible, I always contact our hotels ahead of time to see what they are able to offer for gluten-free items like bread, pasta and cereals. Whatever the hotel may or may not be able to provide, I know ahead of time. Then, I can either bring supplies or decide to expand my palate with local options already on offer. For example, when we traveled to Sri Lanka, very few hotels offered gluten-free bread. However, Sri Lankan food is naturally gluten- and dairy-free, so it became an opportunity to dive into the traditional spicy cuisine!
2. Request a special meal on your plane
Airplanes are an easy place to request a special meal. There are two options I prefer: the Gluten-Free Meal (GFML) or the Raw Vegan Meal (RVML). The GFML is good for gluten-intolerant individuals, so if you are celiac, do not count on this meal. The RVML generally contains all fresh vegetables and fruits. I have yet to encounter any grains besides the bread roll with this meal, but it's a good example of always having a backup just in case! For those times when they get your meal wrong for whatever reason, there are good ways to navigate around meal disasters. Don't be afraid to ask the flight attendants for other options: Do some of the trays have extra fruit? Can you get some of the nut mix from business or first class? Do they have any ideas to help you get by? If you have forgotten to order a meal in the first place, I find flight attendants very kind, especially on long-haul flights.
A few websites offer these cards for free or purchase and can be downloaded. If you don't have any options in the language you need, contact a travel agent. Depending on the area, you may need translations into local dialects. China is the perfect example for this. There are about ten main dialects used throughout China, and some subtleties occur within the written language as well.
It's an even better idea to say on the card or piece of paper what you can eat. For example, writing down that meat, rice, vegetables and fresh fruit are OK is helpful to restaurants, hotels and cafés. Depending on the area, you may want to add specific types of cooking oil, as well. Celiac Travel has free allergy cards in multiple languages. I print these off and take a screenshot on my phone in case I lose the paper. Often, wait staff want to take the paper back to the chef, so it's always helpful to have a paper copy.
4. Pack your own snacks
Fresh foods are hard to keep viable, but we have a number of shelf-stable options ready for travel on the go. Here is a small list available at many stores or online at iHerb, Nuts.com or Amazon.
Are you going somewhere remote? Employ a travel agent who can do translation for you when you are out and about. Many agencies, for a small fee, will happily be on call to assist you. Plus, they can help you plan safe places to stay, talk to restaurants before your arrival and make travel plans that keep everyone happily fed.
6. Stay flexible
Flexibility is the key to living happily with dietary restrictions. We never expect restaurants to make us regular dishes completely gluten-free, but instead we opt to work with what is there. Most restaurants can furnish meat, plain vegetables, fresh fruit and rice all over the world. If we know there will be too much contamination or no options at the restaurant (such as dim sum), but we are going to meet friends, then we make sure to eat a little bit before and bring snacks for the children during the meal. Even at dim sum, restaurants are able to make steam vegetables and steamed rice. In this case, bringing portable tamari packets can add a bit of flavor as well.
Have more questions about traveling gluten-free? Send me an email!
Laura Paul is most widely known as Hong Kong’s Gluten-Free Guru and champion for natural health and wellness. She enjoys creating, curating and sharing natural health and wellness news throughout the community to improve the lives of individuals and families. She is the founder of Healthy Living Asia and the by-invitation-only Facebook forum "Healthy Living in HK." When she isn't thinking, reading or writing about natural health, you can find her running parent support groups for highly-able children as a Certified Facilitator of SENG parent groups, working on commission oil paintings and traveling around the world with her family. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
She's a chemist, model, juggler — you name it, Debbie Wanner seems to have done it. Her often hysterical rotating job descriptions throughout Debbie's time on Survivor have seared her kooky character into viewers' brains as one of this season's more memorable castaways. Sadly, her extremely entertaining personality was snuffed out of the competition in a painfully beautiful blindside concocted by her own allies. When we talked with Debbie about her ouster, she discussed the moment she realized the game had turned against her and revealed the behind-the-scenes situation that made Aubry Bracco such a big target. She also slammed Scot Pollard and Kyle Jason's unforgivable behavior and offered details about why both men are much worse than the TV has been able to show. All that and so much more. Enjoy!
SheKnows: What was going through your mind when you started seeing the votes against you at Tribal Council?
Debbie Wanner: I'm going home. I knew it.
SK: What made you realize that?
DW: Prior to Julia [Sokolowski] winning Immunity, I said to Aubry, "Well, what if she wins Immunity?" Nobody else's name came up, so that was red flag No. 1. Two, we get back and Julia has Immunity. Now what? What are we gonna do? Here's my plan, we split it [the votes] to see who coughs up an Idol and see what kind of balls these guys really have because I think they're neutered. Nobody came up with an alternative. They all went off into little groups of two. I walked up to Joe and he said, "Aubry wants you." I mean, I knew.
Image: CBS
SK: A lot of viewers have been very disgusted with the behaviors exhibited by Scot and Jason. Is the negative feedback they're getting slammed with on social media deserved?
DW: If fans could've seen their real behavior, it would be an exponential disappointment with their poor sportsmanship. Have you noticed that Scot is wearing Nick [Maiorano]'s shorts? That might be because somebody who doesn't believe in appeasing tyrants and bullies stole Jason and Scot's shorts.
Image: CBS
SK: And let me guess. That was you?
DW: [Laughs.] That would be right. They're under a log. I thought they'd show it, I actually did. I'm surprised nobody said to me, "What's up with Scot wearing Nick's dirty, nasty shorts?" Yeah, the girls just wanted to appease the guys. I'm thinking of Neville Chamberlain appeasing Adolf Hitler in World War II. "Oh yeah, you can have Czechoslovakia. Why don't we just give you all of Eastern Europe, Mr. Hitler, and then you'll play nice." Screw that shit. You're gonna take all our means of eating and destroy our food supply [they destroyed some giant clams], and I'm just gonna sit back, take it up my butt with no KY and be happy about it? So, I stole their shorts.
SK: Did your act of thievery spark a witch-hunt to find who was responsible?
DW: They asked, but I think that I was so stealth in swiping their shorts that only Joe [Del Campo] knew it was me until afterward, and I told the girls. When people treat you like this — and I realize it's Survivor and I'm not there anymore — I don't let people walk all over me, treat me like crap and then turn around and say, "Thanks. Can I please lick your dirty feet so you're nice to me?" That was my thinking.
Image: CBS
SK: You say Scot and Jason were worse in the game than we're seeing on TV. What else happened that makes them so nasty?
DW: I wonder if I can actually tell you. Well, Jason in particular was very rude, with reprehensible behavior toward Joe. He told Joe he was worthless, and a piece of shit. Joe took it with the utmost grace. The whole thing with Alecia [Holden], it just never ended.
SK: How is it they're still in the game? Is it only because everybody realizes how easy they are to beat at the final Tribal Council?
DW: No. It's very simple. We all knew about the super Idol because Neal [Gottlieb] told us. Aubry, Joe and I knew. I'm pretty sure everybody knew because we talked freely. Aubry, in particular, was so worried that Tai [Trang] and Jason were going to put together a super Idol and target her. Neal did make it look like he gave the Idol to Aubry. He did put a big X on her back. When he left, they went off [for] five or 10 minutes. They talked alone, and everybody was sure that Aubry had it. We were gonna vote two versus two versus two and somebody will play an Idol. We know Jason has one, we know Scot does not and we know Tai has one. What are the chances Jason and Tai give up their Idol to Scot to make a millionaire another million dollars? It's not gonna happen. The girls were just scared, and the easiest, safest thing to do was to take me out.
Image: CBS
SK: What's your take on Aubry? Since she was the driving force behind your blindside, is it safe to say she's the smartest player out there?
DW: You may recall, and it wasn't shown in great detail, but the first night out there was very hard. Aubry was really out of her element in the middle of the jungle with strangers and the cold. The doctor and [Jeff] Probst actually came out, and I just kept talking to Aubry like a human being. Not even like a mom. "Look, Aubry. You did not come all this way to quit. OK, get the doctor, get Probst, but you are gonna promise me that you are not going to quit without coming back and talking to me." I just kept on her, and in the end she didn't quit. She went through this beautiful metamorphosis. The little insecure wallflower changed into this geek goddess. I am so proud of her, but she was always hyper paranoid and neurotic. She did what she did to me because it completely took a target off her back. She felt it so much because Neal made it seem like he gave her the Idol, that wanker. But he didn't! Is she as strategic as she was paranoid? No, but she is intelligent. However, now she has those three bullies that she still has to deal with and you just lost somebody that wasn't gonna vote for you. She knew that was genuine between me and her. She's no dummy, and she's still in the game, so I applaud her.
SK: Tai has been very adored by the audience, but he started to get some backlash after he was seen secretly sabotaging camp and extinguishing the fire while everybody was sleeping. Are you disappointed with his actions?
DW: No, I wasn't. Tai is wearing a turtle necklace. I have two rescued tortoises walking around my house right now. I am never going to be disappointed in somebody who won't eat a chicken. Tai and the chicken were the best part of the show, in my opinion. What was amazing about Tai is just the previous week, he was with the girls. He voted for Jason, and I love that Jason just gave Tai an Idol. Tai accepted, which how in the world that happened is beyond me. But what would be beautiful now is for Tai not to give it back. Tai was yin and yang, back and forth. Should I be good? Should I be bad? Should I be good? Should I be bad? I almost felt sorry for him, watching his struggle.
Image: CBS
SK: Sure, he's a nice guy, but is Tai a good player? Some say he's simply not showing much smart strategy. Do you agree with that?
DW: When you're out there playing the game, it's different from armchair quarterbacking. Sometimes people get up there with the pen in their hand, and they might as well just flip a coin because they don't know which way they're going to go. I think Tai is doing the best he can with the information he believed he had. For whatever reason, he feels grounded to the guys right now. They've sucked him in, but time will tell. I think sticking with the guys and the way they pulled off the rock, paper, scissors thing worked. You gotta give them that. It worked. Now Tai has two friggin' Idols, so he did something right.
Image: CBS
SK: Throughout the season, your kooky character has played a big role. Do you feel the show was mocking you with all your various job titles, or do you appreciate it?
DW: They weren't mocking. If you don't have a sense of humor, don't go on a reality TV show, because they're gonna film you 24/7 and edit it down to five minutes. I have a great sense of humor, and I was going to have fun out there. Every time I talked, or every time I did something stupid — and I never pretended to be a genius — of course they showed it. That's because they were looking for the kooky old lady. I'm just not her, but I am fun. I thought it was hysterical, the changing job titles. I had fun with it.
Image: CBS
SK: Which of those rotating jobs shown on screen was your favorite?
DW: Photonics laboratory supervisor is cool, because people today don't even know what a photon is. It's just a beam of light. I'm a chemist. Those are all derivatives of chemistry, and I am a captain in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, and that's where I got the real survival training.
SK: Now you can add Survivor castaway to your list.
DW: How about that?
SK: Is that something you ever thought would happen?
DW: Yes, I did think it would happen.
SK: That being said, how did you get on the show?
DW: I'm the tiger mom. My daughter's nickname is Tiger. I do know I also have the most popular swimsuit of all time on Survivor. They said, "That stupid book, Mom, Lord of the Flies, they made a TV show like that. You would be good because you're a tyrant drill sergeant, and you're all tough." So I sent in a tape. It just so happened [that] every time I tried to make a tape, the phone would ring, the dog would bark, the turtle would pee in the house, the kid couldn't find her soccer shoes. Whatever. So I just went down and unleashed on this tape like, "Screw it. Here it is. This is me." I was doing pull-ups, and they did call me the first time they ever got a tape of me. It was a lot of back-and-forth. I didn't want to do Blood vs. Water because I don't know anybody in my family that could've hacked it. It is tough.
Image: CBS
SK: Finally, I'm going to say somebody's name, and I want you to give me the first thing that comes to mind. Ready? Scot.
DW: Goliath.
SK: Jason.
DW: Reprehensible.
SK: Aubry.
DW: Geek goddess.
SK: Debbie.
DW: [Laughs.] Animal rescuer.
Image: CBS
What do you think of Debbie's comments? Are you sad she was voted out of the game? Do you think she had a true shot at winning the entire season? Do you think Jason is a reprehensible character, as Debbie says? Would you ever want her to play the game again? Join the conversation with us and leave a comment now.
These particular baby names are a perfect example of capturing a feeling in a name. Your baby-to-be is precious to you now, and will be even more so once she arrives. She will also be quite beloved — by you, by your family and by passers-by as you go about your daily routine. It's only fitting, then, that you choose a name that will always remind you how precious she is to you.
From names we're familiar with like Aimee to more unusual choices like Caoimhe, perhaps you'll find your favorite baby name here.
Alaine: This is the French feminine form of the name Alana, and means "precious"
Alamea: From a Hawaiian word, this means "ripe, precious"
A cold cocktail on a warm day is just about the best thing ever. This cocktail combines two of my favorite things: gin and raspberries. It's perfectly sweet and tart, and is just the thing for warm weather sipping.
In a cocktail shaker, muddle raspberries with agave syrup.
Add gin, lime juice and a few ice cubes.
Shake until cold.
Add ice to 2 short cocktail glasses and fill with equal parts of the liquid from the cocktail shaker. Make sure to strain your mixture so you don't get too many chunks of raspberries.
Top with seltzer, and garnish with fresh raspberries.
As reported by TV Line, it looks like Tony will be putting family first in the Season 13 finale airing Tuesday, May 17. CBS released the official synopsis for the episode, titled "Family First," which will revolve around "an international manhunt for a killer of federal agents."
It sure sounds like Michael Weatherly's last episode as Tony (that still pains me to write) will be an exciting one. Doesn't he deserve that? Ever since the first episode, the very special agent has brought nothing but excitement to the drama.
Sadly, those are the only details that have been provided thus far. That said, the episode title is very telling in the sense that it sure seems like Tony will be leaving due to family. If you recall, during "Charade," Tony expressed frustration with his life and the fact he might not be fulfilled after all.
While interrogating two men who were impersonating him, they said to Tony, "You have no life. No wife, no kids, no hobbies, same job, same apartment… nothing changes with you." That's when he started to look at himself and his life in a new light.
That same episode, Tony voiced to McGee, "I feel like my life is a charade. You’d tell me, right, if I was losing my edge, the DiNozzo edge? Because I feel like it." He added, "Sometimes I feel like I don’t know who I am… like I’ve already lost my identity. Is [the identity theft] some weird metaphor for my psychological state?"
Maybe family is what he needs to find himself again? That said, what family might that be? "Family First" could be referring to Tony's family at NCIS, his actual family, like his father Anthony DiNozzo Sr. (played by Robert Wagner) or maybe even himself, meaning he is going to put himself first and look toward a future with a family.
If it is the latter, here's hoping part of Tony's future family includes Ziva. I know, I know. I keep saying it, but I need a Tiva reunion to happen in some capacity during the Season 13 finale. Don't act like you wouldn't enjoy it as well. Can't you just see Tony and Ziva kicking ass (like they always did) in both their professional and personal lives?
Plus, imagine Tony and Ziva having their very own family. Yeah, I'm feeling a lot of things at the moment. Whatever happens, let's hope his send-off isn't tragic (no one wants Tony to die, right?) but one filled with happiness.
Selena Gomez has made it very clear over the years that she doesn't want us to think of her as a child star. In a new interview with GQ, she shares her take on the unique difficulties of child stardom — and just how intense it can be to grow up in the spotlight.
With "anger in her voice," describes reporter Zach Baron, Gomez describes herself and her child star friends (think Justin Bieber and Nick Jonas) as "easy targets." She continues, "Every single kid who was brought up like this is an easy target. It’s disgusting, because it’s interesting to grown adults that these kids go through weird things because they’re figuring out, ‘Do I like this? Do I love this? Maybe I love this person. Oh, I’m exposed to this, people are reporting my every move and this and that because of Instagram and Twitter and you can find out everything.’"
Gomez may resent what modern fame looks like, but that doesn't mean she would give it up. She tells Baron that she wouldn't choose to fast-forward past this part of her life. "No, because I’m not that stupid. And I get it. I just have to be patient. It’s slowly dissolving the older I get. And I just have to be patient and make great things with quality, from producing to singing to acting. And one by one, I will be able to change the dialogue and people won’t care about everything that’s happened to me.”
Our office is divided: Half of us are Beyoncé stans and fans, while the other half leans more on the side of "cool, but not sure if it's for us." But we were all intrigued by her new athleisure line, Ivy Park, when it was announced last month.
The announcement was classic Bey: sexy, fun, strong. So when we heard the new line was coming to our local Nordstrom today, we wanted to be among the first to try on the pieces.
What we liked:
1. The price: For the most part, Ivy Park was priced similarly (if not lower) with popular brands we usually wear, like Athleta and Lululemon. A pair of shorts was the cheapest at $26 (our editor bought them!), while the priciest item we tried on was a $115 sleeveless jacket, which was way too much for a jacket that couldn't keep us warm. The website shows some pricier items, too, most of them tops and jackets.
2. The fit: Once we found our sizes, we were golden. But the pieces seemed to go between being true to size and a little big. A pair of leggings were my perfect fit and were comfy during my dressing room squats session. We even found a sports bra that fit perfectly, and if you're a woman who works out (especially if you're larger than a B cup) that is major. Sizes ranges from XXS (size 2) to XL (sizes 12-14).
3. The materials: The T-shirts are super soft and the gray shorts are the perfect "Netflix and Chill" bottoms. In addition to more loungy pieces, the actual athletic leggings and sports bras were high-quality materials we'd be proud to sweat in.
What we didn't like:
1. Where was the color? We get it, Bey slays in all black, but printed leggings are really our jam around here. It just didn't ring true to the super stylish Beyonce we know and some cool patterns would have really made it worthwhile. We were expecting something a bit more unique.
2. The selection: It was just launch day, and some stores sold totally out, but the selection in the store doesn't compare to what we saw online.
3. The fit: Yeah, OK, we said we liked the fit, but it was inconsistent. While one pair of pants fit perfectly, another pair of logoed leggings in the same size were too tight and gave off that "you can wear this to the gym but, for God's sake, do not bend over in them" feeling. A super-cute bomber in my usual medium size was too bunchy in the shoulders for me. And the jogging pants made us feel more frumpy than fashion-forward fitness. Also, can some curvy ladies get a little more love? Having a booty can easily put one in a size larger than XL.
4. Formation wasn't blaring from the Ivy Park section. Come on, I couldn't have been the only one thinking it.
She was supposed to mentor and support women in business, but Bethenny Frankel's comments at a recent event are being called sexist and racist instead.
Frankel was a keynote speaker at Rent the Runway's and UBS' Project Entrepreneur, and certain statements that she made completely shocked her audience. One attendee, Mary Pryor, tweeted about what she heard and later told the Huffington Post all about it.
"I was one of the women who tried to stand up to reality TV star and Skinny Girl Vodka founder, Bethenny Frankel... and was silenced," Pryor wrote.
"I was stunned when Frankel implied that women should have sex with men in exchange for capital," Pryor continued. "I was offended when she expressed some kind of kinship with black women because she's 'loud.' And I was taken aback when she advised those of us in the room to get business advice to hire a white man as the face of our companies.
"Not even when the wrong-headedness was called to her attention, Frankel didn't back down. Nothing. No apology. No acknowledgement of an ignorant reply. Just a comment from a moderator about 'breaking up a fight' and removing the mic from our hands."
No video of the event exists so we cannot independently verify what was actually said, and for her part, Frankel claimed in a Twitter response to a fan that none of it ever happened.
Bethenny Frankel responds to charges of racism
Bethenny Frankel responds to charges of racism
That has been Frankel's entire statement on the PR fiasco and she has not issued an apology — and it seems like she feels she doesn't need to.
Though it's been difficult, we've come to terms with the fact that Jon Snow is, in fact, dead. But that hasn't stopped us from speculating that he will return to Game of Thrones in some other form, whether it be a ghost, zombie or White Walker. According to the latest Season 6 trailer, there's a new Red Priestess in town, her name is Kinvara and she may know the exact gruesome spell to resurrect Lord Eddard Stark's bastard son and wreak havoc on Winterfell.
Originally from Moscow, this Russian/Israeli beauty is most famous for playing the role of Asia Brinditch in the Israeli TV show False Flag. Bukstein is part of Hollywood’s growing trend of casting Israeli actors that includes Gal Gadot, who played Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman
2. She serves the Lord of Light
According to Game of Thrones Wikia, Kinvara's full fitle is "High Priestess of the Red Temple of Volantis, the Flametruth, the Light of Wisdom and First Servant of the Lord of Light."
3. She's powerful
Judging from the look on her face in the lead photo, Kinvara seems to be a little smug, if not very pleased with herself. She seems like the type of sorceress who keeps her power under wraps, allowing her enemies to underestimate her before packing a powerful punch. We can’t wait to see what she has in store.
4. Melisandre's foe
Image: HBO
Though we don't know for sure, it seems likely that the only reason to add another Red Priestess to the show would be to increase the presence of magic. Last season, Melisandre tried to seduce Jon Snow, and he refused her. Perhaps Kinvara identifies Jon Snow as the one true spirit who can defeat Melisandre since he wasn't vulnerable to her sexual charms.
5. The "We'll forgive you for Shireen if you save Jon Snow" theory
Melisandre
Melisandre
Fans were horrified when Melisandra burned Shireen (Kerry Ingram) at the stake. Some people are hoping Melisandre will use her dark arts to bring Jon Snow back in an act of good will. If this were to happen, we could see Melisandre needing the help of another sorceress to accomplish the task and could call upon Kinvara to help. Of course, there would have to be something in it for Kinvara to conjure the undead, and we don't yet know if she and Melisandre have any history together.
For the first 18 years of my life, my history was solid. Adolescent angst aside, my life in Western North Carolina was fairly uncomplicated: I had happily married parents, an older brother and a bird dog or two. Though my parents were incredibly strict — even by small-town, Southern Baptist standards — I was happy and enjoyed a close relationship with them.
Then I began having flashbacks of my brother molesting me, and I was annihilated.
These flashbacks coincided with my attending college away from home on scholarship. University counselors told me that the abuse had been so traumatic that I blocked it completely from my mind for years until it was safe enough for me to remember. Everything I knew, everything that was familiar and mine and precious and complicated, was destroyed. My family bounded me to myself, my life. Now, in its dissolution, it crushed me under its terrible weight. Though it took me more than a year to muster the courage to do it, I knew I had to tell my parents.
From what I could piece together from my memory, my brother was at least 16 when he molested me, and I was roughly 9. My mama initially responded that my brother “was too young to know what he was doing was wrong.” My daddy stoically took in the news and promptly went to bed; shortly thereafter, I could hear him snoring. Everything I believed about my family was shattered. Like a flower in reverse, I withdrew from them, becoming smaller and smaller. I tightened and folded into myself until the only thing left showing was an unremarkable, prickly exterior.
I felt as though I’d been erased. As such, I maintained my geographic and emotional distance.
Through therapy, feminism, work in rape crisis centers and time, I made it through the rawest heartbreak of healing. I slowly began to understand how impossible it was for my rural, working-class, uneducated parents to deal with; they simply didn’t have the skill set. Without a lot of work and professional help for all parties, no one does. Who could possibly handle this kind of devastation unassisted? No one, but certainly not people like my parents.
Even though I understood this, I could never shake my feelings that my parents had deserted me. My brother admitted to everything. Members of our extended family knew, yet he wasn’t disowned or shunned. It felt like everyone chose him. It wasn’t until two decades passed and I created a family of my own with my husband that I began to feel some sense of optimism and security about family.
When I had my daughter, I had no hopes or illusions that she would magically transform my relationship with my parents. Yet, like a hand stitching a quilt, she pieced us back together. Slowly but surely, my parents and I began talking more, until it became a daily thing. I shared pictures and tales; whenever possible, they drove from two states away to come see us.
Seeing my parents with my daughter during one visit opened my eyes to how my brother’s actions wounded them. They are two well-meaning people who still, in my daddy’s words, have a "torrid love affair” after more than 40 years of marriage. All they ever wanted from life was to be together and raise a family. I’d seen pictures of them in their youth, of course, but with my daughter, I could truly see them as they once were, as my husband and I are: young, vibrant, madly in love.
Knowing as I do, in my marrow, that my daughter could never do anything to make me stop loving her, I related to them as a fellow parent, rather than as their child. I understood for the first time how agonizing this has been for them. If I were in their position, what would I do? I would love both of my children. I would be consumed with guilt. I’ve felt gutted when I’ve accidentally hurt my daughter or was unable to prevent or fix any injuries. I can only imagine how excruciatingly painful it would be to juggle guilt, love, rage, resentment and deep sorrow. Each of those feelings on its own would be enough to cause anyone deep anguish and distress — and combined, it sounds simply horrible; maybe akin to what I suffered at the hands of my brother.
I never blamed my parents for the abuse, only my brother. But I did blame them for the way they responded to it. I see now they acted with pure intentions but shoddy, ineffectual methods. I’m no longer mad at them. They now accept and respect my boundaries, which include no contact with my sibling.
My brother ravaged my nuclear family, and it will never be restored. To save myself, I had to get away from them, yet I always grieved the distance between us. My daughter has done the seemingly impossible: exhumed and restored my relationship with my parents. While it will never be perfect, it is ours and it is beautiful.
