In an extremely conservative country where Muslim women are still expected to dress and act modestly, social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch stood out like a radiant jewel or a sore thumb, depending on who you ask. The outspoken Pakistani woman, 26, used Instagram to defy stereotypes about women in her country and to express her disapproval of Pakistan's patriarchal society. And, for that, Baloch was reportedly strangled to death by her brother Wasim in an apparent "honor killing."
The young woman, who became Kardashian famous in Pakistan for posting up-close photographs of her cleavage, photos of herself clad in leather pants and posing provocatively and even selfies with a prominent Muslim cleric (images that practically turned her into an enemy of the state), was confirmed dead by her parents, who told police that her brother strangled her after an argument. Baloch's brother reportedly demanded that she quit modeling because he thought she was bringing dishonor to their family, but she wasn't willing to follow his orders. Wasim reportedly fled the scene after the murder, according to police, and Baloch's parents have been taken into custody.
Baloch's birth name is Fouzia Azeem. She shot to fame in both Pakistan and around the world after promising to do an on-camera striptease if the Pakistani cricket team won in the World Twenty20 cricket championships. When India proved victorious instead, Baloch still did the strip dance to honor the Indian team. Needless to say, that didn't go over so well in the Muslim-majority state.
Baloch considered herself "an inspiration to ladies who are treated badly" and revealed in an interview that, at 17, she was forced to marry an uneducated man she called "an animal." She added, "I said, 'No, I don't want to spend my life this way.' I was not made for this. It was my wish since I was a child to become something, to be able to stand on my own two feet, to do something for myself."
Her most controversial photo to date remains this picture of herself with cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi, with whom she requested a meeting to talk about religion, but then ended up posing for selfies alongside (and she's wearing his traditional lamb's wool cap, to boot):
pakistani cleric
pakistani cleric
This photo and others similar to it led to Qavi's suspension from the clerics, and Baloch began receiving death threats as a result of this photo series. She later claimed the Pakistani government did nothing to help her after she requested protection.
Sadly, honor killings like this one are still an all-too-common occurrence in Pakistan. More than 3,000 women were reportedly killed in honor cases between 2008 and 2014, according to the Pakistan Human Rights Commission, while The Aurat Foundation claims approximately 1,000 women each year are killed in Pakistan because they "dishonored" their families.
This is obviously a horribly sad day for Baloch's fans and the many women who looked to her for inspiration. With hope, this incident will bring much-needed attention to the horrific practice of honor killings, most of which are never even reported by the victim's family members.
If you haven’t had to make a hard parenting decision related to technology, I promise it is just around the corner.
So much has changed about parenting thanks to the crazy advances we have seen in technology in recent years. Parents today are regularly forced to ask ourselves questions about how much time online is too much, what photos and information are appropriate to share on social media and how we can protect and limit our children when they spend time online.
I know I feel like I am regularly reevaluating my own use of technology or adjusting boundaries so I can better parent my kids in an online world that is constantly changing. One thing I have had to evaluate is the online behavior of the people we hire to watch our kids.
I know that employers screen potential employees all of the time, but it never crossed my mind that this is something I would need to do before paying someone to watch my kids for date night or while I work. It wasn’t until a friend had to navigate dealing with a babysitter posting bathtime photos of her toddler online that I realized that I would need to set clear expectations from the start anytime I bring a new babysitter into my home.
There are so many varying opinions on what is appropriate when it comes to minors and the online world and I truly believe most people don’t intend harm when they cross a boundary. This is why I feel like it is so important to be clear with the people who care for children about our own personal rules about social media. I don’t hesitate to lay out all of the boundaries from the start and I think having some initial ground rules helps us to avoid sticky situations when it comes to our babysitters and social media.
I am already friends on social media with most of the people who watch my kids, but I don't hesitate to friend or follow new babysitters online before they watch my kids. I’m sure some think this crosses some sort of professional boundary, but I simply don’t want to hire anyone if they don’t feel comfortable with me seeing what’s being posted on their social media accounts while they are watching my children.
Naked or partially-clothed photos of my kids are strictly off limits
I know there is nothing cuter than a naked baby or toddler. Bath time is a lot of fun and potty training is usually hilarious, but none of this needs to be documented online. In our family, we reserve any naked or partial-clothing pictures of our kids for private texts to Grandma, so we strictly forbid our babysitters from sharing any of these photos online.
No pictures that embarrass my kids
There is a really fine line between the cute things my kids do and say and the things that could potentially embarrass them in the future. That means I don’t want to see any pictures of my kids with underwear on their heads or sitting on the potty on my babysitters' Facebook pages.
Avoid sharing too much identifying information about my kids online
Along with pictures, I also ask my babysitters to be careful about what kind of information they share about my kids online. Typically this means no geo-tagging pictures of my kids' location if they take them to the park and no talking online about where my kids live or go to school.
Before a photo is posted, my babysitters have to check with me
Beyond restricting what types of photos of my kids end up on our babysitters’ social media pages, I also hold the ultimate veto power before photos go online. While I trust my kids' aunts and grandparents to use discretion, if we hire a new babysitter I ask them to check with me before they post photos of my kids or even talk about them online. With that comes the understanding that they should respect my No if I feel that what they are posting isn’t in my child’s best interest.
For the love, stay off your phone
This last part is my least favorite part of setting boundaries with new babysitters. It seems like if I bring it up, I am bound to offend them because it seems like I don’t trust them to be smart about their phone use. At the same time, if I don’t bring it up, there is no way for me to express what I feel is appropriate. So, when I hire a new babysitter, I ask them to stay off their phones while my kids are awake.
As much as I would love to be the laid-back mom who doesn't make a big deal about the small stuff like what my kids' babysitters post online, being a cool mom isn't my job. My job is to protect my kids as best I know how — and setting really strict limits about what pictures of my kids end up online is one way I keep them safe.
Several weeks after Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris' big breakup, theories are still being thrown out about why the couple called it quits. While the most popular explanation seems to be that the pop singer couldn't keep away from actor Tom Hiddleston after meeting him back in February, another possible reason has emerged that may explain some of the deeper problems Swift and Harris may have faced.
Harris reportedly refused to attend the Grammy Awards with Swift in February, when she was nominated for (and won) Album of the Year for 1989. A source told The Sun, "Taylor was furious and hated the way he never wanted to attend award shows and big music industry events with her. It was a Sunday night in LA and she felt he could have slipped away for a couple of hours to be with her."
You have to admit, it was odd seeing Swift receiving support from friends like Selena Gomez with Harris nowhere to be found on one of the biggest nights of her career. Some sources are now connecting his absence from the Grammys with his recent Twitter rant, which came after Swift's people revealed that she wrote the lyrics for Harris' smash single with Rihanna, "This Is What You Came For." The insider told The Sun, "If you're the kind of guy who doesn't want to stand by your woman on an important night like that, then you'll also be the kind of guy that gets a bit pissed off when your woman's getting toasted for the biggest track of your career for the past five years."
Swift is being painted as the villain in this split, but there are always two sides to every story. And Swift's story, from what we can gather, is that Harris wasn't as supportive of her and her career as she would have liked. Contrast her reported gripes about Harris not wanting to accompany her to industry events with the video footage of her dancing the night away with Hiddleston at the Met Gala in May, and you can see why Swift might feel more comfortable in a relationship with an actor who has his own thing going on.
And it certainly seems like Hiddleston has wasted no time falling for Swift. They've been spotted loving up on each other on a secluded beach in England and in Australia. He met her parents in Nashville. He recently sported a tank top that read "I [heart] T.S." and a temporary heart tattoo with her initials. The exact timing of their relationship, which some say coincided with Harris' car accident in Los Angeles, is not ideal — but when are breakups ever not messy?
It's time to stop blaming Swift or Harris for the dissolution of a relationship that was obviously not meant to be. Few people are ever completely at fault for a split, and we all make mistakes and hurt each other in relationships. Can't we just agree that neither musician is perfect and move on?
An attempted military coup that took place in Turkey on Friday night has left more than 250 people dead and more than 1,400 people wounded — not something most people would consider a laughing matter. The coup effort, which has reportedly failed, was an attempt by a small and largely unorganized number of military officials to overthrow the government of President Tayyip Erdogan, who was vacationing on the coast at the time and flew back to Istanbul when news of unrest hit.
As tanks rolled down the streets of both Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey's largest cities, and citizens were called upon to leave their homes and hit the streets to defend their country from coup plotters, signs of xenophobia were rampant on Twitter, where scores of people attempted to make light of one of the most significant events to occur in Turkey in recent history. As a bridge between the West and the East and a country that hosted 2.5 million Syrian refugees in 2015, Turkey and the coup attempt affect the entire world, whether the rest of us realize it or not. And many folks on Twitter made it perfectly clear that they don't realize.
Predictably, the words "turkey coop" blew up on Twitter, along with posts like these:
Sure, you could argue that horrific events require a little bit of lightness to take the edge off, but it's time to get down to business and outline why we should care about what's happening in Turkey right now.
A coup could upset Turkey's chances at joining the European Union — Erdogan is a proponent of Turkey joining the EU, but the EU isn't entirely convinced that the country's government is stable enough at the moment. Even though the military officials responsible for the attempted coup are in favor of EU membership as well, they feel that Erdogan is trying to establish a dictatorship in Turkey, and their desire to stop this overrules the possibility of closer ties with the EU. There are lots of arguments for and against Turkey joining the EU, but one of the major points Americans and Europeans care about is that leaving Turkey out could turn our NATO ally into a rival.
President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry support the Turkish government — The White House released a statement after the coup attempt that made America's position perfectly clear: “The president and secretary agreed that all parties in Turkey should support the democratically elected government of Turkey, show restraint and avoid any violence or bloodshed. The secretary underscored that the State Department will continue to focus on the safety and security of U.S. citizens in Turkey. The president asked the secretary to continue to keep him updated as the situation unfolds.”
Hillary Clinton has released a statement on Turkey — The Democratic presidential nominee released the following statement on Twitter:
Hillary turkey
Hillary turkey
Donald Trump has yet to make a statement about Turkey — It's possible that Trump will provide comment any minute now about the situation overseas, but as of right now, his most recent Twitter post was a Clinton take-down:
Trump turkey
Trump turkey
The reason this is important? One of the biggest complaints about Trump is that he lacks experience in foreign affairs, while Clinton is criticized for the way she handled foreign affairs like Benghazi while Secretary of State. Both of their responses when something this big occurs matter greatly in an election year.
Erdogan has blamed the coup on a Muslim cleric residing in Pennsylvania — Fethullah Gulen is a Muslim cleric who lives in self-imposed exile in eastern Pennsylvania. Despite being distanced from his native land, Erdogan reportedly believes that Gulen is to blame for the coup attempt and that his supporters are intent on creating a "parallel state" within Turkey. Details about Gulen's beliefs are a bit murky. Some say he preaches a moderate form of Islam, is in favor of scientific advancements and interfaith dialogue and condemns jihadist attacks, even more so than Erdogan. Others claim he is trying to wreak havoc on Turkey's secularist establishment. Either way, because Gulen resides here, the United States can't help but be caught in the middle.
A successful coup in Turkey means less aid from the United States — According to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the United States is required to cut off aid to any country with a government that has been established as the result of a military coup.
Turkey is our gateway to the Middle East — Turkey has been instrumental in securing its borders so that potential members of ISIS are prevented from fleeing to Syria to join the Islamic extremists. A takeover of the country's government now would leave it vulnerable and possibly put ISIS in a position of gaining more power.
Summer is here, and there's nothing better than dining alfresco. But between barbecues, picnics and days at the beach, food safety can take a back seat. You just want to have fun, right?
Think again. Nothing ruins the fun faster than rushing to the bathroom (or worse — the hospital) because you ate food that was left out too long, which then became a breeding ground for bacteria.
Luckily, following these simple guidelines will help keep you and your family safe, so you can enjoy all that the summer has to offer.
Safe for two hours (between 40-89 degrees; one hour if it's over 90 degrees)
Fruit salad — Cut fruit can quickly spoil. If it's been left out for more than 2 hours, into the garbage it goes.
Macaroni, pasta and potato salads — It's not the mayo's fault — when cooked and raw cut vegetables, pasta and herbs are left out too long, they become breeding grounds for dangerous bacteria. Keep these foods out of the sun, and if they're not refrigerated after two hours, throw them out.
Green salad — Leafy greens are hard to wash, and as such, often carry harmful bacteria. When you leave a salad unrefrigerated, the bacteria can start to grow to dangerous levels. That's why after two hours sitting out, you should ditch that salad.
Vegetables for grilling — Veggies may seem harmless, but E. coli, listeria and other dangerous bacteria can start to grow if they're left out longer than two hours.
Grilled meats — Even though the meat is cooked, it can start to grow bacteria. If your platter of grilled meat is left out for more than two hours, it's unsafe to be consumed.
Raw meat — Even though you're going to end up cooking it, raw meat that's been left at room temperature for more than two hours isn't safe to eat, and should be discarded.
Mustard, ketchup, hot sauce and relish — These acidic foods can be left unrefrigerated all day. Try to avoid placing them in direct sunlight, which can alter their flavor, and keep them in airtight containers when they're not being used.
Pickles — Thanks to their high acid and salt content, commercial (not lacto-fermented pickles) can be safely left out all day. Keep the jar closed when not in use, and refrigerate as soon as possible after you eat. (Lacto-fermented pickles are fine at room temperature, but bacteria can overproduce and mold can grow when the jars are left in the hot summer sun for more than two hours, spoiling the pickles).
Butter — The butter for your corn on the cob can be left out all day, but be warned — it'll probably melt and may start to taste rancid if it's hot. You should also keep it in an airtight container, and keep it closed when not in use.
Safe for more than one day
Fruit pies — Fruit pies, covered with plastic wrap or foil, can be kept at room temperature for a couple of days, then refrigerated for up to two days more. However, if they are kept above room temperature (in excess of 70 degrees) for too long, they could start to harbor bacteria. If your pie has been left in the hot summer sun for more than two hours, you may want to consider tossing it.
Cakes — Cakes that don't contain fresh fruit or whipped cream can be left at room temperature for quite a while. Cut cake can last for 3-4 days at room temperature, though if it's left in the sun for more than two hours and it's more than 70 degrees out, be cautious.
Cookies — Soft, homemade cookies can last 2-3 days at room temperature, while hard cookies, like gingersnap, can last weeks without going bad.
I bobbed my head to Mos Def's 2000 song "The Questions." In it, he and fellow "positive" rapper Common ask playfully: "Why do these girls look so good in the summer?" It was one of my college days' popular hits. Yet the song's insidious encouragement is for men to look. For black women, who are besieged by negative comparisons to Caucasian standards of beauty and who are humiliated by global color politics dictating dark skin as least desirable, the song is ironic. It is nice to be uplifted for a change. However, the lines are daily crossed against us in a rape culture where all women are vulnerable, but black women's bodies and respects can matter the least.
In October 2014, rejecting a street suitor killed 27-year-old Detroit mother Mary Spears. At her family's bereavement dinner following a funeral, a man shot Spears after she told him she was engaged and could not give him her number. He wounded five others there. In this assailant's mind, he was entitled to attention from an unknown woman just because she caught his eye.
Mary Spears became a martyr for street harassment, a shadowed byproduct of rape culture, if not its precursor. Street harassment is a fact of daily life for women across the world. Following mass publicity of her death, women of all colors and backgrounds outcried living with undue shame and paranoia due to persistent, vulgar public come-ons. The reality is that, for women, ordinary obligations like commuting to work and grocery shopping carry an immeasurable price of negotiating with countless men along the way — almost always without women's provocation.
Since I was about 12, the attention men give my physical body has titled me into irritation, sadness, moodiness and eventually reclusiveness. I brace myself for flirtation and approach from men the moment I walk outside until I get home. Yet it is always unexpected; I cannot possibly predict their advances given the number, location and variance of men who verbally poke and even physically touch me. At times, I shut down to blank and numb in a futile attempt to just live my life feeling human and not as a sexually stimulating object.
By my early 30s, this had accumulated to agoraphobia. I did not leave home for weeks. I lived off savings and short-term gigs. I cringed to go out to teach, work or exercise. My finances and health suffered. Eventually, a great therapist helped me fortify my mind and emotions, to disassociate myself from the violations. Most days are good. However, on many, I bury the pain.
While black women are not the only ones to experience catcalls and harassment, white women's bodies have historically held higher consequences for transgressions against them. Moreover, U.S. News and World Report is just one venue recently reporting the abysmally low marriage rates for black women due to incarcerated, poorly educated or unemployed men in their communities. So in urban areas of lower or mixed socioeconomics, men's marital obligation to just one woman evaporates to leave the majority of men in public single — and still looking, with no reproach. Over time, these daily micro-violations build and embolden rapists.
Scholars like Dorothy Roberts (Killing the Black Body) and Sharony Green (Remember Me to Miss Louisa) unearthed stomach-churning evidence of black women's sanctioned abuse in civilization, beginning with the transatlantic slave trade. White men could buy, sell, rape and murder black women with little to no consequences. Conversely, men of color conditioned to harsh consequences for whistling at Caucasian women or even looking their way. So black women became targets for sexual aggression the laws would not allow white women to easily endure. The residuals of these power dynamics manifest today in black women's unchecked public sexual objectification and harassment.
There is hope. In 2014, New York City's MTA began a website for reporting sex offenses in its subway system, and harassment is included. The Wall Street Journalcovered a 50 percent increase in reports due to this and citywide publicity that inappropriate touching and catcalling on the subway is criminal. The organization Stop Street Harassment is just one raising awareness for this crippling part of life for too many women. Until street harassment is seen as the violation it truly is, do your part to teach boys this is wrong, and correct men in your lives who practice it.
Besides the predictable picks like Spot and Fido, naming a dog can be hard, y'all. If you want your new fur baby to have a name that is as cute, clever and unique as he or she is, we've gathered up dozens of boy and girl dog names for you to choose from.
Because who wouldn't love a pup named Aspen, Java or Kutcher?
Image: SheKnows Design;Image via Getty Images
Unique dog names inspired by fashion
If your pooch is too cute for her (or his) leash, go with one of these names inspired by our favorite fashion gurus.
Boys:
Birkenstock
Carnegie
Helmut Lang
Gaultier
Rad
Girls:
Collette
Maripol
Vuitton
Natacha
Dior
Unique dog names inspired by places
Is your "ruff" and tumble pooch always ready to hit the road? Try one of these names inspired by jet lag.
Mythological names are a brilliant way to add a little majesty to your pet's name. Skip the old standbys like Thor and Athena and go for something a little more creative.
Boys:
Amon-Ra
Dionysus
Terminus
Eoghan
Herakles
Girls:
Antigone
Lakshmi
Enyo
Priya
Sarosh
Unique dog names inspired by writers
Whether they're novelists, bloggers or social commentators, your pup will be in well-written company with names like these.
If you live in a dream world, you'll want to make sure your canine companion is right by your side. Let your pooch bring these fictional characters to life.
There's nothing wrong with capitalism, especially when it leads to an adorable name for your four-legged friend. These brands inspired some too-cute pet names in addition to consumer loyalty.
Boys:
Jeep
Newcastle
Kashi
Swiffer
Roomba
Girls:
Sega
Shasta
Bugatti
Waterford
Bentley
Unique dog names inspired by tech
Get your geek on with these dog names that take inspiration from the world of technology.
Boys:
J-Peg (bonus points for naming your miniature cutie J-Pug)
Dongle
Vector
Scuzzi (SCZI, if you prefer)
Codec
Girls:
Java
Widget
Beta
Icon
Qwerty
Originally published Oct. 2013. Updated July 2016.
You can't say this former child star doesn't have a great sense of humor. After rumors surfaced on Twitter convincing millions that Macaulay Culkin of Home Alone fame had died, he took matters into his own hands and poked fun at the situation, Weekend at Bernie's-style. Well played, sir.
2. Gabriel Iglesias
Gabriel Iglesias death hoax
Gabriel Iglesias death hoax
He might be one of the stars of ABC's new comedy, Cristela, but according to Facebook, he's dead. The hoax went around the social media site on Friday, but Iglesias made light of the situation with a humorous post. He's ready to "start eating carbs again."
The former Beatle might be the king of celebrity death rumors, because he's had two major incidents. The first one occurred in 1966, when his death circulated with the rumor that an impostor secretly filled in for him. His second death occurred on Twitter in 2012. The truth is, McCartney is alive and well and still making incredible music.
The Oscar-winning actor was the subject of Twitter rumors in December of 2010 when CNN tweeted, "@CNN: Breaking News: actor Morgan Freeman has passed away in his Burbank home." CNN had to go on record and not claim responsibility for the tweet, although no one ever stepped forward to take the blame.
Let's turn back time to Apr. 8, 2013, to see the horrible rumor that Cher had passed away. Poor Kim Kardashian couldn't even stand the news. She wrote on Twitter, "Did I just hear that Cher has passed away? Is this real? OMG." Don't ever mess with a reality star.
The Global Associated News loves to kill off celebrities by having them fall off a cliff in New Zealand. It was Goldblum's turn in 2009, but Natalie Portman, Tony Danza and Tom Hanks have also been plagued with the same rumor. Goldblum appeared on The Colbert Report a few weeks later to prove that he was still breathing.
7. Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan death hoax
Jackie Chan death hoax
The martial arts master has been the subject of numerous death hoaxes. The latest event happened in June of 2013. Chan went on The Arsenio Hall Show and explained what happened. He said, "My manager called me in the United States asking, 'Are you OK?' 'I'm OK.' 'Everybody thought you'd died this morning!' 'What!' I said. 'No, no... don't worry, before I die I'll call you.'"
In 2009, when the Harry Potter star was only 19 years old, vmecritical.com claimed that the actress passed away after driving over 80 miles per hour on narrow roads. Her rep had to send out a press release that Watson was just fine.
The socialite had one of the weirdest hoaxes in June 2007 when it was reported Hilton was stabbed to death in prison. She was serving 45 days for driving while on probation for a drunk-driving conviction. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility had to correct the erroneous reports.
Twitter exploded when the rumor went around on Mar. 11, 2012, that the Biebs had kicked the bucket. It was a very dramatic day for Beliebers. The "Boyfriend" singer was actually spending a wholesome day with his grandfather instead of wreaking havoc in Los Angeles.
Two weeks after Bieber fictionally died, it was Brown's turn. His fans were equally dramatic, posting thoughts on YouTube like, "Rest in peace — may you be greeted in heaven by seventy virgins and a baseball bat. I know that's what you always wanted."
12. Cesar Millan
Cesar Millan's dog's Facebook post regarding death hoax
Cesar Millan's dog's Facebook post regarding death hoax
Reports swirled that Cesar Millan had died of a heart attack. But, rest assured, though he was hospitalized, the famous dog trainer is alive and well. Millan hasn't commented publicly yet to confirm he's alive, but his loyal dog, Junior, posted a message on Facebook, confirming his owner is "happy and healthy."
The Pawn Stars gang simply wouldn't be the same without everyone's favorite lovable oaf, Austin "Chumlee" Russell. Essentially an honorary son to Rick and brother to Corey, Chumlee has long endeared himself to fans with his big heart, dingbat behavior and, well, being the butt of jokes. Last March, internet hoaxers took aim, falsely reporting that Chumlee had died following a heart attack.
In March of 2014, rumors began trending that Wayne Knight — better known to most as Seinfeld's "Newman" — had perished in a car crash while traveling in Pennsylvania. Surprised at the outpouring of support in response to the bogus news, the actor tweeted, "Some of you will be glad to hear this, others strangely disappointed, but... I am alive and well," later adding, "Thanks for all the love everybody. Glad to be breathing!"
Knight isn't the only Wayne to fall victim to a death hoax, though. They seem to plague popular rapper Lil Wayne. And it looks like 2015 will offer no respite from the rumors. Earlier this week, a Facebook post began about Lil Wayne's death, saying, "At about 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday (February 24, 2015), our beloved rapper Lil Wayne passed away." As fans began sending in condolences, Wayne's reps officially confirmed the rapper is alive, well and merely the victim of yet another viral death hoax.
16. Mark McGrath
Death Hoax - Mark McGrath
Death Hoax - Mark McGrath
Following a "breaking news" blast by a publicity firm in Los Angeles, the outlook seemed bleak over the fate of rocker Mark McGrath. "Musician Mark McGrath has died at the age of 46," declared the blast. "McGrath was on set filming the second season of entertainment show Hot Package when he was confronted by a masked gunman and shot several times. The former Sugar Ray front man died in the arms of his cohost Derrick Beckles on the Hollywood set of the show." Apparently, the news is actually related to a story line on the Season 2 premier of Hot Package — McGrath himself took to Twitter to assure fans he is, in fact, alive and well.
As death hoaxes go, the one targeting Beyoncé may be one of the cruelest we've seen. According to Gossip Cop, the internet hoaxers digitally altered a release to look like an official CNN report so as to dupe as many people as possible. The headline read "Music Sensation Beyoncé Knowles Dies in Car Crash," with the copy describing the alleged crash as "ghastly." To make matters worse, the perpetrators tweeted a picture of the wreckage from Paul Walker's deadly crash for added impact (so shameful!). In reality, Queen Bey is alive and thriving.
On July 16, 2016, rumors swirled that Mr. Bean star Rowan Atkinson had died by suicide. The story couldn't be more fake, though. According to the website Online Threat Alerts, this fake story circulated on Facebook and prompted users to click on a link to actually watch his suicide. (Sick, right?) The result? A virus that reportedly sends the story to users' respective Facebook friends. Moral of the story: Don't click on sketchy links! Oh, and don't believe everything you read on the Internet.
This article was originally published on Dec. 4, 2014. It was updated on July 16, 2016.
When we dream of summer, our thoughts (more likely than not) flirt with fireworks, parades and fun. And the key ingredient in that fun potion is a drink! Summertime calls out for light, seasonal beverages. Who wouldn't want to sip something cool, refreshing and a little fruity and bubbly? I've been smitten with Aperol, the popular Italian aperitif, ever since being introduced to it at a recent rooftop taste-testing at a pop-up at New York City's Eataly. It's a sensation that feels like the drink is making little pirouettes on your tongue.
The happy, sunshine Aperol color screams summer — adding to why we love drinking the herbal spirit from an enduring, secret Italian recipe, made with bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb and cinchona. I've been mixing up pitchers of Aperol Spritz ever since my first encounter. Aperol is a terrific partner to a variety of fruit juices and other spirits, especially Prosecco.
My easy go-to recipe has been pretty much equal parts sparkling wine and Aperol, orange or orange/mango juice, and vanilla simple syrup, to taste. On a couple of occasions, I added Dolin Dry Vermouth for the luscious botanicals to complement Aperol's herbs.
Garnish with orange slice or "cube," and for an adorable, eye-catching garnish, use a sprig of orange thyme, held on the rim with a teeny, tiny, colored clothespin. Adorable garnish served with a smile.
Here are some of my favorite things to mix up:
Razberry Bianco spritz recipe
Created by Franky Marshall, Le Boudoir.
Ingredients:
3 ripe raspberries
1-1/2 ounces Aperol
3/4 ounce Cinzano Bianco
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1 ounce dry sparkling wine
Raspberries and mint, to taste
Directions:
Add raspberries to mixing tin and gently muddle.
Add the rest of ingredients and shake with ice.
Fine strain into a wine glass over fresh ice.
Top with 1 ounce of dry sparkling wine.
Garnish with fresh raspberries and mint.
High garden spritz recipe
Created by Adele Stratton, Noble Experiment.
Ingredients:
2 ounces Aperol
1 ounce Giffard apricot liqueur
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
2 ounces champagne
2 ounces club soda
3 cucumber slices
2 turns cracked salt
Directions:
Shake and start over a large presentation ice cube or a scoop of Kold-Draft ice.
Top with champagne and club soda.
Garnish with fresh cucumbers.
Pompel-spritz recipe
Created by Pamela Wiznitzer, Seamstress.
Ingredients:
1-1/2 ounces Aperol
1-1/2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
1-1/2 ounces Sparkling Rosé
1/2 ounce tonic water
Directions:
Build in a highball glass and garnish with a grapefruit peel.
Mighty fine spritz recipe
Created by Victoria Canty, Dante and Saxon + Parole.
Ingredients:
1-1/2 ounces Aperol
1/2 ounce Fino Sherry
Sparkling water to top
Prosecco to top
Lemon and orange wheels
Directions:
Build in a wine glass and garnish with lemon and orange wheels.
Saint Bernard spritz recipe
Created by Lucinda Weed, Beverage Consultant, New Orleans.
Ingredients:
2 ounces Aperol
3 ounces Prosecco
1 ounces La Croix lime sparkling water
watermelon ice cubes*
Directions:
Build in a wine glass and enjoy somewhere outdoors!
*Place watermelon juice in an ice cube tray and freeze for at least 3 hours.
Aloe spritz recipe
Created by Haley Forest, Belle Shoals.
Ingredients:
1-1/2 ounces Aperol
3 ounces Prosecco
3/4 ounce Chareau aloe liqueur
Prosecco
Soda water to top
1 cucumber slice
Directions:
Build in shaker and shake with ice.
Pour in wine glass over ice and garnish with a cucumber slice.
Aperol peach spritz
Created by Lucinda Sterling, Middle Branch.
Ingredients:
1 ounce Aperol
1/2 ounce peach liqueur
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce fresh orange juice
Prosecco to top
Club soda to top
Directions:
Add ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake gently and serve in a rocks glass over ice with Prosecco and a dash of club soda.
I overheard a conversation one day at a restaurant. A woman said to her friend, "If my husband ever lays a hand on me, I'm gone." I can only assume they knew someone who was being abused and were referring to that situation as she offered up her opinion.
I'd always had the same opinion. I was pretty sure I'd said the same thing, until it happened to me.
I think it was a long time coming; there had always been a roughness of sorts. When the kids would cry at night, I would get in "trouble" for it. Once, while I was eight months pregnant with my second son, I heard our first son crying. I went into his room to quiet him down, hoping my husband wouldn't know I went in there. He didn’t like me comforting our kids at night if they cried.
After I rubbed our son's back for a little while, I could feel a presence in the room. I can still see it. I can still feel it.
When I tried to leave the room, the screaming began. I managed to make it into our bathroom where I ended up on the floor covering my stomach. I wasn't hit that day, but I knew for sure the day was coming.
Later, on Thanksgiving Day in 2011, we were taking our kids to my parents for dinner when our youngest started throwing a fit in the car. At that time, my parents lived less than two miles from our home, so we were not in the car long. However, my son was screaming and kicking the back of my husband’s seat while he was driving. He kicked until his shoes fell off.
My husband was furious. He was yelling at me to fix it, saying his fit was my fault. We pulled up in my parents' driveway and opened the doors to get the kids out of the car. He picked up my son's shoe and hit me on the arm with it as hard as he could.
I managed to say something along the lines of "you can't do that to me." Then, I froze. It hurt — it hurt bad.
We walked into my parents' house, and my arm was red and burning hot. My sister made a comment about us having an attitude. I was in shock. I couldn't take in what had just happened, and I had no idea what to do. Hardly able to move my arm for about an hour, we continued on through Thanksgiving, trying to act as normal as possible,
I should have spoken up right then, at that moment, but I didn’t.
Over the next few days, very few words were spoken between us. He never apologized; he never addressed it. We had been through marriage counseling in the past. He believed marriage counseling was a joke: It was just a time for me to tell all the bad things about him that he didn’t believe were actually bad, so eventually, he stopped going.
I wish I would have left, but I didn’t.
I met him when I was 17 years old, and I became an adult with this person. At that time, I had nothing but excuses for his behavior. I kept thinking maybe it was a mid-life crisis or a hard time at work. My mind tried to make it go away, but it was still there. It changed the way I was around him. It changed everything.
Now, there was an extra element of fear involved. I didn't tell my family, I flat out did not know what to do. This is something that happens to other people, and all of the sudden, it had happened to me.
We had only two instances of physical abuse in that last year of our marriage, but it was two too many. The second instance happened only a few months later. I didn't call the police. I called our church marriage counselors. My husband was confronted, and I went through intense counseling trying to understand what was happening. My marriage counselor told me to give him an ultimatum and get out.
But I kept hanging on. I couldn't let go. I knew I would not stay if it got any more intense. I was forming boundaries in my mind — it just took some time to get there. I couldn't imagine in my head what people would think of me if I filed for divorce. I hate to say I thought about perception, but I did.
It felt like a spell of some sort. It keeps you hoping, it keeps you guessing and thinking it was your fault, and it keeps you locked in. Sometimes, I would get real and think, That's it, I'm getting out. But then our pastor would quote divorce statistics in a sermon or preach about fighting for your marriage no matter what. I became overcome with guilt, and I would decide to stay.
I wish I would have stood up for myself and left. Every situation is different, but I can tell you I didn't deserve that, and I know with 100 percent certainty that that was not the marriage God wanted us to have. Period. I stuck it out another eight months or so, and then it was done. You can read about that here.
I think it's natural to give excuses or to think it's your fault. But it's not. Let me also say it is no more OK for woman to hit a man than it is for a man to hit a woman. Women do not get a free pass either.
If you're in an abusive situation, even if it was only once, get help. Call a counselor, call the police, call your mom — call someone. Don't let it be a secret: What lies in the dark destroys us — let it be brought to the light. If there was a first time, let it be the last time and get help.
There's nothing like impending deadlines and the "Go, go, go!" mentality to send your stress level skyrocketing. Unfortunately high levels of stress have become a workplace "norm" that many just accept. Which really isn't a stellar plan if you want to prioritize your health.
Instead of accepting stress as a byproduct of your career, you can fight back by making time for a 10-minute yoga break during your lunch. Simply cycle through the following poses, and as you do, focus on taking deep, slow breaths to help ease your tension. When incorporated into a daily routine, this type of slow, steady yoga has been shown to reduce stress hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline.
The next time you're feeling stressed, #takeamoment and try out these stress-relieving yoga poses.
Stand tall with your feet together, and "ground" yourself by balancing your weight evenly through your feet. Allow your arms to hang at your sides, your palms open and facing forward. Breathe deeply and slowly for 5 breaths.
From Mountain pose, take an inhale as you rotate your palms outward and sweep your arms out laterally and over your head, extending your fingers to reach toward the ceiling. Keep your torso steady, your chest lifted, and look up toward your hands. Exhale as you sweep your arms back to your sides. Repeat 3 times.
Standing Forward Bend pose
From your final Upward Salute, exhale, and tip forward from the hips, sweeping your arms down toward the floor as you lean your torso forward. The goal is to touch your hands to the ground in front of your feet while keeping your knees straight. If you can't touch the ground, grasp your opposite elbow with your opposite hand, and simply hang in a forward fold. Breathe deeply, and focus on releasing tension through your neck and shoulders. Repeat 2 to 3 times.
To get a nice stretch through your back, chest and shoulders, perform a Puppy Dog on Chair pose, which is like a modified Downward Dog. Stand behind a sturdy chair, feet hip distance apart. Place your palms flat on the chair's back, about shoulder distance apart. Step your feet back, and as you do so, tip forward from the hips, lowering your torso between your extended arms until your back is flat and parallel to the floor. From this position, deepen the stretch by pressing your hips back and engaging your arms to reach them forward. Breathe deeply for 3 to 5 breaths. Repeat 2 to 3 times.
Fire Log pose
The Fire Log pose is great for releasing tension through your hips. Sit on the floor, your legs extended, your torso tall. Bend your left knee, and draw your left foot toward your body until you can place the sole of your left foot against your right inner thigh. Allow your left knee to open outward, the outside of your left leg touching the floor. From this position, bend your right knee, and cross your right leg over your left, stacking your calves one on top of the other. Breathe deeply for 3 to 5 breaths, maintaining good posture. Switch legs, and repeat.
Cow pose
Position yourself on the ground in a tabletop position, your knees under your hips, your palms under your shoulders, your torso and head parallel to the ground. Take a deep breath in, and as you do so, press your hips up as you simultaneously lift your chest and shoulders, causing your belly to sink toward the floor, "caving" your lower back. Look up. Hold for a breath, then move immediately into Cat pose.
Cat pose
From Cow pose, exhale as you round your spine up toward the ceiling, tucking your hips under as you allow your head to drop between your shoulders. Continue pressing your shoulders and spine away from the ground as you fully exhale.
Cycle between Cat and Cow pose 3 to 5 times, inhaling as you perform Cow pose and exhaling as you perform Cat pose.
After your final Cat pose, move immediately into Child's pose for a deeply relaxing stretch. From a tabletop position — palms under shoulders, knees under hips — angle your lower legs to bring your toes together to touch. Press your hips backward, and sit your glutes on top of your feet, relaxing your torso over your thighs. Extend your arms as far forward as you can, stretching your shoulders and upper back, and allow your forehead to rest against the floor. Take 3 to 5 deep breaths, and repeat 2 to 3 times.
Bridge pose
Lie on your back, your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, your hands, palms down, next to your hips. Exhale, and press your hips up toward the ceiling, lifting your glutes and lower back away from the floor as you press through your feet, palms and shoulders. When your hips are raised as high as you can raise them, "walk" your shoulders in toward your spine as you bring your palms together under your hips and clasp your hands together. Take 2 to 3 deep breaths, then release back to the floor. Repeat 2 to 3 times.
Corpse pose
Corpse pose literally couldn't be easier. Simply lie on the ground, your arms at your sides, palms up, and close your eyes. Allow your legs and feet to open outward so your body's in a neutral position. Take deep breaths, and try to let all thoughts or worries float away. Maintain the position as long as you like.
This post was sponsored by Aetna. It is for general informational purposes only and is not meant to replace the advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a physician or other health care professional.
They say that the more things change, the more things stay the same. It's a cynical statement, but after having ridden the merry-go-round as many times as you have, you're starting to believe it. But there's an order to these things, an order that you will discover for yourself this week thanks to the stonewalling energies of Saturn. Hit the same dead end enough times and you feel defeated and beaten. Hit it again and you adopt a Zen attitude. The Mercury/Saturn trine on July 18 shows you how non-attachment allows you to recognize the solution that's been staring you in the face all along.
You're used to jumping through hoops but the current obstacle course is ridiculous. In fact, it's beginning to feel like the game has been rigged. The culprit here is Saturn retrograde in the part of your solar chart that pertains to other people's money. This could mean a backer, but it probably refers to a lending agency or financial institution that's been dragging its feet when it comes to approving your loan or releasing funds. Thankfully, both Mercury and Venus form trines this week, which means that there will be some sign of progress. You can expect to hear good news on Aug. 1.
It's funny how an adversary can know you better than your allies and friends do. That's because this person doesn't have anything invested in making you feel good. She doesn't have to smooth over the worry wrinkles, massage the bruised ego or prop up your sagging self-esteem. And it's this "nothing to lose" position that allows her to tell it like it is. This is something you might want to pay attention to on July 18 when Mercury forms a trine to Saturn in Sagittarius. Her canny assessment of you may be the very "come to Jesus" moment that proves to be your salvation.
What isn't resolved in one situation often follows you into the next. It will be dispiriting to discover that you have the same personality conflicts with a new supervisor or client that you did at your old job. Is this some form of self-sabotage? Well, you're about to find out, courtesy of Saturn in Sagittarius. Saturn can be heavy-handed when it comes to teaching the hard life lessons, but the plus side is that you will be forced to confront what has been hounding you. It's only by lying this ghost to rest that you'll be free to create the work environment you desire.
Hopefully you're not involved in a major business transaction right now. If yes, then try to get out of the agreement. Chances are you still can if you act fast. If the other party is unwilling, then stall. This might get them to back out. The reason for these warnings is that the Moon will occult Neptune on the same day the Sun enters Leo. This points to hidden terms or costly complications. And even if the person you're dealing with is upfront and honest, it doesn't mean that the person they answer to is. You're better off passing on this offer altogether.
You believe that your track record should speak for itself. You've proven you can go the distance, you can keep a cool head under pressure and you are reliable. If we lived in a perfect world, than all of this would be understood. You wouldn't have to trumpet your accomplishments. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that values promise over delivery and hearsay over facts. If you want to get that position you desire or command the respect you deserve then you're going to have to be more blatant about it. You can never be too shameless when the sun is in Leo.
You're emerging from a busy cycle when you pushed yourself like you've rarely pushed yourself before. Whether it was burning the candle at both ends, making decisions on a wing and a prayer or jockeying for a position in an overcrowded field, it looks like you achieved what you set out to do. The question is: Can you maintain it? Thankfully, the full moon in Capricorn on July 19 shows that you've built a solid foundation. Not only have you proven yourself to those who questioned you, but you've also won their respect and appreciation. This is good to know because now the real hard work begins.
The sun crosses the most powerful angle of your solar horoscope on July 22. You'll notice closed doors spring open at your touch, while people in high places will do whatever they can to promote your interests. It's a wonderfully heady feeling and the next four weeks promises to be an uplifting time, but make a point of sharing some of the spoils of your victory with friends and colleagues. Not only does this reward their loyalty and support, but it will also make them think twice about creating trouble. People don't hunger for other people's things if they're living life on a full stomach.
This would be a good time to go on vacation, or at least a weekend getaway. You've had your nose pressed to the grindstone for so long that you can't see beyond the next deadline. You need a change of scene. Not only are there physical benefits to new surroundings, but it would also allow you to freshen your mental browser and recharge psychic batteries. You've been a real trooper when it comes to getting your life back on track after a series of missteps, but there is such a thing as taking repentance too far. Indulge a little. You deserve a break.
You always take things with a grain of salt, but too much salt can spoil any kind of offering. This is when you need to cut down on the pessimism and introduce some optimism into your outlook. Too much criticism and cynicism chokes off the creativity and daring that's a vital part of life. Clip those wings and you really will be stuck in a rut. Positive developments on July 18 and 20 are truly what they appear to be. And if you spend less time peeking under the table and more time sitting at it, you may even like what's being served.
You may be surprised by the sudden show of respect and appreciation you get this week. It's been a long time coming, but being an Aquarian, you'll shy away from the spotlight and even be self-deprecating. Don't. It isn't every day that Saturn brings praise rather than criticism, recognition instead of oversight. You have grown in people's estimation and proven yourself to be a major player. They are looking to you for leadership and, like it or not, you're in a position to lead. Attention has always made you uncomfortable, but now would be a good time to start getting used to it.
Your goal is in sight. You're not quite there, but you can see it and that's good reason to redouble your efforts. Funny how it's only when something is taken away from you that you rev up the twin engines of drive and discipline to go after what you want. And 9 times out of 10, you'll get it. When you think about how much ground you've recouped in such a short amount of time, it begs the question of what would happen if you always approached life this way? Well, that's the great unanswered question. The important thing is that you're back on track.
Venus is the planet of attraction in astrology. Where she shines her light in your horoscope reveals what you will draw into your life. Right now Venus is traveling through that part of your solar chart that pertains to romance which means that you are feeling like a man magnet these days. That's pretty important, but it's her splendid trine to Saturn on July 20 that shows you solidifying a relationship after months of going back and forth. The wonderful thing about this trine is that any bond you form now will go on to stand the test of time. Translation? This guy's a keeper!
Red flags are waving and you're still standing by him. What's up with that? Maybe you're getting past all your hang-ups or you're becoming more philosophical in your old age. In any case, all those deal breakers like him not making enough money, not being the hot lover you imagined or early signs of Dad bod haven't succeeded in getting you to call things off. If anything you're more into him than ever. You have the Venus/Saturn trine to thank for this more profound you. After years of rushing after men that looked good on paper, it appears you're finally choosing substance over surface.
An obstacle to your happiness vanishes on July 18. This is when circumstances that once stood in your way will be removed and you and your lover will be free to run into each other's arms. But expect hesitation. Maybe you don't trust what's happening because it's too good to be true or this hesitation could stem from the fear that you may no longer want something you yearned for now that you can have it. Give yourself time to go through this period of adjustment. People are often thrown off balance when a dream comes true — especially a Doubting Thomas like you.
Cancers tend to fall in love with the person they believe exists as an undiscovered choice or hidden potential locked inside the guy they're going out with. Your conviction that this is the true version can be both seductive and frustrating to the fellow you're dating because you present this mythical man that he hopes to be but can't because that's not who he is. The romance collapses on July 22 when the moon squares Saturn, but the upside to the broken spell is that you now have a chance to get to know the real thing. He may prove to be more magical than you thought.
It's hard when you're forced to compete with the image that people have of you. And this gets even more difficult when it comes to love. You know there's more to you than your looks, money and good fortune. You have a brain that goes along with that body, a work ethic that's hard to beat and success that takes a helluvalot of effort. It would be nice to find someone who sees all of that. The wonderful thing about Venus being in Leo is that you're about to see for yourself how like attracts like. Look for him to pop up around July 31.
It's easy to get seduced by status symbols, easy money and promises of success. We live in a world where trade-offs have trumped hard work and immediate returns have eclipsed sustained effort. Take the shortcuts long enough and you can lose your way. It's kind of like living on credit cards. You may think everything's under control, but the hidden costs will add up. This is why it's so important to listen to a loved one on July 19. He won't tell you things you like, but they're the things you need to hear. It's not too late to reset the compass.
So why is a certain someone being nice to you? Are his feelings genuine or is there something else he wants? Motives and feelings are seldom what they seem when Venus and Saturn trine in the sky. That's because these two planets are always working some kind of angle. Play along for now and don't be so eager to please. In fact, the more you string him along the better it will be for you. Interestingly enough this could also raise you in his estimation. Don't be surprised if he winds up developing a pretty strong "like" for you in the weeks to come.
Are you being led astray? Probably. These things have been known to happen when the moon occults Neptune in the solar house of romance (July 22). There are times when you grow tired of having to keep those psychic deflector shields running at full capacity and this is one of them. Defenses may protect you from the slings and arrows of love's outrageous fortune, but they're also preventing you from getting close to anyone. Chances are you'll fall for the wrong person and it's likely that you'll fall hard, but it's still an experience that will bring a smile to your lips years from now.
You may think you've found the right one, but guess again. Saturn currently retrograde in your zodiac sign shows that your timing couldn't be more off. It's disappointing news for those Sagittarians looking to tie the knot, leave their marriages in search of fresher game or who feel like they've finally discovered their soul mate. There's no disputing that Saturn can be a real spoiler, but that's the heat of the moment talking. Give yourself seven weeks and you'll see that this is for the best. What's thwarted in the moment often winds up making a strange kind of sense when Saturn is involved.
You've always been uncomfortable with the idea of mixing business with pleasure, but considering all the time you spend at the office, where else do you think you're going to find love? This week's full moon in Capricorn shows that a colleague or client is getting very close to asking you out. He would have asked you out sooner but you kept changing the subject at the last possible instant. Don't worry so much about the propriety of all this. You're a Capricorn after all. You wouldn't have fallen in love with someone who wasn't a consummate professional. Besides, you know where he works.
Don't walk away from that vainglorious, self-important, out of control preening peacock who says that he's in love with you. It may be hard to fathom, but this person really is your match made in heaven — at least as far as Venus in Leo is concerned. What do you stand to lose by taking a chance on love? Your patience, calm, dignity and probably sanity. What do you stand to gain? A best friend, a lover and someone who challenges you to be you. You also get unwavering loyalty like you've never experienced before. This relationship won't be easy, but then again: What relationship is?
You might consider staying indoors on July 22 when the moon occults Neptune. This makes you extremely psychic (even more than usual) and susceptible to other people's energies. Indeed you may have a problem distinguishing if the mood you're experiencing belongs to you or if it belongs to somebody else. This could lead you to over-identify with others' problems, to personalize their crises and to lose sight of where you stop and where they begin. Unfortunately there isn't a "moonscreen" lotion you can rub on your skin to deflect these invisible rays so you'll have to wait until after the 24th when the effect subsides.
At least three law enforcement officers lost their lives today in yet another shooting. Officers in Baton Rouge answered a call about a "suspicious person" openly carrying an assault rifle, according to CNN, and a gunman fired shots at the officers. Two of the slain officers have been identified as Montrell Jackson and Matthew Gerald, and both men were fathers and husbands who served their community.
Before he was killed, Jackson shared his thoughts about what it was like to be a black man in uniform following the recent shootings of the Dallas police officers and during the #BlackLivesMatter protests. "I swear to God I love this city but I wonder if this city loves me," he wrote on Facebook on July 8. "In uniform I get nasty hateful looks and out of uniform some consider me a threat." He urged people to judge him by his actions, not his uniform, adding that "any protesters, officers, friends, family or whoever" should feel free to find him if they "need a hug or want to say a prayer."
John Neely tweet
John Neely tweet
A friend of Jackson's said that he loved his job as an officer: "It motivated him to go out and change people's lives. He was on [the force] to help people, to make you have a better day," Darnell Murdock told The Advocate. "He was humble, kind and sweet... He wasn't on there to write tickets. I don't understand how this could happen to someone like him."
Jackson's wife recently gave birth to a baby boy. Twitter has since erupted in support for the slain officer and his family, and there's a GoFundMe campaign to support his wife and newborn.
Officer Matthew Gerald, who was also killed by the shooter, leaves behind two children. Reuters reports that his wife, Dechia Badeaux Gerald, expressed concern for his safety, writing on Facebook, "Everyone please pray!!! My husband along with others is out there."
Matthew Gerald
Matthew Gerald
Media outlets identified the gunman, who reportedly died on the scene, as 29-year-old Gavin Eugene Long. Sunday's attack on police officers comes just after the slaying of Anton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, by two Baton Rouge police officers.
Obama spoke out about the attacks, calling them "cowardly and reprehensible" in a press statement: "Regardless of motive, the death of these three brave officers underscores the danger that police across the country confront every single day," he said. "And we as a nation have to be loud and clear that nothing justifies violence against law enforcement. Attacks on police are an attack on all of us and the rule of law that makes society possible."
Now that I have three children, I’ve come to realize that having a child with Down syndrome (like Charlie, my oldest) is just like having any child — but with a pendulum of emotions that may just peak a little higher and dip a little lower at times.
For example, I’ve spent hours sobbing and getting fired up after hearing someone call a person with an intellectual disability a “retard.” Phew. Nothing brings out my Mama Bear like witnessing that.
Likewise, I’ve done the ugly, sobbing, red-faced, snotty cry because I’ve just been so unbelievably proud of Charlie and how he just keeps on going and keeps working hard to keep up with his buddies. That’s a state of elation I cannot describe — but I’ve learned to pack tissues.
Then I have the moments of absolute lunacy. The moments when a complete stranger makes either a well-meaning but ignorant comment or they just so clearly open their mouths when they should have chewed on their toes.
So, join me as we dive into the wonderful world of "OMG did she just say that?!" Names have been changed to protect the innocent and to prevent the not-so-innocent from making things worse by following up with any form of, “Oh, gosh, wow, you know I didn’t mean it that way.”
Laurie has two boys with Down syndrome, one of whom is adopted. She also has the sweetest, cutest little neighbor who cannot help herself from asking if little Junior “still has The Down syndrome.” As we say in the South, bless her heart! Even though we might want to reach in and extract that extra chromosome sometimes, someone cannot undo his or her Down syndrome. Much like the sweet lil neighbor can’t undo her strange embrace of vernacular that makes me think of The Clap.
2. “I can’t believe you let your child stick his tongue out at you!”
I remember with bitter fondness the time an older woman chastised me in a grocery store for “letting” Charlie stick his tongue out at me. First of all, he was an infant. An infant, people! That’s like reminding a giraffe to send a thank-you note. In this case, it was an opportunity to educate her about how a child with Down syndrome often has low muscle tone, including oral motor skills. So, Charlie wasn’t sticking his tongue out at me on purpose — but in retrospect, he might’ve been targeting her pretty appropriately! Unfortunately, I was still a new mom, so I gritted my teeth, kept moving and perfected a new form of under-my-breath profanity.
Oh, dear. The night a neighbor cornered me in my husband’s elaborately designed Halloween Garage of Doom and reassured me we could treat Charlie’s “thing” (I assume he meant Down syndrome) with “drugs” was also the night I began imagining how we could integrate our neighbors into the Garage of Doom. As corpses.
P.S.: Down syndrome is not a disease or an illness. It's an extra chromosome. The best prescription is love and inclusion. Pass it on.
4. “But she doesn’t look like she has Down syndrome!”
What Karen wants to say in response is, “Oh my gosh, you mean we forgot to put the sign around her neck again?” She admits she has to tame her inner crazy person when she hears people remark on how her daughter “doesn’t look like she has Down syndrome.” Which seems totally unreasonable. I mean, I often hear, “Wow, you don’t look like you have depression!” It’s just too much effort to reply, “Really? And you don’t look like you fell off a pickle boat!”
5. “He doesn’t even look Mongoloid!”
OK, I had to include this one even though it’s similar to “she doesn’t look like she has Down syndrome” because… OMG. Really? Someone actually said that? Lee says she still cracks up to remember it. To give you some background, the term “Mongoloid” is about as outdated and inappropriate as it gets in the world of genetic conditions and terminology. It was widely used in the days when families would institutionalize children with genetic conditions. Is it too much to wish we could institutionalize people who make these comments today?
6. “Awww! Down’s kids are so sweet and happy all the time!”
Ginger couldn’t miss the irony in hearing this one as she was being slapped in the face by her dear, sweet cherub who has that extra chromie. Look, y’all. Kids are kids. No matter their chromosome count, they experience every wonderful, frustrating, cranky, loving emotion every other kid experiences. And sometimes Mama’s face takes the brunt. When you make those comments on Facebook threads like Jen’s, after she just took a moment to share her frustration at her child’s less-than-compliant behavior, well, you come across as someone both insensitive and in need of a reading comprehension class. P.S.: Please use “kids with Down syndrome,” and not “Down’s kids.” The guy who identified that extra chromosome neither owns nor defines my little firecracker!
7. “Oh, I can tell he’s going to be high functioning!”
Jen’s comment as she shared her response to this comment made me laugh out loud: #MagicSkills! When a baby is born — any baby under the sun — no one, nowhere, no-how can tell anything about what that baby will or will not be able to do. Period. Ever. Never-ever.
Likewise, it may be impossible to envision the child who eats peas through his nose and proudly wears underpants atop his pajamas will one day become a world-renowned surgeon… but it could happen! #PresumeCompetence!
8. "I'd definitely want a kid with Down syndrome. They're like having a really loyal dog!"
This one warrants absolutely no explanation, but please let's all stand and applaud Anne, the mother who had to hear this nurse's comment as she was about to have a colonoscopy. Anne, may we all have access to sedation before fielding these absolutely asinine comments!
It all started when Jenn Morrone went in for a root canal in 2013. The needle used to numb her teeth with Novocaine was accidentally dropped and landed in her eye. If that wasn't bad enough, bacteria from her teeth was on the needle and ended up in her eye, creating a nasty infection that didn't clear with several rounds of antibiotics.
The infection eventually got so bad that Morrone's eye had to be removed.
Woman loses eye
Woman loses eye
It might have been a freak accident, but freak accidents are the exact reason why the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all dentists require the use of eye protection on all patients. It isn't legally required, though, so Morrone's dentist technically didn't break the law by not requiring it.
"I really trusted my dentist," Morrone said in a recent interview with CBS Philly. "I did not know eye protection was so important."
She eventually sued her dentist and won — and now she's speaking out to keep it from happening to anyone else.
"I want you to tell friends, tell your family, anyone who goes to the dentist, which is pretty much everybody: When you go, you have to wear eye protection," she said.
As expected, Season 7 is revolving around Teresa, because why wouldn't it? Ever since she entered prison and then returned home, she's become headline news, so of course she is going to be featured heavily on the Bravo reality series. You know what else is being featured — a lot? The fact that her homecoming isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Yeah, there's a lot of tension and drama in Teresa's life.
First, let's talk about Teresa and Melissa Gorga's reunion. In typical RHONJ fashion, Teresa had to bring up the christening from six years ago (yeah, that one). Really, Teresa? As Melissa noted, let's not backtrack but rather move forward in a positive direction. Melissa told Teresa how she wanted to be a good sister-in-law, to which Tre responded, "Well, show it to me."
It doesn't seem like much has really changed between these two, especially regarding the past. They did end things on a positive note and promised to treat one another like loving family members, but who knows whether that will last.
Next, there is the tumultuous relationship between Teresa and Jacqueline Laurita. They are still on very rocky terms, but it seems like both of them want to try to smooth things over. However, when Teresa called her former BFF on New Year's Eve, it was beyond awkward.
Not only did she get irritated with Jacqueline for putting her on speaker, but Teresa also didn't appreciate talking for everyone to hear. I guess she has issues with Rosie Pierri and Kathy and Rich Wakile, who were all hanging at Jacqueline's house on NYE. They are just as confused by it all as I'm sure viewers are. See? Still so much stress.
Finally, there is the dynamic in the Giudice household. It has to take a long time to get used to being home after spending almost 12 months in prison. Teresa is probably having a hard time adjusting and trying to cover it up as best as she can.
Then there's the dynamic between Teresa, husband Joe Giudice and their four daughters. The younger ones don't really seem to understand everything, but 14-year-old Gia Giudice certainly does. The latter is very apparent. Plus, remember that when these episodes were filmed, they were all preparing to say goodbye to Joe, who is currently serving his 41-month prison sentence. So, yeah, there are a lot of emotions.
It has to be hard for Teresa and Joe, but their daughters? They have to be so confused, scared and upset over it all. In between all of that, Teresa and Joe are struggling to co-parent again now and it's resulting in a lot of arguments, especially with Gia. A lot of different emotions and elements are at play here, which is surely going to be a huge part of Season 7.
If you thought Teresa's return home was going to be 100 percent bliss, you were wrong.
Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo.
Amber Rose is never afraid to be candid and tell it like it is. She opened up about pregnancy sex on her new talk show, The Amber Rose Show on VH1, and even spilled a little too much information on her BFF Blac Chyna's love live.
Rose confessed that she was never in the mood to have sex with Wiz Khalifa while pregnant with their now 3-year-old son Sebastian.
"When I was pregnant, it was just like, 'Fine.' I would act like I was into it, but I was like, 'Please just hurry up,'" Rose revealed.
"He loved my body," she added about her now ex-husband. "I was nine months and he was like, 'The baby's kinda big now. It's a little weird. I feel like I'm gonna hit my son in the head.'"
However, Rose wasn't only open about her own experiences with pregnancy sex. She went on to divulge a bit too much detail about her currently pregnant pal Chyna: "Says she's always horny all the time."
Chyna is currently pregnant with Rob Kardashian's child, and the couple seem happier than ever. The pair are currently shooting their reality show, Rob & Chyna, which will debut later this year.
"I think that chemistry just brought them together," Rose told E! News. "They're just really full of personality and all over each other constantly. They're just a really cute couple. She is shy in a lot of ways, but I think Rob brings a lot of that out of her."
Rose added that she thinks the couple's reality television show will "be really good for Chyna and Rob."
I am loving The $100,000 Pyramid so far. Unlike some haters, I think Michael Strahan is great as host —and I think most of the featured celebrities are also amazing! Some, however, I could do without. Highlighted below are, in my humble opinion, this season's most impressive and most questionable stars, ranked from worst to best.
Robin Roberts has her talents, but she just isn't good at game shows. Her appearance on The $100,000 Pyramid was amusing but also incredibly cringe-worthy.
Snoop Dogg
Image: ABC
Snoop Dogg may have more game-show skill than Roberts, but he's not as fun to watch. He didn't seem to be all that enthused about being on the show.
Like Snoop Dogg, Martha Stewart didn't seem to care much about The $100,00 Pyramid. In their defense, she and Snoop may simply have been focused on trying to win big for their partners. Either way, I didn't find them entertaining in the least.
I wasn't sure what to expect from Justin Long on The $100,000 Pyramid. I figured he would either be really good or really terrible. Thankfully, he proved himself in the game-show setting, showing doubters like me that he knows his stuff.
Weird Al Yankovic
Image: ABC
Weird Al Yankovic is always an entertaining guy, and while I like him best in "Eat It" and "White and Nerdy," I can also appreciate him in the game-show setting. Unfortunately, Weird Al's second partner wasn't that great at giving clues. He did the best you could expect any celebrity guest to do, given the circumstances.
Sherri Shepherd
Sherri Shepherd Wins on Pyramid
Sherri Shepherd Wins on Pyramid
Sherri Shepherd definitely isn't the most liked celebrity on the revival of The $100,000 Pyramid, but she sure knows how to dominate a game show! My guess is that she watched a lot of game shows when she was young and now knows exactly what to do. Or she's just naturally talented. Either way, I was pleasantly surprised by her performance, and I hope she returns!
Honorable mentions go to Tony Hale and Bellamy Young — they were also great on tonight's show!
What did you think of Justin Long, Weird Al Yankovic and the rest of the stars on tonight's episode? Would you like them to return to The $100,000 Pyramid in the future? Comment and share your opinion below.
Honeymoons are supposed to be for newlywed couples only, but one Pakistani woman opted to go on hers with her in-laws. Well, it wasn't exactly her choice — she was forced into it after her husband was barred from the trip.
Huma Mobin and Arsalaan Sever Butt married seven months ago and were all set to go on their wedding trip to Greece, but visa issues kept Butt from leaving the country.
huma 6
huma 6
Rather than lose all of the money spent on the trip, Mobin begrudgingly traveled with her mother- and father-in-law.
"[My husband] is the life of the party and we are wild when together," Mobin told A Plus. "So going abroad without him was leaving half of my craziness behind. I cried almost for two nights in his arms, telling him I can't go. I had to go because he begged [and told] me that we'd be wasting a good fortune from our savings if neither of us go."
Her mother-in-law also advised her to make the best of it — and that's exactly what she did, to hilarious results.
Mobin took in all the sights solo and chronicled them on Instagram. Each pose showed her with her arm around an imaginary person with plenty of sad mugging.
huma 3
huma 3
huma 2
huma 2
She got the idea from her husband, who did the same pose when he had to take a solo business trip before their wedding.
huma 5
huma 5
Her experience is opening a lot of eyes around the world, especially in her home country.
"From the part of [Pakistan] where I come from, my story has piqued a lot of interest as going without a husband and especially with in-laws seems like the most unnatural, crazy thing to do. But I've been blessed with a husband and family that appreciate the weirdness and treat me like a daughter they never had. It's opening up minds of people," she told A Plus. "And to all couples out there, traveling is an investment with infinite returns!"
These two seem like an awesome couple. Maybe they'll get to repeat the photos someday — together.
