The Brutal Truth About Those Pyramid Schemes

Whether it be Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, or LinkedIn ... we have been seeing a tremendous shift in peoples' posts, a large percentage of them being women and/or mothers.

As you scroll through your news feeds, you may find photos and posts with similar catch phrases of "join me" or "are you ready to try ______ " or you may possibly read "looking for ___ for my next group/party I'm hosting".

Why is there such a rise in these start up businesses? Why are we seeing a trend of these posts being blasted through all types of social media? Why does it appear that everyone is being fooled to hop on someone else's bandwagon of what appears that they're showcasing, well... the grass is greener on the other side?

Well here's the short and simple truth that I have found not only from research and personal experience, but simply living it: this actually works. These so called "schemes" are actually creating opportunities for millions to begin their own businesses from home.

We're living in an economy that it takes two incomes to make ends meet. We're living in a country that is battling to have paid family leave available for all of its families. We're living in a time that people are becoming sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Sick and tired of living paycheck to paycheck - or maybe not even able to stay above afloat some months.

Sick and tired of working long, tireless hours away from home, but there's no choice. You must do what is necessary to pay the bills and put food on the table.

Sick and tired of paying the astronomical costs for someone else to raise your children, while you're answering to someone else.

A lot of these posts you're seeing of these small businesses being advertised are mothers. And this should really come by no surprise to anyone.

Mothers have met their breaking points head on and are taking leaps of faith to become Entrepreneurs, becoming their own boss of something that is giving them some freedoms.

There are no pyramid schemes, despite so many wanting to tag them as such, because you see - pyramid schemes are illegal. A lot of these businesses are multi level marketing which is what people are misinformed about. The MLM set up is why they are working with such success. They are set up in such a way to help the small business owner have a huge potential for financial success.

Think of your traditional brick and mortar business where people aren't "afraid" of a scheme. Is there a manager that helps assist people at their job? Does that person have a boss? And does that boss have an overseeing boss or manager? And so on, and so forth?

Now do those managers, bosses and CEO's depend upon their staff to do their jobs diligently in order for their business and companies to be successful?

Now anyone who is a motivated individual, would they want to move up in their company? Would they like more pay and higher success?

I would hope that every single working individual would answer yes to this.

Likewise, if these people like their job, do they talk about it? If you personally go to a restaurant you like, do you tell your friends about it? If you find a store whose clothing you have fallen in love with, do you share it? What about a new recipe you just tried that your family enjoyed...you probably have shared this with your co-workers and friends, no?

If this is the case, then every single one of us are involved in some type of pyramid scheme. God help us all.

Something to keep in your back pocket: when you're buying from a chain store, you're helping contribute to the retirement of the millionaire or billionaire CEO. When you're buying from a small business owner, you're helping pay for that family's groceries, you're paying toward the electric bill and helping Tommy afford a baseball glove or helping pay down Sarah's outstanding hospital bill. You're helping pay down school loan debt and you're likewise contributing to someone's ability to have more time with their children, their significant other or parents who may have fallen ill.

And these small businesses - well, there's nothing small about them with the amount of effort and time that these Entrepreneurs are putting into them. Yes, it's more than a few posts on social media. Yes, it's more than setting up a couple groups or sending out some invitations to their next party or group. Yes, it's even more than posting those witty, inspirational sayings or selfies you see each day.

It's staying up late and getting up early to plan and strategize what you need to do to grow your business and share your product. It's finding new and authentic ways to use social media to set yourself apart from the thousands of others who are trying to set the same competitive edge in their same business. It's constantly learning the most recent updates in your business, adding to your contacts to ensure you are on the path to growing a thriving company, and working on your own personal development of bettering yourself as a business owner.

So the next time you're scrolling through and considering the legitimacy of these posts that appear too good to be true, you may want to think twice. Their is no comparison to the hustle and work ethic of a mother trying to provide for her family. If it happens to be something that peeks your interest in something you're already paying for from a chain or retail store, you just may want to give that small business owner a chance to prove you wrong.

My hope is that you are incredibly thrown by your surprise of the legitimacy and the 1:1 care and attention you can receive from having an open mind and heart. I assure you, that dollar is going to go much further than you could possibly imagine.

To follow Long, retired teacher at 31, you can find her on The Real Deal of Parenting

Whether it be Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, or LinkedIn ... we have been seeing a tremendous shift in peoples' posts, a large percent...

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Saying These Two Words More Often Will Make People Like You More

When was the last time you sent a thank you card?

In the age of Snapchat and Instagram, probably not for awhile. I feel like the thank you cards are a bit of a lost art. And that’s not really a great thing, especially if you struggle socially.

done by the University of South Wales, saying "thank you" and sending thank you cards makes you appear to have more interpersonal warmth. Basically, it means that sending a thank you card indicates you’re a friendly and more thoughtful person. Based on a study done by the University of South Wales, saying "thank you" and sending thank you cards makes you appear to have more interpersonal warmth. Basically, it means that sending a thank you card indicates you’re a friendly and more thoughtful person.

The University of South Wales set up younger students with older mentors. Out of 70 mentees, half of them sent thank you cards to their mentors. The mentors who received thank you cards were more likely to keep in touch with those mentees.

So even if you suffer from RBF or aren’t the most social person, just saying "thank you" more often can improve the impression you leave people to build longer lasting relationships.

that people who are more consciously grateful and actually express gratitude are happier. Seriously, even writing down the things you’re grateful for can make you a more optimistic person in a short amount of time. Other studies have shown that people who are more consciously grateful and actually express gratitude are happier. Seriously, even writing down the things you’re grateful for can make you a more optimistic person in a short amount of time.

A new study showed how people's relationships improved and strengthened when saying these two words. Manners are important.

saying, relationships, two words, new study, improved, manners


Outcast star 'Patrick Fugit' has a better Dungeons & Dragons name than you

The Comic-Con floors are full of fans dressed up as unholy characters, from zombies to werewolves to the occasional White Walker. But should an actual demonic possession break out near Hall H, we know just who to turn to for help: Patrick Fugit and Philip Glenister, the stars of Cinemax’s West Virginia-set exorcism series Outcast.  At the Wired Cafe on Thursday afternoon, we asked Fugit, 33, and Glenister, 53, what steps they’d take if one of their fellow con-attendees suddenly became bedeviled.

"I think they’re already possessed out there," Glenister joked, eying some of the nearby revelers. "But I’d ply ’em all with some holy wine and get ’em all loosened up."

"Then we’d have to take them into a room somewhere," Fugit added, "basically, we’d run your classic abduction, and exorcise them in the bathroom."

Such a gruesome turn of events wouldn’t be out of place on Outcast, which is based on the comic-book series by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, and which has included no shortage of what-the-yuck moments (the series opened, lest we forget, with that grody bug-eating scene). In one especially gnarly sequence, Glenister’s character had a pentagram carved into his chest. "I sent a photograph back home to my wife, saying, ‘I’ve finally found a tattooist, but I’m not sure how good he is,'" the actor says.

The show’s darker moments has irked some residents in South Carolina, where Outcast shoots (Fugit says protestors have shown up during filming with signs that read, "Outcast is going to bring the devil to South Carolina"). But should the cast ever need to retreat indoors, they can kill the time by indulging in Fugit’s newfound Dungeons & Dragons hobby.

"I had never played as a kid, but three or four years ago, one of my best friends was having their game while I was over," Fugit said. "I tried it out, and it’s fucking fun! It’s really interesting as an actor, because it’s like an improv exercise." Fugit’s go-to character? "I play a halfling assassin named Bandy Swiftpet." ("That sounds like your porn name!" Glenister notes.)

As for the future of Outcast, Fugit promises an especially unsavory gross-out during an upcoming flashback sequence. But what about the inevitable Outcast/Outkast cross-over, in which the Southern hip-hop stars team up with the rural exorcists to pull of a musical-filled caper? Spoiler alert, but according to Fugit: "You just described the season finale."

Outcast Star Patrick Fugit Has a Better Dungeons & Dragons Character Name Than You

Though PETA might feel differently about that.


This is probably the biggest tax you pay. No one talks about it.

The political debate over taxes often centers on income tax — a tax that gets increasingly larger for Americans who earn more money.

For example, every dollar you make under $9,275 is taxed at 10 percent — but every dollar you make over $415,050 is taxed at 39.6 percent. For obvious reasons, this type of tax is less popular with higher-income Americans.

But there are other federal taxes that Americans pay, too, the biggest of which are payroll taxes. Whether you earn $5,000 or $100,000, Americans pay up to 15.3 percent of their income to the government — largely to support Social Security and Medicare. (Some payroll taxes are levied on your employer, who is likely to pass down some or all of it to you. This is why the amount you are on the hook for is tough to pin down.) And income over $118,500 isn't subject to Social Security taxes, which means those who earn more start paying a smaller percentage of their income into payroll taxes.

Politicians don't spend much time debating the payroll taxes, and most of us don't spend much time thinking about them, either. In fact, most people don't even search the internet for the taxes on their pay stub called "Medicare" and "Social Security," which are payroll taxes.

Here's a chart that shows how the terms compare, in terms of Google search volume:

Payroll taxes don't factor into the political debate as much as income taxes, but they should: Most middle-class families pay more in payroll taxes than they do in income tax. Having an income tax–dominated debate presents a skewed picture of how all taxpayers fund the government. My colleague Dylan Matthews writes:

The taxes the privileged pay [end up] worthy of attention and the ones the poor pay are ignored. It paints a picture where the government is being supported on the backs of the wealthy, and the poor and middle class are free-riding. It leads to plans for various kinds of tax cuts and tax reforms that matter massively for the rich and very little for the poor.

That's why we charted out historical tax rates in the interactive above. You see that payroll taxes have been rising steadily while the top rates for income taxes have come down quite a bit. But as the search data shows, there just isn't much talk about the taxes that put the biggest burden on the middle class.

An earlier version of this story did not point out that income over $118,500 isn't subject to Social Security taxes.

How candidate's tax plans could affect your wallet

The rich have convinced us to only look at income tax. But it's not the tax the hits the middle class most.

Payroll taxes that support Medicare and Social Security.


This is what Google’s secret car company is called

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx (R) and Google Chairman Eric Schmidt (L) get out of a Google self-driving car at the Google headquarters on February 2, 2015 in Mountain View, California. Justin Sullivan—2015 Getty Images

The media has written countless words about Google's self-driving car project for years, and the company even publicly presented a prototype last year. But few knew until Monday that Google created a limited liability company to legally operate the project.

The company registered Google Auto LLC, in 2011 when it switched from using Toyota Prius cars to Lexus SUVs, according to documents obtained by The Guardian . The LLC is listed as the manufacturer of all 23 of Google's self-driving Lexus cars, and was used to apply for each car's vehicle identification number (VIN).

Presumably, Google decided to register a subsidiary to protect itself — and its financial assets — in the case of trouble. The company's Lexus cars were recently involved in crashes .

While Google Auto is registered as a passenger vehicle manufacturer in the U.S. and abroad — and was even licensed last year an automaker in California — Google said in January that it will be looking for established automakers as manufacturing partners. Google hasn't named any such partners yet, however.

Here's What Google's Secret Car Company Is Called


A couple from Gujarat’s tribal district Dahod has finally opted for a family planning operation after conceiving 17 children, which includes 16 daughters and a son.

Hum do, hamare 17 would have become 18 if the entire village hadn’t come together to convince Ramsinh, 44, to let his wife, Kanu Sangot, 40, undergo a tubectomy a fortnight ago.

"The villagers persuaded us to put a full stop to our family expansion," Ramsinh told TOI over phone. He admitted that his family kept getting bigger in the quest for another son. Kanu delivered their 16th daughter Smruta in September 2015. Ramsinh does not remember the delivery date of their 17th child, and the couple have not named her yet.

Vijay, his son, was born in 2013 but Ramsinh wanted another boy. "First, I wanted a son for our old age. After I fathered so many girls, I desperately wanted sons to look after my girls. But that didn’t happen," Ramsinh said.

Living in a dilapidated mud house, Ramsinh grows maize and wheat on two bighas of land. He and his wife also work as farm labourers to earn extra income to feed their large family.

"The gram panchayat and village elders persuaded Ramsinh and Kanu to limit their family as it is difficult to raise so many children in times of inflation," says Viralben, sarpanch of Zaribujarg.Of the 16 daughters, two died, while two others left the house after getting married. Two others were sent to Rajkot to work as farm labourers.

Gujarat Couple Decides To Go For Family Planning... After Having 17 Kids!

After 17 Kids, Gujarat Couple Go For Family Planning

After 17 kids, Gujarat couple, family planning, opted family planning operation


He Spots A Strange Nest Made Of Dryer Lint. Then He Notices The 3 Tails...

However, sap from the pine tree upon which they’d chosen to position their new nest began dripping in, slowly transforming their new nest into a trap. Soon, their tails were completely entangled, and each squirrel was fighting to free itself from the other two.

Their desperate escape efforts quickly caught the eye of a friendly human neighbor. Curious as to what exactly could be riling up these squirrels so much, the man began climbing the pine. Once he saw their sticky mess, he fetched a bucket, ushered them inside, and began carefully untangling them.

Sensing this man meant them no harm, the squirrels kept calm while he methodically washed them free of sap.

In time, he completely freed these precious squirrels from their sticky mess, gifting them the second chance to enjoy their beautifully wild lives once more.

Stranger Frees Three Adorable Squirrels From Their Sticky Nest

When three neighborhood squirrels set off to build themselves a new nest, none of them could have foreseen the horror looming in their not-so-distant futures. They’d scavenged some new materials — insulation and dryer lint — and set off building their dream home. However, sap from the pine tree upon which they’d chosen to position their new...

Three squirrels got stuck in a nest with lint and sap...and now they're all fine.
#StopClickBait


This U.S. city's infant mortality rate is twice the national average, but mothers there don't stand alone

Detroit's infant mortality rate is twice the national average and the highest among large American cities, but a new initiative in the city is trying to stop one of the primary causes.

Mayor Mike Duggan announced the "Make Your Date" campaign Thursday in collaboration with local hospitals to help pregnant women in Detroit receive support and medical care, even if they aren't insured. The campaign takes aim at reducing preterm births, as 18 percent of babies in the city are born prematurely (before 37 weeks), compared to 12 percent in the United States overall.

A Detroit News study earlier this year found that of U.S. cities its size and larger, Detroit had the highest rate of infant mortality, with 13.5 in 1,000 children dying in their first 12 months in 2010. Premature births was identified as the number one cause of mortality.

"Carrying her baby to full term is the most important thing a mother can do for the development of her child," Duggan said in a statement Thursday.

The Make Your Date initiative, which corrals together different providers and resources through a website and phone number, aims to get every pregnant woman in Detroit to see a doctor, in part by making sure women receive services regardless of health insurance coverage or means. Women who sign up will be connected to prenatal care providers and offered classes on preterm birth prevention.

It also allows ensures women receive regular ultrasounds, a procedure that can help women who have a higher risk of preterm birth and trigger any necessary preventative care. Ultrasounds can identify short cervixes, a condition that's more common among Detroit women than in other areas of the world and also increases women's risk of preterm birth. However, a hormone treatment can reduce the risk of preterm birth by nearly half. A 2011 study conducted by investigators with the National Institutes of Health's Perinatology Research Branch, located in Detroit at Wayne State University's School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center, found that when administered a vaginal progesterone gel treatment daily, preterm birth among women with short cervixes was reduced by 45 percent.

Dr. Sonia Hassan, an author on that study and associate dean for maternal, perinatal and child health care at Wayne's med school, will be leading the Make Your Date initiative with several others.

She's made it her mission to combat the high rates of preterm birth and the drastic effects it can have on children's health, she told Crain's Detroit Business earlier this year.

"It hits you most when you see the effects when they get a little older -- cerebral palsy or other effects that are more evident," she said. "You see it, and it really makes a difference."

According to the March of Dimes, preterm birth can have long-term effects on health, including leading to intellectual and developmental disabilities, asthma and other lung problems, as well as intestinal, dental, vision and hearing issues.

"Being born full term is critical to long-term health," Hassan said in a statement Thursday. "The goal of this campaign is to reduce the rate of preterm birth by helping all expectant moms in Detroit receive the best care possible."

The Make Your Date program is funded through its partners including three health systems in the city, Meridian Health Plan and foundations like March of Dimes. The city of Detroit, which filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection last year, is not contributing funding.

Detroit's Infant Mortality Rate Is Double The National Average, But Here's What They're Doing To Help Mothers

Detroit's infant mortality rate is twice the national average and the highest among large American cities, but a new initiative in the city is trying to ...

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ATTENTION - read this before clicking any more ISIS "news"

Reminder of who were the first fake rebels created by the illuminati in Syria: Last Prophet's words from Jul 2014 [see March 2016 update for side note in fact #1]:

ATTENTION - read this before clicking any more ISIS / Islamic State / Daesh "news": Iraq, except for Sinjar: freedom fighters falsely relabeled ISIS, from Fallujah to Mosul. ISIS was created by the illuminati in Syria in 2013.

1. Goals for creating ISIS This illustrates how the same tool can be used to advance several agendas. Main agenda is to suppress the revolt in Syria. Other ones range from genocide of christians and sunnis to set stage for manhunt for muslims in the EU/USA. ISIS created by Illuminati (NATO & Co) to fight the real rebels, primarly in Syria., discredit the real rebels, primarly in Iraq. Example: beheadings, no matter if fake (western hostages) or real., advance the agendas "genocide of christians and sunnis". Example: beheadings, obviously the real ones., stage the fake war "against" Assad in Syria

Eventually coming (only if Assad and the Iran/Hezbollah sh'ia militias is about to be defeated): give a pretext for official military intervention by NATO and Russia to bomb the real rebels.

Coming without any doubts: stage "terror attacks against civilians in Europe and USA".

Note: without doubts because the main agenda is not yet another pretext for miliaty intervention. It's the agenda "set stage for manhunt for muslims", that already started, but only at a slow pace (Fort Hood, etc). Side note: same as the fake "US shootings" series since 2011 they will most certainly be also of the fake blood type [update as of Mar 2016: 100% confirmed].

2. ISIS consists of mercenaries dressed as jihadists, supplied mostly by the governments of Saudi Arabia, NATO's Turkey and chechens sent by Russia.

3. Part of the ISIS killers were originally trained as guards for extermination camps, part of the agenda genocide of 90% of the world's population. Reminder it's scripted to start as soon as Obama detonates as suicide bomber, an act postponed several times since 2009.

4. ISIS parades, beheadings, crucifictions and so on, supposedly taking place in Iraq cities, are in fact filmed in Raqqa, Syria.

5. ISIS controls ZERO major cities in Iraq. Mosul, Tikrit, Fallujah and ALL other cities bombed by NATO/Iran are controlled by the General Military Council for Iraqi Revolutionaries (GMCIR), not by ISIS.

6. NATO & Co is NOT air bombing ISIS, as Obviously implied in the previous facts. NATO & co are indeed air bombing Syria and Iraq, but the target are the real rebels.

Added: The reason why NATO bombed Kobani, Syria, was obviously NOT to dislodge ISIS. Goal was to destroy the city, part of the agenda ethnic cleansing of the SyriaTurkey border from Kurds. Reminder: that's also the agenda behind Kiev's "anti-terrorist operation" in Donetsk and Lugansk (just read ethnic russians instead of Kurds).

War on Terror Hoax alias War based on terror


Did Disney Just Pull Off Something They've Never Done Before in "Finding Dory"?

While the Pixar films Finding Nemo and Finding Dory feature the voice of famous lesbian Ellen DeGeneres, a new Finding Dory trailer released Tuesday led fans to speculate that a lesbian couple may be featured in the film.

Throughout the t, an octopus named Hank helps main character Dory, a fish with short-term memory loss, on her journey. In the hijinks, the octopus ends up in a baby carriage which appears to belong to a lesbian couple. Fans took note.

That new #FindingDory trailer released this morning? I think that's the first lesbian couple in a @DisneyPixar film.pic.twitter.com/S1wwJEOeWT https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CjO3CGtUgAA1eu2.jpg:large

omg finally, Pixar put a lesbian couple in #FindingDory this is the time to celebrate pic.twitter.com/uPiV1nFp7A https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CjPoBUDVEAA4NQx.jpg:large

While it's not certain that the women depicted are actually a lesbian couple, fan speculation suggests just how much people want to see Disney films embrace LGBT characters.

In May, two separate hashtag campaigns asked that Disney incorporate LGBT characters into its franchises. #GiveElsaAGirlfriend rallied for Frozen's Elsa to get a woman for a partner, while #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend called on Marvel to let superhero Captain America to bring his relationship with his best friend Bucky to the next (read: a non-platonic) level.

Frozen featured an LGBT couple in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment. When a male character named Oaken points to his family (at 2:12 in the video below), he points to another man and four children.

Both hashtags surfaced after LGBT advocacy group GLAAD gave Disney a "Failing" grade for the representation of LGBT characters in its movies.

While a short scene with a wlesbian couple isn't a cinematic revolution, it's a small step forward and a sign of Pixar's and Disney's willingness to show the kids (and adults!) who watch their films that LGBT people exist — in the real as well as the animated

The 'Finding Dory' Trailer May Feature Pixar's Very First Lesbian Couple

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What are the five most addictive substances on Earth?

What are the most addictive drugs? This question seems simple, but the answer depends on whom you ask. From the points of view different researchers, the potential for a drug to be addictive can be judged in terms of the harm it causes, the street value of the drug, the extent to which the drug activates the brain’s dopamine system , how pleasurable people report the drug to be, the degree to which the drug causes withdrawal symptoms, and how easily a person trying the drug will become hooked.

There are other facets to measuring the addictive potential of a drug, too, and there are even researchers who argue that no drug is always addictive. Given the varied view of researchers, then, one way of ranking addictive drugs is to ask expert panels. In 2007, David Nutt and his colleagues asked addiction experts to do exactly that – with some interesting findings.

Nicotine is the main addictive ingredient of tobacco. When somebody smokes a cigarette, nicotine is rapidly absorbed by the lungs and delivered to the brain. While Nutt et al’s expert panels rated nicotine (tobacco) as only the 12th most addictive substance, there are reasons to believe that nicotine is a very powerful addictive drug.

Barbiturates – also known as blue bullets, gorillas, nembies, barbs and pink ladies – are a class of drugs that were initially used to treat anxiety and to induce sleep . They interfere with chemical signalling in the brain, the effect of which is to shut down various brain regions. At low doses, barbiturates cause euphoria, but at higher doses they can be lethal because they suppress breathing. Barbiturate dependence was common when the drugs were easily available by prescription, but this has declined dramatically as other drugs have replaced them. This highlights the role that the context plays in addiction: if an addictive drug is not widely available, it can do little harm. Nutt et al’s expert panels rated barbiturates as the fourth most addictive substance.

Crack cocaine has been ranked by experts as being the third most damaging drug and powdered cocaine, which causes a milder high, as the fifth most damaging. About 21% of people who try cocaine will become dependent on it at sometime in their life. Cocaine is similar to other addictive stimulants, such as methamphetamine – which is becoming more of a problem as it becomes more widely available – and amphetamine.

Although legal in the US and UK, alcohol was rated as the second most addictive substance by Nutt et al.’s experts (scoring 2.2 out of a maximum of 3). Alcohol has many effects on the brain, but in laboratory experiments on animals it increased dopamine levels in the brain’s reward system by 40-360% – and the more the animals drank the more dopamine levels increased.

Nutt et al.’s experts ranked heroin as the most addictive drug, giving it a score of 2.5 out of a maximum score of 3. Heroin is an opiate that causes the level of dopamine in the brain’s reward system to increase by up to 200% in experimental animals . In addition to being arguably the most addictive drug, heroin is dangerous, too, because the dose that can cause death is only five times greater than the dose required for a high.

The Five Most Addictive Substances On Earth – And What They Do To Your Brain

Nicotine, Barbiturates, Cocaine, Alcohol and Heroin.

1. Heroin
2. Alcohol
3. Cocaine
4. Barbiturates (‘downers’)
5. Nicotine


Your favorite food can tell you about what your money's worth

For three decades, Big Macs have been the benchmark when it comes to measuring currencies in terms of a single product. But what if gauging your purchasing power parity with two all beef patties, special sauce and the rest isn’t to your taste?

In an effort to diversify the food-based FX comparison basket, here’s a selection of alternative indexes. It’s a somewhat lighthearted endeavor, but takes on fresh significance given the recent volatility -- with a surge and subsequent retreat -- in the dollar.

A strong greenback has become a source of anxiety among some at the Federal Reserve, as well as for emerging-market investors and American exporters. Maybe latte drinkers in the U.S. should be added to the list:

While Starbucks may not be quite as ubiquitous as McDonald’s, the coffee chain’s outlets are hard to miss in any big city. Checking menus at locations next to Bloomberg offices in New York, Tokyo, Frankfurt and London, the effect of the strong dollar is quite clear. In latte terms (including applicable taxes), the U.S. currency is about 10 percent overvalued versus the yen, and 25 percent overvalued to the pound.

By comparison, in Big Mac terms the dollar is a whopping 60 percent overvalued against the yen and 30 percent too dear to sterling.

The Big Apple doesn’t have the most expensive pizza though:

London’s exorbitant prices suggest the pound is more than 26 percent overvalued, even after its 16 percent plunge against the dollar last year, the most of any developed-market currency.

One challenge for the pizza index: a disparity in sizes. A medium pie measures 12 inches in the U.S., 11.5 inches in the U.K., 11 inches in Germany, and a meager 9 inches in Japan. Even so, the discount in Frankfurt is remarkable, suggesting the euro is undervalued by almost 50 percent.

When it comes to chicken wings, New York fans of the sports-bar staple -- or fans of the Hooters Inc. staff that serve them -- aren’t the only ones shelling out.

In Gotham, diners are even paying a premium in domestic terms, looking at prices in the location in Clearwater, Florida, where Hooters got its start in 1983. The expense is only comparable with Tokyo, and even then, prices for the Ginza branch incorporate a 10 percent service charge. For New Yorkers, that’s extra.

Hooters is not yet found in London, and outlets that take Europe’s shared currency are limited to three in Austria and one in Frankfurt. For a U.K. comparison, Nottingham, north of London, provides the sole point of reference.

Finally, for high-end dining, the table is more level -- with one notable exception:

Black cod with miso is the dish that chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa is perhaps most famous for. Again, prices include taxes and any applicable service fees, but not tips. Only in Tokyo do diners get more bean paste for their buck than New York, albeit marginally. Meanwhile, London enhances its reputation as an expensive place to eat out: the Nobu index suggests the pound is overvalued by 30 percent.

Your Favorite Food Can Tell You About What Your Money's Worth

latte
Big Mac
pizza
chicken wings
Black cod with miso


State's oil and gas association challenges Democrat to fracking debate

The president of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association invited Colorado's Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Polis to a series of energy debates in response to a letter Polis sent the organization asking them to "stop suing our communities" over fracking bans.

Last week, the Congressman posted YouTube videos and addressed a letter to Tisha Schuller, the president of the COGA, asking her to withdraw lawsuits against communities he represents that passed voter-approved fracking bans. On Friday, Schuller responded that "legal action is an unfortunate last resort, but we were left with no choice," and invited Polis to a debate.

"It's no secret that my fellow Boulderite Congressman Jared Polis has long-held concerns about oil and gas development and his latest decision to weigh on our recent legal action highlights his anxieties," Schuller said in a statement. "I think we would be doing his constituents and the public at large a great service if we participated in a series of public forums about Colorado's energy future."

COGA contends that the state's authority to regulate oil and gas activity supersedes local laws, and thus municipal fracking initiatives are invalid.

Congressman Polis has been an outspoken critic of hydraulic fracturing in the state -- the controversial process of drilling into the earth's surface and pumping millions gallons of water and chemical additives at high pressures to extract natural gas -- particularly since Sundance Energy Inc. set up a drilling rig across the street from a weekend getaway house he owns last July.

Polis' criticism has also been in contrast to Colorado's Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper's position.

"We understand the genuine anxiety and concern of having an inudstrial process close to neighborhoods," Eric Brown, a spokesman for Hickenlooper told The Denver Post last month. "Yet the Colorado constitution protects the rights of people to access their property above and below ground."

As of this article's publishing, it has not yet been announced whether Polis will take up the COGA's debate offer.

Jared Polis Challenged To Energy Debate By Colorado Oil And Gas Association President

The president of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association invited Colorado's Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Polis to a series of energy debates in response to a ...

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(CNN) As officials continue to investigate what happened to EgyptAir Flight 804, many travelers can't help but question the risks they face when boarding their next flight.

As we move towards the second half of 2016, it's shaping out to be one of the safest years in recent aviation history.

"We are ahead of the 10-year average with eight accidents and 167 fatalities compared to the average of 10 accidents and 205 fatalities," aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas, editor of Airlineratings.com , told CNN.

Experts say measuring the number of crashes or deaths alone isn't an accurate way to determine safety. You also have to factor in the overall amount of aviation traffic.

It cites Aviation-Safety.net data that tallies 16 air accidents with 560 fatalities -- below the 10-year average and an improvement on 2014 when there were 21 fatal accidents with 986 fatalities.

"Flashback 50 years and there were a staggering 87 crashes killing 1,597 when airlines carried only 141 million passengers -- 5% of today's number," said the report.

There were two high-profile air travel incidents in 2015.

In March, an Airbus A320-211 operated by budget carrier Germanwings crashed into the French Alps killing all 150 people on board.

It later transpired that pilot Andreas Lubitz, who was identified as having suicidal tendencies, had caused the crash deliberately.

In October, 224 people were killed when a Russian Metrojet Airbus A321-231 broke apart shortly after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport in Egypt.

The disaster was claimed as a bomb attack by terror group ISIS. Investigations are still ongoing, but initial intelligence reports also pointed the finger at terrorism.

Every year, AirlineRatings.com puts out a list of the world's safest airlines

The rating system takes into account audits from aviation's governing bodies and lead associations, as well as government audits and the airlines' fatality records.

It also examines airlines' operational histories, incident records and operational excellence.

According to the site, 148 of the 407 airlines it surveyed have the top seven-star safety ranking, but almost 50 have just three stars or less.

If an airline has a crash that involves the death of a passenger and/or crew members it will automatically lose a star from its safety-rating rankings.

EgyptAir has a product safety rating of 5/7.

A total of 10 airlines, all from Nepal, Indonesia or Surinam, qualify for just one or zero stars.

On the contrary, say experts. According to statistics, 2016 is shaping out to be one of the safest years on record for aviation.

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No, it's safer than ever. #StopClickBait


10 things your co-workers definitely don't need to know about you:

Work is a social place, but employers have been very slow to recognize it. We pretend that people go to work just to do their jobs, but for many people that's not true. We get more out of our work than just a paycheck, when the environment is healthy.

We get social interaction that we need, and we get to build up other people and they build  us up, too.

When the energy is good in your workplace, your co-workers can be like friends. However, the fuzzy line between work-friendship and regular friendship can also cause you problems.

When you're dealing with tough situations at home, your workmates are the obvious people to tell. Sometimes they can give you great advice on what to do. At the same time, it's still a job. It's not a great idea to tell your co-workers a lot about your personal life, because there is a risk involved.

Fear and trust move in waves. A carefree, casual workplace today can become fraught and stressful quickly, and that's when you will regret having told your co-workers too many personal details about your life.

Sadly, when people get fearful they can turn on you, give up your secrets and generally hurt you. Maybe it would be better for you to find a trusted friend who isn't also a co-worker and spill your guts to that person when you need advice!

Here are ten things your co-workers don't need to know about you:

2. Your detailed financial state -- or financial problems

4. Your health situation, except as it applies to work

6. Your feelings about your company or your boss

8. Your political aspirations inside your company

9. Your hesitations and doubts about yourself

10. Your struggles (with substance abuse, gambling, etc.)

I look forward to the day when every workplace is also a community built on trust, but we are not there yet. When you lean on trust that does not exist or that is too ephemeral to rest on, you can live to regret it. There is too much fear in most workplaces to make very personal conversations with your colleagues a good idea.

Many companies offer an employee benefit called an EAP, or Employee Assistance Program.

These programs allow employees to call trained counselors and get advice over the phone at no charge. The company will get data from the EAP provider that tells them how many employees used the service each quarter, but they won't learn which employees contacted the EAP.

When I was an HR leader, I referred our employees to our EAP all the time. It can be extremely helpful to talk through situations with someone who knows the right questions to ask.

Think of a friend whose opinion your value and whom you haven't seen in a while. Reach out to that friend and invite them to meet you for a drink or lunch or coffee. We all need support networks, but our workmates may not be the best nominees for that role, as good-hearted as they may be.

Use your judgment when inviting your professional contacts into the vault where secrets are shared. You will sleep more easily when you do!

Ten Things Your Co-Workers Don't Need To Know About You

Work is a social place, but how much personal information should you really share with your co-workers?


Do something special for bae today!

11 Adorable Ways To Show Your Valentine Some Lovin’:

1. Give them an IOU that you'll make them their fave breakfast whenever they want!

Pancakes? The perfect breakfast sandwich? In bed? 'Tis the sweetest gift of them all.

2. Offer to snooze their alarm for a week so they get those precious five extra minutes.

(And some extra cuddle time with their best friend.)

3. Defrost their car for them before they go to work.

What's worse than getting in a freezing car? They'll love you forever.

4. Leave them sweet "notes" around the house.

You can get very creative with your mediums.

Even if you can't sing, there's no way that this won't make them melt. You can give it to them via a cute mixtape USB.

7. Make them their own snuggly nook in your house.

Think tons of pillows, soft blankets, and nice lighting. Make sure to stack their favorite books next to it!

8. Deliver a heart-themed bento lunch to their office.

You can customize it with their favorite foods!

9. Take a class to learn how to make something they love!

This can be anything! Pasta, the perfect latte, or even a beautiful bracelet!

10. Make them a collage of your favorite selfies.

We bet you have a ton of these. Put them to good use!

11. Make them a "lord" or "lady" by buying them one square foot of land in Scotland.

Yup, it's $40, but definitely worth it. (Understand in advance that they may use their new regal title as a way to get out of doing dishes.)

Let us know how you're showing your Valentine you love them with the hashtag #LoveGODIVA.'

11 Adorable Ways To Show Your Valentine Some Lovin’ This Year

Do something special for bae this year. Display your affection with a classic gift box from GODIVA’s Gold Collection...


How you can get the new $35,000 Tesla Model 3:

Tesla ‘blows the competition away’: Pro Thursday, 11 Feb 2016 | 4:07 AM ET

Tesla's entry-level $35,000 Model 3 electric car will be available for preorder on March 31, chief executive Elon Musk announced Thursday on Twitter.

The tweets by the billionaire followed a note in the company's earnings release on Wednesday that the Model 3 is on schedule for deliveries in late 2017.

Tesla plans to begin installing production machinery this year.

In his tweets, Musk said consumers could begin preorders next month with a $1,000 deposit.

He also confirmed the rumored $35,000 price tag.

The Model 3 is Tesla's entry-level offering, whereas the Model S and Model X SUV carry hefty price tags.

Musk also announced that the company would not be releasing a "signature" version of the Model 3. Signature versions of the Model S and X were put on sale and came fully loaded with the top features. A signature Model X costs around $130,000.

Tesla Model 3: How to get the new $35,000 car

Tesla's entry-level $35,000 Model 3 electric car will be available for preorder on March 31, Elon Musk announces on Twitter.

Tech Transformers, Autos, Technology, Tesla Motors Inc, business news


This orphan black blooper reel shows the mistake Tatiana maslany must make all the time

With the fourth season already over, Orphan Black decided to have a bit of fun at its Comic-Con panel. In addition to forcing the actors to ad-lib scenes as their characters, BBC America released a blooper reel which has got to be a constant problem for Tatiana Maslany,.

The specific blooper features Maslany, as Cosima, talking into a phone and telling the person on the other end that they need to talk to Cosima.

This Orphan Black Blooper Reel Shows the Mistake Tatiana Maslany Must Make All the Time

orphan black, tv, bbc america, comic-con 2016, comic-con, san diego comic-con, io9

Getting the names of characters she plays mixed up


Here’s how thieves can steal your smartphone pin code in just SECONDS

Thieves have uncovered a new way to find out your smartphone pin code.

After you tap in the digits, scammers can use thermal camera to take picture of the heat marks from where your fingers have just tapped the screen.

They can even work out the order that you typed in your code because each heat spot gets fainter over time.

And Android users who use a finger-drawn pattern to unlock their phone are the highest risk of falling victim to this new scam, scientists have revealed.

When you tap in your PIN code, your fingers leave traces of heat on your screen.

Scammers can use thermal cameras to quickly take a snapshot of your PIN seconds after you've tapped it in.

The thermal images are then subjected to a six-stage process, where the colour image is converted into grayscale and stripped to leave only the heat spots.

The final step is to work out how much each circle has faded over time - to unveil the likely order that the passcode was typed in.

The process can also be used to work out the hand-drawn pattern Android users use to unlock their phone.

'The increasing amount of sensitive data available on personal mobile devices, such as personal photos, call logs, bank accounts, and emails underlines the need to secure them against various kinds of malicious attacks,' the scientists from the University of Stuttgart, Germany, said in a research paper.

'The usable security community lately focused on investigating different user-centered attacks, such as shouldersurfing and smudge attacks.

'At the same time, a new threat emerged which received only little attention so far from the research community, that is, thermal attacks on touch screens of mobile devices.

'The past years have witnessed portable thermal cameras becoming available on the mass market, in personal mobile devices such as CAT S601, or as attachable accessories for mobile devices.'

To understand how the scam works, the researchers developed a six-stage technique for stealing PIN codes.

First, a thermal camera set to detect temperatures between 19 degrees Celsius (66F) and 32 degrees Celsius (90F) takes a snap of an phone screen immediately after a code is entered.

Then software is used to convert the colour image into grayscale and reduce background noise.

A two-stage process is then used to strip out the image to leave only the heat spots left by someone tapping in their pincode.

The main features of the heat spots are then extracted to leave a picture showing four circles.

The scientists have suggested a simple technique to combat thermal attacks.

While users are typing in their PIN code, they should place their entire hand over the screen to create a pattern of random heat spots, the researchers said.

'Placing the hand on the display might remove all thermal traces,' the researchers said.

Android users can significantly reduce their chances of getting scammed by introducing an overlap to their finger-drawn pattern.

This will make it harder for thieves to work out in what order the pattern was drawn.

'Our results indicate that adding a single overlap in an authentication pattern significantly increases the resistance to thermal attacks,' the researchers said.

Scientists found that when this process is applied, they could guess a user's PIN 90 per cent of the time - if the thermal image was taken within 15 seconds of a PIN being tapped in.

For Android users who use finger-drawn patterns, the scientists could guess the right shape 100 per cent of the time, even if a thermal image was snapped 30 seconds after a user drew it onto their phone screen.

But the scientists have suggested a simple technique to combat thermal attacks.

'However, there are different procedures that decrease the success rate of thermal attacks without involving the user.

'For example, increasing the brightness of the display to the maximum for a few seconds heats up the display temperature and, thus, reduces the time thermal traces are visible.

'Similarly, running computationally heavy processes on the phone quickly heats the phone up, resulting in a similar effect.'

Thieves can steal your smartphone PIN code in SECONDS using thermal cameras (and Android users are at greater risk)

Researchers from the University of Stuttgart in Germany say the technique works up to 30 seconds after you've stop tapping on the screen.


The Story About the Super-Offensive Cake a Gay Man Claims He Got From Whole Foods Just Got So...

Back in April, openly gay Texas pastor Jordan Brown made headlines when he decided to sue Whole Foods after he claimed they wrote "Love Wins Fag" on his cake in blue icing. Sadly, the latest update via The Daily Dot paints an even more bleak picture of the alleged incident, with the pastor admitting he made the whole thing up.

Shortly after the post went viral, Whole Foods said they were countersuing the pastor, claiming that security footage from the store showed the label Brown shows to be intact in the video was originally on top of the box when he purchased the cake.

Brown has now issued a statement to the media confirming he had made it up, saying,

Today I am dismissing my lawsuit against Whole Foods Market. The company did nothing wrong. I was wrong to pursue this matter and use the media to perpetuate this story. I want to apologize to Whole Foods and its team members for questioning the company's commitment to its values, and especially the bakery associate who I understand was put in a terrible position because of my actions. I apologize to the LGBT community for diverting attention from real issues. I also want to apologize to my partner, my family, my church family, and my attorney.

Stranger still, The Daily Dot says that when they went to look into the church Brown claimed he was a pastor at (and is also registered 501(c)3 tax-deductible charity that accepts donations), the address listed only led to a luxury apartment complex. The property manager there also told The Daily Dot they'd never heard of any church meetings there, which is beyond weird.

While we can't know why Brown made this up, it is beyond bizarre that he would manipulate the media via a fake story of LGBT discrimination when there are tons of stories about LGBT discrimination in the media every day. Plus, the last thing the LGBT community needs is someone making up stories that could easily contribute to the community not being believed when actual instances of discrimination are reported.

The Story About The Super Offensive Cake A Gay Man Claims He Got From Whole Foods Just Got So Freaking Insane

He admitted it was false. #StopClickBait

has now issued a statement to the media confirming he had made it up, saying, Today I am dismissing my lawsuit against Whole Foods Market. The company did nothing wrong


You asked, @nytimeswell answered: Should you fast before a cholesterol test?

Should you fast before a cholesterol test? Several years ago it was announced that there is no benefit in fasting before a cholesterol test. What ever happened as a result of that study, if anything?

Current cholesterol testing guidelines in the United States stipulate that fasting before a cholesterol test is "preferred." But repeated studies have found no clinically significant differences between results from cholesterol tests done on a full stomach and those done after fasting.

Fasting may provide a more accurate assessment of triglyceride levels, another measure of heart risk. But "it doesn’t matter if you eat" before a cholesterol test if the main goal is to evaluate LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, said Dr. Mary Norine Walsh, the president-elect of the American College of Cardiology.

"One of the barriers to getting cholesterol testing done is that patients arrive at the doctor’s office not fasting, and then it doesn’t get done," Dr. Walsh said. She runs the test even if patients have eaten before an appointment and encourages other doctors to do the same.

Among the studies that found that fasting may have little impact on cholesterol blood test results was a large 2012 Canadian study of more than 200,000 people that found average levels for HDL and total cholesterol varied less than 2 percent, regardless of whether people had eaten an hour earlier or fasted for 16 hours. LDL cholesterol levels varied by less than 10 percent whether patients had fasted or not, and triglyceride levels varied by less than 20 percent, that study found.

Many European countries no longer recommend that patients fast before a cholesterol test. Nonfasting lipid testing has been standard in Denmark since 2009, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which develops guidelines in Britain, has endorsed nonfasting lipid testing for the primary prevention of heart disease since 2014. More recently, a joint consensus statement by the European Atherosclerosis Society and European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine reviewed the evidence and agreed that fasting is not routinely required for a lipid profile.

Fasting "is just one of those things that gets started and just carries on and on," said Dr. Borge G. Nordestgaard, the first author of the consensus document, which was published in the European Heart Journal. He noted that nonfasting triglycerides might be higher after someone eats fat, though not by much, and that the nonfasting sample would be more realistic, providing a "better picture of what the average lipid levels in the patient are."

Even eating high-cholesterol foods like eggs or shrimp on the day of a cholesterol test, he said, would have little impact on results. "Cholesterol levels change extremely slowly in response to food intake. That is why it is so difficult to get your cholesterol down by changing food habits," he said.

Eliminating the need to fast just "makes it much easier for everybody," Dr. Nordestgaard said.

Ask Well: Should You Fast Before a Cholesterol Test?

Repeated studies have found no clinically significant differences between results from cholesterol tests done on a full stomach and those done after fasting.


Here’s When Telltale’s Batman Game and Walking Dead Season 3 Are Releasing

Telltale Games’ head of creative communication, Job Stauffer, has detailed the release window for their upcoming titles Batman and The Walking Dead, Season 3 via Twitter.

Although the exact release dates are yet to be announced, Stauffer tweeted that the Batman series will be launched in this summer and the third season of The Walking Dead will release in the fall this year. His reference to E3 2016 in the tweet with a wink suggests that more details could be uncovered soon.

‘BATMAN – The Telltale Series’ will premiere this summer@TheWalkingDead‘s 3rd season will premiere this fall#E32016 begins in 1 week ;) — Job J Stauffer (@jobjstauffer) June 5, 2016

Telltale CEO Kevin Bruner, in an SXSW event a couple of months ago, said that the players will need to play as both Batman and Bruce Wayne in the later half of the game. However, at the start the players will have an option to chose who they want to play as between the two characters.

It was also discussed earlier that the Batman game will feature some familiar characters like Vicki Vale, Jim Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth and Renee Montoya. The developers also confirmed that the game will have more than one villain, although they aren’t being confirmed yet. The story, however, will not be related to any of the previous version any Batman game.

On the other hand, not a lot of details have been revealed about The Walking Dead, Season 3, but Bruner said that the game will catch the interest of both veterans and new comers.

He added, "It allows people who maybe haven’t people [the first two seasons] to come in and get up to speed really quickly. But it definitely respects, honors, and facilitates all of the various end points that Season Two had."

Along with these two titles, Telltale is currently working on the Game of Thrones, Season 2 and a yet to be announced Marvel game.

Telltale finally reveals when both these games will be releasing

Batman- Summer 2016
 Walking Dead Season 3- Fall 2016 #StopClickBait


Penny Hardaway was an NBA Megastar, but you can't imagine what he's doing now!

YouTube Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway was considered the type of talent you'd see maybe once a decade. At 6'6", the guard had size and ball-handling skill comparable to Magic Johnson, along with speed, athleticism and scoring ability believed to challenge the great Michael Jordan. In a modern era where tall, well-rounded wing players are increasingly common, Hardaway was the original. During his time with the Orlando Magic, Hardaway looked poised to take over the league as the four-time All-Star quickly established himself as one of the premiere talents in the Eastern Conference along with then teammate and rising star, Shaquille O'Neal. His well-rounded game made him a shoo-in for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team, and there he won a gold medal. Advertisement Ultimately, despite his success in Orlando, a nearly career-ending knee injury put him on ice for the 1997-1998 NBA season and would eventually send him to the Phoenix Suns. However, to lend credence to just how special a player Hardaway was, he got a seven-year contract worth $86 million, despite coming off of an injury that would likely derail most modern-day careers for good.He would never fully return to his peak, retiring in 2007. Off the court, Hardaway's campaign with Nike was one of the most successful, birthing some of the most popular sneakers of the 1990s, the Foamposite . In addition to his famed partnership with Nike, Hardaway also had various lucrative endeavors ranging from a salon and barbershop to a celebrity fitness center, Terf Athletic Facility, in Miami. Needless to say, Hardaway, who according to CNN , "made more than $120 million in a pro basketball career that spanned 16 seasons," is pretty much set for life financially. So why is it that he would return to his hometown of Memphis, Tenn., to, of all things, coach a middle school basketball team? He did it for his friend Desmond Merriweather, who above all else, wanted to ensure that his boys would have a coach while he battled colon cancer. Merriweather sadly passed on Feb. 8 , but with the help of Hardaway his dream was fulfilled.

Penny Hardaway Was An NBA Megastar, But You Can't Imagine What He's Doing Now (Video)

Yes you can. He coaches Middle School basketball.


The surprising thing that may change about your vision when you get older

Most of us anticipate our eyesight getting worse as we get older: blurred vision, the need for more light to see, the list goes on and on. But a new study shows that the risk of abnormal color vision could also go up as people reach elderly age.

The study, published in the journal Optometry and Vision Science, shows that the rate of abnormal color vision increases, starting at around age 70.

Researchers from The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute administered two color vision tests to 865 adults ages 58 to 102, none of whom had "color-blindness." One of tests was easier than the other; the easier one was "designed to only detect defects sufficiently severe to affect performance in daily life."

Of the people in the study, 40 percent had abnormal results on the tests, and 20 percent of people failed both of the tests altogether. However, the failure rate was significantly higher among people over age 70.

About 45 percent of people in their mid-70s experienced abnormalities in color vision, researchers found. The rate was even higher for people age 85 and older (up to 50 percent) and people in their mid-90s (nearly 66 percent).

Researchers also noted that nearly 20 percent of the older people in the study failed the easier test, suggesting that this abnormal color vision could affect their ability to engage in tasks that require accurate color vision.

However, the type of color vision abnormalities experienced most commonly by older people seems to be different from that of people who have inherited color-blindness. Most of the age-related color vision issues involved confusing lighter blue shades with lighter purple shades, and confusing yellow with green or yellow-green. Meanwhile, people with inherited color blindness are more likely to experience color vision abnormalities with red and green.

While the study did not look at causes of the abnormal color vision, the researchers noted some possible reasons could include yellowing of the eye lens and smaller pupil size (which would then lead to less light coming in to the eye), as well as increased rates of age-related eye diseases, such as glaucoma.

Color Vision Problems May Get More Common In Elderly Age

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Quentin Tarantino Thinks This Role Is the Best Character He’s Ever Written

However, Tarantino also spoke about how difficult casting the character was, even admitting that he thought about abandoning the movie before he met Waltz. "I was getting worried," he said. "Unless I found the perfect Landa, I was going to pull the movie. I gave myself one more week and then I was going to pull the plug. Then Christoph Waltz came in and it was obvious that he was the guy; he could do everything. He was amazing, he gave us our movie back."

"Landa is the best character I’ve written and maybe the best I ever will write," Tarantino said, according to Screen Daily . "I didn’t realize [when I was first writing him] that he was a linguistic genius. He’s probably one of the only Nazis in history who could speak perfect Yiddish."

From Django Unchained‘s Django ( Jamie Foxx ) to Kill Bill‘s Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman), Quentin Tarantino is known for his films’ strong characters. But while speaking at the Jerusalem Film Festival Friday, the 53-year-old director revealed that one role stands out to him: Inglourious Basterds‘ Col. Hans Landa, played by Christoph Waltz.

From Django Unchained's Django to Kill Bill's Beatrix Kiddo, Quentin Tarantino is known for his strong characters. This is his favorite.

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21 Baby Names Voted 'The Worst' of 2016... So Far

Baby names: What to choose? Expectant moms shouldn't take this decision lightly, as the name you give your son or daughter might be super cool ... or possibly cause therapy. (Think, think, think, think.)

We've already seen the hottest baby names for girls and oh-so-cute boy names of 2016 -- but what about those that didn't exactly make the cut? Reddit users had a field day listing what they think are the worst baby names they've recently heard. The very top "worst" picks were based on hundreds of comments and upvotes.

Hopefully, your kid didn't make the list -- and if he or she did ... um, at least the name you chose is popular? Seriously, though, this is all in fun.

So, here we go. Here's a peek at some of the worst baby names of 2016 thus far -- at least according to Reddit!

Nope, there are no typos here. Elizabreth -- as one Reddit user pointed out -- sure could sound like "Lizard Breath," depending on the right kid to poke fun at your baby's name.

"Mom, why does my name sound like something from The Lord of the Rings?" Meldor sounds strong.

Apparently Reddit users really dislike "creative spelling." Alrighty then!  If you're wondering how to pronounce it, here's a hint: Olivia Wilde, Olivia Newton-John, Olivia Pope ...

This rendition of "Maverick" might cause your kid's teacher to do a double take. Those Reddit users really don't like the use of Y's instead of I's!

"Beberly hills," quipped one Reddit user.

"Danger, Will Robinson. Danger!" Soo maybe Lost in Space wasn't the inspiration for this baby name. You gotta admit, it does live on the wild side. And, guess what? Danger is a unisex name.

.... LOL. There are no words for this one. Before you consider naming your child "Little Sweetmeat," please (oh please) think about the ramifications of that choice: the resumes Little Sweetmeat will need to fill out

the time in school Little Sweetmeat will have every time attendance gets called, etc.

Should you have a little difficulties understanding the meaning behind this name, allow us to help you out. Write it down -- in large letters -- on a piece of paper. Now, stand in front of a mirror. Yup, Nevaeh is "Heaven" backwards.

Apparently this is pronounced "see-Andre."

"Hi, my name is Colon." Imagine seeing that on a sticker at a business function, or a speed-dating event. There's really no way to paint this baby name as an awesome choice. Guarantee you didn't think about grammar and punctuation when you first saw this. (Yeah, you might want to remember to call your doctor for a checkup.)

When a Reddit commenter didn't believe this was a real name (as in A ... B ... C ...), the original posted pointed to this article claiming there are 328 humans in the USA named Abcde. Seriously, y'all, Abcde is a girl's name.

Well ... we know someone named "Baby" (who cares if she was fictitious) who had the summer of her life, found love, and learned how to dirty dance. All jokes aside, Baby is a pretty sweet unisex name choice.

Who knows if this is a unisex name or not. "Merika" sounds kinda patriotic. Maybe the baby who gets this name will want to make America great again.

Do you just love the name "Jessica"? Can you not live without "Erica"? Well, now you don't have to choose -- because you can mold them together into "Jerica."

"Like panty with a lisp?" questioned one Reddit user after hearing this name. "Panthy" could reflect a parent's strong love for a leopard ... right?

How is "Reighleigh" all that shocking? Sure, it might've been a wee bit easier to use Riley, but maybe Mom likes the letters "g" and "h" in a baby name. (Just a thought.)

Hmm ... Well, maybe Mom or Dad love Ed Harris and felt inspired to name their baby girl after this 2008 movie. Or, maybe these parents really love the appaloosa horse breed? Yeah, there's no real way to sugarcoat this one -- it's out there.

When the terror of the night becomes unbearable, who do you call? Hollywood is full of superhero movies and television shows that capture our attention, and have us rooting for the good guy. One baby name that made this list but might turn out to be a badass choice is "Gotham." Sure, it's different, but very unique.

Speaking of unique, this is a very special way of spelling ... unique. At least you can't say "Yunique" isn't distinct. (Mom, you get points for being original.)

"Ex-boyfriend named his daughter Melanomia. Yup. Dodged a bullet," wrote a Reddit user. If you don't know, melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body, if undetected.

Nope, you're reading this name correctly. This little child will never have to choose her favorite performer because she has three names for the price of one. "Britney Shakira Beyonce" is pretty fierce with a bigger pair of heels to fill. Are you "crazy in love" over this baby name? (PS: The initials are BSB, like, you know, The Backstreet Boys.)

21 Baby Names Voted 'The Worst' of 2016 ... So Far

Baby names: What to choose? Expectant moms shouldn't take this decision lightly, as the name you give your son or daughter might be super cool .....

entire slideshow copied from a Reddit thread, linked in comments

Elizabreth Meldor Aliviyah Mhavrych Beberly


Guess How Many Zika Cases Showed Up At The Olympics?

Enlarge this image Mosquitoes hover around South Korea's bronze medalist Ki Bo Bae during the medal ceremony for archery, held on Aug. 11 at the Rio Games. Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images Mosquitoes hover around South Korea's bronze medalist Ki Bo Bae during the medal ceremony for archery, held on Aug. 11 at the Rio Games. Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

"There have so far been no laboratory confirmed cases of Zika virus in spectators, athletes or anyone associated with the Olympics," the World Health Organization "There have so far been no laboratory confirmed cases of Zika virus in spectators, athletes or anyone associated with the Olympics," the World Health Organization said Thursday on its website.

Now, no cases doesn't mean no one caught Zika at the Summer Games. About 80 percent of people who get infected don't know it. They don't have any symptoms. And those who do get sick often have only mild symptoms. So the vast majority of cases go unreported.

But so far, it's looking like predictions from computer models were pretty much spot on: Zika wasn't a big threat in Rio de Janeiro during the Olympics.

Back in the spring, several computer scientists built models for how Zika is spreading in Latin America. They Back in the spring, several computer scientists built models for how Zika is spreading in Latin America. They predicted there would be — at most — 16 cases at the games. And the chance a fan or athlete would bring Zika home with them after the games was very low.

But other researchers still thought the risk was But other researchers still thought the risk was too high to keep the games in Rio. In May, more than 200 scientists, many bioethicists, signed a letter to WHO, calling for the games to be moved.

One of the lead authors on that letter was One of the lead authors on that letter was Amir Attaran , a professor in the School of Public Health and the School of Law at the University of Ottawa.

He says it's way too early to draw any conclusions about Zika and the Olympics.

"The Olympics aren't even over!" Attaran said in an email to NPR. "WHO has forgotten the Paralympic Games next month," which "The Olympics aren't even over!" Attaran said in an email to NPR. "WHO has forgotten the Paralympic Games next month," which start Sept. 7 in Rio.

And there's also the issue with sexual transmission, says And there's also the issue with sexual transmission, says Arthur Caplan , a bioethicist at New York University.

Zika can stay in a man's semen for months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, even if the man didn't show any Zika symptoms. Women can also pass the virus to men through sex, a recent study Zika can stay in a man's semen for months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, even if the man didn't show any Zika symptoms. Women can also pass the virus to men through sex, a recent study found

"We don't know who is spreading Zika via sex that they acquired at the Olympics," Caplan says. "We will need to monitor [the situation] for impact for many many months — not who got bitten over two weeks!"

"The situation is being closely monitored; a few cases may still occur," the agency said, "especially given the approximately one-week incubation period of the virus."

Zika At The Olympics: How Many Cases Were There? : Goats and Soda : N...

Before the games, computer scientists weren't worried about the spread of Zika. But some public health experts were. What does the data show?


Kids Found These Orphan Cats In A Ditch. When They Got To The Shelter, They Got A BIG Surprise.

When a few baby animals were separated from their mother by a group of rock-throwing children in Hoedspruit, South Africa, it seemed like there was little hope for them.

But the good people at the Daktari Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage weren’t ready to give up on them. All they needed to survive was a mother’s love, and they knew exactly where to find it.

The story began when children in Hoedspruit, South Africa threw rocks at an animal, forcing her to abandon her babies. The animals were genets, a carnivorous creature found in Africa and Europe.

Her babies were found lying helpless in a puddle. Other kids found the little babies and contacted their local pastor. That’s when he alerted the nonprofit Daktari Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage , an organization that educates local kids about how to take care of the environment and its animals.

The genets were picked up by orphanage co-founders Ian and Michelle Merrifield. At only two weeks old, it was unclear whether or not they would survive. They needed lacked the warmth and milk of their mother, and that’s when a poodle-cocker spaniel mix named Candy stepped in.

Though the Merrifields did everything they could to take care of the genets, giving them blankets and feeding them warm milk through a syringe, it was really Candy that saved their lives. She immediately took an interest in the genets, and the genets warmed up to her as well. They even tried to nurse on her.

Amazingly, Candy began producing milk! While she had puppies in the past, she didn’t have any at the moment, and wasn’t even pregnant at the time... but apparently, her maternal hormones had kicked in anyway.

Each of the baby genets – named Sakka, Chouchou, and Maswika – gets fed by their adoptive mother every day, but since dog milk doesn’t produce as much calcium as that of a genet, the Merrifields add a calcium supplement to their diet.

Ian says that the only humans – or animals in general – that Candy seems to trust to be around her babies are him and Michele. Candy is extremely protective and gets jealous!

With Candy’s help, Maswika and Sakka have grown up to be so healthy and strong that they were able to be released back into the wild. Chouchou is staying at the Daktari center, however, because the stress of being out on her own in the wild proved to be too much for her.

But hey, at least that means Candy and Chouchou will get more time for cuddles!

A mother’s love is clearly not limited to her own species. I never thought this was possible, but it makes so much sense!

When these baby genets were abandoned by their mother in the wild, a wonderful dog became their adoptive mother!

Not cats but genets, which are carnivorous creatures found in Africa and Europe.


‘Avengers: Infinity War': Will Marvel Recast Daredevil?

has been a shining beacon for the potential of comic book heroes in a TV format. While there’s no denying the effectiveness of DC’s decidedly goofier approach on The CW, when it comes to defining "prestige" television, Daredevil and Jessica Jones immediately enter into the conversation. The biggest difference between DC and Marvel’s TV approach though is in their shared universe strategies. While the former chooses to keep its movies separate from its various television series, the latter has everything exist in the same canonical universe. Marvel’s Netflix universe has been a shining beacon for the potential of comic book heroes in a TV format. While there’s no denying the effectiveness of DC’s decidedly goofier approach on The CW, when it comes to defining "prestige" television,DaredevilandJessica Jonesimmediately enter into the conversation. The biggest difference between DC and Marvel’s TV approach though is in their shared universe strategies. While the former chooses to keep its movies separate from its various television series, the latter has everything exist in the same canonical universe.

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The all-encompassing Marvel approach has made it so shows like Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter can act as companions to their films, offering some much-needed context and more of a "boots on the ground" tone. For Daredevil and company though, the studio has made a point to set the Netflix universe in a world where the events of the MCU take place far outside the scope of our heroes. And while it’s well-established that the Avengers exist somewhere in Daredevil’s world, the main heroes of the Marvel franchise are an afterthought in the greater narrative.

‘Avengers: Infinity War’: Will Marvel Recast Daredevil?

'Daredevil' lead Charlie Cox expressed uncertainty surrounding his potential role in the next 'Avengers' movie. Is a recasting on the horizon?


Naomi Watts or @LievSchreiber--who made the first move?

The gorgeous Australian, who graces the November 2013 cover of Allure, spoke candidly about making the first move on her man. She told the magazine:

"It was a lot more ballsy than I would ever normally be."

She and Schreiber met years before running into each other at the 2005 Met Costume Institute Gala. While the two reconnected there, Watts saw her second chance flash before her eyes.

"He got up to say he was leaving, and I was like, 'Oh, shit.' So I said something cheeky. 'Don't you want my digits?' It made him laugh."

Watts' flirting paid off -- Schreiber texted her later asking to get a drink. Her feisty response? Meet for breakfast the next day. They've been inseparable ever since (check out Allure's sideshow for more of her steamy shoot and interview).

Aside from raising their two sons, Alexander and Samuel, the couple is keeping quite busy. Schreiber lent his voice to this month's PBS documentary "Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle," and his partner is starring in the buzzworthy film "Diana."

Naomi Watts' 'Ballsy' Pursuit For Liev Schreiber

Naomi Watts learned a valuable lesson upon meeting Liev Schreiber -- be forward!

The gorgeous Australian, who graces the

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The number of text messages teens send each day is outrageous

If it seems like your kids are constantly plugged in, tapping away on their iPhones, obsessively gaming and SnapChatting way more than they're actually ... chat-chatting -- well, that's because they are. It's estimated that children ages 8 to 18 spend an average of seven hours a day behind screens; teens send an average of 3,417 text messages each month; and 97 percent of adolescents have at least one electronic device in their bedrooms.

What's just as scary as how much time kids spend on screens is the effect it can have on their health. Their backs and wrists are sore, their sleep is disrupted and their attention spans are diminished.

While it would be impossible to rid your kids' lives of technology completely -- and you wouldn't want to, because of its many joys and benefits -- parents can take a few measures to help prevent its negative mental and physical side effects.

Here are some ways screens may be harming your kids' bodies and what you can do about it:

They're Hunched Over, And Their Necks And Upper Backs Are Sore

The human body's natural position is an erect posture with a little bit of lordosis (inward curve) in the neck and a bit of kyphosis (round curve) in the upper back. A person sitting at in front of a computer is likely to have rounded shoulders and forward head posture, which puts a strain on the muscles and joints, causing soreness and fatigue.

What To Do: Dr. Sherilyn Driscoll, a doctor of pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic Children's Center, recommends that parents be conscious of ergonomics when kids are at their computers: It should be on a desk with the keyboard at hand level, there should be a supportive backrest, and kids should try to maintain an upright position.

Research has linked childhood obesity to too much screen time. In a recent study, 61 percent of obese boys and 63 percent of obese girls reported watching television for two or more hours each day. Studies have also suggested that TV viewing habits in childhood can predict obesity risk in adulthood.

What To Do: According to government guidelines, kids and teens should get at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day at least three times a week to increase strength and develop strong muscles.

Wrist and finger pain is common in kids who play video games. A study (done by a kid!) found that children were 50 percent more likely to experience pain for every hour they spent gaming. Dr. Eric Ruderman, an associate professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, said video game playing may be harmful for children's developing muscles and tendons.

Too much texting can also lead to soreness and cramping in the fingers, known as "text claw." According to a 2012 Nielsen report, the average teen sends 3,417 texts a month, which is about seven an hour. Ouch.

What To Do: Ruderman says parents need to limit game time: Two hours per day is too much for a 7- or 8-year-old. Additionally, HuffPost Healthy Living has put together a comprehensive guide to alleviate pain from smartphone use that you can share with your teen.

Teens' constant use of electronics at home and at school is taking a toll on their eyes, according to David Epley, a pediatric ophthalmologist in Kirkland, Wash., and a spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Whenever someone spends time in front of a screen their "blink rate" goes down, which can lead to dry, itchy eyes and eye strain. While teens' eyes can get used to screens, Epley said, damage can develop over time and even cause myopia, or nearsightedness.

What To Do: The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that a computer user shift focus away from a screen every 20 minutes and take 20 seconds to look at something that is at least 20 feet away. "This gets you blinking again," Epley said. "And restores moisture to the surface of the eye."

According to a 2010 Pew Study, 4 out of 5 teenagers sleep with their cell phones on and near their beds. And they're not just using phones as alarms; another study found that teens send an average of 34 texts a night after getting into bed.

Teens' sleep can be disrupted by screens because the bright lights that glow from the devices "wakes up the brain," Michael Decker, a sleep specialist and associate professor at Case Western School of Nursing, told The Huffington Post. The light can confuse the brain since our circadian pacemaker does not differentiate between the sun and a computer screen. "Teens are getting this bright light and it's making them go to bed later and want to sleep later," said Decker, "but they can't deal with the sleep loss." Not getting enough sleep has a psychological effect on teens, and can lead to irritability and poor social skills. Memory is also negatively affected, which in turn can diminish academic performance.

What To Do: The National Sleep Foundation recommends that teenagers get 9.25 hours of sleep each night (although for some kids, 8.5 hours is enough). Dr. Suzanne Phillips suggests discussing a nighttime plan with your kids -– either phones off after 11 p.m., or requiring them to charge it in another room overnight.

One in 5 teens has experienced hearing loss -- a number that's increased in recent years. Though it hasn't been proven, experts suggest loud music coming from digital music players could be to blame. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Personal music players, such as MP3 players, can cause lasting hearing loss if you turn the volume up high enough to mask the sound of other loud noises, such as those from a lawn mower."

What To Do: The Associated Press points out that parents can set the maximum volume on their kids' iPods and lock it with a code.

Breathe out. There is no hard evidence to suggest that technology is rotting your kids' brains. Sure, screens can be harmful: Today's teens are more distracted; social media can contribute to psychological problems; and most obviously, they can't read maps.

But there are also benefits to growing up with technology. Dr. Larry Rosen, author of Rewired: Understanding the iGeneration and The Way They Learn, says that social media can help teens find their identity in the world. A recent study found that interactive tools did help kids learn. Toddlers who interacted with the screen picked up concepts and words faster.

While experts on both sides of the issue have strong opinions, most agree that moderation is key. And as parents, one must look at one's own screen habits and remember that the kids are watching. "Kids do not need our undivided attention all day long, but they do in those real-life moments of talking and reading and doing the hard work of parenting -- dealing with meltdowns, teaching them how to pick up their clothes," Catherine Steiner-Adair, author of The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age, told The Huffington Post.

So, moms and dads, it's time to walk away from the computer, put the phone down and enjoy your kids face to face.

Here's What A Constantly Plugged-In Life Is Doing To Kids' Bodies

Infographic by Alissa Scheller for The Huffington Post.

If it seems like y...

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Here’s what happens if you take the morning-after pill all the time

Let’s get to the bottom of this, once and for all.

1. The morning-after pill is a form of emergency contraception that can prevent pregnancy when taken after having unprotected sex.

It comes in a few different forms, but the morning-after pill most often refers to Plan B One-Step (and generics like Next Choice One Dose), which can be purchased over the counter. It’s a single pill with a high dose of levonorgestrel, the same progestin hormone found in many birth control pills, and it can be used up to 72 hours (three days) after unprotected sex.

Another pill option is Ella, or ulipristal acetate, which can be used up to 120 hours (five days) after unprotected sex, but it requires a prescription. Both Plan B and Ella primarily work by delaying ovulation, and they may in some cases also work by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

Although we’ll focus on the pills in this article, it’s worth mentioning that the copper IUD can also be used as an emergency contraceptive. It’s extremely effective if inserted within five days of unprotected sex and offers pregnancy protection for up to 10 years.

2. FYI: The morning-after pill is not the same as the abortion pill.

Emergency contraception pills like Plan B and Ella will not terminate an existing pregnancy. It’s not the same as the abortion pill, otherwise known as a medical abortion, where a person takes a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol to terminate an early pregnancy.

3. Since the morning-after pill is really meant for emergencies, you might be wondering if it’s harmful to take it too often.

BuzzFeed Health reached out to two experts to find out: Dr. Alyssa Dweck, board-certified OB-GYN, author of The Complete A to Z for Your V; and Dr. Lauren Streicher, associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s medical school, and author of Sex Rx.

4. First let’s start with Ella, the prescription-only morning-after pill. This one should not be taken more than once per menstrual cycle.

Ella has a different active ingredient than Plan B, and according to its website, it shouldn’t be taken more than once per menstrual cycle. "I would say repeated use of Ella has not been well-studied and is not recommended," says Streicher.

Additionally, using Ella with hormonal birth control pills can reduce the effectiveness of both preventing pregnancy, so you should wait at least five days after taking Ella to resume your birth control.

But because Ella requires a doctor’s visit and prescription, you’d probably have to jump through a lot of hoops to take it frequently. So aside from it not being recommended, repeated use of Ella would also take up a lot of your time and money. So...just don’t do it.

5. On the other hand, taking Plan B is basically like taking a ton of birth control at once. And it isn’t going to hurt you if you take it multiple times.

Actually, the morning-after pill is even safer and more tolerable than taking a ton of birth control because it only contains levonorgestrel, whereas most birth control pills also have estrogen. "In the past, women who needed emergency contraception would just take a super-high dose of birth control, but the estrogen just caused a lot of nausea and vomiting," Dweck tells BuzzFeed Health.

So they made one pill with fewer side effects but enough hormones to still prevent pregnancy. "It’s very safe and well-tolerated, even in women who aren’t able to take some birth control pills because of clotting disorders," says Dweck.

Even if you take it while you’re already on hormonal birth control — for example, after missing more than three pills and having unprotected sex — it’s still safe. "It’s not going to harm you — it’s really just a little extra progesterone on top of the birth control," Dweck says.

6. Obviously, though, taking such a high dose of hormones could cause irregular bleeding and mess with your menstrual cycle — which isn’t ideal.

"About 16% of women report side effects like nausea, vomiting, or irregular bleeding," says Dweck. But the main downside is that it can cause a lot of menstrual irregularity. Depending on how often you take the morning-after pill, it can throw off your cycle for weeks or even months, says Streicher. And a messed-up cycle can make it harder to prevent pregnancy if you aren’t using another method like condoms.

"You never know for sure when you are ovulating, even less so if you have taken a big dose of hormones that may interfere with your normal cycle," Streicher says. So you should always remember to use a backup barrier method when you’re having sex after taking emergency contraception.

Plus, it’s a lot of unnecessary hormones when you just could be on a more reliable, low-dose method. For instance, if you have unprotected sex 20 times in one month (and take Plan B 20 times in one month), that’s a lot of progestin to take as opposed to taking a small, regular dose every day — not to mention a lot of spotting or bleeding.

7. But there’s no evidence that repeated use of Plan B will cause permanent damage to your reproductive organs or cause infertility.

"It’s a very safe drug, and taking it multiple times won’t kill you or cause any permanent damage, infertility, or even blood clots," Dweck says. So no, there are really no long-term implications of regularly using the morning-after pill.

"We know that hormones in emergency contraceptives, which are just a different dosage of the same ones found in birth control pills, have no impact on fertility whatsoever," says Streicher. So it’s best not to panic or stress if you’ve taken it many times or point to that as a cause of any fertility issues down the road.

8. So why do the experts still advise against using Plan B regularly? Because it simply isn’t as effective as other birth control methods.

Unlike more reliable methods, the morning-after pill’s effectiveness decreases the longer you wait to take it after unprotected sex, says Streicher. According to Plan B’s prescribing information, it helps prevent nearly 7 out of 8 potential pregnancies (about 87%), but other studies on levonorgestrel have found the effectiveness can vary from 52–100%.

Compared with the efficacy of other birth control methods, this isn’t really your best bet for pregnancy prevention. For instance, long-acting methods like the IUD and implant are both over 99% effective. Combined birth control pills are also over 99% effective with perfect use or 91% effective with typical use.

"So you really have a higher chance of getting pregnant if the morning-after pill is your primary birth control," says Dweck.

9. What can increase your risk of infertility is all the unprotected (so, without a condom) sex you have before taking the morning-after pill.

"Frequent unprotected sex means you’re more likely to get an STI, and we know that untreated STIs impact fertility and ovarian function," says Streicher. And it’s easy for STIs to go untreated when many of them have no symptoms at all.

The number one cause of infertility is age, but the number one preventable cause of infertility is actually untreated chlamydia — which can also cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain.

"Even if taking emergency contraception frequently doesn’t cause harm, it could still technically be harmful if it means you’re having a lot of unprotected sex and exposing yourself to STIs," Dweck says.

10. Finally, emergency contraception can get pricey — up to $50 a pop — so frequent use will cost you a lot of money.

"It’s a very, very expensive way to provide contraception and there are so many better, cheaper options," says Streicher. For instance, Plan B sold over the counter at most pharmacies and grocery stores usually costs about $50 per pill, with generics usually priced around $40 (but we also recently found it on Seamless for almost $70).

So depending on how often you take it, you could be spending hundreds of dollars each month, and that’s for a product that’s less effective than other options.

11. There’s definitely a time and place for the morning-after pill, but it’s not the most effective or affordable option for reliable birth control.

The morning-after pill is an amazing drug, Dweck says, and it exists because there are situations where it is necessary or the right option for some women.

"But it still shouldn’t be used on a regular basis, because we have so many reliable forms of birth control that cause fewer side effects, cost less, and that are more effective at preventing pregnancy," Dweck says.

If you’re on birth control pills but still take emergency contraception occasionally because you missed a few pills or your pack looks like a game of Connect 4, you might want to consider a long-acting method like the IUD or implant.

Remember, the ~right~ birth control option will vary from person to person, so talk to your doctor about your unique lifestyle and contraceptive needs, and they’ll help you find something that works for you.

12. And if you’ve already taken the morning-after pill a handful of times, don’t stress or worry that you’ve caused long-term damage — it’s totally safe.

Here’s What Happens If You Take The Morning-After Pill All The Time


‘Game Of Thrones’: How Will Brexit Impact Funding For HBO Series Filmed In the UK?

Will the UK’s vote to leave the European Union affect one of the biggest American series, Game of Thrones?

The fantasy drama’s primary filming location is Northern Ireland — which, being part of the UK, also is set to depart the EU — with additional shooting done in Spain, Croatia and Malta as well as Iceland and Morocco.

The Northern Ireland-based production is being funded by NI Screen and Invest NI and also is enrolled in the UK Film and TV Tax incentives program, which is not impacted by the Brexit vote and some expect to even grow outside of the EU. For the first several seasons, the series also received money from the European Regional Development Fund — created to spur economic growth across the EU — which would’ve been affected by the Leave vote, but I hear that GoT stopped receiving subsidies through that fund one or two seasons ago. So the filming incentives GoT currently receives should remain in place. There is also no immediate impact expected for Starz’s drama Outlander, which is filmed in Scotland.

"We do not anticipate that the result of the EU Referendum will have any material effect on HBO producing Game Of Thrones," HBO said in a statement.

NI Screen also confirmed this morning that its funding will stay in place following the Brexit vote.

"This statement is to confirm that Northern Ireland Screen’s production funding comes from the Northern Ireland Executive through Invest NI and does not use monies provided from European funded programmes," the organization wrote. "We look forward to business as usual."

According to Northern Ireland officials, GoT received £9.25 million in grants for the first three seasons, generating £65 million in economic impact.

Game Of Thrones is based in Belfast with filming in the Titanic Studios and at locations across Northern Ireland including the North Coast, Tollymore Forest Park, Castle Ward and the banks of the Quoile in Downpatrick.

The bulk of the series already has been produced. Season 6 is ending its run on HBO this Sunday, with two likely shorter final seasons — rumored to be seven and six episodes each — remaining.

Will the UK's vote to leave the European Union affect one of the biggest American series, Game Of Thrones?