An airline missed a payment and you won’t believe what happened next...

In South Africa the travel industry and its consumers are on high alert as the domestic airline debacle heats up, and for once the focus isn’t on the national carrier.

Skywise missed a deadline for monies owed to ATNS and ACSA, some of their flights were subsequently grounded at the weekend, and since that news broke they’ve been having a pretty awful week.

What was a seemingly normal occurrence for a start-up has turned into a media storm for the airline which has only been going for 8 months.

But it's the airline business - the Captain of cutthroat industries, and we've seen this movie before starring Nationwide, 1Time and Velvet Sky. The backlash seems meaner this time. The media bays for blood and it doesn’t smell the same as the sympathy dished out to 1Time and its business rescue plan of 2012.

In a few Tweets you can fairly sum up sentiment from all angles ...

As the legacy carriers and their subsidiaries lock horns with new competitors over the question of increased capacity (they're saying there's too much); you can be sure the bigger players are watching current affairs unfold with an air of smugness as their small competitors start trending for the wrong reasons.

We called this in August when we said the decrease in fare prices on several local routes could be detrimental to the growth of the commercial aviation industry and, following media coverage this week, it looks like it’s coming to a head.

Many questions remain – are the big boys scared of these disruptors with their game-changing business models and low prices? Will the Mango CEO’s "Something’s got to give" statement hold true? Does there need to be a shift in consumers’ mindset to support local for their own good? Will new airlines alienate their customers and champions by criticising the purchasing behaviour of SA’s travelling public, or does this singling out of an airline point to a lack of maturity in our internet penetrated culture?

One thing is certain, it would be a travesty for the airline industry to revert back to a monopoly. Although, for an airline which hasn’t been able to expand its route network beyond Cape Town and Johannesburg, will it even make a difference to consumers’ pockets?

*Russel Jarvis is head of communications at Travelstart - the largest booking site in Africa, Middle East and Turkey.

In South Africa the travel industry and its consumers are on high alert as the domestic airline debacle heats up, and for once the focus isn’t on the national carrier, writes Russel Jarvis.


If I offered you a million dollars, could you hold your breath underwater for 15 minutes?

Unless you're an amphibian or a superhero (Fish Woman, anybody?), the answer will be "No." The brain's innate drive for oxygen would override any "willpower" to win the prize.

Unnervingly, if you're currently living on a steady diet of sugar-enhanced foods, your brain is similarly re-wired, demanding that next "hit." Your willpower has as much of a chance at resistance as the ability to keep your body underwater.

We know sugar is not a healthy substance -- but it was this stunning example by my colleague Dr. Mark Hyman about its impact on our brain that really drove home the message. You see, I'm a reformed sugar addict. During residency, a long ER shift was the cue for a few bags of Skittles. A studying session led to Swedish Fish. But I realized that these sugar hits always led to a crash -- and then a craving for even more -- which made it clear to me that it was time to make a change.

Sugar acts within the brain's "Reward Center" mechanism (it's like the brain's equivalent of the elementary school Gold Star chart, or if you're like me and in a home with a toddler right now, the "Potty Chart"). Upon eating sugar, your brain releases Dopamine, our favorite "feel good" hormone, the same one that's triggered by other pleasure mechanisms like sex, exercise, and, on the bad side of the spectrum, drugs like cocaine or meth.

Through the same mechanisms as drug addiction, frequent sugar intake means that the brain eventually gets accustomed to that high and become less sensitive to sugar. So to get the same rush, your brain requires more and more sugar over time.

Here's how it works: You eat a sugary food, your blood sugar levels spike, and your body releases Dopamine (yay!) and insulin (which triggers your body to store the sugar as fat). Then comes the "crash": your sugar level plummets and you feel tired, hungry, and reach for the next sugary treat. It's purely chemistry, my dear, and these physical urges completely override your willpower and desire to eat healthfully.

So are you doomed to be a victim to brain chemistry? Hardly. Just as excess sugar rewired your brain in the first place, cutting back can reverse the dependence, just as I did. But this is harder than it sounds, largely because:

(1) It's everywhere: Added sugar is included -- sometimes as the second or third ingredient -- in over 70% of packaged foods. Think everything from breakfast cereals to BBQ sauce to salad dressings and so-called "healthy snacks" like granola bars or even those "heart approved" refined-carb breakfast cereals. The FDA just acknowledged the confusion behind these labels this week and is looking at redefining them, but until then, it's fair game for sugar-ladened snacks to boast the "healthy" designation.

(2) It's sneaky: Sugar exists in many forms, making it easy for the food industry to hide it in ingredient lists, listed with other names in foods you might not even think of as "sugary."

Look, we all know the white stuff is going to sneak in somewhere, sometime, into our own and our kids' diets. You don't need to become a biochemist to cut back, and you can still even have a sugary treat once in a while. But if you're tired of this sugary chemistry experiment going on in your brain, follow these 3 steps to at least minimize the majority of added sugar.

As tricky as this seems, sugar is almost never called just "sugar" on ingredient lists, so you have to be smart about spotting where it hides.

There are at least 61 different names for sugar on food labels. I may be a science nerd at times, but even I don't expect you to memorize them. Here are a few tricks: avoid anything ending in "-ose" like sucrose or maltrose. Look out for the buzzwords of "syrup," "nectar," "cane" and "sweetener." And be mindful that even natural sugars, like agave or honey, still contribute to your daily sugar limit. If sugar (or any of these terms) is in the top 5 ingredients, it's a treat, and not a nutritious food.

Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages? News flash -- your brain doesn't even recognize these calories as food, leading to a high and crash that will end with you eating even more. Public enemy #1 is soda -- with up to 46 grams in a single 12-oz can, one drinks can put you over the sugar limit for the entire day (24 grams per day for women and 36 for men, per the AHA). Multiple studies have suggested the link between increased soda consumption and obesity in the U.S.

But it's not just soda -- watch the "healthy juice" too: many juices and seemingly healthy drinks contain added sugar. For the most part, unless you're talking a fresh-pressed, unsweetened juice, you're better off eating a whole piece of fruit. And to settle the whole fruit-is-sugar debate, while fruit does have sugar in the form of fructose, it's nothing in comparison to added sugars and doesn't cause the same blood-spiking mechanisms. There's no need to limit fruit if you're focusing on cutting back added sugar.

You don't have to completely cut out everything sweet; I don't like my coffee black or my yogurt plain. But it's a lot easier to control the amount of sugar you're adding if you do it yourself. Add a half-packet to coffee instead of letting the barista talk you into a fancy sweetened frappe. Buy plain Greek yogurt and add berries and honey; I guarantee it will have less sugar than the fruit-flavored, sugar-laden packaged kind. As it often does, it comes down to a simple truth: it's a lot easier to know what's going on in your body if you control what you put into it.

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Eating too much is bad for you. #StopClickBait

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-darria-long-gillespie/the-shocking-truth-about-_10_b_9906666.html


"Parenthood" star releases song on #YouTube and it rocks

Miles Heizer is best known for playing the lovelorn Drew Holt on NBC's "Parenthood," but in September, the actor released a song on YouTube, titled "????," accompanied by beats "stolen from" LA-based band SELA. In the music video, Heizer muses about energy drinks, orders Domino's pizza and watches "Chopped" at home.

It's only two minutes long, so perhaps keep "????" running on loop (so you don't miss Heizer playing with a cat). The track is also available for download on Soundcloud.

Totally necessary sidenote: We last saw Heizer singing 15 sweet seconds of Taylor Swift's "Mean" with Mae Whitman, his on-screen sister.

Actor Miles Heizer Released A Song On YouTube And It Rocks

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@Ricky_Martin has a message for kids everywhere

To get his point across the Puerto-Rican superstar has put pen to paper to write his first children’s book "Santiago the Dreamer in Land Among the Stars," according to a statement released on Monday. The picture book was inspired by Martin's own childhood and will be published in English and Spanish on Nov. 14.

The idea behind the book, which will be illustrated by Patricia Castelao, came from Martin’s own love of performing as a kid. The story follows the young Santiago who, after losing the lead role in his school play, must learn how to believe in himself again in order to continue following his dreams.

"I hope this book inspires young readers to believe that dreams woven from their imaginations can become reality," Martin said in a press release. "My greatest wish is that Santiago The Dreamer will occupy a special place in the hearts of children and their parents, with everyone enjoying this uplifting story that shows the fulfillment of dreams begins with self-confidence."

Ricky’s own rise to fame began at the tender age of 13, when he joined Puerto Rico’s boy band "Menudo" in the mid-80s. After leaving the pop group, Martin found solo success in English and Spanish and dealt with personal struggles that he wrote about in his 2011 memoir "Me."

Now the father of two twin boys, the star marked his return to music with his hit summer single "Come With Me" and is currently working on a new studio album.

Earlier this month, Martin also announced he would be performing the official song for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and invited fans to enter a global music contest to compose the anthem.

Ricky Martin To Release First Children's Book 'Santiago The Dreamer In Land Among The Stars'

Ricky Martin wants kids everywhere to dream big.

To get his point across the Puerto-Rican superstar has put pen to paper to

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Dream big; the message of his 1st children's book


Freezing leftovers can be a great way to keep food from going off and reduce waste - especially at this time of year when you just can't stand to eat another turkey sandwich.

The freezer acts as a pause button, keeping food from going off for weeks and even months.

But there are some foods that should never be frozen - and they could even be dangerous for your health if you do.

From potatoes and breadcrumbs to any type of hot food, these are the foods you should never put in your freezer, according to Playbuzz.

Raw potatoes can turn black in the freezer, according to Playbuzz, so it's to keep them in a cool dark place instead.

This is due to their high water content. However if you cook or puree the potatoes first, you will then be able to freeze them without affecting their quality.

When you freeze an egg, the yolk and white inside will expand, causing the shell to crack, says BBC Good Food.

But if you separate the whites before, you should be able to freeze them for future baking activities.

Freezing yolks is harder as the freezer can often make the yolks turn gummy. But you can counteract this problem by adding a pinch of salt before freezing, according to Martha Stewart.

Many recipes require breadcrumbs but it can be hard to tell how many you need before you begin. If you end up with too many, it's tempting to save them for the next time you need them by putting them in the freezer.

But breadcrumbs tend to turn soft and develop an unpleasant texture in the freezer, says Playbuzz, so it's best to make them fresh every time.

The same applies for a dish with breadcrumbs on top - defrost the meal but re-make the breadcrumbs for the topping.

Whipped cream, milk in its container, high-fat cream and fatty cheese all freeze beautifully.

But be wary of freezing other dairy products as the cold temperature can make them go watery over time.

Soft cheeses and creamy sauces such as salad dressing and mayonnaise in particular are foods never to put in the freezer.

It's all too tempting to just bung your hot leftovers straight into the freezer once you've finished your meal.

But it's essential you wait until the food has cooled down completely before you go, says BBC Good Food.

Putting hot food into the freezer will lower the temperature of the freezer - causing other foods to partially defrost and bacteria to grow and spread.

Cucumbers have a high water content, which means they will lose texture and flavour once defrosted after freezing, according to Playbuzz.

The same applies to any high water-based vegetable, including spring greens, salad leaves and radishes.

Re-freezing thawed food could make you seriously ill as bacteria can multiply quickly when food is brought back to room temperature.

If you put it back in the freezer, the bacteria will survive and will reach 'harmful levels,' according to BBC Good Food.

However if you cook the ingredient after thawing it, you can then re-freeze the meal afterwards as the bacteria would have been killed in the cooking process.

When the liquid inside the can freezes, it can expand.

This means the can itself can rupture or even explode, according to Playbuzz.

If you haven't put your food in an airtight container or sealed it properly, it may develop freezer burn.

It will be safe to eat, but the quality and appearance will be affected - and it certainly won't look appetising.

For the same reason that you can't freeze cucumbers well, you also can't freeze watermelon or any other fruit with a high water content.

Freezing these fruit will make the flesh go mushy and soften considerably, affecting the quality and the taste.

Revealed: The foods you should NEVER put in the freezer - from breadcrumbs and potatoes to any hot food

Some foods should never be frozen and could even make you ill if you do. Breadcrumbs develop a strange texture, while raw potatoes can turn black, according to Playbuzz.

1. POTATOES
2. WHOLE EGGS
3. BREADCRUMBS
4.  SOME DAIRY PRODUCTS
5.  ANY HOT FOOD


On Wednesday, the 30-year-old actress stepped out in West Hollywood to buy some flowers when photographers snapped pics of Kunis wearing a very simple thin gold band on her ring finger. Cue the engagement rumors.

Kunis has, of course, been dating her former "That '70s Show" co-star Ashton Kutcher since around April 2012, though the couple was eager to deny the romance at first.

Back in June, there were reports that marriage was in the cards for the couple, according to one insider who told Vh1 that Kutcher and Kunis are "totally going to marry, we just don't know when." Given that that's how most serious relationships tend to pan out if they are successful, we wouldn't be surprised.

A rep for Kunis has yet to respond to The Huffington Post's request for comment on whether Kunis is really wearing an engagement ring.

Mila Kunis Engagement Rumors Surface After Actress Is Spotted Wearing Ring

Is that an engagement ring Mila Kunis is sporting on that finger?

On Wednesday, the 30-year-old actress stepped out in West Hollywood to buy...

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Photo of her wearing a ring but this article doesn't know


What's going on between Kanye and Jay Z?

First Jay Z announced his new album, "Magna Carta Holy Grail" in the middle of the promotional period for Kanye West's "Yeezus." Then the former hit the road with Justin Timberlake on the "Legends of the Summer" tour, performing "N----s in Paris" despite having never previously performed it without West present (the song is off the duo's "Watch the Throne" album). On Friday, Jay struck again.

Shortly after West announced The Yeezus Tour (his first solo jaunt in five years), Jay Z took to his website to share routing for the North American leg of his Magna Carta Holy Grail World Tour -- with an on-sale date of Sept. 12, one day before tickets to West's concerts go on sale.

Both hip-hop stars have somewhat recently addressed each other from a distance. West snapped that he wasn't a fan of "Suit & Tie," seemingly a reference to Justin Timberlake's comeback single, which features Jay Z. (It's worth nothing that he may have meant "suit and tie" as a stand-in for a corporate mentality.) Jay told Zane Lowe that he and West had a brief falling out over the decision to include "Holy Grail" on Jay's solo album. West thought it should be saved for "Watch the Throne 2," the supposedly coming follow up, and the pair was apparently disgruntled enough to forego speaking for a few days.

There certainly isn't enough evidence to confirm any ill-will between the two partners, and it's important to remember that announcements of this scale are usually planned well before they hit Twitter. Jay's tour is being put on by Live Nation while West's is an AEG undertaking, so there are some rival corporate interests at play. But perhaps their vastly different creative arcs have also allowed for more separation that usual. After all, West has made a living bashing corporations and absconded pure rap for a wildly experimental sound on "Yeezus" while Jay sold a million copies of the record to Samsung before fans could even get their hands on the LP.

What remains to be seen, of course, is whether or not the doubled-up on-sale announcements negatively affect either artist, and if so, who will suffer the most. On the one hand, Jay's music and overall aesthetic has grown more accessible for pop listeners (he did just tour with a former member of *NSYNC), so perhaps there's a larger target audience there. ("Magna Carta" wildly outsold "Yeezus.") Conversely, the fact that Kanye hasn't mounted a solo tour in years could tilt the scale in his favor, given that Jay not only just finished the Timberlake tour, but has toured pretty regularly over the past few years.

So, dear reader, what say you? If you were going to buy tickets to one top level hip-hop show season, who would you see?

We'll just leave this, from Kanye West's "Big Brother," here:

Jay Z Announces Magna Carta Holy Grail Tour On Same Day As Kanye's Tour Announcement

First Jay Z announced his new album, "Magna Carta Holy Grail" in the middle of the promotional period for Kanye West's "Yeezus." Then the former hit the ...

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Made tour announcements on same day; article doesn't know


The Fastest Growing Economies in the World (No. 4 Will Shock You)

By Jeff Russell, B. Comm., MA Published : September 13, 2016

When the discussion comes to the top emerging economies in the world, China seems to always be under the spotlight. But there’s a whole other world out there of country’s that are also undergoing explosive growth. You may even be surprised to learn that China doesn’t top the fastest growing economies.

The following is a list of the top emerging economics in the world using data gathered by the World Bank .

Take a look at our list of the top 10 fastest growing emerging economies in the world.

Colombia is Latin America’s fourth-largest economy. Petroleum is the country’s main export, accounting for about 45% of total exports.

Colombia’s government has made sound economic policies and has aggressively made free trade agreements in recent years to stimulate economic growth.

Growth in 2014 was 4.6%, but low oil prices will slow down that rate in 2015.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest country and economy, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of about $493 billion. The country is rich in resources, especially oil, but it is moving towards a service sector economy. In 2014, the service sector contributed 57% to Nigeria’s growth.

Last year, the country’s economy grew 6.1%, but the decline in oil prices will pose a problem for Nigeria’s economy. Oil accounts for about 90% of Nigeria’s exports and about 75% of the country’s revenue.

Over the past decade, Nigeria’s government has made economic reforms to accelerate growth. From 2000 to 2012, Nigeria’s GDP per capita has roughly doubled, from about $1,400 per person to about $2,800 per person.

Romania joined the European Union in 2007 and has since made considerable economic reforms to its institutions to align it with a market economy and stimulate economic growth. Domestic consumption and foreign direct investment have helped drive that growth.

Romania has a diversified economy, but its service sector is growing, accounting for about 52% of GDP, while agriculture and industry accounts for 11.8% and 36.1% of GDP respectively. The automobile industry is Romania’s largest export, accounting for about 15%.

Poverty used to be a huge problem for Romania, but the country’s explosive growth has greatly alleviated it. From 2000 to 2009, the poverty rate declined from 36.0% to 4.4%

Turkey’s free market economy is increasingly driven by its industry and service sectors, although employment in agriculture still accounts for about 25% of the workforce.

The country’s government has recently undergone steps to privatize institutions and reduce state involvement in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication.

The emerging middle class is adding vigor to the economy and helping to expand production beyond the traditional textile and clothing sectors.

Since 2000, Egypt’s government underwent economic reforms to attract foreign direct investment and spur economic growth. The reforms and policies helped Egypt’s economy grow at a rate of eight percent annually between 2004 and 2009.

Egypt’s growth rate over the past decade has taken a hit since the 2011 revolution. The country’s government faces numerous challenges as to how to get back up to past growth rates by restoring market and investor confidence.

Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 16th largest economy in the world. Even though economic growth has slowed down in recent years, the country’s growth is still outputting impressive numbers.

Gross national income per capita has grown aggressively since 2000. In 2000, GDP per capita was $560.00, rising to $3,650.00 in 2014.

Indonesia has also made great strides toward reducing poverty, more than halving the poverty rate to 11.2% in 2014.

Indonesia is in the third phase of a 20-year development plan that will focus on infrastructure development, education, and healthcare. These, along with foreign direct investment, will be the main drivers of growth.

Pakistan is currently liberalizing its economy, including privatization of all government corporations, with the goal to attract foreign direct investment.

About 40% of the country’s population is employed in the agricultural sector, but economic growth is being led by foreign direct investment and the services sector.

Pakistan has made substantial reductions in poverty. It fell from 35% in 2002 to about 13.6% in 2011.

Bangladesh’s economy has grown about six percent annually since 1996. Cheap labor and a young consumer base of about 160 million, with increasing purchasing power, have led this development.

More than half of the country’s GDP comes from the services sector, even though about 50% of the population is employed in agriculture, with rice being the largest product.

The country’s main export is garments, accounting for more than 80% of total exports and surpassing $25.0 billion in 2015.

Since the 1970s, China’s government has reformed its economy for a closed, centrally planned system, to more of an open market–oriented one.

In 2010, China became the world’s largest exporter, as it has become a manufacturing powerhouse.

The restructuring of the economy and reforms have led to more than a 10-fold increase in GDP since 1978.

India is developing into an open-market economy, as its government is taking steps toward economic liberalization. Measures such as industrial deregulation, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and reduced controls on foreign investment that began in the early 1990s accelerated the country’s growth to about seven percent annually per year from 1997 to 2011.

Here is the list of top 10 fastest growing economies in 2016.

Colombia (+3.1%), Nigeria, Romania, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, #4 Pakistan (+5.5%), Bangladesh, China, India (+7.3%)

1. India
2. China
3. Bangladesh
4. Pakistan
5. Indonesia


The Father of a Fallen Muslim Soldier Just Humiliated Donald Trump

Offering to lend Donald Trump his copy of the Constitution, the father of a Muslim soldier killed fighting in Iraq humiliated Donald Trump on stage at the Democratic National Convention, pointing out, rather accurately, that Trump has never had to make a major sacrifice in his life.

Khizar Khan, who appeared onstage with his wife, is the father of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in 2004 by a suicide bomber while fighting in Iraq. Khan was posthumously awarded a purple heart and buried in Arlington Cemetery.

"We are honored to stand here together as patriotic American Muslims with undivided loyalty to the country," Khan said. "Like many immigrants, we came to this country empty handed. We believed in American democracy, that with hard work and the goodness of this country, we could share in and contribute to its blessings. We are blessed to raise our three sons in a nation where they are free to be themselves and follow their dreams."

Pulling out a pocket-sized copy of the Constitution, Khan held it in the air and offered to lend it to Trump.

"Hillary Clinton was right when she called my son the best of America. If it was up to Donald Trump, he never would have been in America," Khan said. "Donald Trump, you are ousting Americans! Asking America to trust you with the future—let me ask, have you even read the United States Constitution. I will gladly lend you my copy. Look for the word liberty and equal protection of the law. Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery to look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending the United States of America? You will see all faiths, genders and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing."

By giving an anti-Donald Trump speech... at the Democratic National Convention


10 things anyone who loves an introvert needs to know

Introverts often find themselves in romantic relationships with extroverts, despite their fundamental differences in temperament.

Perhaps it’s because they balance each other out. Introverts (or "innies") ― who gain energy by spending time alone ― are drawn to extroverts because of their easy-breezy social nature. Extroverts (or "outies") ― who recharge their batteries by spending time with other people ― may find themselves attracted to introverts because of their ability to listen and ground the more restless parts of the extrovert’s personality.

If you’re married to, dating or even just romantically interested in an introvert, below are 10 things our self-proclaimed "innie" readers want you to know.

1. Please don’t take our need for alone time personally.

"An introvert needs time alone, and it has nothing to do with you. She’s not mad, she’s not holding anything in and she certainly doesn’t need to ‘talk it out.’ She just needs to recharge so that when she does come back, she can be 100 percent in the moment with you. Giving her the space to do this without guilt or nagging means you both win in the end. My husband gladly backs off when I’m ‘introverting’ because he knows the payoff for our relationship is huge." ― Betsy Talbot

2. Small talk is not our strong suit. Deeper conversations are where we shine.

"The general small talk chit-chat grates on my nerves ― I don’t like it and feel awkward trying to engage in it. However, discussions on more meaningful topics truly catch my interest and I can ramble on and on or listen at length with keen interest." ― Julie Lombard

"Just let your introvert partner be him or herself. Understand that our personalities are different and that we have our own way of loving." ― CM Dimen

4. That said, the occasional nudge to help us come out of our shells is welcome.

"While we might complain and whine, getting out is good for the balance of introvert-extrovert dating. It is ideal in a balanced relationship. If my wife never got me out, I might never go." ― Darcy Johnston

"It’s okay not to talk all the time. Sometimes the greatest intimacy is just being together in comfortable silence. It can be cuddling or it can be separate, but it’s okay to be quiet."― Jenna Schulcz

6. We might be slow to warm up so just be patient, OK?

however, once I feel comfortable around you, then I open up more and reveal my rather quirky, silly and witty side. I truly am such a friendly, sweet-natured oddball that yearns for friendships and a boyfriend but I need to be invited to join a discussion or event otherwise I feel like I am being a bother or intrusive." ― Julie Lombard

7. Understand our need to decompress after a long day.

"Most of us are out in the world all day and are drained when we get home. We need some quiet recharge time, and having someone ask us how our day was, what happened, etc. is very off-putting. Give us 15 to 30 minutes just to be quiet and recharge a bit. We’ll be happy to talk and catch up, we just need some time first." ― Jenna Schulcz

8. You don’t need to tell us we’re quiet ― we already know.

"Please, for the love of god, don’t comment on how quiet we are. We know. Sometimes we just need quiet time. When we’re ready to talk we will, just have some patience." ― Mia Montez Lopez

9. We might require more low-key nights at home than you do.

"Don’t challenge your partner’s desire to spend a few nights at home by pointing out that ‘normal people’ go out on weekends." ― Nicholas Mercuro

10. We prefer to gather our thoughts instead of thinking out loud.

"An introvert likes to think about things, so if you spring a new topic or pick a fight, don’t be surprised if you don’t get the level of participation you want from your introvert lover. Our default stance is to consider, to play things out in our heads before opening our mouths. Give us time to do that, and you’ll get the kind of conversation or debate you were looking for. We have some of our best conversations and liveliest arguments on our morning walks because my extrovert husband will lay the groundwork for the topic the afternoon before (politics, personal matters, where to go on vacation next, etc.)" ― Betsy Talbot

10 Things Anyone Who Loves An Introvert Needs To Know

"Sometimes the greatest intimacy is just being together in comfortable silence."

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Why do cats come to the bathroom with you?

Cat lovers everywhere have to ask their cats this question a few times a day. And very often the door in question is the one leading to the loo.

Cats follow their people all over the place, but there seems to be a special fascination with the bathroom.

Why the prevalent interest in bathrooms among feline folk? Are cats guarding us in moments of vulnerability? Or, do they simply enjoy staring at us from the sink?

Theories abound. Confusion abounds even more.

"My cat does this all the time. If I don't let her in with me, she puts her paw under the door until she finds my foot to hold onto," one reddit commenter wrote. "Sometimes I'll put my hand down and we'll hold 'hands' through the door, she purrs like mad when we do this."

"This is painfully cute," another commenter replied.

"Cats have that toddler mentality," another wrote. "If you're doing anything behind closed doors it means you're having fun without them. They want in on it."

So, perhaps cats have a case of FOMO, and want to ensure they're doing what's cool.

Or perhaps they just want to be literally cool. Cats tend to like cool places, so one theory is that tiled rooms are appealing to the furry felines.

Another theory speculates that cats just don't like being shut out or ignored. So, they just dart on in.

What seems most likely to drive this interest is how cats love routine. Creatures of habit, cats perform " chaining behaviors," which means they like to go through the motions of the daily grind with you.

But some behaviors go beyond comprehension ...

... like when cats snuggle up in briefly unoccupied briefs.

Yeah. We don't have any certain answers for that.

To find the perfect bathroom companion for your home, check out Adopt-a-Pet.com or visit your local humane society.

Now that you have some sense of why cats come to the bathroom with you, learn more about why they sit on your head and why they go completely bonkers after they poop.

Why Do Cats Come To The Bathroom With You?

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Apple's New App: Can Deep Breathing Lower Stress?

 A new app for the Apple Watch, called Breathe, coaches you through breathing exercises. Credit: Apple

A new app from Apple coaches you through breathing exercises, but do these exercises really help reduce stress?

This week, Apple announced a number of new features for the Apple Watch, including an app due out this fall called Breathe, which will "encourage users to take a moment in their day to do deep breathing exercises for relaxation and stress reduction," the company said in a statement

The app will guide users though a timed breathing session, lasting 1 to 5 minutes. The watch can track a user's heart rate, and so at the end of a session, users will see a summary of their heart rate data, Apple said.

Although some experts recommend up to 20 minutes of breathing exercises a day, just 5 minutes of breathing exercises can help people feel calmer and refreshed, said Nancy Harazduk, director of the Mind-Body Medicine Program at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C.

Studies suggest that deep-breathing exercises may reduce certain types of stress and anxiety, and can temporarily lower blood pressure . But many of these studies have been small, so more research is needed to learn more about the exact benefits of deep-breathing exercises, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

Deep breathing is a type of relaxation technique that is intended to counteract the body's normal response to stress, the "fight or flight" response. Deep breathing lowers heart rate and reduces levels of stress hormones, according to the NCCIH.

And because deep breathing dilates blood vessels, it can also lower blood pressure, Harazduk said .

In addition, when you breathe deeply, you take in more oxygen, which may help improve your mental concentration and release endorphins that increase feelings of well-being, she told Live Science .

Focusing on breathing can also take your mind off stressful thoughts. "One of the ways of letting go thoughts of anxiety or stress is by focusing on our breathing," Harazduk said. [ 11 Tips to Lower Stress

Studies show that deep breathing and other relaxation techniques may reduce anxiety in people undergoing certain medical procedures, such as breast biopsies or dental treatment, the NCCIH said. A 2013 study from researchers in South Korea found that burn patients who practiced breathing exercises had lower scores on measures of pain and anxiety when doctors treated their burns, compared with people who didn't practice the breathing exercises.

Deep breathing might also help with some day-to-day stresses. A 2013 study from researchers at Tufts University found that people who had anxiety about taking math tests performed better on the tests, and reported feeling calmer, if they practiced a breathing exercise beforehand.

However, breathing exercises by themselves may not be the best treatment for people with generalized anxiety disorder , a mental health condition in which people find it hard to control their anxiety, according to the NCCIH. Studies suggest that people with generalized anxiety disorder who are treated with psychotherapy do better than those who practice relaxation techniques alone.

And although breathing exercises can lower blood pressure in the short term, it's not certain how long these effects last. The Food and Drug Administration approved a device called Resperate, which helps people slow their breathing, to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. A review study conducted by the British Hypertension Society, which included nearly 500 patients, found that the device did lower blood pressure, by about 3.7 millimeters of mercury for systolic and 2.5 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure, on average.

But the longest-duration study in the review was nine weeks. The Society said that, because the effect was small and the studies were short, it could not recommend Resperate at this time.

Deep-breathing techniques should not be used as a replacement for conventional care, or to postpone seeing a doctor for a health problem, the NCCIH said.

The Breathe app will be available in the fall with the next update to the Apple Watch operating system, called watchOS 3.


The world's healthiest countries have only one thing in common

We were all kind of wondering what the secret to being healthy is, and are super grateful to celebrity trainer and nutritionist Harley Pasternak for gallivanting around the world to find some answers, which he documented in his 2010 book The Five Factor Diet.

Through all the countries he visited and cultures he investigated, Pasternak found one common denominator when it came to healthy societies and it’s (drumroll please) walking. Yup, walking.

"The only overlapping feature in most of these healthy countries around the world is that they all walk way more than the average American," Pasternak told The Huffington Post.

"So really, regardless of what you’re eating, if someone’s walking four miles more than you each day, they’re going to be a lot thinner and live a lot longer than you."

Oh man, walking, buddy, we’ve been treating you like this whatever activity, just a utilitarian way to get from Point A to Point B, but now we see, you are the golden secret to health. Oh walking, we’ll never underestimate you again.

Walking was the one common thing all healthy cultures had in common, but there were other commonalities that North Americans (not a particularly healthy culture, damn you processed sugar and sedentary lifestyle!) could definitely learn from. North Americans tend to eat bigger portions than other countries, and we also scarf down our food instead of letting mealtime be a moderately-paced event.

But remember, the one thing all the healthiest cultures have in common is walking, so lace up your sneakers, and get to it, friend, you got four miles and the day isn’t getting any younger.

Lots of countries are healthier, but there's only one factor connecting the healthiest.

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"The high-gloss finish of the jet black iPhone 7 is achieved through a precision nine-step anodization and polishing process," says the fine print. "Its surface is equally as hard as other anodized Apple products; however, its high shine may show fine micro-abrasions with use. If you are concerned about this, we suggest you use one of the many cases available to protect your iPhone."Oops! Apple made a really pretty phone, but you have to cover it up to keep it that way. Truth be told, many of us are so paranoid about breaking our phones that we're hard-pressed to remember what color they are under our cases. The iPhone 7 is supposed to be water-resistant — and it did just get cheaper to replace broken screens — but who really wants to take the risk with a device this expensive and indispensable? At least there are some reasonable transparent cases on the market.

iPhone 7 High Gloss Black Scratch Warning

A footnote on Apple's iPhone 7 page warns that the glossy black version scratches easily.

You have to use a case so it won't break, like every other phone.


Introducing our first-ever tally of America's wealthiest celebrities:

GOLF. RHYMING VERSE. Even fancy card tricks: There are innumerable ways to earn great fame and fortune by entertaining people, and no one has done it better than the 20 on this diverse list. It's our first-ever tally of the country's wealthiest celebrities, and we had just one criterion: We considered only those who got rich off their fame, not those--such as the president-elect--who became famous because of their wealth.

Topping the list: George Lucas, who boasts a $4.6 billion net worth , much of it from selling his company to Disney in 2012. The Star Wars creator has largely retired from filmmaking and now has little to do with the franchise including this year's highly anticipated installment, Rogue One but still owns the reportedly 6,000-acre Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, California.

Full list: America's Richest Celebrities 2016

He edges second-ranked Steven Spielberg ($3.7 billion), who makes the cut thanks largely to a fortune earned with his personal production companies, from DreamWorks to current project Amblin Partners. It helps that the famed director has pocketed a slice of Universal theme-parks revenue since 1987, when he negotiated a blockbuster deal after hits like E.T. and Jaws.

Hollywood features heavily: The top three richest and 20% of the members of the list made their fortunes in filmed entertainment. Take America's wealthiest female celebrity, Oprah (No. 3, $2.8 billion): Ratings at the former talk-show queen's OWN cable network finally rose this year, but Weight Watchers stock--of which she owns 10%--is suffering.

Oprah Winfrey ranks No. 3 on our first-ever list of America's Richest Celebrities with a net worth of $2.8 billion (Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

She is one of six African-Americans on our list of 20 , just ahead of fourth-ranked sneaker king Michael Jordan ($1.2 billion) and Diddy (No. 6, $750 million). The latter has parlayed 1990s hip-hop stardom into a diversified empire, including a lucrative partnership with Diageo's Cîroc vodka.

You associate the name with the product, says Eric Schmidt, director of alcohol research at Beverage Marketing Corporation, of Diddy's involvement with Cîroc. And the thing really took off.

Diddy is joined by fellow rappers-turned-moguls Dr. Dre (No. 8; $710 million) and Jay Z (No. 11; $610 million). They comprise three of eight musicians on the ranking, most of whom have years of touring to thank for their net worths. Not on the list: Beyoncé, whose $265 million net worth pegs her below the $360 million cut off for this ranking.

From his earliest days playing tiny clubs like The Main Point and the Stone Pony to today's stadium shows, for over 40 years Bruce Springsteen has shown himself to be one of the most dynamic concert entertainers in the business, said entertainment attorney Bernie Resnick of the hard-working rock star (No. 14; $460 million), who has grossed more than $1.5 billion on the road. The income generated from extensive touring on such a massive scale has to be highly beneficial to Mr. Springsteen's financial well being.

Live shows help more than just musicians: David Copperfield makes the list from decades of conjuring cash. The illusionist has turned his earnings into the world's largest collection of magic artifacts and a formidable real estate portfolio that includes an enclave of 11 Bahamian private islands.

Tiger Woods may not have a stash of enchanted antiquities, but he does own a $60 million property in Jupiter Island, Florida. With a net worth of $740 million, the 40-year-old golfer is the youngest member of the list. Besides Jordan, Phil Mickelson is the only other athlete to make the cut.

To compile net worths, we valued those who hold private companies by speaking with an array of outside experts and conservatively comparing the companies with public competitors. We calculated the stakes in public companies using stock prices from December 5. For entertainers without private companies, we based our estimates on net lifetime earnings. Real estate, art and other assets--such as magic collections--were also factored in where applicable. Eligibility for this list was limited to American citizens who have gotten rich off their fame, rather than become famous for their wealth. We attempted to vet these numbers with all list members. Some cooperated; some didn't.

America's Richest Celebrities 2016: George Lucas Leads Steven Spielberg And Oprah

Fame might be fickle, but it sure pays well.

George Lucas
Steven Spielberg
Oprah
Michael Jordan
Diddy


At First, Her Tattoo Reads "I’m Fine." Now Watch What Happens When She Stands Up...

In a class I had with her, she opened up about her own struggles that she has faced with her own mental illness. Hearing her words made me realize that even though it can seem like you are the happiest, most intelligent, or down-to-earth human being, everyone has struggles. I sought her out not long after. She helped me find the right help that I needed.

Inspired by her college professor’s story, Miles made a pivotal decision in her life. She got a tattoo and wrote a Facebook status about her depression that has since gone viral on the platform.

Miles’s tattoo is actually an ambigram. It reads "I’m fine" from most angles, but if you look at from another angle, it can read "save me." The tattoo is a powerful symbol that represents the struggle of those who deal with depression.

Since posting the status on Facebook, Miles has gone on to become a major voice for those who suffer from mental illnesses. She says,

You’d be surprised by how many people YOU know that struggle with depression, anxiety, or other mental illness. I may only be one person, but one can save another...and that’s all I could really ask for.

At First, Her Tattoo Reads "I’m Fine." Now Watch What Happens When Sh...


49 gross things most girls secretly enjoy

1. Peeling off a big piece of nail varnish in one go. 2. Scraping a really good chunk of dirt out from under your nail.

3. Crumbling off your mascara instead of using makeup remover.

4. Not flossing as a treat. 5. Wearing the same bra for several days (weeks?) and not giving a shit.

6. Smelling the clothes you wore yesterday and realising you can definitely wear them again. 7. Using dry shampoo instead of actual shampoo. For several days in a row.

8. Just washing your fringe, and everyone thinking you’ve got lovely clean hair.

9. Picking crumbs out of your bra... and if you’re feeling really gross, eating them.

10. Finding something even better than crumbs in your bra, like popcorn. Yum.

11. Chilling out in front of the TV with your hands down your pants.

12. Running your fingers through your pubes in a non-sexual way.

13. Eating something that fell on the floor – three second rule. Or is it five seconds?

14. Keeping a tampon in for slightly longer than you’re meant to.

15. Wrapping toilet paper round your pants instead of using a pad.

20. Cleaning your body with wet wipes instead of having a shower, meaning you can wake up later.

23. Picking out your eye goop and marvelling at the size of it.

24. Getting a big bit of ear wax out of your ear.

25. Not bothering to wash your sports bra because it’s only going to get dirty again anyway.

26. Plucking out a really tough hair on your face, and putting it on your mirror like a hunting trophy.

27. Squeezing a whitehead and watching a really long pus worm wiggle out.

28. Squeezing a massive zit which hits the mirror.

31. Staring in awe at all the gunk that comes out on a pore strip.

32. Waking up on Saturday, and going to the shops in your oldest, grubbiest clothes/pyjamas with no make-up and greasy hair. Also known as "Grossery" shopping*.

33. Putting fresh make-up over yesterday’s make-up which you didn’t bother to clean off.

34. Smelling your armpits and being impressed by the scent.

35. Whacking new deodorant over old deodorant instead of having a shower. 36. Using perfume instead of having a shower.

Via *Cami Quiroz for grossery shopping / Facebook: cami.quiroz.50

37. Dusting your flakey scalp and watching the flakes fall like snow. 38. Scratching your scalp and getting lots of satisfying dead skin under your fingernails.

39. Warming your hands inside you bra by holding your boobs. 40. Picking weird dusty grey stuff out of your belly button. 41. Pulling out a particularly long, wiry pube that catches your attention. 42. Looking into the toilet to admire the size of your poo.

44. Feeling proud when you do a really noisy fart.

45. Wearing make-up that you bought about 10 years ago.

46. Pulling hairs out of your bum crack in the shower.

47. Spreading your stray hairs on the shower wall.

48. Rolling stray hairs into little balls and throwing them in the vague direction of the bin, missing the bin and leaving it.

49. Cutting your nails, and not paying attention to wear they fly.

49 Gross Things Most Girls Secretly Enjoy


How Oprah's famous car giveaway changed 1 woman's life

It was "The Oprah Winfrey Show" episode people couldn't stop talking about. On Sept. 13, 2004, Oprah stunned viewers by giving every member of her audience a brand new Pontiac G6 with her famous announcement, "You get a car! You get a car! Everybody gets a car!"

Kiley Russell, one of the lucky recipients in the audience that day, looks back on that exciting moment on a new episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" As she explains in the above clip, something Oprah said to the audience stuck with her. "She said, 'We're not just giving away cars, we're improving the way people live their lives,'" Russell says.

In the video, Russell says she had recently been diagnosed with lupus and took Oprah's message to heart. "Sometimes people say something to you and it's like a tuning fork on your spine -- it just rocks you," she says.

"I decided to sell the car and use that as seed money to start Big Girl Cosmetics," Russell says. She explains that Big Girl Cosmetics isn't about size, it's a state of mind -- like her slogan, "Think big, live big." The makeup line includes a tribute to Oprah, a lip gloss called Angel's Halo. "Since she gave us our start and she was my angel, I thought it'd be nice to offer a tribute to her," Russell says.

After opening Big Girl Makeup Bar & Spa in Chicago, Russell started pursuing her next dream: to get her products into Macy's stores. She says she called the company almost every day for two years. "And then two years ago, Macy's finally calls me," Russell says. "I think my heart jumped out of my chest."

Macy's held Big Girl Cosmetics launch parties in stores across the country to announce the new line, including a celebration at Macy's on State Street in Chicago.

"The biggest lesson I've learned is that anything is possible," Russell says. "It sounds cliché, but miracles really do happen. If you plan and persevere, it's possible."

Oprah Car Winner Kiley Russell Used Her Prize To Chase Her Dream (VIDEO)

It was "The Oprah Winfrey Show" episode people couldn't stop talking ab...

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Sold it & started a biz @BigGirlCosmetic


Could this comedian be the new face of "SNL"?

Sasheer Zamata is reportedly one of three women of color in the running to join the "SNL" cast come January. After watching this video of hers from 2012 -- which got Lena Dunham's seal of approval on Twitter this past Monday -- it's safe to say that this funny lady is nothing short of awesome. (Though we already knew that.)

This is crazy funny and a wonderful antidote to today's internet: http://t.co/kByObCwNsC cc: @thesheertruth — Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) December 17, 2013

Written by Zamata and directed by Chioke Nassor, Zamata plays herself and a man who once randomly flashed her.

The parody is hilariously split between Zamata telling her side of the story and imagining her flasher's perception of the events. At one point in the video, Zamata satirically reflects on the experience: "I've had worse encounters with d**ks before. This guy was at least polite. He called me miss. He asked me if I needed a walk home. He double checked. He took out his d**k, I said no, and he put it away. It was actually kind of respectful, if anything."

Sasheer Zamata Is Definitely Ready For 'SNL' -- Here's Proof

Sasheer Zamata is reportedly one of three women of col...

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You may be surprised when you find out who was just ranked the most popular U.S. senator

In poll after poll, Americans give the cold shoulder to Congress. The latest Gallup poll shows that Americans give Congress an 18 percent approval rating — its highest mark since May 2015.

Despite the bottom-of-the-barrel numbers for Congress, many Americans tend to approve of their specific representative. But in 2014, 51 percent of respondents said they disapprove of their representative, the first time that number crested the 50 percent mark.

With all of these negative reviews, it’s worth asking: Do Americans like anyone in Washington, D.C.?

Using data from Morning Consult, Graphiq politics site InsideGov examined which senators are the most popular among their constituents. Morning Consult conducted interviews with more than 62,000 registered voters from Jan. 8, 2016, to April 17, 2016, to find which senators have the highest approval rating. InsideGov ranked the list by approval rating, and in the event of a tie, senators are ranked by their disapproval rating. In one instance, two senators have the same approval and disapproval numbers; they were listed alphabetically.

No Opinion: 18 Percent Capito, a Republican out of West Virginia, began her career in the U.S. House in 2001. When she was elected to the Senate in 2014, Capito became the first female senator to represent West Virginia.

No Opinion: 20 Percent This Democrat out of New Mexico is part of the large Udall family, which planted its political roots in the western states of Arizona and Colorado. Udall served in the House of Representatives for 10 years before being elected to the Senate in 2008.

No Opinion: 9 Percent Shaheen has served in politics since the early 1990s, getting her start in state-level work in New Hampshire. The Democrat served three terms as governor, and was first elected to the Senate in 2008. She won reelection in 2014 against Republican Scott Brown, a one-time Cosmo centerfold who entered politics in Massachusetts in 1998.

No Opinion: 21 Percent In 2014, the Wyoming Republican won reelection with 71 percent of the vote. Enzi is among the most conservative members of Congress, according to a recent InsideGov analysis.

No Opinion: 21 Percent This Democrat out of Oregon has been a staple on Capitol Hill for 35 years, first serving in the House of Representatives. He was elected to the Senate in 1996, and is running for his fifth consecutive term in 2016.

No Opinion: 13 Percent Shelby began his career as a Democrat, but switched to the Republican Party in 1994. He was elected to the Senate in 1986 and is the chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

No Opinion: 14 Percent Before his election to the Senate in 2010, Blumenthal was a lawyer and served as Connecticut’s Attorney General for 20 years. He attended Yale Law School with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 1970s, and hosted a fundraiser in March for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential run.

No Opinion: 16 Percent A Rhode Island native, Reed has served in the Senate since 1997. He was reelected in 2014 with about 71 percent of the vote.

No Opinion: 18 Percent This freshman senator from Montana served one term in the House before his 2014 election to the Senate.

No Opinion: 20 Percent Murkowski has served in the Senate since 2002. In 2010, tea party favorite Joe Miller defeated Murkowski in the Republican primary in Alaska. But Murkowski ran as a write-in candidate during the general election that November and won with 39.94 percent of the vote, compared to Miller’s 35.49 percent. Murkowski is running for reelection in 2016, and will face former Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan in this year’s GOP primary.

No Opinion: 18 Percent After serving five terms in the Senate and 10 years in the House, Mikulski announced she would not run for reelection in 2016. She first came to Capitol Hill in 1977 and is the longest serving female member of Congress.

No Opinion: 12 Percent A Harvard Law professor turned senator, Warren is a progressive firebrand who made her name advocating for consumer financial protections. She was elected to the Senate in 2012.

No Opinion: 13 Percent A South Dakota native, Thune was first elected to the Senate in 2004. He ran uncontested in 2010 because state Democrats felt the race would be pointless against the well-liked senator. "We just concluded that John Thune is an extremely popular senator who is going to win another term in the Senate," Democratic state Sen. Scott Heidepriem said at the time.

No Opinion: 15 Percent This Brooklyn native is a lifelong politician, joining the New York state Assembly in January 1975 at the age of 24. Schumer went on to serve in the U.S. House for 18 years, and assumed his Senate seat in 1999. Schumer is running for reelection in 2016. Should he win his race, he will likely take over as the Senate Democratic leader. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is retiring at the end of this year.

No Opinion: 16 Percent Warner served one term as governor of Virginia before his election to the U.S. Senate in 2008. In 2014, he won reelection in a hotly contested race against well-known Republican strategist Ed Gillespie.

No Opinion: 11 Percent For Franken, serving two terms in the Senate has been no laughing matter. The longtime "Saturday Night Live" cast member was first elected in 2008 after a tight race that required a manual recount and the Minnesota Supreme Court to weigh in on the results.

No Opinion: 13 Percent A Delaware native, Coons was first elected to the Senate in 2010. Although he initially identified as a Republican, Coons said he became a Democrat after a trip to Kenya during his junior year at Amherst College.

No Opinion: 8 Percent Barrasso first came to Capitol Hill in 2007, when he was appointed to fill the seat of the late Sen. Craig Thomas, who died from leukemia. In the 2012 election, Barrasso won his first full term with 76 percent of the vote.

No Opinion: 11 Percent In 2006, Klobuchar became the first woman to be elected to represent Minnesota in the Senate. In 2008, the New York Times name-dropped her as a potential for the first female president of the U.S.

No Opinion: 11 Percent This Democrat has bounced around Delaware politics since the 1970s, first serving as the state’s treasurer and then in the U.S. House. Carper was then the governor for eight years before getting elected to the Senate in 2000. He was reelected to his third term in 2012 with 66.4 percent of the vote.

No Opinion: 8 Percent Leahy has been a familiar face on Capitol Hill for decades, winning his first election to the Senate in 1974. A Democrat out of Vermont, Leahy tends to hold more liberal views.

No Opinion: 11 Percent King served as the governor of Maine for two terms, and 10 years later, he was sworn into the Senate. In between his stints in the government, King went on a 15,000-mile road trip with his family and taught courses on leadership at Bowdoin College and Bates College.

No Opinion: 16 Percent Hoeven jumped into politics in 2000 and hasn’t looked back. He was elected to three terms as North Dakota’s governor, and then to the Senate in 2010. The Republican is running for reelection in 2016.

No Opinion: 8 Percent Collins, a Republican out of Maine, has the second-highest approval rating on this list. She was first elected to the Senate in 1996, and currently heads up the Special Committee on Aging.

all news, rare politics, bernie sanders, elizabeth warren, senate


Here’s How Many Black People Have Been Killed By Police Since Colin Kaepernick Began Protesting

At least 15 black people have died during encounters with the police since San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began protesting police violence by kneeling before NFL games, based on numbers compiled by The Guardian.

Kaepernick’s decision to sit or take a knee during the national anthem first drew attention after his team’s Aug. 26 preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, when he told NFL.com that he was "not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." Since then, Kaepernick’s continued protest has drawn considerable criticism from politicians, police unions, pundits, other professional athletes and many on social media who have opposed both his message and his method of conveying it.

But the problem Kaepernick wants to highlight has continued. And on Monday, it was back in the news again, after police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, released multiple videos that showed the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher.

The videos show that 40-year-old Crutcher, like so many other black men, was unarmed with his hands in the air when police officers shot and killed him as he returned to his car, which had stalled in the middle of a roadway. The videos run contrary to the department’s initial statements about the shooting, which claimed that Crutcher had ignored officers’ warning to raise his hands.

Since @Kaepernick7 attempted to raise awareness about police reform in America, police have killed 67 people. In 22 days. #TerenceCrutcher — Black Irish (@Mint_mulatto) September 19, 2016

Overall, police have killed at least 67 people since Kaepernick’s protest began, according to The Guardian’s database. Roughly 22 percent of the victims have been black. Police have killed more than 780 people so far in 2016, according to The Guardian’s numbers. At least 193 of those people ― or about 25 percent ― were black. Of the 15 black people killed since Kaepernick’s demonstration started, at least 11 were shot, according to The Washington Post’s tracker of fatal police shootings.

The white officer who shot Crutcher, Betty Shelby, was placed on paid administrative leave while the department investigates the case ― another issue Kaepernick highlighted when he spoke out against police killings.

"To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way," Kaepernick said. "There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

ASSOCIATED PRESS Terence Crutcher, 40, is one of at least 15 African-Americans to die during encounters with police since Kaepernick began protesting before NFL games in late August.

Kaepernick’s message has spread across the sports world since the start of the NFL season. Players on a number of NFL teams ― including the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans ― joined his demonstration during the first week of the NFL season.

The Denver Broncos’ Brandon Marshall, who has taken a knee during the anthem, responded to the Terence Crutcher video by saying such situations are the "exact reason we’re protesting."

Some of the protests have drawn the ire of police. In Miami, the union that represents the Broward County Sheriff’s Office called on the department to stop providing security details for Dolphins’ games after four members of the team knelt during the anthem last week. "In certain professions," the head of the union said, "an individual’s freedom of speech must take a back seat to the organization or government entity that they choose to represent."

The NFL Players Association, which has stood behind Kaepernick’s right to protest, fired back at that statement Monday. "Don’t we stop being the land of the free and the home of the brave when a citizen is asked to take a ‘backseat’ for expressing his freedom by those sworn to defend it?" DeMaurice Smith, the NFLPA’s executive director, said in a statement. "Players don’t stop being men and citizens just because they are wearing a jersey."

And while many have questioned how a black athlete could qualify as oppressed, recent cases highlight that Kaepernick and other black athletes are also at risk of experiencing police violence.

black lives matter,NFL,Police Brutality,Colin Kaepernick,Terence Crutcher

"At least 15 based on numbers compiled by The Guardian"


Two Hawaii swimmers get bit in ocean NOT by shark

Just like many preschoolers, it seems he confused biting with playing. His chosen playmates? Two triathletes swimming in Kamakahonu Bay on Hawaii Island.

The swimmers were training for the upcoming Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona when Kamilo started following and circling them yesterday morning. The seal eventually bit one of them on the knee and the other in the abdomen. The injuries were minor.

Kamilo is a 6-month-old, 100-pound endangered monk seal, who was likely trying to play with the swimmers and meant no harm. But as 2,000 triathletes descend on Kailua-Kona for Saturday's competition, it seemed best to remove Kamilo from the waters.

The Marine Mammal Center dispatched two marine biologists and a veterinarian to catch the pup and take him to safety on Tuesday. He is currently in a cage under the center’s supervision until a decision is made about where to take him.

According to Michelle Barbieri, the veterinarian who is overseeing Kamilo’s care, the decision has been slightly delayed due to the government shutdown, as officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association have been furloughed.

Kamilo isn’t sweating the shutdown though. "He’s adjusting nicely and mostly sleeping," Barbieri told West Hawaii Today. It might even be welcome alone time, as one Marine Mammal Center volunteer reports that Kamilo has been the victim of frequent harassment by humans trying to pet or play with him.

There are only 1,100 Hawaiian Monk Seals left and their numbers are decreasing at a rate of 4% a year. Under the Endangered Species Act, harming a monk seal can result in a fine of up to $50,000 or imprisonment up to one year.

For more information on monk seal protection, visit the Marine Mammal Center website.

Kamilo the Hawaiian Monk Seal is in time out.

Just like many preschoolers, it seems he confused biting with playing. His chosen playmates? Two triath...

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San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith and former teammate, Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker, were both named in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by a California man who alleges he was "caught in the crossfire" during a gunfight involving the two players.

Ronndale Esporlas, 21, claimed he was shot twice during the incident and sustained "serious, catastrophic and permanent injuries," according to the suit.

The alleged incident occurred during a large party thrown at Smith’s home in San Jose, Calif. on June 29, 2012, during which Smith was stabbed and two people were shot, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

According to the suit, the party began to spiral out of control. In an effort to end the event, Smith, Walker and others "appeared on the balcony of the house, brandished handguns, and began shooting in the air."

Esporlas’ attorney, David Klaczek, wrote that Walker then moved onto the driveway where he "began firing a handgun in the air and toward others attending the party." A group in the street allegedly returned fire and Esporlas was struck.

The Sacramento Bee reported that Smith had known the lawsuit was coming for some time.

"Things happen," he said Wednesday. "You've just got to focus on the things that you do. I'm focused on playing against Green Bay, and we'll see how it goes."

The 49ers also acknowledged the suit in a statement, saying the organization has been "aware of this matter concerning Aldon Smith for some time. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, but will have no further comment at this time, as this is an ongoing legal matter."

Aldon Smith And Delanie Walker, NFL Players, Named In Gunfight Lawsuit

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith and former teammate, Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker, were both named in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by ...

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49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (@AldonSmith)


The 'Grease' Theory About Sandy Puts The Film In A Morbid But Interesting Perspective

The internet is certainly filled with crazy theories, but this Grease. The theory is that Sandy was dead the whole time. Yes, this definitely sounds very Sixth Sense, but, if true, it means Grease may have the most shocking twist ever put to film. The internet is certainly filled with crazy theories, but this new theory about Grease may be one of the craziest yet. No surprise, it comes straight from Reddit. One user named atomicbolt questioned Grease 's flying into the clouds ending , believing it's just a little too perfect. Somehow, the user managed to then find a way to make the movie's happy ending a rather morbid one that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew aboutThe theory is that Sandy was dead the whole time. Yes, this definitely sounds verybut, if true, it meansmay have the most shocking twist ever put to film.

The theorist, who came up with this idea three years ago, claims that, when Danny sings that he saved Sandy's life before "she nearly drowned" in "Summer Nights," he in fact didn't. She really did drown. The whole movie is actually Sandy's fantasy of what could have happened if she survived. Or, as this theory proposes, "the entire movie was a drowning woman's coma fantasy."

It's hard not to be skeptical of this very unlikely theory, but, to this Redditor's credit, they do manage to give some credence to this idea. Not that there aren't some holes in this plot theory, too. To further investigate this newly resurfaced claim, it's worth looking at the evidence presented and then asking a few follow-up questions.

The theory begins by looking at the opening beach sequence, which has the two young lovebirds fooling around in the surf. While this may look innocent to the average viewer, to this Redditor user, it's a clue that hints at the tragedy that would come. Atomicbolt believes "as she drowned, the brain deprived of oxygen, she had a vivid coma fantasy involving her summer fling Danny, where they shared a magical year of high school together."

Now, it is surprising that the two end up going to the same exact school, but never managed to talk about it in their time together. But it's not so crazy that I'd jump to the "she's dead" conclusion. People do move. Summer flings are meant for just that season, and the two may have preferred to keep things in the now instead of getting to know each other deeply only to separate forever. This was pre-internet.

Sandy's explanation that she didn't go back to Australia because of a "change of plans" does raise a few flags though. That seems like a plan you couldn't just go and change at the last minute. But it doesn't seem like a clear sign that she's recently deceased; instead, it seems like a sign that her parents may not be great at making plans. Or that Sandy is a little bit of a stalker.

But the theory then goes on to question all those "outlandish" visions that occur throughout the movie, believing the only explanation is that Sandy has dreamt up her own vision of what her senior year of high school could be as Danny tries to resuscitate her. It's true that there are random musical numbers and visions in this movie that make very little sense: Frenchy's teen angel who encourages her to go back to school, Danny and his T-Birds' magical car rebuilding montage, and, of course, that flying car.

When it comes to explaining the flying car, the theory believes that it's actually Sandy riding off to heaven in that red convertible. Honestly, that's as good an explanation for the ending as anyone's come up with. Even Jim Jacobs, original co-creator of the play, admitted to The Daily Herald in 2010 that really explain the car. When it comes to explaining the flying car, the theory believes that it's actually Sandy riding off to heaven in that red convertible. Honestly, that's as good an explanation for the ending as anyone's come up with. Even Jim Jacobs, original co-creator of the play, admitted toin 2010 that the ending to Grease confuses everyone . He says it's not about Sandy becoming a leather-clad chick for her new guy, but, instead, a "good old-fashioned razz against those... Hollywood movies that turned the main guy into a fine, upstanding citizen." Sure, that's what it is. But that still doesn'texplain the car.

Another Reddit user, Randomd0g does point out that the ending of Another Reddit user, Randomd0g does point out that the ending of Grease feels like it's all in Sandy's head , just like so many of those visions. They're all quite innocent, which could point to them being a figment of Sandy's imagination. They don't compare her to Sandra Dee for nothing."Danny and Sandy are back together despite everything, Rizzo SUDDENLY isn't pregnant AND Kenickie suddenly decides that he actually loves her, the geeky kid gets onto the sports team," the Redditor writes. "EVERYTHING is suddenly ok, just the way that sweet, innocent Sandy would have wanted it to be. And in the last shot of the movie, she flies up to heaven with her dream boyfriend in her magic flying car."

But while the flying car is a strange way to end the movie, this is a movie, which means, technically, anything is possible — even the most outlandish of events. It's the hitch in this theory, and another one that claims that But while the flying car is a strange way to end the movie, thisa movie, which means, technically, anything is possible — even the most outlandish of events. It's the hitch in this theory, and another one that claims that actually Danny and Sandy are both dead . (He allegedly dreams up his final year of high school after losing his life trying to save a blonde girl he names "Sandy.") This "Sandy is dead" theory rests so fully on the idea of this car being her transportation to the other side, and it's surely an absurd ending to have two people ride off into the clouds, but there are a lot of moments in Grease that get more absurd the more you've seen the movie

The truth is, whether this theory is true or not, it's clearly bursting all of our bubbles about Sandy and Danny's high school romance. It really all comes to down to whether you believe in fairytale love where cars can fly. Personally, I prefer to keep my head in the clouds on this one.

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3-year-old Reddit post suggests Sandy was dead the whole time and "the entire movie was a drowning woman's coma fantasy."


Activists seek to completely overturn state's new gun laws

The battle over gun control in Colorado may be headed directly to voters this year after activists on both sides of the fight filed proposals for new ballot measures. Two of the proposals would effectively overturn all of the gun legislation signed into state law last year.

While one measure would seek to limit concealed weapons on public colleges and universities in the state, another initiative would overturn the ban on ammunition magazines holding over 15 rounds.

Republican activists Tom Lucero and Patrick Davis, of Larimer County and Colorado Springs, respectively, filed a proposal to "prohibit any restriction on the purchase or possession of ammunition storage and feeding devices other than a restriction enacted by a voter-approved law."

Another initiative would rescind all the gun legislation passed in 2013 and mandate that any future bills limiting gun rights be decided by voters. It was proposed by Tea Party activist Mike Holler and local attorney Anne Gill, who was previously involved in 2006 litigation over Denver's local firearms ordinances.

Last week, Republican House Leader Rep. Brian DelGrosso announced that his party would also introduce a bill in the Legislature to repeal the 15-round magazine limit, but Democrats hold a wide majority in the House and a slim majority in the Senate and will make it difficult for the measure to pass.

The proposals come after a contentious year in the state's legislature, during which two Colorado legislators were recalled for their their part in passing the new gun control laws. On Thursday, Magpul Industries Corp., one of the country's largest producers of gun ammunition magazines, announced that it would leave Colorado for Wyoming and Texas as promised in protest of stricter gun laws.

Each of the proposals is still in the title hearing phase and will have to gather over 86,000 signatures to make the ballot.

Activists Seek To Completely Overturn Colorado's New Gun Laws

The battle over gun control in Colorado may be headed directly to voters this year after activists on both sides of the fight filed proposals for new bal...

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This United horror story is just heartbreaking

The United horror stories keep coming out of the woodwork. After the internet exploded over a viral video showing a man being forcibly dragged from his seat on a United flight last weekend, another passenger has taken to Medium to share his horrible experience with the airline.

Trey Harris' tale of inhumane customer service and unreasonable responses left him frustrated and upset — enough so he wrote a lengthy post Thursday about the incident, which happened at the beginning of last month.

Harris' honeymoon was nearly ruined when United barred him from bringing his "previously-approved, DOT & TSA-allowed mobility device," a Segway miniPro, on board his flight from Newark to San Diego, where the couple had planned to board a cruise. Harris says in the post he has spondylitis, a type of autoimmune spinal arthritis, which can make walking difficult.

Based on Harris' account he had done his research and homework to make sure the TSA and United would let him travel with the device. It seemed like everything was set for him and his new husband to saunter onto the plane where they'd splurged on first-class seats since it was their honeymoon.

After making it through security without a hitch, it appears a typo and unreasonable staff threw a wrench in his travel plans. A note about his call into the airline about the device seems to have said he was not allowed on board with the device — which didn't make sense since the TSA and the rest of the note clearly stated everything was copacetic. "I tried to explain that logic to them, but they were unyielding," he wrote.

United has not responded to our request for comment on this alleged incident. In an email Friday, Harris declined to speak beyond what he wrote in the Medium post until he could touch base with a lawyer.

The drama continued with a lot of confusion about whether the Segway was actually a hoverboard and prone to exploding. No matter how much evidence Harris presented — he got a United special needs representative on his cellphone to tell staff at the airport that his device was allowed on board and a TSA representative to OK it in person — the staff at the gate was relentless. The pilot was called in to assess the situation and eventually said no, too.

Harris and his husband ultimately had to leave the Segway at the gate since they didn't want to miss the cruise. They weren't allowed to gate-check the device and there was no time to have a friend come pick it up. Using his cane, Harris made it onto the plane.

"We take off, and my honeymoon starts with me sobbing for an hour, my husband consoling me."

"We take off, and my honeymoon starts with me sobbing for an hour, my husband consoling me," Harris wrote.

From there, Harris said he had to find other accommodations for getting around the cruise and they ended up renting a scooter in San Diego for several hundred dollars. The couple had to modify some excursions and getting around was much more difficult with the clunky, unwieldy device than with his Segway. But overall, the couple made it work and had been enjoying their vacation until there was another nightmarish turn.

About halfway through the cruise, Harris received messages that he had "abandoned a hazardous material at an international airport," and a hazmat team was handling it. He would owe money for its disposal and he could face arrest when he arrived in Newark for the alleged crime, according to the messages.

"I spent the rest of cruise terrified and stressed out," he said. Once they disembarked in San Diego their plans for a day in the city were thrown off again without his Segway, he explained in the post.

Thankfully, once back in Newark he wasn't arrested and baggage crews returned his Segway to him. Everything more or less worked out, even if his honeymoon was anything but smooth.

Harris wrote that his post isn't an attempt to get paid by United, but is more about receiving an apology. And assurance that next time he flies he can bring his device with him. The couple's already booked the same cruise next year.

After the week United's had many company policies and changes are in the works. We'll see if this huge PR disaster has any effect on customer experience.

There's another United horror story, and it will break your heart

A man tried to bring his pre-approved mobility device on a United flight, but airline staff refused, ruining his honeymoon.

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She sliced a man's throat in a graveyard. He lived. Now we hear why she did it

Loretta Fettig's lawyer called it "one of the saddest cases I've ever been involved in."

The sentencing judge said he believed it.

Fettig, now 17, was only 16 when she sliced a man's throat in a graveyard in a failed attempt to murder him. She's been a victim of abuse almost her whole life, public defender Mary Farrell said, including a "very serious" criminal case in Grand Haven when she was 12.

Fettig accused the man she tried to kill of sexually assaulting her in the past, although he's never been criminally charged with that for lack of evidence.

Fettig didn't mention her motive in a brief, soft-spoken statement to the judge before she was sentenced.

"I just want to apologize to the court and to my victim," she said. "Sorry to waste your time."

"She's been victimized by the system quite honestly," Farrell said. "She has not been provided with the mental health assistance that she needs. She has not been provided with the assistance until recently of anything you can call a family."

Though he agreed Fettig's background is "regrettable," Muskegon County Chief Circuit Judge William C. Marietti said it doesn't justify her "extremely violent action."

In her mind, "She had reason to be upset with him (the victim)," the judge said. But "our system is designed to address that in a civil fashion ... not through basically self help."

Without expressing an opinion on whether her accusations against the victim were correct, Marietti said, "it just doesn't justify what she did by any stretch of the imagination." He said it would be "anarchy" if everyone tried to handle private grievances violently.

"But for the grace of God this might be life without parole," Marietti said - the mandatory sentence for premeditated first-degree murder, which was her intention.

Instead, the victim survived and got away, and Fettig pleaded no contest May 2 to assault with intent to murder in exchange for dismissal of a second count of conspiracy to commit that crime.

Cemetery throat-slicing murder plan means prison for plotter

Marietti stuck to a carefully negotiated sentence cap of eight to 30 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections.

That's the same sentence the judge May 31 gave Fettig's co-defendant, Lennell Marshawn Banks, 20, of Muskegon Heights. Banks had pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit assault with intent to murder, in exchange for dismissal of a charge of assault with intent to murder.

According to a transcript of a Muskegon police detective's sworn probable-cause statement that led to arrest warrants being signed for both defendants, Fettig confessed to slicing a man's throat with a box cutter the evening of Nov. 3, 2015, and Banks admitted helping plan the murder attempt. Both admitted they were armed at the time of the assault, the detective said.

Fettig was 16 at the time of the assault but was charged as an adult because of the seriousness of the crime.

According to the detective's Nov. 6 statement under oath to a magistrate, obtained by MLive from Muskegon County District Court, "Loretta states that she took the box cutter, sliced (the victim's) throat and then attempted to stab him in the stomach with a knife.

"The plan was that Mr. Banks was supposed to be close enough that he was going to jump in and assist finishing the deal, however, he was not in the correct position and was confused as to what she was doing, so," the detective said. "But he admits to taking participation in the planning and being ready to go forward with the plan."

Fettig lured the 22-year-old victim from Getty Street into a nearby cemetery, according to a Muskegon police report. The man ran away and called 911 from his home.


The One Thing Many Older Women Don't Like To Be Called

There are few topics as polarizing as Donald Trump and whether he should be allowed anywhere near nuclear codes, but one comes mighty close: Is being called "ma’am" ageist or a sign of respect?

We asked our Facebook followers to weigh in on The Great Ma’am Debate and here’s what they had to say. Please don’t shoot the messenger, but put your thoughts in the comments below.

Holly Holden-Eklund is adamant about not wanting to be referred to as "Ma’am." She also objects to "dear," "Hon," and "Darlin’." Says Holden-Ecklund, "I repeatedly restate my name to the offending nurse, waitress, hair stylist. If I state my name over and over, it indicates I would like to be called Holly. As for a cohort label, ‘wise woman’ will do just fine."

Cheryl Fuller Sparks has a different take. "If someone does not know me, or my name, I am touched that they are respectful enough to say ma’am. It is what I do, whether I am face-to-face or on the phone. People deserve that." Susan Shafer works with people representing many different cultures. She also sees ‘ma’am" as a term of respect, generally used for someone older than the speaker. Her advice to the anti-ma’amers: "Get over it. Stop making it mean something it’s not meant to mean."

Speaking in a very practical sense, Mark J. Mathews offered this: "Yeah...hey ‘you anonymous female person’ sounds great as I helped an older woman find a bathroom at the MLB game yesterday....

Susan Thompson got her first "ma’am" when she was just 18. "It kind of blew my mind, but at the time I liked it. I felt very grown-up. It’s kind of a weird word but it doesn’t bother me. What I wish they’d find a replacement for is ‘madam.’ I cringe every time I address something with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ ― sounds like I’m implying she runs a whore house lol." Personally, we prefer brothel.

Marg Sunshine takes her ‘ma’ams" one at a time and doesn’t rush to judgment. "I pay attention to the tone and attitude of the person and the situation first. If someone calls me ‘ma’am’ to be genuinely courteous, then I appreciate it. If, however, it is done with a feeling of mocking, then I don’t like it."

Then there was Janet Rafferty, whose comment we couldn’t love more. "I don’t care for it," she said, "but I don’t really have a good substitute. How about you don’t talk to me at all. :) Kidding. (sort of)" Yeah, us too.

The One Thing Many Older Women Don’t Like To Be Called

There's a word that triggers a really strong reaction, albeit not a uniform one.

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"Ma'am", Although Some Older Women Think It's Fine [Huffington Post]


State official: Gay marriage ban needed to "regulate sexual relationships"

When April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse's case goes to trial in Detroit this fall, it could mean the end of Michigan's ban on gay marriage. But that hasn't stopped the state's top lawyer from pushing back against the lawsuit with a recent filing arguing the gay marriage ban allows the state to "regulate sexual relationships."

The lesbian couple initially sued over a law banning joint adoption by same-sex couples: DeBoer has adopted a 3-year-old girl and Rowse has adopted 3- and 4-year old boys. But U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Friedman, a conservative, recommended they instead challenge the constitutionality of Michigan's ban on gay marriage.

Earlier this month, Attorney General Bill Schuette filed a brief in the case in which he claimed the state's definition of marriage was needed to "regulate sexual relationships" and their "unique procreative capacity":

Responsible procreation and childrearing are well-recognized as legitimate State interests served by marriage. One of the paramount purposes of marriage in Michigan -- and at least 37 other states that define marriage as a union between a man and a woman -- is, and has always been, to regulate sexual relationships between men and women so that the unique procreative capacity of such relationships benefits rather than harms society. The understanding of marriage as a union of man and woman, uniquely involving the rearing of children born of their union, is age-old, universal, and enduring. As illustrated by a plethora of research, social scientists have consistently recognized the essential connection between marriage and responsible procreation and childrearing.

In a statement, LGBT advocacy group Equality Michigan Managing Director Emily Dievendorf countered that Schuette's stance was "hypocritical" and not aligned with the Supreme Court's ruling against the Defense of Marriage Act.

"The U.S. Supreme Court ... found that regulating sex for the purpose of procreation is not a role for our government," Dievendorf said in a statement. "Marriage is about more than just procreation, as the Supreme Court said this June, 'marriage is a way for couples to define themselves by their commitment to each other.' Suggesting the benefit of marriage is limited to just producing children is more insulting and damaging to the institution of marriage than anything Schuette fears."

This is not Schuette's first opposition. When he filed a motion to dismiss the case in July, Friedman denied it, writing that DeBoer and Rowse were "entitled to their day in court and they shall have it."

After the Supreme Court struck down DOMA in June, Schuette reiterated that the ruling had no effect on Michigan's gay marriage ban.

"Michigan’s Constitution stands and the will of the people to define marriage as between one man and one woman endures in the Great Lakes State."

But the "will of the people" may have changed since 2004, when the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage passed with 59 percent of the vote. A statewide poll published by the Detroit News earlier this month found that 57 percent of Michiganders support same-sex marriage, a 12.5 percent increase from 2012. However, a poll last month showed that a small majority in Michigan, just over 51 percent, of 600 likely voters would oppose legislation or a ballot measure seeking to allow same-sex marriage.

For some Michiganders, Schuette's brief felt deeply personal. Chris Lacefield is trying to adopt a child with his partner. In a blog post Tuesday, he wrote that the state is failing its LGBT community, as well as some of its children:

"We want to welcome a child into our home, because we want to start a family," he wrote. "Despite the fact that the state we call home does not recognize our relationship and would not recognize our family, we, like many couples our age, feel the basic human need to provide for the next generation. There are children in Michigan who need loving, stable, two parent homes. And Michigan fails them."

"Rather than focusing on the ability of a couple to procreate, perhaps we should be focused on the ability of a couple to provide love, education and moral structure to the children who are already part of our population," Lacefield said.

Michigan Gay Marriage Ban Needed To 'Regulate Sexual Relationships': State Official

When April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse's case goes to trial in Detroit this fall, it could mean the end of Michigan's ban on gay marriage. But that hasn't sto...

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Is this the main plot of Avengers: Infinity War?

Anyone who can read obviously knows the next Avengers sequel will focus on the Infinity Gauntlet (it’s kind of in the title), but a new report claims to have hashed out some key details from the plot of Avengers: Infinity War.

Take it with a grain of salt at the moment, but LRM claims some intel from their "galactic Marvel spies" has dropped the basic setup for Infinity War. The report claims the story will mostly be lifted from the Infinity Gauntlet comic storyline, with Thanos (played by Josh Brolin) using the godlike powers of the gauntlet to impress the personification of death (played by a female actress, possibly filtered through Cate Blanchett's Hela).

So how does that creepy love connection put him at odds with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? Thanos’ plan to impress Death is to "extinguish half the life in the universe to impress her," which could spell trouble for The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and everyone in between.

The report goes on to claim the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury will all be coming out to play for the film. Which makes sense, and jibes with previous reports that have been floating around. Marvel has not been shy about the fact that everything has been building to the third (and fourth) Avengers films, and I’d expect everything that could possibly hit the fan, to hit the fan.

Avengers: Infinity War enters production in November, and is set for release May 4, 2018.

Based on The Infinity Gauntlet comic series, Thanos attempts to use the completed Infinity Gauntlet to extinguish half the life in the universe in order to impress Death, who is personified as a woman. #StopClickBait


Mum takes 'funny' photo of toddler - breaks down over chilling truth behind it

A mum who took a seemingly innocent snap of her daughter standing on a toilet has spoken of how she 'broke down' when she realised the true meaning behind it.

Stacey Wehrman Feeley, from Michigan in the USA, shared the photo of her three-year-old to her Facebook page.

She wrote: "I took this picture because initially I thought it was funny. I was going to send it to my husband to show what our mischievous little three-year-old was up to.

"However, the moment she told me what she was doing I broke down.

"She was practising for a lockdown drill at her preschool and what you should do if you are stuck in a bathroom."

Stacey had the heartbreaking realisation that her little girl was practising hiding from a gunman, should one enter her nursery.

She continues: "At that moment all innocence of what I thought my three-year-old possessed was gone.

"Politicians - take a look. This is your child, your children, your grandchildren, your great grand children and future generations to come.

"They will live their lives and grow up in this world based on your decisions.

"They are barely 3 and they will hide in bathroom stalls standing on top of toilet seats.

"I do not know what will be harder for them? Trying to remain quiet for an extended amount of time or trying to keep their balance without letting a foot slip below the stall door?"

She goes on to say that gun control might not eliminate 100% of gun crime but if it makes any sort of difference, it's worth it.

Stacey asks what the USA is doing to tackle gun crime, before powerfully ending her note with: "I am not pretending to have all the answers or even a shred of them, but unless you want your children standing on top of a toilet, we need to do something!

breaks down when she realises chilling truth behind it

Initially it was just an amusing snap to send to her husband, until she learned the heartbreaking reality

She was practicing her nursery's lockdown drill.