Is There A Difference Between VISA And MasterCard? Here's The Answer

Down on the right hand side corner of your debit or credit card sits a logo that you have ignored for the longest time. The logo either says MasterCard or VISA. Ever wondered that if it's your bank that provides you with the money, what role does MasterCard or VISA play? Or better, is there any difference between the two? Here, let's take a look.

Visa and MasterCard are world's biggest credit card networks that act as intermediaries between the bank and the customers. Simply put, it's a gateway that authorizes a transaction when you swipe your card. They are NOT the issuer of the cards you use. It's a bank's job to issue the cards. VISA and MasterCard negotiate the setting up of payment system with banks and other lending associations. While VISA claims to have a user base of 2.4 billion, MasterCard claims to process over 18 billion transaction per year.

Is There Really A Difference Between The Two?

The right answer would be, no. There's no ‘major' difference between the two payment systems. The only difference that can be found between the two is in regards of the services and security features they provide. There used to be a sea of difference between the acceptances of MasterCard and Visa with Master Card being accepted by the majority of the merchants.

The article talks about the difference between Master Card and VISA.

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A British classic is disappearing from pub food menus as demand plummets

Fish and chips are disappearing from pub and restaurant menus as demand for salad rockets.

New research revealed one in four restaurants, pubs and hotels have ditched fish and chips from their menus in the past two years.

The one-time staple at eateries across the UK has slipped from being the third most popular dish in 2011 to the eighth today.

In the past year salads served as a main course have soared by 54 per cent as they are increasingly demanded by health-conscious Britons.

Favourite salads include goats’ cheese, tuna, salmon, walnut and grilled chicken are now the fourth most popular dish on UK menus, despite not being in the 20 most popular pub dishes last year.

Fish and chips are disappearing from pub menus

Dishes featuring pulses and fruit have seen a massive increase in popularity with those featuring so-called super foods featuring on menus 75 per cent more than this time last year, according to a new report by consumer analyst Horizons, which studied eating habits at 800 restaurants, pubs and hotels.

Vegan dishes are on the up, with one in five eating out brands surveyed now offering a vegan option.

Getty Salads are soaring in popularity in pubs

Gluten-free terminology is also more common, having risen 90 per cent over the past two years and wheat-free options are up 80 per cent on menus since last year.

The decision by eating venues to remove fatting dishes like fish and chips from menus in favour of lower-calorie options is being driven by a health trend which is sweeping Briton.

As consumers attempt to live healthier lives, pubs and restaurants with traditional menus are tapping into the trend by offering more nutritious meals.

Getty Images Pizzas are still a popular choice

Recent reports have shown that nearly two in three Britons say they are cutting down on fatty food, while 60 per cent are eating less chocolate and sugary sweets.

However, the most popular meals on British menus are still burgers and pizzas, which can contain high levels of fat and salt.

Peter Backman, of Horizons, said: "The trend for healthy and lifestyle eating is becoming more and more popular and High Street menus now reflect this."

A spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association said: "There has been a tremendous diversification of menus so its not surprising to see some classic dishes falling off the list.

Burger Pizza Chicken burger Salad main course Vegetarian burger Savoury pie Rump steak Fish and chips Vegetarian pasta 1Rib-eye steak

Burger Pizza Mixed meat grill Fish and chips Chicken burger Chicken breast Sirloin steak Rump steak Chicken curry Roast chicken

Fish and Chips ( according to "New research")


Paul McCartney Reveals What Really Split Up the Beatles

In fact, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer said he didn't even know what to do next.

"I was depressed. You would be. You were breaking from your lifelong friends," he told BBC Radio 4's Mastertapes.

McCartney also addressed the reason for the split, saying, "The business thing split us apart," referring to a new manager and new business practices for the release of "Let It Be," the band's final record together.

He dropped his most recent album, "New," in 2013, and he has worked with modern greats like Kanye West, about whom McCartney said, "People says he's eccentric ... which you'd have to agree with. He's a monster. He's a crazy guy that comes up with great stuff."

McCartney said that over the years, he kept in touch with fellow Beatle John Lennon before his death in 1980.

"I would make calls to John occasionally. We just talked kids and baking bread," he added.

From Yahoo: Paul McCartney is now opening up about the tough times after the Beatles split in 1970. After the breakup, McCartney added, he wasn't sure "whether I was still going to continue in music." Fortunately for the music world, he ended up recording upward of 25 studio albums post-Beatles. He dropped his most recent album, "New," in 2013, and he has worked with modern greats like Kanye West, about whom McCartney said, "People says he's eccentric ... which you'd have to agree with.

The business, a new manager, and new business practices


"Girls" star lets loose for new cover shoot

We've been watching and re-watching the trailer for Season 3 of "Girls" to tide ourselves over until the show's January 12 premiere. Luckily we've got another fun tidbit to feed our "Girls" hunger: Zosia Mamet's uber-trendy shoot for ASOS Magazine.

Zosia, better known as Shoshanna, posed for the January 2014 cover of ASOS Magazine, the monthly glossy from the online retailer. The shoot, shared by the Daily Mail this morning, has Mamet in an oversized menswear coat, leather leggings, red lipstick, cropped sweatshirts, layers of bracelets and basically every other of-the-moment trend we want to buy right now.

Think we'll see any of this edginess come January in Shosh's ever-improving wardrobe?

Zosia Mamet Lets Loose For Hyper-Trendy ASOS Cover Shoot (VIDEO, PHOTO)

We've been watching and re-watching the trailer...

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Zosia Mamet (@ZosiaRMamet) for @ASOS Magazine


Is This a Time Traveler at a Mike Tyson Fight in 1995?

Does this 1995 video of a Mike Tyson fight show a time traveler with a cameraphone? The simple answer is no. And the complex answer is also no. But it’s a perfect example of how the past can play tricks on us.

With the benefit of hindsight we can get to truths that were harder to see in the moment. But we can also get tricked by our brain into thinking that we’re seeing something out of place.

As Snopes points out, the camera in the video could be "any one of a number of handheld cameras that were in fact widely available in 1995." Snopes gives just a few examples such as the Casio QV-10A and the Logitech Fotoman which are seen below.

Photos of old cameras from the mid-90s (Snopes)

People today often think they see time travelers in old footage. Or even "proof" of technologies being older than we think. Take this mobile telephone from 1922, for example. People were quite confused when the film was posted online a few years ago. The title cards explained that it was a mobile telephone. But the terminology that people used for radio during the late 1910s and early 1920s often included the term wireless telephone. So it wasn’t a two-way telephone like we think of it today at all. It was a radio.

Title card from a 1922 film reel describing a "wireless phone" that’s actually just a radio (British Pathe)

We bring all kinds of biases when we look at old film, read old books, and listen to old music. We can’t help it; we live in the early 21st century and our brain fills in what it wants to see based on what we’re most familiar with.

So no, that probably wasn’t a time traveler at this 1995 Tyson fight. But if time travel does become possible everyone knows that you should bring rock and roll back to the early 1950s and hoverboards back to the Wild West.


I accidentally googled "marled dachshund" instead of "merle dachshund" and I have no regrets

I accidentally googled "Deli Lovato" instead of Demi.

Accidentally Googled "Kimono Dragon" instead of Komodo. Was not dissapointed.

i tried to do a google search for the movie Carol & accidentally clicked on google images & i almost peed myself

I meant to Google "cast" GoT... I accidentally typed "cats" #GameofThrones not disappointed

when you accidentally googled "haircats' instead of haircuts

I was looking for 'dog breeds' in google but accidentally searched 'dog bread'...wasn't disappointed though.

I made a typo and accidentally searched for "Drug Snuggler" into Google. I don't know what I expected.

Google can be funny at times. Accidentally typed Tom Tanks instead of Tom Hanks in search bar n look what came out 😂

Accidentally Googled "Lady & The Trump". Was not disappointed, thank you autocorrect.

Accidentally googled 'Steven seagul' instead of 'seagal' and the results are phenomenal 😩😂😩😂

I accidentally Googled corgo ship instead of cargo ship, and I wasn't disappointed

*is trying to search Star Trek on Google but accidentally typed Stark Trek*

so i went to google bearded dragon babies & accidentally searched bearded dragon babes.. was not disappointed

i accidentally googled turtle sweater instead of turtleneck but i am glad

I ACCIDENTALLY GOOGLED BRONIE SANDERS HEL P ME I DONT DESERVE THSI

Accidentally typing "Christ Prat" instead of "Chris Prat" into google. #notevenmad

When you accidentally Google spongedog instead of spongebob...

Accidentally typed "Aziz Asari" into Google and pretty happy with the result

I went to google "spongebob gifs" and accidentally typed spongemon and well....

Tried to google Turkey coup and accidentally typed Turkey coop.

I accidentally typed in "pope the frog" on Google... wasn't disappointed.

23 Accidental Google Image Searches That’ll Make You Pee A Little

ham solo
marled dachshund
Deli Lovato
Kimono Dragon
haircats


First east coast city legalizes recreational marijuana

Portland, Maine, voters on Tuesday approved legalizing recreational marijuana for residents 21 and older. The measure, Question 1, passed with about 70 percent of the vote, making Portland the first East Coast city to legalize recreational pot.

Adult residents of Portland -- Maine's largest city -- may possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana under the referendum. The new measure does not permit the recreational purchase or sale of marijuana, nor does it permit its use in public spaces like parks.

"Most Portlanders, like most Americans, are fed up with our nation's failed marijuana prohibition laws," said David Boyer of the Marijuana Policy Project, a marijuana advocacy group. "We applaud Portland voters for adopting a smarter marijuana policy, and we look forward to working with city officials to ensure it is implemented."

Marijuana advocates anxiously awaited the city vote result:

With pro marijuana legalization campaign awaiting elex results in Portland, Maine. There's a belly dancer AND a reggae band at this party — Susan Sharon (@SusanSharon1) November 6, 2013

Belly dancing and reggae band kicking off party w supporters of Question 1 #PortlandPot pic.twitter.com/PvrrREt5zt — Jon Chrisos (@JonWGME) November 6, 2013

Medical marijuana is already legal in Maine, and the Portland referendum is seen as largely symbolic, as it does not override state or federal laws. But the passage could spark further efforts to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, as it was in Washington and Colorado in November 2012.

"I think there's national implications, keeping the momentum that Washington and Colorado started last November in ending marijuana prohibition," said Boyert in anticipation of the vote. "This is just the next domino."

While the measure did not face organized opposition, some did raise concern over the Marijuana Policy Project's Metro bus ad campaign. Some said the ads promoted the use of marijuana, not just the passage of Question 1.

"It's highly inappropriate to be promoting pro-marijuana message in a place that has a large audience of people under the age of 21," said drug prevention group 21 Reasons spokeswoman Kate Perkins to local news group WCHS.

Metro officials reviewed the transit agency's policy and said the ads fall in line with political advertisements.

Portland, Maine, Legalizes Recreational Marijuana

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Forget iPhone 7, This Revolutionary Phone Sports 12 GB RAM & Has 1TB Internal Storage

Innovation. In the tech world, this 10-letter word is and has been everybody's favourite. While we are still trying to get over the fact that the iPhone has come out with a new model, there is another company that has come up with a phone that could blow all other phones right out of the market. Oh no, it doesn't come with teleportation.

A California-based company named Turing Robotic Industries recently unveiled the concept behind their latest smartphone (read: superphone). It is called the Turing Phone Cadenza and features some insane specifications.

Running the company's own Swordfish OS, Cadenza comes with deep learning artificial intelligence capabilities and is not like any phone device we have known till now. Don't believe us? Here are some unbelievable specifications of the same:

A 5.8-inch Quad HD display with1440x2560 pixel resolution

1TB of internal storage which can be further expanded up to 500GB using a microSD card.

A 60MP rear camera with IMAX 6K recording facility

A 2400mAh Graphene Supercapacitor Battery with a 1600mAh Li-Ion Hydrogen Fuel cell

To know about all official specifications, check out the video below:

This superphone is expected to release next year. And we can't even...

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In the words of #Aerosmith, "Dream On"!!
#StopClickBait


Guess which university orders more late night food than any other school

If you're in a hurry to pack on your freshman 15 as quickly as you can, what better way than cheap, unhealthy food late at night?

GrubHub recently analyzed the ordering habits at more than 350 college campuses, and found the students at Syracuse University ordered more late-night food than any other school. In fact, 1 in 4 orders placed by Syracuse students occur after hours, defined by GrubHub as between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Overall, college students are 87 percent more likely to order late-night meals than the average diner, according to GrubHub, and 70 percent less likely to order food between 6 and 9 a.m. Students are also about 28 percent less likely to place "healthier" orders than the average GrubHub user, and students generally spend 10 percent less on their meals.

Students on the following campuses in the slideshow below place the highest percentage of orders between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.:

Late-Night Eaters: Colleges Where Students Order The Most Late Night Food According To GrubHub (2013)

College Late-Night Food Habits Revealed By GrubHub

If you're in a hurry to pack on your freshman...

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Former "Gossip Girl" star strips down to lingerie for @MaximMag

It certainly feels like it, at least with one of the shots currently available online of the Pretty Reckless singer sitting on a toilet in just a red bra, with her underwear around her ankles, giving the camera the finger.

Other photos of the 20-year-old flashing her sheer black bra under a sweater and exposing a matching garter belt under unbuttoned jeans and giving bedroom eyes seem almost demure in comparison.

But would Momsen really bother to try to one-up Cyrus? The former "Gossip Girl" star had been pretty firm regarding her thoughts on the singer in the past:

"I'm not looking to be Miley f**king Cyrus. I don't care about the fame. I do it because I love music. I like making records and if people like them, then we'll go along for the ride," she told FHM U.K. back in 2010 when both singers were just 16.

So Miley's become a little bit wilder since then, and Momsen, well, she's been stripping down to her underwear, wearing electrical tape as pasties at shows, giving lap dances to fans, going topless for years now.

And while Momsen dons a number of "provocative" outfits, she told Maxim it's not about "feeling sexy."

"It’s less about what I’m wearing and more about feeling powerful while performing. That gets my blood flowing," Momsen explained.

You can check out more of Taylor Momsen's interview with Maxim in the November issue, on sale Oct. 14.

Taylor Momsen Strips Down To Sheer Lingerie For Maxim Magazine

Is Taylor Momsen trying to one-up Miley Cyrus with her latest photo shoot for Maxim magazine?

It certainly feels like it, at least with one of the sho...

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Chinese man is as tough as nails, literally

The man surnamed Zhao was involved in an altercation with another man in a pool hall in Nanning, China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on February 21.

Zhao lost consciousness and was taken to hospital where surgeons managed to remove the nail from his head, reports the People's Daily Online.

35-year-old Zhao was playing pool with his friends when the suspect confronted him.

The quarrel turned physical and Zhao was hit over the head with his own cue stick.

The 50-year-old attacker did not stop until the cue was snapped into multiple pieces.

Zhao was on the ground severely injured when the suspect produced a six-inch-long nail and hammered it into the head of the victim.

He immediately lost consciousness while onlookers managed to subdue the attacker until police arrived to take him away.

Zhao was taken to Nanning Fifth People's Hospital where surgeons managed to remove the rusty nail.

He is currently in hospital in a stable condition. X-ray photos show the depth of the nail in the man's brain.

Local residents claim that the suspect has a history of mental illness.

Man miraculously survives having a nail HAMMERED into his brain after vicious attack at a Chinese pool hall

A man in China has survived an attack which left a nail measuring some six inches lodged in his brain. The man surnamed Zhao was involved in an altercation with a man in a pool hall on February 21.


This Company Has Built a Profile on Every American Adult

Forget telephoto lenses and fake mustaches: The most important tools for America’s 35,000 private investigators are database subscription services. For more than a decade, professional snoops have been able to search troves of public and nonpublic records—known addresses, DMV records, photographs of a person’s car—and condense them into comprehensive reports costing as little as $10. Now they can combine that information with the kinds of things marketers know about you, such as which politicians you donate to, what you spend on groceries, and whether it’s weird that you ate in last night, to create a portrait of your life and predict your behavior.

IDI, a year-old company in the so-called data-fusion business, is the first to centralize and weaponize all that information for its customers. The Boca Raton, Fla., company’s database service, idiCORE, combines public records with purchasing, demographic, and behavioral data. Chief Executive Officer Derek Dubner says the system isn’t waiting for requests from clients—it’s already built a profile on every American adult, including young people who wouldn’t be swept up in conventional databases, which only index transactions. "We have data on that 21-year-old who’s living at home with mom and dad," he says.

Dubner declined to provide a demo of idiCORE or furnish the company’s report on me. But he says these personal profiles include all known addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses; every piece of property ever bought or sold, plus related mortgages; past and present vehicles owned; criminal citations, from speeding tickets on up; voter registration; hunting permits; and names and phone numbers of neighbors. The reports also include photos of cars taken by private companies using automated license plate readers—billions of snapshots tagged with GPS coordinates and time stamps to help PIs surveil people or bust alibis.

IDI also runs two coupon websites, allamericansavings.com and samplesandsavings.com, that collect purchasing and behavioral data. When I signed up for the latter, I was asked for my e-mail address, birthday, and home address, information that could easily link me with my idiCORE profile. The site also asked if I suffered from arthritis, asthma, diabetes, or depression, ostensibly to help tailor its discounts.

Users and industry analysts say the addition of purchasing and behavioral data to conventional data fusion outmatches rival systems in terms of capabilities—and creepiness. "The cloud never forgets, and imperfect pictures of you composed from your data profile are carefully filled in over time," says Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies Associates, a consulting firm. "We’re like bugs in amber, completely trapped in the web of our own data."

When logging in to IDI and similar databases, a PI must select a permissible use for a search under U.S. privacy laws. The Federal Trade Commission oversees the industry, but PI companies are largely expected to police themselves, because a midsize outfit may run thousands of searches a month.

Dubner says most Americans have little to fear. As examples, he cites idiCORE uses such as locating a missing person and nabbing a fraud or terrorism suspect.

IDI, like much of the data-fusion industry, traces its lineage to Hank Asher, a former cocaine smuggler and self-taught programmer who began fusing sets of public data from state and federal governments in the early 1990s. After Sept. 11, law enforcement’s interest in commercial databases grew, and more money and data began raining down, says Julia Angwin, a reporter who wrote about the industry in her 2014 book, Dragnet Nation .

Asher died suddenly in 2013, leaving behind his company, the Last One (TLO), which credit bureau TransUnion bought in bankruptcy for $154 million. Asher’s disciples, including Dubner, left TLO and eventually teamed up with Michael Brauser, a former business partner of Asher’s, and billionaire health-care investor Phillip Frost. In May 2015, after a flurry of purchases and mergers, the group rebranded its database venture as IDI.

Besides pitching its databases to big-name PIs (Kroll, Control Risks), law firms, debt collectors, and government agencies, IDI says it’s also targeting consumer marketers. The 200-employee company had revenue of about $40 million in its most recent quarter and says 2,800 users signed up for idiCORE in the first month after its May release. It declined to provide more recent figures. The company’s data sets are growing, too. In December, Frost helped underwrite IDI’s $100 million acquisition of marketing profiler Fluent, which says it has 120 million profiles of U.S. consumers. In June, IDI bought ad platform Q Interactive for a reported $21 million in stock.

IDI may need Frost’s deep pockets for a while. The PI industry’s three favorite databases are owned by TransUnion and media giants Reed Elsevier and Thomson Reuters. "There’s no shortage," says Chuck McLaughlin, chairman of the board of the World Association of Detectives, which has about 1,000 members. "The longer you’re in business, the more data you have, the better results." He uses TLO and Tracers Information Specialists.

Steve Rambam, a PI who hosts Nowhere to Hide on the Investigation Discovery channel, says marketing data remains a niche monitoring tool compared with social media, but its power can be unparalleled. "You may not know what you do on a regular basis, but I know," Rambam says. "I know it’s Thursday, you haven’t eaten Chinese food in two weeks, and I know you’re due."

The bottom line: IDI’s marketing databases may help PIs predict people’s moves or digitally peek into their cars or medicine cabinets.

Every move you make. Every click you take. Every game you play. Every place you stay. They’ll be watching you.


Passing out food at award shows has now become something of a "thing," starting when Ellen DeGeneres handed out pizza at the Academy Awards two years ago. After all, famous people get hungry, too—especially those who have been subsisting on "kale and dust" for weeks to fit into their unforgiving $5,000 Prada gowns.

For last night’s Emmys, host Jimmy Kimmel tasked the kid actors from the absurdly popular Netflix series Stranger Things with handing out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which—according to the gag, anyway—were being prepared backstage in the thousands by Kimmel’s own mother. The pre-teen squad—Millie Bobby Brown, Caleb McLaughlin, and Gaten Matarazzo—cruised down the aisles of the ceremony on their signature cruiser bikes, distributing the sandwiches, along with juice boxes and motherly handwritten notes, to attendees. It was all fun and fanfare (damn, Eleven in that blonde wig is just the cutest thing!)... until it wasn’t. This is why we can’t have nice things.

First of all, Los Angeles Times writer Gerrick D. Kennedy had some rather unkind words about the composition and quality of the sandwich, and was less-than-impressed that they were being carted around in those blue IKEA bags.

Actress Emily Ratajkowski was similarly unimpressed, telling TMZ that they "weren’t that good."

How badly can one fuck up a PB&J? Did they use bottom-of-the-barrel raspberry jam and crunchy all-natural peanut butter on stale multigrain bread, or something? Even that sounds halfway decent, on second thought.

Tom Colicchio was more forgiving, however.

Although Kimmel made jokes about the gluten and peanut content of the incoming meals to warn those with food allergies—"We can only afford one EpiPen," he joked, also commenting that those with gluten allergies were "annoying"—there was apparently still chatter about whether it was irresponsible to pass out snacks containing nuts at all. ("You never just hand out peanut butter. That’s such a liability," one Emmy guest reportedly complained within earshot of the LA Times reporters who were on-site.)

Regarding the incident, Adam Bailine, VP of Marketing and Communications at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, told MUNCHIES: "We received complaints and concerns regarding the broadcast. This is very much on our radar... It is extremely risky to pull a stunt like this without considering the danger."

Bailine also included a statement that the organization issued to ABC today regarding the dangers of handing out peanut products and making light of food allergies.

"While we understand the joke presented by Jimmy Kimmel was aimed at the recent pricing events of epinephrine auto-injectors that has been broadcast in the media over the last several weeks, it wasn’t well-received by the larger food allergy community," read one portion of the statement.

Then, to complicate this attempted act of adorableness even further, McLaughlin and Matarazzo mentioned at an after-party that they didn’t receive any sandwiches for their own enjoyment. Unpaid labor? Justice for the Stranger Things kids!

What did we just witness? We thought we were at the Microsoft Theater, but maybe it was the Upside Down.

UV: Why People Are Mad That the 'Stranger Things Kids' Passed Out PB&Js at the Emmys

Peanut allergies, also rich people are above the simple pleasure that only a good PB&J can provide.


"Why aren’t we talking about Huma [Abedin] and her ties to the Muslim Brotherhood? Why aren’t we talking about the fact that she was an editor for a Sharia newspaper?"

— Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), interview on CNN, Aug. 23, 2016

Huma Abedin is a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president, having worked for her when Clinton was first lady, a senator and secretary of state. Abedin is now vice chair of the Clinton campaign. She is married to former representative Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), who resigned in disgrace over sex-tinged social media posts.

But Abedin has also been the subject of suspicion on the right, given that she grew up in Saudi Arabia (after being born in Kalamazoo, Mich.) before attending George Washington University.

Roger Stone, a top adviser to GOP nominee Donald Trump, — what Duffy was referring to when he said she was "an editor for a Sharia newspaper." Roger Stone, a top adviser to GOP nominee Donald Trump, described Abedin on Aug. 23 as a "Saudi asset." Her name popped in the news again after the New York Post published an article Aug. 21 titled, "Huma Abedin worked at a radical Muslim journal for a dozen years"what Duffy was referring to when he said she was "an editor for a Sharia newspaper."

The Muslim Brotherhood is a Sunni Islamic movement that is a force in Middle Eastern politics — and labeled by some countries as a terrorist organization.

Duffy made this statement as he decried what he considered the media’s obsession with controversies around Trump, while ignoring issues involving Clinton. Let’s explore whether Duffy’s assertions about Abedin hold water.

First of all, Abedin was not associated with a newspaper but a staid academic journal called the First of all, Abedin was not associated with a newspaper but a staid academic journal called the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs . The journal is edited by Abedin’s mother, Saleha Mahmood Abedin, who is a dean of a Saudi woman’s college in Jiddah that Clinton visited when she was secretary of state

The peer-reviewed journal had been founded by Abedin’s late father, Syed, who died in 1993. Circulation figures are not available, but the The peer-reviewed journal had been founded by Abedin’s late father, Syed, who died in 1993. Circulation figures are not available, but the online resource WorldCat says it can be found in fewer than 600 libraries around the world. (Generally, academic journals are mostly sold to libraries, at high cost.)

The fact that Huma Abedin The fact that Huma Abedin was listed as an assistant editor between 1996 and 2008 is not news, as that had previously been reported in 2012. The Clinton campaign says Abedin played no role in editing articles; her brother and sister are also listed as staff members.

The New York Post described the journal as "a radical Muslim publication" but that’s ridiculous, according to experts on Islam and members of the advisory board. The New York Post report cherry-picked quotes and mischaracterized articles published over the years, including by Saleha Abedin, according to a review of the articles by the Fact Checker.

"I wouldn’t consider it ‘radical.’ Quite the contrary," said "I wouldn’t consider it ‘radical.’ Quite the contrary," said Noah Feldman , director of the Julius-Rabinowitz Program on Jewish and Israeli Law at Harvard Law School. "That doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of articles expressing conservative viewpoints, of course. But I’ve never seen anything in any way radical."

of Dartmouth College, who is a member of the journal’s advisory board, described it as a "fairly innocuous journal." He said it was "anything but radical, within the golden mean of what academic journals do." He said most of the articles are written by emerging scholars who are relatively early in their academic careers. "The authors can vary in quality, as is the case with most academic journals," he said. "Some are more edgy than others, but you can learn some fresh things." He added that no one works on the journal full time. Dale F. Eickelman of Dartmouth College, who is a member of the journal’s advisory board, described it as a "fairly innocuous journal." He said it was "anything but radical, within the golden mean of what academic journals do." He said most of the articles are written by emerging scholars who are relatively early in their academic careers. "The authors can vary in quality, as is the case with most academic journals," he said. "Some are more edgy than others, but you can learn some fresh things." He added that no one works on the journal full time.

, another advisory board member who directs the Islamic Studies program at Harvard University, said that Abedin’s father was especially interested in issues concerning Muslims who live as minorities in countries, as well as Muslim sects that are minorities in Muslim communities. That interest continues to be demonstrated in the recent issue, with five articles on Muslim life in Australia. Ali Asani , another advisory board member who directs the Islamic Studies program at Harvard University, said that Abedin’s father was especially interested in issues concerning Muslims who live as minorities in countries, as well as Muslim sects that are minorities in Muslim communities. That interest continues to be demonstrated in the recent issue, with five articles on Muslim life in Australia.

Asani described Syed Abedin as a model of a "moderate Muslim" (though he dislikes the term), who was educated at Aligarh Muslim University in India, founded as a forward-thinking, even liberal institution. Syed later received a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. Asani said that he attended a conference organized by Syed that featured a speech by Asani described Syed Abedin as a model of a "moderate Muslim" (though he dislikes the term), who was educated at Aligarh Muslim University in India, founded as a forward-thinking, even liberal institution. Syed later received a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. Asani said that he attended a conference organized by Syed that featured a speech by Bernard Lewis , the Princeton University scholar whose advice was sought by neoconservatives before the 2003 Iraq invasion. (Lewis at one time also was an advisory board member of the journal.)

Oddly, the New York Post described the journal as a "Saudi propaganda organ" — even though the Saudi government has banned the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Presumably one cannot be both a Saudi propagandist and a Muslim Brotherhood operative at the same time.

This brings us to Huma Abedin’s supposed "ties" to the Muslim Brotherhood. Bear with us, as it’s really a case of six degrees of separation.

Syed Abedin in 1978 founded the Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs, a think tank which began publishing the journal a year later, with the support of Abdullah Omar Naseef, at the time president of King Abdulaziz University. Later, between 1983 and 1993, Naseef was secretary-general of the Muslim World League, a pan-Islamic nongovernmental organization. (Interestingly, in 1983, Naseef was also awarded the Syed Abedin in 1978 founded the Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs, a think tank which began publishing the journal a year later, with the support of Abdullah Omar Naseef, at the time president of King Abdulaziz University. Later, between 1983 and 1993, Naseef was secretary-general of the Muslim World League, a pan-Islamic nongovernmental organization. (Interestingly, in 1983, Naseef was also awarded the Bronze Wolf , bestowed by the World Scout Committee for "outstanding service to the World Scout Movement.")

Naseef thus was secretary-general when the Muslim World League, after heated debate, in 1990 Naseef thus was secretary-general when the Muslim World League, after heated debate, in 1990 endorsed Saudi Arabia’s decision to call in U.S. troops to help defend the kingdom after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Naseef’s name also appeared on the advisory board of the journal until 2004, though members say their duties are limited to reviewing an occasional article before publication.

In 1988, during his tenure at the Muslim World League, Naseef authorized a Pakistani charity called the Rabita Trust at a time when the United States and its allies funded the mujahideen fighting the Soviet troops occupying Afghanistan. Years later, the fund became associated with al-Qaeda (which, after all, emerged from the mujahideen) and In 1988, during his tenure at the Muslim World League, Naseef authorized a Pakistani charity called the Rabita Trust at a time when the United States and its allies funded the mujahideen fighting the Soviet troops occupying Afghanistan. Years later, the fund became associated with al-Qaeda (which, after all, emerged from the mujahideen) and was frozen in 2002 by the Treasury Department after the 9/11 attacks. But that distant connection, a quarter-century later, is now used to tar Abedin.

Meanwhile, Abedin’s mother founded an aid organization in the 1990s called the International Islamic Committee for Woman and Child, which at one point was said to be affiliated with International Islamic Council for Da’wa and Relief. IICDR Meanwhile, Abedin’s mother founded an aid organization in the 1990s called the International Islamic Committee for Woman and Child, which at one point was said to be affiliated with International Islamic Council for Da’wa and Relief. IICDR was banned in Israel years later for allegedly supporting Hamas, a Palestinian offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, under the auspices of yet another group, the Union of Good. The Union of Good was designated by Treasury in 2008 for aiding a terrorist organization.

, an Islamic scholar at Durham University in England who said he was involved with the Institute for Muslim Minority Affairs from its earliest days, described both parents as "pioneers" in the studies of Muslim minorities who edited a serious academic publication. "Associational blame ignores the nuance and contextualisation that individuals bring to their analysis, and seeks to delegitimise them by an unreflective linkage to ‘radicalism,’" he said. James Piscatori , an Islamic scholar at Durham University in England who said he was involved with the Institute for Muslim Minority Affairs from its earliest days, described both parents as "pioneers" in the studies of Muslim minorities who edited a serious academic publication. "Associational blame ignores the nuance and contextualisation that individuals bring to their analysis, and seeks to delegitimise them by an unreflective linkage to ‘radicalism,’" he said.

Indeed, the connections are so tenuous as to be obscure. Harvard’s Asani said the alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood are "crazy" when you consider the stated purpose of the journal. "The Muslim Brotherhood was the last organization interested in this issue" of the rights of minority Muslims, he said. "Syed Abedin was far from the Muslim Brotherhood. It makes absolutely no sense."

Duffy asked why the alleged Muslim Brotherhood connections to Huma Abedin are not being talked about. Perhaps it’s because they are bogus. Abedin has lived in the United States for 23 years, working in the White House, the Senate and the State Department. Vague suggestions of suspicious-sounding connections to her parents don’t pass the laugh test, even at the flimsiest standard of guilt by association.

The journal edited by her mother, meanwhile, is not "sharia newspaper" but a sober academic journal with a range of viewpoints on Muslim life around the world.

Does Huma Abedin have ‘ties’ to the Muslim Brotherhood? - The Washing...

For the first time, nearly every presidential candidate is flanked by at least one independent group that can accept unlimited donations from individuals and corporations. Here are the latest totals for each White House contender and their allies.

No. Four Pinocchios. [The Washington Post]


This city watched the most porn during last weekend's big snowstorm.

Some people bake cookies, read, watch a movie. I guess one could argue Washington, D.C., was watching movies...technically.

During the record-breaking snowstorm that slammed the northeast U.S. this past weekend, it seems many folks passed the time practicing self-love. PornHub released data exposing Washington, D.C., as the region that logged on to watch the most porn during the blizzard.

Initially provided to GQ, PornHub's survey looked at traffic on the website for the four major cities affected by the snow: New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, but it was our nation's capitol that...uh...peaked. D.C. porn searches spiked an average 23% on the site, more over the weekend than any of the others.

Surprisingly though, the day with the biggest spike was the day after the storm hit.

Also interesting: the method in which users watched the videos. This chart shows that more people used their computers rather than mobile devices or tablets to stream in New York.

Guess which U.S. city watched the most porn during the blizzard

PornHub did the research, and the tallies are in.

entertainment, porn, sex, pornography, uncategorized, lifestyle, washington-d.c.


You will have to make a decision about whether you will ask what she already knows. If you were the one to call her and tell her that her son had been shot then you have already done part of it, but you have not done it yet. You are about to do it now. You never make her wait. She is his mother. Now you explode the world. Yes, you have to. You say something like: "Mrs. Booker. I have terrible, terrible news. Ernest died today."

You will not stand up. You may leave yourself in the heaviness of your breath or the racing of your pulse or the sight of your shoelaces on your shoe, but you will not stand up. You are here for her. She is his mother.

If the mother has another son with her and he has punched the wall or broken the chair, do not be worried. The one that punched the wall or broke the chair will be better than the one who looks down and refuses to cry. The one who punched the wall or broke the chair will be much easier than the sister who looks up and closes her eyes as they fill.

Security is already outside the room and when they hear the first loud noise they will know to come in. No, you will not have to tell them. They know about the family room in the emergency department in summer in North Philadelphia. It is all right. They will be kind. If the chair cannot be sat in again that is all right. We have money for new chairs every summer. If he does not break your chair you stay in your chair. If he does you find a new place to sit. You are here for the mother and you have more to do.

If she asks you, you will tell her what you know. You do not lie. But do not say he was murdered or he was killed. Yes, I know that he was, but that is not what you say. You say that he died; that is the part that you saw and that you know. When she asks if he felt any pain, you must be very careful. If he did not, you assure her quickly. If he did, you do not lie. But his pain is over now. Do not ever say he was lucky that he did not feel pain. He was not lucky. She is not lucky. Don’t make that face. The depth of the stupidity of the things you will say sometimes is unimaginable.

Before you leave you break her heart one more time. "No, I’m so sorry, but you cannot see him. There are strict rules when a person dies this way and the police have to take him first. We cannot let you in. I’m so sorry." You do not ever say "the body." It is not a body. It is her son. You want to tell her that you know that he was hers. But she knows that and she does not need for you to tell her. Instead you tell her you will give her time and come back in case she has questions. More questions, or questions for the first time. If she has no questions you do not give her the answers to the questions she has not asked.

When you leave the room, do not yell at the medical student who has a question. When you get home, do not yell at your husband. If he left his socks on the floor again today, it is all right.

Doctors,Emergency Medical Treatment,Death and Dying


Duterte plans to ‘SHOOT and KILL’ these people; find out who they are

- President Duterte warned business owners that he will kill them if they continue to practice endo or contractualization

- Duterte said that he will summon these employers to his office, shoot them, and then send them to the funeral parlor

- However, Duterte later clarified his comments saying that it was just hyperbole

President Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte explained during his speech on Wednesday that he is planning to punish business owners who practice contractualization or "endo" (end of contract) by summoning them to his office, shooting them, and then sending them to the funeral parlor.

"I’m telling this to you. I’m just issuing a warning. You choose: Stop contractualization or I kill you," Duterte stated before the members of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, which included Catholic priests and nuns.

Duterte explained that his position as the President gives him the immunity to threaten people with murder.

"I can utter things like that. I am [the] President. I have immunity. I can summon you. I will shoot you [and order] ‘Bring him to the funeral parlor. You’re making me angry,’" the President said.

Duterte said that during his time as the mayor of Davao City, he used to summon people and policemen who break the law in his office and then slap and kick them one by one.

Duterte pointed out that the government cannot inspect and close down every business in the country that practice endo, so his solution is to just kill the business owners.

However, Duterte later clarified his statements.

"[But] that’s just hyperbole," the President said, eliciting laughter from the audience.

Contractualization is the illegal practice of some business owners who hire employees for less than six months in order to bypass the law which requires employers to regularize their workers who have been working for them for over six months.

Ending contractualization is one of the promises made by President Duterte during his election campaign, along with ending the illegal drug trade, eliminating corruption in the government, creating peace with rebel groups and changing the form of government to federalism. - Kami Media

Duterte: ‘Stop contractualization or I kill you’

Kami.com.ph News ☛ President Rodrigo Duterte warned business owners that he will kill them if they continue to practice endo or contractualization

Business owners who practice endo or contractualization. #StopClickBait


25 Year Old Street Fighter 2 Mystery Finally Solved

The Street Fighter franchise has a colourful and quirky cast of characters, from an Indian yoga practitioner with stretchy limbs to a man that dresses as a skeleton and fights crimes. Among them all, however, there are two mysterious figures that very little has been known about, until now that is.

25 years after Street Fighter 2 hit arcades, Capcom has finally revealed the identities of the first two characters you'd see when playing the game.

In a post on the Street Fighter subreddit, Capcom confirmed the two gentlemen duking it out in front of a cheering crowd are Max and Scott. For those who need a refresher, take a look at them in the video below.

Capcom has also published official bios for both characters, though it's in Japanese. Since Street Fighter 5 is set after Street Fighter 2, the characters have been redesigned somewhat.

Why is Capcom talking about these two fighters? Could they be added as DLC characters? Probably not. What's more likely is that it's just a bit of fleshing the universe out for fans. At most, they may be included in the upcoming story mode expansion.

Street Fighter 5's free story mode expansion will be released in June. It will contain over an hour of "cinematic content" and fill in the storyline between Street Fighter 4 and the new game. Watch the first trailer for the DLC here.

The name of two iconic characters have been revealed.

The first two characters you see when starting the game are called Max and Scott. #StopClickBait


She Stacked Pallets In The Spare Room And Then Did THIS With The Mattresses! The Result? SO MUCH...

This project just might take the cake for cool pallet projects. The wood is so versatile and can be used for a ton of different ideas, but none quite compare to the end result of this one.

The bloggers of 99 Pallets decided to collect pallets and connect them together to make a DIY home movie theater!

"You just need to have pallet wood in some bigger amount to accomplish sitting about eight to 10 family members in a comfortable manner," the bloggers wrote on their post about the project.

She Stacked Pallets In The Spare Room And Then Did THIS With The Mattresses! The Result? SO MUCH FUN!

Instead of using the room for something normal, they took everything out and filled it with pallets. Their reason is great.

news, content, articles, informative, report, trending, stories, web, community, breaking news, entertaining, videos, viral, interactive community, Trancos, fun articles, read, discover, new, news site, popular stories

She added pillows and sheets to make it a cozy hang-out area. #StopClickBait


Husband Finds Wife Asleep In Baby’s Crib, The Reason Why Will Touch Your Heart.

People always have an opinion how to soothe a crying baby. The most common advice is to let the newborn cry out their frustration, particularly if they have been fed and changed already. It’s hard to walk away and leave an inconsolable babe in the crib. Dayna Mager, from Michigan knows exactly what she has to do when her baby girl sobs.

Luella was born in October 2015 and every time she begins to stir and weep, Dayna does something most moms are warned against doing. Dayna knew she would begin this approach after attending a Christian concert and hearing a missionary speak.

She shared a photo on Facebook of her soothing method, her post has been liked over 60,000 times and has received over 22,000 shares. You may be changing the way you react to your baby crying from now on.

Babies cry for a reason and they need you to listen to them. There is a myth that babies cry because they need something specific; nursing, diaper change or gases. It is not always about wanting attention for basic necessities. Their cry for help is often times for a very specific reason.

Dayna may not know the actual reason her baby cries. But she knows to go to her every time. Dayna Mager is a 28-year-old new mom. The woman recently posted a photo of herself sleeping with her baby girl. Her husband Matt took the photo when he came home late at night and found Dayna in the crib.

Dayna made a promise to her baby Luella shortly after her birth. The Ann Arbor, Michigan couple attended a worship concert where a missionary spoke about his experience visiting an orphanage in Uganda. In the nursery room, the missionary saw about 100 babies, all of whom were silent.

The babies in the orphanage do not cry because they were sleep trained. The missionary was surprised at how quiet the babies were. He asked one of the workers for the reason and the response changed Dayna's way of parenting. "Her response to him is something I will never, ever forget. Ever. This was my 'why' moment," explains Dayna.

The baby was crying, and she learned in orphanages, babies don't cry because they realize no one is coming for them.


'Fallout 4' news: Sony denies mod support for title but allows feature for another game

It seems like Sony has just added salt to the wounds of "Fallout 4" players using PlayStation 4. After Bethesda broke the news that Sony had turned down requests to add mod support for "Fallout 4" on the PS4, new reports revealed that Sony has just allowed another game to acquire mod support on the console.

(Bethesda/Fallout 4: Far Harbor) An image from "Fallout 4: Far Harbor."

Express has just released an update about the whole ruckus involving Sony denying gamers the much-requested "Fallout 4" PS4 mod support. The report revealed that the tech and software mogul has decided to launch the feature on a different game instead. Apparently, the developing studio of "Farming Simulator" has just confirmed that its farming simulation video game would have playable mods on the PS4 version of the title.

The game has long since used mods on PC games like "Fallout" and other franchises, and now PC Giants has just given word that the game would get PS4 mod support for PlayStation gamers.

"Just to confirm: Farming Simulator17 mod support on both Xbox One AND PS4 will be available when the game comes out," the developer posted on the official Twitter account of the game.

Many "Fallout 4" PS4 gamers may consider the news as another stab to the gut by Sony right after it denied Bethesda the use of mods on the PS4 version of the fourth "Fallout" installment last week.

The company made an update on the drawn-out issue of a lack of PS4 mod support for "Fallout 4," announcing that Sony wouldn't allow the feature on its console.

"After months of discussion with Sony, we regret to say that while we have long been ready to offer mod support on PS4, Sony has informed us they will not approve user mods the way they should work: where users can do anything they want for either Fallout 4 or Skyrim Special Edition," reads the post on the official Bethesda website.

'Fallout 4' PS4 Mod support news 2016: Sony denies mod support for title but allows feature for another game

It seems like Sony has just added salt to the wounds of "Fallout 4" players using PlayStation 4. After Bethesda broke the news that Sony had turned down requests to add mod support for "Fallout 4" on the PS4, new reports revealed that Sony has just allowed another game to ...

The other game is the upcoming "Farming Simulator 17", which will also have Xbox One mod support upon release


This Hollywood star thinks she has something to teach business leaders and she's right

As political leaders and business executives gather at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week to discuss major economic and policy initiatives, many have also come together to tackle another universal problem -- their stress levels.

On Thursday, conference participants attended a mindfulness panel led by Oscar-winning actress Goldie Hawn. In addition to participating in meditation exercises, attendees heard from medical researchers on the life-changing benefits of the practice, including its ability to promote better pain tolerance, immunity to influenza and self-control in children.

Hawn has been speaking out about mindfulness for more than 10 years and started her foundation, The Hawn Foundation, to help introduce the practice to children in the classroom. She told the forum's audience that in order to create a more sustainable, unified society, schools should introduce the concepts of meditation to children at a young age.

"We have to create equanimity, we have to listen to each other. We have to care deeply, collectively, about our society as a whole, otherwise we will create a world not worth living in," Hawn said.

Hawn's mindfulness panel is one of 25 sessions at the Davos conference that will focus on well-being, mental health and the effects of technology on the brain, demonstrating the growing role of stress management as a tool of success in the business world.

Practicing meditation has been proven to reduce stress levels in businesses and classrooms, contribute to positive changes in cognitive function and may even improve heart health. And many business leaders, even prior to this year's World Economic Forum, have already acknowledged the role of a mindfulness practice in their careers and lives: LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey and Starfish chairman and broadcast journalist Soledad O'Brien have all spoken publicly about how meditation has kept their stress levels low and even led to game-changing innovation and better decision-making skills.

In a World Economic Forum blog about the benefits of mindfulness, the actress addressed the crucial reasons why the practice is needed among the business elite -- and the prominent impact it can have on society.

"Many of the world’s top business leaders, from Arianna Huffington and Rupert Murdoch to Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford and Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini, credit mindfulness in the workplace as part of their success," Hawn wrote. "The ability to remain calm and focused in stressful situations is central to making positive decisions... I firmly believe that by cultivating mindful change and raising awareness, we can ultimately transform our world for the better."

On a larger scale, reducing stress improves the bottom line along with employee well-being: Mental health-related illnesses have the potential to cost $16 trillion in lost worker output over the next 20 years, according to figures released by Harvard University and the WEF.

Actress Goldie Hawn Leads Global Leaders In Meditation At The 2014 World Economic Forum

As political leaders and business executives gather at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week to discuss major economic and policy initiatives, many...

goldie hawn davos,world economic forum 2014,goldie hawn meditation,Goldie Hawn,mindfulness,davos,world economic forum davos,Third Metric,meditation,Davos 2014,World Economic Forum


Twitter's numbers may not be as bad as they seem, says Chief Executive Dick Costolo.

Twitter’s user growth might be slowing, but, on the bright side, 500 million people visit the microblogging service each month without logging on, Costolo said Wednesday at the company’s first analyst day in San Francisco. And, he said, 125 million people visit Twitter’s home page each month without signing up, presenting an opportunity to create features to add users, Costolo said.

The company's stock price jumped $2.95, or 7.4%, on Wednesday to close at $42.54.

The CEO announced plans to roll out an "instant timeline" that lets users see what’s happening on the site without having to first follow people. He also said the company is working on new mobile applications that will simplify the sign-up process.

Costolo made his presentation amid investor concerns about slowing user growth. The day after the company reported that its user base grew 23% to 284 million monthly active users in the third quarter, compared with 24% growth the previous quarter, Twitter shares tumbled 9.8% to $43.78.

The company went public last November at a price of $26 a share. The stock peaked in December at $74.73.

Despite slowing user growth, the company’s head of global revenue, Adam Bain, said in early November at the Dublin International Web Summit that Twitter feels it’s "just getting started" and is aware it has "this massive untapped audience out there."

Growth slowing at Twitter? At least we have lurkers, CEO says

twitter, costolo, lurkers, user growth, analysts


Animal testing has shown exposure to high levels of chemicals such as these is linked with cancer, but these are levels of exposure much higher than humans would get from eating meat. Some studies do appear to have shown that meat that has been burned, fried or barbecued is associated with higher possibilities of certain cancers, but these links are hard to prove for certain.

If you are really concerned, you could reduce exposure risks by cooking in a microwave rather than over naked flames, and turning meat regularly. You could also eat less meat or replace the meat with vegetables when grilling. Of course, your food may not be as tasty, since grilling, baking or toasting produce a lot of molecules that enhance flavour. But if you have a healthy diet with lots of fruit, vegetables and whole grain food, none of which contain acrylamide, things are easier. It is all a question of proportion.

Simon Cotton, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, University of Birmingham

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

If you’re offered a plate of blackened barbecue food this summer, you might think twice about eating it. It’s commonly thought that food that has been burn

According to "some studies," "in some cases," it "possibly" "may or may not" be "linked" to "some forms of cancer" "potentially", but IFL Science can't say for sure.

#StopClickBait


'Force Awakens' fan theory may crack the case about Rey's origin

Ever since Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out in theaters, there has been a lot of speculation about the truth behind Rey's lineage.

Honestly, no one would be surprised if Luke Skywalker ended up being her dad — which is exactly why he is least likely to be the father.

Since the truth has yet to be revealed, fans are left to speculate, and every character from Obi Wan Kenobi to even Han Solo have been named as Rey's M.I.A. bio-dad.

But perhaps the real question we should be asking is, "who's your grandpa?"

One theory, which originated on Medium, has been broken down by YouTube user Vincent Vendetta, that points to Emporer Palpatine as Rey's grandfather — revealing the truth of her Force-wielding powers.

Here's how it breaks out, more details are in the video above and on Medium.

1. Her fighting style is almost exactly the same as Palpatine's.

Rey and Palpatine are the only two characters to use a forward thrust with a light saber. In fact, the first time you see both of them fight, they both use this as their first move. Choreography is never an accident.

2. Rey has a special relationship with the Dark Side.

Rey's anger comes out in many ways. On Jakku, as she's being interrogated by Kylo Ren and during her final battle in the forest. Vendetta even points to the film's script where it says specifically where she is tempted to kill Kylo Ren but stops.

The novelization of the movie also mentions an "unidentifiable voice" that urges Rey to kill Kylo Ren, which people have theorized to be Palpatine, instead of Supreme Leader Snoke.

The amount of heavy-handed pointing that has been done toward Luke being the father makes any affirmation of that theory poor storytelling. It's expected. More over, it makes practically everyone in the move a Skywalker. We need some tension.

Additionally, in the Star Wars novel, Bloodline, it states that Leia was in contact with Luke when he was creating the new Jedi academy, so she would have known if he had a family.

Besides, Han and Leia didn't even recognize Rey when they met her again — pretty sure they'd know their own niece no matter how long it's been and no matter how deep a secret they wanted to keep.

John Boyega and Daisy Ridley both have English accents and yet, Boyega had to change his for the film. If you remember, Palpatine also had an English accent.

Rey was sadly abandoned on Jakku because she had to be hidden. Because Luke found out Snoke was meddling with Ben Solo, he had to make sure Snoke couldn't find her. Hence, she had to be left on a remote planet where no one could find her.

When Rey Force-grabs the lightsaber, Kylo Ren mysteriously "knows" her. This may be because they met as children at Luke's new Jedi academy — but Rey doesn't remember. This is unsettling to Rey.

7. Palpatine's voice can be heard in Rey's Force vision.

There's little reason for Palpatine's voice to manifest itself to Rey unless he has a connection to her.

Vendetta even points to a moment when Kylo Ren actually saves Rey's life. This may be because he is aware of her true identity, and since Ren has given into the Dark Side, he definitely wants her alive so that they can rule the galaxy together as Darth Vader wanted.

8. Rey is positioned somewhere in the middle.

The imagery for the film also tells a story. While Vendetta says Rey "looks pretty evil," (we would just say "determined") on The Force Awakens poster, she is positioned slightly off toward the middle-left. You might say she's not evil, but definitely being tempted by the Dark Side.

Star Wars has always been about a Skywalker versus a Palpatine ("Anakin vs. Palpatine, Luke vs. Palpatine, Kylo Ren vs. Palpatine"). As Vendetta points out, this time the roles are reversed, with a Palpatine on the Light side, but the sides are still very balanced — just like the Force, you might say.

It's complimentary to the first trilogy, it makes a good story and it's reflective of every great saga every told. We say this one has legs to stand on.

videos, fan-theory, conversations, watercooler, funny, film, star-wars


Steve From 'Blue's Clues' Revealed the REAL Reason He Left the Show, And It's Pretty Surprising

1. Blue's Clues, Blue's Clues, BLUE'S CLUES!

Blue's Clues was one of the most popular television shows on Nickelodeon from 1996-2006. The show followed an animated adorable dog named Blue, and the show's host, Steve as they played games with one another and the show's audience.

Steve Burns, who became the face of Blue's Clues, hosted the show from 1996-2002.  He quickly became a celebrity, was named one of People's most eligible bachelors in 2000 and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2001. Who would have thought that the nerdy host of a kid's TV show would become so popular?!

In 2002, at the height of the show and Steve's popularity, the 29-year-old host abruptly left Blue's to "go to college," as they put it for kids watching the show. Rumors circulated that drug use forced him to leave the show. Some said he died of an overdose, and others said he was in a terrible car crash. Although we all love a good scandal, none of this was true.

So, what did happen to Steve? What is the real reason that he left the show? Dun, dun, dun...

Premature balding. Yup, you read that correctly.He knew he was going bald and he didn't want it to happen on national television. Who would, really?

In an interview for the Nick Jr. special, Behind the Clues: 10 Years with Blue, Steve, now 40, explained, "I knew I wasn't going to be doing children's television all my life, mostly because I refused to lose my hair on a kid's TV show. And it was happening...fast."

If you go back and watch the show, Steve starts off with a full head of hair. By the end, he is covering up his bald spot with a hat. In 2002, he was replaced by 24-year-old Donovan Patton, who happened to be younger and happened to have great hair. Oh, Hollywood.

Since he left the show, Steve Burns has been spending his time pursuing a music career. He also shaved his head. Watch the video above for some behind-the-scenes stories from his crazy and wild days as the host of Blue's Clues.

Steve didn't leave to go to college. He didn't die in a car accident and wasn't addicted to drugs. Steve left 'Blue's Clues' for an even weirder reason. - The New Mr. Balding #nickelodeon, #kids shows, #television, #kids


Here's how often cops are arrested for breaking the laws they're paid to uphold

A new study finds that hundreds of police officers are arrested each year for the same sorts of crimes they are supposed to be thwarting.

The study, believed to be the first of its kind, was conducted by researchers at Bowling Green State University and funded by the National Institute of Justice, which released the report this month. Researchers identified 6,724 cases involving the arrests of 5,545 sworn officers across the nation between 2005 and 2011.

That means that on average, police officers are getting arrested around 1,000 times per year.

Alarmingly, forty-one percent of the total crimes were committed while on duty. Philip Stinson, lead researcher on the study and BGSU professor, told The Huffington Post that even when off-duty, some of these officers committed crimes using powers endowed to them as sworn members of law enforcement or knowledge gained through their authority as police officers -- thereby making the distinction murky in some cases.

"Police officers can’t seem to turn it off at night," Stinson said.

The alleged crimes cops were arrested for most frequently were simple assault, driving under the influence and aggravated assault. Altogether, those crimes made up one-third of the total cases. There were also a considerable number of sex crimes cases, including forcible fondling and forcible rape -- about 10 percent of all cases -- and, disturbingly, the sex crimes cases included some victims under the age of 18. While the victims were mostly female, there were some male victims as well, Stinson said Thursday during a web conference detailing the report.

"Our first and perhaps most salient general observation about the data was that police crimes are not uncommon and that they occur with some regularity in jurisdictions across the nation," the report reads. "The sheer number of police crimes directly contradicts the presumption that they are perpetrated by a small cadre of problem-prone officers."

Stinson and his co-authors broke the cases of arrest into five broad categories:

sex-related police crime (1,475 arrest cases of 1,070 sworn officers)

alcohol-related police crime (1,405 arrest cases of 1,283 sworn officers)

drug-related police crime (739 arrest cases of 665 sworn officers)

violence-related police crime (3,328 arrest cases of 2,586 sworn officers

profit-motivated police crime (1,592 cases of 1,396 officers)

Male police were arrested at a far higher rate than female officers: Almost 95 percent of police crimes were committed by males.

About 72 percent of arrest cases resulted in convictions, Stinson said. Still, only about half of the total cases ultimately resulted in job loss for the arrested officers. The reasons for that are complex, the researchers noted, but in part, professional discipline may be lacking following an officer's arrest because their own department may not know about the crime committed. That's because about two-thirds of all the cases originated from arrests made by a police department that didn't employ the officer arrested, meaning, in at least some cases, police departments may not be aware that some of their own officers are committing crimes.

Stinson and his colleagues say there are several things that law enforcement agencies can do to help keep cops from breaking the law. For example, they could perform annual criminal background checks for their sworn officers, and have written policies in place that specify standards for responding to police officers being arrested. They also could adopt policies compelling mandatory disclosure whenever an officer is arrested for a crime or when the agency issues an order of protection against the officer.

Because the researches also found instances of mental illness in some of the cases, as well as officers experiencing an "unraveling of their lives" following their arrest, they say agencies should install early warning systems to track officer arrests. That way, the officers can be referred to employee assistance programs when appropriate.

The full number of police officer crimes is likely higher than what the BGSU researchers found. The researchers used media reports to determine when an officer was arrested, so any crimes committed by an officer not reported by a law enforcement agency or discovered by a news organization are not included in the data.

"We know that, as a general matter, crime is underreported," David Harris, a professor of law at University of Pittsburgh School of Law who studies policing, told HuffPost. "Some types are underreported much more than others. There is no reason to think this would not be true with crimes by police."

Harris also noted there is evidence that police officers are reluctant to report misconduct by fellow officers and that some agencies tend not to take seriously any complaints of misconduct, criminal or otherwise. Those factors may also contribute to a lower rate.

Given the limitations of the data available, Jonathan Blanks, a researcher with Cato’s National Police Misconduct Reporting Project, said the absolute number of crimes committed by police is likely "unknowable." He outlined some of the reasons why on Thursday in a blog post about the new report:

We find cases where officers are arrested and convicted of crimes. But we also find officers who are given "professional courtesy" and not arrested for drunk driving. We see cases in which officers plea down their violent and disturbing felony cases to misdemeanor disorderly conduct, which allows them to maintain their peace officers’ license. We find longstanding criminal conspiracies that sometimes take years to uncover. And, just today in Baltimore, we see prosecutors unable to convict the officer believed to be most culpable for the conduct that resulted in the death of Freddie Gray. It is impossible to gauge the extent of misconduct because we don’t know how much of it the police and the media are catching.

There are are roughly 750,000 sworn local and state law enforcement officers in the U.S., according to a recent count by the Department of Justice, and Stinson's data estimates the rate of arrest for officers during the years of his study is 1.7 cops per 100,000 people. As a comparison, the approximate rate of arrest of civilians in the U.S. is around 3,888 per 100,000 people, according to FBI Uniform Crime Report data. The vast difference in those rates may lead some to diminish the importance of the report's findings. But Stinson says comparing the two rates is missing the larger point of the research: Government agents whose duty it is to uphold the law should not be breaking the law.

"Police officers should not be getting arrested," Stinson said. "Yes, the rates of arrest are very low. But, this stuff is nuts. And the fact that officers are arrested for so many different types of crimes is simply amazing to me."

Stinson argues the data points toward a set of issues related to "the process of police socialization and the deep police subculture" that demand further scrutiny.

Here's How Often Cops Are Arrested For Breaking The Laws They're Paid To Uphold

"Police crimes are not uncommon," researchers found.

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With all of the headlines about scary ingredients in your beauty products, it's nice to be able to know exactly what you're putting on your face. And what better way to ensure purity than to pluck the ingredients directly from your own kitchen?

Natural beauty expert Katey Denno stopped by our offices to show us how to mix up an exfoliating, hydrating face mask made up of yogurt, honey and grapes... and that's it! Between the natural moisturizing effects of yogurt, the acidity of grapes and the antibacterial properties of honey, Denno's concoction might just convince you to trade in your drugstore beauty mask for a grocery store-bought regimen.

How To Make A Face Mask Using Yogurt, Honey & Grapes (VIDEO)

With all of the headlines about scary ingredients i...

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Can make a decent exfoliating hydrating face mask


The "57" on a bottle of Heinz ketchup is there for a very specific reason

Tomato ketchup, red sauce, Tommy K - whatever you call it, we all love a bit of it on our plates.

A wise man once said: "should you ever come across a fool who doesn't like tomato sauce, ignore them, shun them, remove them from your life; they are backwards," and I think that neatly sums up the feelings we have towards Tommy K. You always know where you stand with it.

Amidst a squirt, squeeze or pour of the good stuff, you've probably noticed the prominent '57' splattered across Heinz bottles, as well as many of their other products.

It's pretty common knowledge that the number represents the variety of products Heinz has; although, it is a little known fact that in the beginning, Henry Heinz simply used 57 because he thought it was a lucky number. Since then, the slogan '57 varieties' has stuck.

However, this is not the only interesting thing about the '57'. The number is actually strategically placed on the glass bottles of red sauce.

Although most us won't buy the glass bottles anymore, we'll probably still use them at restaurants from time to time. And when we do have to use them, fuck me, it doesn't half turn into a struggle to get some of the sauce out of the bottle.

The '57' is placed on the bottle neck as the best spot to tap in order to get sauce out quicker, and more efficiently.

On the 'Trivia' area of the Heinz website, which I'm guessing you've never visited before, it says: "To release Heinz Tomato Ketchup from its glass bottle with extra speed, apply a firm tap to the spot marked '57' on the neck label."

Well I fucking never. I would not like to know the amount of time I've wasted shaking, bashing, and sticking a knife in the lid to try and lure a drop of sauce out.

The '57' On A Bottle Of Heinz Ketchup Is Put In A Specific Position For A Very Important Reason

It's the best place to tap the bottle to get ketchup out


Guess how much Joanna Lumley spends on her face cream?

Joanna Lumley has shared the secret to her youthful looks – a face cream that can be picked up for as little as £4.

The glamorous 70-year-old revealed that, unlike many of her fellow celebs, she doesn’t splash out thousands on looking good and has relied on a simple Astral moisturiser for decades.

She told The Sunday Times’ Style magazine: "It comes in a little blue pot, cheap as chips – adore!

"It has never been tested on animals, and is about the only thing I’ve never developed an allergy to."

Joanna said she doesn’t fork out piles of cash for her products "because I’m mean", and said she also favours high street hair products for her blonde mane.

The Absolutely Fabulous star has previously indicated that while she isn’t against cosmetic surgery, she isn’t sure she sees the point in going under the knife.

View photos Joanna Lumley (Yui Mok/PA) More

And she told Style mag: "People are always talking about some brilliant new procedure, and this is obviously something to be entertained, but there is no real point in me making a pathetic attempt to look like Kristen Stewart’s sister."

Joanna isn’t the only star who uses Astral cream – Amanda Holden and Kate Beckingsale are also said to be among its celebrity fans.

Joanna Lumley has said she doesn’t use expensive skincare products and favours a cheap face cream.


The best 10 ways to stay healthy in 2017 that require the minimal amount of effort

Forget your annual New Years resolution. It's time to finally admit to yourself that, after years signing up for the YMCA, downloading completely dysfunctional exercise apps and buying high-end yoga pants, you're never ever - never ever ever — going to the gym.

That's OK. You're not going to die. I mean, you are going to die, but not because you didn't show up to that 7 a.m. Barre class your friend said was "so, so good." There are plenty of ways you can remain healthy while exerting the bare minimum of effort.

SEE ALSO: What to do when you run into someone you know while home for the holidays

Below is the list of ways to keep your mind fresh and body looking "good enough" in 2017.

Sure, some small percentage of what you're drinking probably came from a fruit. But the majority of fruit juices are mostly water, sugar and a whole bunch of other ingredients too boring to repeat. If you must juice, go for unsweetened juices — they don't always taste absolutely terrible.

2. Try not to sit like you're a cocktail shrimp.

Your mother was right — posture matters, and matters a lot. Sitting with correct posture can help protect your organs and spine, and make you look attractive too.

3. Breathe like you're not on the verge of dying

Breathing correctly can help lower anxiety and stress. Try these basic, government-recommended steps to breathe like the normal humans mother nature always wanted us to be.

Reclaim gardening. Studies have shown that even moderate forms of exercise, like gardening, can have an positive effect on health if done regularly.

5. Move your body for a bare minimum of 10 minutes a day.

Simply trying to touch your toes or stretch your knee 10 ten minutes a day can strengthen your muscles and posture. Half of all stretches can even be accomplished by sitting down. What are you waiting for?

They call them "sensory deprivation tanks," which is just a fancy word for "bathtub." Essentially, you sit in a shallow, salt water pool and mentally detox. Many people who've sat in such tubs swear by them, and bonus: you get to do it entirely alone.

Walking isn't just good for your heart, it's science says it's great your mental health too. Honestly, you can just go down the block and buy a seltzer and that's better for your body than anything else you were probably planning to do today.

Don't hold it in, let it out. There's nothing worse for your body than holding in irritants, and a good sneeze feels great.

9. Stop going on Twitter and reading so many depressing tweets about the Trump administration.

Twitter has already been proven to give you anxiety. And while it's highly important to stay informed, there's only so many posts you can read about Trump's dalliances with nuclear weapons before your heart officially gives out.

10. Drink one glass of warm water a day. Just one glass. You don't even have to like it.

Warm water is easier to absorb than cold water, and it's great for our digestion. Simply drink one cup and voila  —  it's basically like you've gone to the gym for a year.

The bare minimum you need to do to be healthy in 2017

If you're not going to to go the gym in 2017, you might as well these bare minimum exercises.

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It's off the market! @MariahCarey and @NickCannon sell Bel-Air home for a huge sum:

Below is an excerpt from "Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon Sell Bel-Air Home for $9M," which originally appeared on zillow.com. Read the full story at zillow.com/blog.

A year after listing their Bel-Air residence, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon have just sold the home for $9 million to a doctor and his wife, who are relocating from the East Coast.

Ardavan Mofid of Coldwell Banker, who represented the buyers, said the home "has history and mystery to it"—including having once belonged to Farrah Fawcett.

"The house invites you inside. It's very warm and has a lot of life and love in it," Mofid says. "And the view is unbelievable. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Laguna Beach."

The most recent listing agent is Paul Czako of Gussman Czako Estates.

For the full story and to see more photos of their Bel-Air home, visit zillow.com/blog.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Sell Bel-Air Home for $9M

Farrah Fawcett once owned the home, which Carey and Cannon listed a year ago.

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The 10 most LGBT employment friendly states revealed

Great news for New England: five of the region’s six states are among the top places in the U.S. for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers, according to a new report.

The Top 10 LGBT-Employment Friendly States survey, created by employment law website XpertHR, based its rankings on marriage equality, workplace discrimination protections and benefits for those with same-sex partners.

The northeastern U.S. had the highest concentration of states by far, with all but one New England state making the list. Neighboring New York also made the cut, while California and Iowa were also included.

"These states are leaders in safeguarding LGBTs against discrimination in the workplace — by passing gay rights ordinances, permitting same-sex marriage, providing benefits to same-sex partners, and/or outlawing hate crimes," Peggy Carter-Ward, XpertHR’s Head of Content, said in a press release.

XpertHR Legal Editor Beth P. Zoller also cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as having an across-the-board impact.

Top 10 LGBT Employment Friendly States: California, New York And Washington Rank In XpertHR Survey

Great news for New England: five of the region's six states are among the top places in the U.S. for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers, acco...

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This Cop Saved An Abandoned Baby’s Life, But The Way She Did It Is Awesome.

Early this year, 59-year-old Edinora Jiminez of Santa Marta, Colombia, was out picking oranges when she thought she heard a cat. She quickly realized that the cries didn't come from a cat, but a newborn child. The umbilical cord was still attached.

Officer Luisa Fernanda Urrea was called to the scene. Awaiting medical assistance, Urrea followed her instincts and began to breastfeed the baby.

"I'm a new mother and I have milk," she told a local news source. "I recognized the needs that this poor little creature had."

"I think any woman would have given her nourishment in the same circumstances."

According to Colonel Javier Martin, the baby girl suffered from some lacerations and hypothermia, but was fortunately treated on time and is now in good health.

Following the discovery, police began an investigation of the biological mother's whereabouts, and the woman may be subject to attempted homicide. The infant was placed in the care of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF).

This Colombian woman came across a shocking discovery. While out picking oranges, Edinora Jimenez heard the sound of crying. At first, she thought it was a cat, but upon closer look, discovered that it was a baby.

Local police were called to the scene. Even though a police official had arrived, the baby still needed proper medical assistance. The newborn's umbilical cord was still attached and she appeared to be starving.

Local policewoman takes immediate action. That's when Officer Luisa Fernanda Urrea began to nurse the baby, and the nourishment is likely the thing that saved her.

The infant finally receives treatment at a local hospital. The baby suffered from lacerations and hypothermia, but was later treated at a local hospital, and soon recovered.

Luisa Fernanda Urrea
breastfeed the baby


Have January Jones and Liam Hemsworth been sexting?

Us Weekly claimed in a story titled "Liam's Other Woman: Behind fiancee Miley Cyrus' back, Hemsworth woos January Jones" that the actor "fired off a graphic, sexual text message" to Jones that supposedly said "I want to [expletive] you," per Gossip Cop.

The story went on to state that he has been secretly reaching out to the "Mad Men" star, who has purportedly been helping him deal with his fiancee's very public transition from "Disney princess" to "wild child."

Jones' rep denied the claim to the mag, according to Gossip Cop, and now the 23-year-old actor's rep is speaking out, too.

"The story of Liam Hemsworth and January Jones is entirely fabricated by US Weekly," the actor's rep told E! News. "There is no truth whatsoever to this tabloid fiction."

Rumors about Hemsworth and Jones surfaced back in February when Star magazine reported he and the 35-year-old got "hot and heavy" at a pre-Oscars party at the Chateau Marmont hotel.

Although reps have dashed the most recent claims, Hemsworth's relationship with Cyrus remains in question. Last week, Us Weekly reported he wants "a clean break" from the "Wrecking Ball" singer, whom he proposed to in 2012.

In August, RadarOnline.com reported he was "mortified" by her raunchy MTV Video Music Awards performance with Robin Thicke.

"Her VMA performance absolutely mortified him and he couldn't be more embarrassed. He doesn't really see anything sexy about what she did on stage," a source told the website. "It's not just Liam that Miley is pushing away... His entire team is urging him to part ways with her because she's nothing but negative for his reputation and career. Liam is a serious actor with a growing career, while Miley has just turned into a joke."

January Jones, Liam Hemsworth Sexting? Actor's Rep Quashes Rumors

A representative for Liam Hemsworth has quashed a recent report claiming the "Hunger Games" star has been sexting January Jones.

Us Weekly claimed in...

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There's a crazy new kind of M&M you should know about

M&M's is debuting a new flavor this spring that you definitely want to know about. M&M's Mega will hit stores in May 2014, to the delight of chocoholics everywhere. This new version, which comes in the original and peanut flavors, is packed with three times the chocolate as regular M&M's.

A small bag of milk chocolate candies will be available for $1.49, FoodBeast reports, and a medium bag of milk chocolate candies or peanut chocolate candies for $3.29.

Focus groups have been asking for bigger candies, Tim Quinn, vice president of trade development for Mars Chocolate North America tells Candy Industry. Since everything seems to be getting super-sized these days, this request seems only natural. Plus, you can never have enough chocolate.

'M&M's Mega' To Have Three Times More Chocolate

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She Hollowed Out A Baked Potato And Made It Into This Awesome Meal

Writer and sassy ginger currently residing in central Pennsylvania. Matt spends most of his free time online shopping for clothing that he doesn't need, perfecting the art of eye-rolling, and indulging in all forms of pop culture.

Growing up, I wasn't the biggest fan of baked potatoes. They just seemed like the inferior cousin of mashed potatoes and french fries. However, like a fine wine, my tastes improved with age and baked potatoes have quickly become my favorite go-to side dish.

But what's better than a traditional baked potato? A loaded one! Check out this take on a loaded baked potato that is sure to appeal to spicy and savory lovers alike.

This will revolutionize the way you eat baked potatoes.

If you're looking for a clever way to spruce up dinner tonight, follow the recipe below:

Hollow out a baked potato with a spoon. Add a chunk of Red Leicester cheese to the center. Wrap the outside of the potato with bacon, using toothpicks to hold the pieces in place. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes. Remove the pins and coat the outside of the potato with barbecue sauce. Bake for an additional 10 minutes. Combine sour cream and hot sauce (to taste) in a small bowl. Top the potato with the spicy sour cream mixture and chives (if desired). Bon appétit!

I know what's for dinner tonight in my house!

Here's An Awesome Way To Spice Up Your Traditional Baked Potato

Baked potatoes are significantly more amazing when you add cheese and bacon.

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Here's Why Everyone Can't Stop Drinking LaCroix

In the land of sparkling water, there are several fan favorites, but there's only one LaCroix. The beverage has been around for over 30 years, but as of late, it seems that the drink is making a splash everywhere.

Publications from The New York Times to The Wall Street Journal have recently raved about the sparkling, zero-calorie, sugar-free beverage. Over on Instagram, search #LaCroix or #VivaLaCroix, and you'll find over 70,000 posts from Instagram users who just can't get enough.

But how does a drink that has seemingly spent decades under the radar suddenly become the hottest 'it' beverage? In short, according to an in-depth investigative report from Vox, it's because Americans are drinking less soda. More than ever, people are becoming more conscious of the health consequences of frequently consuming the sugary, high-calorie beverage. In fact, bottled water is set to surpass soda as the most consumed beverage in the country.

Aware of soda's impending downfall, LaCroix spotted an opportunity and maneuvered a strategy that swiftly took them from being an unknown brand to a beloved one. As Vox's Libby Nelson and Javier Zarracina write:

"When Americans decided they wanted fizzy water, National Beverage [the makers of LaCroix] and its 12 bottling plants were ready. They shipped the product to more stores nationally than ever before, including Whole Foods."

In addition to being more readily available, LaCroix also ramped up its flavor options. It went from having six varieties in 2004 to having 20 of them as of 2015. With a variety of unique flavors and fewer health consequences than soda, it's no wonder why LaCroix has become the beverage choice du jour. (Plus, it's delicious when added to cocktails.)

Here's why LaCroix sparkling water is taking over the beverage world.

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Jennifer Lawrence Has a Big ‘F*ck You’ For a Candidate But You Have to Guess Which One

Jennifer Lawrence has been an "It Girl" for quite a few years now. She is a Hollywood darling if ever there was one. Beyond being an Academy Award-winning actress who has a string of blockbusters to her name, she is also very serious about current events and politics. Never one to shy away from sharing an opinion, Lawrence has weighed in on Kim Davis, the gender pay gap, and, of course, Donald Trump.

In an appearance on the The Graham Norton Show on Friday, she told Graham Norton the story of that one time she and her security team sought out Trump so she could get a video of herself yelling "fuck you!"

Courtesy of Us Weekly, here’s the segment:

I was at a concert where I heard he was attending, so I had my full security team, like I was like, "Find Donald Trump." I was adamant on finding him and making a video of me going, "Hey, Trump, fuck you!" I wouldn’t rest until he was found. He knew I was looking for him.

That wouldn’t be the first time someone has been shown on tape yelling at the presumed Republican nominee, but knowing Lawrence and her public antics, it would have certainly been one of the funnier ones.

In an appearance on the The Graham Norton Show on Friday, she told Graham Norton the story of that one time she and her security team sought out the candidate..


No Seriously, What Does Wi-Fi Stand For?

Most of us know Wi-Fi as "something we panic about when we can't find."

But have you ever thought about what Wi-Fi actually stands for?

For awhile, a lot of people, including the U.S. military, thought it stood for "wireless fidelity."

Which sounds like another term for being locked into your Verizon contract. But it doesn't stand for that.

But Wi-Fi actually stands for...nothing!

Phil Belanger, a member of the Wi-Fi Alliance, told Boing Boing that Wi-Fi is a nonsense word, not an acronym.

"It is not an acronym. There is no meaning," Belanger said. "We (the founding members of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance, now called the Wi-Fi Alliance) hired Interbrand to come up with the name and logo that we could use for our interoperability seal and marketing efforts. We needed something that was a little catchier than 'IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence.'"

"Wi-Fi" also sounds a lot like "Hi-Fi," which is of course slang for "high fidelity."

So Wi-Fi, like a lot of things on the internet, means and stands for absolutely nothing.


Here's the biggest limitation of Nintendo's new $60 console

When the news broke earlier this week that Nintendo would be releasing a new, smaller version of its first major game console, the internet was abuzz with nostalgic excitement. The NES Classic Edition will come with 30 of the console's greatest games and it fits right in the palm of your hand for $60 this November.

One question that came up after the announcement was whether or not Nintendo will ever release additional classic games for the system. According to an exchange with Kotaku, the answer is a definitive no.

The cartridge slot on the front of the unit doesn't actually open; it's just there for aesthetic appeal. An original Nintendo cartridge would be far too big to fit in there anyway, of course. But still, some thought it might be able to connect to the internet and download additional games, or receive new games via some other kind of physical media.

"The console is a standalone device, so it cannot connect to the internet or any external storage devices," Nintendo told Kotaku. "The game lineup was chosen to provide a diverse mix of popular and recognizable NES games that appeal to a wide variety of players. Everyone should be able to find multiple games to enjoy."

The NES Classic Edition doesn't support downloadable or physical add-ons because it isn't meant for video game enthusiasts. Nintendo is tapping into a market of older fans who might see the console, fondly remember games like "Super Mario Bros." and "The Legend of Zelda" and decide to pick it up to relive their childhoods or play the games with their kids.

It's meant to be a hassle-free nostalgia trip, meaning hardcore gamers who expect features like downloadable content should probably steer clear unless they want it as a collector's item. Other classic game companies like Atari have released similar devices in the past for the casual crowd, and judging by the internet's reaction to the NES Classic Edition, Nintendo's is going to be in pretty high demand this holiday season.

Lots of people are rightfully excited about the NES Classic Edition, but here's one major thing you should know about it.

Like most plug and play systems, you can't add more games.