It should go without saying, but maybe you need a refresher: Don't fart in someone's face during sex unless you've gotten a clear "yes" that that's what they're into. One Reddit user learned this the hard way, and people can't get enough of his story.
Posted in the subreddit TIFU (Today I Fucked Up), user AskMeAboutMyTie decided to open up about an experience he had when he was just 18 years old.
"Now before I begin, it should be noted I'm an only child. Therefore I had no sibling to teach me about the birds and the bees, and my parents worked ALL the time," the post begins. "Everything I know about sex today is through experience and the wonderful world of the internet."
What he means is that at age 18, he hadn't learned about the wonderful world of queefing, or when air escapes through the vagina after being pushed in during sex. This will become relevant in a moment.
"My life consisted of throwing parties at my parents vacant mansion and sex. Every 18 year olds' dream right?" he continues. "Well at one of my parties a group of college girls showed up (I was still a senior in high school) and the hottest girl of the college group was giving me vibes that she wanted to get it on. One thing let to another and we head up stairs."
As they were getting started, he decided to warm things up by going down on her.
"As soon I get down to that region she lets out the smallest 'toot.' Confused, I looked back up at her and she is still in a moaning bliss waiting for me to start as nothing happened. 'Did she just fart on me?' I thought to myself. She was still begging for it so I shrugged my shoulders and we got it on."
As many sexually active people may know, that was not a fart. T'was simply a queef, which is fairly common, though admittedly surprising when first encountered.
"Fast forward a week and we're now kind of 'dating,' still having sex at least twice a day like new couples do. And each time she would let out a small 'toot,'" he writes. "I liked her a lot and didn't want to freak her out by asking her about it, so I decided to go to my friends (bad idea). They proceed to tell me that she's known as being a 'freak' in bed and I just need to along with it."
So, instead of bringing up the noises and asking the girl what she likes, he decided to make a bold move that immediately backfired.
"So that night we start fooling around and this time she wants to go down on me first. She's giving me the typical BJ when she goes down a little further for a little ball play... that's when I cock my legs up and release the biggest fart I could muster. I swear her hair flew back as if she had her face in front of a fan. She immediately stops what she's doing and looks back at me in disgust. I smiled with pride and said 'that's all for you babe.'"
Like anyone who gets farted on without consent would do, the girl was horrified and immediately left. But don't worry. "That girl is now my wife," the post ends. What a romantic story to tell their kids.
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In a perfect world, the Oscars would be like the ending of Mean Girls, with everyone getting a piece of a plastic crown. In reality, it took Leonardo DiCaprio more than two decades to take home a trophy, a woman of color hasn't won Best Actress in the 15 years since Halle Berry's groundbreaking moment, and, every year, countless worthy performances are overlooked.
But hey, we'll be watching the show on February 26, anyway. In the meantime, it's all about sizing up the contenders and perfecting those predictions for the office Oscar pool. Now that the 2017 Academy Awards nominations have been announced, we can roll up our sleeves and get down to business.
Whatever happens, you can bet that Moonlight and La La Land won't go home empty-handed. Our predictions for who and what will win — a list we'll be updating weekly — reflect that.
That said, the Academy can never resist throwing out a few curveballs (cough, Crash, cough). Allow for the possibility of some Adrien-Brody-besting-Jack-Nicholson- and -Daniel-Day-Lewis action — with or without the onstage dip and tongue-dive.
Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou, The Lobster
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Mike Mills, 20th Century Women
Taylor Sheridan, Hell or High Water(pictured)
Predicted Winner: Damien Chazelle
Photo: CBS Films/Everett Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight (pictured)
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel, Lion
Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals
Predicted Winner: Mahershala Ali
Photo: Courtesy of A24.
Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis, Fences (pictured)
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea
Predicted Winner: Viola Davis
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Best Actress
Isabelle Huppert, Elle(pictured)
Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Emma Stone, La La Land
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins
Predicted Winner: Natalie Portman
Photo: The Moviestore Collection Ltd/REX/Shutterstock.
Best Actor
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge (pictured)
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences
Predicted Winner: Casey Affleck
Photo: Cross Creek Pictures/REX/Shutterstock.
Best Director
Damien Chazelle, La La Land(pictured)
Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Denis Villeneuve, Arrival
Predicted Winner: Damien Chazelle
Photo: Rex/Shutterstock.
Best Picture
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight(pictured)
Predicted Winner:Moonlight
Photo: Courtesy of A24.
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Since dropping her first album, Songs in A Minor, 16 years ago, Alicia Keys has remained pretty badass. Between starting a no-makeup movement and passionately fronting a revolution — all in less than a year — the woman really is... on fire. (Sorry, couldn't resist).
The singer and Voice judge graces the cover for Glamour 's March 2017 activist-themed issue. In the interview with writer Kimberly Drew, the 36-year-old artist delivered some choice bits of wisdom, here are a few highlights.
What does Keys wish she could tell her younger self?
“There is this fallacy about how women are catty, that we’re all in competition with each other. I’d say: As opposed to getting swept up in jealousy, use that pang to give you an indication of what you are looking for. Actually, there is this awesome performer Lilly Singh [IISuperwomanII on YouTube], who always does this thing: ‘Shout out another girl and tell her what you love about her.’ Even doing that is such a good practice. I don’t know if we tell women great news about themselves enough. You’d be surprised how often a young woman doesn’t hear positive things about herself—not in her home, not at school. It’s hard to create a beautiful image for yourself when you’ve never seen it or heard it.”
Photo credit: Glamour / Carter Smith
How does she feel her art and activism relate to one another?
"They totally go together. You see it in the way Bob Marley spoke, how he chose his words through music. Nina Simone was so blatantly courageous. Even John Lennon wrote these songs about love that were so simple, timeless, and powerful. For a while, I thought the two things were separate because people told me they should be separate. But I think conveying the emotion of the collective ‘we,’ something those artists were able to do, is pretty incredible. Especially in tumultuous times like we are in now.”
How does she feel about motherhood?
“I love being a mom. And I think what I love the most is the way it makes me think about what’s important and what’s not important. What to fight for and what to just be cool with. What it is that I’m teaching through example and what it is that I was taught that I don’t want to teach. You can be very fulfilled as a mother, but that can’t be the only way you are fulfilled. What about being a woman? What about being yourself? Your awareness of what’s happening in the world? It lives altogether in a way that makes a whole. I guess I’d say I’m the wholest I’ve ever been.”
This year at the Sundance Film Festival 2017, droves of producers, directors, enthusiasts, and celebs came to Park City to watch the best of independent filmmaking compressed into a few blocks of Utah. And while films like Dolores, Ingrid Goes West, and Raw became instant, post-watch tête-à-têtes for cinephiles, an underlying draw of this year’s festival was the smattering of big budget exhibits and intimate programs along Main street.
I slushed my way up and downhill awaiting entry to some of the coolest spots in town along the central Sundance strip. I was determined to come back to the east coast recounting more than celebrity encounters (even though my tiny brush with Mary J. Blige on the dance floor was truly something I will forever cherish) and attended a handful of praiseworthy and provoking sights.
Women’s March On Main
If there is one thing to stress about this march, it is that there was major snowfall the night prior and that morning — making the trip to the start point an epic hike to the top of Main street and an icy parade to the bottom for the rally. Thousands of women and allies marched down Main street adorning pussy hats and cleverly-crafted signs, disregarding the weather conditions of the day, to join other marches from around the world as the largest inaugural protest in history.
While this wasn’t a high-tech demonstration or a profound panel, it was a powerful display of grit in the face of opposition. Chelsea Handler, Jessica Williams, Aisha Tyler, and Connie Britton all took the podium to call for unification to the charged crowd and sent speech-after-speech of unwavering strength as a message to the newly appointed administration.
The clandestine, chalice-adorned lounge was teeming with attentive onlookers as moderator Dominic Patten (Deadline senior editor) highlighted the successful film careers of the five producers on the panel. Christine Vachon ( Carol), Daniela T. Lundberg ( The Kids Are All Right), Rachel Shane ( Divergent), Crystal Moselle ( The Wolfpack), and Cathy Schulman ( The Edge of Seventeen, President of Women In Film) are brimming with individual accolades deserving of a platform. Each filmmaker elaborated on their own experiences creating films, faced with the struggle to make a commercially viable piece that has teeth.
But even with the best of intentions, subject matter, or crew, the relationship between female-made films and financing is a contentious one. The 2015 study "Gender & Short Films: Emerging Female Filmmakers and the Barriers Surrounding their Careers ” was cited by Vachon during the discussion as one case for the lack of representation and rich storylines around the female experience. The study showed that 58% of female filmmakers reported that they experience major funding obstacles trying to make a feature film.
Schulman furthered the conversation by reminding the audience that women live through such triumphs and tragedies every day worthy of real, mass portrayal and financial backing — sampling a somber moment from her film Bad Moms in which character Amy (Mila Kunis) admits that at least once a day she feels like the worst mom and sits in her car and cries. It's not the most blockbuster-y moment, but it’s a communal experience. “People think that an eventized film means it has to be a superhero film, and what I’d like to point out is commonality of an experience can also be eventized.”
We at Refinery29 are very excited to see change being made to the glaring statistics surrounding women behind the camera. We are also committed to putting talented women filmmakers to the forefront of the conversation, which is why we gave 12 female directors a chance to tell the stories they wanted to express with our Shatterbox Anthology series. Only 7% of 2016’s top films were directed by women, we want to change that. Two of our films were featured at this year’s Sundance: Come Swim directed by Kristen Stewart and Sundance's Short Film Jury WinnerLucia, Before and After directed by Anu Valia. Watch new films every month on Refinery29.com/Shatterbox and Comcast Watchable.
Why Aren't We Hiring More Women?
HEROES: A Duet in Mixed Reality created by MAP Design Lab, MPC VR and Helios
Over by the Chase Sapphire Lounge, located at the halfway point of the primary drag, a nondescript door led attendees upstairs and into a dark art space swarming with people waiting in line to get a taste of the newest in alternate viewing experiences. HEROES is a two piece adventure that explores space, sound, and the strange interconnectedness of Augmented Reality. Each part centered around two dancers and their exceptional dexterity to move, and carry each other, around the artificial space that you, the user, is experiencing.
The first bite into the experience involved me holding onto a railing while sporting VR gear by Oculus and headphones — a true sensory deprivation if there ever was one. I was immediately transported inside the Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles standing on stage while two incredibly athletic dancers swayed and shifted to the iconic song “Heroes” by David Bowie. The second piece was a Microsoft HoloLens AR experience that allowed for users to interact with the dancers with voice and touch commands.
This new headset still allows you to see the room you’re standing in, but the dancers and floating objects appear seamlessly in your own reality. The user can command the dancers to get bigger or smaller with subtle voice commands. At one point, I was able to reach my hand out to allow the dancers to continue their rhythm on my hand — I must have looked childish by people who couldn’t see what I was seeing: a man and a woman dancing in the palm of my hand. Unequivocally psychedelic.
Melissa Painter, Creative Director of HEROES and Principal at MAP Design Lab, along with Choreographer and Key Collaborator Laura Gorenstein Miller stood with the testers as well tried each section of the exposition; always leaving the virtual space bewildered by the enveloping technology we were experiencing just by merely putting on a headset. I stood there post-VR discerning our rapid approach into expanded reality and how it’s much closer than we realize — and with a female perspective. Lily Baldwin's Through You, Rachel Rossin's the Sky is a Gap,NeuroSpeculative AfroFeminism by Hypen-Labs, and Nicole McDonald's Hue took up virtual space along the Sundance belt as the next in beautiful, refreshing pieces coming out of VR.
You only get baptized in the hospital if they don't think you're going to make it. And that's why, on the fourth day of my life, I was prayed over at Brown University Hospital in Rhode Island; I’d been moved there when I was just three days old in hopes they’d be able to do something about my heart. It didn’t look good.
I was born with a congenital heart defect called a single ventricle heart. Most people have four chambers in their hearts: two atria (holding chambers) and two ventricles (pumping chambers). I was born with one ventricle and two atria. At the time, babies born with this weren’t expected to live through their first week; of those who did, most didn’t make it to a first birthday.
I’d say my heart has defied the odds: I’m 33 and a professional singer and dancer. So, I'm looking at 2017, as I have each year I've been able to ring in, as another chance to make my dreams come true. Of course, those chances haven't come easy.
My first open heart surgery was at age 5. Second at age 17. I have had approximately 10 heart cauterizations. I have had too many CT scans to count and several scopes. Hundreds of echos and EKGs. The procedures have been so numerous and spread out as to almost be a constant part of life for me. I was never expected to make it. First to one week, then to one year. Age 5. Then, 17. When I surpassed that one, I was told I’d live to my late-20s, becoming one of the oldest people born with a single ventricle heart. Now they live much longer thanks to medical advancements. My doctors have told me I could now live well into my 60s — jeez, I’ll probably surpass that, too.
It didn’t occur to me that I was supposed to be sick in bed, so I wasn’t.
When I was little, my mother and I used to travel from San Diego to UCLA many times a week to see doctors who told me to lay off the athletic activities I loved. They warned that I could sustain injuries to my surgery sites — contact sports were off the table. They told my parents not to let me swim competitively, lest I push myself too hard and run out of oxygen in the middle of the pool. This disease causes shortness of breath, lack of oxygen in the blood, irregular heartbeats. But me? I always loved to dance. I used to take my mom’s slips and pretend I was dancing with Mikhail Baryshnikov in The Nutcracker. It didn’t occur to me that I was supposed to be sick in bed, so I wasn’t.
But I wasn't allowed to take group dance lessons at all until I had that first heart surgery; the teachers were afraid I’d collapse and die on their watch. The doctors were afraid of this, too, I think. I wasn’t always aware of all the fear around me: I just remember not being able to dance as freely as I wanted (and I always wanted to). I would get tired and turn blue (this is called cyanosis, or a lack of oxygen in the blood), but I didn't want to stop.
That first surgery, when I was 5, turned my right atrium into a quasi-ventricle to allow blood from my body to go to my lungs and get oxygen. When I woke up, I was red for the first time in my life, I remember having more energy now that my heart was finally up to speed. (Don't forget how much your heart does for you every day.) The first words I said were, “Daddy, I can dance now!” But that doesn’t mean I was magically “healed.” There would always be challenges to overcome.
As I breezed past one life-expectancy date and then the next, I kept my sights on the stage.
That burst of energy only made me more hooked on performing. I wanted to try everything and would not let my heart disease get in the way. I tried to live like a normal, active kid, but perhaps with a little more oomph, because I didn’t know what my timeline really looked like. (No one does, if you think about it.) I always sensed my life might be short, so I ought to live while I can to the fullest. I still respected and listened to the doctors — but I didn’t want to sideline myself. Because I was constantly undergoing or healing from procedures, I knew my body probably better than most people do. I could push myself just to the limit; my body always tells me when enough is enough.
As a pre-teen, my disease meant I missed a lot of school. Though explaining this to teachers and peers was frustrating and awkward, I think it made me appreciate life more. I knew I wanted to go to college, partly because for years I didn’t think (nor did my parents and some doctors) that I would be alive to make it. That’s not necessarily why I entered the arts, but it has something to do with why I pursued it so passionately — and still do to this day. What did I have to lose if I gave it a try?
Once I was in college, I spoke to parents struggling with their child’s conditions. I helped them see what their children are going through and what a possible future could hold for them. I told them that singing and dancing were my passion, and as I breezed past one life-expectancy date and then the next, I kept my sights on the stage. I was able to attend a performing arts middle and high school where I danced two hours a day — and my heart kept up. But I also missed half a year of school to have a pacemaker put in. Navigating these things as a teenager was frustrating, and I’ll be honest about that, but in my long recovery at home, I had the time to realize my greatest love was singing.
After college — and with a fresh battery in my pacemaker (a procedure I'll need to have every five to 10 years) — I soon landed my dream job performing on cruise ships. I sang and danced on the main stage for Broadway, rock, and Cirque de Soleil shows. This took me from Russia to Fiji and many parts in between. Traveling, meeting all kinds of new people, and still doing work that you love is really like living life to the fullest, whether you’re facing an expiration date or not.
And finally, the limits on me and my heart aren't as strict. I still have to take medicine three times a day and I will never be able to visit anywhere at high altitude (which also means no skiing!), but oh well — I’m a SoCal girl, anyway. The pacemaker helps get my heart rate up in order to do strenuous activity, which is a part of my job, and sometimes I feel it kick in when I dance — but that’s only about 1% of the time. The rest of the time my heart beats on its own. This is nothing short of a marvel of modern medicine. And, my pacemaker records different types of events that my heart has experienced; like physical memories held inside my heart. Who gets to have that?
These days, I travel the country, taking performing gigs as they come. I'm still not holding back. I still test my limits to see just how high I can soar. I recently returned to Southern California where I am teaching elementary school children theater, dance, and voice; I hope to share with these kids the crucial importance of believing in your own ability to achieve your dreams. I’m also starting to work on my first album, which is something I’ve wanted since I was around 10 years old. Based on my track record with other childhood dreams, I have reason to believe I will accomplish it. So here we go, 2017: I can do anything I want if I put my mind to it; my heart will just have to keep up.
You've probably heard time and again that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But is skipping breakfast really that bad for you?
As it turns out, when you eat can be just as important as what you eat.
According to a study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, meal timing can have an effect on your risk for conditions such as heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, and reduced insulin sensitivity.
For the study, researchers from Columbia University analyzed previous studies on breakfast and heart disease, finding that people who eat breakfast daily were less likely to have high cholesterol and blood pressure. Meanwhile, those who skipped breakfast and snacked throughout the day were more likely to have poor nutrition and were at a higher risk of being diagnosed with diabetes.
To be specific, those who skipped breakfast had a 27% increased risk of suffering from a heart attack, and a 15% higher risk of having a stroke.
"Meal timing may affect health due to its impact on the body's internal clock," Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD., lead author of the study, told The Telegraph. Dr. St. Onge explained that this could be explained by studies on animals, which have shown that when they receive food during inactive states (such as when resting or sleeping), their internal clocks are reset in a way that can change their metabolism, leading to insulin resistance.
However, she said, more research would have to be done to determine whether this process happens in humans, as well.
That being said, it couldn't hurt to start making breakfast a priority. But if mornings are hard enough without having to figure out what to eat, we totally get it — and we've got a few quick, breakfast ideas for when you're rushing out the door.
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Think you're an amazing home cook? Why not put your kitchen skills to the ultimate test by cooking for one of the toughest and hardest to impress chefs around, Gordon Ramsay?! Chef Ramsay has a brand new show in the works, and it's a cooking competition between teams of four regular home cooks. Each team will prepare a signature dish, and the best dishes will win cash prices.
The casting website explains that you can compete with a group of any three other people. It could be family members, friends, or co-workers. According to Fox17, each hour-long episode of Ramsay's new show will have surprise guests and VIPs in the dining room.
To apply, visit thatfoodshow.castingcrane.com and fill out the form. The application involves questions about your skill level, team members, and favorite dishes. Just think, competing on this new Fox Network show could get you glory, money, or at the very least, you could see a coworker get yelled at by Gordon Ramsay.
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On Monday, Peter Capaldi announced on BBC Radio that season 10 of Dr. Who would be his last. He's leaving on his own accord after three seasons in the role.
"I’ve never done one job for three years," he said. "I feel it’s time for me to move on to different challenges. I feel a bit sad but rather wonderful. What a privilege to have done this. You have to be aware of when it’s time to move on. They asked me to stay on — my contract had run out — they asked me to stay. I thought, 'I love this but I don’t know how long I can do it and give it my best.' I want to move on to other challenges, but there’s never been something that’s more special to me."
The 13th Doctor will be unveiled during this year's Christmas episode, and people are already calling on BBC to pick a woman or a person of color to portray the iconic character.
Executive producer Steven Moffat told Salon in 2015 that he'd tried to diversify the cast without much luck. But he's on his way out as well, Vanity Fair reports, and his replacement Chris Chibnall has a better track record.
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When you're in a beauty rut, it's a little like looking in your closet and seeing absolutely nothing to wear. Sure, you have the bones to create a killer look — a bold liner here, a bottle of texture spray there — but sometimes you just need a boost of inspiration. That's why we created Short Cuts, a series of quick, easy-to-follow videos meant to educate, empower, and excite the beauty nerds in all of us. Whether you're looking to learn something new or to refresh your current routine, there's a Short Cut for you.
Finding the perfect nude lip color is far from easy. Considering your skin tone and hair color can help point you in the right direction, but sometimes it just takes seeing it in person to make it worth considering. Seeing it in a video is the next best thing, so we dug through countless nudes to find three that are absolutely gorgeous on dark skin tones. There's no guarantee they'll be perfect for you — your undertone also plays a role in the final result — but it's a damn good place to start.
Update: Amazon and Expedia are supporting a federal court lawsuit against the Trump administration, The New York Times reports. The companies are arguing the executive order will hurt their respective businesses.
This story was originally published on January 29, 2017.
Businesses around the country are reacting to the news of the travel ban for refugees and citizens of seven Muslim countries.
Tech companies, like Google and Apple, voiced concerns for current and future employees. Many tech companies rely on global talent to fuel the constant need for innovation. Restrictions such as those in the travel ban could operate to restrict travel for today's employees but also for potential candidates and global partners.
"We are a nation of immigrants, and we all benefit when the best and brightest from around the world can live, work and contribute here," Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post.
Silicon Valley wasn't the only place where companies and business groups reacted. In New York City, the NY Taxi Workers Alliance issued a statement denouncing the travel ban. Going one step further, members of the Alliance participated in the demonstration that took place at New York's JFK Airport. The taxi drivers refused to service the airport during the demonstration.
"Our 19,000-member-strong union stands firmly opposed to Donald Trump's Muslim ban," the NY Taxi Workers' Alliance posted. "As an organization whose membership is largely Muslim, a workforce that's almost universally immigrant, and a working-class movement that is rooted in the defense of the oppressed, we say no to this inhumane and unconstitutional ban."
The instant and immediate response from so many diverse companies (and so many competitors) send a strong message to both consumers and the Trump administration alike.
Update: Amazon is supporting a federal court lawsuit against the Trump administration, The New York Times reports. The company argues the executive order will hurt its business.
January 29, 2017: Amazon's Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of the mega-retailer, has not issued a public statement about the ban, according to The Verge.
However, the company did send an email to employees expressing concern regarding the travel ban and its impact on those employees.
The employee email, which came from Human Resources Vice President Beth Galetti, said, in part: "From the very beginning, Amazon has been committed to equal rights, tolerance and diversity — and we always will be. As we’ve grown the company, we’ve worked hard to attract talented people from all over the world, and we believe this is one of the things that makes Amazon great — a diverse workforce helps us build better products for customers."
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon.
Brian Chesky, the Co-Founder/CEO of Airbnb, offered free housing to refugees and others who need it because they are denied boarding for a US-bound flight and are not in their city or country of residence.
"Not allowing countries or refugees into America is not right, and we must stand with those who are affected," he wrote in a Facebook post.
Photo: Courtesy of Airbnb.
Lyft sent an email to its community soundly denouncing the travel ban. "Banning people of a particular faith or creed, race or identity, sexuality or ethnicity, from entering the U.S. is antithetical to both Lyft's and our nation's core values," the email reads. " We stand firmly against these actions, and will not be silent on issues that threaten the values of our community."
The bold type is all theirs.
Additionally, to underline the companies commitment to speaking up, the email announced that Lyft will be donating $1,000,000 to the ACLU over the next four years.
Photo: Courtesy of Lyft.
The issue for Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg was not just a business concern, but a personal one as well.
"My great grandparents came from Germany, Austria and Poland. Priscilla's parents were refugees from China and Vietnam," he posted on Facebook. "The United States is a nation of immigrants, and we should be proud of that."
He also remembered a middle school class that he taught several years ago. Some of his best students, he writes, were undocumented. "They are our future too."
Photo: Courtesy of Facebook.
Tech site Recode obtained a copy of an email that Tim Cook sent to all of the Apple employees.
"Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do," the CEO wrote.
"Apple is open. Open to everyone, no matter where they come from, which language they speak, who they love or how they worship. Our employees represent the finest talent in the world, and our team hails from every corner of the globe," Cook wrote.
He closed the email with a quote for Dr. Martin Luther King: "In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, "We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now.""
Photo: Courtesy of Apple.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings also took to Facebook to issue a statement about the ban.
"Trump's actions are hurting Netflix employees around the world, and are so un-American it pains us all," Hastings wrote. "Worse, these actions will make America less safe (through hatred and loss of allies) rather than more safe."
Hastings called it a very sad week with more to come. "It is time to link arms together to protect American values of freedom and opportunity."
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Google sprung into action in an email to affected employees urging them not to travel outside of the United States until the travel ban is listed. The NY Daily News is reporting that the search engine giant has recalled employees on foreign assignment.
CNN reports that Google Co-founder Sergey Brin was among the protesters at the San Francisco airport. The Russian-born Brin declined comment indicating he was there in a personal capacity.
Photo: Courtesy of Google.
Microsoft pledged to provide legal advice and assistance to employees and their families impacted by the travel ban. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to expanding immigration opportunities.
"As a company, Microsoft believes in a strong and balanced high-skilled immigration system. We also believe in broader immigration opportunities, like the protections for talented and law-abiding young people under the Deferred Access for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, often called “Dreamers”," Brad Smith wrote in an email. "We believe that immigration laws can and should protect the public without sacrificing people’s freedom of expression or religion. And we believe in the importance of protecting legitimate and law-abiding refugees whose very lives may be at stake in immigration proceedings.”
Photo: Courtesy of Microsoft.
Twitter's official corporate feed, @Twitter, tweeted the following message: 'Twitter is built by immigrants of all religions. We stand for and with them, always."
Jack Dorsey, the company's CEO, also tweeted from his personal account, @Jack: "The Executive Order's humanitarian and economic impact is real and upsetting. We benefit from what refugees and immigrants bring to the US."
Photo: Courtesy of Twitter.
Update: Uber CEO Travis Kalanick followed up with drivers from banned countries directly via email, a copy of which he shared on Facebook. The email outlines the legal assistance that the company will provide to impacted drivers and their families.
In addition to urging the government to reinstate the rights of US residents to travel, the company will, among other efforts, "provide 24/7 legal support for drivers who are trying to get back into the country. Our lawyers and immigration experts will be on call 24/7 to help," Kalanick writes. The company will also create a $3,000,000 legal defense fund to assist with immigration and translation costs.
This article was originally published at 2:15 PM.
Travis Kalanick, Uber's CEO, sent an email to the company's employees regarding the travel ban. He later shared the email on social media. The email's subject line was "Standing up for what's right."
He explained that the travel ban will impact Uber employees who may currently be out of the country. He also addressed the fact that many Uber drivers often take extended trips to some of the impacted countries and may not be able to return and therefore will be unable to make a living. He promised pro bono assistance from the company.
"While every government has their own immigration controls, allowing people from all around the world to come here and make America their home has largely been the U.S.’s policy since its founding," Kalanick wrote. "That means this ban will impact many innocent people—an issue that I will raise this coming Friday when I go to Washington for President Trump’s first business advisory group meeting."
Uber did face some criticism, though, as reported by Slate, when Uber drivers picked up passengers at JFK airport during the demonstration. Even if they did drop the surge pricing.
Photo: Courtesy of Uber.
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Epic battles call for epic weaponry — er, cutlery. At least that's what happened during a recent mini Lord of the Rings reunion. Without legendary high elven swords Sting or Glamdring on hand, the hobbits and elves (and yes, there was a plain-ol' human there, too) had to improvise. The resulting Instagram post, which was posted to Dominic Monaghan's account, will bring you right back to Middle Earth.
A photo posted by Dominic Monaghan (@dom_monaghan_) on
In the picture, Monaghan, who played Meriadoc Brandybuck, is joined by fellow hobbits Billy Boyd and Elijah Wood. Also in on the reunion? Non-hobbits Orlando Bloom, who portrayed Legolas, and Aragorn himself, Viggo Mortensen.
While Monaghan's caption, "They have a cave troll," might be a deep cut for those unfamiliar with LOTR lore, the pose and "weapons" make it clear that the team is ready for a battle. Where was the rest of the fellowship? Sean Bean, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, and John Rhys-Davies were nowhere to be found, but surely it's tough to get so many elves, hobbits, and wizards under one roof (when there's not a universe-shattering battle to be had, at least).
The pic is giving us all the feels — the OG Lord of the Rings film was released 15 years ago last December — and we're not alone. Many of the cast members pictured in Monaghan's post participated in a retrospective interview in Empire, and according to Entertainment Weekly, Bloom posted a slew of behind-the-scenes pics from the film on his Instagram.
Check out more pics from the impromptu reunion, below.
I don’t think there is any better month for hunkering down to study all manner of love-prophesying horoscopes than February. You can’t avoid it, really. Blame it on the forces of Big Greeting Card, but the signs are everywhere. Will you be mine? Want to go steady? Love me?
Together, we face the shortened and flirtatious days ahead filled with valentines, obligatory roses, and agonizing over what this or that text could mean. Which can often suck — except when you’re religiously following your Netflix horoscope! Because what a delightful excuse to stream these brilliant new (and old) offerings to prepare you for the coming days.
As usual, I’ve taken readings from Astrologyclub.org, and the paired them Netflix recs straight from my utterly exhausted queue. Happy binge-watching!
Scorpios can be summed up neatly with three words: blood, sex, and death. And I say that as a Scorpio myself. The stinger is real; Scorpios are always plotting and passionate (translation: drama). But underneath that piercing exterior is a control and confidence worth befriending. The Zodiac’s resident armchair psychologist (but in a good way) exhibits unsettling focus and determination in all that she does, with the ultimate goal of self-actualization and understanding. Just give her the space to get there.
In February: “There could be a teensy-weensy bit of trouble happening on the domestic front on the 1st. And the 2nd. And the 3rd. Is there some major issue you have been ignoring in the hope that it will just go away if you pretend it’s not there? Well, honey bee, it’s high time to face the music. Have you considered taking a meditation course, Scorpio? It could really help you process some of these tough issues to have a new set of tools.”
Scorpio Netflix Horoscope:
1. Erin Brockovich
Life giving you lemons? Make Erin Brockovich -ade. This classic movie, starring Scorpio Julia Roberts at her very best, is an inspiration primer in what to do when your life is completely falling apart. You work harder. You don’t give up. And if the situation is right, you discover a massive corporate cover-up and become a real-life folk hero. You can do it!
2. Breakout Kings
Cheesy (and just realistic enough) prison dramas with wit. Who can get enough of them? Not me. Starring Scorpio Jimmi Simpson (you know and love him from Westworld), who plays a degenerate gambler genius, Breakout Kings makes you think: I may be having a crap month but hey, at least I’m not locked up and forced to help the cops. How’s that for a bright side?
3. You Me Her
TV’s first “polyromantic comedy,” as it were, joins Netflix on February 10 and features an impressive array of stars including Scorpio Laine MacNeil. It depicts the hilarious and bizarre ins and outs of a modern throuple (that is a three-way relationship). If romantic entanglement this elaborate can somehow work, maybe you can find a much-needed life solution of your own?
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Sagittarius (November 23-December 21): The Centaur
This fire sign is known as the restless philosopher king, a free spirit prone to wanderlust and constant stimulation seeking. In fact, like the mythological centaur, the sign's astrological symbol (half man, half horse), Sagittarians are just as likely to go galloping to the ends of the Earth all in pursuit of that new, new thing. While they're devoted friends and lovers, commitment can be a challenge. But that’s all part of the Sag’s adventurous, ever-cheerful, constantly moving, truth-seeking, and sometimes impatient charm.
In February: "You are always impressive, honey bear. But on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of February 2017, you glow even more brightly than usual. Your ideas sound inspired and your jokes are all hilarious. In short: If you had a bridge to sell in Brooklyn, there would be buyers. Luckily, what you’re selling is a whole lot more legitimate, and right now you’re in a great spot to find the investors you need."
Sagittarius Netflix Horoscope:
1. The 100
Since you’re having a particularly inspired month, why not open yourself up to the many inspiring lessons of science fiction? This dystopian drama, set 97 years after a nuclear holocaust in the year 2052, follows the fate of 100 delinquent teens (including Sagittarian Bob Morley) who are sent from space back to Earth to test the radiation. Let their survival inspire your own.
2. Amadeus
The greatest movie about the curse of creative jealousy ever made. This 1984 period drama starring Sagittarian Tom Hulce as Mozart tells the fictionalized biographical tale through the lens of his rival Salieri, a lesser composer who possessed a genius ear. Can you imagine the torment? You don’t have to because you’re going to rock this month like, well, you know.
3. Boogie Nights
Here’s the thing about good fortune. It can be a great blessing or a gateway drug to an inevitable downfall. Harsh. Consider the plight of tragic porn actress Amber Waves in Boogie Nights (portrayed by gorgeous Sagittarian Julianne Moore). She’s as glamorous as can be, but inside she’s dying. Basically, do the opposite of everything anyone in this movie does. You’ll be fine.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Capricorn (December 22-January 20): The Goat
Capricorns are born achievers. Like the proud, steady mountain goat who adorns the sign’s seal, Capricorns are always climbing higher and higher. Goals aren’t a problem. Ever. They long to achieve and perform, and with the ability to plan out a specific ambition — meticulously — realizing their heart’s desire is easy compared to most. They want recognition for all that hard work, though, and seek others who provide it. If there’s work to be done, they’re content. Because success to them is, let’s be real, everything.
In February: "Capricorn, get out your pen and your paper and do some good old-fashioned long term planning on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of February 2017. Even if none of the plans you make now end up coming to fruition down the road, it’s important to at least take the first step towards pinning down where you want to go from here. If you want to, use a pencil! That way, you can easily make changes as you go along.”
Capricorn Netflix Horoscope:
1. Bates Motel
There’s nothing more difficult to pull off than a compelling prequel, and yet that’s exactly what A&E’s Bates Motel does, revealing the events that led up to Norman Bates losing his mind by the time Psycho is set. With a stellar array of actors including knockout Capricorn Olivia Cooke, this series will unfurl the “butterfly effect” of how things come to be. Plan accordingly.
2. Cristela Alonzo: Lower Classy
Super-funny Capricorn Cristela Alonzo is the daughter of an immigrant who wants to bust open that glass ceiling, and then clean it really well afterward. She riffs on everything from an elaborate and hilarious New Kids on the Block daydream to her foolproof ability to get into any nightclub, which just goes to show: She’s got her life together. Plan to do the same in your own.
3. Bloodline
I would be a fan of Capricorn Sissy Spacek reading the phone book, so imagine my reverie seeing her stun in this moody family drama (renewed for its final and third shortened 10-episode season in July). The drama gives new meaning to the term “black sheep.” This family's financial intricacies (and their secrets!) are all screwed up. Learn from this family’s mistakes.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Aquarius (January 21-February 19): The Water Bearer
If you’re looking for the humanitarian of the Zodiac, you’ve found her. The Aquarian is a highly intelligent breed, honest to a fault and philosophical to the point of sometimes driving others around them a little bit crazy. But it’s okay, we love them all the more for it. Quiet and artistic, the Aquarian sets out to accomplish a goal and is extremely generous in doing so. Friendship comes easy, so does kindness. Let the sun shine in, people!
In February: "The Aquarius February 2017 monthly horoscope shows that the month starts out with a majorly fantastic bang for you on the 1st. Really super stuff just keeps on happening on the 2nd and 3rd. Harness this great energy to really make the most of all your projects. You can do it, right now, so get to it! You could be pretty amazed by the quality of your thoughts and ideas on the 6th, 7th and 8th. Well heck, if you’re kind of a visionary, you’re kind of a visionary!”
Aquarius Netflix Horoscope:
1. Dexter
Genius comes in all shapes and sizes. Even the do-gooding serial killer vigilante size. Starring Aquarian Michael C. Hall, Dexter is visionary in its central premise. Identified by his police dad as a psychopath when he was young, Dexter learns to channel his pathology by secretly hunting down killers while working as a blood-spatter-pattern expert. Could you be so clever?
2. Law & Order: SVU
What is it about the ever-lasting appeal of this series? Could it be that creator Dick Wolf is some kind of visionary (like you this month!)? I would say so. Starring the flawless Aquarian Mariska Hargitay in the lead, Law & Order: SVU will not only scare (and educate) the wits out of you, the artistic longevity of the show is sure to stir creative grandeur of your own.
3. Better Off Ted
Do you ever feel like you’re on a corporate hamster wheel in your work life? If you’re lucky, the answer is no. But if you’re like so many of us, you know what it means to feel like a cog. Enter this brutally satirical show starring Aquarian Portia de Rossi as a soulless office overlord. And yet, her art is her cruelty in some sick, beautiful way. It’s truly a vision to behold.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Pisces(February 20-March 20): The Fish
Low-key is the name of the game for Pisces — which is chill, they feel that. Bursting with knowledge and compassion, this gentle soul is like the fish that represents the sign: weaving gracefully through life, relishing the abundance the universe has in store. Their sweetness can sometimes be abused, but that just leads to more feelings, and that’s okay with Pisces. Their private inner lives are a priceless treasure trove unto themselves.
In February: "You’re in a pretty giving place as the month gets started. Yep on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd, you want to help. Whether it’s the people around you or folks who are suffering half a world away, you’ll use your considerable intellect to figure out a good solution to a couple of problems. Pat yourself on the back when you’re done. After all, you did a good job."
Pisces Netflix Horoscope:
1. Santa Clarita Diet
Have you ever considered how hard it would be if your significant other suddenly became a zombie? You’d have to be super solution-oriented to get around all those pesky details, like, say, your spouse’s overwhelming need to consume human flesh. Starring the delightfully witty Piscean Drew Barrymore, this Netflix original series (out February 3) is a straight-up scream.
2. Slow Learners
Problem: Your love life sucks, and you don’t want it to. Solution: You make a pact with your best friend to completely reinvent yourself as a confident, party-hardy, sexually rapacious smooth operator. Starring endearing Piscean Adam Pally, this movie has a lot of genuine LOLs and moments of insight. If you’re looking for a rom-com solution in your own life, watch and learn.
3. Top of the Lake
I put off watching this for the longest time because I was afraid of being mentally ill-prepared for such an intensely moody masterpiece. But give yourself just one episode to get hooked, and you will be. My favorite part of this brilliant mystery series is Piscean Holly Hunter who, in her portrayal of a self-styled guru, actually provides tons of genuinely useful insights throughout.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Aries (March 21-April 20): The Ram
Strong-willed and ambitious, Aries sometimes get a bad rap for rushing into things, but it’s their courage and energy that truly stand out. Known for fighting the good fight, they often cheer for the underdog and are the most loyal of friends. The ram fittingly signifies this tireless sign, and the typical Aries is an inspiring leader and trustworthy counsel, always seeking out new challenges to slay.
In February: "Aries, goals. Ambitions. Ambitions. Goals. Yep, goals and ambitions (and ambitions and goals) are what you are all about on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of February 2017. You want it? You need to go out and get it. You got it? You need to move on to the next goal. Check your inhibitions and ‘I can’t do this’ vibes at the door this month: You’re here to play, and you’re playing to win."
Aries Netflix Horoscope:
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
You need a goal guru? What about a badass vampire-slaying one? Study Aries Sarah Michelle Gellar in her most famous role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, selected by fate to be the chosen one who can successfully do battle against an array of terrifying (and sometimes wildly entertaining) demons. This series can help you provide literal #slayinggoals.
2. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
The most ambitious teenager ever? My vote is for Ferris Bueller, as so originally portrayed by Aries Matthew Broderick in this heartwarming classic. Just think: If one high schooler can arrange pretty much the most legendary school day ever recorded (complete with classic car, fringe-jacket-wearing girlfriend, and parade), what could you do if you really put your mind to it?
3. House of Cards
Gosh. What to say about the most deliciously evil, corrupt, scheming and, yes, utterly ambitious Netflix series ever to air? How about: Watch it. Then turn to the camera and say something wry and Machiavellian. Oh, and cut your hair all cute and short like Claire Underwood (played by Aries Robin Wright). PS: Bone up now! New season is out May 30, and the trailer is jui-cy.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Taurus (April 21-May 21): The Bull
Oh, the stable bull. You can’t beat Taurians for patience, efficiency, and reliability. Stellar educators, they can teach their lucky students a thing or two about willpower and stamina. The symbol of this sign is well chosen: Like the animal, Taurians are peace-loving, steady folk who prioritize comfort, transparency, and happiness. Then again, if you piss off a Taurus, watch out. Their temperament for keeping promises and defending what is right applies to everything they hold dear, especially boundaries.
In February: "Uh oh. It looks like somebody is rubbing you the wrong way on the 1st of February 2017. Or did you just get up on the wrong side of the bed on the 2nd? Uh oh, they’re looking at you funny on the 3rd, Taurus. Whatever is happening as the month starts, these first couple of days are all going to be equally challenging. So, Taurus, this is a great opportunity to practice not taking things personally, taking ‘time outs,’ and giving yourself a chance to do something nice for yourself, every single day."
Taurus Netflix Horoscope:
1. Burn Notice
You know how hard it is to be a spy and get “burned” (or discredited)? Well, I had no idea either until I watched the delightfully caricaturish drama starring Taurean Jeffrey Donovan (who, if you haven’t watched in Hulu’s series Shut Eye, do so right now!). He survives by becoming a kind of spy freelancer. Is it a challenge? Yes. Are you up for your own variety? Totes.
2. Tiny Furniture
Are you too excited for the return of Girls on HBO on February 19? It’s the final season, and why not prepare to say goodbye by seeing where it all began with the film that made Taurean Lena Dunham a star? Was it a challenge for her to become a star against all odds? Sure. But anything is possible when you’ve got that indomitable, ever-stable Taurean spirit.
3. Degrassi Next Class
I don’t think there’s a harder challenge than high school. Well, that’s not true. The hardest is probably is high school today — and specifically at Degrassi Next Class (created by executive producer and Taurean Stephen Stohn) — where mental illness, drug abuse, homophobia and an array of other issues are ever-present. But wit and wisdom always prevail, and you will, too.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Gemini(May 22-June 21): The Twins
Geminis sometimes get a bad rap. But the mutability of the twins is one of the biggest gifts a person can be blessed with, especially nowadays, when everything changes in seconds. Yes, there are hot and cold streaks, but welcome to life on planet Earth. Witty communicators, Geminis love to learn and inspire. They are the definition of charisma, motivating others around them with an ability to quickly read every room. Oh, and they’re generous and affectionate. So that’s cool.
In February: "Gemini, you are a real brainiac most of the time, but on the super smart 1st, 2nd and 3rd of February 2017, you are going to be downright genius. Gemini, you’re sharp, you’re insightful, and you know exactly what’s going on. Wow. Are your colleagues going to be glad you’re on their team! And your rivals are going to wish they could recruit you. Gemini, if you’re in a relationship, your honey is going to be blown away. And if you’re single, your smarts are going to land you the gal or guy of your dreams."
Gemini Netflix Horoscope:
1. The League
For anyone with a perverse black-as-night sense of humor, discovering The League is like finding the comedy Holy Grail landed straight in your lap. Featuring the hysterical Gemini Nick Kroll and the antics of a group of friends tormenting one another over fantasy football, this series will undoubtedly make you sharper — and yes, more of a damn genius.
2. The Shawshank Redemption
“I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying.” One of the most famous movie quotes of all time comes from this 1994 film based on Stephen King’s novella, and stars the incomparable Gemini Morgan Freeman. We all need this wildly inspiring wisdom in our lives. Trust me. It will strengthen your own brilliance by leaps and bounds.
3. Thank God for Jokes
Bursting with anecdotes (including one involving film director David O. Russell), the 85-minute monologue at the center of Gemini Mike Birbiglia’s genius new Netflix special is a study in how to weave in seemingly disparate themes into an incredibly satisfying whole. It doesn’t come out until February 28, so mark your schedules now. Because seriously, thank god for jokes.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Cancer(June 22-July 23): The Crab
Cancerians just want to cuddle with you at home while always being right — what’s so wrong with that? Kidding, kind of. The reputation for being stubborn is sometimes deserved, but more often than not, they are the best partners ever, because they are loyal to a fault and if they like you, they’re not letting go. They do need their space, though. So give them that, and when you return, prepare, once again, to cuddle up.
In February: "If you have to pick between intellect and emotion on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd, you might want to try going with intellect. Sure, Cancer, emotion is crucial to making big life decisions. But when it comes to successfully navigating the smaller stuff, it can occasionally get in the way. Say, if a situation triggers an emotional response that overwhelms your rational, thinking self and isn’t even relevant to the present situation anyway. In that case, take a deep breath, Cancer, notice how you feel, don’t judge yourself, step back and decide to make a choice with your brain."
Cancer Netflix Horoscope:
1. Cinco
I’m just going to say it: Cancerian Jim Gaffigan is the smartest standup working. Do you know how hard it is to be side-splittingly hilarious and work clean? Yet for Gaffigan, it’s seemingly effortless, and the 74 minutes of his Cinco special prove that he can make anything funny: food, family or SUVs. Just watching it once is bound to make you a million times smarter!
2. David Brent: Life on the Road
Here’s a comedic truth: To play a character who is dumb, you, in fact, need to be very smart yourself. Such is the case with Cancerian Ricky Gervais, whose intellect brought us The Office and created the most irritating boss ever, David Brent. Well, on February 10, Mr. Brent is finally back — 12 years later.
3. The Eighties
To be smart enough to learn from our mistakes, we first need to be fully aware of what they are. Thanks to American treasure and Cancerian Tom Hanks, we have the fruits of his labor in the form of his wonderful CNN series he executive produced, chronicling the most excessive decade of them all: The Eighties. Reagan, the Cold War, the AIDS crisis. Use your head. Watch it.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Leo (July 24-August 23): The Lion
Often the glamorous and seductive center of attention at any party or social gathering, the Leo is the quintessential brave and powerful pioneer, earning the title “King of the Beasts.” Sure, sometimes Leos can be bossy, but their heart is in the right place and their savvy insight means that the plans they’re hell-bent on executing more often than not lead to beneficial outcomes for all. Besides, game recognizes game.
In February: "The Leo astrology forecasts for February 2017 show that if you feel like that naughty old ego of yours is getting a little bit out of hand on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd, it might be good to check in with said ego. Have a little chat with it. Find out if what you want and what your ego want are the same. If not, tell your ego to take a back seat! You’re in charge here, Leo, not that naughty ego."
Leo Netflix Horoscope:
1. Cheers
Know the best way to keep your ego in check? Be surrounded by a group of hilarious patrons in a Boston watering hole who are constantly taking the piss — but don’t worry, it’s just because they love you. (And everybody knows your name!) Starring Leo Shelley Long (until she left in 1987), this series will help you not take yourself so seriously, all as you shout along, “Norm!”
2. Sensitive Skin
Honestly, this series blew me away. So refreshing in its approach to the realities of aging and ego, Sensitive Skin features Leo Kim Cattrall (yes, Samantha from Sex and the City) at her very best. Not only does she provide a wonderful nuanced mirror into whatever superficiality may be nagging you in your own life, she also looks like a million bucks doing it. Ironic, no?
3. The X-Files
Do you realize the inner strength required to be an FBI special agent dedicated to uncovering the existence of extraterrestrial life and its presence on Earth? Well, it’s a lot. Rewatch stunner Leo Gillian Anderson as the amazing Agent Scully, who sets aside a bevy of personal conflicts to work alongside her partner. The truth is out there. If you can check your ego at the door.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Virgo(August 24-September 23): The Virgin
Virgos get 'er done. Which may be the worst sentence ever written, but I’m sure a Virgo somewhere out there will fix it. Their minds are keen, their wits are fast, and their work ethic is quite frankly, stunning. (Beyoncé is a Virgo — obviously.) As productive as they are, Virgos are just fine being alone (although they also make a great team players) and their sensitivity has limitless depths, which makes a nice complement to their ever-analytic minds.
In February: "They may think they know exactly where you’re coming from on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of February 2017, but boy oh boy, do you have a few surprises up your sleeve! The Virgo February 2017 monthly horoscope forecasts that you’re in a very creative space as the month gets going, and there’s no telling what kinds of new and unusual approaches you’re going to take. Hold on to your hat, though — it’s going to be quite a wild ride!"
Virgo Netflix Horoscope:
1. Jen Kirkman: Just Keep Livin’?
Hooray! A new Jen Kirkman special is here! The witty Virgo is recognized most from her Chelsea Lately days, but she’s a bundle of creativity and hilarity in her stand-up specials, especially when she’s making sharp observations few could nail so well. From getting a tattoo at 41 to “male feminists,” her penchant for funny is sure to push you on a creative jag of your own.
2. Lo and Behold
Here’s a fun fact. If all of the info that was transmitted on the Internet for just one day was burned onto a bunch of CDs, the stack would stretch out to Mars and back. Nuts, right? Well, Virgo filmmaker Werner Herzog teaches us many a fact as he takes us back to the internet’s very beginning. Lo and behold, it really is one of the most creative docs you’ll ever see in your life.
3. Louie
There are comedians and then there are auteurs. Virgo Louis C.K. is the latter as he not only writes, directs and stars in this slightly fictionalized show about his life as a stand-up comedian, but he does pretty much any and every other essential creative role as well. Every time I watch Louie, all I can think is: If he can create this masterpiece, we’re all capable of such feats. Create!
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Libra(September 24-October 23): The Scales
Libras strive, day and night, rain or shine, summer or winter, for one thing: harmony. While this is a wonderful pursuit, if the savvy Libra isn’t careful and duly self-aware, the desire for justice can sometimes result in burdensome indecision. But more often than not, Libras are great role models for achieving that optimal work-life balance, and when it comes to debate, no one can be beat them. Why? No angle goes neglected.
In February: "Libra, there is nothing like fun to spice up a romance, and nothing like romance to make everything a whole heck of a lot more fun. On the fun and romantic 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of February 2017, you’re going to have plenty of opportunities to witness this fun-romance, romance-fun cycle in action. And if things take a sudden turn from ‘fun’ to ‘super, super serious,’ go with that, too. After all, Libra, ‘super, super serious’ is all part of the fun!"
Libra Netflix Horoscope:
1. Caddyshack
Personally, I don’t think there’s a better super-silly, super-fun movie to lighten your spirits quite like Caddyshack, starring Libra Chevy Chase in one of his best roles ever. Playing a wealthy golf guru, Chase is surrounded by a ton of other funny all-stars like Ted Knight, Bill Murray, and Rodney Dangerfield who proclaims so romantically, “Hey everybody, we’re all gonna get laid!”
2. Catfish
Hard to believe there was ever a time when Catfish the TV show or “catfish” the slang word didn't mean to trick someone into believing a fake internet identity. But alas, it only first came into being in 2010 when Libra Nev Schulman first took us on a fascinating journey to uncover falsehoods being created online. It’s got everything: fun, romance — and catfishing!
3. Girlfriend’s Day
What better send-up of V-Day than a noir comedy starring Libra Bob Odenkirk about his life as a down-on-his-luck greeting card writer framed for murder? Out on Valentine’s Day, this movie also features the wickedly talented Amber Tamblyn as a powerful woman and is sure to provide just the right level of fun to help you suffer through all the commercialization of romance.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
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Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
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In an official statement on Thursday, President Trump has vowed to continue to enforce an executive order signed by Barack Obama in 2014 to protect employees from anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
The news comes after rumors and speculation that Trump would issue an executive order allowing for anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
"The President is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression," the White House statement reads. "The executive order signed in 2014, which protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors, will remain intact at the direction of President Donald J. Trump."
In the past, Trump had pledged to sign the First Amendment Defense Act, which would allow businesses, landlords, and healthcare providers to refuse service to LGBTQ people based on religious beliefs — a fact that has not gone unnoticed by those who remain skeptical of Trump's agenda.
"Claiming ally status for not overturning the progress of your predecessor is a rather low bar," Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, told the New York Times in a statement. "LGBTQ refugees, immigrants, Muslims and women are scared today, and with good reason. Donald Trump has done nothing but undermine equality since he set foot in the White House."
While it remains to be seen what the future of LGBTQ rights will really look like under a Trump presidency, his history with LGBTQ issues has already inspired protest. Although this decision doesn't necessarily predict how Trump will handle wider discriminations towards the LGBTQ community, it's a step in the right direction.
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Raise your hand if you've ever bitten into an apple only to realize you've just chomped down on that pesky produce sticker. I've certainly done it, and who can blame me? A crisp apple is just too inviting to take the time to scour its skin for stickers. Aside from being a time-waster and a choking hazard to us over-eager fruit eaters, those plastic produce stickers are also not great for the environment. And that, my friends, is why there's a new alternative in town.
Laserfood, a company based in Spain, is using laser printing to place a "natural brand" on produce. Engraving information on the fruit or vegetable's skin eliminates the need for plastic stickers. In fact, Fresh Produce Journal reports that with help from Laserfood's technology, the Swedish retailer ICA will be able to get rid of 725,000 plastic stickers this year, which comes to around 220km of plastic.
Photo: Courtesy of Laserfood.
Not only is Laserfood good for the environment, it also makes things easy for you, the consumer. According to FoodBeast, the natural branding system does not harm or alter the produce. The labeled part of the skin is also completely safe to eat, which means you'll never again have to think twice before diving into that enticing apple.
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Sally Yates had to know there would be repercussions once she sent a memo saying the Department of Justice wouldn't defend President Trump's so-called refugee ban. Her days as acting attorney general were numbered anyway, but that didn't stop the Trump administration from removing her from office in a matter of hours. After serving the Justice Department for over two decades, Yates' 27-years-long career there ended with her being fired.
But even though the Trump administration said she "betrayed" the DOJ, multiple people have called her a "hero" and a "true patriot."
But who is Yates, anyway? Ahead, the most important things you should know about the former acting attorney general.
She was appointed by the Obama administration
The Atlanta, GA, native was appointed as a U.S. Attorney by President Obama back in 2010, the first woman ever to hold the position in her district. She was then appointed as the United States Deputy Attorney General in 2015, and worked hand-in-hand with former Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
She was the lead prosecutor in the case againstEric Rudolph,the "Olympic bomber"
Rudolph was convicted for the 1996 bombing of the Olympic Park during the Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta. He had also bombed an abortion clinic and was connected to several other bombings in the Atlanta area and Birmingham, AL.
He was sentenced to serve four consecutive life sentences plus 120 years in prison.
Sheoversaw the Justice Departmentwork on the Obamaadministration'sclemencyinitiative and pushed for criminal justice reform
Yates worked closely with the previous administration’s clemency initiative, in which President Obama ended up commuting the sentences of more than 1,700 nonviolent drug offenders who met certain criteria.
He asked, "If the views that the president wants to execute are unlawful, should the attorney general or the deputy attorney general say no?"
"Senator, I believe that the attorney general or the deputy attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution, and to give their independent legal advice to the president," Yates answered.
According to CNN, Sessions eventually voted against her confirmation.
A week after being confirmed, she said, "We’re not the Department of Prosecutions or even the Department of Public Safety. We are the Department of Justice."
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Last week, Nina Dobrev announced that she'd return for the series finale of The Vampire Diaries. And while we still don't know exactly what to expect from the finale, it looks like we have some crumbs to survive on in the meantime.
Kevin Williamson, the show's co-creator and one of its executive producers, shared the first behind-the-scenes photo of Dobrev on Instagram ahead of the show's ending. The image features Williamson smiling alongside Dobrev and Paul Wesley, who plays Stefan.
A photo posted by Kevin Williamson (@kevwilliamson) on
As Popsugar noticed, the photo could be more than a sweet reunion shot — it could provide a major hint about the finale. The dress Dobrev is wearing looks suspiciously similar to what Elena wore to her 18th birthday party in the third season. Could it be more than a coincidence? And if it is, what is Williamson trying to tell us?
Whether or not there's a hidden message, we're definitely looking forward to Elena's return on March 10, when the finale airs. Williamson also shared a #TBT photo of Dobrev with costar Kat Graham last week, and it's giving us all the feels.
The resident villain-slash-unofficial-millennial spokesperson spews out whatever she wants, whenever she wants, every Monday on The Bachelor. And so far, she's become the highlight of the season. From her evil glares to her boozy confessionals, Corinne keeps it real as fuck.
Each week, she's given the audience, and her bachelor Nick Viall, the most unfiltered dialogue, and by far most quotable sound bites. Her hilarious one-liners almost excuse her consistently rude and immature behavior (sorry, Corn — you are a bit immature), but you gotta respect the girl for knowing what makes good television. Or, at least she knows to listen to the talented and scheming producers who feed her the lines.
Scripted or not, we rounded up Corinne's wildest quotes here, illustrated with her most iconic facial expressions. There's 21 of them, and you're going to want to read them all.
"My heart is gold, but my vagine is platinum."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"I love the taste of victory."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"She's just a big, mean swamp monster."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"Make America Corinne again!"
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"I'm a corn husk; you gotta pull all the layers back. And in the middle is this luxury, yellow corn. With all these pellets of information. And it's juicy, and buttery. You want to get to that corn."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"The farm today was really scary for me."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"Cheers, bitches"
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"Who's stupid now?"
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"I'm here for Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick. Nickelodeon."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"How do you make a voodoo doll — specific to a person?"
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"This butt doesn't belong in the swamp."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"I need sushi."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"I am not a runner-up. And my sex abilities are definitely top-notch."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"Michael Jordan napped. Abraham Lincoln napped."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"Do you call this immature?"
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"I don't how to do chores."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"Corinne's world is glamorous."
Photo: Courtesy of Giphy/ABC.
"Today was just a dream come true. I stepped out of my comfort zone, many times and angles. Dad would be proud, even though I was naked."
Just over a year ago, Jesse Meighan attended a fundraising event for her boyfriend's cannabis media company. "Unfortunately, as most cannabis events and as most fundraising events are, it was a sausage party," she says. "So I found the one woman in the room to chat up, and it was Jane."
By then, Jane West had already founded Women Grow, a professional organization for women in the cannabis industry, and Edible Events, a company that plans and hosts marijuana-friendly dinner parties. Together, Meighan and West launched West's self-titled lifestyle brand, which focuses on introducing women to marijuana who might not otherwise be open to it. That takes the form of beautifully designed smoking accessories, but also approachable education aimed specifically at new users.
Today, Meighan is the COO of the Jane West brand. We talked to Meighan, 32, about why she was interested in starting the company and how creating cannabis gear for women could elevate the entire industry.
How do you feel about the traditional "stoner aesthetic?"
"It definitely turns a lot of people off because there’s so much identity wrapped up into it, whereas people don’t necessarily tie their identity to being wine drinker. I don't want to totally dismiss that aesthetic because it’s OG and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I do think it’s sort of underdeveloped and very masculine. I think it is a dude world and there’s not a lot that serves women with regards to the aesthetic. And some women love that, but it feels very masculine to me."
What did you want to change in the cannabis industry with the Jane West brand?
"I feel like a lot of the brands on the market today that are speaking to women are not actually run or owned by women. I really like to see by women and for women products. And that's starting to happen more and more in the consumables space, but it’s not happening in the accessories and ancillary products space.
"We want to give women products that are as beautiful as barware and as stylish as home goods — products you want to show off on your counter for people to see. It’s not the kind of dirty bong you hide when your parents come over. We really want to elevate these products to a level of high design and home goods.
"The second component to that is consumer education. A lot of the companies that are selling products online are not talking about what it’s actually for. People are using cloak and dagger language like, 'Use it for tobacco or herb.' And there's kind of a wink and a nod that everyone knows what it's actually for. A lot of that has to do with [regulations around] banking and payment processing.
"But for a new user who’s trying to get educated, that makes it really difficult because you can't actually find information about, like, 'What do I put in a vaporizer? How does it work?' These are questions a new user might have, and I know that because I had them — I thought these products were beautiful but I had no idea what to put inside them. And going to a dispensary and asking these questions is really intimidating.
We focus specifically on women because we are women, and we felt like no one was speaking to us.
"So we wanted to provide women who are curious with a sort of soft place to land and provide direct consumer education. We’re going to use the actual language and tell you what it’s for and how to use it. For that reason, we can’t sell our products online through our own website because we’re outspoken about what the products are for. But we’re willing to forge that path even if it makes things harder in the short term."
Why focus specifically on women?
"We focus specifically on women because we are women, and we felt like no one was speaking to us in this space. No one was creating products we would want to use, or gift to other women, or that we would want to have out on our mantle at home. We’re definitely not creating products that are pink and sparkly and pandering to women. Our design aesthetic is actually pretty gender neutral. But we want to speak to women because that’s who we are that’s what we know."
How does cannabis and activism around marijuana fit into our politically charged world?
"We kind of position ourselves squarely on the recreational side of cannabis and the design side of products, and we leave activism to the activists. Which is not a cop out, it's just that there are people out there who have been doing this for a very long time who know so much more than we do. So we always want to defer to them on those topics.
"I will say, though, the legalization of cannabis is deeply tied to mass incarceration and arrests for drugs that disproportionally affect people of color. It is very political and it's not just for the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness reasons — although there are those too, people should be able to do what they want to with their bodies, including what plants they want to consume — but there’s this deeper political importance to it as well."
This month, we’re celebratingHigh Januaryby leaving our stoner stereotypes behind. Instead, we’ll take long-time smokers and total newbies through the various complexities of the current cannabis world. It’s 2017 and we’re ready to blaze a new trail.
(Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity and would like to remind its readers that marijuana usage continues to be an offense under Federal Law, regardless of state marijuana laws. To learn more, click here.)
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Taylor Swift made ripples with her acceptance speech for Album of the Year at the 2016 Grammys. The 1989 singer spoke about not letting anyone discredit your success: a pointed jab at Kanye West, who sang "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / I made that bitch famous" on his track "Famous." One year later, Swift's memorable statement is still making an impact.
On Tuesday, the Recording Academy released a video promoting the 2017 Grammys soundtracked by Swift's speech. Only instead of the pop star, it features young girls pursuing careers in music and the arts — dancers, stagehands, violinists — reciting lines of the powerful speech.
A Recording Academy exec explained in a statement, "Although most of the spots carry the message with humor, as a father of two young girls, it was important to me to also create something that would speak specifically to them — and all women — using music’s inspirational language to help them feel empowered."
Whatever went down between West and Swift last year, it's good to see something so positive and inspiring to young women come of it.
Here's the text of Swift's speech used in the video, and the promo spot below.
"I want to say to all the young women out there: There are going to be people along the way who try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame. But if you just focus on the work and you don’t let those people sidetrack you, someday, when you get where you’re going, you will look around and you will know — it was you, and the people who love you, who put you there. And that will be the greatest feeling in the world."
Tune into the 59th Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 12 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.
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"Subtweet" is not yet an official entry in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, because it has not met the dictionary's strict usage requirements. That is likely to change this year.
Over the course of the past week, the word has been used extensively, both on and offline, in talk about the rise of the alt movement across Twitter. This movement is fueled by accounts such as @RogueNASA and @altUSEPA, which were created in opposition to President Trump's media blackout ruling. But other official accounts have been posting tweets that subtly, but powerfully, undermine political statements. The best example of this is Merriam-Webster's own Twitter account, which has risen to viral status thanks to well-timed definitions.
Lauren Naturale, Merriam-Webster's content and social media manager, has been in charge of managing the dictionary's Twitter for about a year. Naturale, 33, says that while her approach to the account's tweets has remained the same, the public response has changed drastically.
"Things that shouldn't be politically charged, like the definition of a fact, are being received as if they are politically charged," Naturale says. "But our job is to provide people with accurate definitions. And some of the most interesting things we share on Twitter are the words people are looking up at a given moment."
While Merriam-Webster's "word of the day" tweets are decided on weeks ahead of time, its posts about trending searches are the ones making the post impact. Take, for example, the definition of "fact," which was posted on the same day as Kellyanne Conway's much-mocked television interview, in which Conway used the term "alternative facts" to describe false information.
📈A fact is a piece of information presented as having objective reality. https://t.co/gCKRZZm23c
These tweets, though based on trending user look-ups, reveal hypocrisy and draw sharp attention to the actions of the Trump administration. Naturale says that the response to recent tweets has been "overwhelmingly positive" and that many people have said they are subscribing to the Unabridged dictionary, buying a physical copy, or downloading the accompanying app.
Before joining Merriam-Webster as their social lead, Naturale taught English at the University of California, Berkeley, while earning her Master's degree. "Running the Twitter for Merriam-Webster feels like all of the fun parts of teaching without any of the grading," she says.
Educating the public has taken on new new meaning in the current political climate. The fact that Naturale does so with subtle snark makes Merriam-Webster's posts all the more engaging. The account followed up the definition of "fact" days later with another pertinent response to Conway's "alternative facts" statement:
*whispers into the void* In contemporary use, fact is understood to refer to something with actual existence. https://t.co/gCKRZZm23c
