‘Controversial’ Australian Bachelor Contestants Who Fell in Love Strip Down & Stand Up to Critics

Two Bachelor Australia contestants who found love with each other are facing down their critics. Tiffany Scanlon and Megan Marx revealed their relationship in October and have since faced accusations that their relationship is merely a social media-driven showmance. Now, as they serve as cover girls for Maxim Australia, the women have each shared a series of Instagram posts explaining their reasons for doing the lingerie-clad photo shoot and giving insight about why they continue to keep their love story in the public eye. In a post on Wednesday, Scanlon pointed out to her followers on Instagram that, even though she’s become more well-known, she is still “real human being with real human emotions.” “I’m excited and I’m super proud of what @megan.leto.marx and I have achieved here.I knew it would be controversial, i knew it would ruffle feathers, i knew there would be criticism and judgement but guess what, I did it anyway!” wrote the self-proclaimed “experience junkie.” Not pulling any punches, she clapped back at her critics: “If you think that this is some fake anti feminist lesbianised sexual male fantasy then you are only aiding in the judgemental backward thinking of society whether you are straight, gay, bi or however else you choose to label yourself.” She also noted, “I have always and will always continue to advocate acceptance and no labels in all areas of life. I don’t label myself or my relationship; I simply live and love and create life on my own terms.” Scanlon wrote in another post: “In standing up for yourself and for others sometimes you take a little battering but the encouragement and love I have received helps pick me up and keep going.” For her part, Marx pointed out, “If you took the whole same-sex ‘issue’ out of our relationship, it would still be untraditional. We ordinate our own life and love terms, and somehow it works.” Marx also anticipated forthcoming questions about the racy photo shoot (which falls in line with their previous social media tributes to another), half-joking on Instagram: “Some of you think that the cover fetishises lesbianism- I do get that (hey, I fetishise it too I guess-I like women!),” but told her followers that “your voice has a point.” Marx continued, “At the same time I wanted to note that Tiffany and I aren’t specifically trying to break down the [misogynistic] attitudes of men, we are trying to increase the normalisation of desire and love in any form.” Shedding light on her own background, Marx spoke of a previous failed marriage at 18 and revealed, “Sometimes I forget that once upon a time, I was the religious nut with terrible and harmful ideas- and even though I am still human and still learning, I have changed and grown- and that is due to non-pushy ideology slowly turning me to the light.” As for the sultry shoot itself, Marx told Maxim she and Scanlon “wanted to go for a look that really represented our characters and […]

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Carrie Fisher Suffers Massive Heart Attack: Reports

Pinterest Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival Iconic Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher has reportedly suffered a massive heart attack, according to TMZ. Fisher, 60, was flying from London to Los Angeles on Friday when she went into cardiac arrest, the outlet reported. After the plane landed just after noon in California, Fisher was reportedly rushed to the hospital. Actress Anna Akana claimed on Twitter that she witnessed Fisher’s health emergency, writing, “Don’t know how else to process this but Carrie Fisher stopped breathing on the flight home. Hope she’s gonna be OK.” “So many thanks to the United flight crew who jumped into action, and the awesome doctor and nurse passengers who helped,” she added. “Feel weird even tweeting about it but I JUST finished her book and was fangirling out over seeing her dog Gary in person. Gah.” Don’t know how else to process this but Carrie Fisher stopped breathing on the flight home. Hope she’s gonna be OK — Anna Akana (@AnnaAkana) December 23, 2016 So many thanks to the United flight crew who jumped into action, and the awesome doctor and nurse passengers who helped Feel weird even tweeting about it but I JUST finished her book and was fangirling out over seeing her dog Gary in person. Gah. Comedian Brad Gage wrote on the social media site that he was traveling with Akana, noting that Fisher was allegedly “taken off the plane by EMTs.” Akana responded that Fisher “wasn’t breathing for 10 minutes or so.” I’m in complete shock. @AnnaAkana and I sat in front of Carrie Fisher on our flight from London and she was just taken off the plane by EMTs — Brad Gage (@bradgage) December 23, 2016 I don’t know what happened. Not really sure what to do right now but I hope she is ok. I hope she is ok. — Brad Gage (@bradgage) December 23, 2016 The actress has been in London filming the U.K. sitcom Catastrophe. Fisher recently published a memoir, The Princess Diarist, about her time on the set of the iconic first Star Wars film. The actress shares one daughter, actress Billie Lourd, with Bryan Lourd.

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Election Polls Underestimated Donald Trump In More Than 30 States

Supporters of Donald Trump often claimed during the 2016 election that polls were wrong. Turns out, they were right. Now that all the votes are counted and certified, we can get an accurate look at how polls performed relative to actual outcomes in the 2016 election. While we’ve heard many arguments about why polls failed this year, the real problem isn’t that polls inaccurately predicted the winner. It’s that they all failed in the same direction. In the polling aggregates that included all 50 states, poll errors favored Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump by a ratio of roughly 6 to 1 in Daily Kos estimates, about 5 to 1 in HuffPost Pollster’s aggregates and around 3 to 1 in FiveThirtyEight’s aggregates. Polling aggregates are the simplest way get a macro view of how polls performed. Each aggregator uses different methods, and some exclude certain types of polls. But this year, that didn’t matter ― Clinton was systematically overestimated in all of them. HuffPost Pollster’s estimates underestimated Trump’s performance by at least 1 percentage point in 36 states, FiveThirtyEight underestimated him by at least 1 point in 33 states and Daily Kos did the same in 37 states. The Huffington Post The chart above illustrates just how lopsided the aggregate estimates were. The vertical black line at 0 represents the actual vote margin. Anything to the right of that line indicates that the aggregate polls missed in a way that underestimated Trump’s vote. Anything to the left of the line indicates that they underestimated Clinton. In the few states where there seems to be no bar ― Virginia and Colorado, for example ― aggregates were very close to the actual vote. The graph clearly shows there were far more Trump underestimates. But it also shows that the president-elect was underestimated by more than Clinton. HuffPost Pollster underestimated Clinton most in California by about 6 points; FiveThirtyEight and Daily Kos underestimated her most in Hawaii by 8-9 points. Contrast that with the other end of the chart: HuffPost Pollster and Daily Kos underestimated Trump by more than 10 points in seven states, and FiveThirtyEight did the same in nine states. The misses were smaller in battleground states, although still nearly uniform in underestimating Trump. More aggregators had estimates for these states, including RealClearPolitics and The New York Times Upshot. The Huffington Post Out of the 15 battleground states in the chart above, polls underestimated Clinton in just two. In the other 13, polls underestimated Trump, though they came very close to the actual result in Virginia. Adding to the issue, in the states Trump was expected to win, polls had him ahead by a maximum of 2 to 3 percentage points. For Clinton, that maximum was north of 8 points. It’s noteworthy ― but not unusual ― that the largest poll misses were actually in states where polls accurately predicted the winner. So while polls had the right candidate, they didn’t predict what a landslide the results would be in California and […]

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FIRST LOOK: Discovery Delivers a Hardcore — and Hunger Games-esque — New Series with The Wheel

Remember that scene in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire when all the competitors in the Quarter Quell realize that they’re inside a big clock? The Discovery Channel is premiering a new show, The Wheel, that’s giving us serious Hunger Games vibes — only (hopefully!) with less death. The show will feature six everyday people who have been dropped into six remote locations with nothing but a small survival kit and an SOS device. All alone, they will build a shelter, hunt for food and search for water. So far, it’s like every other survival show on television, right? Wrong. At any point during the 6o-day adventure, the participants can be plucked from their environment and dropped into an entirely new wilderness. They may go from a sweltering rainforest to a frozen tundra, or from a deserted tropical island to a remote mountain peak. What the participants don’t know is that they’re on a figurative lunar wheel. With each phase of the moon, the wheel will turn and send each person to a new eco-zone. Viewers will know what’s coming, but the participants will be left obsessing over when the wheel will thrust them into a new harrowing domain. While the Discovery Channel assures PEOPLE that there are no carnivorous monkeys or poisonous fog on the wheel, it’s safe to say that the locales will be harrowing for the participants. They won’t be competing against each other (don’t expect a bloodbath), but they’ll all be competing against The Wheel. The six cast members aren’t hardcore survivalists like the cast of Naked and Afraid. Instead, they are ordinary people from all walks of life, including a model who runs marathons and a master plumber who survived thyroid cancer. Will the survivalists have what it takes to endure the harsh terrains? The Wheel premieres Jan, 13 at 10 p.m. ET on the Discovery Channel.

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Making a Murderer’s Steven Avery’s Holiday Card to Supporters

Pinterest Steven Avery’s Christmas card Steven Avery is thanking all of those who believe in his innocence with a special holiday greeting card he composed from prison. Kathleen Zellner, Avery’s lawyer, posted the holiday message on Twitter Friday, soon after returning from her 24th prison visit with the Making a Murderer subject. In his card, Avery extends a “Merry Christmas” to all of his “followers” and expresses gratitude for the support they’ve shown him over the last year, since the true crime docuseries first aired on Netflix. “Thank you for believing in me,” Avery wrote inside an image of a Christmas wreath. “Science will save me and Brendan [Dassey] in 2017.” • Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. The series examined the murder convictions of Avery and his teenaged nephew, Brendan Dassey. Viewers learned Avery was wrongfully convicted of sexual assault in 1985, serving several years in prison before fresh evidence led to his conviction being overturned. Avery was subsequently convicted and sentenced to life for the 2005 murder of photographer Teresa Halbach. In March 2006, Dassey, then 16, told investigators he had helped Avery rape and murder photographer Halbach on Oct. 31, 2005. However, he later recanted, claiming the confession had been coerced. Dassey’s confession to law enforcement is perhaps the most debated aspect of the Netflix series, which has already started filming for its second season. However, Halbach’s family has rebuked the show, claiming it was one-sided. To this day, Avery vigorously maintains his innocence and believes he was framed in retribution for filing a $36 million lawsuit against the county and authorities, which he ultimately settled for $400,000. Evidence from Avery’s 2005 trial is being reexamined, and Avery hopes additional testing may clear his name. • Pick up PEOPLE’s special edition True Crime Stories: Cases That Shocked America, on sale now, for the latest on Casey Anthony, JonBenét Ramsey and more. In August, a federal judge overturned Dassey’s conviction, but he remains in prison following the state’s appeal of that ruling. The last year has been a whirlwind for Avery. Soon after the series started airing, thousands signed a petition urging officials to free him. He also was briefly engaged this fall to a woman who later appeared on Dr. Phil to discuss their relationship. Avery broke off the engagement just as the episodes were about to air.

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Man Pens Heartbreaking Tribute to Pregnant Girlfriend Who Died Days Before Christmas in Car Accident: ‘I’m Still Waiting for You to Walk in the Door’

Kylee Bruce “I’m still waiting for you to walk in the door.” That’s part of the heartbreaking message Brandon Forseth wrote about his girlfriend of nearly a year, a day after the 24-year-old Oregon woman was killed in a car accident. Kylee Bruce was attempting to pass another car on Tuesday when her she lost control of her 2006 Saturn Iron on Highway 97 and slid into oncoming traffic, The Bulletin reported. She crashed into two cars and died instantly. According to a GoFundMe page set up for her memorial expenses, Bruce left behind her parents, “seven loving siblings,” her “nieces and nephew who adored her” and boyfriend Forseth — who took to Facebook Wednesday to reveal they were expecting their first child together this June. “You made me promise not to announce our baby to the world until 20 weeks when we found out the sex,” he began the gut-wrenching post — which has since been shared more than 208,000 times. “We were going to make a funny announcement video and share it with everyone. You were 18 weeks pregnant with my first child, and I lost you both last night.” “I couldn’t help it and told multiple family members and close friends,” he admitted. “And you’d always say, ‘Brandon! you can never keep a secret!’ and I’d just smile and say, ‘I’m sorry, I’m just too excited.’ ” He added: “I’m sorry I’m breaking my promise right now and telling everyone a couple weeks early, but I was so proud of you, and I want everyone to know how committed you were to this child, how health conscious you were, how you would go online each week and tell me things like, ‘Our baby is the size of grapefruit right now, or “Did you know our baby has already started to develop eyelids?!’ I could feel the warmth and purpose our child gave you, and I knew I needed to be the best man I could possibly be for both of you, to keep you comfortable and safe.” Forseth said “the amount of love and excitement” he had in his heart about his unborn child was “unlike anything [he’d] ever felt.” “Listening to its heartbeat for the first time on the ultrasound, staring at the the ultrasound pictures on my fridge in awe of the little life growing inside of you. I couldn’t wait to be a father and I felt so blessed everyday that it would grow up with you as its mother. You would have been the best mom.” Attached to his message was a photo of their stockings — including a stocking for their unborn child. An ultrasound photo of the unborn child was placed upon the stocking. Forseth said he wrote the post while looking at the Christmas tree they found and cut down together, and the “beautifully wrapped and neatly stacked” presents from her surrounding its base. “There’s none under there to you because I haven’t wrapped them yet — procrastinating like always,” […]

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Mixing Seasonal Cheer and Toxic Politics: Welcome to Holidays 2016

I remember the good old days when I could find all sorts of fun, quirky things to write about at this time of year: cheerful vignettes about childhood holiday memories, charming seasonal facts long forgotten, the ten worst Christmas traditions ever; you know… meaningful stuff like that. The holiday season just seems to lend itself to warmth and whimsy, the exploration of themes related to love and gratitude, our favorite recipes and the funniest Santa Claus pictures. Unless one is truly a curmudgeon, it’s almost impossible to not have least one happy memory attached to this time of year. I was—and am—no exception. In fact, I love Christmas. I’m one of those. It makes me happy. I feel no compunction to spend money I don’t have, plans trips I don’t wish to take, or attend events I’d rather avoid. I’m very protective that way. It’s all about designing a season in which the only obligation is to create happiness for those within the circle. In fact, my husband and I began our marriage by making our first Christmas a thing of joy, and those handpicked ornaments and table decorations, cookie traditions and family gatherings, favorite meals and notable activities, sustain to this day, as precious to us as anything we hold dear. But still, I’ve been more serious lately. Life got more serious. I blame the election. The damn, interminable election that sucked the air out of our nation starting a little over a year ago and ratcheting up every day since. It’s been a war of sorts, one that’s left us battered, bothered, and bewildered. As one friend put it, “I hate that I’m actually in fear for our future. I’ve been disappointed in election results before, but I’ve never felt terrified about where this person might take us, or how and if we’ll survive.” I’m not one who lives in fear, but I feel her pain. I share the concern. Despite previous political conflicts, rancorous partisanship, and caustic disparities amongst the parties, I, too, have never felt quite the level of darkness and toxicity that permeates this particular election… and this particular person. That the man entering office is doing so despite his opponent winning almost 3 MILLION MORE VOTES, and despite the fact that the wisest, more experienced, most admirable and honorable men and women in the country/world believe he’s an unmitigated disaster, means little at this point. We are here. Where we are. And at this moment there’s no changing that (later moments…we’ll see). Dealing with the daily litany of horrible, idiotic, hateful, head-shaking, corrupt, indecent, and just plain stupid things the next presi— (I can’t say it… I won’t… #NotMyPresident… ever)—occupant of the White House says or does has been exhausting and unnerving (that’s a tepid word… how about TERRIFYING?!). I have no idea where it’s all going either, how long the trainwreck will be allowed to smolder before someone gets it to the scrap yard, or if we’ll be teaching our children how to […]

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Mom Donates Her Weight in Breast Milk — 2,307 Oz. — After the Death of Her 11-Day-Old Son

Pinterest Ariel Matthews with Ronan When Ariel Matthew’s son passed away at just 11 days old, her breasts were still producing milk. So she immediately resolved to pump as much as she could — and donate it all. “When my breast milk came in I was pumping a whole lot,” Matthews, 25, tells PEOPLE. “I decided right away to donate it, because I knew he wasn’t going to make it.” The stay-at-home mom to Noah, 3, had a stillborn birth a year earlier and had hoped to donate 1,000 oz. of breast milk. That time she only made it to a still-impressive 510 oz. “I think because he came early, I just didn’t produce as much,” Matthews says. “So I made it another goal, if my body would let me, to try for 1,000 oz. And then I just decided to keep going with it once I hit it.” In total, she ended up donating 2,370 oz., about 18.5 gallons, or 148.1 lbs. of breast milk — more than her body weight. Between her pregnancies with all three sons, Matthews donated 2,801 oz. “It felt really good to donate it all, especially because I would get hugs from the moms when they came to pick it up and thank yous,” Matthews says. “And that the moms were trusting me to give their babies my milk — it feels really good.” “They would send me pictures of the babies right after drinking my milk, all passed out and full. So that was really cool.” Her breast milk went to three different moms, two of whom never saw their own milk come in, and another who had adopted a foster baby. RELATED VIDEO: Brooklyn Decker ‘Livid’ After Missing Flight to Pump Breast Milk in Restroom The San Jose, Calif.-based Matthews documented her story on Instagram, and as it went viral this week, she started hearing from people who were touched by her donation. “It’s really, really awesome. If good things can come from a loss — if I can encourage people that this isn’t the end, we can get through this, and live a good life, and not let the bad things tear us down,” she says. “I like to know that there’s actually people being encouraged by this. I’ve even gotten messages on Facebook saying this has really helped me, that I hope I can be like this.”

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How to take care of your penis?

Just like any other part of the body, you have to take care of your penis as well. In addition to making sure you clean your private parts after having sex, here are a few tips you should bear in mind to ensure your penis is clean and healthy. Dr Rajan Bhosale, Honorary Professor & HOD, Department of sexual medicine, KEM Hospital & G.S.Medical College, Mumbai shares a few key points about taking care of your penis. The first and foremost thing is to have complete knowledge about your penis to take care of it. Hence, make sure you know everything about it. This is because, if you are unable to retract the foreskin it can indicate a condition known as phimosis. And if left ignored, it might cause an injury to the organ during a sexual act, or it can also cause hamper erection. In some cases, the skin does not retract completely even after erection, which is a cause of concern. Read why does my penis hurt while having sex? Clean your penis while taking a bath. If the penis is not circumcised, then you need to retract the foreskin to clean it. Also, you should check for smegma, which is a white coloured substance that is collected below the foreskin. If not cleaned properly regularly, smegma can harbour bacteria. Moreover, it also increases the chances of infecting your partner. Hence, while taking a bath make sure you clean the skin beneath it. If you do not like having fuzz down there, then instead of shaving the hair, trim it down. This is because, some people hurt themselves while shaving pubic hair and hence, trimming it down to keep it short might do the trick to clean the area clean. Also, make sure you clean the pubic region with soap and water as excessive perspiration causes the area to stink and also increases the risk of fungal infection. In some cases, it can also put you at risk of pubic lice. Also read about 11 things you should NEVER do to your penis. Do not wear tight underwear, which is one of the common mistakes that almost every man commits. If you wear a tight underwear, it hinders the breathing of the organs and also causes compression of the testicles. Research studies have shown that a tight underwear can cause low sperm count and also hinders the production of testosterone, which can lead to infertility. Also, it is advised not to wear underwear at night as it allows the penis to breathe. The next and important point is not to have a hot water bath, sauna or steam bath as excessive heat is not good for the private parts. The temperature of the testicles is a degree or two lower than that of the body temperature. And this is the reason, why sitting up in hot water is not recommended as it increases the temperature of the testicles, hindering its function. Hence, make sure you use plain cold […]

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Artists Really, Really Don’t Want Their Work On Ivanka Trump’s Walls

Artists are well aware that Ivanka Trump, daughter and sort-of, kind-of future First Lady to the president-elect, is an avid collector of contemporary art. A cursory glance through her Instagram feed shows Ivanka, her kids, and her handbags posing around her upscale home among pieces by blue chip artists including Christopher Wool, Dan Colen, Alex Israel and Alex Da Corte. There was a time when Ivanka was just an affluent businesswoman and socialite with decent taste. Now, however, she is poised to play an influential role in the upcoming Trump administration, and artists want nothing to do with her nor her father. The rapid shift has been something of a wake-up call for artists and dealers who have in the past worked with or sold to Ivanka’s family, and now feel complicit in the apparent bigotry and ignorance embodied in Trump’s rhetoric and cabinet picks. Bloomberg published a piece yesterday compiling some of the artists who have publicly condemned Ivanka and demanded she remove their work from her property. Philadelphia-based artist Da Corte called her out in an Instagram post reading: “Dear @Ivankatrump please get my work off of your walls. I am embarrassed to be seen with you.” Da Corte also participated in a protest last month in front of Manhattan’s Puck Building, owned by Ivanka’s husband’s family. He marched with a crowd of artists including Marilyn Minter, Jonathan Horowitz and Rob Pruitt as part of a campaign called “Dear Ivanka” ― which hopes to address Ivanka directly on behalf of her father’s words, Tweets, appointments, and impending plans. For some coastal liberals, it feels impossible to ever logically level with Donald Trump himself. Ivanka, however, feels a bit more accessible and thus, potentially, more receptive. “She frequents the art world, what’s sometimes called ‘the New York liberal bubble,’” curator Alison Gingeras, a leader of the movement, explained to The New Yorker. “So we already know we can speak with her, and we want to appeal to her personal stakes.” Thus far, however, Ivanka has not responded to the “Dear Ivanka” protestors, nor to the many fears and anxieties they’ve disclosed. And until she does, the art world must continue to take a stand. There has long been an economic divide between the people who make art and the people who buy it, but now more than ever artists working to resist the normalization of hate and protect the rights of marginalized communities are realizing the art marketplace is no longer an apolitical business. As dealer Bill Powers, who sold Ivanka a Louis Eisner piece in 2013, put it, “I think there are a lot of artists that are uncomfortable now being incorporated, or leveraged, as part of the Ivanka Trump brand.”

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Man Murdered Stepmom While She Watched TV, Police Say

A man in Austin, Texas, is facing a murder charge after police said he stabbed his stepmom Sunday night. Police said Pontrey O’Neal Jones, 20, told them he thought about killing his stepmother, 35-year-old Magdalena Ruiz, earlier in the evening, and grabbed a knife for that purpose. He also allegedly told police that shortly before the incident, he noticed her “gloating” about a Dallas Cowboys victory, according to Austin station KEYE TV. On Monday Jones was charged with first-degree murder. Pontrey O’Neal Jones is facing first-degree murder charges for the stabbing death of his stepmother, Magdelena Ruiz, Police said Ruiz was sitting on the couch with Jones’ father when Jones lunged over and stabbed her repeatedly, according to KXAN TV. Jones allegedly told investigators that earlier in the evening he had planned to break his sister’s neck, but decided against it. Instead, he placed a knife beneath a couch to use against Ruiz later, according to an affidavit obtained by The Huffington Post. Jones’ father said he tried to stop the attack, but the suspect managed to stab Ruiz multiple times before fleeing the scene. Police and EMS arrived on the scene and performed first aid on Ruiz before taking her to a local hospital, where she died a few hours later. Authorities said Jones was found a short time later lying naked in the grass three blocks away from the crime scene, according to KTBC TV. Jones allegedly told investigators he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and stopped taking his prescribed medications two years ago, because he felt the they would ‘slow him down.’” Jones is currently being held at the Travis County Jail on a $500,000 bail, according to jail records.

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Mom Traveling With Four Kids Thanks Airline For Extraordinary Kindness

After an airline showed her “gentleness and warmth at every turn” while traveling with four kids, a mom wrote a thank-you note to show how much it meant to her. On Dec. 20, Adrian Wood traveled on an American Airlines flight from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Miami with her four kids, who are 3, 7, 9 and 11. In a Facebook post for her blog Tales of an Educated Debutante, she wrote about how the airline went “above and beyond” for her family. Dear American Airlines, She wrote that her traveling experience started when a “smiling agent waiting on the curb” helped her with all of the family’s bags. When she got her “motley crew” inside, another agent guided her to a line for priority customers. “My older children were enchanted with this preferred treatment and so was I,” she wrote. “Nothing seemed to be a problem. Today, I needed nothing to be a problem.” Wood told The Huffington Post that her experience with American Airlines meant a lot to her particularly because her youngest child has special needs. “Amos is the delight of our family, but at 3 still does not speak, and we have been in the throes of seeking a diagnosis for him,” she said. “It has been a tough year truthfully.” Adrian Wood said American Airlines went “above and beyond” for her and her four kids. A friend of Wood’s told her that airlines typically offer help for customers with special needs, but Wood had never thought to bring it up. “Amos looks like an average adorable 3-year-old and so, we don’t stand out,” she said. This time, Wood spoke up and explained that her son has special needs. She said that her explanation was “not met with one raised eyebrow or disapproving glance.” The family was able to board early, and once they got to their seats a flight attendant captured the moment by taking photos of them, “a kind gesture recognized by a mother that is too often absent in the snapshot.” After her flight, Wood shared what she thought of her traveling experience with American Airlines. A representative told her they would pass on her compliments to the agents who helped her while she traveled. Wood told HuffPost that she wrote her post and shared it publicly because the airline made her family “feel awfully special” and to remind others to “find good things” in life. “We are trying to live by the philosophy that our cup is half full, not half empty,” she said. “It’s so easy to get annoyed and cross this time of year, but it’s more fun to count kindness.”

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9 Ways to Stay on Top of Holiday Fitness from Celeb Trainer Gunnar Peterson (Plus a Workout!)

‘Tis the season for temptation! As we gear up to indulge over the holidays, we tapped Gunnar Peterson — trainer to Khloé Kardashian, Sofia Vergara and more — for advice on how to stay on track when faced with so many treats. Peterson says the key to squeezing in a winter workout is making it easy, which is why he teamed up with LG to create a routine that can be done anywhere, anytime — and without anything getting in your way. With LG’s two new wireless Bluetooth headsets, there’s nothing to hinder your workout moves. In addition to his 10 calorie-burning exercises, Peterson shared some of his rules for celebrity clients as they face the most celebratory of seasons: Don’t totally deprive yourself. Says Peterson, “It’s like skateboarding — the more illegal it is, the more attractive it is.” And don’t beat yourself up when you do slip up. “You can drive the car a little bit on one flat tire,” he says. “You know you’re going to have alcohol or sweets, so why not factor that into your workouts and focus on getting a good night’s sleep?” …But avoid most hors d’oeuvres. With the exception of crudités, Peterson says, “No finger foods. Period, done.” He adds “A toothpick is an extension of your finger, so skip what comes on those too.” Eat “defensively”— have protein before you go out. “Most of what you get at parties is going to be a carbohydrate or a fat. It sounds weird, but have a chicken breast before you leave. Protein helps your insulin levels not spike, and helps you not store your food as fat.” During the holidays especially, “It’s important to have protein at every meal.” Avoid the “Double D’s”: drinking and dessert. “Try not to make every eating transgression at once,” he says. “When I go out, I won’t ever do both dessert and drinks. Just pick one.” If you do drink, have 3 glasses of water for every drink. “Especially during the holidays, water runs the show,” he says. “I have a professional basketball player client who, when he does a tequila shot, will lay out 3 more shots of water right next to it. It sounds crazy, but it’s smart.” If you’re usually an evening workout person, switch to the morning. “That way, no matter how bad you feel, you have to get up and go,” he says. “I leave my house like a ninja every morning; I don’t even wake the dogs,” he says. “Plus, it justifies the nap in the afternoon. It’s like, oh, I was up at 5:30 working out.” Be stealthy with your workout plans. “You don’t have to make an announcement,” he says. “I’ve read that you should have a buddy system, and that you should tell everyone around you that you’re going to exercise so it keeps you accountable.” But actually, says Peterson, “If you say, ‘I’m going to a spin class,’ then you open yourself up to responses like, ‘Oh […]

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A Special College Graduation for our Special Kids

There was pomp and circumstance. Hooping and hollering. Fist-pumping and joy-jumping. Last week, my wife and I attended the graduation of our son, Adam, at Landmark College, a leading school for students who learn differently. This is a rare college—a college that teaches, preaches, implements, and emphasizes those key words: students who learn. Our kids did learn there—they learned to study, to access college level material, to take exams, to turn in papers and projects. They learned to empathize and sympathize with others who learn differently. They also learned to overcome all the naysayers—people who, along the way, said they could not do it. Sometimes that naysayer was the public school teacher or the administrator or the district’s special education attorney or expert witness. Heck, they learned to overcome their own parents, when we had moments of doubt. Yes, we had those moments, even as we insisted that Adam get his Associate of Arts degree. Okay, insistence was combined with a little parental carrot (call it a little bribery if you want): the promise of his own car. Most importantly, they learned to overcome their own fears and frustrations. Every step of the way has been an accomplishment for Adam and us. We remember the day the school district sent home two notes from two different departments: one said Adam qualified for the gifted program, the other told us he needed after-school remediation because he was failing his classes (a classic definition of his learning issues). We remember the special-education experts who thought he would do just fine in a school that simply passed him grade-to-grade regardless of whether he actually learned. Then there were the individuals who felt otherwise: the early intervention specialist who told us when Adam was 18 months old to intervene and advocate every day of his life; the lawyer who taught us when Adam was in second grade to fight for a fair and appropriate education. To further his education, our 15-year-old Adam moved 1500 miles away from home to Brehm Academy. The director there told us that Adam could and would learn. A coach demanded accountability in the classroom if Adam wanted to play on the hardwood courts of the basketball team. And a teacher taught Adam and his classmates an academic understanding of their disabilities—and told him that he could go to college. By his own determination and will, Adam learned to drive and to hold a job. He got an internship with the local police department and as a Red Cross-certified summer lifeguard. By his own choice, and with courage to start anew, he moved to different school, in Vermont. Again the coach stepped to the plate, demanding good performance in the classroom if Adam wanted to be a starting baseball player. And it was a professor in film and media that helped him learn that their good relationship did not mean a good grade—a good grade required hard work. Finally, there was a professor who took students to Botswana, where they […]

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Cambodia’s Hindu heritage continues to loom large

Earlier this month, I accompanied my wife on her work trip to Cambodia. Having never visited Southeast Asia (except two brief visits to Singapore), I was excited about traveling to a country known for being home to the world’s largest existing Hindu structure. Upon my arrival in Siem Reap, once the seat of the Khmer Empire, the Hindu iconography in the Buddhist kingdom was striking. Khmer versions of Ganesha and Hanuman were present throughout the city, and both the Ramayana (known as the Reamker in Cambodia) and Mahabharata loomed large in popular imagery. In Angkor Wat, the 12th century Hindu temple structure that draws millions every year, Hindu deities loomed larger than life, including a statue of Vishnu at the entrance now worshipped as a Buddhist shrine. As we explored the Hindu temples (some of which had become Buddhist structures during the reign of Jayavarman VII in the latter 12th century CE), I was drawn to the level of devotion with which the structures were built and how they were inscribed. Additionally, as a Tamil, I was drawn to the similarities between the ancient Khmer script (which has roots in Southern India) and Tamil. What makes Cambodia so interesting is that it is a country that has held strongly to its Buddhist identity for nearly 700 years, transitioning from Mahayana Buddhism to Theravada Buddhism following Jayavarman VII’s reign. In fact, many of Cambodia’s historical institutions mark “the beginning” of Khmer history with its development into a society that patronized Buddhism. Yet, so much of Cambodia’s cultural heritage – and a lot of its tourism dollars – are devoted to an era in which Hinduism was either the dominant religious tradition, co-worshipped with Buddhism, or patronized by Khmer rulers. Even at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, much is made about a sword believed to have been given to the ancestors of the royal family by the Hindu deity Indra. At the national museum, the various forms of Hindu divinity dominate exhibit galleries, while visitors are unable to tell between the multi-armed form of Buddha (Lokeshvara) and Vishnu. The reason? The statues were likely worshipped as both at different periods of Khmer history. Additionally, Cambodia has celebrated the return of figures from the Ramayana that were looted from the country in the years during and after French colonization. Today, one of the challenges Cambodia faces is maintaining that rich history amidst pressure to modernize (and cater to a growing number of expatriate visitors) and investment from countries such as China, which has invested millions into highlight Cambodia’s Chinese Buddhist history. As such, Cambodia’s continued willingness to preserve its Hindu heritage will depend largely upon support from the global Hindu community, which might not be aware of the extent to which Hinduism influenced Southeast Asia. Even today, names such as Devi, Vidya, Rama, and Krishna are popular among Cambodians, reflecting an interesting absorption of Hinduism into Buddhist culture. As I left Phnom Penh, I appreciated Hinduism’s global expanse more than ever. Even […]

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Charlie Puth Implies Fling with Bella Thorne Is Over in Cryptic Tweets Apologizing to Tyler Posey

Pinterest Gustavo Caballero/Getty Just as suddenly as Bella Thorne and Charlie Puth‘s whirlwind romance began, it seems to have already run its course. The 25-year-old singer took to Twitter on Thursday morning with a series of mysterious messages, just days after he and Thorne spent time together in Miami at the 2016 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball and the beach. The tweets seem to imply that Thorne, 19, hadn’t broken things off with Teen Wolf actor Tyler Posey, with whom she posted a flirty photo of the duo on a pool float on Instagram in October. Fans tweeted to Puth warning him of the ongoing romance. “I can’t believe what I’m reading,” Puth wrote. “No one should have their heart messed with like this, and I’m not going to be in the middle of it.” Although Puth didn’t name the former Disney star in his tweets, he specifically apologized to Posey. “I don’t know Tyler personally, but I know he shouldn’t be treated this way,” he wrote, adding, “She told me she was not with him anymore. This is all news to me.” Thorne even liked one tweet that read, “I’m sorry…. You know who you are.” I messed a lot of things up, I get it if we can’t be friends….you know who you are. — Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) December 22, 2016 But if you could just come to your senses…you know who you are. — Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) December 22, 2016 No one should have their heart messed with like this, and I’m not going to be in the middle of it. — Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) December 22, 2016 I don’t know Tyler personally, but I know he shouldn’t be treated this way. — Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) December 22, 2016 I want nothing but peace for all, I’m just removing myself from this. — Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) December 22, 2016 Wednesday night, Thorne tweeted an image of herself holding two photos, including one that showed her embracing Posey. “Taking a trip down memory lane,” she captioned the pic. Puth serenaded the actress at the 2016 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball over the weekend after the pair posed for a sweet red carpet photo together. “Charlie said that they were just friends, but during his second song, he was singing to her on stage — she was off side-stage,” a source who was backstage at the event tells PEOPLE.

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Drug War Slurs Will Never Justify Police Killings

Stephen Maturen via Getty Images Trayvon Martin. Sandra Bland. Keith Lamont Scott. Terence Crutcher. And now Philando Castile. Last Thursday, Minnesota media reported that charges against the Minnesota police officer who killed Castile could be dropped because attorneys claim Castile was high on marijuana when police stopped him, and didn’t listen to officer instructions. Castile is the latest victim of an oft-used tactic by law enforcement and their defenders — point to drugs to justify the killings of people of color. As the country slowly shifts away from the tough tactics of the drug war, using drugs to validate police killings is a despicable tactic that must be denounced. Let’s forget for a second that eight states and the nation’s capital have legalized marijuana for adult use. Let’s forget for a second that 28 states have medical marijuana, including Minnesota. Let’s forget for a second that the federal government has allowed legalization to proceed, and President Obama has said that federal marijuana prohibition is untenable. Even if none of that were true, the marijuana use claims would still be baseless. The claim here is that Castile was driving under the influence of marijuana, and therefore, “was culpably negligent and was the substantial cause of his own demise.” This disgraceful phrasing — signaling that if you get high, you deserve to die — willfully ignores the facts that surround marijuana use and the murky reasons behind Castile’s traffic stop. Firstly, marijuana is detectable in the human body for weeks after initial consumption. In other words, there is no way of knowing if Mr. Castile was under the influence at the time of driving, or if he had smoked marijuana hours, days, or weeks before his interaction with law enforcement. Secondly, there is no accepted standard for what constitutes driving under the influence. The standard for alcohol has been long established as 0.08% BAC (Blood Alcohol Content). No such percentage exists for marijuana, so there is no current way of telling if someone who tests positive for marijuana has used too much, or is fit and able to drive. Thirdly, the attorneys’ line of reasoning also echoes the days of reefer madness — the debunked notion that someone on drugs is crazy and cannot be reasoned with. Claiming Castile had marijuana in his system is an attempt to indicate that he was intimidating and uncontrollable, and officer lives were in danger. But it defies science and logic to say that Castile’s alleged marijuana use could justify his killing at the hands of police. The sad reality is that the slander against Mr. Castile is but the latest example of a shameful Americantradition — using the war on drugs to prosecute and persecute people of color. We know that people of all races use and sell drugs at roughly the same rates, but people of color represent the vast majority of those arrested and convicted for non-violent drug offenses. We know that people of color are discriminated against at every stage of the […]

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Former Boxing Champ Paul Spadafora Accused of Stabbing Brother, Assaulting Mother

Pinterest Pittsburgh PD A former lightweight boxing champion is facing a string of charges in Pittsburgh, where law enforcement officials allege he stabbed his brother and assaulted his mother during a Wednesday evening incident in the city’s Westwood neighborhood. A Pittsburgh Police statement obtained by PEOPLE alleges that officers responding to calls of a domestic disturbance arrived outside a home to find two men — onetime pro boxer Paul Spadafora, 41, and his 39-year-old brother — standing amid a muddle of broken ceramic, pots, pans and assorted kitchen utensils. The statement alleges officers also observed Spadafora in a heated argument with his 66-year-old mother. As police were approaching the property, Spadafora’s brother ran up to them “and revealed that he was stabbed in the thigh by Spadafora,” the statement alleges. Spadafora’s brother was transported to Allegheny General Hospital, where he is listed in fair condition. The statement alleges police ordered Spadafora to the ground, “but he refused to listen and assumed a fighting stance.” The boxer then allegedly darted for the home’s front door, running inside. He allegedly continued to argue with police from inside the residence. “He picked up an unknown object and moved his arm in a throwing motion toward officers,” the statement alleges. “Officers then deployed their Tasers.” But they had little effect on Spadafora, who allegedly continued to disobey police. “He was handcuffed and told to stand up, which he refused,” the statement alleges. “Once on his feet, Spadafora lunged at an officer, attempting to knock him down the stairs. Spadafora was carried by officers down the stairs of the residence and seated at the end of the driveway. He attempted to spit on one officer and then spit on the chest of another officer before paramedics put a spit mask on him.” Investigators also allege that the boxer kicked his elderly mother, who refused medical attention. • Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. The statement alleges investigators recovered a knife from inside the home that they believe was used in the alleged stabbing. “While searching Spadafora before placing him into the police car, Spadafora made several threats to the officers,” the statement alleges. “Spadafora was transported to Mercy Hospital for medical clearance before being transported to the Allegheny County Jail.” Spadafora remains in police custody on $100,000 bail after being charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault and aggravated harassment by a prisoner. He is due in court Jan. 4, 2017, for a preliminary hearing, at which point he’ll enter a plea to the charges. Speaking to PEOPLE, Phil DiLucente, Spadafora’s attorney, acknowledged “there was a situation that did transpire” Wednesday night that led to his client’s arrest. “We are in the holiday season, when emotions run high with family members and even friends at times,” DiLucente says. “There are allegations that he stabbed his brother and also said some […]

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How Can We Encourage More Women to Become Involved in Computer Science?

How can we encourage more young women to become involved in computer science? originally appeared on Quora: the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. I think that there have been great strides in encouraging women and minorities to consider studying computer science. I see increased interest and participation among women and minorities in my community and it is encouraging, however, I also recognize that I live in a pretty unique place. My sister often tells me that her town just doesn’t offer the same programs. To combat this type of challenge, I think we need to continue to normalize the idea of females in Computer Science and also expand the programs outside of big cities and academic towns. I don’t know if society will ever glorify the “smart kids” as much as the athletes (not that they are mutually exclusive). As a result, I try to focus my efforts on showing students that programming is an incredible opportunity. My career day speeches do not focus on the minutia of being a scientist, but rather all of the opportunities that a career in science provides: good pay, flexible work schedule, etc. Combine that with the fact that you can be doing rewarding work that allows you to solve challenging problems and it becomes a very attractive option. I also highlight the need for people in CS who also have an interest in story-telling, art, games, nature, and/or biology (among others). As a final note, I have decided to share with you all that I am nervous about writingabout this topic. I wish it wasn’t the case, but I am. And the reason is because people can get angry that there are special programs to encourage women and minorities to go into CS. I myself was a recipient of a Fellowship to pursue my PhD and I have had people confront me about it and also tell me I don’t belong here. I only mention this because I want other people to realize that there will be challenges, and it isn’t all smooth sailing. Knowing this makes it easier to handle the uncommon, but unsettling, experiences. I want to reference a Q & As that I did about What are the most common pitfalls that new programmers face? I know that I was particularly susceptible to all of them, but two stick out. Sometimes incredibly well-intentioned peers and mentors wanted to “help” me succeed by giving me the answer rather than talking through the process. It hindered my confidence and my growth. This happened to many of my female peers. So lets make sure our efforts don’t actually undermine new programmers. More questions:

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Jane Fonda Celebrates 79th Birthday By Standing In Solidarity With Standing Rock

Grey Wolf, Frances Fisher and Jane Fonda at the rally against Wells Fargo and Chase Bank in solidarity with the people of Standing Rock at the #BankExit Rally. On Wednesday, the actress hosted the #BankExit rally in Los Angeles in support of the people of Standing Rock. Fonda’s famous friends Lily Tomlin, Frances Fisher and Catherine Keener were also in attendance, as was labor leader Dolores Huerta. As People reports, the #BankExit movement aims to encourage individuals to transfer their money out of big banks like Wells Fargo and Chase, which support the Dakota Access Pipeline, and into local credit unions. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin attend the #BankExit Rally on Dec. 21, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. During the Rally, Fonda was surprised with a cake and the “Happy Birthday” song. Jane Fonda, Grey Wolf, Lily Tomlin, Frances Fisher and Catherine Keener at the rally against Wells Fargo and Chase Bank in solidarity with the people of Standing Rock at the #BankExit Rally. Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Frances Fisher attend #BankExit Rally. Fonda has long been vocal about her support for the people of Standing Rock, often sharing tweets and videos to spread awareness. On Thanksgiving weekend, the Hollywood icon, along with fellow actress Shailene Woodley, went to North Dakota to serve 500 Thanksgiving meals to the people who were protesting the DAPL. Members of the Sioux Tribe, and their supporters, protested the pipeline’s construction for months, raising concerns about the negative effects the project would have on their water and sacred Native American land. Earlier this month, construction on the controversial pipeline project was halted after the Department of the Army denied the final easement required for the project to cross beneath Lake Oahe in North Dakota. The decision was a historic victory for the people of Standing Rock.

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Oklahoma Fire Department Creates Cutest Christmas Card Ever with Squad of Tiny Firefighters

Pinterest Durant Oklahoma Fire Department It’s pretty wild when friends have kids around the same time. It’s even more of an occasion when it’s six of them, and they’re all part of the same fire department. But that was the case with the Durant Fire Department of Oklahoma. The squad is small to begin with — just 33 people — and so they decided to take advantage of their unique situation for this year’s Christmas card. Owen, Augustus, Mitchell, Ava, Nash and Brevyn were all born between February and June 2016, and all star in the DFD’s Christmas card this year. “In a fire department there are so many things that make up the dynamic of an engine crew, certain shift, or even the department as a whole,” the DFD wrote to KABC. “Training, shift duties, trauma, medical calls, wrecks, rescues, structure fires and brush fires are some of the many things that fire departments are called to do and in many cases, tend to define who they are as a fire department.” “However, if you ask many of the fire fighters in Durant, OK what defines them; they will say brotherhood and family. That is why when this small paid department of 33 looked back on the year and saw that 6 of their brothers had newborn babies, it was time to show the public what was at the core of their department. Instead of sending out the traditional Christmas card with a photograph of the guys in front of the station, it was decided that it would be great to personalize the cards and showcase what was really important to them. Family. Here are some shots from the department’s new additions.” One of the station’s firefighters and paramedics, Richard Parker, decided to put his photography background to good use to shoot the session. The DFD says they’re already planning a follow-up to the session, albeit one with a little lag time: They want to do a senior photo at the station when the kids graduate high school.

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One of the Stylists Behind the Love Advent Videos Explains the Method to Her Lingerie Madness

Pinterest Source: Love Magazine Instagram By now, you’ve been with us every step of the way as we chronicled Love magazine’s daily exploits throughout the month of December. You already know that each year, the publication packs the holiday season to the brim with one sexy, underwear-centric video after the next (in case you missed this morning’s, here it is), but what you may not have realized is all of those pieces of lingerie have been carefully selected to tell a very specific story. And one of the women responsible for curating those scandalous ensembles is stylist Sally Lyndley, who this year alone styled Irina Shayk, Stella Maxwell, Barbara Palvin, Hailey Baldwin and Gigi Hadid, with even more major models’ videos slated to be revealed before 2016 is through. Between dressing the best bodies in the business, Lyndley also managed to find a moment to answer a few of our burning questions about just what goes into making all of those holiday-themed fantasies come true. Do you play a part in deciding the themes for each video? I do play a part in picking the themes for the videos I style. Katie Grand [the Editor-in-Chief] from Love, [photographer] Phil Poynter and I all came up with the concepts together for the movie-based videos. The only real common thread with the videos is sexiness: People who we think are sexy doing sexy things! And the videos always have to be fun. … I also worked with [photographer] Dan Jackson on some videos this year and those are different from Phil’s. It’s lovely to work with different directors because each has their own aesthetic I style into for the models. Keeps me on my toes! What’s the most challenging part of styling these videos and what’s your favorite part? I have been doing these videos since the conception of the Love advent so I think the most challenging part is styling the models in a way that’s new and fresh and fun every time, so the videos don’t feel redundant. I love collaborating with Katie Grand, whichever photographer or director, and the subject to come up with something sexy that fits each girl’s personality! It’s a dream to be able to work with these awesome creative teams to shoot the sexiest girls in the world! Do you come in with a preconceived idea of what lingerie the girls will be wearing or is it more of a conversation between you and the model? Based on what I have discussed with Katie and the director I usually have a preconceived notion of which look I want to put on the model. Of course, we always want to take care of our sponsors for the advent videos. This year the brands are DSquared2, Coach, Agent Provocateur and Marc Jacobs Beauty. All brands I love! So it’s super awesome to style them in a sexy way on the models. When the models arrive to set, I will chat with them about what I have in […]

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Sport and Society for Arete – Basketball’s Birthday

Invented in the United States by a Canadian in the late 19th century, basketball may be the most American of all sports. Within less than a half century it became the most popular participatory sport in North America. Yesterday was the 125th Birthday of what is often called, “The City Game.” In 1890 James A. Naismith, a young Canadian minister arrived in Springfield, Massachusetts, to study under Dr. Luther Gulick at the Springfield YMCA Training School. Gulick as director of the YMCA physical development programs had led the movement to replace gymnastics with competitive sports. Football and baseball had become very popular at the school, but the winter indoor season continued to feature German and Swedish gymnastics. In 1891 Gulick challenged his young instructors, including Naismith, to invent a game that could be played indoors in the confined space of a gymnasium, would incorporate the natural movements of the human body, and would appeal to the students of the college. Naismith took up the challenge and the result was basketball. He started with the notion that it should be a game involving a ball manipulated by the hands, rather than a stick or racket. There would be no running or physical contact, and the ball would be put into play with a center jump, a feature of water polo and rugby. Finally the object of the game would be to get the ball through a goal which, after experimentation, Naismith decided should be elevated and horizontal. Naismith then posted his thirteen rules of the game in the gym and asked the school custodian, Mr. Stebbins, to provide two boxes for goals. Stebbins had no boxes of proper size and produced instead peach baskets which were fastened to the track balcony in the gym at a height of approximately ten feet. Those who want to raise the basket could point to the fact that the original height was purely accidental rather than an essential element for Naismith. The first game was played on December 21, 1891, with nine players on each side. Frank Mahan, one of the students, suggested that the new game be called “Naismith Ball,” but when the inventor declined the honor, Mahan suggested “basket ball.” Basketball immediately caught the imagination of young men and women. By the end of the century it was being played in YMCA’s, colleges, and high schools across the nation. One key to its spread was the YMCA network. Another was the decision by the leading college athletic power, Yale, to take up the game. Rules and equipment rapidly evolved with the addition of dribbling, backboards, five man teams, and the iron rim with cord basket. Within a year of its invention basketball was the most popular sport of college women, and was being played by class teams, in physical education classes, and in intercollegiate competition. Basketball may have been even more popular at the high school level, with half the states in the nation holding state high school championship competitions for women by […]

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What Are the Downsides of Empathy?

What are the downsides of empathy? originally appeared on Quora – the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. What are the downsides of empathy? A lot of questions revolve around this issue, so I’ll give this a long answer. If you want an even longer answer, check out my book. First, people use the term “empathy” in different ways and so I should be clear about my own usage, I’m referring to empathy in the sense of experiencing the feelings of others, particularly others’ suffering. And so when we say “I feel your pain”, we’re talking about empathy in the sense I’m worried about. Fans of empathy will point out that at its best, empathy can work like a spotlight, focusing on certain people in the here and now, making their suffering salient to you. And this really does make you kinder to the person you are empathizing with. This is backed by laboratory research, by everyday experience, and by common sense. So if the world were a simple place, where the only dilemmas one had to deal with involved a single person in some sort of immediate distress, and where helping that person had positive effects, the case for empathy would be solid. But the world is not a simple place, and the spotlight focus of empathy leaves us insensitive to the long-term consequences of our acts and blind to the suffering of those we do not or cannot empathize with. Part of the problem is that empathy is innumerate, favoring the one over the many. (A spotlight has a narrow focus, after all). In one classic series of studies, psychologists asked some subjects how much money they would give to help develop a drug that would save the life of one child, and asked others how much they would give to save eight children. People would give roughly the same in both cases. But when a third group of subjects were told the child’s name and shown her picture, the donations shot up—now there were greater donations to the one than to the eight. All of these laboratory effects can be seen as manifestations of what’s been called “the identifiable victim effect.”—our emotions resonate to people, not statistics. And in the real world, this sets up a perverse situation in which the suffering of one can matter more than the suffering of a thousand. To get a sense of this, imagine reading that two hundred people just died in an earthquake in a remote country. How do you feel? Now imagine that you just discovered that the actual number of deaths was two thousand. Do you now feel ten times worse? Do you feel any worse? I doubt it. Indeed, one individual can matter more than a hundred because a single individual can evoke feelings in a way that a multitude cannot. Stalin has been quoted as saying, “One death is a tragedy; one million is a statistic.” And Mother Teresa […]

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Will Taking an MOOC Land You a Job?

Is participation in a MOOC considered truly significant (or of any value) in a student’s profile? originally appeared on Quora: the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. One of the things I really enjoy about teaching online (as opposed to residential) is that I don’t spend my time worrying about grading rigor, plagiarism, lucky guesses, etc. My courses are an on-ramp to hopefully more complex subjects. I would like to think that participating in a MOOC adds value to a student’s general knowledge about the world. But that is my side. Many students want to know how to utilize MOOCs to improve their profile and this brings us to the question of how value is being defined. Are you looking for a breadth of knowledge, a deeper understanding of a particular subject, or perhaps your focus is career advancement? Online learning is still new, and many of the programs are not yet accredited by an outside institution. The types of classes will also have an effect. As I mentioned, my course is meant to be a somewhat gentle introduction. But there are other courses available with more rigorous requirements and more checks and balances in place to ensure student mastery. Since the course offerings are constantly changing, it is hard to recommend one over another, especially since some of them may be more costly than others. To be honest, I do not think a certificate is going to be enough to get you a job, or even an interview. But there are many who disagree with me on that. However, if you have barriers in your way to traditional courses (through accessibility, financial hurdles, lack of public schools in your country, or the need to recreate yourself) I think people will look at your certificates in a different light. One of my fellow MOOC instructors has shared with me stories of students who have left their countries behind and used online courses as a way to quickly provide proof of competency, as well as create a new network of potential colleagues. More questions:

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Witness Identifies Aaron Hernandez as Gunman in 2012 Double Homicide

Pinterest Aaron HernandezAram Boghosian for The Boston Globe/Getty During a pretrial hearing in Boston Tuesday, one of the two survivors of a 2012 shooting that killed two people said former NFL star and convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez was the gunman, a court official tells PEOPLE. From the witness stand Tuesday, Raychides Sanches allegedly nodded in Hernandez’ direction when asked who killed Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado during the July 15, 2012, drive-by shooting, PEOPLE confirms. In 2015, Hernandez received a life sentence in prison for the 2013 first-degree murder of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd, who had been dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancé, Shayanna Jenkins. Hernandez will go on trial in February for the 2012 double homicide. He was indicted in 2014, charged with two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of armed assault with intent to murder, as well as unlawful possession of the gun used in the attack. • Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Authorities allege Hernandez targeted the four men after one of them bumped into him inside a nightclub, causing him to spill his drink. According to investigators, Hernandez sat in his vehicle, waiting for the men to exit the venue. Hernandez allegedly drove up to the car the four men had gotten into, yelled a racial slur, and then sprayed the car with bullets. Sanches and another, unidentified man were wounded in the attack that killed de Abreu and Furtado. Weeks after the incident, Hernandez signed a substantial contract extension with the New England Patriots that included a $12.5 million signing bonus. During Hernandez’ trial in Lloyd’s death, the prosecution alleged Hernandez and two other men picked up Lloyd at his home during the early morning hours of June 17, 2013. According to testimony, they drove Lloyd to a secluded industrial park and shot him seven times. Prosecutors alleged Hernandez orchestrated the murder. A judge sentenced Aaron Hernandez to life in prison. He will never be eligible for parole. • Pick up PEOPLE’s special edition True Crime Stories: Cases That Shocked America, on sale now, for the latest on Casey Anthony, JonBenét Ramsey and more. Jury selection for the 2012 homicides is scheduled to commence on Feb. 13, 2017. Hernandez’s attorneys declined PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

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Johnny Depp Asks Amber Heard to Pay $100,000 Worth of Attorney Fees After Racking Up Nearly $1 Million Bill

Pinterest There are appears to be no signs of a ceasefire in Amber Heard and Johnny Depp‘s ongoing divorce proceedings. In new court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Depp, 53, is asking that the court order Heard, 30, to pay $100,000 toward his attorneys’ fees and costs after the actress filed an “entirely unnecessary” Request for Order earlier this month. If Heard does not pay the fee within 10 days of the court’s order, Depp has requested that he be allowed to deduct that amount from his next divorce settlement payment. According to the documents, Depp has already racked up nearly $1 million in attorney’s fees and costs with his lawyer Laura Wasser. The new filing also calls Heard’s behavior throughout their divorce proceedings into question, stating that she’s acted “erratically” and “uncooperatively.” “The impact of her relentless pursuit on Johnny — the damage her false allegations have caused his personal and professional reputation, his and his family’s emotional well-being, and his finances appears to be of no interest to Amber,” state the documents. Depp also claims that Heard has continuously violated their confidentiality agreement “almost weekly.” In November, Heard partnered with the #GirlGaze Project for a new video about domestic violence, and briefly shared her personal story, but did not mention Depp by name. “Amber wants to maintain the media’s attention and thereby preserve her own fleeting relevance,” state the documents. A court hearing on this motion is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2017. Heard filed a Request for Order on Dec. 13 to ensure that Depp pays the actress the remaining portion of the $7 million divorce settlement. She also requested that her $35,435 legal fees be paid in full. In her court filing, Heard alleged that “despite months of efforts and repeated breaches by [Depp], the parties have been unable to reach agreement on a stipulated form of Judgment” and claimed that Depp, among other allegations, had failed to pay the succeeding installments of the settlement.

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Johnny Depp Reportedly Asks Amber Heard To Pay $100,000 Toward His Attorney Fees

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp at the Art of Elysium 2016 Heaven Gala in California in January, 2016. Depp has reportedly filed new court documents, obtained by People, asking that the court order his estranged wife to pay $100,000 toward his legal fees. The filing seems to be a direct response to the Request for Order Heard filed earlier this month ― to ensure Depp pays the actress what she’s owed and to finalize the division of their assets ― which Depp reportedly believes was “entirely unnecessary.” After reaching a divorce settlement in August, Depp owes Heard nearly $7 million. People reports that Heard has 10 days to pay the court’s order. Otherwise, Depp has requested he be allowed to deduct the amount from his next divorce settlement payment. The outlet also notes Depp already owes about $1 million in attorney’s fees and costs. Depp’s court filings reportedly call Heard’s behavior throughout the divorce proceedings erratic and uncooperative. The “Mordecai” star also reportedly claimed Heard regularly violated the couple’s confidentiality agreement. Questions about confidentiality may be due to the fact that Heard has recently spoken out publicly about being a victim of domestic abuse. The actress starred in an emotional PSA about domestic violence in November and earlier this month, she published a letter about her experience in Porter magazine. Though Heard never mentioned Depp by name in either the video or letter, TMZ called her actions “risky” due to the confidentiality agreement. “The impact of her relentless pursuit on Johnny — the damage her false allegations have caused his personal and professional reputation, his and his family’s emotional well-being, and his finances appears to be of no interest to Amber,” Depp’s court filing states, according to People. The outlet reports a court hearing on Depp’s latest motion is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2017. Heard’s attorney, Pierce O’Donnell, gave a statement to The Huffington Post, saying, “After his string of recent setbacks at the box office, I’m glad that Johnny Depp seems to have rediscovered his comic touch with this laughable motion. It is just another lame attempt by Mr. Depp and his team to not pay my client the money she is owed. We look forward to prevailing in court – and to getting sick children and women in need the money that Mr. Depp is denying them.” The Huffington Post has also reached out to a representative for Depp and will update this post accordingly.

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North Carolina Boy Brings Christmas Cheer to Hospitalized Children: ‘I Like Helping Other People’

Alexander Fultz was just five years old back in 2010 when his little brother was hospitalized for a rare illness. He and his family spent a lot of time roaming the halls of Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. Alexander remembers being upset thinking about all the time the kids spent away from home. “I was wondering how the children in the hospital got to go home for Christmas,” the now 11 year old from Pineville, North Carolina recalls. When his parents told him the really sick kids didn’t get to leave over the holiday Alexander tells PEOPLE: “I convinced my parents to buy me five or six toys to drop off at the hospital.” Dad Troy remembers: “As soon as we got home from the hospital he ran up to his room and he created a bank from a box and some art supplies we had.” Alexander explains: “I wanted to remind everyone to put spare change in it when we passed by it and then we started bringing it to our events.” Six years later they still bring that same box to events, even though they’ve long since outgrown it. In 2o15, the family officially formed Alexander’s Toy Trunk www.alexanderstoytrunk.com ,a non-profit that collects toys and money they use to buy additional items. They’ve raised around six-thousand dollars since the day Alexander first asked to shop for others. “It’s fun and I know I’m making a difference in the community,” Alexander says. “I didn’t expect it to be this big. I just expected to give a bunch of toys to the hospital every year.” Carrie Keuten, the event director at Levine Children’s Hospital, heard about what the Fultz family was doing and knew she had just the right mission for Alexander. She asked him to help the hospital’s youngest patients. “He was so sincere from the very first time I met him,” she tells PEOPLE. “He fascinates me. It’s very difficult for us to get things for the babies in the NICU (the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and it’s heartbreaking for those parents at Christmas time.” Alexander Fultz and Carrie KeutenCourtesy Kristie Fultz From that point on, the Fultz’s started focusing their Christmas shopping trips to make sure that every baby in the NICU got clothing and toys. “I think one of my favorite days of the year is the day before Christmas when we drop everything off and the light I see in his eyes,” says Alexander’s mom, Kristie, 39, a cardiac sonographer. “I can’t put it into words. He doesn’t get to meet the patients or the families – and yet he has this drive to do it for people he doesn’t get to meet. I’m just in awe of him. He makes us so proud.” This year people in at least three other states are also helping collect and deliver toys. Troy gets choked up talking about the incredible impact his son is having. “Sometimes it’s hard to talk about,” says Troy, 42, a […]

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Princess Diana’s Private Letters Reveal Adorable Details of Young Sons: ‘Harry Is Constantly in Trouble!’

Pinterest A.G. Carrick/Diana Memorial Fund/Getty Intimate letters written by Princess Diana to her friend and Buckingham Palace steward Cyril Dickman detailing family life with her two young sons are hitting the auction block. The series of handwritten notes, photos and even signed Christmas cards from the royal family was recently uncovered by Dickman’s grandson after the former steward’s death in 2012. In letters from Princess Diana, she describes her children’s emerging bond just days after the birth of Prince Harry in 1984. “Dear Cyril, it was so very kind of you to have sent us such a lovely card, on the arrival of our small son—we both were greatly touched by your thoughtfulness and enormously appreciated it,” she wrote of her newborn, according to the Cambridge News. “William adores his little brother and spends the entire time swamping Harry with an endless supply of hugs and kisses, hardly letting the parents near!” She also described the excitement that followed Harry’s birth: “The reaction to one tiny person’s birth has totally overwhelmed us and I can hardly breathe for the mass of flowers that are arriving here!” In another letter, dated Oct. 17, 1992, the mother shared an update on her boys — then ages 10 and 8 — and even hinted at Prince Harry’s naughty streak, according to Yahoo. “The boys are well and enjoying boarding school a lot, although Harry is constantly in trouble!” she wrote. According to Cambridge News, the letters will be auctioned off in Cambridge on Jan. 5 and are valued at $18,500. RELATED VIDEO: Royals Flashback: 18 Iconic Princess Diana Moments Lisa Freeman-Bassett of Cheffins told Cambridge News that Dickman was a beloved staff member during his decades-long career working for the royal family. “Cyril, who died in 2012, was head steward at Buckingham Palace for over 50 years, starting his career watching out for fires on the roof during the Blitz,” Freeman-Bassett explained. “He was a favorite of every member of the royal family, as is evident by the variety of cards and letters he received.”

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Teammates of Orlando Massacre’s Youngest Victim Aim to Honor Her with Winning Streak: ‘We’re Here to Finish What She Started’

Pinterest Natalie Murray Akyra Murray was planning to celebrate a stellar senior year when she joined her cousin and friend at Pulse nightclub on June 12. The Philadelphia 18-year-old was in Orlando after graduating third in her class and securing a full-ride basketball scholarship with Mercyhurst University. She was having the time of her life before a gunman opened fire just as they were preparing to leave around 2 a.m. Murray was struck below her ears and in both her arms, and became the youngest of the 49 victims of the deadliest mass shooting in American history. (Her cousin and friend were both shot as well, but made full recoveries.) Now, six months after Murray’s death, her former teammates at West Catholic Preparatory High School are expressing their love and grief in a quest to honor her memory with their best season in decades. “We’re here to finish what she started,” senior Morgan Kennedy told ESPN’s The Undefeated in a feature story about Murray’s legacy for the team. The story is also running in ESPN The Magazine‘s “Anything Is Possible” issue, on newsstands Friday. During her two years at West Catholic, Murray led the team to back-to-back district championships, and this year they’re determined to win a third. Murray scored more than 1,000 points during her high school basketball career and was “well-loved everywhere she went,” Murray’s mother, Natalie Murray, told PEOPLE in June. Teammates wiped away tears before taking the court for their first home game of the season last week. The Lady Burrs won 67-8, after taking a break at halftime for a ceremony in which they honored Murray by retiring her No, 20 jersey. Each player hugged Murray’s family while a tribute was read. “Akyra Murray was then, and continues to be now, the heart and soul of the West Catholic Lady Burrs basketball program. Her influence is felt strongly here today and will continue to inspire us all for many days to come,” the team’s assistant coach, Maureen Deviney, said in the tribute, according to the Philly Tribune. Murray’s mom told the newspaper that the team’s mission to keep Murray’s legacy alive is exactly what her daughter would have wanted. “I’m overwhelmed but I feel really good because alive or gone, this was her mission, this was her intention — to leave a legacy. She led a lot of people with the belief that being a leader was [being] unstoppable,” Natalie Murray said. “Nothing was ever out of reach for her.”

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Kellyanne Conway Says People Will Suffer If Trump Sons Are Discouraged From Raising Money For Charity

Top Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said Thursday that people in need are going to “suffer” because the sons of President-elect Donald Trump are pulling back from raising money for charity after coming under scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest. Conway was addressing a recent report that revealed Trump’s older sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, were behind a nonprofit offering access to the president-elect in exchange for a $500,000 donation to conservation charities. The Trump transition team said neither Trump nor his sons were involved with the event. Eric Trump also canceled a charity auction of a coffee date with Ivanka Trump. Conway, who will serve as a counselor to Trump in the White House, defended the Trump children. “The idea that these folks are trying to help people in need and those people are going to suffer now because folks are pointing out what they think to be improprieties, I didn’t say I necessarily agree, I just think that they will always do the right thing. I know them well. They will always do what they perceive to be the right thing, regardless of who has a comment about it,” she said in an interview on CNN. CNN “New Day” host Chris Cuomo pressed Conway on her defense, noting that Bill and Hillary Clinton also pointed to the good work that the Clinton Foundation did around the world to push back against accusations from Trump and others that the foundation was selling access to the Clintons in exchange for donations. “I don’t know how that’s the same as Bill Clinton giving a million-dollar speech in Russia and then Hillary Clinton while secretary of state and giving 20 percent of the U.S. uranium interest away,” she said. Cuomo insisted that it really wasn’t that different. “It’s paying money to get to power,” he said. In September, watchdog group Charity Navigator gave the Clinton foundation a four-star rating ― its highest mark. Charity Navigator hasn’t ranked the Eric Trump Foundation, which the site notes “does not indicate a positive or negative assessment.” President-elect Trump has boasted about the influence of his donations in the past. “I’ve given to Democrats, I’ve given to Hillary, I’ve given to everybody, because that was my job, I have to give to them. Because when I want something I get it,” he said during the campaign. “When I call, they kiss my ass. It’s true, they kiss my ass.” During the campaign, The Washington Post reported extensively on the president-elect’s philanthropic giving, finding that he gave far less than he claimed. Instead, he used charity money to cover legal costs and do things like purchase portraits of himself.

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Obama Administration Makes Last-Minute Bid To Stall Trump’s Ability To Create Muslim Registry

WASHINGTON ― The Obama administration is dismantling an inactive national registry that was used to track foreign visitors from a designated list of countries, most of which have Muslim-majority populations. The move represents a last-minute effort by the outgoing president to delay his successor, Donald Trump, from reinstating what critics say would amount to a Muslim registry. The registry, known as National Security Entry-Exit Registration (NSEERS), was created shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks. It required men 16 and older from certain countries to register in person with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and submit to questioning and fingerprinting when entering the U.S. By 2003, the list of designated countries had swelled from a handful to 25, with 24 of them majority-Arab or Muslim. The Department of Homeland Security is removing the regulatory structure behind NSEERS, effective immediately, the agency said in a statement on Thursday. The administration of President George W. Bush found the program to be ineffective and stopped using it after only a year and a half. With the program already obsolete by the time Obama entered office, his administration de-listed the countries designated under NSEERS, effectively suspending the program. But the regulatory structure behind it remained in place, prompting fears that Trump, who spoke during the campaign about banning Muslims from entering the country, would use the framework to quickly reinstate it. Last month, 200 human rights, civil liberties and interfaith groups urged the Obama administration to rescind the NSEERS regulatory framework before handing the presidency over to Trump. During the short period the registry was active, the groups wrote in a letter to Obama, it had a devastating effect on the people targeted. “Families were torn apart, small businesses in immigrant neighborhoods closed their doors, and students discarded their educational aspirations,” the letter read. The national registry, which didn’t lead to a single terrorism conviction, was also wildly ineffective, according to former government officials. “The people who could be identified as terrorists weren’t going to show up,” former INS commissioner James W. Ziglar told The New York Times in 2004. “This project was a huge exercise and caused us to use resources in the field that could have been much better deployed.’” An expansive, generalized search is an ineffective way to look for a small group of wrongdoers, former FBI agent Michael German told The Huffington Post last month. “NSEERS looks at tremendous numbers of people who are not suspected of any wrongdoing,” German said. “The likelihood of that type of system somehow tripping upon somebody who is otherwise unknown is pretty small.” In 2012, the DHS inspector general found that Customs and Border Patrol officers tasked with processing information from registrants saw NSEERS as an “inefficient use of resources.” When the program was launched in 2002, there were more than 250,000 entry and exit registrations. CBP officers told the inspector general “there was little value in the interviews they conducted with NSEERS registrants” and that their time would be better spent doing more targeted […]

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