On Monday Richard Simmons announced he was “dying.” (Spoiler: He’s not.) It was the start of a lengthy social media thread about living life to the fullest — about telling people to “enjoy your life to the fullest every single day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy.” The exercise guru and Pauly Shore movie subject talked about eating a “healthy breakfast,” working out (to his workout videos) and hugging the “people and children who you really care for.”
People understandably got stuck on the part about him “dying.”
Simmons’ manager was quick to tell The Daily Beast that their client is alive and well and “very healthy.” Eventually Simmons himself echoed those comments, namely that he wasn’t on the way out, at least not any time soon.
Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today. Even the press has gotten in touch with me. I am not dying.
It was a message about saying how we should embrace every day that we have. Sorry for this confusion.
“Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today,” Simmons posted.” Even the press has gotten in touch with me. I am not dying. It was a message about saying how we should embrace every day that we have. Sorry for this confusion.”
In retrospect, Simmons’ original post does seem more positive, although the wording is more than a little ambiguous. “I have some news to tell you,” he wrote. “Please don’t be sad. I am ….dying. Oh I can see your faces now. The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live we are getting closer to our death.”
What follows, though, is pure inspirational (provided you know that Simmons isn’t on death’s door):
Because I want you to enjoy your life to the fullest every single day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy.
Start with a healthy breakfast. Do you like oatmeal…. Whole wheat toast ..eggs once or twice a week Fresh fruit or half of an English muffin?
Then there is lunch. How about a nice salad? Don’t eat your dinner too late. Combine your protein with a starch and a few vegetables.
And sure, once in a while, have dessert. One healthy day of eating will lead to the next…and the next.
Every day that you are alive you have got to move. Whether it is standing or sitting you have got move your body every day. Start with stretching then cardio and strength.
I have a lot of workout videos on YouTube that you can use. Or maybe you have some videos at home. And before you go to bed do a little stretching. Stretch your neck. Your shoulders….and your arms…and dont forget your legs. Do some circles with your ankles.
Point and flex your feet and I promise that you will have a better night’s sleep.
There is something else very important that you must do. Tell the ones that you love that you love them. Hug those people and children who you really care for.
If you were all dolled up and ready for Gag City to breeze through the Big Easy, you’re out of luck.
Tonight (March 18), Nicki Minaj fans based in the greater New Orleans area had their hearts set on seeing her live. However, a post shared on the Smoothie King Center’s official Instagram page revealed that her Pink Friday 2 World Tour stop for this evening had been postponed allegedly due to an undisclosed medical issue.
“Due to doctor’s orders, Nicki Minaj must reschedule her NOLA show tonight,” read the note. “As Nicki is still sick, our team does not want to run the risk of getting others sick, and Nicki would not be able to give NOLA the show they deserve. We are working diligently to find a new date, so please hold onto your tickets, and we will inform you all soon.”
With just hours to spare before the performance was scheduled to kick off, ticketholders were not thrilled. In fact, they’ve begun airing their grievances in the post’s comment section.
“She ain’t just get sick a few hours ago. This should’ve been announced this morning or yesterday. This is extremely last minute, and I’m very frustrated,” one user wrote.
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“That’s messed up 4 hours before the event,” wrote another.
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“Nobody is mad because she canceled. It’s the fact they waited four hours before the event to tell us officially,” another chimed in.
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Fans across X (formerly Twitter) defended the “Press Play” rapper, pointing out that Nicki was fighting back a sickness during her headlining set at 2024 Rolling Loud California on Friday, March 15. Nicki hasn’t issued a statement. However, ticketholders are advised to check their email regarding information for the rescheduled date.
You Mfks are weird af..yall talkin like @NICKIMINAJ can control when she gets sick . she still performed at rolling loud in THE COLD when she already felt fucking sick. just because somebody else performs while sick or whatever doesn’t mean she has 2. She also has a baby
just watched @NICKIMINAJ‘s full set at rolling loud & my girl absolutely ΚΙLLED it despite being sick with sore throat. like sick where? breath control, beauty & energy on . the mic was ON & she spit every word. so proud of her!! pic.twitter.com/Xrs4Sh7IKZ
Japan has a reputation for excelling at… basically everything in the lifestyle space — from onsens to hotels to food and drink. Talk to anyone who’s visited the country recently, and you’ll likely receive a quick “All of it was amazing!” Which I find pretty hard to argue with. I recently embarked on a nine-day trip through Tokyo and Kyoto, and beyond the kindness, hospitality, and kindness of the people I met, my biggest takeaway from the experience is that the quality to which things are held in the country is simply unmatched across my travels.
I know generalization in travel writing is bad. But maybe we can make an exception because I have a whole lot of gushing to do about Japan, in general, and Tokyo, in specific.
When it comes to drinking culture, Tokyo is the obvious epicenter. Given the size of the city, it’s impossible to hit every stand-out watering hole in one trip but that won’t stop us from attempting it. Here are seven stellar places to taste craft cocktails, beer, wine, and whiskey in Japan’s capital city.
Bar High Five
Vicki Denig
Bar High Five has been a benchmark bar in Tokyo’s craft cocktail scene since opening 15 years ago and its influence remains as prominent as ever. Located in the buzzy Ginza area of town, the bar is situated in a relatively easy-to-find basement location and is overseen by mega-skilled head bartender Kaori Kurakami, who is joined by a diverse team of mixologists from all across the globe. There’s no cocktail list at Bar High Five—which is generally a pet peeve of mine—but the team is so friendly and creative, that answering their list of thoughtful questions led me to one of my favorite (and custom-made!) drinks of the trip.
Seriously, don’t cling to the classics; follow their lead and let the team wow you with their skills.
What to Drink:
Again, there’s no list here, and while it may be tempting to order something you know, simply choose your base spirit and answer the team’s well-thought questions. You’re very likely to end up with something you’ll love. Either way, it’s a story to tell!
Mori Bar
Vicki Denig
Martinis are certainly having their moment in the sun, though the cocktail has long been the star of the show at Tokyo’s Mori Bar. Spearheaded by owner-bartender Takao Mori, a pillar in Japan’s mixology scene, the bar has become the go-to place for all things classic cocktails—gin martini included.
Mori Bar sits multiple floors above the Ginza neighborhood’s crowded streets and promises a sultry, dimly lit reprieve from the luxury stores below. Fair warning, there’s a cover charge of around $10 per person to get into the bar — if you’re a die-hard ‘tini lover, it’s well worth it.
What to Drink:
The Martini, duh. End of story.
Mandarin Bar
Vicki Denig
Fancy hotel bars are a dime a dozen, though few excel on the level as that of Mandarin Bar. Situated 37 floors up, the Nihonbashi-based bar offers breathtaking views of the city and perfectly luxurious cocktails for hotel patrons and non-guests alike. The bar is overseen by head bartender Kengo Oda, who proposes a meticulously crafted lineup of signature drinks featuring local spirits, alongside well-executed classics, thoughtful mocktails, sake, and an impressive lineup of Japanese whisky.
In addition to floor-to-ceiling windows, the space also boasts a beautiful Zen pool, plush seating, and one of the most sleek bar counters in all of Tokyo. The cherry on top? The bar regularly hosts live jazz nights, as well as pop-up collaborations with local bartenders and cocktail bars. Note: Mandarin Bar enforces a “smart casual” dress code, meaning that baseball caps, flip flops, and sleeveless shirts are not permitted.
What to Drink:
Japanese whisky lovers should try a dram of the bar’s exclusive Mandarin Oriental Tokyo Single Malt Whisky “Sakurao,” produced specially for the bar by Sakurao Distillery. Martini lovers will enjoy the signature Tokyo Martini made with Belvedere Vodka, Tokyo Blend Tea with Lillet Blanc, and grape vinegar.
Bar BenFiddich
Cocktail and whisky aficionados have been singing the praises of Bar BenFiddich since it first opened its doors in 2013, and it’s no surprise why. The bar is spearheaded by owner/bartender Hiroyasu Kayama, who also grows many of the spot’s ingredients at his personal farm, located just outside of the city.
Tiny yet exceptional, the bar’s specialty lies in gin and whisky-based cocktails, though the talented team can make custom libations (there’s no set drinks list) from Absinthe and amaro as well. Fair warning, the drinks are a bit more expensive than at other cocktail bars in Tokyo, but well worth it for the experience and expertise.
What to Drink:
While it may be tempting to try a pour of a unique Japanese whisky, the customized whisky-based cocktails are the star of the show—or make the most of the experience and do both. When in Tokyo…
Pas Loin
Although Tokyo is generally better known for its craft cocktail, sake, and spirits scene, its vibrant wine industry shouldn’t be missed. The city is home to several world-class wine bars highlighting a variety of styles, from traditional classics to up-and-coming natural bottles and beyond. Like many of the city’s bars, Pas Loin is tucked away on the second floor of a small building in Ginza—and similar to said other bars, only accommodates a handful of guests at a time.
The natural wine-focused bar offers numerous by-the-glass pours at a time, which are served alongside some of the tastiest French-inspired small plates in the city. For a vino-fueled break between high-end shopping or cocktail bar crawling, look no further than this industry-approved hidden gem.
What to Drink:
Ask to see the current by-the-glass pours in the style (red, white, or sparkling) that you prefer and go from there. For me, it was a glass of Domaine Gramenon’s Poignée de Raisins.
Mixology Heritage
Spearheaded by Tokyo’s famous Mixology Group, Mixology Heritage is a hidden gem bar nestled in the Uchisaiwaicho train station. Outfitted with old-time furniture and a rustic bar, the speakeasy-style atmosphere offers an instant last-from-the-past feel, with a focus on classic cocktails. The bar also crafts a lineup of aged cocktails in-house, which are lined up in jars behind the bar itself.
While a number of offerings are crafted with fancy mixology gadgets, my travel partner and I stuck to the classics—an Old Fashioned and a Penicillin—and were certainly not disappointed.
What to Drink:
Don’t feel boring for sticking with the classics here, as this is what Mixology Heritage excels at best.
Golden Gai
Vicki Denig
Unlike the other recs on this list, Golden Gai isn’t a specific bar, but rather a small area chock full of them. Over 200 bars operate in this microneighborhood, spaced across a few dark alleyways, some of which only seat 2-3 people at a time. While a smattering of eateries, wine bars, and members-only clubs can be found in Golden Gai, the theme here is really shack-like dive bars serving up cold beer, classic well drinks, and a variety of Japanese whiskies.
Pro tip: Many Golden Gai bars demand a cover charge to get in, which can add up over a night of bar hopping; I specifically stuck with those that didn’t and thoroughly enjoyed myself, so don’t feel the need to get sucked into the cover charge trap.
What to Drink:
Some of the bars certainly have specialties, though sticking with go-to pours—think draft beer or gin & tonics—are probably your safest and best bet unless otherwise stated.
Gwyneth Paltrow used to be famous as an actress. She even won an Academy Award for her acting! She doesn’t really do that anymore. She’s an entrepreneur now, of a successful if controversial company whose wares include vagina candles that almost start fires. She also makes headlines for things like being unsuccessfully sued over a skiing mishap. In other words, her just announced forthcoming episode of Hot Ones must be a real one.
Paltrow will appear on the March 21st episode of the internet/TV’s favorite show in which celebrities lose their freaking minds while eating increasingly spicy wings (or cauliflower versions for the non-carnivores). Will they talk about the trial? Host Sean Evans has a supernatural ability to get guests to open up without seeming aggressive or exploitive, so almost certainly.
Perhaps Evans can also get Paltrow to talk about the movie career she’s basically abandoned (for the time being, anyway). Technically her most recent film was the 2022 Harvey Weinstein takedown docudrama She Said, but she only played herself, and over the phone. Paltrow’s last physical appearance was in Avengers: Endgame. The last time she played someone who wasn’t herself or Pepper Potts was in Mortedecai. She was once an A-list star! Given that she’s joked about using her Oscar as a doorstop, she probably doesn’t miss it. After all, running a business sounds lot less stressful than being a movie star.
Paltrow’s Hot Ones episode drops at 11am on Thursday, March 21.
Anna Trupiano is a first-grade teacher at a school that serves deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students from birth through eighth grade.
In addition to teaching the usual subjects, Trupiano is charged with helping her students thrive in a society that doesn’t do enough to cater to the needs of the hard-of-hearing.
A six-year-old child farted so loud in class that some of their classmates began to laugh. The child was surprised by their reaction because they didn’t know farts make a sound. This created a wonderful and funny teaching moment for Trupiano.
Trupiano shared the conversation on Facebook.
See posts, photos and more on Facebook.
While the discussion Trupiano had with her students was funny, it points to a serious problem faced by the deaf community. “I know it started with farts, but the real issue is that many of my students aren’t able to learn about these things at home or from their peers because they don’t have the same linguistic access,” she told GOOD.
“So many of my students don’t have families who can sign well enough to explain so many things it’s incredibly isolating for these kids,” she continued.
Trupiano hopes her funny story about bodily functions will inspire others to become more involved with the deaf community by learning sign language.
“I would love to see a world where my students can learn about anything from anyone they interact with during their day,” she told GOOD. “Whether that means learning about the solar system, the candy options at a store, or even farts, it would be so great for them to have that language access anywhere they go.”
A lot of parents are tired of being told how technology is screwing up their kids.
Moms and dads of the digital age are well aware of the growing competition for their children’s attention, and they’re bombarded at each turn of the page or click of the mouse with both cutting-edge ideas and newfound worries for raising great kids.
But beneath the madness of modernity, the basics of raising a moral child haven’t really changed.
Parents want their kids to achieve their goals and find happiness, but Harvard researchers believe that doesn’t have to come at the expense of kindness and empathy. They say a few tried-and-true strategies remain the best ways to mold your kids into the morally upstanding and goals-oriented humans you want them to be.
Here are six practical tips:
1) Hang out with your kids.
This is, like, the foundation of it all. Spend regular time with your kids, ask them open-ended questions about themselves, about the world and how they see it, and actively listen to their responses. Not only will you learn all sorts of things that make your child unique, you’ll also be demonstrating to them how to show care and concern for another person.
2) If it matters, say it out loud.
According to the researchers, “Even though most parents and caretakers say that their children being caring is a top priority, often children aren’t hearing that message.” So be sure to say it with them. And so they know it’s something they need to keep up with, check in with teachers, coaches, and others who work with your kids on how they’re doing with teamwork, collaboration, and being a generally nice person.
3) Show your child how to “work it out.”
Walk them through decision-making processes that take into consideration people who could be affected. For example, if your child wants to quit a sport or other activity, encourage them to identify the source of the problem and consider their commitment to the team. Then help them figure out if quitting does, in fact, fix the problem.
4) Make helpfulness and gratitude routine.
The researchers write, “Studies show that people who engage in the habit of expressing gratitude are more likely to be helpful, generous, compassionate, and forgiving — and they’re also more likely to be happy and healthy.” So it’s good for parents to hold the line on chores, asking kids to help their siblings, and giving thanks throughout the day. And when it comes to rewarding “good” behavior, the researchers recommend that parents “only praise uncommon acts of kindness.”
5) Check your child’s destructive emotions.
“The ability to care for others is overwhelmed by anger, shame, envy, or other negative feelings,” say the researchers. Helping kids name and process those emotions, then guiding them toward safe conflict resolution, will go a long way toward keeping them focused on being a caring individual. It’s also important to set clear and reasonable boundaries that they’ll understand are out of love and concern for their safety.
6) Show your kids the bigger picture.
“Almost all children empathize with and care about a small circle of families and friends,” say the researchers. The trick is getting them to care about people who are socially, culturally, and even geographically outside their circles. You can do this by coaching them to be good listeners, by encouraging them to put themselves in other people’s shoes, and by practicing empathy using teachable moments in news and entertainment.
The study concludes with a short pep talk for all the parents out there:
“Raising a caring, respectful, ethical child is and always has been hard work. But it’s something all of us can do. And no work is more important or ultimately more rewarding.”
If you just got married, chances are lots of people think they know what your life is like.
These people are totally well-meaning! And also, mostly wrong.
Being married isn’t exactly like it used to be. Which is great, as there are so many different, amazing ways to be newlyweds than ever before. But it’s also occasionally frustrating, as we newlyweds are frequently forced to dispel a lot of myths about our relationships.
So let’s get them out of the way in one fell swoop.
Here are the most common (but mistaken) assumptions strangers make when you’re a newlywed couple, and what our lives are really like.
Assumption #1: We went on our honeymoon already, and we left right after the wedding.
Reality: In our dreams, we definitely did — and we had a great time!
In real life, however, most of us can’t just take a week (or more) off work at will. The office is hella busy, and on top of that, we live in the only wealthy country in the world that doesn’t mandate any paid vacation. Many of us were barely able to get the day of our actual wedding off (ultimately, we compromised with our manager and took a half-day).
We’re planning to get to it … eventually. But it might be a while. We promise we’ll send pictures!
Assumption #2: We’re going to have babies ASAP.
Reality: We love being married! But, you know, we actually haven’t decided? About babies? We’re just enjoying being married right now. But we’ll let you know when it happens. We promise.
Assumption #3: We’re going to move out of “the city” one day.
Reality: It makes sense to assume that, like so many newly married couples in generations past, we’re already planning our escape from our local metropolis to a less population-dense area TBD. But many of us who live in the city really, really like it! The city is great. There are good schools here. We can get nachos delivered at 3 a.m.! From either the good nacho place or the OK-but-cheap nacho place.
Sure, some of us are planning to one day move to the ‘burbs for more space (and many already are), but many of us aren’t. And still others of us who already live in the suburbs are making the suburbs more like the city.
Having a yard is really nice, but so is not having car insurance payments.
Assumption #4: We feel superior to our second-cousin Frieda whose boyfriend of 19 years still hasn’t proposed.
Reality: Even though we’re feeling pretty good about being married, Frieda and Richard are adults and get to make their own decisions — no matter what Aunt Cindy thinks. Maybe they have financial reasons. Maybe they decided a long time ago they don’t want to be married. Maybe they believe marriage is an oppressive, archaic, patriarchal institution that they don’t want to participate in, and also they’re vegan now.
In any case, leave Frieda and Richard alone.
Assumption #5: We’re going to have babies soonish.
Reality: So, yeah. Like I said. Really haven’t decided about babies. Keeping our options open. But probably not soon? You know?
Assumption #6: One of us changed our last name.
Reality: There’s totally nothing wrong with couples who decide that one partner will take the other’s last name, of course. But not all of us do. At least 1 in every 5 women decide to keep their maiden names, according to a New York Times survey. And if you haven’t taken your partner’s last name, it’s kind of frustrating to constantly hear yourself referred to as Mr./Mrs. Someone Else (for opposite-gender couples, this pretty much applies exclusively to women).
If you’re not sure what last name to use, just ask! We’ll tell you what the deal is.
Assumption #7: We’re having Guinness Book of World Records amounts of sex.
Reality: For those of us who waited to have sex until marriage — which is, of course, totally cool — you might need a supercomputer to tabulate. But lots of us have been together for a long time already and may even have been living together already, so we’re probably having whatever amount of sex is normal for us. It’s just a regular part of our lives that throwing a wedding doesn’t really have a magical impact on.
After many years in a relationship, most of us take “Netflix and chill” quite literally. And seriously.
Assumption #8: We’ve finished all our thank-you notes.
Reality: Never. We’ll be writing these until the end of time.
Assumption #9: Hanging out with one of us means hanging out with both of us.
Reality: We’re still different people. Each of us is a self-sufficient being with free will. And we’re probably totally down to hang out with you, even if our spouse isn’t available.
Except you, Greg. We’re totally avoiding you.
Assumption #10: We’re going to have babies ever.
Reality: So um, like I said, there’s actually a chance we might never have babies? We might decide we don’t want them after all. We might find out we can’t — in which case, these questions might become extremely invasive and painful. We might adopt a child … who’s not a baby. We haven’t figured it out yet.
At the end of the day, It’s kinda up to us, you know?
Assumption #11: We never use the garlic press you got us.
Reality: We use it all the time! Thank you so much!
Assumption #12: One of us is going to stay home and take care of the house from here on in.
Reality: Some of us might want to be a housewife or husband. Others of us shudder at the thought of giving up our careers, or urging our spouse to give up theirs. Still others of us might want to, but might not be able to forfeit the second income. There’s really no right — or standard — way to do it anymore.
Assumption #13: We both have all the same likes, dislikes, preferences, outlooks, and opinions now.
Reality: My wife will never convince me to like jazz. And I will probably never convince her to like “Captain Phillips” fan fiction. And you know what? We’re OK with that.
For the things that matter, we’re committed to presenting a united front. But we’re still individuals with different thoughts, feelings, and opinions about what Tom Hanks was up to two weeks before the Somali pirates attacked, ’cause honestly, that’s where the real drama of the story probably is.
Assumption #14: We wear wedding rings.
Reality: Some of us like wearing a physical symbol of our connection and duty to our spouse. Some of us don’t as much. So we don’t wear them. But don’t worry! We’re still extreme double married 5000.
Assumption #15: Making us a pink cake that says “baby” on it is going to change our mind about babies.
Reality: It won’t. But we will definitely eat that cake.
Assumption #16: Our lives are a lot different now.
Reality: Beginning roughly seven seconds after we say, “I do,” lots and lots and lots of well-intentioned people ask: “How does it feel?!” seemingly expecting to hear: “So much has changed! We got matching ponies! Being married really is a whole new world!” It feels like we’re disappointing them when we answer, “Pretty much the way we did the day before the wedding.” Which is silly, since there’s no shame in that.
For some couples, life is a lot different after marriage, and that’s great. But if stuff is kinda sorta the same, that’s OK too! Life was great before. That’s why we decided to get married.
Assumption #17: If we’re not going to lay out a precise plan for having babies, at least we’ll probably get a pet.
Around 1 a.m. on April 24, semi-truck drivers in the Oak Park area of Michigan received a distress call from area police: An unidentified man was standing on the edge of a local bridge, apparently ready to jump onto the freeway below.
Those drivers then did something amazing. They raced to the scene to help — and lined up their trucks under the bridge, providing a relatively safe landing space should the man jump.
Fortunately, he didn’t.
The impressive line-up wasn’t a coincidence — the drivers were prepared for exactly this sort of situation.Sgt. Jason Brockdorff of the Huntington Woods Police Department told The Detroit News that the response was something local police and truck drivers had actually trained for. But what was unusual was the sheer number of drivers who responded to the call.
“That’s a practice we use if we have a jumper,” Brockdorff said. “We try to do it every time, to lessen the distance someone would travel if they were to jump. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.”
The incident lasted nearly four hours, into the early morning. However, once the trucks were in place, the police were able to more comfortably negotiate with the unidentified man.
Eventually, the man walked off the bridge on his own and is currently receiving medical help.
In a pair of tweets, the local police department called attention to the incident to remind people in similar situations of the importance of seeking mental health services (emphasis mine):
This photo does show the work troopers and local officers do to serve the public. But also in that photo is a man struggling with the decision to take his own life. Please remember help is available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
You can also call a loved one, member of the clergy or 911. There are so many people that can help you make the choice to get help and live! It is our hope to never see another photo like this again.
Working together, the police and everyday strangers saved a life.
Ordinary people heeded the call of service to help a fellow person who was struggling. It’s a powerful image that’s impossible to ignore, and a reminder of humanity at its best.
Fear of flying—aerophobia, in technical terms—is an extremely common phobia, affecting around 25 million adults in the U.S. alone. Some people grit their teeth and white-knuckle their way through their fear, while others find themselves unable to get on an airplane at all because of it.
Such a fear is understandable, really. Hurtling through the sky at 500 miles per hour, tens of thousands of feet above the Earth’s surface, isn’t exactly the way humans were designed to get from place to place. (We may have evolved with the brain power and ingenuity to make it happen, but that doesn’t mean we automatically go along for the ride without our sense of self-preservation kicking in.)
One of the triggers for people with aerophobia is turbulence—the occasional shaking and pitching of an aircraft when it hits certain conditions in the atmosphere. Even people who are comfortable flying can find turbulence disconcerting sometimes, especially when it creates a sudden dropping sensation. Turbulence is normal, but it doesn’t feel normal when you’re sitting in a chair 30,000 feet from solid ground. It feels chaotic and out of control.
Anna Paul, a popular TikTok star from Australia, has shared a helpful visual for people freaked out by turbulence in a video that has more than 19 million views.
Paul explains that a pilot shared the analogy of a plane flying through the air being like an object suspended in jello. There’s pressure on all sides, so even if the jello is shaken—and the object shaken along with it—the pressure suspends the object.
In other words, a plane is not going to suddenly drop down out of the sky due to turbulence, in the same way that an object won’t drop out of the middle of a bowl of jello.
The jello analogy is also used by aerophobia experts. Therapist Les Posen specializes in flying phobias, and he shows his clients a model airplane suspended in raspberry jello to illustrate the fact that turbulence won’t cause a plane to drop out of the sky. He even goes a step farther by having clients smell the jello, and then advises them to eat some raspberry candy or juice on the plane to remind themselves of the analogy, using their senses to calm their nerves.
At the end of her video, Paul said there’s never been a plane crash from turbulence, but that’s not quite true. In 1966, a flight (BOAC 911) coming out of Tokyo broke apart in midair due to unexpected severe turbulence. However, that was a very long time ago. Monitoring of meteorological conditions has greatly advanced since then, as have the designs of modern aircraft and the skill of pilots, so experts will tell you that turbulence is not something to worry about.
If imagining air pressure as jello doesn’t really work for you, it may be helpful to have a visual of what turbulence actually is. For that, Captain Stuart Walker, who has been flying for 30 years, explains the four main types of turbulence, what causes them and what pilots do to avoid them or reduce their impact. He also explains what passengers can do to minimize their chances of feeling turbulence on a flight, such as sitting over the wings or toward the front of the plane and flying earlier in the day when temperatures are not as likely to cause air disturbances.
Whether you prefer hospital-food-based analogies or no-nonsense, scientific explanations, the bottom line is that turbulence feels far scarier than it actually is. A shaking plane is not going to drop from the sky, modern aircraft can withstand a great deal of movement midair and pilots are highly trained to handle turbulence.
And remember: Commercial airline travel really is the safest way to get to where you’re going, statistically speaking. So next time you fly, kick back, relax and imagine you’re suspended in jello, knowing you’re in capable hands when the turbulence starts.
“A Murder of Crows. It should be a CawCawphony.” – EscapedCapybara
“A murder of crows goes so unfathomably hard tho, it can stay.” – mrspuffispeng
“The committee on groups of bird names are the best in the business. They put everyone else to shame. Murder, curiosity, charm, kettle, mural, cast, parliament. Why even compete?” – remeard
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(@KinnggJayv) 
. the mic was ON & she spit every word. so proud of her!! 
(@seasonmaraj) 
Tune in Thursday @ 11AM ET. 
