Category: News

Any parent knows that kids can be surprisingly astute little philosophers at the most unexpected times. One minute your child is throwing a tantrum because you sliced their sandwich wrong, and the next they are blowing you away with their deep preschool thoughts. It’s enough to give you whiplash, but it’s also one of the most fun things about being around kids. You never know what they’re going to say and sometimes what they say is just awesome.

Case in point: This 5-year-old who gave his mom some sage advice about handling her nerves.

Twitter user @Eprecipice (StressieBessie) shared the story in a tweet thread. She wrote:

“When talking about our agendas for the day, I told my 5yo I was a little nervous about a meeting I have today. He said, ‘Mama, I am nervous all the time. I know what to do.’ So friends, here is all the advice he could fit into the drive to school:”

1. “You gotta say your affirmations in your mouth and your heart. You say, ‘I am brave of this meeting!’ , ‘I am loved!’, ‘I smell good!’ And you can say five or three or ten until you know it.”

Okay, first of all, the fact that this kiddo knows what affirmations are is awesome. Some people have questioned whether this advice really came from a 5-year-old because of the vocabulary, but kids are sponges and affirmations aren’t rocket science. It’s become quite common for preschools and kindergartens to teach kids things like this, so it’s not actually surprising to hear him talk about affirmations. It’s just adorable to hear the ones he suggests.

When talking about our agendas for the day, I told my 5yo I was a little nervous about a meeting I have today. He said, u201cMama, I am nervous all the time. I know what to do.u201d So friends, here is all the advice he could fit into the drive to school:

— StressieBessie (@StressieBessie)
1643118594

2. “You gotta walk big. You gotta mean it. Like Dolly on a dinosaur. Because you got it.”

Okay, so this actually is sound advice. Researcher Amy Cuddy gave a whole TED Talk about how our minds respond to our own body language, and how using confident body language can actually release chemicals in our brains that make us feel more powerful and self-assured. So “walk big” like you mean it is legit.

2. u201cYou gotta walk big. You gotta mean it. Like Dolly on a dinosaur. Because you got it.u201d

— StressieBessie (@StressieBessie)
1643118788

3. “Never put a skunk on a bus.”

No idea what this means, but it’s definitely solid wisdom.

4. “Think about the donuts of your day! Even if you cry a little, you can think about potato chips!”

I’m genuinely not sure if this is referencing real donuts or not, which is part of what makes it delightful advice. Metaphorically, “the donuts of your day” could be the positive things that happened, and focusing on those instead of the negative is basic positive thinking. Then again, if you cry and think about potato chips, perhaps he’s just referencing comfort with food. Either way, totally feeling it.

4. u201cThink about the donuts of your day! Even if you cry a little, you can think about potato chips!u201d

— StressieBessie (@StressieBessie)
1643118922

5. “You gotta take a deep breath and you gotta do it again.”

Pretty much every therapist from every psychological school of thought will tell you that breathing exercises are one of the quickest ways to calm your body and mind. Simple, but seriously sound advice.

6. “Even if it’s a yucky day, you can get a hug.”

Even though that sounds like a pretty typical thought for a kid, it’s also good well-being advice. According to The Conversation, the chemicals released when we hug can help us manage stress, reduce anxiety and manage our emotions.

Smart kid.

He added one more piece of advice for good measure as well for those of us who tend toward distraction.

6. u201cEven if itu2019s a yucky day, you can get a hug.u201d

— StressieBessie (@StressieBessie)
1643119356

Extra addition from this afternoon: u201cDonu2019t get distracted and your feet will stay on the sidewalk and not too full of snow.u201d

— StressieBessie (@StressieBessie)
1643147180

Like a little Confucius, this one.

Seriously, if you ever want to hear some of the most oddly profound things you’ll ever hear in your life, spend some time interviewing a 4- or 5-year-old. They really do say the darnedest things. And if you’re nervous about something, just keep telling yourself you’re “brave of” it. If nothing else, it’ll bring a smile to your face remembering this delightful thread.

This article originally appeared on 01.31.22

Homelessness has been on the increase in America since 2016 and the numbers exploded in 2020. On a single night in January 2020, there were more than 580,000 individuals who were without a home.

There are many reasons for the increase in homelessness and one of the leading causes is a lack of affordable housing across the country. Housing prices have been on a steady increase and, according to PBS, we are about 7 million units short of affordable housing in the country.

So what can the average person do about this human tragedy taking place in America’s streets? Some people who would like to help don’t feel comfortable giving money to homeless people, although experts in the field say that most of the time it is OK.

“If you don’t have money or time, or capacity to donate, I still think it’s nice to be respectful and say hello,” Diane O’Connell, a community lawyer for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, told the Chicago Tribune.

Actress Jennifer Garner, 49, shared a great idea on Instagram for those who would like to help homeless people but aren’t sure how to do so.

The actress posted a video where she filled zip-up plastic bags with everyday items that homeless people need.

See on Instagram

“Random act of kindness: gather these essentials in a quart sized ziploc bag and keep them in your car to give away when you see someone in need,” she captioned the post. “A pair of thick socks. Kleenex. Hand wipes. Disposable toothbrushes. Chapstick. A couple of granola bars. I forgot this time, but like to add feminine hygiene products, too. Add $5, $10, $20 and a smile.”

For those not comfortable giving money, they can put a gift card in the bag for a local restaurant. O’Connell says that one thing most homeless people desperately need is a hot meal.

“Simple, cheap foods like bagels and doughnuts aren’t that helpful,” O’Connell said. “People who are homeless can usually buy things like that for themselves.” Often what people experiencing homelessness need is a hot meal, she said, because that’s more difficult for them to buy.

Greendrop says that the items most commonly requested by homeless people are socks and undergarments. Homeless people are always walking and have a hard time accessing laundry facilities so their socks and undergarments are often dirty or falling apart.

Here are some other items that will help make homeless people more comfortable:

Shampoo and conditioner

Toothpaste

Hair brushes and toothbrushes

Soap

Lotions

Nail clippers

Feminine hygiene products

Reusable containers

Garner’s Ziploc bag tip is a great idea because it’s a simple way for people to lend a hand when they encounter someone on the streets. How many times have you been driving around, saw someone in need, but didn’t have any way to help? This way you can easily brighten someone’s day when you see them at a freeway on-ramp or in a parking lot without having to ask yourself whether you feel comfortable giving them money.

This article originally appeared on 3.12.22

While critics are excoriating the upcoming show The Idol for its depiction of sexualized violence against pop musicians, a real-life example coincidentally hit social media around the same time as the unforgiving reviews. Spanish singer Rosalía was the subject of faked nude photographs posted by an up-and-coming rapper from her home country, and she was furious about it.

“Ir a buscar clout faltando el respeto y sexualizando a alguien es un tipo d violencia y da asco pero hacerlo por 4 plays de + lo q da es pena,” she wrote on Twitter. In English, that translates (roughly) to: “Going to look for clout disrespecting and sexualizing someone is a type of violence and it’s disgusting but doing it for 4 plays of + what gives is shame.”

The photo in question was apparently taken from Rosalía’s actual social media, then photoshopped with bared, much bigger breasts. The rapper, JC Reyes, covered the nipples with heart emojis to get around the Instagram content guidelines, but it was clear he was hoping for just such a reaction, drawing attention to his music with the faked photo.

While pop stars do often show off a lot of their bodies, the difference is, of course, in their agency in doing so. Rosalía is right to be upset at Reyes for using a photo of her without her consent, manipulating it — again, without consent — and sharing it to his followers — again, without consent. That it was modified to add sexual context that she herself never did — especially in such a blatantly objectifying way, “enhancing” her natural attributes to suit his taste — is indeed disgusting. While famous folks like Rosalía do share a lot of themselves with the public, that doesn’t mean the public is owed anything more than that.

It feels safe to say that even the most…shall we say…sheltered of online users knows how commonplace (and profitable) “feet pics” are on the adult content platform OnlyFans. While there don’t seem to be any rock-solid statistics, many websites boast that someone could easily make between $300–$500 a day.

Well, the Kansas Humane Society (KHS) decided to copy the OnlyFans business model, creating a brilliant fundraising campaign that offered to share pictures of adorable animal paws in exchange for donations. Because who wouldn’t pay money to see those perfectly pink, adorably squishy toe beans?

The campaign, as you can imagine, was titled “OnlyPaws.”

In true OnlyFans fashion, the KHS also incorporated racy language and emojis in its captions to great comical effect.

See on Instagram

“Times are TOUGH, and our pets need to pull their weight, so we’re selling their feet pics on the internet 🥵 We know you want this.. 😜 For every $100 we raise, we’ll post a collection of our spiciest toe beans from a variety of species 🐾🔥 All the 💰 raised goes right back to caring for our incredibly sexy animals ❤️🔥,” the first Instagram caption read.

They even offered “the exotic stuff.” We’re talking bird and rodent feet here, people.

Could this be the greatest marketing campaign known to mankind? People seem to think so. As one person wrote, “Dear KS Humane – whoever is running your social media, marketing, and development campaigns needs a raise. You’re killing it. Love this!”

The creativity has certainly paid off. KHS Communications Director Jordan Bani-Younes told KWCH 12 News that buzz around the campaign helped raise more than $8,000, four times more than the initial $2,000 goal.

“We never expected the level of success or recognition we got,” Bani-Younes said. “The level of acceptance the community has had for the campaign, just helping us in general, has been phenomenal.”

See on Instagram

Bani-Younes added that all the money would be used to provide animals food, vaccinations and microchipping, all of which the shelter needs more support with right now.

KHS Social Media Manager Carlene Dick explained to KWCH 12 that in addition to dealing with inflation, shelters nationwide are dealing with an “overpopulation crisis” caused by spaying and neutering being stopped during the pandemic. With KHS currently being at capacity, “we are just doing everything we can to really get the word out that we need adopters” she said.

Kudos to KHS for delivering the world’s most wholesome “spicy” content, and all for a great cause.

While a lot of people are over on HBO Max trying to figure out how to watch Succession before the big finale, Netflix is trying once again to cut down on password sharing. Maybe it’s a bad sign for you, or a good sign for your sister’s friend’s cousin who doesn’t want to share their password anymore. Whatever the reason is, you might have to shell out some money for your own account soon.

Beginning May 23rd, Netflix will be sending an email to the owner of the account with options on how to proceed. The site explains: “A Netflix account is for use by one household. Everyone living in that household can use Netflix wherever they are — at home, on the go, on holiday — and take advantage of new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices.” At this time, it’s unclear how the streamer will spot who is traveling versus who is loaning out their password.

If you want to share Netflix with someone outside of your household, like most people have been doing for the better half of a decade, Netflix provides the following options:

Transfer a profile. Anyone on your account can transfer a profile to a new membership that they pay for.
Buy an extra member. You can share your Netflix account with someone who doesn’t live with you for $7.99/month more.

So it seems like your only option is to… pay for another Netflix subscription. It should be noted that a basic, ad-supported Netflix plan starts at $6.99, so you can either pay $7.99 in order to be added back to your family’s account, or buy your own for $1 less. This has caused quite a stir among families that have kids away in college as well as groups who might go in on a single account together.

Primary account holders with premium subscriptions (without ads) can add up to two non-household members to their accounts for the $7.99 monthly fee, while standard plan subscribers can add up to one outside member. Either way, Netflix is going to ask you to pay in order to watch Jennifer Lopez star in her own rendition of John Wick.

Everyone wants to know how long they will live and there are many indicators that can show whether someone is thriving or on the decline. But people have yet to develop a magic formula to determine exactly how long someone should expect to live.

However, a doctor recently featured on the “Today” show says a straightforward test can reveal the likelihood that someone aged 51 to 80 will die in the near future.

NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar was on the “Today” show on March 8 and demonstrated how to perform the simple “sit to stand test” (aka sit-rising test or SRT) that can help determine the longevity of someone between 51 to 80.

The test is pretty simple. Go from standing to sitting cross-legged, and then go back to standing without using any parts of your body besides your legs and core to help you get up and down. The test measures multiple longevity factors, including heart health, balance, agility, core and leg strength and flexibility.

You begin the test with a score of 10 and subtract points on your way up and down for doing the following:

Hand used for support: -1 point

Knee used for support: -1 point

Forearm used for support: -1 point

One hand on knee or thigh: -1 point

Side of leg used for support: -1 point

None

— (@)

A 2012 study published by the European Society of Cardiology found a correlation between the SRT score and how long people live. The study was conducted on 2002 people, 68% of whom were men, who performed the SRT test and were followed by researchers in the coming years. The study found that “Musculoskeletal fitness, as assessed by SRT, was a significant predictor of mortality in 51–80-year-old subjects.”

Those who scored in the lowest range, 0 to 3, had up to a 6 times greater chance of dying than those in the highest scores (8 to 10). About 40% of those in the 0 to 3 range died within 11 years of the study.

Azar distilled the study on “Today,” saying: “The study found that the lower the score, you were seven times more likely to die in the next six years.”

“Eight points or higher is what you want,” Azar said. “As we get older, we spend time talking cardiovascular health and aerobic fitness, but balance, flexibility and agility are also really important,” she stressed.

One should note that the people who scored lowest on the test were the oldest, giving them an elevated risk of death.

Dr. Greg Hartley, Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist and associate professor at the University of Miami, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that we should take the study with a grain of salt. “Frailty, strength, muscle mass, physical performance—those things are all correlated to mortality, but I would caution everybody that correlation doesn’t mean causation,” he said.

And of course, the test doesn’t take into account injuries or disabilities that may make doing the test impossible. But one of the study’s authors says that the study is a call to take our mobility seriously.

“The more active we are the better we can accommodate stressors, the more likely we are to handle something bad that happens down the road,” Dr. Claudio Gil Araujo, told USA Today.

This article originally appeared on 3.10.23

For the longest time, an Oasis reunion seemed impossible given the animosity between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. In recent years, though, they’ve both discussed the possibility and indicated they’re interested in the idea. So, why hasn’t it actually happened yet? Well, Noel says he’s just waiting on Liam to actually give him a call to talk about it.

In a recent conversation with the talkSPORT radio show White & Jordan, Noel was laughed when asked about an Oasis reunion before saying:

“Well, I put it out there. He won’t call… I mean, he should call me, because he’s like, he’s forever going on about it. You’d have thought by now, he’d have some kind of plan. You know, he should… if he’s got a plan, he should get someone to… He doesn’t have to speak to me. He won’t speak to me, he’s a coward. So he should get some of his people, his agent, to call my people and say, ‘Look, this is what we’re thinking.’ And then we’ll have a conversation about it. Until then, he’s being a little bit disingenuous.”

He continued, “This thing with Liam is, you read these things every day, he’s saying on his [social media], ‘It’s happening, it’s happening.’ So he gets people’s hopes up, all over the world, and then I get asked about it and I have look like I’m dropping a big foot on it.”

As for why Noel thinks Liam hasn’t reached out: “I suspect that he doesn’t want to do it, but he just likes saying that he does want to do it, d’you know what I mean? Because he’s got his own thing going on: He’s selling out Knebworth and all that kind of thing! Why’s he want to share it with me for? I’m cool with what I’m doing, he’s smashing it… you know, why be disingenuous with people?”

Check out the video below.

The release of Coi Leray‘s second studio album, Coi, is still a month away, but that didn’t stop her from sharing the tracklist for the album, which defies genres and finds the New Jersey artist experimenting to her heart’s content. In addition to expected featured artists like the rap-focused Lola Banks and Saucy Santana, the versatile, 15-song tracklist also includes international rising stars like UK grime rapper Giggs and Jamaican dancehall artist Skillibeng. But the most eye-popping inclusion is EDM superstar Dave Guetta, whose presence suggests that Coi isn’t just sticking to rap this time around.

However, none of this should come as a surprise. Although her debut album Trendsetter flew under the radar, fans who did check out the wide-ranging project would have found that Coi is capable of confidently trying just about any style that occurs to her. She’s also shown off her growth in the lead-up to the announcement of Coi with singles like “Players,” “Bops,” and “My Body,” which each displayed a different side of her multifaceted artistry.

Coi is due on 6/23 via Uptown/Republic. Get more info here. You can see the tracklist below.

1. “Bitch Girl”
2. “Bops”
3. “Make My Day” Feat. David Guetta
4. “Players”
5. “My Body”
6. “Get Loud”
7. “Phuck It”
8. “Spend It” Feat. Saucy Santana
9. “Don’t Chat Me Up” Feat. Giggs
10. “Run It Up”
11. “No Angels” Feat. Lola Brooke
12. “Man’s World” Feat. James Brown
13. “Black Rose”
14. “Radioactive” Feat. Skillibeng
15. “Come And Go”

Many people slander lovely Los Angeles as “a desert.” While that’s not technically accurate (it’s more of a Mediterranean climate), there is some poetic truth to it. If you find yourself lost in the desert, clueless about where to find water, and stumble upon some juicy psychedelic mystery cactus, you’re gonna wish you had a guide who knew the secrets of the badlands. The same goes for the city itself, if you don’t know where the party’s at, who’s mixing the best drinks, which venues are hosting the best shindigs, or which chefs are serving the best food in LA, it’s nice to have a guide handy.

Today, our guide is Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, DJ, and classically trained pianist XIE (pronounced “Shay”). XIE is a rising force in the exploding US tech-house scene but when she’s not rocking high-profile gigs like Coachella, HARD Summer, and EDC Las Vegas, she’s touring LA’s culinary scene — taking notes and mapping out her treasures. With AAPI Heritage Month upon us, we asked her to open this sacred journal and point us toward the best spots in LA to find some absolutely delicious Asian food. No need to aimlessly wander in a sea of traffic on the 101, read on to learn the exact spots for a 10/10 meal in everyone’s favorite “desert.”

XIE’s latest banger Birds in Paradise is available for streaming, and make sure to be on the lookout for her upcoming single “‘C’est La Vie’ on May 26th!

JOY

My Mom is from Taiwan and there are very few restaurants in LA that offer specifically Taiwanese cuisine, so it was very special to discover JOY during the pandemic. Located in the hot spot area of York Boulevard in Highland Park, this popular eatery offers some of the true joys of Taiwan’s culinary offerings (pun intended but also so true) along with a casual neighborhood vibe. Some of my favorite items here are the dan dan noodles, clamshell bun, minced pork on rice, thousand-layer pancake, sesame scallion bread, and any seasonal vegetables they offer.

It reminds me of my childhood and all the mouthwatering Chinese/Taiwanese food I’d have in the Bay area, Chinatown, overseas, and at home with family. JOY will make you feel truly that!

Ohana BBQ

Ohana is the first place many celebrities including Frank Ocean, go to when they land in LA. You would never know that upon walking into the small Hawaiian-influenced Korean BBQ restaurant in Studio City, but boy does the food do the talking. I order the BBQ chicken bowl that comes over a bed of rice with a small side salad and one of the best macaroni salads I’ve ever had. If the reason a vegan didn’t eat meat was that they didn’t care for the taste, I swear this place could convert them. The way they grill their meat gives it the best smokey flavor and it’s always so tender. My personal secret is pouring some of their salad dressing over everything and of course their hot sauce too.

Tatsu

I can’t believe it took me this many years in LA to discover Tatsu! This place is the KING of ramen, I’ve literally never enjoyed one as much as I do here. My first experience was during a session I had at East West Studios where the studio runner recommended it – I think I still need to write him a thank you note. The flavors here are just unreal. Some of the many items I die for are Bold ramen, pork buns, and fried rice. From the flavorful broth to the thinly sliced tender chicken to the egg with a perfectly runny center, Tatsu is food for the soul and hits every time.

Teppanyaki Supreme

Whenever I drive by the Teppanyaki food truck I audibly gasp longingly, few places leave me feeling as satisfied as when I eat here. This mobile Hibachi grill is an absolute gem, think Benihana on steroids! My go-to order is the fried rice with shrimp, and I always get an extra side of garlic butter (which they already use to infuse insanely delicious flavor while cooking on the grill). They have incredible plates with lobster, steak, chicken + more too.

This mobile masterpiece is a real treat that everyone needs to discover!

Gokoku Vegetarian Ramen

Who would know how good a meatless ramen spot could be?! This unassuming hidden gem near Universal City is super busy every time I go. I’m always so impressed with how much flavor they manage to pack into these ramens especially given that they’re all vegetarian. Although they also serve sushi rolls and various appetizers, my absolute favorite item is the Mayu Garlic Jalapeño Ramen with an egg added of course.

Trust me this place will blow you away!

KazuNori: The Original Hand Roll Bar

KazuNori is a unique experience within the famed Sushi Nozawa Group (SUGARFISH). Like its sister restaurants, the sushi’s quality and freshness are next level and the best I’ve ever had. But what really excites me about Kazunori is that it’s ONLY handrolls which that means more of my favorite thing – rice! And not just any rice, they meticulously perfected their own process that I swear produces THE MOST PERFECT rice I’ve tasted in my life. I love the unique bar-only seating too where diners sit around a square bar top facing the sushi chefs while they compile your rolls one by one, gracefully presenting them while the rice is hot and the nori is crispy. KazuNori is an absolutely delightful and one-of-a-kind experience in the world of sushi.

Even though The Idol received a standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival this week (at this point, who doesn’t get a standing ovation over there?) the actual content of the show is polarizing viewers. The show, from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, focuses on a fictional pop star named Jocelyn, played by Lily-Rose Depp, and her tumultuous rise to fame.

In the pilot episode, there is a small reference to ’90s pop icon Britney Spears, and many viewers are wondering if the show is loosely based on the singer and her publicized breakdown. Levinson told the critics at Cannes (Via Variety) that while the show’s themes might mirror Spears’ life, they are telling a different type of story.

“Look, I was a kid of the ’90s, and [Britney’s] one of the greatest pop stars of all time,” co-creator Levinson began during the press junket. “And, no, we’re not trying to tell a story about any particular pop star. I think we’re looking more at how the world perceives pop stars, and the pressure that it puts on that individual. It’s a lot of pressure to constantly have to be on, and to have to be what everyone wishes you to be. I also think that it’s a lonely life.”

Depp then said that The Idol is not “telling anybody else’s story,” since it is a work of (perhaps over-the-top) fiction. “I think something we wanted to do with the character is make her feel simultaneously like a pop star of our time, but also like she existed in her own plane, in a way,” the actress concluded.

While Spears’ might not be directly involved in the production, the singer was previously in talks to appear on the show, though it’s unclear if she will show up at this time. The Weeknd has mentioned his love for the star in the past, so perhaps we can expect some sort of collaboration there…unless Abel Tesfaye kills him first.

The Idol premieres on June 4th on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.

(Via Variety)