Apple's New App: Can Deep Breathing Lower Stress?

 A new app for the Apple Watch, called Breathe, coaches you through breathing exercises. Credit: Apple

A new app from Apple coaches you through breathing exercises, but do these exercises really help reduce stress?

This week, Apple announced a number of new features for the Apple Watch, including an app due out this fall called Breathe, which will "encourage users to take a moment in their day to do deep breathing exercises for relaxation and stress reduction," the company said in a statement

The app will guide users though a timed breathing session, lasting 1 to 5 minutes. The watch can track a user's heart rate, and so at the end of a session, users will see a summary of their heart rate data, Apple said.

Although some experts recommend up to 20 minutes of breathing exercises a day, just 5 minutes of breathing exercises can help people feel calmer and refreshed, said Nancy Harazduk, director of the Mind-Body Medicine Program at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C.

Studies suggest that deep-breathing exercises may reduce certain types of stress and anxiety, and can temporarily lower blood pressure . But many of these studies have been small, so more research is needed to learn more about the exact benefits of deep-breathing exercises, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

Deep breathing is a type of relaxation technique that is intended to counteract the body's normal response to stress, the "fight or flight" response. Deep breathing lowers heart rate and reduces levels of stress hormones, according to the NCCIH.

And because deep breathing dilates blood vessels, it can also lower blood pressure, Harazduk said .

In addition, when you breathe deeply, you take in more oxygen, which may help improve your mental concentration and release endorphins that increase feelings of well-being, she told Live Science .

Focusing on breathing can also take your mind off stressful thoughts. "One of the ways of letting go thoughts of anxiety or stress is by focusing on our breathing," Harazduk said. [ 11 Tips to Lower Stress

Studies show that deep breathing and other relaxation techniques may reduce anxiety in people undergoing certain medical procedures, such as breast biopsies or dental treatment, the NCCIH said. A 2013 study from researchers in South Korea found that burn patients who practiced breathing exercises had lower scores on measures of pain and anxiety when doctors treated their burns, compared with people who didn't practice the breathing exercises.

Deep breathing might also help with some day-to-day stresses. A 2013 study from researchers at Tufts University found that people who had anxiety about taking math tests performed better on the tests, and reported feeling calmer, if they practiced a breathing exercise beforehand.

However, breathing exercises by themselves may not be the best treatment for people with generalized anxiety disorder , a mental health condition in which people find it hard to control their anxiety, according to the NCCIH. Studies suggest that people with generalized anxiety disorder who are treated with psychotherapy do better than those who practice relaxation techniques alone.

And although breathing exercises can lower blood pressure in the short term, it's not certain how long these effects last. The Food and Drug Administration approved a device called Resperate, which helps people slow their breathing, to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. A review study conducted by the British Hypertension Society, which included nearly 500 patients, found that the device did lower blood pressure, by about 3.7 millimeters of mercury for systolic and 2.5 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure, on average..

But the longest-duration study in the review was nine weeks. The Society said that, because the effect was small and the studies were short, it could not recommend Resperate at this time.

Deep-breathing techniques should not be used as a replacement for conventional care, or to postpone seeing a doctor for a health problem, the NCCIH said.

The Breathe app will be available in the fall with the next update to the Apple Watch operating system, called watchOS 3.


The world's healthiest countries have only one thing in common

We were all kind of wondering what the secret to being healthy is, and are super grateful to celebrity trainer and nutritionist Harley Pasternak for gallivanting around the world to find some answers, which he documented in his 2010 book The Five Factor Diet.

Through all the countries he visited and cultures he investigated, Pasternak found one common denominator when it came to healthy societies and it’s (drumroll please) walking. Yup, walking.

"The only overlapping feature in most of these healthy countries around the world is that they all walk way more than the average American," Pasternak told The Huffington Post.

"So really, regardless of what you’re eating, if someone’s walking four miles more than you each day, they’re going to be a lot thinner and live a lot longer than you."

Oh man, walking, buddy, we’ve been treating you like this whatever activity, just a utilitarian way to get from Point A to Point B, but now we see, you are the golden secret to health. Oh walking, we’ll never underestimate you again.

Walking was the one common thing all healthy cultures had in common, but there were other commonalities that North Americans (not a particularly healthy culture, damn you processed sugar and sedentary lifestyle!) could definitely learn from. North Americans tend to eat bigger portions than other countries, and we also scarf down our food instead of letting mealtime be a moderately-paced event.

But remember, the one thing all the healthiest cultures have in common is walking, so lace up your sneakers, and get to it, friend, you got four miles and the day isn’t getting any younger.

Lots of countries are healthier, but there's only one factor connecting the healthiest.

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"The high-gloss finish of the jet black iPhone 7 is achieved through a precision nine-step anodization and polishing process," says the fine print. "Its surface is equally as hard as other anodized Apple products; however, its high shine may show fine micro-abrasions with use. If you are concerned about this, we suggest you use one of the many cases available to protect your iPhone."Oops! Apple made a really pretty phone, but you have to cover it up to keep it that way. Truth be told, many of us are so paranoid about breaking our phones that we're hard-pressed to remember what color they are under our cases. The iPhone 7 is supposed to be water-resistant — and it did just get cheaper to replace broken screens — but who really wants to take the risk with a device this expensive and indispensable? At least there are some reasonable transparent cases on the market.

iPhone 7 High Gloss Black Scratch Warning

A footnote on Apple's iPhone 7 page warns that the glossy black version scratches easily.


Introducing our first-ever tally of America's wealthiest celebrities:

GOLF. RHYMING VERSE. Even fancy card tricks: There are innumerable ways to earn great fame and fortune by entertaining people, and no one has done it better than the 20 on this diverse list. It's our first-ever tally of the country's wealthiest celebrities, and we had just one criterion: We considered only those who got rich off their fame, not those--such as the president-elect--who became famous because of their wealth.

Topping the list: George Lucas, who boasts a $4.6 billion net worth , much of it from selling his company to Disney in 2012. The Star Wars creator has largely retired from filmmaking and now has little to do with the franchise including this year's highly anticipated installment, Rogue One but still owns the reportedly 6,000-acre Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, California.

Full list: America's Richest Celebrities 2016

He edges second-ranked Steven Spielberg ($3.7 billion), who makes the cut thanks largely to a fortune earned with his personal production companies, from DreamWorks to current project Amblin Partners. It helps that the famed director has pocketed a slice of Universal theme-parks revenue since 1987, when he negotiated a blockbuster deal after hits like E.T. and Jaws.

Hollywood features heavily: The top three richest and 20% of the members of the list made their fortunes in filmed entertainment.. Take America's wealthiest female celebrity, Oprah (No. 3, $2.8 billion): Ratings at the former talk-show queen's OWN cable network finally rose this year, but Weight Watchers stock--of which she owns 10%--is suffering.

Oprah Winfrey ranks No. 3 on our first-ever list of America's Richest Celebrities with a net worth of $2.8 billion (Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

She is one of six African-Americans on our list of 20 , just ahead of fourth-ranked sneaker king Michael Jordan ($1.2 billion) and Diddy (No. 6, $750 million). The latter has parlayed 1990s hip-hop stardom into a diversified empire, including a lucrative partnership with Diageo's Cîroc vodka.

You associate the name with the product, says Eric Schmidt, director of alcohol research at Beverage Marketing Corporation, of Diddy's involvement with Cîroc. And the thing really took off.

Diddy is joined by fellow rappers-turned-moguls Dr. Dre (No. 8; $710 million) and Jay Z (No. 11; $610 million). They comprise three of eight musicians on the ranking, most of whom have years of touring to thank for their net worths. Not on the list: Beyoncé, whose $265 million net worth pegs her below the $360 million cut off for this ranking.

From his earliest days playing tiny clubs like The Main Point and the Stone Pony to today's stadium shows, for over 40 years Bruce Springsteen has shown himself to be one of the most dynamic concert entertainers in the business, said entertainment attorney Bernie Resnick of the hard-working rock star (No. 14; $460 million), who has grossed more than $1.5 billion on the road. The income generated from extensive touring on such a massive scale has to be highly beneficial to Mr. Springsteen's financial well being.

Live shows help more than just musicians: David Copperfield makes the list from decades of conjuring cash. The illusionist has turned his earnings into the world's largest collection of magic artifacts and a formidable real estate portfolio that includes an enclave of 11 Bahamian private islands.

Tiger Woods may not have a stash of enchanted antiquities, but he does own a $60 million property in Jupiter Island, Florida. With a net worth of $740 million, the 40-year-old golfer is the youngest member of the list. Besides Jordan, Phil Mickelson is the only other athlete to make the cut.

To compile net worths, we valued those who hold private companies by speaking with an array of outside experts and conservatively comparing the companies with public competitors. We calculated the stakes in public companies using stock prices from December 5. For entertainers without private companies, we based our estimates on net lifetime earnings. Real estate, art and other assets--such as magic collections--were also factored in where applicable. Eligibility for this list was limited to American citizens who have gotten rich off their fame, rather than become famous for their wealth. We attempted to vet these numbers with all list members. Some cooperated; some didn't.

America's Richest Celebrities 2016: George Lucas Leads Steven Spielberg And Oprah

Fame might be fickle, but it sure pays well.


At First, Her Tattoo Reads "I’m Fine." Now Watch What Happens When She Stands Up...

In a class I had with her, she opened up about her own struggles that she has faced with her own mental illness. Hearing her words made me realize that even though it can seem like you are the happiest, most intelligent, or down-to-earth human being, everyone has struggles. I sought her out not long after. She helped me find the right help that I needed.

Inspired by her college professor’s story, Miles made a pivotal decision in her life. She got a tattoo and wrote a Facebook status about her depression that has since gone viral on the platform.

Miles’s tattoo is actually an ambigram. It reads "I’m fine" from most angles, but if you look at from another angle, it can read "save me." The tattoo is a powerful symbol that represents the struggle of those who deal with depression.

Since posting the status on Facebook, Miles has gone on to become a major voice for those who suffer from mental illnesses. She says,

You’d be surprised by how many people YOU know that struggle with depression, anxiety, or other mental illness. I may only be one person, but one can save another...and that’s all I could really ask for.

At First, Her Tattoo Reads "I’m Fine." Now Watch What Happens When Sh...


49 gross things most girls secretly enjoy

1. Peeling off a big piece of nail varnish in one go. 2. Scraping a really good chunk of dirt out from under your nail.

3. Crumbling off your mascara instead of using makeup remover.

4. Not flossing as a treat. 5. Wearing the same bra for several days (weeks?) and not giving a shit.

6. Smelling the clothes you wore yesterday and realising you can definitely wear them again. 7. Using dry shampoo instead of actual shampoo. For several days in a row.

8. Just washing your fringe, and everyone thinking you’ve got lovely clean hair.

9. Picking crumbs out of your bra... and if you’re feeling really gross, eating them.

10. Finding something even better than crumbs in your bra, like popcorn. Yum.

11. Chilling out in front of the TV with your hands down your pants.

12. Running your fingers through your pubes in a non-sexual way..

13. Eating something that fell on the floor – three second rule. Or is it five seconds?

14. Keeping a tampon in for slightly longer than you’re meant to.

15. Wrapping toilet paper round your pants instead of using a pad.

20. Cleaning your body with wet wipes instead of having a shower, meaning you can wake up later.

23. Picking out your eye goop and marvelling at the size of it.

24. Getting a big bit of ear wax out of your ear.

25. Not bothering to wash your sports bra because it’s only going to get dirty again anyway.

26. Plucking out a really tough hair on your face, and putting it on your mirror like a hunting trophy.

27. Squeezing a whitehead and watching a really long pus worm wiggle out.

28. Squeezing a massive zit which hits the mirror..

31. Staring in awe at all the gunk that comes out on a pore strip.

32. Waking up on Saturday, and going to the shops in your oldest, grubbiest clothes/pyjamas with no make-up and greasy hair. Also known as "Grossery" shopping*.

33. Putting fresh make-up over yesterday’s make-up which you didn’t bother to clean off.

34. Smelling your armpits and being impressed by the scent.

35. Whacking new deodorant over old deodorant instead of having a shower. 36. Using perfume instead of having a shower.

Via *Cami Quiroz for grossery shopping / Facebook: cami.quiroz.50

37. Dusting your flakey scalp and watching the flakes fall like snow. 38. Scratching your scalp and getting lots of satisfying dead skin under your fingernails.

39. Warming your hands inside you bra by holding your boobs. 40. Picking weird dusty grey stuff out of your belly button. 41. Pulling out a particularly long, wiry pube that catches your attention. 42. Looking into the toilet to admire the size of your poo.

44. Feeling proud when you do a really noisy fart.

45. Wearing make-up that you bought about 10 years ago.

46. Pulling hairs out of your bum crack in the shower.

47. Spreading your stray hairs on the shower wall.

48. Rolling stray hairs into little balls and throwing them in the vague direction of the bin, missing the bin and leaving it.

49. Cutting your nails, and not paying attention to wear they fly.

49 Gross Things Most Girls Secretly Enjoy


How Oprah's famous car giveaway changed 1 woman's life

It was "The Oprah Winfrey Show" episode people couldn't stop talking about. On Sept. 13, 2004, Oprah stunned viewers by giving every member of her audience a brand new Pontiac G6 with her famous announcement, "You get a car! You get a car! Everybody gets a car!"

Kiley Russell, one of the lucky recipients in the audience that day, looks back on that exciting moment on a new episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" As she explains in the above clip, something Oprah said to the audience stuck with her. "She said, 'We're not just giving away cars, we're improving the way people live their lives,'" Russell says..

In the video, Russell says she had recently been diagnosed with lupus and took Oprah's message to heart. "Sometimes people say something to you and it's like a tuning fork on your spine -- it just rocks you," she says.

"I decided to sell the car and use that as seed money to start Big Girl Cosmetics," Russell says. She explains that Big Girl Cosmetics isn't about size, it's a state of mind -- like her slogan, "Think big, live big." The makeup line includes a tribute to Oprah, a lip gloss called Angel's Halo. "Since she gave us our start and she was my angel, I thought it'd be nice to offer a tribute to her," Russell says.

After opening Big Girl Makeup Bar & Spa in Chicago, Russell started pursuing her next dream: to get her products into Macy's stores. She says she called the company almost every day for two years. "And then two years ago, Macy's finally calls me," Russell says. "I think my heart jumped out of my chest."

Macy's held Big Girl Cosmetics launch parties in stores across the country to announce the new line, including a celebration at Macy's on State Street in Chicago.

"The biggest lesson I've learned is that anything is possible," Russell says. "It sounds cliché, but miracles really do happen. If you plan and persevere, it's possible."

Oprah Car Winner Kiley Russell Used Her Prize To Chase Her Dream (VIDEO)

It was "The Oprah Winfrey Show" episode people couldn't stop talking ab...

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Could this comedian be the new face of "SNL"?

Sasheer Zamata is reportedly one of three women of color in the running to join the "SNL" cast come January. After watching this video of hers from 2012 -- which got Lena Dunham's seal of approval on Twitter this past Monday -- it's safe to say that this funny lady is nothing short of awesome. (Though we already knew that.)

This is crazy funny and a wonderful antidote to today's internet: http://t..co/kByObCwNsC cc: @thesheertruth — Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) December 17, 2013

Written by Zamata and directed by Chioke Nassor, Zamata plays herself and a man who once randomly flashed her.

The parody is hilariously split between Zamata telling her side of the story and imagining her flasher's perception of the events. At one point in the video, Zamata satirically reflects on the experience: "I've had worse encounters with d**ks before. This guy was at least polite. He called me miss. He asked me if I needed a walk home. He double checked. He took out his d**k, I said no, and he put it away. It was actually kind of respectful, if anything."

Sasheer Zamata Is Definitely Ready For 'SNL' -- Here's Proof

Sasheer Zamata is reportedly one of three women of col...

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You may be surprised when you find out who was just ranked the most popular U.S. senator

In poll after poll, Americans give the cold shoulder to Congress. The latest Gallup poll shows that Americans give Congress an 18 percent approval rating — its highest mark since May 2015.

Despite the bottom-of-the-barrel numbers for Congress, many Americans tend to approve of their specific representative. But in 2014, 51 percent of respondents said they disapprove of their representative, the first time that number crested the 50 percent mark.

With all of these negative reviews, it’s worth asking: Do Americans like anyone in Washington, D.C.?

Using data from Morning Consult, Graphiq politics site InsideGov examined which senators are the most popular among their constituents. Morning Consult conducted interviews with more than 62,000 registered voters from Jan. 8, 2016, to April 17, 2016, to find which senators have the highest approval rating. InsideGov ranked the list by approval rating, and in the event of a tie, senators are ranked by their disapproval rating. In one instance, two senators have the same approval and disapproval numbers; they were listed alphabetically.

No Opinion: 18 Percent Capito, a Republican out of West Virginia, began her career in the U.S. House in 2001. When she was elected to the Senate in 2014, Capito became the first female senator to represent West Virginia.

No Opinion: 20 Percent This Democrat out of New Mexico is part of the large Udall family, which planted its political roots in the western states of Arizona and Colorado. Udall served in the House of Representatives for 10 years before being elected to the Senate in 2008.

No Opinion: 9 Percent Shaheen has served in politics since the early 1990s, getting her start in state-level work in New Hampshire. The Democrat served three terms as governor, and was first elected to the Senate in 2008. She won reelection in 2014 against Republican Scott Brown, a one-time Cosmo centerfold who entered politics in Massachusetts in 1998.

No Opinion: 21 Percent In 2014, the Wyoming Republican won reelection with 71 percent of the vote. Enzi is among the most conservative members of Congress, according to a recent InsideGov analysis.

No Opinion: 21 Percent This Democrat out of Oregon has been a staple on Capitol Hill for 35 years, first serving in the House of Representatives. He was elected to the Senate in 1996, and is running for his fifth consecutive term in 2016.

No Opinion: 13 Percent Shelby began his career as a Democrat, but switched to the Republican Party in 1994.. He was elected to the Senate in 1986 and is the chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

No Opinion: 14 Percent Before his election to the Senate in 2010, Blumenthal was a lawyer and served as Connecticut’s Attorney General for 20 years. He attended Yale Law School with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 1970s, and hosted a fundraiser in March for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential run.

No Opinion: 16 Percent A Rhode Island native, Reed has served in the Senate since 1997. He was reelected in 2014 with about 71 percent of the vote.

No Opinion: 18 Percent This freshman senator from Montana served one term in the House before his 2014 election to the Senate.

No Opinion: 20 Percent Murkowski has served in the Senate since 2002. In 2010, tea party favorite Joe Miller defeated Murkowski in the Republican primary in Alaska. But Murkowski ran as a write-in candidate during the general election that November and won with 39.94 percent of the vote, compared to Miller’s 35.49 percent. Murkowski is running for reelection in 2016, and will face former Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan in this year’s GOP primary.

No Opinion: 18 Percent After serving five terms in the Senate and 10 years in the House, Mikulski announced she would not run for reelection in 2016. She first came to Capitol Hill in 1977 and is the longest serving female member of Congress.

No Opinion: 12 Percent A Harvard Law professor turned senator, Warren is a progressive firebrand who made her name advocating for consumer financial protections. She was elected to the Senate in 2012.

No Opinion: 13 Percent A South Dakota native, Thune was first elected to the Senate in 2004. He ran uncontested in 2010 because state Democrats felt the race would be pointless against the well-liked senator. "We just concluded that John Thune is an extremely popular senator who is going to win another term in the Senate," Democratic state Sen. Scott Heidepriem said at the time.

No Opinion: 15 Percent This Brooklyn native is a lifelong politician, joining the New York state Assembly in January 1975 at the age of 24. Schumer went on to serve in the U.S. House for 18 years, and assumed his Senate seat in 1999. Schumer is running for reelection in 2016. Should he win his race, he will likely take over as the Senate Democratic leader.. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is retiring at the end of this year.

No Opinion: 16 Percent Warner served one term as governor of Virginia before his election to the U.S. Senate in 2008. In 2014, he won reelection in a hotly contested race against well-known Republican strategist Ed Gillespie.

No Opinion: 11 Percent For Franken, serving two terms in the Senate has been no laughing matter. The longtime "Saturday Night Live" cast member was first elected in 2008 after a tight race that required a manual recount and the Minnesota Supreme Court to weigh in on the results.

No Opinion: 13 Percent A Delaware native, Coons was first elected to the Senate in 2010. Although he initially identified as a Republican, Coons said he became a Democrat after a trip to Kenya during his junior year at Amherst College..

No Opinion: 8 Percent Barrasso first came to Capitol Hill in 2007, when he was appointed to fill the seat of the late Sen.. Craig Thomas, who died from leukemia. In the 2012 election, Barrasso won his first full term with 76 percent of the vote.

No Opinion: 11 Percent In 2006, Klobuchar became the first woman to be elected to represent Minnesota in the Senate. In 2008, the New York Times name-dropped her as a potential for the first female president of the U.S.

No Opinion: 11 Percent This Democrat has bounced around Delaware politics since the 1970s, first serving as the state’s treasurer and then in the U.S. House. Carper was then the governor for eight years before getting elected to the Senate in 2000. He was reelected to his third term in 2012 with 66.4 percent of the vote.

No Opinion: 8 Percent Leahy has been a familiar face on Capitol Hill for decades, winning his first election to the Senate in 1974. A Democrat out of Vermont, Leahy tends to hold more liberal views.

No Opinion: 11 Percent King served as the governor of Maine for two terms, and 10 years later, he was sworn into the Senate. In between his stints in the government, King went on a 15,000-mile road trip with his family and taught courses on leadership at Bowdoin College and Bates College.

No Opinion: 16 Percent Hoeven jumped into politics in 2000 and hasn’t looked back. He was elected to three terms as North Dakota’s governor, and then to the Senate in 2010. The Republican is running for reelection in 2016.

No Opinion: 8 Percent Collins, a Republican out of Maine, has the second-highest approval rating on this list. She was first elected to the Senate in 1996, and currently heads up the Special Committee on Aging.

all news, rare politics, bernie sanders, elizabeth warren, senate


Here’s How Many Black People Have Been Killed By Police Since Colin Kaepernick Began Protesting

At least 15 black people have died during encounters with the police since San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began protesting police violence by kneeling before NFL games, based on numbers compiled by The Guardian.

Kaepernick’s decision to sit or take a knee during the national anthem first drew attention after his team’s Aug. 26 preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, when he told NFL.com that he was "not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." Since then, Kaepernick’s continued protest has drawn considerable criticism from politicians, police unions, pundits, other professional athletes and many on social media who have opposed both his message and his method of conveying it.

But the problem Kaepernick wants to highlight has continued. And on Monday, it was back in the news again, after police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, released multiple videos that showed the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher.

The videos show that 40-year-old Crutcher, like so many other black men, was unarmed with his hands in the air when police officers shot and killed him as he returned to his car, which had stalled in the middle of a roadway. The videos run contrary to the department’s initial statements about the shooting, which claimed that Crutcher had ignored officers’ warning to raise his hands.

Since @Kaepernick7 attempted to raise awareness about police reform in America, police have killed 67 people. In 22 days. #TerenceCrutcher — Black Irish (@Mint_mulatto) September 19, 2016

Overall, police have killed at least 67 people since Kaepernick’s protest began, according to The Guardian’s database. Roughly 22 percent of the victims have been black.. Police have killed more than 780 people so far in 2016, according to The Guardian’s numbers. At least 193 of those people ― or about 25 percent ― were black. Of the 15 black people killed since Kaepernick’s demonstration started, at least 11 were shot, according to The Washington Post’s tracker of fatal police shootings.

The white officer who shot Crutcher, Betty Shelby, was placed on paid administrative leave while the department investigates the case ― another issue Kaepernick highlighted when he spoke out against police killings.

"To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way," Kaepernick said. "There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

ASSOCIATED PRESS Terence Crutcher, 40, is one of at least 15 African-Americans to die during encounters with police since Kaepernick began protesting before NFL games in late August.

Kaepernick’s message has spread across the sports world since the start of the NFL season. Players on a number of NFL teams ― including the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans ― joined his demonstration during the first week of the NFL season.

The Denver Broncos’ Brandon Marshall, who has taken a knee during the anthem, responded to the Terence Crutcher video by saying such situations are the "exact reason we’re protesting."

Some of the protests have drawn the ire of police. In Miami, the union that represents the Broward County Sheriff’s Office called on the department to stop providing security details for Dolphins’ games after four members of the team knelt during the anthem last week. "In certain professions," the head of the union said, "an individual’s freedom of speech must take a back seat to the organization or government entity that they choose to represent."

The NFL Players Association, which has stood behind Kaepernick’s right to protest, fired back at that statement Monday. "Don’t we stop being the land of the free and the home of the brave when a citizen is asked to take a ‘backseat’ for expressing his freedom by those sworn to defend it?" DeMaurice Smith, the NFLPA’s executive director, said in a statement. "Players don’t stop being men and citizens just because they are wearing a jersey."

And while many have questioned how a black athlete could qualify as oppressed, recent cases highlight that Kaepernick and other black athletes are also at risk of experiencing police violence.

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Two Hawaii swimmers get bit in ocean NOT by shark

Just like many preschoolers, it seems he confused biting with playing. His chosen playmates? Two triathletes swimming in Kamakahonu Bay on Hawaii Island.

The swimmers were training for the upcoming Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona when Kamilo started following and circling them yesterday morning. The seal eventually bit one of them on the knee and the other in the abdomen. The injuries were minor.

Kamilo is a 6-month-old, 100-pound endangered monk seal, who was likely trying to play with the swimmers and meant no harm. But as 2,000 triathletes descend on Kailua-Kona for Saturday's competition, it seemed best to remove Kamilo from the waters.

The Marine Mammal Center dispatched two marine biologists and a veterinarian to catch the pup and take him to safety on Tuesday. He is currently in a cage under the center’s supervision until a decision is made about where to take him.

According to Michelle Barbieri, the veterinarian who is overseeing Kamilo’s care, the decision has been slightly delayed due to the government shutdown, as officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association have been furloughed.

Kamilo isn’t sweating the shutdown though. "He’s adjusting nicely and mostly sleeping," Barbieri told West Hawaii Today. It might even be welcome alone time, as one Marine Mammal Center volunteer reports that Kamilo has been the victim of frequent harassment by humans trying to pet or play with him.

There are only 1,100 Hawaiian Monk Seals left and their numbers are decreasing at a rate of 4% a year. Under the Endangered Species Act, harming a monk seal can result in a fine of up to $50,000 or imprisonment up to one year.

For more information on monk seal protection, visit the Marine Mammal Center website.

Kamilo the Hawaiian Monk Seal is in time out.

Just like many preschoolers, it seems he confused biting with playing. His chosen playmates? Two triath...

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San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith and former teammate, Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker, were both named in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by a California man who alleges he was "caught in the crossfire" during a gunfight involving the two players.

Ronndale Esporlas, 21, claimed he was shot twice during the incident and sustained "serious, catastrophic and permanent injuries," according to the suit.

The alleged incident occurred during a large party thrown at Smith’s home in San Jose, Calif. on June 29, 2012, during which Smith was stabbed and two people were shot, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

According to the suit, the party began to spiral out of control. In an effort to end the event, Smith, Walker and others "appeared on the balcony of the house, brandished handguns, and began shooting in the air."

Esporlas’ attorney, David Klaczek, wrote that Walker then moved onto the driveway where he "began firing a handgun in the air and toward others attending the party." A group in the street allegedly returned fire and Esporlas was struck.

The Sacramento Bee reported that Smith had known the lawsuit was coming for some time.

"Things happen," he said Wednesday. "You've just got to focus on the things that you do. I'm focused on playing against Green Bay, and we'll see how it goes."

The 49ers also acknowledged the suit in a statement, saying the organization has been "aware of this matter concerning Aldon Smith for some time. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, but will have no further comment at this time, as this is an ongoing legal matter."

Aldon Smith And Delanie Walker, NFL Players, Named In Gunfight Lawsuit

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith and former teammate, Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker, were both named in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by ...

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The 'Grease' Theory About Sandy Puts The Film In A Morbid But Interesting Perspective

The internet is certainly filled with crazy theories, but this Grease. The theory is that Sandy was dead the whole time. Yes, this definitely sounds very Sixth Sense, but, if true, it means Grease may have the most shocking twist ever put to film. The internet is certainly filled with crazy theories, but this new theory about Grease may be one of the craziest yet. No surprise, it comes straight from Reddit. One user named atomicbolt questioned Grease 's flying into the clouds ending , believing it's just a little too perfect.. Somehow, the user managed to then find a way to make the movie's happy ending a rather morbid one that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew aboutThe theory is that Sandy was dead the whole time. Yes, this definitely sounds verybut, if true, it meansmay have the most shocking twist ever put to film.

The theorist, who came up with this idea three years ago, claims that, when Danny sings that he saved Sandy's life before "she nearly drowned" in "Summer Nights," he in fact didn't. She really did drown. The whole movie is actually Sandy's fantasy of what could have happened if she survived. Or, as this theory proposes, "the entire movie was a drowning woman's coma fantasy."

It's hard not to be skeptical of this very unlikely theory, but, to this Redditor's credit, they do manage to give some credence to this idea. Not that there aren't some holes in this plot theory, too. To further investigate this newly resurfaced claim, it's worth looking at the evidence presented and then asking a few follow-up questions.

The theory begins by looking at the opening beach sequence, which has the two young lovebirds fooling around in the surf. While this may look innocent to the average viewer, to this Redditor user, it's a clue that hints at the tragedy that would come. Atomicbolt believes "as she drowned, the brain deprived of oxygen, she had a vivid coma fantasy involving her summer fling Danny, where they shared a magical year of high school together."

Now, it is surprising that the two end up going to the same exact school, but never managed to talk about it in their time together. But it's not so crazy that I'd jump to the "she's dead" conclusion. People do move. Summer flings are meant for just that season, and the two may have preferred to keep things in the now instead of getting to know each other deeply only to separate forever. This was pre-internet.

Sandy's explanation that she didn't go back to Australia because of a "change of plans" does raise a few flags though. That seems like a plan you couldn't just go and change at the last minute. But it doesn't seem like a clear sign that she's recently deceased; instead, it seems like a sign that her parents may not be great at making plans. Or that Sandy is a little bit of a stalker.

But the theory then goes on to question all those "outlandish" visions that occur throughout the movie, believing the only explanation is that Sandy has dreamt up her own vision of what her senior year of high school could be as Danny tries to resuscitate her. It's true that there are random musical numbers and visions in this movie that make very little sense: Frenchy's teen angel who encourages her to go back to school, Danny and his T-Birds' magical car rebuilding montage, and, of course, that flying car.

When it comes to explaining the flying car, the theory believes that it's actually Sandy riding off to heaven in that red convertible. Honestly, that's as good an explanation for the ending as anyone's come up with. Even Jim Jacobs, original co-creator of the play, admitted to The Daily Herald in 2010 that really explain the car. When it comes to explaining the flying car, the theory believes that it's actually Sandy riding off to heaven in that red convertible. Honestly, that's as good an explanation for the ending as anyone's come up with. Even Jim Jacobs, original co-creator of the play, admitted toin 2010 that the ending to Grease confuses everyone . He says it's not about Sandy becoming a leather-clad chick for her new guy, but, instead, a "good old-fashioned razz against those... Hollywood movies that turned the main guy into a fine, upstanding citizen." Sure, that's what it is. But that still doesn'texplain the car.

Another Reddit user, Randomd0g does point out that the ending of Another Reddit user, Randomd0g does point out that the ending of Grease feels like it's all in Sandy's head , just like so many of those visions. They're all quite innocent, which could point to them being a figment of Sandy's imagination. They don't compare her to Sandra Dee for nothing."Danny and Sandy are back together despite everything, Rizzo SUDDENLY isn't pregnant AND Kenickie suddenly decides that he actually loves her, the geeky kid gets onto the sports team," the Redditor writes. "EVERYTHING is suddenly ok, just the way that sweet, innocent Sandy would have wanted it to be. And in the last shot of the movie, she flies up to heaven with her dream boyfriend in her magic flying car."

But while the flying car is a strange way to end the movie, this is a movie, which means, technically, anything is possible — even the most outlandish of events. It's the hitch in this theory, and another one that claims that But while the flying car is a strange way to end the movie, thisa movie, which means, technically, anything is possible — even the most outlandish of events. It's the hitch in this theory, and another one that claims that actually Danny and Sandy are both dead . (He allegedly dreams up his final year of high school after losing his life trying to save a blonde girl he names "Sandy.") This "Sandy is dead" theory rests so fully on the idea of this car being her transportation to the other side, and it's surely an absurd ending to have two people ride off into the clouds, but there are a lot of moments in Grease that get more absurd the more you've seen the movie

The truth is, whether this theory is true or not, it's clearly bursting all of our bubbles about Sandy and Danny's high school romance. It really all comes to down to whether you believe in fairytale love where cars can fly. Personally, I prefer to keep my head in the clouds on this one.

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Activists seek to completely overturn state's new gun laws

The battle over gun control in Colorado may be headed directly to voters this year after activists on both sides of the fight filed proposals for new ballot measures. Two of the proposals would effectively overturn all of the gun legislation signed into state law last year.

While one measure would seek to limit concealed weapons on public colleges and universities in the state, another initiative would overturn the ban on ammunition magazines holding over 15 rounds.

Republican activists Tom Lucero and Patrick Davis, of Larimer County and Colorado Springs, respectively, filed a proposal to "prohibit any restriction on the purchase or possession of ammunition storage and feeding devices other than a restriction enacted by a voter-approved law."

Another initiative would rescind all the gun legislation passed in 2013 and mandate that any future bills limiting gun rights be decided by voters. It was proposed by Tea Party activist Mike Holler and local attorney Anne Gill, who was previously involved in 2006 litigation over Denver's local firearms ordinances.

Last week, Republican House Leader Rep. Brian DelGrosso announced that his party would also introduce a bill in the Legislature to repeal the 15-round magazine limit, but Democrats hold a wide majority in the House and a slim majority in the Senate and will make it difficult for the measure to pass.

The proposals come after a contentious year in the state's legislature, during which two Colorado legislators were recalled for their their part in passing the new gun control laws. On Thursday, Magpul Industries Corp., one of the country's largest producers of gun ammunition magazines, announced that it would leave Colorado for Wyoming and Texas as promised in protest of stricter gun laws.

Each of the proposals is still in the title hearing phase and will have to gather over 86,000 signatures to make the ballot.

Activists Seek To Completely Overturn Colorado's New Gun Laws

The battle over gun control in Colorado may be headed directly to voters this year after activists on both sides of the fight filed proposals for new bal...

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This United horror story is just heartbreaking

The United horror stories keep coming out of the woodwork. After the internet exploded over a viral video showing a man being forcibly dragged from his seat on a United flight last weekend, another passenger has taken to Medium to share his horrible experience with the airline.

Trey Harris' tale of inhumane customer service and unreasonable responses left him frustrated and upset — enough so he wrote a lengthy post Thursday about the incident, which happened at the beginning of last month.

Harris' honeymoon was nearly ruined when United barred him from bringing his "previously-approved, DOT & TSA-allowed mobility device," a Segway miniPro, on board his flight from Newark to San Diego, where the couple had planned to board a cruise. Harris says in the post he has spondylitis, a type of autoimmune spinal arthritis, which can make walking difficult.

Based on Harris' account he had done his research and homework to make sure the TSA and United would let him travel with the device. It seemed like everything was set for him and his new husband to saunter onto the plane where they'd splurged on first-class seats since it was their honeymoon.

After making it through security without a hitch, it appears a typo and unreasonable staff threw a wrench in his travel plans. A note about his call into the airline about the device seems to have said he was not allowed on board with the device — which didn't make sense since the TSA and the rest of the note clearly stated everything was copacetic. "I tried to explain that logic to them, but they were unyielding," he wrote.

United has not responded to our request for comment on this alleged incident. In an email Friday, Harris declined to speak beyond what he wrote in the Medium post until he could touch base with a lawyer.

The drama continued with a lot of confusion about whether the Segway was actually a hoverboard and prone to exploding. No matter how much evidence Harris presented — he got a United special needs representative on his cellphone to tell staff at the airport that his device was allowed on board and a TSA representative to OK it in person — the staff at the gate was relentless. The pilot was called in to assess the situation and eventually said no, too.

Harris and his husband ultimately had to leave the Segway at the gate since they didn't want to miss the cruise. They weren't allowed to gate-check the device and there was no time to have a friend come pick it up. Using his cane, Harris made it onto the plane.

"We take off, and my honeymoon starts with me sobbing for an hour, my husband consoling me."

"We take off, and my honeymoon starts with me sobbing for an hour, my husband consoling me," Harris wrote.

From there, Harris said he had to find other accommodations for getting around the cruise and they ended up renting a scooter in San Diego for several hundred dollars. The couple had to modify some excursions and getting around was much more difficult with the clunky, unwieldy device than with his Segway. But overall, the couple made it work and had been enjoying their vacation until there was another nightmarish turn.

About halfway through the cruise, Harris received messages that he had "abandoned a hazardous material at an international airport," and a hazmat team was handling it. He would owe money for its disposal and he could face arrest when he arrived in Newark for the alleged crime, according to the messages.

"I spent the rest of cruise terrified and stressed out," he said. Once they disembarked in San Diego their plans for a day in the city were thrown off again without his Segway, he explained in the post.

Thankfully, once back in Newark he wasn't arrested and baggage crews returned his Segway to him. Everything more or less worked out, even if his honeymoon was anything but smooth.

Harris wrote that his post isn't an attempt to get paid by United, but is more about receiving an apology. And assurance that next time he flies he can bring his device with him. The couple's already booked the same cruise next year.

After the week United's had many company policies and changes are in the works. We'll see if this huge PR disaster has any effect on customer experience.

There's another United horror story, and it will break your heart

A man tried to bring his pre-approved mobility device on a United flight, but airline staff refused, ruining his honeymoon.

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She sliced a man's throat in a graveyard. He lived. Now we hear why she did it

Loretta Fettig's lawyer called it "one of the saddest cases I've ever been involved in.."

The sentencing judge said he believed it.

Fettig, now 17, was only 16 when she sliced a man's throat in a graveyard in a failed attempt to murder him. She's been a victim of abuse almost her whole life, public defender Mary Farrell said, including a "very serious" criminal case in Grand Haven when she was 12.

Fettig accused the man she tried to kill of sexually assaulting her in the past, although he's never been criminally charged with that for lack of evidence.

Fettig didn't mention her motive in a brief, soft-spoken statement to the judge before she was sentenced.

"I just want to apologize to the court and to my victim," she said. "Sorry to waste your time."

"She's been victimized by the system quite honestly," Farrell said. "She has not been provided with the mental health assistance that she needs. She has not been provided with the assistance until recently of anything you can call a family."

Though he agreed Fettig's background is "regrettable," Muskegon County Chief Circuit Judge William C. Marietti said it doesn't justify her "extremely violent action."

In her mind, "She had reason to be upset with him (the victim)," the judge said. But "our system is designed to address that in a civil fashion ... not through basically self help."

Without expressing an opinion on whether her accusations against the victim were correct, Marietti said, "it just doesn't justify what she did by any stretch of the imagination." He said it would be "anarchy" if everyone tried to handle private grievances violently.

"But for the grace of God this might be life without parole," Marietti said - the mandatory sentence for premeditated first-degree murder, which was her intention.

Instead, the victim survived and got away, and Fettig pleaded no contest May 2 to assault with intent to murder in exchange for dismissal of a second count of conspiracy to commit that crime.

Cemetery throat-slicing murder plan means prison for plotter

Marietti stuck to a carefully negotiated sentence cap of eight to 30 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections.

That's the same sentence the judge May 31 gave Fettig's co-defendant, Lennell Marshawn Banks, 20, of Muskegon Heights.. Banks had pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit assault with intent to murder, in exchange for dismissal of a charge of assault with intent to murder.

According to a transcript of a Muskegon police detective's sworn probable-cause statement that led to arrest warrants being signed for both defendants, Fettig confessed to slicing a man's throat with a box cutter the evening of Nov. 3, 2015, and Banks admitted helping plan the murder attempt. Both admitted they were armed at the time of the assault, the detective said.

Fettig was 16 at the time of the assault but was charged as an adult because of the seriousness of the crime.

According to the detective's Nov. 6 statement under oath to a magistrate, obtained by MLive from Muskegon County District Court, "Loretta states that she took the box cutter, sliced (the victim's) throat and then attempted to stab him in the stomach with a knife.

"The plan was that Mr. Banks was supposed to be close enough that he was going to jump in and assist finishing the deal, however, he was not in the correct position and was confused as to what she was doing, so," the detective said. "But he admits to taking participation in the planning and being ready to go forward with the plan."

Fettig lured the 22-year-old victim from Getty Street into a nearby cemetery, according to a Muskegon police report. The man ran away and called 911 from his home.


The One Thing Many Older Women Don't Like To Be Called

There are few topics as polarizing as Donald Trump and whether he should be allowed anywhere near nuclear codes, but one comes mighty close: Is being called "ma’am" ageist or a sign of respect?

We asked our Facebook followers to weigh in on The Great Ma’am Debate and here’s what they had to say. Please don’t shoot the messenger, but put your thoughts in the comments below.

Holly Holden-Eklund is adamant about not wanting to be referred to as "Ma’am.." She also objects to "dear," "Hon," and "Darlin’." Says Holden-Ecklund, "I repeatedly restate my name to the offending nurse, waitress, hair stylist. If I state my name over and over, it indicates I would like to be called Holly. As for a cohort label, ‘wise woman’ will do just fine."

Cheryl Fuller Sparks has a different take. "If someone does not know me, or my name, I am touched that they are respectful enough to say ma’am. It is what I do, whether I am face-to-face or on the phone. People deserve that." Susan Shafer works with people representing many different cultures. She also sees ‘ma’am" as a term of respect, generally used for someone older than the speaker. Her advice to the anti-ma’amers: "Get over it. Stop making it mean something it’s not meant to mean."

Speaking in a very practical sense, Mark J. Mathews offered this: "Yeah...hey ‘you anonymous female person’ sounds great as I helped an older woman find a bathroom at the MLB game yesterday....

Susan Thompson got her first "ma’am" when she was just 18. "It kind of blew my mind, but at the time I liked it. I felt very grown-up. It’s kind of a weird word but it doesn’t bother me. What I wish they’d find a replacement for is ‘madam.’ I cringe every time I address something with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ ― sounds like I’m implying she runs a whore house lol." Personally, we prefer brothel.

Marg Sunshine takes her ‘ma’ams" one at a time and doesn’t rush to judgment. "I pay attention to the tone and attitude of the person and the situation first. If someone calls me ‘ma’am’ to be genuinely courteous, then I appreciate it. If, however, it is done with a feeling of mocking, then I don’t like it."

Then there was Janet Rafferty, whose comment we couldn’t love more. "I don’t care for it," she said, "but I don’t really have a good substitute. How about you don’t talk to me at all. :) Kidding. (sort of)" Yeah, us too.

The One Thing Many Older Women Don’t Like To Be Called

There's a word that triggers a really strong reaction, albeit not a uniform one.

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State official: Gay marriage ban needed to "regulate sexual relationships"

When April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse's case goes to trial in Detroit this fall, it could mean the end of Michigan's ban on gay marriage. But that hasn't stopped the state's top lawyer from pushing back against the lawsuit with a recent filing arguing the gay marriage ban allows the state to "regulate sexual relationships."

The lesbian couple initially sued over a law banning joint adoption by same-sex couples: DeBoer has adopted a 3-year-old girl and Rowse has adopted 3- and 4-year old boys. But U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Friedman, a conservative, recommended they instead challenge the constitutionality of Michigan's ban on gay marriage.

Earlier this month, Attorney General Bill Schuette filed a brief in the case in which he claimed the state's definition of marriage was needed to "regulate sexual relationships" and their "unique procreative capacity":

Responsible procreation and childrearing are well-recognized as legitimate State interests served by marriage. One of the paramount purposes of marriage in Michigan -- and at least 37 other states that define marriage as a union between a man and a woman -- is, and has always been, to regulate sexual relationships between men and women so that the unique procreative capacity of such relationships benefits rather than harms society. The understanding of marriage as a union of man and woman, uniquely involving the rearing of children born of their union, is age-old, universal, and enduring. As illustrated by a plethora of research, social scientists have consistently recognized the essential connection between marriage and responsible procreation and childrearing.

In a statement, LGBT advocacy group Equality Michigan Managing Director Emily Dievendorf countered that Schuette's stance was "hypocritical" and not aligned with the Supreme Court's ruling against the Defense of Marriage Act.

"The U.S. Supreme Court ... found that regulating sex for the purpose of procreation is not a role for our government," Dievendorf said in a statement. "Marriage is about more than just procreation, as the Supreme Court said this June, 'marriage is a way for couples to define themselves by their commitment to each other.' Suggesting the benefit of marriage is limited to just producing children is more insulting and damaging to the institution of marriage than anything Schuette fears."

This is not Schuette's first opposition. When he filed a motion to dismiss the case in July, Friedman denied it, writing that DeBoer and Rowse were "entitled to their day in court and they shall have it."

After the Supreme Court struck down DOMA in June, Schuette reiterated that the ruling had no effect on Michigan's gay marriage ban.

"Michigan’s Constitution stands and the will of the people to define marriage as between one man and one woman endures in the Great Lakes State."

But the "will of the people" may have changed since 2004, when the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage passed with 59 percent of the vote. A statewide poll published by the Detroit News earlier this month found that 57 percent of Michiganders support same-sex marriage, a 12.5 percent increase from 2012. However, a poll last month showed that a small majority in Michigan, just over 51 percent, of 600 likely voters would oppose legislation or a ballot measure seeking to allow same-sex marriage.

For some Michiganders, Schuette's brief felt deeply personal. Chris Lacefield is trying to adopt a child with his partner. In a blog post Tuesday, he wrote that the state is failing its LGBT community, as well as some of its children:

"We want to welcome a child into our home, because we want to start a family," he wrote. "Despite the fact that the state we call home does not recognize our relationship and would not recognize our family, we, like many couples our age, feel the basic human need to provide for the next generation. There are children in Michigan who need loving, stable, two parent homes. And Michigan fails them."

"Rather than focusing on the ability of a couple to procreate, perhaps we should be focused on the ability of a couple to provide love, education and moral structure to the children who are already part of our population," Lacefield said.

Michigan Gay Marriage Ban Needed To 'Regulate Sexual Relationships': State Official

When April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse's case goes to trial in Detroit this fall, it could mean the end of Michigan's ban on gay marriage. But that hasn't sto...

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Is this the main plot of Avengers: Infinity War?

Anyone who can read obviously knows the next Avengers sequel will focus on the Infinity Gauntlet (it’s kind of in the title), but a new report claims to have hashed out some key details from the plot of Avengers: Infinity War.

Take it with a grain of salt at the moment, but LRM claims some intel from their "galactic Marvel spies" has dropped the basic setup for Infinity War. The report claims the story will mostly be lifted from the Infinity Gauntlet comic storyline, with Thanos (played by Josh Brolin) using the godlike powers of the gauntlet to impress the personification of death (played by a female actress, possibly filtered through Cate Blanchett's Hela).

So how does that creepy love connection put him at odds with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? Thanos’ plan to impress Death is to "extinguish half the life in the universe to impress her," which could spell trouble for The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and everyone in between.

The report goes on to claim the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury will all be coming out to play for the film. Which makes sense, and jibes with previous reports that have been floating around. Marvel has not been shy about the fact that everything has been building to the third (and fourth) Avengers films, and I’d expect everything that could possibly hit the fan, to hit the fan.

Avengers: Infinity War enters production in November, and is set for release May 4, 2018.


Mum takes 'funny' photo of toddler - breaks down over chilling truth behind it

A mum who took a seemingly innocent snap of her daughter standing on a toilet has spoken of how she 'broke down' when she realised the true meaning behind it.

Stacey Wehrman Feeley, from Michigan in the USA, shared the photo of her three-year-old to her Facebook page.

She wrote: "I took this picture because initially I thought it was funny. I was going to send it to my husband to show what our mischievous little three-year-old was up to.

"However, the moment she told me what she was doing I broke down.

"She was practising for a lockdown drill at her preschool and what you should do if you are stuck in a bathroom."

Stacey had the heartbreaking realisation that her little girl was practising hiding from a gunman, should one enter her nursery.

She continues: "At that moment all innocence of what I thought my three-year-old possessed was gone.

"Politicians - take a look. This is your child, your children, your grandchildren, your great grand children and future generations to come.

"They will live their lives and grow up in this world based on your decisions.

"They are barely 3 and they will hide in bathroom stalls standing on top of toilet seats.

"I do not know what will be harder for them? Trying to remain quiet for an extended amount of time or trying to keep their balance without letting a foot slip below the stall door?"

She goes on to say that gun control might not eliminate 100% of gun crime but if it makes any sort of difference, it's worth it.

Stacey asks what the USA is doing to tackle gun crime, before powerfully ending her note with: "I am not pretending to have all the answers or even a shred of them, but unless you want your children standing on top of a toilet, we need to do something!

breaks down when she realises chilling truth behind it

Initially it was just an amusing snap to send to her husband, until she learned the heartbreaking reality


What have you done for me lately? That is the demanding filter we use to assess candidates for our annual Most Innovative Companies list. It is a brutal, unyielding framework—directly in keeping with today’s business reality. Only a handful of companies repeat on our main Top 50 list year to year because the pace of change is so intense. Successful enterprises struggle to outdo themselves

new entrants with new ideas and new momentum are constantly emerging, demanding attention.

For building the first great-made-on-the intrnet brand

For helping people save, spend, and be entertained

For making the hit laptop nobody saw coming

For its beautiful relationship with the fashion industry

For creating a civil rights group for the 21st century

For making itself the belle of streaming-TV ball

For perfecting customer service for an innovative clientele

The 2015 World's Most Innovative Companies

The 2015 guide to the businesses that matter the most..


She Cuts Her Window Blinds With Some Scissors. The End Result Is Simply Stunning

Windows are an important part of interior design that often go overlooked. When open, they offer a beautiful view of the outside world that looks better than any poster or piece of wall art. Besides, you never know what might find its way inside.

As great as they are when they're open, there are times when we want our windows covered and closed. Whether you need some privacy, or don't want to be woken up by the sun's bright light at 6:30 a.m., a good window shade can come in handy. Cheap blinds often let a lot of light through, which is why this hack from Better Homes And Gardens is the foolproof solution we've been waiting for. The best part? There's an endless number of fabric designs to choose from, allowing you to express your inner designer on a budget.

All you need to complete this DIY project is some fabric, white faux-wood blinds, Mod Podge, clothespins, an iron, and a few other simple tools you probably already have laying around your house. Over the course of a few hours, you can transform your boring, white blinds into Roman Shades that you'll love seeing every time you walk into the room. This craft couldn't be easier, and it sure beats spending a bunch of money at the store. Just make sure that you use thick upholstery fabric on your shades that perfectly matches the rest of the room.

Convert Your Old Window Blinds Into Roman Shades

Windows are an important part of interior design that often goes overlooked. When open, they offer a beautiful view of the outside world that looks better than any poster or piece of wall art.


What Trump is Hiding About Canada Will Leave You Speechless!

With Trump's campaign towards the presidency seeming less and less like a complete joke, it seems that Google has the actual story on American opinions of the fake-haired fop.

You’re either voting for him, or you’re moving to Canada. The undeniably polarizing Donald Trump came away from Super Tuesday as the clear frontrunner for the GOP nomination, but it would seem that those who didn’t go to the polls on his behalf are actually seeking a way to go ... elsewhere.

Following this week’s primaries, the search phrase "how to move to Canada" saw a sudden spike on Google, perhaps indicating that a Trump-headed America is not exactly one that all Americans would desire to take part of.

The abrupt jump wasn’t only a blip on Google’s radar — late Tuesday, Google data editor Simon Rogers noted that the search saw a 350 percent spike in only four hours. But then, things got really uncontrollable. By midnight, the term had peaked over 1,150 percent, and then dropped off to a still impressive 500 percent more than customary. On Wednesday morning, Google Trends tweeted that, "Searches for ‘Move to Canada’ are higher than at any time in Google history."

While it’s worth noting that there’s no definitive signs that it was Trump’s success that prompted this interest in mass exodus (Hillary Clinton came away the big winner on the Democratic side), even Google seems to believe that Canada’s appeal might have a little more to do with the Donald than other things. In a chart the search engine posted via Twitter, Trump’s triumphs in seven states are suggested as the catalyst behind the search spike.

And it'd appear that people are doing more than simply searching how to move to Canada — in fact, it appears that several people are very seriously looking into relocating. As Mashable points out, the Canadian government’s website posted an error message in the hours after Super Tuesday, which read, "You may experience delays while using the site. We are working to resolve this problem. Thanks for your patience." Seemingly, the Canadian website isn’t built for a lot of Americans to be on it at exactly the same time.

So if you’re contemplating a brand new home come November’s results, only know your not alone!


Simple, compact trailer has a secret purpose you will never see coming – take a look

If you're an all-around outdoorsman, this trailer is everything you didn't even know you wanted, or was possible. The German designers and engineers at Sealander have created this incredible little camper that's part teardrop, part boat. Yep, you read that right.

This tiny camper attaches to the back of your car for all your camping needs – but when you decide to go out for a boating expedition, swim, or fishing trip, you can just as easily attach the motor and let the Sealander take you away.

You're not going to believe how multifunctional and beautiful this little trailer is - to take the tour and see for yourself!

Teardrop Trailers for more Like Likefor more Sealander

Check this out: All you have to do is attach the boat motor to the back of the Sealander and it's ready to take on water. The best part is you're not going to need any special license to operate it in the water either. Just hook up, go, and enjoy the ride.

Made out of incredibly modern - and stunning - lightweight materials, the Sealander effortlessly floats in the water. This also means it's easy to tow behind your car for all your land-based adventures too.

The Sealander has been nicknamed a little floating yacht - and it's hard to argue with that when you see it like this. The curves are spectacular, the windows wide and beautiful, and we love how you can open the hatch up in the back - as well as pull the sunroof up in the front.

Inside the Sealander looks just as incredible. It's sleek, modern, and looks like a million bucks. We adore the curves and the contrast of that rich wood against the stark white body.

From here you can see the great amount of space inside this little trailer and boat. The banquette benches are perfect for sitting around and eating or lounging - both on the water or overlooking a mountain range.

Of course, you can sleep right inside this floating little teardrop trailer too. The table and banquette benches fold down into a big comfy bed. Imagine pulling the sunroof down and watching the stars from there - just dreamy!


Singer's father stabbed in critical condition

According to WOOD TV 8, Thomas Blige, 63, was stabbed in the neck by an ex-girlfriend during a domestic dispute at a southside apartment complex in Battle Creek, Mich. Blige reportedly confronted the woman and accused her of slashing his tires.

When police found Blige in his apartment, he had been stabbed three times, including one neck injury. The Battle Creek Enquirer said he underwent surgery at a hospital nearby Kalamazoo, Mich.., and WOOD reports that he is in critical condition.

Police arrested the woman, who was wearing blood-splattered clothing, at her nearby apartment on Thursday. She was taken into custody and treated at a local hospital for a cut. According to the Battle Creek Enquirer, she has been jailed pending her arraignment Friday in Calhoun County.

There have reportedly been at least seven domestic violence complaints between Blige and his former girlfriend, who reportedly entered a no-contest plea after being charged with aggravated domestic violence against him last October and was sentenced to six months probation.

Blige has previously described her father as a jazz musician and Vietnam War veteran who suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome. According to Biography.com, Thomas Blige abused her mother. "He left us when I was 4, but he'd come back from time to time and abuse her some more," she reportedly said.

In her song, "Father In You," Blige sang, "When I was a little girl, I didn't have a father / And that's why I'm leaning on you."

Thomas Blige, Father Of Mary J. Blige, Reportedly In Critical Condition After Stabbing

The father of R&B star Mary J. Blige is in critical condition after being stabbed early Thursday morning (Jan. 23).

According to

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The new babes look set to ditch the iconic red lifeguard swimsuits made famous by Pamela Anderson and co for a much more modest affair on the big screen.

Sexy lifeguard Ilfenesh Hadera was snapped on the beach for the reboot in a long-sleeved wet suit with a gold zip – which left everything to the imagination.

But Ilfanesh still looks stunning as she filmed a rescue scene in Boca Raton, Florida with co-star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who has taken over The Hoff.

You won't believe what the new Baywatch has ditched


Parents Pleaded With The Teacher To Find Out Why Their Daughter Was Lying To Them. What The Teacher Found Left Her Stunned.

"No one is stealing my lunch, Mr. D. I just lose it." Well, she had me. There was nothing else I could do. Schools have a law that a student with no lunch must be provided with a lunch. The family is to be billed for the lunch unless they qualify for a free or reduced lunch. There was no way Katie's family qualified for free lunch, so they would have to pay the charges as long as Katie asked for a lunch.

I called her parents on Friday night. We talked about the whole situation, bouncing different theories off one another, but nothing made sense.

The problem was still unresolved the next week when I noticed a boy who was new to the school sitting alone at a lunch table. Other kids had not warmed up to him very quickly, and he always looked sad. I thought I would go and sit with him for a few minutes. As I walked toward him, I noticed the lunch bag on the table in front of him. The name on the bag said "Katie."


Drink this every morning for healthy skin

Go on and admit it. You just can't stop staring at this girl's waist-length locks. It was enough to stop us dead in our tracks when strolling through Washington Square Park last weekend.

Jia Li's long hair is all her own (no extensions here!), but the computer science student did tell us the secret behind her subtle waves. "About a year ago, I got a perm at the ends to add a bit of curl," she said. Huh. Perm only at the ends. Who would've guessed?

Li uses Lush shampoo to keep her hair clean and shiny. But when it comes to achieving healthy skin, she goes straight to her refrigerator. She explained, "I have fruit every morning and water mixed with honey and lemon, too." Now that's a skin detox drink we can guzzle down without gagging.

Jia Li, Computer Science Student, And Her Healthy Skin Cocktail

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Player spends 9 years leveling up to pass through secret door in game

In the online MMO Tibia, there's a door with a simple message: "You see a gate of expertise for level 999. Only the worthy may pass." This week, a player named Kharsek passed through that door. It took him nine years to build up enough experience to hit level 999. But once he passed through the door, Kharsek disappeared, and took the secrets with him.

This mysterious door has been one of Tibia's more reclusive secrets since it was added into the game in 2005. For a long time, the developers told me, there was nothing behind the door. It was a joke shared with the community, an amusing "what if?" meant to remain unsolved.

"The main motivation clearly was to tease players because the creators honestly did not think that anyone would actually reach that level," said Tibia lead project manager Martin Eglseder.

This is the door that people have been wondering about for a decade.

Tibia, one of the oldest MMOs on the internet, launched in 1997. Nearly 20 years later, people are still actively playing it. As of this writing, there are 12,701 people playing Tibia. It's never been a game for the timid; Tibia is a hardcore online RPG, one that regularly kicks players in the teeth. When you die, the game docks a percentage of experience from your character, potentially rolling back real-world days worth of progress. That edge is what keeps people coming back.

"The combination of the extremely harsh death penalty and the hardcore leveling curve is what makes the game fun," said Mathias Bynens, the owner of TibiaMaps, a blog chronicling the ongoing changes made to the world of Tibia. "It makes gaining another level feel like an accomplishment and successfully escaping from a dangerous situation feel like a relief."

Tibia started as a hobbyist project by four German computer-science students. The game's unexpected success prompted them to form CipSoft. The game's almost two decades old, but CipSoft told me the game still commands roughly 500,000 active players from 200 countries.

"That Kharsek reached level 999 is impressive. That he did it in a little under nine years is outright incredible." -Mathias Bynens

"As one player once put it, 'Tibian friendships last a lifetime,'" said Eglseder. "This is one of the main reasons people stay in the game or come back to it after some time of 'retirement.' Many players have accompanied Tibia throughout the years and so the game has become a part of their lives. They are Tibians."

Tibians are often obsessed with knowing everything about the game. A true secret is hard to find. That's what makes the locked door so alluring: For once, everybody is truly in the dark.

There is no level cap in Tibia. If players truly wanted to, they could level forever. But the reason a door demanding a player reach level 999 was so daunting is because leveling up in Tibia, especially as you reach into the hundreds, is a draining and time-consuming task. That didn't stop Kharsek, who first joined the game in 2007. He's the first player to reach level 999.

"That Kharsek reached level 999 is impressive," said Bynens. "That he did it in a little under nine years is outright incredible."

The developers agreed, telling me nine years is "considered quite fast by many Tibians."

Kharsek is a reclusive player, one who's become more hermit-like since his accomplishment began attracting wider attention. "All I know is that he's a Brazilian player who keeps to himself," said Bynens, "which is perfectly understandable seeing as he's probably getting spammed in-game 24/7 by fans, especially now, with all the hype going on." I didn't have any luck trying to get in touch with him myself.

So what does it actually take to reach level 999 and open the mysterious door? Well, let's put it in perspective. Going from level 19 to level 20 requires 15,400 experience points, and the most you can get from a single enemy is a high-level boss that drops 35,000 XP. For level 49 to level 50, it's 112,900 XP. At level 50, you've acquired a grand total of 1,847,300 XP. At level 100, it's a massive 15,694,800 XP.

Moving from level 998 to level 999, though? It requires the equivalent number of points as leaping from level 1 to level 145: 49,650,700. According to a website tracking Tibia player data, there are only four players above level 900. The closest player to Kharsek is 60 levels behind.

Even with a team of people helping him with buffing, healing, and other tactics, Bynens estimates Kharsek was earning roughly 5 million XP per hour. At that pace, it would take roughly nine hours of constant grinding simply to move from level 998 to level 999.

And he's not the only one who's been keeping tabs on Kharsek. His level progression has been closely monitored and celebrated, as the milestones stacked, with videos shared on YouTube.

Eight months ago, Kharsek was only on level 930. Three months ago, he was on level 968. And remember, any time that Kharsek was killed would send him spiraling back down in levels, taking him further away from his goal.

The level 999 door has vexed Tibia players for years, but it drew wider awareness when a Reddit post predicted Kharsek would soon reach level 999, drawing interest to a fever pitch.

"I've never heard of this game in my life," said one commenter, "and the most important thing I have right now is this stupid bastard opening that stupid door."

The developers have been preparing for this moment, long before Kharsek hit level 999.

"I've never heard of this game in my life, and the most important thing I have right now is this stupid bastard opening that stupid door." -Reddit comment

"A secret that has existed and been nourished by players for so many years cannot be lifted without disappointment," said Eglseder. "You cannot fulfill all the different hopes and expectations that players have attached to it. No matter what you do, you cannot satisfy everybody."

In terms of deciding what would actually be beyond the door, they went with something they feel is "best for the game as a whole and in the long run."

In today's streaming culture, it wouldn't have been a surprise if Kharsek made a big deal about walking through the door. He could have built up the spectacle and drawn attention to himself. But that's not what happened. Instead, earlier this week, Kharsek did what no other player in Tibia has done before and quietly walked through the door that demanded a player be level 999.

... And that was it. The outside world hasn't heard from Kharsek since. It's been radio silence.

"Maybe there are chests with rewards inside there," reads a forum post by a player that watched as Kharsek walked through the level 999 door. "Maybe there are NPCs there... Maybe levers and hidden stuff... We don't know... Kharsek got out... and logged off."

As of today, no one knows what's behind the door. The developers are keeping quiet, too.

"No, we won't spoil what's behind [the door]," said Eglseder. "We could verify this, but we leave it up to the player to tell whatever he wants to share about the door and the secret behind [it]."

The most Eglseder would say, perhaps to calm players worried they're missing something amazing, is "there's not a whole feature set or package of 'end game' content behind it."

It seems possible that Kharsek was upset about the way Tibia players have been treating him. On his quest to level 999, people would track him down and screw with his leveling progress.

"A group of people liked to consistently invade the spawns Kharsek was hunting in and kill as many creatures as possible, just to lower his exp/hour rate," said Bynens. "Other times they'd lure hordes of strong creatures on Kharsek's healers, forcing them to run away or die, causing Kharsek to be left without a healer, which is dangerous even at his level. Bullying at its worst. I don't know what Kharsek did to deserve this. Maybe people just got jealous at his high level?"

And now, there's another reason to be jealous: Kharsek is the only one who knows what's behind that door.

One Player’s Nine-Year Journey to Open a Locked, Secret Door

It took someone nine years to unlock a long-hidden secret. But once they did, that player disappeared and took the answers with them.

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CHICAGO -- All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler knows he will be the subject of trade rumors yet again this summer, but he repeated his desire to stay with the Bulls for the long term after Friday's series-ending loss to the Boston Celtics.

In the process, Butler also acknowledged that he would like for Rajon Rondo's team option to be picked up this summer.

"Of course," Butler said. "He's been huge for us this year, man."

Molding these young guys into the type of player that they need to be on this basketball floor, in that film room, around everybody. And obviously, the way he plays the game, getting everybody involved, yeah I love playing with him. Him and D-Wade, all these other guys. But I don't know what the future holds for anybody. So I'll sit back and wait on that time to come."

Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg echoed similar sentiments regarding Rondo.

"Obviously we played great basketball with Rajon toward the end of the season," Hoiberg said. "With the exception of the New York game, that's the game he tore the ligament in the wrist. ... He was terrific.

"He was great. The highs and lows that we had this season, he found a way to continue to battle through that and play his best basketball when it mattered most. I love Rondo. I love coaching him. I love everything about the kid. He was so good to have out there on the floor. And when we put him back in the starting lineup with Niko [Mirotic], with Jimmy, we got a lot accomplished. We played an exciting style of basketball. A fun style of basketball to watch, a fun style of basketball to coach. And Rajon was responsible for a lot of that."

Dwyane Wade has a player option worth almost $24 million for next season. He has said in the past that he "would be a liar to say that I want to play on a team with all 21-year-olds," and acknowledged that he wants to wait to see if the Bulls move Butler before making a decisions, but many in the Bulls' organization believe that Wade will pick his option this summer because of the fact it's highly unlikely that he will have another offer for next season worth that much money.

For his part, Wade did not want to get into specifics regarding his decision after the game.

"I have a lot of time," Wade said. "I'm far away from that now; just got through this, 14th NBA season. It's, for me, identified with championships. If I'm not winning a championship I'm never satisfied from that standpoint, but you take things out of it, you go back and look at the season and see what you could have done better individually. You put that [in the head] and go from there, so that's what I will look at. I am not worried about my future because I know it's basketball; I'm not really concerned with it now."

Another intriguing twist Friday night came late in the fourth quarter when fans started to scream "Fire Hoiberg" throughout the United Center. While it's clear that many fans would rather not see Hoiberg back with the Bulls next season, Bulls general manager Gar Forman has been on record earlier in the year as saying Hoiberg would be back to start next season.

One of the reasons, Forman gave that declaration is because of the fact that Hoiberg still has three years, and almost $15 million left on his contract.

"Sure, I understand the frustration [from fans]," Hoiberg said. "It was a frustrating game there was no doubt about that, to go out this way. Again, the high note to start this series, the way we got out to a 2-0 lead, we couldn't finish it off. I thought we fought and battled, especially in Game 5 in Boston. We didn't have it tonight so I do understand."

As for Mirotic, he will be a restricted free agent this summer, but he is hopeful he'll be able to return to the Bulls next season.

"I'm going to wait till July," Mirotic said. "But I can tell you my first option is Chicago."

Jimmy Butler wants to return, hopes Bulls keep Rajon Rondo

Bulls guard Jimmy Butler says he wants to remain in Chicago for the long haul and would also like to see the team pick up Rajon Rondo's option for next season.

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How Much It Actually Costs To Live Like A Healthy Celeb

By Katie Maguire for Well+Good (Photo: Instagram/@LeaMichele)

There was once a time when celebs shied away from revealing how hard they worked to stay in shape. ( These abs? Oh, gee I don’t know. I, like, never go to the gym and practically live on pizza... .) But now they are taking There was once a time when celebs shied away from revealing how hard they worked to stay in shape. (These abs? Oh, gee I don’t know. I, like, never go to the gym and practically live on pizza....) But now they are taking to social media to showcase—and make their followers incredibly jealous of—their post-workout sweaty selfies and juice bar runs.

It’s easy to view their online sharing as a road map to wellness (collagen powder smoothies and Rise Nation workouts, a la Jennifer Aniston, anyone?), but have you ever wondered how much it really costs to live like your favorite starlet?

A lot, it turns out. For a month I monitored the wellness habits of the healthiest celebs, keeping track of the trainers they saw, the superfoods they consumed, and the beauty treatments they indulged in. While some are pretty frugal, opting for nature-filled—and free—outdoor workouts or swims (looking at you, Kate Hudson), others aren’t afraid to splurge on what makes them happy (and fit). $35 organic ghee, or $300 training session, anyone?

Scroll down to see how much your favorite healthy celebs actually spend on staying healthy.

Lea Michele isn’t one to skip Lea Michele isn’t one to skip her daily workout . As a recent SoulCycle convert, the actress frequents the spin studio as least four times a week and, as of late, has added Los Angeles Megaformer spot The Studio (MDR) into the mix, often completing two-a-days. Yeah, she’s that intense.

In an effort to seriously shape up for a recent cover shoot, Michele also added in a third wellness stop: infrared detox spa In an effort to seriously shape up for a recent cover shoot, Michele also added in a third wellness stop: infrared detox spa Shape House . And on top of that, she stays active outside of studios too, often adding in a hike or a quick dip in the pool.

The Pretty Little Liars actress has been known to utilize ThePretty Little Liarsactress has been known to utilize healthy hacks throughout her day, but that doesn’t mean she skimps on workouts. Mitchell has recently been spending her days with trainer Zach Murray, taking advantage of the beautiful outdoor weather with no-frills outdoor circuits that consist of sprints, work with resistance bands and medicine balls, and even adding sports into the mix by tossing around a football and volleyball.

This healthy Instagrammer is all about mixing it up, so it’s hard to nail down the exact amount she spends every day on her wellness habits. But between Pilates, boxing, and This healthy Instagrammer is all about mixing it up, so it’s hard to nail down the exact amount she spends every day on her wellness habits. But between Pilates, boxing, and ModelFit , Bronfman seems to always make time to meet with her favorite trainer Kira Stokes.

When she’s on the road traveling, Bronfman is all about sweating on a budget, making sure to pack a jump rope and utilize her bodyweight for do-anywhere planks. But she regularly splurges on semi-healthy treats, like organic margaritas or When she’s on the road traveling, Bronfman is all about sweating on a budget, making sure to pack a jump rope and utilize her bodyweight for do-anywhere planks. But she regularly splurges on semi-healthy treats, like organic margaritas or vegan ice cream

Kourtney Kardashian (Photo: Snapchat/Kourtney Kardashian)

While all of the Kardashian sisters are dedicated to their workouts—and the social media that comes with it—Kourtney is especially known for her healthy eating habits.

The star unveiled her morning routine on her app earlier this summer, which begins with a tablespoon of The star unveiled her morning routine on her app earlier this summer, which begins with a tablespoon of ghee every morning . After waiting for 20 minutes, Kardashian has her special avocado pudding or dairy-free smoothie for breakfast. Then, the mom of three joins her personal trainer, Don Brooks, for a backyard workout that is surprisingly low-maintenance considering the high-price ticket—often using her backyard or home gym to stay in shape.

Organic ghee : $35 for a bottleTraining session with Don Brooks: $300/per session (estimate) Avocado pudding or green smoothie: $15

The super-fit supermodel is known for her The super-fit supermodel is known for her always-changing fitness pursuits , but even when she’s jet-setting around the world, Kloss makes sure to squeeze in a sweat session.

She works out exclusively with She works out exclusively with Anna Kaiser at AKT while in New York City, or improvises with easy-to-pack pieces , like resistance bands or jump ropes. As for fuel, her food habits are low-key, opting for early morning iced coffee and pre-made sandwiches.

Iced coffee: $4Homemade sandwich: $10Training session with Anna Kaiser : $300/per session (estimate) Resistant band session : $10, for five bands


Investigators probing the Rs 2,000 crore drug bust case have got a shot in the arm as a special court here issued non-bailable arrest warrants against former Bollywood actor Mamta Kulkarni and alleged international drug Lord Vijaygiri aka Vicky Goswami.

The warrants were issued by the special court of H M Patwardhan on Monday. The investigators claimed to have got "clinching evidence" against them and based on which they want to file a chargesheet, but the duo is declared absconding since their names cropped up in the drug bust, said a senior police officer.

Special public prosecutor Shishir Hiray, appearing for the prosecution, in a marathon submission to the special court sought the warrant and informed the court that they have ample evidence against the duo and their involvement in the drug racket as a prime accused.

Hiray pointed out that based on the interrogation of arrested accused, Kulkarni and Goswami are main players in the case and they had set up a well-oiled drug cartel, right from procuring raw material of ephedrine from India and even planned transportation and manufacture of methamphetamine in Kenya.

The prosecutor told the court that the arrested accused, Jai Mukhi and Kishor Sinh Rathod, during the probe had mentioned a meeting in a hotel in Kenya, wherein a deal was struck between Goswami, his aides, the Akasha brothers, Mamta, former director of a pharma company, Manoj Jain, Jai Mukhi and Abdullah, were present.

"Ample technical evidence, call records are in possession of the investigators and various facts have been revealed during questioning of the arrested accused and statements made by them," Hiray told the court.

He pointed out that Mukhi's version was corroborated by another accused, Kishorsinh Rathod, son of a former Congress MLA from Gujarat, who was arrested in January after nine months on the run.

"They also had plans to make Mamta a director of Avon Life Sciences Pvt Ltd," Hiray told the court.

The police, from time-to-time, visited the addresses of Mamta and Goswami and even statements of people who knew them were recorded. Hiray produced a case diary for the court's satisfaction too. Finally, the court on Monday issued the warrants against the duo.

Goswami is in US custody. In January, Goswami, Ibrahim and Baktash Akasha, as well as Gulam Hussein, were extradited from Kenya to the US.

Their names had cropped up during the probe by Thane police in the Rs 2,000 crore drug bust. They were arrested in November 2014 in a sting operation by US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officers posing as Colombian drug dealers. Goswami and his aides were accused of conspiring to ship at least 98 kg of high-grade heroin and methamphetamine to the US.

On April 14, the Thane crime branch seized over 20 tonnes of ephedrine and 2.5 tonnes of acetic anhydride, both banned party drugs from a pharmaceutical factory in Solapur and other locations in Thane and Mumbai. Investigations led the sleuths to the involvement of Goswami and Kenyan based international drug mafia involved in the racket.

In September 2016, a battery of legal hawks, some from abroad, refuted the involvement of Mamta in the case.

Mukhi had earlier testified before a magistrate court but later turned the tables that his confession was under pressure from investigators.

Non-Bailable Warrant Issued Against Mamta Kulkarni In Rs 2,000 Crore Drugs Case

Rs 2,000 Crore Drug Case: Non-Bailable Warrant Against Mamta Kulkarni


WATCH: IRS parody of "The Apprentice" cost HOW MUCH?

We don't know what's worse: An IRS-sponsored parody of "The Apprentice" (complete with fake Donald Trump), or the production value of said parody given that it cost the government agency $10,000 to make.

The four-minute long video, produced for an IRS conference, features a host of characters seated around a conference room business table. The characters pitch pseudo-Trump various ideas to cut down on travel-related costs at the IRS; true to the real-world show, all of them are fired later in the video.

In a statement to CNN, the IRS said the video, dating back to 2011, is one of several "from a prior era and [does] not reflect the stringent policies the IRS now has in place to ensure that all training videos are made at the lowest possible cost and with appropriate content."

The statement continued, "Simply put, these videos would not be made at the IRS today."

Rep. Charles Boustany, the chair of the House Ways and Means subcommittee which oversees the IRS, released a statement to Politico Friday, chastising the agency for "the time and money it spent to produce these frivolous videos."

He added, "While we may have no answers, we do have an endless supply of what appears to be the IRS’s idea of entertainment."

WATCH the IRS-made parody of The Apprentice, below:

The IRS Spent $10,000 On This Awful Parody Of 'The Apprentice' (VIDEO)

We don't know what's worse: An IRS-sponso...

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