Watermelon is rich in nutrients – including vitamins A and C, B vitamins and potassium — but where it really packs a punch is with lycopene, the antioxidant pigment that gives the fruit its deep red color. Some studies suggest that lycopene may have cardiovascular benefits, including reducing the risk of stroke, and eating watermelon may slightly lower blood pressure. Researchers have also looked at lycopene's possible role in protecting against various cancers, though evidence is scant.

You can get lycopene from tomatoes, particularly cooked and stewed tomatoes, but "on a fresh basis, you can’t do better than watermelon," said Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a professor at North Carolina State University in Raleigh who has studied lycopene and is an unpaid science adviser to the National Watermelon Promotion Board. Red watermelon has more lycopene than other watermelon varieties, and "seedless watermelon tends to have more," she said.

Lycopene from watermelon is also easily absorbed into the body. In one small study, researchers gave volunteers lycopene from tomato juice and lycopene from watermelon; the tomato juice had received heat treatments to boost absorption. They found the two groups had similar blood levels of lycopene.

Though watermelon doesn’t have as much fiber as many other fruits and vegetables, it is fat-free, contains a lot of water and is low in calories, with about 45 calories in a one-cup serving.

Many people worry about the amount of sugar in watermelon, but "that’s a bit of a misconception, because the sugar content is actually lower than some other fruits, gram for gram," said Jennifer McDaniel, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. While a cup of diced watermelon has about nine grams of sugar, a medium banana contains 14 to 15 grams of sugar, as does a cup of blueberries. Dietary guidelines recommend adults eat two cups of fruit a day.

And while watermelon has a high glycemic index, a measure of a food’s ability to raise blood sugar levels, that also adds to the confusion. In fact, its high water content gives it a low glycemic load, meaning it does not raise blood sugar levels quickly in amounts typically eaten.

Watermelon is rich in nutrients like lycopene, which may have benefits for the heart, and a lower sugar content, gram for gram, than many other fruits.

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Blind date: ‘There was more to him than met the eye’

Emma, 29, festival booker, meets Eddie, 29, plumber

What were you hoping for? Marriage and kids. I’m nearly 30 and my dad keeps telling me it’s time to freeze my eggs.

First impressions? I was too busy dropping my coat and pushing the menu off the table to notice much else at first.

What did you talk about? Walking through Spain, Ramsbottom music festival and the perks of plumbing if you’re a nosy parker.

Any awkward moments? Sharing plates. There was a lot of over-polite "no, you finish it" going on.

Best thing about Eddie? More to him than met the eye. I would never have guessed that he’d once been a music journalist.

Would you introduce him to your friends? Yes, absolutely.

Describe Eddie in three words? Genuine, honest, open.

What do you think he made of you? He probably thought I was a soft, poncey southerner.

Did you go on somewhere? No, I was eager to begin my freezing cycle home.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be? I would have ordered two plates of the hake and lentil dish.

Would you meet again? As friends, perhaps.

What were you hoping for? To maybe learn something new.

First impressions? I liked her hair and big smile.

What did you talk about? Bands, travelling, festivals.

Any awkward moments? There was a runny fried egg we had to split. She wanted me to have the yolky bit.

Best thing about Emma? Her job is super cool – she gets to travel a lot and watch loads of awesome bands.

Would you introduce her to your friends? Yes, some of my mates would get on well with Emma.

Describe Emma in three words? Fun, hot and sharp.

What do you think she made of you? Fun-loving and not a lunatic.

And... did you kiss? A cheeky cheek kiss.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be? I’d have cracked more jokes.

Would you meet again? Yes, if she could take me to a gig that would be cool.


Netflix Acquires Streaming Rights to Highly Praised Documentary

Netflix said on Monday that starting early next year it will be the exclusive streaming distributor for "The Square," an Arabic documentary about the Egyptian protest centered in Tahrir Square, which is considered a leading contender for an Oscar nomination.

Netflix billed "The Square" as the company’s first major documentary acquisition since its announcement last month that it wanted to make more direct investments in the movie business. It said other documentary pickups would be announced soon.

The Netflix streaming service is already known for having a trove of documentaries, but in most cases it has carried those films later in their life cycles, or what are known as "windows" in the business. By acquiring rights to a film like "The Square" now, it is paying for an earlier, more exclusive window — foreshadowing a time when the service could follow a similar plan for feature films, perhaps even pre-empting a theatrical release altogether. ("The Square" is getting a limited run this week in theaters in New York and Los Angeles, so that it can qualify for the Oscars.)

Netflix signaled this strategy when it reported earnings in July, saying that it would begin to acquire feature documentaries as it sought to extend its reach beyond television series.

The plans are consistent with Netflix’s strategy of differentiating itself from its competitors through a subset of original programming rather than through a stockpile of dated films and TV shows. Those plans have attracted the ire of theater owners, particularly after Ted Sarandos, the chief content officer for Netflix, asked in a late-October speech, "Why not premiere movies on Netflix the same day they’re opening in theaters?"

He also remarked, "The reason why we may enter the space and release some big movies ourselves this way is because I’m concerned that as theater owners try to strangle innovation and distribution, not only are they going to kill theaters, they might kill movies."

On Monday, according to Variety, Mr. Sarandos clarified his position, saying that he was not calling for so-called day and date releases of films online, but was calling "to move all the windows up to get closer to what the consumer wants."

News of an impending deal for "The Square" was first reported on Friday in The Los Angeles Times.

By acquiring rights to "The Square" and making it available in the first quarter of next year, Netflix will be able to promote the film’s availability during Oscar season. (The service was able to do this with several films last year, but not on an exclusive basis.)

"The Square," previously titled "Al Midan," is a serious Oscar contender in the documentary field. Early reviews have been rapturous — it currently has a rare 100 percent positive rating on RottenTomatoes.com — and the movie won coveted prizes this year at the Sundance and Toronto film festivals. Jehane Noujaim, the film’s Egyptian-American director, is also the type of daring filmmaker the documentary branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences likes to rally behind; she was arrested three times while making her film over two and a half years.

But competition in the documentary category is often brutal, and this year looks like no exception. Other films generating early Oscar attention include "Blackfish," about orca whales at theme parks, and "The Act of Killing," focused on Indonesian genocide.

Netflix Acquires Streaming Rights to a Highly Praised Documentary

The service’s deal for "The Square," about protests in Egypt, follows its strategy of extending its reach beyond television series.

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California Just Made Climate Change History. How Did it Happen?

The day before yesterday I sat in the gallery of the California Senate and saw something that just a few weeks ago I wasn’t expecting: Senators casting the final vote on an historic set of bills—Senate Bill 32 (Pavley) and Assembly Bill 197 (E. Garcia)—that reaffirm the state’s commitment to addressing climate change through 2030. After the vote was over, my colleagues and I shared hugs, smiles, and tears as the weight of the accomplishment washed over us. It was a great day.

There will be a time for a more thorough examination of how we achieved this victory, but here is my quick take of what just happened.

A referendum on California’s climate change policies

Followers of California climate change policy know that ten years ago, the state adopted a first-in-the-nation law to comprehensively tackle global warming by mandating a statewide reduction in heat-trapping pollution. That law, AB 32, requires that by 2020 statewide emissions be reduced to the equivalent of emissions in 1990. Fast forward to 2016, and we see that this policy has been an overwhelming success.

Success aside, 2020 is fast approaching. So last year Governor Jerry Brown issued an Executive Order that established 2030 climate targets. However, the Governor’s action does not have the same weight or force of law as a legislative requirement. In addition, most observers recognized that a commitment of this significance ought to have the blessing of California’s legislature, and legislators rightly wanted to have their say.

Enter SB 32 and AB 197. SB 32 is simultaneously simple and sweeping. The bill codifies Governor Brown’s executive order by requiring heat-trapping emissions to be reduced to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Meanwhile, AB 197 takes steps to refine California’s climate change programs in two ways: it increases legislative oversight over and transparency to the state’s climate change programs and it emphasizes the state’s commitment to ensuring these policies help communities most impacted by climate change and air pollution. The two measures were double-joined, which meant that if one bill failed to pass the other could not go into effect.

Together these two bills became a referendum on California’s existing climate change programs. Passage would cement California’s commitment to leading the fight against global warming, while failure would have sent the message that California’s political leaders were divided on the issue.

In early August the conventional wisdom was that these bills were doomed to fail in 2016. Most people thought that the oil industry was too strong of a political opponent, and that a majority of legislators lacked the urgency to act. But, you just never know... So UCS, along with numerous other dedicated advocates, simply kept working. Over the last month we collectively turned up the heat and showed how much support there is for seriously addressing climate change in California.

Legislators heard from a diverse set of stakeholders who care deeply about the risks of global warming and the rewards of a clean energy economy. This included clean energy businesses, social justice advocates, environmentalists, labor leaders, faith-based organizations, public health advocates, consumer groups, and, yes, scientists. And, slowly, momentum started to build.

Legislators also saw that the voting public is hungry for meaningful action to address global warming. In late July there had been a Public Policy Institute of California poll showing that more than two-thirds of Californians support setting strong climate reduction goals for 2030. Tapping into this groundswell of support, UCS helped more than 4,000 Californians contact their legislators in the last month in support of SB 32 and AB 197, with other organizations doing the same. And the momentum kept building.

Soon major newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times, Fresno Bee, and San Francisco Chronicle, weighed in as well to urge legislative action this year. Our coalition of supporters kept meeting with legislators. Constituents kept emailing and phoning in. And the momentum built even more.

While there is no easy answer to what proved to be the difference-maker in this campaign, it is undeniable that this victory would have been impossible without the tremendous leadership of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León, Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia, and Senator Fran Pavley. Together, along with other key lawmakers, they helped convince their colleagues that this was an important vote that ought to occur this year.

And I’m so glad they did. Thanks to the collective work of so many, California’s commitment to addressing climate change is stronger than ever. We have much work ahead of us to successfully deliver on these commitments in a way that protects our climate while also addressing the needs of Californians, who deserve greater investment in economic opportunities and a cleaner environment.

But for a few more days we will simply say, hip-hip hooray!

Posted in: Global Warming, Uncategorized Tags: AB 32, California, California Global Warming Solutions Act, climate-change, Global warming, SB 32

Support from UCS members make work like this possible. Will you join us? Help UCS advance independent science for a healthy environment and a safer world.


What one filmmaker calls her "most precious commodity" #makingitwork

What does it take to get to the top -- without losing your center? Our "Making It Work" series profiles successful, dynamic women who are standouts in their fields, peeling back the "hows" of their work and their life, taking away lessons we can all apply to our own.

Lynn Shelton is proof that you don't have to appear on some variation of a "30 Under 30" list to be successful. "It was a long, circuitous route for me," says the Seattle-based filmmaker. "I always knew that I was an artist. I never expected to be able to make a living." After getting her undergraduate degree in acting and her graduate degree in photography, Shelton worked as a freelance editor and made experimental films on her own. She didn't make her first feature film, "We Go Way Back," until she was 39.

"All I knew about filmmaking was to make a feature film, it cost millions and millions of dollars -- and it certainly wouldn't be my millions of dollars. And it was just too intimidating for me," she explains. "I had been making films by myself for many years because (a) I didn't want to ask other people for help and (b) I'm a control freak. So it was a combination of not wanting to give up control but also being too scared to try to get other people to see my vision and believe in it and work alongside me. But once I tasted that, it was completely transformative."

Shelton, now 47, has since written and directed films like "Humpday" and "Your Sister's Sister" and directed episodes of "New Girl" and "Mad Men." Her latest movie, "Touchy Feely" -- about a massage therapist (Rosemarie DeWitt) who becomes averse to human touch and her uptight dentist brother (Josh Pais) who develops a healing power -- comes out on September 6, and she's already editing her next one. "I'm living a dream," she says. "I'm pinching myself daily."

When I started working in film, I loved photography, I loved the image, I loved telling the story within a frame, but as I started playing around with film and video, it was like, "Oh my god." You just have so much more to play with. I [also] love having a captive audience. You can actually tell a story and just sort of overwhelm them with this image and sound. You can change people's ideas and get people talking. And then actually making it –- I started making films that probably would only be seen in small rooms or in art galleries. I was working alone. As soon as I got a taste of that collaborative experience, it was such a high. It's tremendously difficult and tremendously satisfying to work with other people.

Shelton with "Humpday" stars Josh Leonard and Mark Duplass

Is there anything you would have done differently at the start of your career? Paid attention to more? Worried about less?

My first feature is semi-autobiographical. It's inspired from my experience of being in my 20s and just feeling like I didn't have a voice. Before adolescence I had an incredible voice. Like when I was 12, 13, 14 -- I was taking acting classes, I was painting, I was making music, I was taking photographs. I was kind of exploding creatively, and then something about adolescence really just ground that out of me.. By the time I hit college, my secret shame was the reason I was an actor was my own words sort of dried up. I stopped writing. I stopped being able to form my own vision. That's actually what my first feature is about -- looking back at two different selves.

There's an amazing organization in Seattle called Reel Grrls, and I just get chills whenever I go to a fundraiser or I read their newsletters or I go see their work. They are all about empowering adolescent girls to be able to deconstruct media that comes at them and tells them what they should look like and how they should feel about themselves and then empowers them with the technical skills to make media themselves. I often wonder if I'd been empowered with that kind of a program in my youth, would I have started making movies decades earlier?

For me, I'm perfectly satisfied with the way that everything worked out because I feel I really paid my dues. There's this real deliciousness to being able to do exactly what you want to do and were meant to do after years of just sort of journeying toward that end. And who knows where I'd be now if I started making films early? Maybe I wouldn't have had as much to say. But I do think about that. And it makes me so happy when I see women like Lena Dunham and Ry Russo Young starting out really young and feeling empowered to do that right from the get-go.

Shelton with "Your Sister's Sister" stars Mark Duplass, Rosemarie DeWitt and Emily Blunt

How would you define the word "success"?

I’d say, "Well, are they happy in their lives? Do they feel like they followed their bliss and they’re able to actually do what they were put on this planet to do?"

According to that definition, do you feel successful?

I do. I feel enormously successful. I feel very grateful about that sense of success.

Do you keep your phone next to your bed?

I don't actually! Which is remarkable because I am totally an iPhone addict. But I leave it upstairs and then I go downstairs, where my bedroom is. But I do have it with me when I travel. And it's a very different experience -- I wake up and just lay there in bed looking at my phone.

Yeah, I do. My sleep has become pretty much my most precious commodity. I've realized that there's a huge difference between six and a half and seven hours of sleep. So I feel no compunction about putting my phone far, far away from me.

My lifestyle changes depending on what phase of production I'm in. Right now, I'm editing a film that I finished shooting a few weeks ago, and life is almost normal. I get a good night's sleep, and I wake up and I meditate. I've tried gyms and things -- I really hate them. And I can't run -- I have bad knees. So I have this little rebounder, this little trampoline. I just turn M.I.A. on and dance my butt off every morning. I noticed the mornings when I feel least like doing it are the mornings that I most need to. And I try to take at least one half-hour walk during the day. And in the edit room, I try to not just sit on the couch the whole time but stand up and pace around and I have another trampoline -- I'll sort of bounce on that. It's a lot harder when I'm working 13-, 15-hour days, but even then I try really hard to get up early enough so that I can at least bounce on the thing, you know, for five minutes.

Yeah, he's 14 now. So when I started making movies, he was 6. It was sort of perfect timing for me. My husband and I were trying to get pregnant, and I will admit that I was ambivalent. Because at the time we just didn't have a lot of money. And then I got the opportunity to make my first feature, and I said, "OK, I'm gonna put this on hold.." I was exhausted during my first pregnancy. Then as soon as I started making the film, it became really clear that every baby I had from now on was gonna be a movie. I was a really involved parent. We did attachment parenting. I mean, I nursed him till he was 3. We carried him around in a sling. It was very intense, and it was great. And I felt like if I wasn't able to do that with another kid, I would be cheating them somehow. I'm so admiring of women who have young kids and are able to also do what I do, but I'm really grateful that I didn't have to make that choice or try and do both at the same time.

Shelton with husband Kevin Seal and son Milo Seal

Have you ever had the experience where you're on a set and it's also the school play and you have to figure out a way to balance it?

Oh, yeah. My kid had gone to the same school from preschool to eight grade. He’s hearing-impaired. And I told my producers months ago, "This day is sacred. I have to be at this eight-grade graduation." So we organized the whole shoot around having Friday night free. I’ve definitely missed stuff. There were things that impeded my ability to be at a school orientation, things like that. Now, after buying our house and putting me through grad school and really being the major breadwinner for the vast majority of our relationship, my husband and I have sort of switched off, and he’s become the full-time parent and I’m the breadwinner. I’m so grateful to have a partner who’s totally comfortable with that and actually enjoys that role and does a great job at it.

Tell me about the distribution of labor in your household. Who does the cooking, the bill paying, the laundry...?

Well, we still divide up a lot of the domestic stuff. He spearheads everything surrounding the kid. We seem to have divided up the bills somehow. Balancing the work-life thing is definitely something that took a few years to figure out. After this last shoot, we finally organized a family vacation. We all went away for a week, and it was the first time in years that we hadn’t just sort of tacked something on to a film festival or something. I felt like we were recharging the family batteries. But again, I’m in a relatively calm period now. So, you know, having dinner together every night, and we sort of trade off who does the cooking. I chip in whenever I’m able. I just don’t want him to feel like he’s the only one..

What would you title your autobiography?

Let's see. I’m very proud of all the titles of my films, but it often takes me a long time to come up with just the right one. It would probably include something about laughter. That is kind of a core tenant of my nature -- I need to laugh, and I need to laugh a lot.

Is there a woman you know who is Making It Work? We’d love to include her in our series. Send your suggestions to women@huffingtonpost.com.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Filmmaker Lynn Shelton: 'There's This Real Deliciousness To Being Able To Do Exactly What You Want To Do'

What does it take to get to the top -- without losing your center? Our "Making It Work" series profiles successful, dynamic women who are standouts i...

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a scathing speech to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a scathing speech to the United Nations on Thursday, criticizing many of its beliefs and policies.

But perhaps the most shocking moment of all was when Netanyahu called the organization a " moral farce ."

According to the According to the Washington Free Beacon , Netanyahu’s speech was one that world leaders will never forget.

Netanyahu opened his speech by praising the U.N., as he said Israel has a bright future with the organization. But the praise did not last long. Immediately, Netanyahu opened fire in the room, hurling insult after insult at his fellow leaders.

"Year after year, I’ve stood at this very podium and slammed the U.N. for its obsessive bias against Israel, and the U.N. deserved every scathing word," Netanyahu said.

"For the disgrace of the General Assembly that last year passed 20 resolutions against the democratic state of Israel and a grand total of three resolutions against all the other countries on the planet. "For the disgrace of the General Assembly that last year passed 20 resolutions against the democratic state of Israel and a grand total of three resolutions against all the other countries on the planet. Israel : 20. Rest of the world: three."

The prime minister had much more to say, slamming other groups within the U.N.

"And what about the joke called the U.N. Human Rights Council, which each year condemns Israel more than all the other countries of the world combined?" he asked.

"As women are being systematically raped, murdered, sold into slavery across the world, which is the only country that the U.N.’s Commission on Women chose to condemn this year? Yep, you guessed it, Israel," "As women are being systematically raped, murdered, sold into slavery across the world, which is the only country that the U.N.’s Commission on Women chose to condemn this year? Yep, you guessed it, Israel," Netanyahu continued.

"Israel, where women fly fighter jets, lead major corporations, head universities, preside, twice, over the Supreme Court, and have served as speaker of the Knesset and prime minister."

"Ladies and gentlemen," Netanyahu said. "What began as a moral force has become a moral farce."

UNLEASHED: Netanyahu Walks to U.N. Podium, Hits Audience Epic With 2-Word Insult

Netanyahu is clearly not a fan of the U.N...


This tech stock has topped Google, Facebook and Amazon

Technology in the U.S. is increasingly about the battle between Apple (AAPL) , Google, Facebook (FB) and Amazon..com to capture consumer spending and ad dollars.

But for investors, the best tech bet of late has been a more obscure name: Nvidia (NVDA) .

The maker of computer processors for video games, connected cars and data centers has seen its stock surge 146 percent in the past year, second only to Newmont Mining (NEM) among companies in the S&P 500. No other tech stock has gained more than 50 percent in that stretch.

The story is pretty simple.. Nvidia's semiconductors are powering innovation in some of the world's fastest growing industries. Its core graphics processing units (GPUs) enable popular video games like "Battlefield 4" and "Call of Duty: Black Ops III." And as computing rapidly evolves in the cloud and Internet of Things, Nvidia's technology is being adopted by companies focused on big data, artificial intelligence and autonomous driving.

Investors who have piled into the stock ahead of Nvidia's quarterly earnings report on Thursday will be closely following the numbers after the bell. The company has little room for disappointment.

"If it were to hit a roadblock or stumble, there will be a lot of momentum players coming out of the stock," said Brian Alger, an analyst at Roth Capital Partners.

Not that Roth, who has a "buy" rating on the shares, is betting on a misfire. He said the stock has become a core holding for tech investors, and this week he raised his price target by 70 percent to $68. The shares fell 0.7 percent on Wednesday to $58.51.

Among the five most valuable tech companies — Apple, Alphabet (GOOGL) , Microsoft (MSFT) , Amazon and Facebook — the best performer over the past year has been Amazon (AMZN) , up 47 percent, less than one-third Nvidia's advance.

Analysts expect Nvidia to report second-quarter revenue growth of 17 percent to $1.35 billion, according to a Thomson Reuters survey. Earnings per share likely rose to 37 cents from 5 cents.

Should Nvidia meet projections, it would mark the company's fastest quarterly sales growth since 2011.

"They're in several massive growth markets where they have differentiated solutions, very few competitors and are executing extremely well," Alger said.

Nvidia has gotten a boost of late from a rival's disappointment. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) , which as recently as last year faced risks of possible bankruptcy, released its new graphics card for virtual reality in June. The product was quickly criticized for drawing too much power, potentially damaging motherboards..

Alger said AMD no longer poses much of a threat. That company has lost money each of the past four years and, when it comes to Nvidia's newer businesses, there aren't many rivals.

For example, Nvidia is selling its technology into data centers, which are rapidly moving towards machine learning and artificial intelligence. Within data centers, Nvidia has gained traction in recent years helping businesses process mounds of data coming from all the devices connected to the Internet. The next step is training those machines through algorithms to learn like humans.

Nvidia's Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress said at a conference in June that artificial intelligence is a big part of what's "driving overall growth in data center."

Nvidia "anticipated the emergence of these applications and invested in these applications and helped develop them, whereas their main competitor AMD was more constrained and resource challenged," said Ian Ing, an analyst at MKM Partners. He has a buy rating on the stock and a $64 price target.

Venture capitalist Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen said in a podcast last month that Nvidia has "seemingly overnight" become the market leader in chips used for artificial intelligence.

"Every sharp AI software entrepreneur that comes in here is now building on top of Nvidia's chips," Andreessen said.

Additionally, Nvidia's GPUs are currently being used by automakers in their infotainment systems. But the real opportunity in cars is tied to the future of Additionally, Nvidia's GPUs are currently being used by automakers in their infotainment systems. But the real opportunity in cars is tied to the future of autonomous driving and the computing that will be required for cars to learn how to drive themselves.

Alger estimates the market will eventually be 10 times as big as it is today.

All of that bullishness has fueled a rally in Nvidia that pushed the shares to a record in May, surpassing the previous high from 2007. The stock just kept going up after that, surging 63 percent in the past three months.

The pressure is now on Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang to satisfy investors' lofty expectations. Nvidia is priced at 50 times earnings, more than double its five-year average of 22, according to FactSet.

As Ing said, "the bar is probably higher this time around."

Nvidia has been the top tech stock over the past year, on investor excitement about artificial intelligence and autonomous driving.


Her Dad Brought Home A Strange Puppy. But Look Closely... Because That’s NOT A Regular Dog.

What would you do if you spotted a sick, injured, or otherwise helpless animal? We’d all like to think that we’d do the right thing and rush to help, but sometimes fear or concern for our own safety makes us take pause.

For California resident Sharon Bertozzi, however, that protective instinct came without hesitation. When she saw a weak animal on her front porch, she immediately sprung into action. Little did she know, this creature had quite a surprise in store for her...

One afternoon, Sharon discovered a small fur ball curled up behind a vase on her front porch. She assumed the animal was a very sick dog and quickly decided to help.

Sharon placed the poor creature inside a small cage that she had in her garage. Though she knew the dog couldn’t be kept in there for long, it was clearly better than nothing.

The tiny pup desperately needed help - fortunately, Sharon had the phone number of a local animal rescue team on hand and dialed immediately.

Sharon had called the City of Folsom Animal Services. Thinking things were about wrapped up, Sharon was told something by rescuer Cindy Walden that she could not believe.

The sick dog Sharon rescued was actually a female coyote who was suffering from a particularly bad case of mange. "She had such soft eyes, that relayed the message of ‘help me if you can,'" Cindy said.

Gold Country Wildlife Rescue (GCWR) came soon enough and took the coyote to their shelter, later naming the animal Princess. Luckily, GCWR was specialized in providing care and rehabilitation for coyotes.

Princess was eventually taken to Sierra Wildlife Rescue in Placerville, California, when she was feeling well enough. There, workers continued to care for her so she could make a full recovery.

Here she was able to interact with other coyotes, which came as a huge relief

it had obviously been a while since Princess was able to spend time in the company of her own species...

Princess soon became friends with the two coyotes that she was placed with. Both were around her age and eager to get to know her. The three of them seemed to get along well, much to the relief of the rescue workers.

Princess and her new coyote buddies developed a close bond while they were at the wildlife rescue. Workers knew that it wouldn’t be long until they were released back into the wild.

That day finally came, and the bonded — healthy — coyotes left the comfort of the sanctuary to learn to fend for themselves. Thanks to Sharon’s kindhearted gesture, Princess became the adult everyone had hoped she would.

A family adopted a baby coyote when it was in need, and now it's a member of the family.

Woman Who Finds A Homeless ‘Dog’ On Her Porch Realizes It Isn’t A Dog At All


Leaving nothing to chance in the holiday shopping battles, said on Tuesday it would stay open non-stop in the final run-up to Christmas Eve.

The department store chain said doors at most stores would stay open around the clock from 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 20 until December 24 at 6 p.m. That comes to 107 hours, a far cry from the 170-hour marathon last year and more in line with its 2014 plan when Kohl’s was open for 100 hours.

The move is clearly aimed at squeezing every sale it can, in the face of what many retail CEO’s are calling the most "promotional" season since the recession, and fending off rivals like and .

Yet for all the excess of being open last year for a week of non-stop shopping, it didn’t turn the season into a blockbuster and even dented profits: comparable sales rose a mere 0.4% and margins fell. Kohl’s itself pronounced those results "disappointing." And in the first half of 2016, they were down 2.8%. Still, Kohl’s is looking to build on what was a promising Black Friday/Thanksgiving weekend with record online sales, and benefit from the arrival of a cold snap that should spur clothing sales, a segment that generates 60% of its revenues.

Kohl’s has made big strides this holiday season in terms of a smoother process for store pickups of online orders and the launch of Kohl’s Pay, among other initiatives. The retailer was aggressive in its promotions, including redoubling its marketing messaging to remind customers of the myriad ways to combine promotions to get low prices. Kohl's Yes2You loyalty program has 30 million active members and is central to that strategy. Kohl’s also started selling the Watch this quarter.

At the same time, is by all accounts having another banner holiday season, winning 31% of all U.S. e-commerce sales over the Cyber Monday period. And have been aggressive on price, as have Penney and Macy’s.

Once again the spoils of war will go to consumers.

Kohl’s Stores Are Opening for 107 Hours Straight Before Christmas


Darth Vader has a father? Star Wars Episode VIII script leak changes everything we knew

A STAR WARS Episode VIII script leak heavily alludes Darth Vader’s father and Luke Skywalker’s grandfather as Supreme Leader Snoke.

A script leak from The Force Awakens follow up depicts a scene between Mark Hamill’s Luke and Snoke.

The conversation sees Snoke imply he’s met Luke’s father, Anakin Skywalker aka Darth Vader.

Snoke says: "After all, what father doesn’t see his own creation."

Fans have been in a frenzy wondering if this means Snoke is saying he’s Luke’s grandfather.

However, Star Wars followers will know that Anakin was conceived by the Force.

His mother, Schmi Skywalker a Tattoine slave, made this clear in Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

George Lucas, the franchise’s creator, took the story element further with the addition of midi-chorians.

Darth Vader has a father? Star Wars Episode VIII script leak reveals ...


Scientists say we may all have this 'sixth sense'

Whether it's determining the number of ships on the horizon or the number of cookies in a jar, the human brain has a "map" for perceiving numbers, new research shows.

Topographical maps of the human brain are known to exist for the primary senses, such as sight, hearing and touch, but this is the first time such a map has been found for numerosity, or number sense. The map's layout allows for the most efficient communication among neurons doing similar tasks.

Studies in monkeys have shown that certain neurons in the parietal cortex, located at the back of the brain beneath the crown of the hair, became active when the animals viewed a specific number of items. These studies did not find a map for numerosity, though scientists have long suspected one exists. [The Top 10 Mysteries of the Mind]

Different sites on the brain's surface respond maximally to different numbers of visually presented items.

"Scientists have suspected an ordered mapping of numbers for a long time," said Andreas Nieder, a neurobiologist at the University of Tübingen in Germany, who was not involved in the study. "Many laboratories have been investigating this idea intensively. Finally, Harvey et al. succeeded in convincingly demonstrating a map of numerical quantity in the human brain," he added, referring to researcher Ben Harvey, a neuroscientist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

In the study, Harvey and his colleagues placed participants in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner and showed them patterns of dots that varied in number over time. They would show one dot over and over, then two dots over and over, then three dots, and so on.

The researchers used an advanced imaging method known as high-field fMRI, which allowed them to see fine-scale details of brain activity. They analyzed the neural responses using techniques similar to those used to study the parts of the brain responsible for vision.

The posterior parietal cortex, responded to the dot patterns in an organized way: Small numbers of dots were represented in one area, whereas large numbers were represented in another, the results showed.

It's as if the brain was acting as an abacus. "In an abacus, you map number onto space," Harvey told LiveScience. [5 Seriously Mind-Boggling Math Facts]

The findings, detailed online today (Sept. 5) in the journal Science, suggest that higher cognitive functions might rely on the same organization principles as sensory systems do. For instance, in face recognition — which is much more complicated than number sense — objects that look similar might be grouped together in the brain, Harvey said.

In these topographical maps, a larger brain area was dedicated to perceiving smaller numbers than to larger ones, in line with previous findings that number sense becomes less precise as the quantity of items increases.

Importantly, numerosity is different from mathematical ability or symbolism. Numerosity only refers to numerical amount.

People vary somewhat in their ability to distinguish numerosity, Harvey said. At the extreme, you have savants — individuals, many of who have autism or a similar disorder, who possess extraordinary abilities in math, art or other areas. Some savants can look at a pile of pick-up sticks, for example, and instantly know how many there are.

"While there's always this map structure, there's not always the same context," Harvey said.

Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Numbers Get Mapped In Our Brains Like A 'Sixth Sense,' Study Suggests

Whether it's determining the number of ships on the horizon or the number of cookies in a jar, the human brain has a "map" for perceiving numbers, ne...

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@KristinCav former star of "The Hills" arrested in Illinois

According to Kristin Cavallari Twitter account, she was taken in to a police station in Chicago and was forced to post bail for driving without an Illinois license.

We assume the 26-year-old -- who wed longtime beau, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, in June -- has been living with her husband and son Camden Jack Cutler in Chicago. According to Illinois' DMV website, new residents "have a full 90 days before you need to get your license."

However, Cavallari subsequently tweeted that she still owns property in California, so she's technically still a resident.

Who knew having a California drivers license in Illinois was a CRIME to be escorted to the police station to post bail?!! What a morning — Kristin Cavallari (@KristinCav) September 6, 2013

FYI...I still have an apartment in LA so I'm a resident of California — Kristin Cavallari (@KristinCav) September 6, 2013

HuffPost reached out to Kristin's rep for comment and will update the story once one comes through.

UPDATE: According to the Chicago Tribune, Cavallari was pulled over for speeding yesterday just before noon. After being cited, she "was required to follow the motorcycle officer who stopped her to the police station to post $150 bond." This, because she did not have an Illinois driver's license.

Kristin Cavallari Got Arrested In Illinois For Driving With A California License (UPDATE)

Seems like Illinois is putting a cramp in this California girl's style!

According to Kristin...

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Girl Locks Herself In Her Room For 30 Minutes. When She Comes Out? This Is Going VIRAL...

Determined to show just how much of a fan she was of the fact that this was an all-female remake, this crafty girl headed into her room. With only about an hour to go before their departure time, she was a gal on a mission.

Soon, she reemerged, dressed head to toe in her new Ghostbusters jumpsuit, crafted out of an old zookeeper’s costume.

Her proud dad, in awe of his inspiring little superhero, took a photo of his daughter, and posted it to social media. Not long after, his post began soliciting all sorts of praise, even catching the eye of the movie’s director, Paul Feig, who couldn’t have been more on board with Matilda’s awesome getup.

"She is definitely a strong spirit," Burnett told LittleThings of his daughter. "She follows her own path and regrets nothing."

Little Girl’s Incredible ‘Ghostbusters’ Costume Goes Viral

At just 7 years old, Matilda Burnett is well on her way to becoming an amazing "girl boss." When her father, Max Burnett, recently bought them both tickets to see the new all-female Ghostbusters movie, this budding feminist sprang into action. Determined to show just how much of a fan she was of the fact that this was an all-female remake, this crafty girl headed into...


Scarlett Johansson like you've never seen her before

Here's the simple plot description for "Under The Skin" on IMDb: "An alien in human form is on a journey through Scotland." Here's what that really entails: Scarlett Johansson plays the alien, and in a first glimpse of the film, she's seen interacting with array of David Lynchian nightmares. Directed by Jonathan Glazer, "Under the Skin" debuted at the Telluride Film Festival with some strong reviews. "Glazer, best known for his films 'Sexy Beast' and 'Birth,' has instead fashioned an original piece of cinema that is gorgeous, mesmerizing, heartbreaking, frustrating and pretentious all at the same time," wrote Gregory Ellwood for HitFix's In Contention awards blog. "It has some of the most haunting images of the year and features the bravest performance of Scarlett Johansson's career." Watch the teaser above; "Under the Skin" does not have U.S. distribution at this time.

'Under The Skin' Teaser Trailer Features Scarlett Johansson As An Alien

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America has a new lunch habit that's hurting McDonald's

Grocery stores are stealing business from McDonald's.

Grocery prices have been falling, and as a result, a growing number of Americans are choosing to pack their lunches and eat dinner at home versus visiting restaurants, according to McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook.

"There is a widening gap between food away from home and food at home, where the commodity decreases are being passed through by the grocers," Easterbrook said on Tuesday on a call with analysts.

"So the food at home, there's value to be had for families there, whereas eating out, there is a price-inflation environment," he said.

Easterbrook made the remarks in response to a question about McDonald's slowing sales growth.

McDonald's same-store sales increased 1.8% in the second quarter of the year, down from 5.4% growth in the previous quarter.

Americans' overall uncertainty about the presidential election and the economy have also been contributing to a slowdown industry-wide, Easterbrook said:

"I think, generally, there's just a broader level of uncertainty in consumers' minds at the moment, both trying to gauge their financial security going forward, you know, whether through elections or through global events, people are slightly mindful of an unsettled world. And when people are uncertain, when families are uncertain, caution starts to prevail and they start to hold back on spend."

But McDonald's isn't the only restaurant affected by consumers' spending pullback.

In fact, same-store sales have been so lackluster this year that one Wall Street analyst thinks that they may be a "harbinger" for a US recession next year.

In a note to clients published on Tuesday, Stifel analyst Paul Westra said that the slowdown "reflects the start of a US restaurant recession," and that it "may also represent a harbinger to a U.S. recession in early 2017."

"Restaurants have historically led the market lower during the three-to-six-month periods prior to the start of the prior three US recessions," he wrote.


Does 'Finding Dory' show a gay couple? We asked the filmmakers

After the release of Finding Dory 's latest trailer last month, there was rampant speculation that one scene featured a lesbian couple, which would be a Disney/Pixar first. The internet went nuts.

" They can be whatever you want them to be," said Stanton. "There's no right or wrong answer."

The call for Disney (which owns Pixar and Marvel) to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters has gathered momentum in recent months. , fans called for filmmakers to give Queen Elsa a partner with the hashtag The call for Disney (which owns Pixar and Marvel) to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters has gathered momentum in recent months. With the announcement of Frozen 2 fans called for filmmakers to give Queen Elsa a partner with the hashtag #GiveElsaAGirlfriend . The hashtag #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend is also popular on Twitter.

The debate over whether Finding Dory features Disney/Pixar's first same-sex couple will not end. After the release of Finding Dory's latest trailer last month, there was rampant speculation that one scene featured a lesbian couple, which would be a Disney/Pixar first. The internet went nuts. USA TODAY asked Finding Dory director Andrew Stanton at Wednesday's world premiere if the couple depicted onscreen is indeed a lesbian couple. He neither confirm nor denied. "They can be whatever you want them to be," said Stanton. "There's no right or wrong answer." "We never asked them," added producer Lindsey Collins. "We have not asked that of any of the couples in any of our shots in any of our movies," Stanton said. Watching the full Finding Dory movie will not fully answer the question, either. The blink-and-you'll-miss-it scene flies past during a key action moment and is only slightly longer than the snippet used in the trailer. There's no conclusive evidence one way or another. The call for Disney (which owns Pixar and Marvel) to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters has gathered momentum in recent months. With the announcement of Frozen 2, fans called for filmmakers to give Queen Elsa a partner with the hashtag #GiveElsaAGirlfriend. The hashtag #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend is also popular on Twitter. In March, Star Wars director J.J. Abrams said he was was asked if he could "imagine a homosexual character in Star Wars, and my immediate reaction was, 'Of course.' Star Wars is all about inclusivity."


"Find Out Why This Pittsburgh Steelers Player Left a 75 Cent Tip"

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams is responding to social media criticism for not tipping an appropriate amount at a Maryland restaurant.

According to a TMZ Sports report, Williams recently visited the Ledo Restaurant and his bill came to $128.25.

The server took exception to Williams leaving a 75-cent tip and blasted him on social media.

Williams has since responded saying the small tip has nothing to do with being cheap, it was because the service was poor.

The service was terrible if it was good she would have gotten a 40dollar tip https://t.co/wgArMDocOy — DeAngelo Williams (@DeAngeloRB) September 12, 2016

In a series of tweets, Williams explained that there were a couple of issues with the food he ordered.

Specifically, he said he ordered chicken and shrimp in pasta, but it came on his salad instead. When he sent it back, they still left a shrimp tail in his salad.

You right I tried to leave exact change but couldn’t I waited on my food for over 1.5hours got the order wrong then https://t.co/rCqpGGdxmv — DeAngelo Williams (@DeAngeloRB) September 12, 2016

Williams also claimed it took about 90 minutes for the food to arrive.

So, based on all the events of the evening, Williams elected to leave the small tip. However, he really wanted to leave no tip, but couldn’t find exact change.

Jimmy Marcos, owner of Ledo’s, said they are still dealing with the situation and have not taken any action against the server yet. However, it is likely that she will lose her job for how she handled the situation.

Marcos said they understand and support Williams’ decision as well.

"Our policy is that a tip is not a guarantee, but is a courtesy, and that it usually reflects the (quality of the) service," he said.

Per the TMZ Sports article, Marcos plans to apologize in person and pick up the tab the next time Williams visits.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page

Steelers’ Williams On Leaving 75-Cent Tip: ‘The Service Was Terrible’ « CBS Pittsburgh

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Hey, here are some people who really, really should not run for president

March 2017 is probably far too early to start considering the next presidential election, and who the Democrats might send into the breach to take on Donald Trump (assuming he runs for re-election, of course). That said, there’s already an awful lot of rumor and sigh in the news transom about people having sudden-onset political stirrings, including those setting their sights on a 2020 presidential run.

Some of them are the last vestiges of the Clinton network, still high on that old Third Way supply, banking on the belief that the country isn’t yet done with late-1990s nostalgia. But a new group of would-be candidates is on the rise ― extravagantly wealthy wannabes stirred both by the Clinton-era Democratic Party embrace of meritocratic elites and the success of Trump’s outsider run. And if they all have something in common, it’s that they are all the worst possible people for the Democrats to run for office, if you consider the lessons of the 2016 election.

What were those lessons? Well, for one thing, 2016 was the year that the Democratic Party’s obsessions with the professional class finally caught up with it. Amid roaring calls for solutions to widely felt economic inequities, Hillary Clinton ran a campaign largely based on social niceties and boardroom diversification, with some incremental crumbs thrown the way of middle- and working-class strivers.

None of it added up to a compelling enough case against the GOP’s con-man class-traitor to win the election. (And tellingly, some taken-for-granted Democratic strongholds fell to Trump at the exact moment Democrats needed them most.) But if there’s one thing both political parties share, it’s that they are slow to learn their lessons. The fear that the Democrats might stay the course, despite Clinton’s failings, suffused the atmosphere in the recent Democratic National Committee election ― and those who wanted a decisive change are still not sure they’re getting one with the election of former Obama Labor Secretary Tom Perez. That some of the Clinton family’s most dedicated hangers-on feel like they are the person to run for office in the Trump era likely won’t soothe their ravaged souls, either.

And then there are the unfortunate side effects of Trump’s win itself, which has apparently touched off a whole new round of thinking as to whether it would be a good idea to examine this moment in history ― in which a brash billionaire-celebrity outsider has ascended to the highest political office in the world ― and consider whether the time is right to have more brash billionaire-celebrity outsiders try to run for president.

That every single day of the Trump presidency has been a scintillating demonstration of the Peter Principle seems to not deter anybody. Instead, the event of a complete and utter billionaire buffoon with no political experience has suggested to a slew of other buffoons that, hey, why not me?

A century or two of yawning inequality has left us with no shortage of such buffoons. Hundreds of these folks have ascended to the dizzying heights of our American oligarchy ― or were born there ― and now gaze downward, gripped with the firm conviction that they should run all that they see below. "Stay in your lane," once the byword of America’s true and most successful innovators, is advice too easily chucked aside by today’s captains of industry. And so, "meritocracy" has become something of a dirty word.

Nowadays, those who have found success in one area are just as likely not to think that their success is translatable to other endeavors. When this turns out not to be the case, comical hijinks ensue. Perhaps the apotheosis of this rich-people folly came when New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg thought it would be a good idea to appoint his friend, Hearst executive Cathleen Black, to the position of New York City schools chancellor ― despite the fact that her relevant experience could best be summed up as "not any."

It was a huge disaster, but did anyone learn a damn thing from this experience? (Hmmm, let me check: Oh, yeah, Betsy DeVos is the U.S. secretary of education. So, no, nobody did.)

Still it’s one thing for Republicans to consider running the play ― they’ve obviously managed to make it work, at least in the narrow electoral sense. And their billionaire was no obscure figure. Entering the election with 100-percent name identification, and a years-long run in American living rooms as a fictional, all-knowing business leader, gave Trump legs up that your random billionaire lacks.

Replicating either side of the last presidential election is a losing move for Democrats. But it’s a very tempting one: It’s a notion that allows the easy-breezy fantasy that a massive party overhaul isn’t necessary, and that all of their problems can be ameliorated by either billionaires with quick fixes and cash on-hand, or Clinton 2016-redux candidates with better data and marketing.

With that in mind, here are a bunch of people whose political ambitions should be extinguished with all deliberate haste.

Bob Iger: Who, pray tell, is Bob Iger? Well, for a while, he was a member of Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum, a collection of CEO heavyweights who were going to help Trump #MAGA, for which Iger was well suited as the chief executive of Walt Disney. SInce then, it’s been reported that he is mulling making a run for the White House in 2020. Hmmm, maybe he hasn’t thought through this whole politics thing? Apparently not, considering that his inspiration to maybe run for president stems from the fact that he says "a lot of people ― a lot ― have urged me to seek political office." I mean, maybe set your sights a little lower, first time out?

J.B. Pritzker: Having endeavored mightily to paint the past two Republican presidential nominees as out-of-touch wealthy elites ― and having failed to distinguish their own last presidential nominee as something different ― are Democrats stupid enough to make an about-face and run their own billionaire?No, J.B. Pritzker wouldn’t make it out of Iowa without a negative vote total. But even though he’s recently been sniffing around the possibility of running in the Illinois gubernatorial election, that hasn’t stopped him from floating to friends that he’s considering making a run for the White House as well ― or so we’re told by one recipient of such a flatulent flotation. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, had designs on being commerce secretary under Hillary Clinton, just as his sister Penny Pritzker was under Obama. Just stop.

Sheryl Sandberg: According to some election-year rumors, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was in the running to serve as Hillary Clinton’s treasury secretary. Since then, she’s been rumored to be considering a White House run, amid occasional denials. At the same time, she has recently been more open to Trump’s overtures. She was one of those Silicon Valley leaders who met with Trump prior to the inauguration. As Slate’s Helaine Olen notes, Sandberg made no public mention of the Women’s March that took place afterwards, a curious move for the "Lean In" maven ― at least until you consider the fact that "Lean In" is a disingenuous brand-washing scheme, and that Sandberg is especially unwilling to criticize her C-suite peers for crimes against women in the workforce.

Howard Schultz: The Starbucks CEO has said "never say never" to a presidential run. Indeed, Schultz would be the fever-dream candidate of the No Labels set: his political "brand," insofar as he has one, is essentially based around his core belief that everyone in politics should be a lot nicer to each other. This worldview most famously manifested itself in the short-lived March 2015 "Race Together" campaign, in which Schultz ― after having mostly eliminated manual espresso machines in Starbucks stores ― tasked baristas with bridging America’s racial divide. If you want a president who believes that all of America’s problems can be solved by constantly throwing corporate culture at them, he’s your guy.

Mark Zuckerberg: Hey, let’s see: Do we really want the founder and CEO of Facebook ― a business that depends on learning as much about your private life as possible, more and more every single day, always probing and collecting, never ceasing in its sleepless drive to know everything about you, better than you could possibly know yourself, until the very idea of "privacy" becomes an obsolete concept and individual autonomy is subordinated to a set of bloodless algorithms and advertisers are straight-up living inside your dreams ― to be our president? I dunno, man. As Big Brother might say, that sounds doubleplusungood!

Chelsea Clinton: Anyone else notice how after the election, Chelsea Clinton has been slowly creeping into our lives? There’s been this gradual ramping up of Total Chelsea Clinton Awareness, and along with it, the gradual ramping up of yet another Clinton’s political career ― even though, up until now, Chelsea Clinton has essentially been nothing more than a lodestar for other people’s money to find their way into Clinton bank accounts. (I read here that she was paid $600,000 to do journalism? Holy cats, how long did it take Jimmy Breslin to make $600,000?) Anyway, she’s been tweeting lately ― tweets that feel a little too clever, but not enough to be thought of as "edgy" ― the sort of social media output that makes you want to look for hidden wires. Hillary Clinton got a lot of stick ― unfairly so ― for lacking authenticity, but her daughter’s recent re-emergence feels like a ghost in the shell being willed into existence by a team of P.R. firms. We don’t suspect we have to fear a run in 2020 from Chelsea. But let’s please add every year in the future, ever, to that safe space.

Terry McAuliffe: The biggest beneficiary of the Clinton family to not have actual Clinton family DNA (probably, anyway!), McAuliffe revived his political career by winning the 2013 gubernatorial election in Virginia. It was close. Too close, considering he was running against a throwback Christian conservative ideologue in the form of Ken Cuccinelli. During the 2016 campaign, McAuliffe distinguished himself by telling reporters at the Democratic National Convention that Hillary Clinton was definitely going to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal after the election. The TPP, if you recall, was the thing convention-goers booed and jeered more lustily than Donald Trump. McAuliffe and his spin-team later tried to walk this back, saying that it was just McAuliffe who supported the TPP, which ― is still not good? Anyway, he is basically kooky, has a lot of funny-money connections, and suffers from the fact that Virginia has a one-term term limit for governor, leaving him with an itch that has to be scratched, probably with a huge pile of donor money that could be put to any number of more productive purposes.

Andrew Cuomo: The Clintons and Cuomos have never been particularly warm to each other, but the two political dynasties, eternally orbiting one another, have managed to seamlessly apply the transactional-slash-triangulating political style they share in common to their interpersonal relationships. Now, as rumors mount that Cuomo is considering a White House bid, he’s welcoming former Clinton campaign staff into his fold, where they’ll likely discover similarities to their natural habitat. Liberals have, in recent months, thrilled to Cuomo’s stance on fracking and his defense of immigrants, but they’re setting themselves up for huge disappointments. Cuomo, who is astonishingly petty and mean-minded, has done more to dampen the fortunes of New York’s Democratic Party than New York Republicans have. And he’s corrupt as all get-out to boot ― his most notable accomplishment as governor was to shut down the Moreland Commission anti-corruption inquiry as soon as the probe starting sniffing around targets with ties to the governor ― and getting away with it.

That, right there, is a murderer’s row of the exact wrong candidates for the Democratic Party, who’d be better advised to begin the hard work of rebuilding their party’s foundations and restoring a deep bench of new policymakers with fresh ideas. This is not the moment to try to lock arms with a gaggle of dilettante 1-percenters, promising to do what Trump pulled off. And it’s certainly not the time to try to revive the fortunes of their political cousins ― the broken remnants of the Clinton machine.

Drown these candidacies in the bathtub, right now.

Hey, Here Are Some People Who Really, Really Should Not Run For President

Or any public office. Under any circumstances.

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Gun control protest sparks chaos in US Congress

1/10 House Speaker Paul Ryan stands at the podium as he brings the House into session in Washington House Television via AP

2/10 Democrat members of Congress, including Rep John Lewis, longtime civil rights leader, leading a Democratic sit-in on the House floor over gun control Rex

3/10 Democrat members of Congress, including Rep. John Lewis, middle, and Rep. Joe Courtney, left, participate in sit-down protest seeking a a vote on gun control measures Rep. John Yarmuth via AP

4/10 House Speaker Paul Ryan gavels the House into session House Television via AP

5/10 Members of Congress during the sit-in protest AFP/Getty Images

6/10 Protesters chant on East Front of the Capitol to show solidarity with House Democrats' sit-in on the floor calling on Republicans to allow votes on gun violence legislation Rex

7/10 Democrat members of Congress, including, front row, from left, Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., participate in sit-down protest seeking a a vote on gun control measures Rep. Chellie Pingree via AP

8/10 Charles Bolden, staff assistant of Rep. Robin Kelly, holds a poster with pictures of gun violence victims from Chicago as he walks towards the House Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington Alex Wong/Getty Images

9/10 Rep. Joe Kennedy III applauds supporters of House Democrats taking part in a sit-in on the House Chamber outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington Pete Marovich/Getty Images

10/10 Supporters of House Democrats taking part in a sit-in on the House Chamber shout encouragement from outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington Pete Marovich/Getty Images

The transmissions, broadcast by the C-Span network, technically break House rules, but one Democrat representative, Scott Peters, who provided a feed via the Periscope app, said the sit-in was breaking rules anyway.

Protest: Democrats sit down in Congress during the demonstration (AP)

The sit-in was into its 10th hour when Democrats began camping out on the house floor with sleeping bags, pillows, blankets and doughnuts that were shipped in.

When Mr Ryan stepped to the podium to take back control and hold votes on routine business, angry Democrats shouted and waved pieces of paper with the names of gun victims.

Mr Ryan attempted to ignore the outbursts and announce the business of the day, pounding down his gavel over shouting, "shame, shame, shame"..

Democrats shouted back before singing "We Shall Overcome," still holding up the names of gun victims.

Even after the House adjourned around 3.15am local time, Democrats stayed on the House floor. Representative Maxine Waters of California said she was ready to stay "until Hell freezes over."

6/49 Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera Facebook/Reuters

9/49 Mercedez Marisol Flores Facebook/AP

10/49 Peter O Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 Facebook

11/49 Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez Facebook/AP

12/49 Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez Facebook/AP

14/49 Angel L. Candelario-Padro Facebook/AP

16/49 Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega Facebook/AP

20/49 Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon Facebook/AP

22/49 Jason Benjamin Josaphat Facebook/AP

24/49 Oscar A Aracena-Montero Facebook/AP

25/49 Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosad Facebook/AP

27/49 Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez Facebook/AP

29/49 Christopher Andrew Leinonen Facebook/AP

33/49 Juan P. Rivera Velazquez Facebook/AP

35/49 Miguel Angel Honorato Jose Honorato/AP

36/49 Brenda Lee Marquez McCool Facebook

37/49 Anthony Luis Laureano Disla Anthony Laureano/Reuters

38/49 Deonka Drayton worked at Pulse Facebook

42/49 Alejandro Barrios Martinez Facebook

44/49 Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan Facebook/AP

47/49 Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz Facebook

49/49 Composite of Orlando shooting victims. AP

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said: "Just because they cut and run in the dark of night, just because they have left doesn’t mean we are taking no for an answer.

In the upper house Senators are pushing for a compromise with new legislation that would stop gun sales to a limited number of people who are on some terrorism watch lists.

Mr Ryan has said he will not bring a gun control vote in the House of Representatives.

"They know that we will not bring a bill that takes away a person’s constitutionally guaranteed rights without...due process."

There were chaotic scenes in the lower house of the US Congress today as Democrats staged an extraordinary round-the-clock sit-in to demand a vote on gun control bills. As Republican Speaker Paul Ryan tried to regain control he was met with chants of "no bill, no break". The protest comes in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shootings - the worst terror attack in the US since 9/11. As unruly scenes played out, the Republicans switched off the House TV cameras but Democrats continued to feed live pictures via their phones.


These North Carolina Businesses Are Giving Brilliant Clapbacks to Governor Pat McCrory

One company makes beer and the other makes sandwiches — but they both have a similar message for North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory: They're not fans of anti-transgender legislation like House Bill 2.

There's been no shortage of transgender activists and cisgender allies willing to speak out against North Carolina's controversial HB2, which requires people to use the bathroom that matches their gender assigned at birth rather than their gender identity. Two local North Carolina businesses have joined the group of dissenters.

Wedge Brewing Company, based in Asheville, revealed via its Instagram that they'd left a hidden message for those who flip their beer cans over to look at the can's silver bottom.

Twitter and Instagram users love the cans, with a few detractors here and .

Can we all agree @WedgeBrewingCo wins the internet today? (Love their beer, too!) #hb2 #northcarolinapic..twitter.com/OsGtg2MqvJ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiIQYuqXIAY2iXD.jpg:large

@WedgeBrewingCo I just might start drinking beer again. #Pricelesspic..twitter.com/6wVpYO12vJ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiYhm3iUkAE4xO-.jpg:large

Might have to take a visit to Asheville to support @WedgeBrewingCohttps://twitter.com/LGBT_Activist/status/731135855046299648 ...

Looks like I'll stay away from @WedgeBrewingCo products.

We've reached out to Wedge Brewing Company for comment but have not yet received a response. This article will be updated with any further communication.

Common Market Deli in Charlotte also lampooned Gov. McCrory with several eponymous sandwiches, including: "Pat McCrory Is Erasing the Future of Our Children!" and "Pat McCrory Is a Weiner!"

"We've done a [sandwich specials] making fun of Bernie Sanders, and we had a 'Shillary' one and we have plans to do something for Donald Trump," owner Blake Barnes told the Daily Dot. "It's funny that this one would be the one that causes all the fuss."

Barnes said he had someone call and force him to "say out loud that I love queers."

To which he responded: "I love all of God's children — it's just their gods that I sometimes have trouble with."

Blake's deli reported on their Facebook page that protesters have begun picketing outside the restaurant.

However, that won't stop Common Market Deli. "No amount of controversy is going to stop us," Barnes told the Daily Dot.

As if we didn't love beer and sandwiches enough.

North Carolina, HB2, McCrory, beer, Identities


You probably won’t be able to guess what Michael Douglas’s son has tattooed on his abdomen:

Michael Douglas’s son Cameron was recently released after spending almost seven years in prison on drug charges, and he’s been celebrating his newfound freedom by posting pictures of what Us Weekly appropriately calls his "buff, post-prison bod" to Instagram. One recent shot spotlighted by the tabloid reveals an interesting pair of tattoos. Can you guess, reader, what Cameron Douglas has tattooed on his stomach?

Yes, that’s right: Besides sort of having Michael Douglas’s face on his own face, Cameron Douglas also has Michael Douglas’s face on his right abdomen. (The image of Michael appears to come from Wall Street.) The tattoo is accompanied by an image of Cameron’s 99-year-old grandfather, screen legend Kirk Douglas, on the left. This is the second time Michael Douglas’s middle-aged face has shown up in a surprising place, after Ant-Man.

You Probably Won’t Be Able to Guess What Michael Douglas’s Son Has Tattooed on His Abdomen


Senate confirms first Native American ambassador

The Senate confirmed Keith Harper as ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council Tuesday, making him the first Native American to ever become a U.S. ambassador.

Harper is an attorney who was one of the lawyers behind a landmark class action lawsuit brought by Native Americans against the federal government. President Barack Obama first nominated him in June 2013.

"I’m pleased that my colleagues have voted to appoint another historic first for Indian Country," said Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont..) in a statement. "As a longtime advocate for the civil rights of Native Americans, Keith will be a great Ambassador for our country."

A member of the Cherokee Nation, Harper helped represent around 500,000 Native Americans who brought a class-action suit -- Cobell v. Salazar -- against the United States in the 1990s over alleged federal mismanagement of revenue from mines and oil wells owned by Native Americans.

Senate Republicans objected to his confirmation due to his involvement in the Cobell case and his role as a bundler for Obama's campaign.

"Mr. Harper is just another example of a campaign bundler wholly ill-suited to serve in the diplomatic post for which he's been nominated," Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Monday.

McCain argued that Harper and his colleagues had taken an inappropriately large cut of the settlement in the case in the form of attorneys' fees. He also questioned whether Harper was involved in the distribution of an email to his Cobell clients listing the personal information of four individuals who had appealed the settlement, concerned that it could be harassment. The Indian Country Today Media Network also reported that some Native American lawyers had alleged that Harper used intimidation tactics against other attorneys during the case.

"People like Mr. Harper can't be a party or complicit with a letter attempting to harass Native Americans for exercising their rights, and then expect to obtain the Senate's imprimatur to serve as our nation's ambassador on human rights," McCain said.

Harper's confirmation was approved by a party-line vote of 52-42 and was hailed by Native American groups as a positive step forward.

"Keith’s confirmation is of great accomplishment for all of Indian Country," said Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly in a statement.

One group, the National Congress of American Indians, also called for more nominees to federal posts in the wake of Harper's confirmation.

"Indian Country is full of qualified, talented people who are able and willing to serve," the group said in a statement. "We eagerly anticipate many more nominations of Native people to important offices."

Last month, the Senate also confirmed Diane Humetewa, the first Native American woman to serve on the federal bench.

Clarification: Harper is the first member of a federally recognized Native American tribe to be confirmed as an ambassador for the United States. However, Christopher Stevens — the Ambassador to Libya who was killed in the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi — was an enrolled citizen of the Chinook Indian Nation and 1/16 Chinook. That tribe is not federally recognized.

Senate Confirms First Native American Ambassador

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Mom Sprays Baby With A Garden Hose. When She Turns Around, He’s COVERED In Blisters

A mom in Arizona is warning other parents about the dangers of letting children play with a garden hose after her toddler was scalded by one. Keep reading for more details!

According to KNXV, Dominique Woodger was filling up a small wading pool for her 9-month-old son on Tuesday when he started crying uncontrollably.

Because Woodger had sprayed the baby boy, she assumed he just didn’t like the water hitting his face.

"I thought he was crying because he was mad ... he hates when he gets sprayed in the face," she said. "I didn’t think that it was burning him.."

Then Woodger noticed that her son’s skin was red and already starting to blister and peel.

"All of it was peeling. He had blisters all over the right side," she told KNXV.

According to the station, temperatures reached 115 degrees on Tuesday, meaning the water inside Woodger’s garden hose may have been as hot as 150 degrees.

"At those temperatures, something as short as a 10 or 30-second exposure can result in a second-degree burn," said Capt. Larry Subervi with the Phoenix Fire Department.

Although Woodger’s baby suffered second-degree burns on roughly 30 percent of his tiny body, he’s expected to be OK.

After what happened to her son, Woodger hopes her story can serve as a warning for other families in the area.

"Just be careful. Touch it before you let your kids near it," she said.

Mom Sprays Baby With A Garden Hose.. When She Turns Around, He’s COVERED In Blisters

An Arizona mom is warning other parents to always check the temperature of their hose before letting their kids play with it after her baby boy was severely burned. According to KNXV, Dominique Woodger was filling up a small wading pool for her 9-month-old son on Tuesday when he started crying uncon


These are 7 guilt-free purchases for your home that are definitely worth the extra cost

When it comes to shopping for the home, there are very few things that I absolutely hate. Buyer's remorse is one of them. As I've become more experienced in making purchases for clients and my own home, I've learned that the quality of certain items shouldn't be compromised due to lack of research or the inability to delay gratification. Delving into a products' specifications, reading product reviews or coming across the right Houzz ideabook can help us feel more equipped to make a decision on high-ticket items for the house. I've always appreciated the saying Buy once, buy right. In other words, purchase the best quality you can afford. Here are seven guilt-free purchases to allow yourself — plus budget-friendly alternatives should you come up a few dollars short.

Often it appears that your options are endless when it comes to window coverings. However, window placement, frame construction and other external factors help narrow your choices.

It's best to seek professional advice when you are confused about which option is best for your home. There's generally no way around custom window treatments when there are unusually tall windows or odd placements. Remain conservative in your choice and they will be a good investment in your home when it's time to sell.

An alternative: Take ready-made curtains to a professional seamstress to have them hemmed and/or add special trimmings that tie into your existing decor.

Consider anything that touches your bare skin an investment in comfort. Bed linens and towels with a high thread count are softer, durable and long lasting.

An alternative: Educate yourself on luxury brands and shop local home discount stores known for carrying famous brands.

Purchasing a quality sofa or other piece of upholstered furniture that stands up to the demands of your lifestyle is always a good idea. Cotton blends that have a high percentage of polyester provide optimal stain resistance and long-term wear.

An alternative: Shop local secondhand stores for pieces with solid wood construction and have them reupholstered in an upholstery-grade fabric of your choice. This can give you a high-quality item for the cost of a lower-quality new piece.

It can take months to find the perfect rug, and when you do, it usually isn't cheap. Costs vary depending on the age, weaving technique, fiber content and dye method. Hand-loomed rugs wear well and have added character and charm. Minor repairs do not affect the value of the rug as long as they have been done well.

An alternative: Until you purchase your dream rug, arrange two smaller rugs side by side to emulate the look of a larger rug. When it's time to replace them with the new rug, the former rugs become available to use in other spaces.

Good health is one of your biggest assets, and a good night's sleep is essential to your well-being. Experts recommend buying what's comfortable for you; there is no one size that fits all. Take your time when shopping for a mattress and select one that provides optimal support when you're sleeping on your side with hips and knees slightly flexed.

An alternative: Purchase a mattress topper as a temporary fix for a mattress that is too firm. It molds to a body's contours, providing pressure relief and eliminating pain in the back, shoulders and hips..

A one-of-a-kind piece by its nature has special value. In addition to adding beauty and interest to the home, fine art gains extrinsic value as time passes.

The alternative: Seek out emerging artists and purchase pieces you love from them. Their work is likely to cost less than that of established artists, and you are still likely to see your investment grow in value over time.

When a homeowner contacted Houzz for advice on kitchen upgrades, fellow contributor Rebekah Zaveloff responded with helpful advice. In regard to replacing the homeowner's old laminate countertops with classic honed granite counters, Zaveloff advised,Black and white never goes out of style. If you want a classic black and white kitchen, go ahead and change out those countertops!

An alternative: If granite isn't in the cards, budget-wise, Zaveloff continued, consider an alternative charcoal gray color called Medea from Corian.

When it comes to shopping for the home, there are very few things that I absolutely hate. Buyer's remorse is one of them. As I've become more experienced in making purchases for clients and my own home, I've learned that the quality of certain items shouldn't be compromised due to lack [...]

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Son of alleged mugger returns stolen money to victim gets an AWESOME surprise

After his dad allegedly mugged a woman visiting her husband's gravesite in Moore, Okla., Christian Lunsford made sure to make amends.

The 15-year-old asked to meet with the victim, Tona Herndon, so he could give her the $250 he'd recently received from his dad, News 9 reported.

Shane Lunsford, 39, had been arrested on Friday, after allegedly trying to use one of Herndon's credit cards. He remains in custody, according to Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office records.

"When I found out this whole situation, I didn't know if [the money] was hers or his or how," Lunsford told the station. "I just knew I needed to give the money to her."

But when the families met at a local church on Sunday, Herndon had her own surprise -- she immediately returned the cash to Lunsford.

"He gave and I received, and I gave and he received," she told News 9. "So it worked out."

Christian Lunsford, Son Of Alleged Mugger, Returns Stolen Money To Victim, Gets A Nice Surprise (VIDEO)

"Like father, like son" does not apply at all to this kindhearted teen.

After his dad allegedly mugged a woman visiting her husband's graves...

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Europeans do this so much better than us...

We often talk about the amazing homes in America that just take our breath away thanks to their unique architecture, cool features and perfect locations. But we should remember that our friends in Europe also know how to live it up and this Corfu, Greece beach home is proof of that.

According to Savills realty, the 6,888-square-foot abode has five bedrooms, an outdoor kitchen and Naxos pure white marble flooring. With the end of summer nearing, we can't seem to get our eyes off the super enticing pool area that overlooks the Corfu Channel.

If you're feeling like you could use a European getaway house, we can't imagine a better choice. And for only $8.9 million dollars, this property could be all yours. Head over to Savills for more information. H/T the Wall Street Journal.

Corfu, Greece Beach Home Is A European Dream Come True (PHOTOS)

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Elite Dangerous: Horizons Xbox One Release Date Announced

Frontier Developments has made some big announcements about Elite: Dangerous: Horizons. First, the studio confirmed today that the expansion to the space adventure game will launch for Xbox One on June 3.

The base game launched on Xbox One in April.

The Xbox One edition of Horizons will include the base game and two expansions: Planetary Landings and The Engineers. These add-ons include things like additional missions, new crafting possibilities, and a new vehicle in the form of the Surface Recon Vehicle.

Frontier also confirmed today that The Engineers expansion comes to PC on May 26. Launching alongside that will be Elite Dangerous' "biggest ever" free update for all players on all platforms.

"A new mission system, collectable loot, and hundreds of gameplay additions and tweaks. Xbox One players will further benefit from the addition of Private Group play and fully customizable controls."

Going forward, Frontier mentioned that PC and Xbox One players can expect further expansions, while updates to the game will arrive simultaneously across both platforms. Here is a breakdown of what's to come:

Multicrew, allowing teams of players to assume roles aboard the same ship.

Commander Creation, giving a unique appearance to players' in-game avatars.

Ship-Launched Fighters, allowing larger spacecraft to carry their own short-range fighter craft for attack and defense.

Lastly, Frontier announced that, beginning today, Horizons is available as an upgrade to Elite Dangerous for the lower price of $30. You can also get the game on PC in the Commander Deluxe edition for $60.

On Xbox One, Horizons will launch on June 3 as an upgrade to Elite Dangerous for $30, while the Commander Deluxe edition will also be offered on console for the same price.

Elite Dangerous was one of the first titles in the Xbox One's Early Access-style Game Preview program. The game is also coming to PlayStation 4, but a release date has not been announced.

Plus, "The Engineers" expansion comes to PC on May 26.


Apple Makes Big iPhone Announcement And It's Bad News For Rivals

The Apple vs. Android battle has been raging on for years now, and it doesn’t look like it will end any time soon.

Apple boss Tim Cook made an astonishing announcement at the tech giant’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, earlier today.

Believe it or not, in the past nine years, Apple has sold... wait for it... one BILLION iPhones. We’re not shitting you.

To put that into perspective how huge of an achievement that is, until about 200 years ago there was only around one billion people on the whole of the planet.

The fact that they’ve sold that many in just nine years is just staggering. And the news is bound to piss off all of their nearest rivals.

Tim Cook announced at an employee meeting:

iPhone has become one of the most important, world-changing and successful products in history. It’s become more than a constant companion. iPhone is truly an essential part of our daily life and enables much of what we do throughout the day. Last week we passed another major milestone when we sold the billionth iPhone.

We never set out to make the most, but we’ve always set out to make the best products that make a difference. Thank you to everyone at Apple for helping change the world every day.

Just imagine it. One billion people all walking into the sea trying to catch a Gyarados. Technology has taken over.

Apple Makes Big iPhone Announcement And It’s Bad News For Rivals


Marnie Simpson brought WHAT into the Celebrity Big Brother house?

Geordie Shore's Marnie Simpson hasn't been in the Celebrity Big Brother house long - but she's already grossing-out her fellow housemates.

In the CBB video (at about 31 minutes in), the reality TV star is seen having a chat with new buddies James Whale, Chloe Khan and Saira Khan when she announces she's brought a vibrator into the house - and reveals it's shaped like an ice cream.

After asking poor Saira if she's going to have sex during her time on CBB, the Loose Women panellist succinctly responds: "I'm married."

Saira is already looking properly freaked out, before Marnie asks her if she's brought a vibrator into the house and proclaims: "Mine's the best one you could ever want, mine's an ice cream."

Not literally, we hope - it'd be pretty useless.

James gets scared off and cleverly removes himself from the chat after Marnie declares: "It's like putting an ice cream in your fanny." Although Saira does tell him that he might learn something.

However, it's all pretty tongue-in-cheek until things get actually awkward.

When Saira asks Marnie if she's worried what her mum would think of her openly discussing sexual matters on TV, Marnie responds by asking Saira if she's ever masturbated.

At this point Saira genuinely appears to think Marnie's last question is too much and is visibly shocked, quietly asking: "Excuse me?"

Marnie, 24, was previously engaged to ex-TOWIE star Ricky Rayment, and recently announced her split from her on-off boyfriend and co-star Aaron Chalmers. She came out as bisexual not long ago and became sure of her sexuality following an "encounter with a girl" after a night out.

Having gotten into her fair share of house wars on Geordie Shore, Marnie hopes to avoid "judgemental or condescending people" on Celebrity Big Brother.

Meanwhile, Celebrity Big Brother wasted no time in kicking off a race row this year - all thanks to James and Saira.


First comes Tinder. Then comes marriage?

For some of us, the dating app Tinder suggests a slot machine for sex, a game for singles featuring one too many bathroom selfies.

For Casey Napolitano, a real estate agent in Los Angeles, Tinder is synonymous with love.

Ms. Napolitano met her husband, John Napolitano, on the app during her first and only Tinder date. She "swiped right" on a photo of John in a tuxedo giving a speech at a wedding. "It just really turned me on," she said. Six months later, they bought a house together; a few months later, they were engaged. They have been married for two years now and have a 14-month-old. "Our baby girl is perfect," the proud new father said.

The Napolitanos’ love story isn’t isolated. According to Jessica Carbino, Tinder’s on-site sociologist who pores over Tinder’s data, more people than ever are committing to relationships thanks to the app, which will have its fifth anniversary in September.

In a report released this week, Tinder conducted two surveys comparing its users with offline daters. (The offline daters fell into three groups: people who have never dated online, people who had dated online in the past but no longer did, and people who had never used online dating but were open to the possibility.)

According to Ms. Carbino, the findings indicate that Tinder users are more likely to be looking for a committed relationship than are offline daters. She said that the surveys revealed that Tinder users were doing a better job than offline daters of signaling "investment in prospective daters" by asking them questions when originally contacting them, and that they are 5 percent more likely to say "I love you" to their partners in the first year of dating.

The survey also reveals that while 30 percent of men who are not dating online say it is "challenging to commit," only 9 percent of male Tinder users say they find it difficult to maintain a committed relationship. The results were roughly similar for women.

Get lifestyle news from the Style, Travel and Food sections, from the latest trends to news you can use.

"When you are dating online, you actually have a very clear idea of what the marketplace is like," Ms. Carbino said. "You are able to have a visual idea of the pool in front of you, whereas the people who aren’t dating online are simply speculating as to what the pool may be like."

The report looked at a survey administered via the app to 7,072 Tinder users, ages 18 to 36, and a second survey of 2,502 offline daters, ages 18 to 35, conducted by Morar Consulting.

While the surveys were commissioned by Tinder, Ms. Carbino said her position as a social scientist was to provide a valid and realistic view of the world. "The realistic view might not provide what the company wants," she said, "however it’s my responsibility to do so and provide data that is accurate."

It is unclear whether the surveys sampled similar and representative demographics, a fact that Jennifer Lundquist, a sociologist at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst who researches online dating, said indicated that more studies were needed to determine if Tinder’s surveys were accurate.

"One issue with the non-online dating comparison group is that given how normalized and destigmatized online dating has become for this age group, it’s unusual not to participate in online dating," Professor Lundquist said. As a result, she said, the offline daters "may be a weirdly skewed group, or as sociologists would say negatively select."

Professor Lundquist also questioned the motivations for the survey, pointing to the anecdotal belief among many daters that Tinder’s picture-based feature leads it to be a "hookup" app rather than a mechanism for finding long-term partners. "It seems like Tinder is trying to work on their image with this survey," she said.

But despite Tinder’s aims, and researchers’ varying methods, the app’s conclusions about the desire of online daters to commit may not be unfounded. In a 2012 report on a study by the sociologists Michael Rosenfeld and Reuben J. Thomas published in the American Sociological Review, the researchers found that couples who meet online are no more likely to break up than couples who meet offline. Mr. Rosenfeld’s continuing research at Stanford University concludes that couples who meet online transition to marriage more quickly than those who meet offline. (The cohort of couples he studied met in 2009, before Tinder was founded; he is currently gathering data that include users of the app.)

Still, it is unclear whether Tinder’s surveys, even bolstered by larger trends in online dating, will shift the public’s perception of the app. It does not help that in a recent article in The California Sunday Magazine, Tinder’s founder and chairman, Sean Rad, admitted to sexting with Snapchat users. But perhaps Ms. Carbino, who scours Tinder daily, sees what others can’t: humans trying their best to connect. She is single and said she had found, and lost, love on Tinder.

An earlier version of this article misstated Sean Rad’s role at Tinder. He is the company’s founder and chairman, not the chief executive.

First Comes Tinder. Then Comes Marriage?

A new study reveals that the app’s users are more likely than offline daters to be looking for committed relationships. And they say "I love you" more often.

Online Dating,Dating and Relationships,Tinder (Mobile App)