The expensive ‘Italian’ shoes made for a pittance in east European sweatshops

Campaigners claim millions of shoppers are being led to believe the expensive shoes they buy in high-street stores are made in Germany and Italy – when many are actually made by workers on poverty wages in eastern European sweatshops.

The scandal is exposed in a damning investigation into the European shoe industry, which details illegal wages and shocking working conditions in factories turning out footwear for the UK market.

The investigation claims some big brands appear to be using a legal loophole, stamping their products with "Made in Italy" or "Made in Germany" to suggest they are high quality, when they have actually been made by poverty-stricken eastern European workers. The investigation found that footwear workers in Albania were earning as little as 49p an hour including overtime – which is an illegal rate even in such a poor country.

Workers in Macedonia, where the hourly wage was as low as 64p, described being taken to hospital in wheelbarrows after fainting in freezing factories where they had to work with strong chemicals. "If the employer needs to complete, let’s say, an order of 9,000 pairs of shoes, he will put 90 pairs on the belt and even if you want to die, you have to finish it," a worker told researchers compiling the report, entitled Labour on a Shoestring.

It alleges that one Macedonian factory, which produced Geox shoes, was paying illegally low wages of €131 (£113) a month, with overtime. The legal minimum is €145 before overtime.

Geox shoes are available in the UK through John Lewis and House of Fraser, among other retailers. Geox did not respond to requests for comment.

Manufacturers are able to take advantage of an obscure European loophole known as the outward processing trade (OPT) scheme. Under the rules, companies cut parts for the shoes in one country before exporting them to a low-wage economy where they are assembled and sewn. They are then imported back to the original country, duty free. The finished shoes can then be labelled as being made in the original country.

The report, compiled by researchers from several European rights groups, is based on interviews with 179 workers in 12 factories. It condemns OPT as "a dead-end scheme for workers, national economies and businesses" and describes it as "an economic and social road to ruin".

Researchers found that the factories produced shoes for brands including Zara, Lowa, Deichmann, Ara, Geox, Bata and Leder & Schuh AG and subsidiaries of CCC Shoes & Bags in Poland and Rieker and Gabor in Slovakia.

Bata did not address the allegations directly but welcomed the report, which it said had provided "interesting insights in the generally under-reported working conditions in eastern Europe". The company said it expected its suppliers to comply with local laws.

The report looked at production in six low-wage European countries: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. One in three of the Albanian workers questioned were paid less than the legal minimum wage of £121 a month, even with overtime and bonuses. The report indicated that women were generally worse off. Albanian workers reported having to work on up to 60 pairs of shoes a day.

Female workers in Romania said their husbands had to find low-paid seasonal work in the west to be able to afford wood to burn for heating during the winter. One man said: "Both my wife and I work in this factory. We are glad we could find work, but cannot imagine raising children on two factory wages. Our parents and relatives cannot support us, so we depend on this miserable wage. We wanted to move from the village to the city for a better life, but cannot afford to pay city rent from our salaries."

Another worker, Krisztina, said her family had to keep livestock to feed themselves. "We have a garden and some animals. If I had to buy meat, like chicken breast from the shop, I would not be able to afford it. So, we must also take care of our animals every day because they are some of the only food we can afford."

About 24 billion pairs of shoes are produced worldwide every year, including about 729 million made in Europe. But prices for European shoes are higher: an average Italian pair exports for £39, while an average Chinese pair exports for £3.

In a Macedonian factory supplying the Geox, Deichmann and Bata brands, workers said they were expected to use strong chemicals and complained of rheumatism, back pain, allergies and respiratory problems. They said their skin was often exposed to harmful chemicals because wearing gloves meant lower productivity and even lower wages.

Deichmann said it was not aware of issues with the factory, but was conducting its own investigation and would take any action necessary.

According to the report many workers complained of sweltering conditions in summer and freezing factories in winter. "My hands are freezing, I’m shivering all over and the door to the hall is open all the time," one worker said. "If I get sick at work and if I have a car, somebody will take me to the hospital. But if I don’t have a car, then I will be taken in a wheelbarrow," said another.

"In the summer, the heat is unbearable so we have had the ambulance here six times this year because co-workers had heat stroke," said one Slovak worker.

If I get sick at work and I don't have a car, somebody will take me to hospital in a wheelbarrow East European worker

Dorel Mituletum, deputy mayor of Calafat in Romania, was also interviewed for the report and said of the factory workers: "The poor things drop like flies."

One Romanian worker said that when three women were overcome by the heat at their factory her Italian supervisor joked that "he would have to improvise a cemetery in the back yard if the women continued to faint".

Anna McMullen, from Labour Behind the Label, a UK-based workers’ rights group involved in the report, said consumers needed to be told the truth about where their shoes come from. "The clever ruse of shipping shoe parts out to low-wage countries to the east of Europe for assembly and glueing, before returning shoes for labelling as ‘made in Europe’, is duping consumers into thinking their products are made with dignity," she said.

"In fact, we now know that workers in Albania and Macedonia are being paid wages so low that they cannot feed their families – so much so that the gap between the minimum and living wage is greater than in China. These out-sourcing methods used by some brands are turning mass profits on the back of worker poverty."

McMullen said consumers tended to associate sweatshops with Asia, but the reality was that they existed much closer to home. "The need for fast fashion is bringing shoe production closer to home, and with it comes wage competition with Asia that mirrors, if not tops, the exploitation that we see elsewhere in global supply chains.

"Workers are earning less than a quarter of the wage that they need to live with dignity, despite toiling massively long hours to deliver stressful piece-rate targets. ‘Made in Europe’ no longer means ‘made with dignity’."

The groups behind the report want manufacturers to be more transparent about where they make shoes that are on sale on UK high streets – and about wages and working conditions.

McMullen added: "Today, we are calling out brands that hide exploitation behind labels that con consumers.. Brands have a duty to make sure human rights are delivered for people who make their shoes. Being honest about where that is, is one of the first steps."

Separately, one company not named in the report, Adidas, was invited by the researchers to comment on its findings and backed the campaigners’ calls for improved working conditions. "We do agree ... that working conditions in eastern Europe are generally under-reported and increased worker rights protection is called for. More should be done to improve wages and we know, first-hand, that engagement between local suppliers, unions, governments, and buyers can pay dividends and improve the overall lives of workers," it said.

Zara’s parent company, Inditex, confirmed that it produced a small number of shoes in Romania and Albania. It said it operated a strict code of conduct to comply with the most stringent labour and human rights standards. It added: "In line with a key recommendation of the report, Inditex is working hard, worldwide, to drive living wages throughout its supply chain."

Lowa stressed that it too set the highest ethical standards. In a statement, it said: "Lowa strongly condemns the deplorable conditions shown in these reports. The decision to manufacture 100% ‘made in Europe’ incorporates our assurance of fair and humane manufacturing conditions. We will be intensifying our oversights in this area in order to be absolutely certain that facilities producing for Lowa abide by such conditions."

The other brands did not respond to the allegations in the report or to the Observer’s request for comment.

A troubling study claims that workers producing UK high street brands are enduring low pay and poor conditions

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This is the fragrance company making pretty much everything you eat and smell

What's the first thing you do upon waking up?

If your answer's brushing your teeth or taking a shower, chances are you're already using a product developed by Givaudan.

The Swiss firm is the world's largest player in the flavour and fragrance industries. It develops scents and flavours across food products as well as household items.

SEE ALSO: Ben and Jerry's bourbon ice cream seems like a dream, but it's real

That means it's probably in the body wash you use, or in that can of soda you're drinking.

The company estimates that the average person comes into contact with a scent it's developed about 10 times a day — yet most of us have never heard of it.

That's because it's sworn to secrecy about who its clients are, precisely for the reason we feel somewhat disturbed that there are lab-concocted flavours in our food.

Gilles Halotel, Technical Head of ASEAN at Givaudan, said during a factory tour that people often express concern about lab grown flavours being unnatural.

He explained that obvious scent is a necessary, and often expected component in food products. "Take chicken stock for example. People expect their food to have a strong chicken taste, and if we had enough chicken livestock around, maybe we wouldn't need stock [products]. We're responding to need."

Companies like KFC and Starbucks need to taste consistent around the world.

And globalisation is another force pushing demand for scent makers like Givaudan.

Halotel said the growth of conglomerates like KFC and Starbucks is making consumer palates more homogenous.

"It's not for me to judge whether it's good or bad, but the overall palate is changing" as big companies expand, he said.

People expect consistency in big chains, and they're also demanding things taste or smell a certain way.

At the company's new $5 million facility in Singapore, flavourists experiment with hundreds of components to get to "the one."

They're also working on local flavours like Laksa, so they can distill it into a snack form.

Laksa is a Singaporean noodle dish which has hints of lemongrass, chilli and coconut. When I tried it in a cracker, I was still amazed how much it tasted like the real thing.

Halotel thinks each country will retain some demand for unique flavours, despite globalisation's march.

Tastes are developed from young based on what you're fed, and that helps perpetuate local tastes, he said.

"I hope food will continue to be diverse. Everyone already uses iPhones and searches on Google — if we all eat the same food as well, life will be very boring."

The scents in your body wash, chicken stock and canned drink all come from one company

It estimates that most of us interact with its products about 10 times a day.

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On this weekend’s broadcast of CBS’s "Sunday Morning" during a segment about the polarized media landscape in America, an exchange by CBS contributor Ted Koppel and Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity was featured that Koppel said Hannity was "bad for America."

Koppel suggested he was skeptical that the American public and more specifically Hannity’s viewers could differentiate an opinion show and a news show. He added that it was bad over the "long haul" because the audiences Hannity and others are reaching are more concerned with ideology than facts.

HANNITY: We have to give some credit to the American people that they’re somewhat intelligent and that they know the difference between an opinion show and a news show. You’re cynical.

HANNITY: Do you think we’re bad for America? You think I’m bad for America?

KOPPEL: In the long haul I think you and all these opinion shows —

KOPPEL: No, you know why? Because you’re very good at what you do, and because you have attracted a significantly more influential —

HANNITY: You are selling the American people short.

KOPPEL: No, let me finish the sentence before you do that.

HANNITY: I’m listening. With all due respect. Take the floor.

KOPPEL: You have attracted people who are determined that ideology is more important than facts.

Later after the segment aired, Hannity challenged CBS News in a tweet to release the entire interview.

"Fake Edited News" @CBSNews release the Unedited 45 minute interview so people can see the BS games you play in the edit room. I dare you! https://t.co/prynzE2yLQ

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) March 26, 2017

Ted Koppel to Sean Hannity: You Are ‘Bad for America’

Ted Koppel to Sean Hannity: You Are 'Bad for America'

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She Poses For A Photo On Her Boat. Suddenly, Her Husband Sees This In The Water

Everyone loves birthday traditions. As their way to celebrate, these two couples enjoyed spending time together on the Gulf of Mexico doing some fishing. They never expected to haul in this cute catch; a Jack Russell Terrier!

The four friends were out in the Gulf about five miles from shore. One of them, Bruce, noticed something in the water. As they steered the boat closer they realized it was a dog in a life vest! When the little guy noticed the boat, he began to swim toward them.

Once the couples had the pooch aboard, they radioed the Coast Guard. They learned that this small family pet had been lost-at-sea for almost three hours. It seems the owner had needed to go below deck and, when he returned, his beloved friend was nowhere to be found. The owner stated, "I had given up."

Back on land, this party of birthday celebrants got to give a gift, instead of receiving one. They were greeted by shouts of "Jagermeister!" Judging by the joyous reaction of their furry first-mate, they decided that must be his name, and the man screaming it, his owner.

The two were quickly reunited, and it was truly a celebration. Jagermeister's owner, Shawn Sahr, shared, "...it's my baby, and I'm just so glad!"

Thanks to a caring group of people being in the right place at the right time, and to the owner placing his pup in a life vest, this story has a happy ending. As the summer approaches and water sports become more accessible, this story reminds us all to look out for the safety of all those we love - especially the four-legged ones.

Couples Save Jack Russell Terrier Found In The Waters Of The Gulf Of Mexico

Everyone loves birthday traditions. As their way to celebrate, these two couples enjoyed spending time together on the Gulf of Mexico doing some fishing. ...


Storied French brand surprises with new hire

You might not have heard his name, or if you have, it was probably in passing reference to a celebrity's red carpet dress. But Women's Wear Daily reports that David Koma, a London-based designer, has been named the newest artistic director of Thierry Mugler.

The decades-old French fashion label said its surprising hire is intended to reenergize the brand. "We want to write a new page for Mugler, putting it back on the map in the fashion business," said Virginie Courtin-Clarins, director of development, marketing and communications at Mugler Fashion, to WWD.

Mugler has, of course, been somewhat on the map in the past few years. Its Thierry Mugler Angel fragrance is a popular one, with Eva Mendes fronting recent campaigns, and stars like Lady Gaga have worn the brand at major events.

But Mugler hasn't had a solid head designer since Nicola Formichetti left in April 2013 after three years at the helm.. Now the label can start fresh with Koma, a young designer with a growing group of celebrity fans. We first noticed Koma, in fact, when Miley Cyrus sported one of his youthful, futuristic dresses at the People's Choice Awards in 2012 (yes, in her pre-buzz cut days) -- it was one of our favorite things we'd ever seen Miley wear.

David Koma Joins The Big Leagues As Thierry Mugler Artistic Director

There's a new fashion designer joining the big leagues, and he's only 28 years old..

You might not have heard his name, or if you have, it was probably....

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LOOK: This Is Definitely The Biggest Spring 2014 Trend

The end of New York Fashion Week is just around the corner, but our Instagram feeds are constantly refreshed with all the up-and-coming styles and trends for Spring 2014. Our fave bloggers and editors have been killin' it with this year's street style, and we can't stop stalking their Day 7 pics.

Today we are obsessing over popping Spring colors and mixed prints -- take a sneak peek at the front row attendees, what's going on backstage, and all things hair and makeup.

Instagram Fashion Week 2013: Day 7 Brought Bright Colors and Mixed Prints (PHOTOS)

The end of New York Fashion Week is just around the corner, but o...

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Tyson gives scientists a not-so-subtle nudge

Well-known for being both entertaining and informative, Tyson spoke to seasoned scientists and up-and-coming students here Monday night (Jan. 6) at the 223rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society about the best ways to interact with conventional and social media.

Tyson emphasized that many of the things that have endeared him to people outside of the field of astrophysics — such as "discovering" Superman's home planet Krypton, thereby making real science part of the superhero's lore — were easily replicable by his audience. [25 Most Iconic Superman Images]

"I'm not wielding any special knowledge here," he said. "Any one of us could have done it."

Tyson addressed a rapt — and often laughing — audience of scientists and students for nearly two hours. Public interest in science is growing, he told the crowd.

"Science — and in particular astrophysics — is in the hearts and minds of the public right now," he said.

Tyson pointed to the prevalence of science in comics and political cartoons. He flashed images of science-related tattoos on the screen to emphasize just how deep the interest had become.

"You gotta admit, we have the coolest images," he said. "People want to tattoo our stuff on their skin."

In the past, public interest in science has often risen due to prodding from politicians. The spotlight shone and funding flowed, but only briefly, because political winds are very changeable, Tyson said.

Today, however, people seem to be taking a growing interest in the subject on their own.

"I've done a lot of science for the masses, but it's landing on fertile ground," Tyson said.

In order to help the public continue to understand and enjoy science, Tyson urged his fellow astronomers to reconsider how they interact with the media.

He recalls his first televised interview, which he said he gave in his best professor-lecture style. At one point, he gave a demonstration of how a star "jiggles" as a planet orbits it. When he watched the news, only his dancing hips made the cut.

At that point, he determined to take control of his interactions with the media.

The press thrives on sound bites, he explained. Scientists can either complain about it or go with it. Tyson decided to go with it. He spent time in front of a mirror perfecting sound bites on various subjects.

"Informative, tasty, and makes you want to smile a bit — that's the essence of a sound bite," he said.

Tyson repeatedly emphasized the importance of explaining things in terms that people can understand and connect with.

The atmosphere of Venus, for instance, is often described as "hot enough to melt lead." But how many non-scientists have any experience with lead-melting temperatures? Instead, Tyson determined how long it would take to bake a pizza on the surface of the planet and used that as a field of reference. (The answer is 3 seconds; his original answer of 9 seconds was corrected by a physicist-turned-master-chef).

"When you hand people literally tasty things, they play with it," he said. They remember the information and make it a part of their life. Science is no longer something distant that they struggled with in school but something real.

Tyson also sees the value of participating in social media. For example, he has 1.5 million followers on Twitter, allowing him to reach many people very quickly.

"I think it's extraordinary that a scientist can have 1.5 million Twitter followers," he said.

Astronomers and other scientists have a special opportunity to educate the masses, Tyson said. He reminded the audience members that they have experiences and perspectives that the general public does not.

"We think stuff every day that is unthinkable to the public," he said. "Never take this for granted."

He encouraged scientists to share their knowledge with the public in fun and interesting ways.

"We all know [scientific facts], but we keep it to ourselves," he said. "Don't! Share the love."

Neil deGrasse Tyson Wants The World To Get More Excited About Science

WASHINGTON — Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson wants his colleagues to get the world more excited about science.  Well-known for being both e...

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The Social Experiment Asks The Question: Would YOUR Kid Take Candy From A Stranger?

Around the same time we learned to look both ways before crossing the street and avoid playing with downed power lines, we were uniformly and unconditionally told to never, ever take candy from strangers..

For many, it was one of life’s first and most basic lessons. And fortunately for most, it was a lesson few ever had to exercise in their lives.

A man named Rich Ferguson took to the streets to determine what proportion of modern children continue to heed this advice. Despite generational differences and cultural evolutions, there’s nothing to indicate that a fear and skepticism of strangers has become any less warranted, which would leave many to believe that this lesson learned decades ago is still as pertinent as ever.

With the consent of nearby parents, Ferguson created scenarios that put their children in the position of deciding whether or not the allure of candy is enough to put their trust in a stranger.

Here’s a video of the experiment in action:

While the video is edited, according to Ferguson, every single kid, when approached, failed to heed their parents’ instructions and took the candy. The video isn’t an attempt at fear-mongering, but rather intended to educate parents that the lessons they teach in principle aren’t necessarily exercised in practice, which could result in dangerous consequences.

A Social Experiment Tests Whether Modern Kids Will Take Candy From Strangers

Please share this video, it could save your kids life.


What Happens When A Fly Lands On Your Food?

[Warning: You probably shouldn't watch this video while eating.]

A recent survey asked participants: "if you were at a restaurant, which critter would make you drop your fork: Rodents, cockroaches, flies, ants, or snakes?" 61% chose cockroaches. But scientists warn that flies are actually two-times more likely to spread germs - specifically those ubiquitous, hard-to-swat houseflies.

So what's the science behind this? Well, flies eat some of the grossest things imaginable: Poop, garbage, rotting animal carcasses. Another fact about flies is that they can't chew, so in order to eat, they spit-up enzymes onto their food, which dissolves it and lets them slurp it up.

Even though it's probably the grossest thing imaginable, it's actually the bacteria and viruses that get stuck to their body that spreads disease and makes people sick, not their enzymatic spit-up. They only need to touch your food for a second for their legs or the tiny hairs all over their bodies to transfer germs from all those nasty things they eat onto what you're eating. And since flies can transfer serious, contagious diseases like cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, it's probably best if you avoiding eating things that a fly lands on.

Are you the type of person who throws out your food if a fly lands on it? Have you become one after watching this video? Let us know in the comments section below because we'd love to hear from you.

Have you ever wondered what a fly is doing when it lands on your food? Laci did some research to figure out.

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Prego Italian sauce recalled due to spoil risk

Some jars of the popular Italian sauce Prego are being recalled because of their potential to spoil.

The Campbell Soup Company recently announced that it is recalling 300 cases of Prego Traditional Italian sauce in 24-ounce jars. The recalled sauce was shipped on Dec. 21 to retail distribution centers in seven states: Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Oklahoma, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The company did not say why the products might spoil, but said the risk was discovered during routine testing. So far, no illnesses have been linked to the recall. The recalled products can be identified by the "Best By" date of June 16, 2015, and a four-digit code printed on the lid. For a list of codes subject to the recall, see the FDA release.

Prego Italian Sauce Recalled Due To Spoil Risk

By Rachael Rettner, Senior Writer
Published: 01/03/2014 08:50 AM EST on LiveScience

  Some jars of the popular Italian sauce Prego are being reca...

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17 fucking infuriating things that happen in every porno

"Five seconds later they're bareback fucking with vegetable oil."

We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us what happens in every porno that annoys them the most. Here's what they said...

1. "The good old plumber scenario. No one watches porn for groundbreaking narratives but a little exposition wouldn't hurt."

"10 seconds in: 'Oh hi, thanks for coming, the sink is this way.' 10.5 seconds in: *housewife is getting banged on the dishwasher by plumber, plumber's friend, and her stepson*"

2. "None of the lesbians I know scissor, like ever."

"Most women try it once, realise it's not very enjoyable for anyone, and then spend the rest of their life explaining to straight people that that isn't what lesbian sex is like."

"The music is cringe worthy. All I can see is a strong 1970's porno moustache eating a taco."

"I find it funny in gay porn when someone is "straight" and either acts like a douche or a scared and innocent thing, but after being easily persuaded, it turns out they have a perfectly shaved, tanned, and bleached butt, and are taking two dicks and a baseball bat at once."

5. "When the pizza delivery man shows up but no one eats the pizza."

6. "Straight porn is made with the male gaze in mind, but what about the female gaze?"

"I'm (regrettably, believe me) a super straight lady, and I'm always frustrated by the hyper-focus on the woman's body.. I always wanted to see more shots of the guy enjoying himself - his face, his body language, etc. Most of the porn I find seems to be made up largely of shots where the woman takes up 80% of the frame and 95% of the audio (which tends to be obnoxious moans of fake pleasure), while the guy is just a disembodied crotch. I can't help but notice, too, that POV shots are always from the man's point of view, and rarely from the woman's. Ladies can like trashy porn as much as men can, and we don't necessarily need it to be touchy-feely, soft-lit, plot-based, and romantic."

"I hate when an entire plot is missing. Like some guy is late for work and it just fades into him shoving balls down his throat with a nine incher in his booty butt hole. Like? What happened?"

"Dudes that sound like they're taking a massive dump when they're either receiving oral or cumming, and women who sound like they're having the best orgasm ever from giving oral."

"How a gay guy comforts his straight friend who just broke up with his gf, and five seconds later they're bareback fucking with vegetable oil and the flat end of a paddle."

11. "When the actors look at the camera."

"All I'm thinking is "don't worry about me, just pay attention to what you're doing!"'

17 Fucking Infuriating Things That Happen In Every Porno


How to not overpack for a weekend getaway

No matter how many cute carry-on bags I've accumulated from Target or really chic roll-on suitcases I snagged for a bargain at TJ Maxx, I have the hardest time editing down my clothes and makeup for a weekend getaway. You can never pack too many lipsticks is my motto, but then again, I'm not some celebrity with a private jet large enough to schlep all my stuff. Luckily, The "Man Repeller" is here to help.

Fashion blogger and author Leandra Medine teamed up with Style.com to show us how to pack for a weekend getaway... without overpacking. As a gal whose wardrobe I can rival (just kidding), I know that she understands my frustrations.

With her father always telling her that "stuff ruins trips" and learning this lesson firsthand while traveling abroad for Fashion Week, Leandra has finally learned how to lighten her load. She now sticks to the basics, including a white tee, cozy sweater and blue jeans.

While I definitely co-sign Leandra's makeup philosophy of making sure you also have a "good mascara and red lipstick," she sums it up by saying, "When push comes to shove, no one really cares what you're wearing except you."

Watch the video above to see how Leandra gets outfitted for a plane ride, plus her out-on-the-town essentials.

'Man Repeller' Leandra Medine Shows Us How To Pack For A Weekend Getaway

I'm just going to say what you're probably thinking: packing is a b*tch!

No matter how many cute carry-on bags I've accumulated from Target or really ...

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A Republican intellectual explains why the Republican Party is going to die

CLEVELAND — Avik Roy is a Republican’s Republican. A health care wonk and editor at Forbes, he has worked for three Republican presidential hopefuls — Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, and Marco Rubio. Much of his adult life has been dedicated to advancing the Republican Party and conservative ideals.

But when I caught up with Roy at a bar just outside the Republican convention, he said something I’ve never heard from an establishment conservative before: The Grand Old Party is going to die.

"I don’t think the Republican Party and the conservative movement are capable of reforming themselves in an incremental and gradual way," he said. "There’s going to be a disruption."

Roy isn’t happy about this: He believes it means the Democrats will dominate national American politics for some time. But he also believes the Republican Party has lost its right to govern, because it is driven by white nationalism rather than a true commitment to equality for all Americans.

"Until the conservative movement can stand up and live by that principle, it will not have the moral authority to lead the country," he told me.

This is a standard assessment among liberals, but it is frankly shocking to hear from a prominent conservative thinker. Our conversation had the air of a confessional: of Roy admitting that he and his intellectual comrades had gone wrong, had failed, had sinned.

His history of conservatism was a Greek tragedy. It begins with a fatal error in 1964, survived on the willful self-delusion of people like Roy himself, and ended with Donald Trump.

"I think the conservative movement is fundamentally broken," Roy tells me. "Trump is not a random act. This election is not a random act."

The conservative movement’s founding error: Barry Goldwater

The conservative movement has something of a founding myth — Roy calls it an "origin story."

In 1955, William F. Buckley created the intellectual architecture of modern conservatism by founding National Review, focusing on a free market, social conservatism, and a muscular foreign policy. Buckley’s ideals found purchase in the Republican Party in 1964, with the nomination of Barry Goldwater. While Goldwater lost the 1964 general election, his ideas eventually won out in the GOP, culminating in the Reagan Revolution of 1980.

Normally, Goldwater’s defeat is spun as a story of triumph: how the conservative movement eventually righted the ship of an unprincipled GOP. But according to Roy, it’s the first act of a tragedy.

"Goldwater’s nomination in 1964 was a historical disaster for the conservative movement," Roy tells me, "because for the ensuing decades, it identified Democrats as the party of civil rights and Republicans as the party opposed to civil rights."

"The gravitational center of the Republican Party is white nationalism"

Goldwater opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He himself was not especially racist — he believed it was wrong, on free market grounds, for the federal government to force private businesses to desegregate. But this "principled" stance identified the GOP with the pro-segregation camp in everyone’s eyes, while the Democrats under Lyndon Johnson became the champions of anti-racism.

This had a double effect, Roy says. First, it forced black voters out of the GOP. Second, it invited in white racists who had previously been Democrats. Even though many Republicans voted for the Civil Rights Act in Congress, the post-Goldwater party became the party of aggrieved whites.

"The fact is, today, the Republican coalition has inherited the people who opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — the Southern Democrats who are now Republicans," Roy says. "Conservatives and Republicans have not come to terms with that problem."

Conservative intellectuals were blind to the truth about the GOP — hence Trump

Avik Roy (L) discusses Obamacare on television.

The available evidence compiled by historians and political scientists suggests that 1964 really was a pivotal political moment, in exactly the way Roy describes.

Yet Republican intellectuals have long denied this, fabricating a revisionist history in which Republicans were and always have been the party of civil rights. In 2012, National Review ran a lengthy cover story arguing that the standard history recounted by Roy was "popular but indefensible."

This revisionism, according to Roy, points to a much bigger conservative delusion: They cannot admit that their party’s voters are motivated far more by white identity politics than by conservative ideals.

"Conservative intellectuals, and conservative politicians, have been in kind of a bubble," Roy says. "We’ve had this view that the voters were with us on conservatism — philosophical, economic conservatism. In reality, the gravitational center of the Republican Party is white nationalism."

Conservative intellectuals, for the most part, are horrified by racism. When they talk about believing in individual rights and equality, they really mean it. Because the Republican Party is the vehicle through which their ideas can be implemented, they need to believe that the party isn’t racist.

So they deny the party’s racist history, that its post-1964 success was a direct result of attracting whites disillusioned by the Democrats’ embrace of civil rights. And they deny that to this day, Republican voters are driven more by white resentment than by a principled commitment to the free market and individual liberty.

"It’s the power of wishful thinking. None of us want to accept that opposition to civil rights is the legacy that we’ve inherited," Roy says.

He expands on this idea: "It’s a common observation on the left, but it’s an observation that a lot of us on the right genuinely believed wasn’t true — which is that conservatism has become, and has been for some time, much more about white identity politics than it has been about conservative political philosophy. I think today, even now, a lot of conservatives have not come to terms with that problem."

This, Roy believes, is where the conservative intellectual class went astray. By refusing to admit the truth about their own party, they were powerless to stop the forces that led to Donald Trump’s rise. They told themselves, over and over again, that Goldwater’s victory was a triumph.

But in reality, it created the conditions under which Trump could thrive. Trump’s politics of aggrieved white nationalism — labeling black people criminals, Latinos rapists, and Muslims terrorists — succeeded because the party’s voting base was made up of the people who once opposed civil rights.

"[Trump] tapped into something that was latent in the Republican Party and conservative movement — but a lot of people in the conservative movement didn’t notice," Roy concludes, glumly.

For conservatism to live, the conservative movement has to die

Over beers, I ask Roy how he feels about all of this personally. His answer is very sad.

"When Marco [Rubio] lost, I went through the five stages of grief. It was tough. I had to spend some time thinking about what to do for the next several years of my life," he says.

"I left a comforting and rewarding career as a biotech investor to do this kind of work. I did it because I felt it was important, and I care about the country. Maybe it’s cheesy to say that, but I really sincerely do," he continues. "So then, okay, what do I do? Do I do the same things I’ve been doing for the last four years? To me, just to do that to collect a paycheck didn’t make a lot of sense."

This soul-searching led Roy to an uncomfortable conclusion: The Republican Party, and the conservative movement that propped it up, is doomed.

Both are too wedded to the politics of white nationalism to change how they act, but that just isn’t a winning formula in a nation that’s increasingly black and brown. Either the Republican Party will eat itself or a new party will rise and overtake its voting share.

"Either the disruption will come from the Republican Party representing cranky old white people and a new right-of-center party emerging in its place, or a third party will emerge, à la the Republicans emerging from the Whigs in the [1850s]," Roy says.

The work of conservative intellectuals today, he argues, is to devise a new conservatism — a political vision that adheres to limited government principles but genuinely appeals to a more diverse America.

"I think it’s incredibly important to take stock," he says, "and build a new conservative movement that is genuinely about individual liberty."

I don’t know how this would work. I don’t think Roy knows either.

For the entire history of modern conservatism, its ideals have been wedded to and marred by white supremacism. That’s Roy’s own diagnosis, and I think it’s correct. As a result, we have literally no experience in America of a politically viable conservative movement unmoored from white supremacy.

I’ve read dozens of conservative intellectuals writing compellingly about non-racist conservative ideals. Writers like Andrew Sullivan, Ross Douthat, Reihan Salam, Michael Brendan Dougherty, and too many others to count have put forward visions of a conservative party quite different from the one we have.

But not one of these writers, smart as they are, has been able to explain what actual political constituency could bring about this pure conservatism in practice. The fact is that limited government conservatism is not especially appealing to nonwhite Americans, whereas liberalism and social democracy are. The only ones for whom conservatism is a natural fit are Roy’s "cranky old white people" — and they’re dying off.

Maybe Roy and company will be able to solve this problem. I hope they do. America needs a viable, intellectually serious right-of-center party.

Because we now know what the alternative looks like. It’s Donald Trump.

A Republican intellectual explains why the Republican Party is going ...

"The gravitational center of the Republican Party is white nationalism."


GENEVA, Switzerland, Dec. 24 (UPI) — An experimental Ebola vaccine proved to be 100 percent effective in eradicating the deadly disease when used in a major clinical trial in Guinea, researcher said Friday.

The vaccine, not yet approved by regulatory authorities, is the first created to stop the deadly pathogen. An emergency stockpile of 300,000 doses have been created to fend off a flare up of the virus. The vaccine was studied with 11,841 people in Guinea during 2015. Of the 5,837 people who received the vaccine, no Ebola cases were recorded 10 days or more after vaccination.

"While these compelling results come too late for those who lost their lives during West Africa’s Ebola epidemic, they show that when the next Ebola outbreak hits, we will not be defenseless," said Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, the World Health Organization’s assistant director-general for health systems and innovation, and the study’s lead author.

Since Ebola was first identified in 1976, thousands of people have died, including more than 11,300 people from 2013 to 2016.

The vaccine, developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada and manufactured by Pharma giant Merck & Co.., uses an animal virus that is harmless to people. For the research, scientists used the "ring vaccination" approach, similar to what was used to eradicate small pox. Research teams tracked down everyone who may have been in contact with a case, including family and friends. A total of 117 "rings" of people were identified, each with about 80 people. Of those, half were vaccinated and half not.

"After interim results were published showing the vaccine’s efficacy, all rings were offered the vaccine immediately and the trial was also opened to children older than 6 years," WHO officials said. "In addition to showing high efficacy among those vaccinated, the trial also shows that unvaccinated people in the rings were indirectly protected from Ebola virus through the ring vaccination approach (so called ‘herd immunity’)." Additional research is needed.

Breakthrough Ebola vaccine proves ‘highly protective’

Breakthrough Ebola vaccine proves 'highly protective'


Apple is turning to an old friend to run car project

While rumours surrounding Apple are usually monopolised by the upcoming iPhone, a much bigger project is also reportedly in the works.

Project Titan, as it is apparently known in-house, is the codename for Apple's car works - although there's been despite no public acknowledgement by the company itself.

With the Cupertino giant reportedly aiming to make the vehicle available by 2021, it has now enlisted former long-time executive Bob Mansfield to help navigate the way.

That's according to the Wall Street Journal, who indicate Mansfield, who left Apple's board in 2013, will lead the company's car ambitions in a similar capacity to the engineering teams he forged to create the MacBook Air, iMac and iPad.

Apple reportedly has hundreds of employees working on the project, hiring experts from the automobile industry as well as those working in battery technology and autonomous driving.

Whether the fresh role for Mansfield means Titan will now move at an accelerated rate remains to be seen, but the autonomous car revolution presents difficult timing for Apple to potentially enter the market.

Apple is turning to an old friend to run its car project


24 things to consider before taking Adderall

It’s easy to see the appeal of a pill that keeps you in the zone in our hyper-focused, fast-paced, always-connected world.

That’s why it’s probably no surprise that by most measures, both legal and illegal usage rates of prescription stimulants like Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, and Vyvanse (or the generic forms of some of these drugs) continue to remain stable or rise for everyone from young children to adults in the workplace and even among the elderly.

For people with ADHD, these drugs can be lifesavers. But as we know, many others are tempted by potentially cognitive enhancing drugs too, even if there are big questions about whether or not they work. We don’t get enough sleep and everyone from students to office workers is trying to get an extra boost.

But before you jump on the bandwagon, here are some facts about Adderall and other stimulants you should know.

First of all, you should (and legally have to) talk to your doctor before getting Adderall.

Adderall, Ritalin, and similar medications are Schedule II drugs, which have medical uses but also have a high potential for abuse that can potentially lead to dependence – they should only be taken after a consultation with a doctor.

They are generally prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The way your body responds to the drug may depend on whether you actually have ADHD, according to some research.

However, there isn’t a simple test that determines whether a person definitely has ADHD.

To make that diagnosis, your doctor or mental health provider may ask questions to see whether you have a certain number of the 18 ADHD symptoms listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) – they check for six symptoms in people 16 and younger and five symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity for anyone older. A doctor who decides that those symptoms aren’t caused by something else may prescribe a stimulant to see whether that helps.

If you like the feeling of Adderall or Ritalin, you may be less likely to have ADHD.

A 2014 study had the surprising finding that people who were genetically predisposed to feel euphoria when on stimulants were also less likely to have genes that predisposed them to ADHD and schizophrenia.

This might explain why some people who don’t have ADHD may be especially likely to abuse stimulants – it makes them feel particularly good. Still, that’s probably not the prime factor that drives abuse. A recent study found that the best predictor of stimulant misuse among adolescents was the use of other mind-altering drugs like alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana, which the researchers say indicates there’s a strong social component.

More and more adults are getting prescriptions for ADHD medication.

Between 2007 and 2012, the number of adults with ADHD prescriptions roughly tripled.

In 2007, there were 5.6 million monthly ADHD prescriptions for people aged 20 to 39. By 2012, that number approached 16 million.

The number of adults who have an ADHD prescription is now rising faster than the number of new prescriptions for children getting the same drugs. Some reports indicate that despite any concerns about overuse of stimulants, there was a 5.9% increase in prescribed stimulant use from 2014 to 2015, mostly driven by more use among adults.

Stimulants might provide some cognitive enhancement in people with adult ADHD.

Among adults, a study showed that ADHD subjects who regularly took medication performed better on an IQ test than ADHD adults who were unmedicated.

Researchers say their higher scores could mean that their medication helped them do better on the test, or it could mean that the adults who would have done better on the test anyway were the same ones who would have sought out treatment.

Part of the confusion comes from the fact that we don’t know exactly how these drugs work. They increase neurotransmitter activity, but it’s hard to fully understand how that affects cognition.

Other research shows that stimulants don’t necessarily provide cognitive enhancement in kids.

Although stimulants help people focus and pay attention, they don’t necessarily improve academic performance in students with ADHD.

They may help people sit still longer and lessen disruptive behavior in class, but few direct cognitive improvements have been shown.

If you are creative, stimulants could impair your abilities.

In one study, researchers had a small group of young adults perform a series of tasks related to creativity to see the kind of impact Adderall might have.

Adderall didn’t affect performance on all tasks, but on the tests in which it did have an effect it seemed to help those who were low-performing.

However, people who had performed well on the test without taking stimulants showed either no change or did worse while taking Adderall.

Drugs like Adderall and Ritalin release a rush of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain, giving many people a sense of euphoria.

They help people feel alert, awake, and focused, but they also make it hard to sleep – making it more tempting to take another pill when you’re exhausted the next day.

People also develop a tolerance to these drugs, requiring more and more over time to achieve the same effect. Stimulants are considered habit forming or addictivebecause it can be easy to become dependenton them.

Stimulant-related emergency-room visits have risen significantly in recent years.

Though some don’t see them as drugs, stimulants – methylphenidate or amphetamines like speed – carry real risks.

Emergency-room visits for people 18 to 34 attributed to nonmedical stimulant use tripled from 2005 to 2011, though those numbers also include things like caffeine pills.

A 2016 study out of Johns Hopkins School of Public Health found that ER visits for adults related to Adderall misuse rose 156% from 2006 to 2011.

Stimulants like Adderall elevate blood pressure and speed up your heart.

Stimulants can cause circulatory problems and constrict blood vessels, leading to increased blood pressure.

This can increase the risk for a heart attack or a stroke, and you should contact a doctor if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting after taking Adderall..

Drinking while taking Adderall may be even more dangerous.

Lots of college kids and young adults take stimulants like Adderall when they go out, either to stay up or just for the euphoric effect.

But drinking may increase the risk of heart problems for people taking stimulants, even when they don’t take an excessive amount of medication.

In at least one case, researchers documented a heart attack in an otherwise healthy 20-year-old who took 30 mg of Adderall after drinking.

Adderall and other stimulants may increase anxiety.

By increasing heart rate and enhancing the effects of neurotransmitters like dopamine, stimulants can significantly increase anxiety.

This can cause shortness of breath, dry mouth, nervousness, paranoia, and other side effects.

Stimulants can improve memorization skills ...

One of the main reasons people take stimulants without a prescription is to do better at school or work.

Although the cognitive benefits of Adderall and Ritalin are far from clear, one thing they do seem to help with is rote learning.

A few studies have shown that people who memorize things while on stimulants may be better at remembering those words or terms when tested later on.

... and there’s some evidence that they can boost working memory, but only very slightly.

A review of different studies on the cognitive benefits or harms of stimulants found limited effects on working memory, the ability to hold and manipulate different pieces of information simultaneously.

That’s not very significant for most people but may provide "a small advantage" in certain situations, which may explain the draw for people who might benefit from a small boost, like eSports players.

Another review found that people who performed poorly on tests to begin with saw the most improved performance, leading researchers to think that stimulants may be better at correcting deficits than at enhancing cognitive abilities.

The placebo effect may account for some of the perceived cognitive benefits of stimulants.

Some research shows that people who think they are going to be given a drug like Ritalin or Concerta don’t show cognitive improvement but do pay better attention and act more engaged.

In a recent study, college students were given either a placebo pill that they thought was Ritalin or no pill before taking a series of cognitive tests.

When they thought they had taken Ritalin, students said they were more alert and able to focus on the work.

Scary side effects include heart attacks and sudden death.

The scariest of the listed side effects for Adderall is the risk of sudden death, along with a series of other heart problems that stimulants can cause.

Most of the sudden-death cases, which are rare, have occurred with people who had structural issues with their heart or other health complications, and at least one fatality involved a toxic level of medication. Another case was associated with vigorous exercise.

Other cardiac side effects include high blood pressure and tachycardia, or a sped-up heart rate.

Both legal and illegal usage rates of prescription stimulants continue to remain stable or rise for everyone from young children to adults


These 40 cars prove Geneva is the best auto show in the world

The world's top brands came out in force with their latest and greatest offerings at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

From Bentley to McLaren, Ferrari to Pagani, and Lamborghini to Porsche, the next wave of exotics debuted at the show. In addition, there's also a bevy of production-ready models being shown from mass-market luxury brands, such as Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and BMW.

The 2017 Geneva Motor Show is open to the public until March 19 at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva, Switzerland.

Here are the latest cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, Bentley, and other car companies that were shown at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.


The Twitter account all "Goodfellas" fans need to follow today

Thirty-four years ago today, Henry Hill had a hell of a Sunday. It all began at 6:55 a.m.., with some coke, a few guns conveniently placed in a brown paper bag and, well, you know the rest, right? Follow @SundayMay11 and relive that fateful "Goodfellas" Sunday or at least give yourself something to do besides live tweeting Mother's Day brunch.

Finished shopping. Helicopter seems to be gone. This day is smooth sailing from here on out. — Henry Hill (@SundayMay11th) May 11, 2014

The Twitter Account All 'Goodfellas' Fans Need To Follow Today

Thirty-four years ago today, Henry Hill had a hell of a Sunday . It...

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Ominous link found between cocaine and deadly virus

Cocaine may not only rewire the brain after one use, but could also increase users' susceptibility to HIV, a new study suggests.

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that a specific type of immune cell becomes susceptible to the virus after cocaine use.

"Our studies focused on a unique population of immune cells (cells that constitute our body's defenses against infection), quiescent CD4 T cells, which can be targeted by HIV but are resistant to the virus," lead researcher Dr. Dimitrios Vatakis, co-director of UCLA's CFAR Virology Core Laboratory, told The Huffington Post in an email. "We have shown that cocaine exposure sensitizes these cells and increases their susceptibility to infection."

To test their hypothesis, the researchers collected samples of these dormant immune cells, which constitute the majority of T cells in the body, from healthy human donors. The samples were then exposed to cocaine and infected with HIV in a laboratory setting.

Comparing the infected samples to healthy cells, researchers found that the HIV infection was enhanced within cells that were dosed with cocaine over a period of three days. This suggests that cocaine use not only makes these immune cells more susceptible to HIV but also may hasten the actual integration and growth of the virus.

Cocaine -- or, more specifically, crack cocaine -- was linked previously to an acceleration of the CD4 cell count. Research published in 2010 indicated that this acceleration has the potential to speed the progression of HIV infection to full-blown AIDS.

Earlier this year, another study revealed that an HIV protein involved in the transcription of the virus boosts the effects of cocaine in mice.

The new study was published in the October issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.

Cocaine, HIV Linked In Research That Suggests Use Of Drug Boosts Vulnerability To Virus

Cocaine may not only rewire the brain after on...

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Liberal School Demands Mom Sign ANTI ‘Pledge Of Allegiance Form’, She Does THIS Instead...

Dean James III% AMERICA’S FREEDOM FIGHTERS –

Thanks to Obama and every liberal scumbag anything to do with America is offensive to their beloved, oppressed, discriminated against pieces of sh*t and our American Flag as well as the Pledge of Allegiance is under full attack.

Case in point. A school sent their students home with a disgusting permission slip which obviously caters to Muslims, Atheists and all the other America and GOD hating liberal trash that asked parents to sign if they wanted their kid to be exempt from reciting Pledge of Allegiance...

The photo of the slip has emerged on social media and we have a shot of one PATRIOT’S response and let’s just say, she is not a happy camper.

Here is the pic from the Facebook page called "I Support The Police, Not Criminals":

If someone doesn’t want to pledge allegiance to our country then they need to get the fu*k out of our country.

This is all about Obama who is a racist, cop hating, America hating Muslim pile of garbage.

Never before have we seen such anti American sentiment but what do you expect from filthy, demented liberals.

They are evil and we need to take our country back NOW! DO YOU AGREE? Let us know in the comments!

VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP AND TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!


This used to be one of the best jobs in engineering. Not any more

Chris Bryant is a Bloomberg Gadfly columnist covering industrial companies. He previously worked for the Financial Times.

For any management-minded British engineer, there's no bigger job than becoming chief executive of Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc. Warren East, a well-regarded technology enthusiast, may end up crushed by the size of the task.

East, 55, spent more than a decade transforming U.K. chip designer ARM Holdings into a world-beater. ARM was bought this year by Japan's SoftBank for a staggering 24 billion pounds ($29.4 billion), suggesting he did a good job.

Few would have begrudged him spending the rest of his professional life holding cushy non-executive roles, giving speeches and playing his beloved church organ on weekends. But at Rolls-Royce he's opted for arguably the toughest job in British industry. After a difficult first 18 months, there's little relief in sight in 2017 for the jet engine and turbine maker..

True, a rebound in oil prices may help Rolls-Royce's struggling marine division. Even so, the group probably won't generate much cash flow next year, after an expected outflow of as much as 300 million pounds in 2016.

While analysts anticipate net income will rise to more than 600 million pounds in 2017, that overstates Rolls-Royce's health because of its odd accounting - of which more anon.

To his credit, East's lost no time slashing costs and cutting jobs and has scored some successes: increasing financial disclosure, speeding up aircraft engine production and dispensing with Rolls-Royce's imperious management culture. But the long development cycles in aerospace mean East isn't entirely the master of his destiny. The Rolls-Royce course was set long before he arrived.

The company's 70.5 billion pound civil order book is focused on the wide-body jet market, where Rolls-Royce is aiming for a 50 percent share. Yet that's a questionable ambition in itself because single-aisle jets are able to fly much further these days and they've sold much better than their fatter brethren.

More important, there's no guarantee that Rolls-Royce's orders, which mostly pre-date East, will ultimately generate lots of cash and profits. One reason for the recent profit woes is that older jets were grounded sooner than managers calculated, meaning Rolls-Royce didn't get the expected service revenues. In view of the huge cost of delivering (and then maintaining) such a large order book it's reasonable to ask whether there's anything else previous management got wrong.

There are other grounds for caution. Last month, East shocked investors when he revealed Rolls-Royce's core civil aerospace unit is loss-making under the more orthodox revenue recognition practices it will have to adopt from 2018.

Deutsche Bank analyst Ben Fidler thinks the civil engine division, which contributes about half of Rolls-Royce revenue, won't make an operating profit until 2019 under the new accounting rules. That will be four years after East first took over.

Furthermore, when the company stops capitalizing engine losses on its balance sheet in 2018, as it's done up until now, shareholder equity could be almost wiped out, according to Credit Suisse.

Despite those chastening views, Rolls-Royce still trades on 25 times estimated earnings, a hefty premium to French rival Safran SA -- and that's before you adjust for Rolls-Royce's accounting peculiarities.

Such a rich valuation shows investors' faith that East knows what he's doing. But that confidence could evaporate quickly if he can't provide tangible proof that Rolls-Royce's order book is creating value.

A crucial test will come in 2018, when the company has implied it will target about 500 million pounds of free cash flow.  That's going to be tough. East said last month that Rolls-Royce loses up to 2 million pounds on each new engine produced. He may come to regret not spending more time trying to perfect his organ pedal technique.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

That figure is implied by the management incentive scheme.

To contact the author of this story: Chris Bryant in Frankfurt at cbryant32@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Boxell at jboxell@bloomberg.net

The Rolls-Royce of British Jobs Ain't What It Used to Be

2017 won't be any easier for Warren East.


Are people actually reading your content?

How do you make sure that people are actually reading your content?

You may spend a lot of time making sure that your content is converting well and that your readers are sharing it online, but is it actually being read? How do you know?

With all of the analytics and metrics at our disposal that tell us about traffic, knowing if your content is being read is often a black hole for marketers. That’s a problem.

Why You Need To Make Sure That Your Content Is Being Read

It can take a lot of time to produce great content, no matter how efficient your workflow is. As the old saying goes, time equals money, and it only makes sense to get as much out of your content as you can. After all, there’s no ROI in content that people aren’t reading.

Want to use Click to Tweet on your blog?

In addition to driving traffic, content marketing is also about building your reputation as a thought leader in your field. You need to establish yourself as someone your audience can trust for great advice and leadership. In order to make this happen, you need to make sure that you are writing highly-readable content.

The other problem you may encounter is that content that is being created but not consumed is demoralizing. There is nothing more frustrating to a writer than content that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. It’s up to you to make sure that doesn’t happen.

There are few things you need to consider about readable content.

In 2006, usability consultant Jakob Nielsen used eye tracking visualizations to observe how website visitors actually read your content. In short, his conclusion can be summarized as "F for fast."

As readers, our eyes move incredibly fast across a website .

. The pattern we use to view the page is not the typical left-to-right method that we learned in school.

Rather, we typically read the page in a F-pattern that puts the most emphasis on the headline and the first few paragraphs of text ..

. As readers scroll down the page, they tend to emphasize the left hand side of the page, skimming the remaining content rather than reading it.

Nielsen’s results feel frustrating, but they are probably accurate.

At CoSchedule, we recently began testing how our own readers consumed our content using a free heatmap tool from SumoMe. This simple plugin allowed us to create heatmaps of our very own, using our actual readers as the sampling.

This is what we learned about our own blog using heatmaps:

Our readers are highly focused on our content because we have a very clean page. This is good.

Our content followed the fairly typical F-pattern similar to Nielson’s findings . As readers moved down the page, they tended to focus more on the left side of the content.

. As readers moved down the page, they tended to focus more on the left side of the content. On some posts, many readers didn’t make it past reading 20-30% of our content .

. Based on clicks, most sharing took place at the pages 35% mark.

Highlighted text, links, and headlines drew plenty of attention.

Only 10-20% of readers actually make it to the bottom of the post.

These finding line up with some of the most popular conclusions and findings regarding content. The longer your content is, the less likely that everyone will read it. That said, there are also many benefits of long-form content so you need to find the right balance. You should also test this out for yourself..

How many people read your blog on their phone or tablet? I bet it’s more that you think.

Research frequently shows that consuming email, searching the internet, and using social networks are some of the most popular activities done on a handheld device.

Many of these activities are resulting in click-throughs that are coming to your site on a mobile device. Do you like what they are finding?

After a quick glance in our Google Analytics account, we found that 15% of our total traffic is coming from a mobile device. This is a significant amount of traffic.

This means that you need to have a great mobile website or a responsive website design that automatically scales your website to work on any screen size. If you are using WordPress, this can be easily solved with a plugin like WPTouch or Automattic’s Jetpack plugin which offers a free mobile module that works quite well.

At CoSchedule, we’ve opted for the responsive design option, which gives our readers the best experience possible on any device. This option also allows us to keep our lead collection initiates at the forefront as well.

Another place that visitors may be reading your content is from their RSS reader or social application, such as Feedly. This is a good reason to make sure that your entire article is being included in your RSS feed. While sharing only a portion of your content may help you get a few extra clicks, it won’t make your content any more likely to be read.

Another place that your readers may be finding your content is their email inbox.

This is especially true if you rely on an email marketing program to distribute your content. I began thinking about this more when one of my coworkers recently shared how they handled email. They have broken it down so that they only check their email 3 times per day. Each time, they allow for 10-20 minutes, and they take action on all email, meaning that they either reply to it, archive it, or create a t0-do item or task around the email content. This method is efficient, but it is also bad news for your content as it leaves little room for reading and enjoying useful material.

This leads to something that I call the ‘context problem,’ which are the reading problems that arise from the context in which your readers are consuming your content.

Consider That Visitors Aren’t Just Reading Your Content

The really bad news about your content is that your readers have a lot more going on than just reading what you have to say. When’s the last time you simply sat quietly reading on your couch? Probably not nearly as often as you’d like.

In addition to reading your content, your visitors are also cooking dinner, riding the subway, checking their email, watching a movie, and emailing their mother-in-law – at the same time! How are you going to compete with all of that?

1. Allow Each Sentence To Lead To The Next

One of the most basic ways to keep your readers attention is to simply ensure that each sentence you write compels your readers to move on to the next. For example, the purpose of your headline is to get your readers to move onto the first sentence. The purpose of the second sentence is to get them to move on to the third. You get the idea. Keep your content compelling all the way through.

2. Follow The Inverted Pyramid Model When You Write

The inverted pyramid is a great tool for structuring your content in a way that readers will appreciate and consume. This is a method that newspaper journalists have been using for years. It works well because it puts the most pertinent information first, essentially embracing the idea that nearly 60% of your readers will never make it the end of the article. This method can also work well for your blog content.

3. Use Images To Make Your Concepts Simple

Images are great way to break-up your content and spare your users from a sea of text. By using images to illustrate the concepts you are writing about, you also make them easier to understand and engage with. This type of content is consistent with Nielsen’s research and focus on scannable text. In many ways, this type of visual content is becoming more important than ever in content marketing.

In addition to images, you can break up your content by creating text that is easy to scan and consume. Nielsen’s study offered several extremely useful tips on this:

highlighted keywords (hypertext links serve as one form of highlighting; typeface variations and color are others)

meaningful sub-headings (not "clever" ones)

one idea per paragraph (users will skip over any additional ideas if they are not caught by the first few words in the paragraph)

the inverted pyramid style, starting with the conclusion

half the word count (or less) than conventional writing

In this chart, Nielsen gives us a great example of how different writing methods can be used to make text more readable.

Warning: You’re Not Going To Read This, But You May Have Already Shared It

We are now well past the 30% point of this post, which means that most of you are no longer reading this article. For those of you who are, here’s another jaw-dropper for you to consider: recent research has shown that there is no correlation between content that has been shared via social media and content that has been read.

In other words, more shares does not equal more reading.

Tony Haile, CEO of Chartbeat, was recently quoted by the Verge saying that they’ve "found effectively no correlation between social shares and people actually reading."

Our own research mentioned above confirms this suggestion. On our own blog, I believe that most people share our content after only reading 20-30% of the text.

Data likes this makes the subject of readability all the more relevant. How do you create content that people actually want to read

For each of us, the answer is different, but it is becoming increasingly vital. With the adoption of content marketing on the rise, businesses and organizations that truly want to stand out amongst the crowd have their work cut out for them. They will be best served by rethinking readability and making sure that it is alive and well on their blog.

How To Get People To (Actually) Read Your Content

There is a trend of not-reading happening online, and that's unfortunate for content marketers. How do you get people to actually read your content?


Myriam Ducre-Lemay, 20, died in 2012 after kissing her boyfriend - he'd eaten a peanut butter sandwich and wasn't aware of her peanut allergy (or the severity of it) and she was not carrying her EpiPen with her at the time, Myriam Ducre-Lemay, 20, died in 2012 after kissing her boyfriend - he'd eaten a peanut butter sandwich and wasn't aware of her peanut allergy (or the severity of it) and she was not carrying her EpiPen with her at the time, CTV News reports. Her mother is just now publicizing the story to help others avoid the same situation.

According to According to CJAD , Ducre-Lemay and her boyfriend had been out at a party earlier that night, which is why she didn't have her medication or her Medic Alert bracelet on her. After the kiss, she had trouble breathing, tried using her asthma pump, and, when that didn't work, asked her boyfriend about peanuts - when he said he'd eaten them, she told him to call 911.

© CTV Montreal How This 20-Year-Old Died From Kissing Her Boyfriend He attempted to give her CPR before the ambulance arrived. Emergency crews attempted to resuscitate her with epinephrine, but failed. En route to the hospital, Ducre-Lemay suffered cardiopulmonary arrest which led to cerebral anoxia (oxygen deprivation to the brain). She was taken off the respirator and died.

Head of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Montreal Children's Hospital Dr. Christine McCusker told CTV people between the ages 15-30 are most likely to suffer from severe allergic reactions because they're in the "risk age range." This is why people with allergies carry "EpiPen[s], even though you don't want to and even though it's not cool," McCuskey said.. "People don't necessarily recognize it can go from that point where, 'I feel funny' to 'Uh oh' very fast."

According to According to FOX News , Ducre-Lemay had recently told people her allergies had decreased in severity, but McCusker said that is only true of every one-in-five allergy patients. Though many outlets report brushing your teeth helps eliminate the chance of an allergic reaction in this situation, the only thing that will ensure it won't happen is waiting a long time after you consume peanuts to kiss..

Her mother is speaking out to help others avoid the tragic situation.


Is this proof that Robin Thicke has officially moved on?

Model April Love Geary has been snapping selfies all over Robin Thicke's Los Angeles house. Although the pics have been deleted from her Instagram, TMZ grabbed a few of them and compared the photos to real estate pics of Thicke's house. Yes, these are photos from the listing of Robin and Paula Patton's home after she filed for divorce.

So, yeah. There you have it. Life goes on, and when you're a man who's rapidly approaching 40, it usually happens with a model who's 19-years-old* at your side.

Is This the Sign That Robin Thicke Has Finally Moved On?

Model posts photos from all over his house.


It's that time of year when seemingly every radio station switches to a mix of Nat King Cole, Bruce Springsteen, and Brenda Lee, cities and towns look a little more illuminated than usual, and you start digging through your music collection (which likely still features some compact discs -- maybe even vinyl) for a soundtrack to whatever festivities you have planned for the end of the year.

But what are the biggest-selling holiday songs ever? It's tricky to create a list that spans the long history of holiday music, given the changes in how sales have been tracked over the years. According to Nielsen Music, which began tracking digital sales in 2003, the 10 holiday favorites below are the most downloaded of all time.

This oft-covered single (you may have heard Taylor Swift's rendition) has sold 751,000 downloads, proving sometimes it just doesn't get better than the original, especially when that original features George Michael.

9. "Jingle Bell Rock," Bobby Helms (1957)

The twangy single became a holiday classic almost instantly, and was the biggest song of the rockabilly pioneer's career, with 780,000 downloads to date. Less known is the fact that those iconic opening chords came courtesy of Nashville guitar legend Hank Garland.

8. "Feliz Navidad," Jose Feliciano (1970)

Spanglish (and its irresistible chorus) made this track from the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter a crossover sensation, with 808,000 downloads to date.

7. "Where Are You Christmas?" Faith Hill (2000)

One of the breakout singles from the blockbuster soundtrack to Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas remake, the ballad's garnered 897,000 downloads -- after all, there's no time like the holidays for a little schmaltz.

6. "Christmas Canon," Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1998)

Every '90s kid remembers this classic remake of the even more classic Pachelbel's Canon in D Major, which has been downloaded a whopping 918,000 times.

5. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," Brenda Lee (1958)

We may think of it as a sentimental standard now, but when it was recorded, this rockabilly tune was almost too big to fail. Written by holiday hitmaker Johnny Marks ("Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Holly Jolly Christmas"), and recorded by a crew of Nashville studio stars including Grady Martin, Boots Randolph, and Buddy Harman, its star -- Lee -- was only 13 when she laid down the track. Today, it's sold a million downloads.

The Biebs hit holiday-pop gold with "Mistletoe," a too-catchy-to-resist acoustic number that had ladies and gents of all ages swooning to the tune of 1.1 million downloads.

3. "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)," Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1996)

Another '90s classic from the TSO, this rockin' track's racked up 1.3 million downloads to date.

2. "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" Kristen Bell, Agatha Lee Monn & Katie Lopez (2013)

The melancholy track was almost dropped from the smash-hit Frozen soundtrack because it's so dark. But it's become the second-most downloaded holiday song of all time (and probably second-saddest to "The Christmas Shoes") with 1.6 million downloads to date.

1. "All I Want For Christmas Is You," Mariah Carey (1994)

Naturally, Mariah leads this list by a mile with 3.2 million downloads to date, as the 1994 track only gets more popular with each passing holiday season.

Here are the 10 most-downloaded holiday favorites of all time, according to Nielsen Music, which began tracking digital sales in 2003.


The World Is Going To End Today As Earth's Magnetic Poles Flip, Apparently

If you were having a good day, sorry to ruin it for you, but we have some bad news.

The world is going to end today, apparently.

According to conspiracy theorists, on July 29 (that’s today), the Earth’s magnetic poles flip and all hell will break loose.

By ‘all hell’, by the way, they mean Jesus Christ is coming and he’s going to smite pretty much everyone.

End Times Prophecies released a video online backing up their prophetic claims.

The video – which totally isn’t just religious nonsense – consists of some pretty badass CGI with a not so happy Jesus riding in on a white horse, killing everyone except devout Christians.

In this broadcast, we’ll discuss the second coming of Jesus Christ, which occurs at the same time as a magnetic polar flip and catastrophic global earthquake. Not many people know what the bible states about the second coming of Jesus Christ and therefore they are in danger of being deceived. This broadcast will provide you with the knowledge you need so as not to be fooled by false Christs and false prophets.

Basically, the group says the polar shift will trigger worldwide tremors, setting off multiple earthquakes and a ‘rolling cloud’ that will destroy the world.

It does also attempt to back up the theory by using some graphics of a guy on a horse breathing fire and Jesus coming down from the sky with lasers in his eyes.

But this isn’t the first time people have worried a polar shift could destroy the planet. Remember the ‘end of the world’ in 2012?

Well, a year earlier, NASA issued a statement to calm fears that the polar shift would destroy the planet in 2012, Fox News reports.

If you didn’t already know, nothing happened. Basically, the Earth’s magnetic field has flipped its polarity many times, but the geologic and fossil records NASA has from hundreds of past magnetic polarity reversals prove the effects aren’t devastating.

So unless you’d rather go by the word of End Times Prophecies over NASA, I wouldn’t worry too much about cancelling the rest of your life’s plans..

The World Is Going To End Today, Apparently

According to conspiracy theorists, on July 29 the Earth's magnetic poles flip and all hell will break loose.

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You won't believe what Justin Bieber had to say about award shows after the #BBMAs:

After performing at the Billboard Music Awards last night—one of several shows Justin Bieber has appeared at in addition to the VMAs (where he cried), the Grammys, and iHeartRadio Music Awards—the singer felt more self-conscious than celebrated. That's the problem with award shows in general, he wrote on Instagram today in a long post. They "seem so hollow.."

"I don't feel good when I'm there nor after," he explained. "I try to think of it as a celebration but can't help feeling like people are rating and grading my performance. A lot of people in the audience there to be seem worried about how much camera time they will get or who they can network with. When I'm doing a regular show I feel they are there for the right reasons and to strictly have a good time! But these award shows seem so hollow..."

A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on May 23, 2016 at 9:03am PDT

"I get the premise is to award people for their accomplishments, but is it really? Because when I look in the audience I see a bunch of fake smiles so that when the camera hits them they look happy. Sure, there are people truly proud of others so I don't want to knock them. I'm just looking at the vast majority. I just think to myself, 'If I'm living my purpose, I want the reward to be fulfillment.' I'm getting awarded for the things that I'm doing and not for who I am, which is understandable. I know it would probably be hard to calculate and award someone's spirit, lol. But when I do get these awards the temptation of putting my worth in what I do is so hard to fight!!! I am privileged and honored to be recognized by my peers in but in these settings I can't feel the recognition. There's an authenticity missing that I crave!"

Justin Bieber: "These Award Shows Seem So Hollow"

"I don't feel good when I'm there nor after..."


GTA 5 Players Have Found A New Hidden Character

If GTA 5 wasn’t already one of the finest modern videogames around, it sure as hell is now. Players have managed to find an Easter egg that lets you play as none other than Teen Wolf.

And to be clear, we’re not talking about the crappy angst ridden modern TV show Teen Wolf – we’re talking the classic 1985 comedy Teen Wolf starring Michael J Fox.

So how on Earth do you uncover this absolute gem of a hidden treat? Well, it’s not easy..

If you really want to play as Teen Wolf in GTA 5, you need to be ready for a quest that involves scouring Los Santos for the seven golden peyotes and the twenty-seven Peyote Plants – you also need to have completed the entire game 100%.

If you’re part of the 1% that will ever bother to meet all of those requirements, your mission will culminate in a showdown between you (in Sasquatch form) and the elusive Teen Wolf (referred to as "the beast").

GTA Series Videos has put together a pretty involved 17 minute walkthrough on the process. Considering that’s probably the closest most of us are ever actually gonna get, you may as well check it out below.

Alternatively, if you just want to get straight down to some Teen Wolf action, I’ve also included a shorter video that focuses solely on that.

I honestly cannot give Rockstar enough credit for bothering to hide such an involved Easter egg in their game. Who knows what else GTA 5 might be hiding?

Okay, so this is clearly the greatest and most involved GTA 5 secret, hands down.

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Guess who played Pak Ganern in ‘Showtime’ which made the crowd explode

- Pak Ganern is a game derived from the "in" expression "Pak ganern" which involves clapping and shaking

- This is commonly played by youngsters but in "Showtime," two seemingly "old" music icons played the game with Kuya Kim and they made the crowd burst out laughing

- Rey Valera and Louie Ocampo both had a great time playing Pak Ganern

After Vice Ganda’s Pak Ganern game with Billy Crawford, Vhong Navarro and Jhong HIlario went viral, more artists joined in, albeit some of them are quite vintage as they say. Well, better late than never!

On Wednesday’s episode of "It’s Showtime," two icons of the music industry went up on stage to play Pak Ganern with host Kim Atienza.

Yes, oldies as they may be, Louie Ocampo and Rey Valera, were game enough to join Kuya Kim in one round of Pak Ganern.

Just imagine two "old" artists who may have never imagined playing the Pak Ganern game in their lifetime, but were "forced" to do it in front of the exploding crowd! That really brought the house down.

Kuya Kim could be seen giving his 105% to the game, while Valera and Ocampo were apparently doing their best to catch up.

As the speed of the game increased, the clapping and the shaking of the participants also increased, but Valera might not have managed to handle the pressure, causing him to break off the circle and give Ocampo a playful swat.

The Pak Ganern game is a Filipino game following the popularity of the "Pak Ganern" slang. This phrase has become a household expression albeit it originally came from gay lingo.

The diversity of the expression allows Filipinos to use it in expressing a range of emotions. Those who feel happy can use it. Those who are excited, surprised, even shocked, can infuse the expression into their language.

Aside from Kuya Kim, Rey Valera and Louie Ocampo, Anne Curtis also played the Pak Ganern game, and it was hilarious! – SD, Kami Media

Louie Ocampo and Rey Valera enjoyed a game of Pak Ganern

Kami.com.ph News ☛ Pak Ganern isnt only for the young ones it can also be for seemingly old people Have a look at who played the game in Showtime


There’s A Breed Of Cats Most People Don’t Know About... And Now We’re Completely Obsessed!

Any pet lover will tell you that the only thing cuter than a cat, is a kitten. At least, until they see one of these.

Munchkins are the cutest cat breed on the planet. There’s just no question. And if you don’t believe me, just take a look at these pictures!

When it comes to cute cats, they don’t make ’em much cuter than the Munchkin breed.

This teeny, tiny breed of cat starts off as a waddling, tottering bundle of fuzz.

Due to genetics, munchkins are born with very short legs

Did we mention their kittens are absolutely adorable?

Each one seems to say "give me a cuddle!"

How can you look at that tiny face and NOT want to give him a squeeze?

Munchkins enjoyed a surge of popularity in the 1990s.

I don’t think I will ever get tired of looking at these tiny sweethearts. The cutest things do come in the smallest packages after all.

If you haven't even had a chance to see Munchkins and you think you're a cat lover - think again!


He Stands Proudly Beside His Restaurants Sign. People Are FREAKING OUT At What It Says... – God Today

There’s a restaurant in Edmonton, Canada that has been causing a lot of fuss in the media lately because of a sign that is hung on its door. But this sign hasn’t been getting attention for doing anything bad. Rather, this Indian fusion restaurant is leading the way in serving up kindness to it customers!

Owner Prakash Chibber migrated to Canada in 2005, and he knows how difficult it can be to live day to day with the pain of hunger in his stomach. So when he opened up his restaurant, he decided to not let others experience this pain. He posted a sign outside that says, "FREE MEAL — Dear friends, If you are hungry and have no money to pay, just ring the bell below or come in for a free meal box/coffee anytime."

Since opening his restaurant in 2009, he has been serving food to the less fortunate and making a big difference in his community. He even gives them an option of eating a vegetarian or non-vegetarian option. In a world where so many go hungry every day, it is people like Chibber that show how it doesn’t take much to help others! What do you think of this restaurant?


I do it. You do it. Your mother does it. Maybe even your grandmother. Definitely your stock broker, your barber, your manicurist, your doctor and your lawyer. But it’s tearing our world’s great cities apart. I’m talking about reading your phone while you walk down a busy sidewalk. It’s the worst thing ever. And everyone must stop doing it, immediately.

The sidewalks where I work, in New York City, are already dodge and weave affairs. There are, depending on the day and the hour, the piles of garbage bags, the sidewalk food carts and fruit stands, the unfortunate homeless who congregate around phone booths and garbage cans, the confused tourists, meandering, and the confident business professionals, plowing through. There are the medical technicians in their scrubs, working their grueling schedules and taking lunch breaks at 10 AM, and there are the two-by-two snaking lines of rambunctious private school children, out for a constitutional. There are the temporary vinyl entrance sheds in winter that restaurants erect so that their heating bills survive the Polar vortex. There are human totems 20 yards apart, facing each other, wondering if you have a moment for Planned Parenthood or Save the Whales.

Through this valley of the Shadows of Death walk many, just like me, just trying to get from subway station to desk, and back again. And then there’s you. You, with the phone. Playing a game. Watching your blue dot move on a map. Talking on the phone but staring at your lock screen. Venmoing. Slacking. Tindering.. Video chatting! Reading. An. eBook.

People. People. You simply cannot do these things while ambulating in urban civilization. It is a thin, fragile dome that protects our world from the pure entropy outside of it–one that you are going to blindly bash into, head or crooked hand first, and shatter. We are just a few more phone walkers short of a kind of critical mass, where those of us who do not walk while staring at our phones will be forced to tangle with those of you, the new walking dead, who do. You, who have been zombified into ignorance of the basic human decency we all rely on as part of the social fabric of our existence, will no longer be given truck.

We will knock the phones out of your hands. Oops. Sorry. We will stumble into your shoulders, ruining your high scores, as your fingers streak across your candy, or your birds, or your palaces, or whatever you are pushing around the screen. We will swipe you right. We will tangle–with your headphone wires–as we push past your blocking of the subway doors, and your not stepping off to allow passengers to exit the train. (Which is the subject of another piece.)

(We won’t do these things. No one should do these things. But we will fantasize not just about doing them, but about the process of our fantasies becoming reality, while still actually remaining fantasies, something for which there should be a word, preferably invented by a 19th century German philosopher.)

This is a last plea, before our idle daydreams become true vigilante justice that results in endlessly snaking lines at the Apple Genius Bar for screen replacements.

In other words, heaven help us all when the Apple Watch arrives.

I do it. You do it. Your mother does it. Maybe even your grandmother. Definitely your stock broker, your barber, your manicurist, your doctor and your lawyer. But it’s tearing our world's great cities apart. I’m talking about reading your phone while you walk down a busy sidewalk. It’s the worst thing ever. And everyone...


Look, we know you're a bunch of lushes. And while we've offered you myriad edible and drinkable ways to deal with the fact that it's Saturday morning and you probably feel like a big heap of hungover garbage right now—a few examples that come to mind are the perfect Croque-Madame, the world's best breakfast sandwich, and a Bloody Mary with enough garnishes to feed a village—sometimes you need something truly industrial-strength. Something concocted and tested by a true mastermind.

Well, if you know a thing or two about food, you may be familiar with Fergus Henderson. It just so happens that he's one of the best chefs in the whole wide world, and, like many other people of the culinary lifestyle and profession, he loves to day-drink. It would be safe to say, then, that he also knows the wrath that liquor can have on your fragile body.

That somewhat insidious-tasting amaro known as Fernet-Branca has been a favorite of chefs around the world for decades due to its herbal punch of flavor and ability to calm your insides when you've had far, far too much to eat. But according to Henderson, it's also the essential component of the best hangover cure..

Cue Dr. Henderson. The chef learned it from his father, so you know that it has been tried-and-true for quite some time now. Are you ready to feel better? Mix the following: Fernet, crème de menthe, and ice. And, Henderson insists, "do not be put off by the color."

Here's that magic hangover cure you've longed for on countless miserable mornings. And trust Chef Henderson. He is a doctor, after all.

The Easiest Hangover Cure from One of the World's Best Chefs

According to Fergus Henderson, you just need two ingredients and some ice. It's magic.

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Bad news for "Parks And Recreation" fans

"We have several of our strongest comedies by some of our best auspices being held for midseason, including the final season of Parks and Recreation," NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke said in the release, also confirming the renewal of "Parenthood" for a sixth season.

After a somewhat bumpy season -- including the show being quietly put on hiatus in October -- many felt the finale felt like it could have ended the series.

The show has faced cancellation before, but having an entire season to prepare for conclusion is a luxury that the show is lucky to have. Back in April, showrunner Mike Shur told THR that he knew the "finish line [was] in sight." "The idea that we're nearing the end is part of what gave us the courage to do something like jumping ahead in time," he said. "We know we don't have to sustain it for five years. It's a move you do when you know that the show is nearing the end of its run."

Although NBC has not officially announced an official count, the general assumption is that they will have 13 more episodes to tie up the loose ends for Pawnee. While a part of us is dreading the thought of a Knope-less universe, we're thankful for the seven seasons that "Parks" will leave behind as a legacy for us to forever binge-watch whilst drinking snake juice.

"Parks And Rec" airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

The Seventh Season Of 'Parks And Recreation' Will Be Its Last

NBC has announced that the seventh season of "Parks and Recreation" will be its last.

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According to the Wall Street Journal, the compound actually has three villas. Together, they boast four bedrooms and four bathrooms, each which have 20-foot ceilings and tall glass doors. Besides for having two pools and being just minutes away from the beach, this property also has a massage room and pagoda.

And while we're certainly impressed with these features, the best thing might just be that all the fabulous furniture is included in the sale. "All you need is your toothbrush," the owner said.

It's currently listed by Fiji Real Estate for a mere $850,000. With a price like that, there's really no reason why you shouldn't take advantage of this. Head over to the Wall Street Journal and Fiji Real Estate for more information.

Amazing Estate On The Fiji Islands Is Pretty Much What We Think Paradise Would Look Like (PHOTOS)

So, it looks like we've found paradise -- an amazing estate located in Viti Levu, Fiji Islands.

According to the Wall Street Journal,

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