Refinery29

Suprise! Joseph Gordon-Levitt Is A Dad

Erin Donnelly — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 13:30:00 UT

Photo: Jim Smeal/BEImages.

Announcing the birth of your child when nobody even knew you and your partner were expecting? That's some Beyoncé shit right there.

A rep for Joseph Gordon-Levitt and his wife, Tasha McCauley, has confirmed (to Us Weekly) the birth of the couple's first child. The pair, who wed in December, are parents to a bouncing baby boy. JGL Jr. was born last weekend, but his name has not yet been revealed.
"Everyone’s happy and healthy," a source told the magazine.

Of course, we can't help but hope that Gordon-Levitt's son and Zooey Deschanel's newborn baby girl will wind up as playmates — and, possibly, become indie baby sweethearts. It's got to happen, right?

Congrats all around. We expect the proud pops is feeling very much like this right now.

Video: Courtesy Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Here's The Easiest Way To Catch A Psychopath

Sarah Jacoby — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 13:30:00 UT

Illustrated by Anna Sudit.

Psychopaths, by definition, have a hard time understanding why the rest of us have so many pesky feelings. And it appears this lack of empathy extends to one of the most natural (and least resistible) of states: yawning.

In a new pilot study, published online in the journal Individual and Personality Differences, researchers had 135 undergraduates complete a questionnaire that assessed participants' levels of psychopathic traits. Then, participants watched three videos in a random order — one was of a person laughing, one had someone with a neutral face, and one showed a person yawning. The researchers closely monitored participants' faces, including looking for minute facial muscle activity.

Related: What To Say In Life's Most Difficult Situations

Results showed that participants who scored higher on the psychopathy-related trait of coldheartedness (which describes emotional detachment combined with an overall disagreeable disposition ) were less likely to fall prey to the contagious yawning stimuli. Interestingly, none of the other psychopathic traits showed this correlation.

Related: 10 Women On The Best Thing Their Ex Taught Them

People who rate highly on psychopathic traits tend to be generally uncaring, selfish, and insincere. So, while being low on empathy is part of psychopathy, it's not the whole picture. Psychopaths are also way more likely to be men than women, although there weren't any statistically significant gender differences in this study.

Related: THIS Is The Best Age To Get Married (According To Science)

If you're wondering whether or not your new friends are really as coldhearted as you think, this study suggests you might want to give 'em a good yawn and see what happens. Or, if that doesn't work, just count the selfies on their Instagrams.

The Secret To Making Your Small Space Seem HUGE

Chloe Daley — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 13:20:00 UT

A millennial walks into a hardware store...

When it comes to the science of picking a paint color, or even a non-color, for your walls, there are too many options and too little information out there. It's easy to be indecisive — or worse, to make the totally wrong decision. Fortunately, there's a method to the madness, or, in this case, a science behind smart selecting.

Getting the right sheen depends on a multitude of factors, including the surface being painted, the lighting, the direction your room faces, and the size of the space. The experts at Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams helped us decode the slippery business of selecting paint — so you can make your cramped living quarters appear larger. Now that's something we'll brave the hardware store for.

Testing Is Mandatory
"The easiest way to [sample a color at home] is to simply tape the color chip up on a wall that sees both natural and artificial light," says Susan Wadden, color marketing and design manager at Sherwin-Williams.

Wadden advises watching the color over the course of a few days, taking into account fluctuations in natural light. Early morning light makes colors appear luminous and glowing, mid-day light can make colors look washed out, and late-day light is warm as the sun hits the horizon.

(Not Just) One Direction
What direction do the windows face? "A northern exposure is cooler, so a warmer color choice might be appropriate to compensate for the lack of sunlight," says Wadden.

Southern exposures, on the other hand, get the most light all day long; neutral tones may be better in that case.

Be Aware Of Artificial
Your lamps and bulbs will often dictate the true color representation. Wadden breaks it down as such: Incandescents provide warmer light that enhances reds, yellows, and oranges. Fluorescents provide cooler light that enhances blues and greens. LEDs are more flexible; their light looks good with most paint colors. CFLs can offer varying types of light, so check the Kelvin rating. The lower the number, the warmer the bulb. Meanwhile, full-spectrum bulbs mimic daylight. Halogen bulbs also closely resemble daylight — and make colors pop.

Flat Finish Is A Must
"A flat finish [on a ceiling] hides irregularities, surface imperfections, and lap marks, whereas a glossy finish would not," says Jennie Gerardot, associate product manager for HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams. Chances are, most of us aren't working with brand new ceilings, so it's best to stay away from gloss, which will highlight all of the cracks and irregularities.

A No-Fail Choice Is Eggshell
"If you're looking for something subtle and forgiving on an imperfect wall, a matte or eggshell finish is the way to go," says Andrea Mango, color and design expert at Benjamin Moore. "The look of a glossy finish will be more bold and dramatic in a room, due to the reflectance of light, so this finish is often seen in spaces where there is a strong color or design statement to be made."

Primer Is Your Best Friend
"A primer should be used most frequently for unique surfaces or special circumstances," says Wadden. "Water stains, smoke damage, dark colors, bare drywall, and smooth, glossy surfaces that are tough to adhere to."

"The point of primer is to seal the substrate — walls, wood trim, etc. — for optimal performance of the topcoat," notes Wadden. A renter will most likely need primer when painting over a darker color.

Color Coordination
A pale hue or white is the obvious choice when making a room appear larger, because those shades will reflect more light, says Mango. "But, there are some other ways to give the illusion as well. Painting an entire room, including the ceiling, walls, and trim, will decrease the amount of contrast in the room, so that the eye is less drawn to where one color stops and another starts."

The Outrageous Failure Of Straight Outta Compton

Heather Wood Rudulph — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 13:15:00 UT

Photo: Rex USA.

Nearly every biopic that Hollywood produces is met with backlash. It’s practically impossible to accurately depict all events of a person's life, group, or historical event without leaving something out — or getting something wrong.

Mark Zuckerburg called bullshit on the accuracy of The Social Network (released in 2010), which was based on a book about the genesis of Facebook. The only thing he says they had right was his hoodie-and-jeans fashion sense.

Responding to anger over the non-cohesive image of Bob Dylan in I’m Not There (2007), co-writer Oren Moverman admitted, “Biopics can get hung up on authenticity, but our film is constantly lying.”

When the Aaliyah biopic, Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B, aired on Lifetime in 2014, Missy Elliot and Timbaland, producers and friends of the late singer, took to social media — furious about the film’s depiction of Aaliyah’s life. An internet backlash was sparked that raged for days.

These types of gripes are part of the package deal when filmmakers make a movie about real life people. The line between reality and fiction becomes blurred, creative license sometimes trumps truth, and devoted fans get pissed.

But, some twists of the truth are more damaging than others. In the new film, Straight Outta Compton — about pioneering hip-hop group N.W.A. and its members, including Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and Dr. Dre. — there’s a glaring omission: Dr. Dre’s brutal 1991 assault of Dee Barnes, journalist and TV personality. Her crime? Interviewing Ice Cube, (who had recently quit the group over royalty disputes), for a TV segment that was supposed to solely focus on the remaining members of N.W.A.

According to court documents, the Los Angeles Times, and countless re-tellings of the event, it went down something like this: Dr. Dre approached Barnes at a private club in Hollywood, grabbed her hair, and bashed her face against a brick wall. And that was only the beginning. Barnes recalls the entire incident in an op-ed published on Gawker this week, which calls out the absence of the attack in the film. In her essay, she’s not asking for a dramatization of the attack, but she wants an acknowledgement that it did happen.

“I didn’t want to see a depiction of me getting beat up, just like I didn’t want to see a depiction of Dre beating up Michel’le, his one-time girlfriend who recently summed up their relationship this way: “I was just a quiet girlfriend who got beat on and told to sit down and shut up.”

"But what should have been addressed is that it occurred. When I was sitting there in the theater, and the movie’s timeline skipped by my attack without a glance, I was like, ‘Uhhh, what happened?’ Like many of the women that knew and worked with N.W.A., I found myself a casualty of Straight Outta Compton’s revisionist history.”

Photo: Paul Archuleta/Getty.

Straight Outta Compton shares a title with N.W.A.’s debut album, which came out in 1988. It depicted the grizzly realities of life for inner-city Black people: murder, drugs, gangs, political oppression, racism, and hopelessness. It set ablaze the world of rap, provoked outrage by horrified suburban white parents, and led to Congressional hearings on issues of censorship and free speech.

A large part of what made it so incendiary was its bravado. Commentary on police brutality didn’t just present facts of injustice. It came with threats to retaliate, and with semi-automatic weapons. Anecdotes about the crack epidemic and gang warfare in the Black community included admissions of drive-by shootings set to a party beat. Tales of domestic violence and pimping women (consistently called "bitches" and "hos") weren't cautionary tales of a broken community, but a bragging right.

Boasting about their mistakes, and even crimes rappers had committed was at the very essence of the era known as gangsta rap, which N.W.A. helped usher in. Rape, abuse, pimping, selling drugs, and even murder became badges of honor in the never-ending competition between rap artists to showcase the most authentic representation of street life. Some of the tales are true, some merely represent things artists saw, and others are fabrication. But the image was all that mattered.

The absence of Barnes’ beating in Straight Outta Compton is contradictory to the very point of hip-hop, which is to expose the ills of society, even the artists’ own. Not only does it disrespect (again) the woman who endured a man twice her size bashing her head against walls, choking her, and stomping on her fingers, it also misrepresents what the group stood for — which made it both divisive and extremely successful.

Shortly following the incident between Dr. Dre and Barnes, members of N.W.A. addressed the attack in a more, let’s say, “authentic” way. In an interview with MTV News, MC Ren said,

“That’s what she gets. I hope she get it again.”

Eazy-E and DJ Yella nodded at his side, as he reiterates:

“She did something she knows she did and she got beat down. And I hope it happens again.”

In a June 1991 interview in The Source, Eazy-E did more than nod. Here's his explanation for the incident:

“The bitch deserved it. She knew that. We were closer than that, we were like family, we’ve been knowin’ her for a long time. It’s business.”

Being so callous about a clear case of assault proves that the primary objective for all of N.W.A’s members at the time was to project an image of, “Don’t fuck with us.” But now, in their life story, the members of the group want to project an impossible reality. As Barnes says, “They’re trying to stay hard and look like good guys.” There’s no such thing as a gangster with a heart of gold.

After the death of Eazy-E in 1995, N.W.A. split up for good. Its members grew up, moved on, and forged different careers that didn’t require constantly upping their bad-guy reputations. The surviving members of N.W.A. are arguably all better men today than they were in the ’90s. Dr. Dre even sort of apologized for the incident with Barnes in the latest issue of Rolling Stone, and chalked it up to being young and stupid.

But Straight Outta Compton isn’t about these modern, maybe reformed men. It’s about the young Black rebels who proudly dubbed themselves “gangsters,” called for riots against prejudiced law enforcement, and spoke about women as affectionately as one might reference a moldy dish sponge. This is a film about the making of a notorious brand, created by notoriously flawed individuals who made their very careers off of flaunting those flaws. To hold up the legacy of N.W.A is to maintain its street cred. And the only way to do that is with the truth.

The Adult's Guide To Pajamas

Alyssa Coscarelli — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 13:00:00 UT

I don’t know about you guys, but my pajama drawer is a scary, scary place. First of all, it’s filled to the brim; I wish I could say it’s chock-full with satin sets and sexy slips, but the reality is quite the opposite. It’s like a black hole of old Christmas pajamas, high school T-shirts, and sweatpants of boyfriends past. Then, of course, there’s the oversized sweatshirts, mismatched socks, and ratty boxers — often worn together for a sleep look that’s quite the sight to behold.

Part of “growing up” — aside from say, landing a job or opening that first credit card — is finally taking the leap to throw those dreadful pieces out in exchange for quality, comfortable pajamas that are actually nice to look at. From printed robes to cute sleep shirts and matching sets, the world of pajamas is deathly underrated, and as a real “adult,” it’s time to take advantage. Who knows, you might just sleep better, too. Click on for 30 pajama picks that will finally replace that old college combo.

Having your PJ top match your bottoms is a major step toward adulthood.

For warm summer nights.

Seeing stars.

A timeless set to last you for years to come.

This marble print begs for a "Woke Up Like This" Instagram.

The minimalist's pajama set.

Worth the splurge.

Cashmere from head to toe? Sign us up.

Bedhead optional.

Mesmerizing.

A checkered neutral.

Nope, never taking this off.

Printed all over.

Lounge around in this instead of your towel.

Look cute when you go off to dream land.

#FreeTheNipple, am I right?

Peachy.

Almost too pretty to wear to bed.

Simplicity at its finest.

Wait, this is a pajama? (Yes.)

One piece that's so much nicer than your oversized T-shirt.

Looks like a set, but it's all-in-one.

Play with your prints.

Rainy Sunday uniform.

RIP, college sorority tee.

All white everything.

Pants are overrated.

Wear it out of the house if you're running late.

It can double as a bathing suit cover-up.

At What Age Was It O.K. To Be Sexually Attracted To Uncle Jesse?

Vanessa Golembewski — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 13:00:00 UT

Photo: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images.

Like many a tweenage girl, I spent the ‘90s hanging posters of my celebrity crushes on my bedroom walls. We're talking Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Devon Sawa, and Jesse Katsopolis. One of these is not like the other. For one thing, John Stamos is 24 years my senior. It’s no wonder Tiger Beat didn’t really include tear-away posters of him in its magazine. Yet Full House’s Uncle Jesse was decidedly a babe — a truth I knew at nine years old. It looks like I’m not alone either.

Today, Stamos turns 52 and continues to age like the fine wine he is. And he’s returning to his role as Uncle Jesse in the upcoming 2016 Fuller House reboot on Netflix. It feels like the right time to finally answer a question I’ve had for years: At what age was it appropriate to openly crush on Stamos, who was a grown-up?

I was born the same year Full House premiered, in 1987. And, by the age of nine, I was in full-on puppy love with Stamos. But, there has to be some kind of deeper reason why I thought Uncle Jesse was It. I recently asked my mom if maybe Full House was playing on the TV in the delivery room, or if maybe it was on TV a lot when I was too small to remember it. Maybe there’s a subconscious connection there. My mom confirmed that Full House was definitely on all the time when I was small, “but so were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” And, while I have zero romantic feelings about my reptilian friends, I did 100% want to date Casey Jones. (That is a separate story.)

However, KidsHealth.org, a site for kids endorsed by D’Arcy Lyness, PhD, asserts that it’s theoretically normal that the child version of me had feelings for Uncle Jesse. “Your crush could even be someone you don’t know, like a professional athlete or celebrity,” the site explains. “Maybe you think about what it would be like to meet that person, even though you probably never will. It’s still fun to imagine!” The most fun!

Over the years (as in, to this day), I still found Uncle Jesse to be the bee’s knees. No matter how many cute and age-appropriate boyfriends D.J. had (yes, even Steve), I was still Team Stamos. What made Uncle Jesse so special? He was a good dad and uncle. He was in a band. He had great hair. Oh, and for a time, he made a profession out of pest control; the ability to kill bugs quickly and without me seeing them is high up on my list of perfect-man qualities.

Still, I needed someone professional to weigh in, here. Am I a weirdo?

Photo: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images.

Sex expert Logan Levkoff, PhD assured me I am not. “We have eyes, too,” she told me via email, adding that crushes can begin quite early and that preschool-age children often talk about marrying someone. (Guilty.) “They don’t really know what that entails," Dr. Levkoff says, "but they have feelings, even if they aren’t consciously ‘sexual.’” It’s true that, even though I claimed to love Uncle Jesse, I didn’t want to bump uglies with him — nor did I fully understand the concept of intercourse.

Levkoff suggests that maybe I wanted to be part of the Tanner family, and that I became attached to Uncle Jesse because he was part of it. “We use role play throughout our lives,” she explains. This is a possibility. But, it still doesn’t explain why I not only started a crush on Jesse as a child, but also maintained that crush for more than 20 years. I don’t think any of the other guys on my wall are babes anymore. (Sorry, Taylor Hanson.) And I certainly didn't crush on Bob Saget or Dave Coulier.

I suppose it was never totally socially acceptable to be attracted to Uncle Jesse as a child. But, I can take comfort in knowing that this type of attraction was a widespread phenomenon — whether or not it was an appropriate one. “You are certainly not alone. I promise,” Dr. Levkoff wrote. “Go to an all-girls sleepaway camp and check out the photos hanging on the wall.”

YOU Can Help Refinery29 Go To SXSW 2016

Us — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 13:00:00 UT

Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.

SXSW is more than just live music and the best breakfast burrito you’ve ever had. Every year, tech geniuses, musicians, brands, foodies, media mavens, and more make the trip to Austin, TX. The Interactive portion of the conference is a place for leaders and experts across different industries to talk about the hot topics of the moment. That’s where the SXSW Panel Picker (and you!) comes into play.

We need your help voting for panels featuring Refinery29 to be at SXSW 2016. Anyone can submit a session and the conference agenda is selected by public vote. You have until September 4 to cast your vote — but why wait? Take 5 minutes and vote now.

Here’s how to vote:

1) Click here: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote.

2) Set up an account (we promise, they won’t spam you).

3) Search "Refinery29."

4) Give us a thumbs up to vote for each panel!

A full breakdown of our 2016 submissions:

Beyond Words: Images As Language
Whether we create or source the images, we live in an age where people are in control of curating the story of their lives through imagery.

Brand Power: More Than Just A Pretty Picture
When the word "brand" comes to mind, most people think of a logo or an ad. It’s so much more than that: It’s a spirit, ethos, and way of being — and guides everything we do.

Hungry Eyes: The Changing Face Of Stock Images
The landscape for stock photography is rapidly changing as brands need more and more content. We speak with experts about how the need for beautiful, on-brand, bespoke imagery is changing the way stock archives do business.

Why All Videos Should Emulate Pee-Wee’s Playhouse
Pee-Wee’s Playhouse said, “Fuck it. We want to do it all.” By encouraging good-doing, cracking whip-smart jokes, and having fun in the candy-colored chaos, the series captured a wide audience throughout its run. Based on Pee-Wee's success, we discuss how content, when done well, can transcend age and time.

Laugh & Look Good While Standing For Something
The Internet isn't just cat GIFs. The speakers on this stage discuss how digital content can be more than laughed at and forgotten; it can serve a better purpose and speak about important issues.

Beyond The Listicle: The Science Of Virality
What does virality really mean — and how can media companies and brands leverage sharable content to build an audience?

Brave New URL: Winning On Mobile-Social Platforms
Audiences are bypassing the desktop and consuming content faster than ever before, but in order to succeed and grow, media companies must adapt to keep up.

Storytelling Sells
Is the "buy now" message the most effective marketing campaign in the digital world? Join Facebook and a panel of advertisers as they discuss the value of storytelling in marketing and the role of creative in delivering business results.

Here's How You Sell Bras & Change The World
This conversation looks at brands using female empowerment as a key element of their communications, nonprofits looking for ways to bring their message to wider audiences, and digital marketing executives helping them tell their stories.

Clicky Vs. Tricky: The Ethics Of AB Testing
AB testing tools have unlocked the potential for unprecedented growth and taken the guesswork out of crafting good headlines, but using data to inform story positioning also opens up questions about the line between clicky and tricky.

Shhh… The Power Of Micro Communities
Today’s most powerful publishers are quietly achieving scale by serving their most powerful users: micro communities.

Making The News Personal
How does R29 make millions of young people care about the 2016 election? You take the news and personalize it. In this panel, a group of writers and editors covering politics for young people online discuss how they tell stories.

Humans, Not Machines: Content Is About Connecting
With an abundance of platforms for content and more data at our disposal than ever before, how do publishers create compelling content that resonates with an audience and still fulfills company goals? You need the perfect balance of art and science. This panel explores where emotion meets data.

How The Internet Changes What & How We Eat
This panel will look at all the unexpected ways that the Internet is helping the next generation of entrepreneurs and food activists remake the food system to accommodate both a rapidly changing world and a new kind of customer.

Publishers & The Power Of The People
YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, and Twitter enable individuals to reach millions. These Internet celebrities are everyday people who have leveraged social media to build huge followings and use their influence to form partnerships with some of the world’s biggest brands.

Don't Call Me Mom
The modern millennial mom, like all millennial women, is multifaceted. She is passionate and driven. Technology empowers these moms like no generation before, allowing them to continue pursuing interests and passions independent of motherhood, so don't just call her mom.

Achieving Scale & Deepening Engagement
As media companies across the board strive to scale across multiple platforms, how do they balance retaining a strong point of view with growing their audience?

Let’s Drop The Term Millennials
Philippe von Borries, co-founder and CEO of Refinery29, believes millennial culture reflects a global way of thinking around identity and self-expression. He will discuss how this mindset affects the future of business and societal implications.

Does International Exist Or Are We One Community?
Access to information and the tools to connect with people around the world have empowered audiences globally, affecting how media companies think about launching international branches and are moving towards building content targeted to an audience with a global mindset.

The Future of Digital Media Is NOT E-Commerce
Refinery29 will unveil its research study on how brands can influence buying power on e-commerce platforms. Driving consumers direct to purchase isn’t always the way to win.

Women Rule The Digital World
Over the last five years, more and more women have risen to the top ranks of digital leadership. The panel features women at the top of their game, providing an inside look at how they broke into the biz, the challenges they faced, and their insights on the future of digital business.

We Can't Get Over This Little Boy Crying About The First Day Of School

Erin Donnelly — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 12:30:00 UT

Before you start gently mocking your friends for posting a gazillion photos of their kids' first day of school, take a moment to watch this video. The pain is real, people. Like, we don't even know this kid and we want to sweep into his classroom, tell him to grab his backpack, and peace out, never to return.

Allow us to explain. This little cutie in the blue polo shirt is Andrew. He's four, and he's starting his first day of school at pre-K. Andrew kindly stopped to field a few questions about the experience for a local reporter, until she lobbed him with a journalistic right hook that would take David Frost by surprise.

"Are you going to miss your mom?"

Poor Andrew proclaims "no," then nervously giggles and crumples into a full Claire Danes level nine cry-face. We imagine this is how Sarah Palin felt when Katie Couric asked her about her reading habits.

Long story short, Andrew will miss his mommy (who will probably be playing this video at every family gathering), that reporter is a monster (kidding), and our hearts have been smashed into a million pieces. Stay strong, kid. There's always recess. (PopSugar)

The first day of school brought mixed emotions for many students, including 4-year-old Andrew Macias, who spoke to us on...
Posted by KTLA 5 News on Tuesday, August 18, 2015

ISIS Publicly Executes Syrian Antiquities Expert After He Refuses To Lead Them To Ancient Artifacts

Molly Horan — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 12:30:00 UT

Khaled al-Asaad in front of a rare sarcophagus from Palmyra depicting two priests dating from the first century. Photo: Marc Deville/Getty Images.

The Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has murdered a Syrian antiquities expert and museum director after he refused to lead them to ancient treasures the terrorist group reportedly sought to destroy.

ISIS, which has taken over swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria in the hopes of establishing a state that adheres to strict Muslim law, publicly executed Khaled al-Asaad, who worked as a professor and held the title of general manager for Palmyra, one of Syria's most ancient sites and museum, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The scholar was murdered in front of a crowd on Tuesday in Palmyra's square. ISIS has controlled the city since mid-May, according to The Wall Street Journal. He had been captured and held prisoner by ISIS for more than a month before he was beheaded.

Al-Asaad had spent much of his life overseeing precious artifacts from one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Palmyra contains the monumental ruins of a city that, between the first and second centuries, was the cultural center of the Middle East. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.

He was executed after he reportedly refused to lead his captors to the historical sites they sought to destroy, The Guardian reports. ISIS fighters have been targeting and obliterating ancient artifacts, including collections found in Iraq's Mosul Museum in February and tombs near Palmyra in June.

Scholars and friends around the world have taken to social media to decry al-Asaad's murder.

I have know the great Dr Khaled al-Asad since childhood-shocking that symbol of #Palmyra is slaughters in its street pic.twitter.com/dgG8rKDGi0
— Rim Turkmani (@Rim_Turkmani) August 18, 2015

Saddened and outraged to learn of the brutal murder of Khaled Asaad in Palmyra, a terrible loss to the cultural heritage community
— Irina Bokova (@IrinaBokova) August 19, 2015

The soul of a civilization lies in its memories. Save #Palmyra pic.twitter.com/vjHZ0KN4ke In memory of #KhaledalAssad, who stood up to ISIS
— Amanda Foreman (@DrAmandaForeman) August 19, 2015

The real heroes saving Syria's Cultural heritage are the women/men risking their lives daily inside Syria. All we can do is support them.
— Amr Al-Azm (@alazmamr) July 9, 2015

A photo that has not yet been verified reportedly shows al-Asaad's body with a placard accusing him of, among other things, "managing Palmyra’s collection of 'idols.'"

The antiquities scholar's murder is only the latest barbaric act by ISIS. Last week, New York Times reporter Rukmini Callimachi exposed the way ISIS has kidnapped thousands of Yazidi women and children, forcing them into a network of sexual slavery and organized rape. The family of Kayla Mueller, an American aid worker who was kidnapped by ISIS, also revealed how the terrorist group's leader had repeatedly raped and tortured her before she was eventually killed earlier this year.

Kelly Clarkson Sings Tinder Profiles, Nails It Per Usual

Elizabeth Kiefer — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 12:15:00 UT

Photo: MediaPunch/REX USA.

Kelly Clarkson is pretty much the gift that keeps on giving. Not only did she present us with "Heartbeat Song" this year, she's also been nailing each and every cover she's performed on tour.

Kelly singing Rihanna's "Stay?" Check. Kelly knocking "Wrecking Ball" out of the park? Double check. Kelly one-upping the Jonas Brothers' version of "Jealous?" Perfect. And there are so many more where these came from.

But our favorite Kelly Clarkson moment in recent memory definitely has to be her vocal stylings of Tinder profiles on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Jamie Foxx did this a couple months back and set a high bar: It seems fair to say that Kelly soared to new heights. Don't take our word for it though — watch this one for yourself.

Also, keep an ear out for these three phrases: Hairless cat. Baking cookies. Smoking blunts. GENIUS.

YouTube

Today, In Trends Not To DIY: Hood By Air's Bic-Lighter Earrings

Ana Colon — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 12:00:00 UT

Photo: Courtesy of Farfetch.

Certain trends are easy to DIY; others all but come with a "Do Not Try This At Home" sticker. It's safe to say lighter earrings fall into the latter category. Yes, these are real — they're created by subversive fashion label Hood By Air, a brand that is no stranger to twisting your brain into a knot. This magnetic pair from Hood By Air's fall '15 Pitti Uomo 87 Show collection resembles ordinary Bic lighters, minus the ability to generate flame. Its purpose, instead, is to spark conversation.

Your gut reaction may be to roll your eyes — not only at the earrings' $100+ price tag, but also at the fact that they're sold out at retailers such as Farfetch and LuisaViaRoma. (Yes, people are buying these lighter earrings.)

But, consider this: What is designer Shayne Oliver — who has never been one to stick to the ordinary — trying to say with a pair of earrings that are, essentially, just a branded lighter? Here, with "HBA" stamped across the bottom, this average bodega purchase becomes a statement piece. Now, it's a luxury — and one you don't even need pierced ears to wear.

HBA's products retail anywhere between $165 (for a T-shirt) and $3,513.34 (for a parka). So, in the grand scheme of designer goods, a pair of $145 earrings is a relatively affordable investment in a game-changing brand. And, while not actually functional on Fashion Week cigarette breaks, one thing's for sure: These earrings will definitely be a great ice-breaker at parties.

Photo: Courtesy of Farfetch.

63 Naked Men Talk About Their Penises — & It's Eye-Opening (SFW)

Hayley MacMillen — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 12:00:00 UT

This post was originally published on September 12, 2014.

Whether positive or negative, women's body parts receive a lot of attention in the cultural conversation. Recently, 100 women stripped down to talk about their boobs. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj focuses on the buns, hun. And, while some women struggle to accept their thighs, others turn to the labia library to confirm that, regardless of what porn depicts, their own lady parts are very, very normal. Men's body parts, on the other hand, go relatively undiscussed — at least in any thoughtful manner. And then, lo and behold, along comes a documentary dedicated to that misunderstood member of our society: the penis. Dick: The Documentary is out today online, and the plot is simple: 63 naked men share their innermost thoughts about their dicks. And, many of them may surprise you.

Director Brian Fender first got the idea for the project while at an independent filmmakers' conference in August 2008. "I'm a gay man; of course the first thing that pops into my head is a documentary about men and their dicks," he relates in the trailer above. Immediately, Fender posted an ad to Craigslist inviting men to come into his home, strip down, and spill the details of their relationships with their genitalia. He started filming the very next morning with his first volunteer. The director recognizes the apparent shadiness of his online proposition: "If you poll the majority of this country, they would say ‘What kind of pervert would answer an ad, take his clothes off, and talk about his dick?’... [But] I thought they were incredibly thoughtful."

Fender was diagnosed with ALS in 2011; when the trailer above was shot, his speech was halting, but still coherent. As his condition worsened, filmmaker Ladawna Whiteside and producer Chiemi Karasawa (whose past credits include the Elaine Stritch documentary, Shoot Me) joined the Dick team to help realize Fender's vision of bringing together (anonymous) men of all types — gay, straight, bi, muscular, soft, young, old, black, white, ex-Marine, monk, designer — to speak candidly about what it's like have a penis. Some are nervous ("I've never done a nude scene before," one jokes), but all are eager to have this conversation. "You always see things about female body parts — never about male body parts," one man observes. "There's not a good discourse," another points out.

The 63 men interviewed, who range in age from 22 to 83 years old, speak of the first times they realized they had penises, their first sexual experiences, and their current sex lives. One recalls his first orgasm from masturbation: "I don’t think there is anything in my life that has been as profound as the first time I actually made myself come," he says. "This was something that was completely within my grasp…that I could be in such extreme and simple rapture... I told all my friends, and they were like 'Oh yeah, that’s jerking off.' I was like, 'That’s it, that’s jerking off?'"

Other stories are more serious: Multiple men describe with regret how their parents never spoke with them about their sexual development; others speak of past sexual abuse and its impact on their relationships with their bodies. They showed up at Fender's apartment out of curiosity, and out of their desire to broach a topic they felt they couldn't discuss elsewhere. This simple, DIY movie is one step toward de-stigmatizing that topic. As of today, the film is available to purchase for on-demand viewing online; you can also pre-order the DVD, available in 2015.

Megan Fox & Brian Austin Green Are Separating After 11 Years Together

Lauren Le Vine — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 11:45:00 UT

Photo: Picture Perfect/REX USA.

Us Weekly is reporting that Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green quietly separated six months ago. The couple, who are both actors, have been together for 11 years — they were married for five of them.

"Things have been rocky," a source close to Fox and Green told Us. The couple has yet to release a statement confirming the split. Refinery29 could not reach their reps for comment.

They met when Green guest-starred on the sitcom Hope & Faith. "I didn’t know who he was from 90210, but I liked him right away. Everyone was around the monitor watching a scene, and Brian accidentally touched my leg. I remember literal electricity shooting through me and out me from every direction. It was like magic," Fox told The New York Times Magazine in November 2009. By the time of that interview, they had been a couple for five years, "Despite the nearly 13-year age difference," The Times noted.

Fox and Green were engaged in 2006, but called it off in 2009. They got engaged again in 2010 and married that June in Hawaii. The couple welcomed son Noah Shannon Green on September 27, 2012 and son Bodhi Ransom Green on February 12, 2014.

We will update this story as it develops. (Us Weekly)

A photo posted by Brian Austin Green (@arent_you_that_guy) on Sep 24, 2014 at 11:06pm PDT

Missouri Has A Terrible Idea For Preventing Sexual Harassment

Meredith Clark — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 11:30:00 UT

Photographed by Julia Robbs.

How should a workplace handle a sexual-harassment scandal? The Missouri legislature has been dealing with a spate of inappropriate conduct, and this week it offered an idea on how to prevent it going forward — albeit a terrible one. A state lawmaker suggested that a "modest, conservative" dress code for interns could keep the state's elected officials from subjecting young workers to unwanted advances.

"Removing one more distraction will help everyone keep their focus on legislative matters," GOP state Rep. Nick King said in an email to colleagues, according to the Huffington Post.

Two lawmakers have been accused of harassing interns this summer: House Speaker John Diehl, a Republican, sent text messages of a sexual nature to a 19-year old intern, which the Kansas City Star subsequently published, and two interns accused Democratic state Sen. Paul LeVota of sexual harassment in July.

Although the proposal has gained support among conservative lawmakers, it has also raised the ire of Missouri Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, who has been a staunch advocate for survivors of sexual assault in the military, as well as at universities and colleges. A dress code, she wrote in a letter, "reeks of a desire to not hold fully accountable those who would prey on young women and men seeking to begin honorable careers in public service.

"Is your recommendation," she continued, "meant to suggest that the ability of adult men and women who have been elected to govern the state of Missouri to control themselves is contingent on the attire of the teenagers and young adults working in their offices?"

Lawmakers are expected to deliver proposed changes to the intern program by September, so a victim-blaming dress code could still be abandoned. But even if the next class of young men and women to arrive at the Missouri State Capitol are saved the indignity of being treated like pieces of meat without any sense of business attire, the attitudes of state officials is still dangerously outdated.

What It's Really Like To Have One Of The U.S.'s Most Stressful Jobs

Sara Coughlin — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 11:30:00 UT

Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.

Verna Serra, DVM, has been working in emergency veterinarian medicine for several years now, and she specifically covers the overnight shift — you know, when emergencies tend to happen. She seems like the last person whose job has any room for laughs, right? We're well aware that working with animals can be deeply affecting, which is why Dr. Serra's advice to us is so refreshing: "Maintaining a good sense of humor is probably the number-one thing that keeps you from dying, in life and at work." Those words to live by could have come from a substitute teacher, a bus driver, or, though we don't know any personally, an astronaut. But the fact that they're coming from a veterinarian, a profession that ranks among the most depressing and stressful jobs in the U.S., speaks volumes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 36% of female veterinarians in the U.S. have experienced episodes of depression, while only 22% of women who are not vets were recorded as dealing with the same. Beyond that, 19% of female vets have reportedly had suicidal thoughts and about 1% have attempted to kill themselves, compared with about 7% and 3%, respectively, of female non-vets. This boils down, roughly, to one in six veterinarians, of any gender, having suicidal thoughts since graduating from vet school.

Interested in the root of these startling discrepancies, especially as the number of women in veterinary medicine continues to rise, we spoke with Dr. Serra about what it's really like to be a vet — her day-to-day routine, the most difficult aspects of her job, and, most importantly, how she tackles those challenges. Check out our interview with Dr. Serra below: We speak with her about growing up with the all-too-common dream of being a vet, what made her stick with it, and why her animal patients may be easier to work with than their owners.

How long have you been a veterinarian?
"A little over six years."

Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.

What got you into this line of work, and were you aware that you were entering into a historically stressful field?
"I was one of those kids who always wanted to be a veterinarian. But I worked in various capacities in the veterinary field for many years before I went to vet school, so in some ways I knew what I was getting into, and that it wasn’t going to be unicorns and rainbows and petting puppies and kittens all day."

So if you aren’t petting baby animals all day long, what does happen on a normal day at work?
"The thing about emergency medicine is that there is no ‘normal day,’ but I work overnights only, and I’ve done so for several years. I work 13- or 14-hour shifts, usually 6 or 7 p.m. until 8 or 9 a.m., and my night consists of usually three to five really critical emergencies, like actively dying patients, with their owners associated with them and their own different financial, emotional, [and] mental capacities. And then, I also take care of the patients who are hospitalized for other services — surgical patients, neurology patients, critical-care patients who are spending the night in the hospital and their primary doctors are not available — I...oversee and take care of them overnight."

Is there an aspect of your job that you find the most satisfying?
"This is going to sound cliché, but my favorite part of my job is making animals feel better, however I can do that; that’s what I want to do."

What is one of the most difficult or stressful nights you have had to work?
"Well, last night my hospital flooded and I had to keep working. [During] Hurricane Sandy, all the power went out, and we...still had to keep working by flashlight. [But] most of the time, the most stress is brought on by a difficult client and not a challenging case. If clients are giving you a really hard time and not allowing you to do what you need to do for whatever reason, be it financial or emotional...calling you names, threatening your life, telling you they wish you would die and your pets would die...that kind of stuff is the most stressful. Trying to do the best you can for someone whose pet is really sick but they don’t have a lot of money — trying to just eke out what you can to do the best you can — that is always stressful.

"When you have a night when you have all of those cases and they’re all really sick, and you realize, It’s 2 a.m. and I haven’t peed yet, and my stomach is growling, and my list of things to do is still endless — that’s what a stressful night is."

Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.

It sounds like emotions can run pretty high in this kind of setting. Do you find, if you do have an especially trying night, that you have a hard time recuperating when you get home?
"You’re not completely impenetrable to it, but I have a wind-down period of time when, for a few hours after I’ve worked a stressful night, I’m kind of edgy and don’t want to deal with anything other than sitting in my apartment and petting my own cat. You just need to decompress. But most of the time, I don’t take my work home with me. I don’t take it personally. I know it’s not about me at all, really: I’m just someone to let out [stress and frustration] on."

Besides hanging out with your cat, do you have any hobbies or anything that you do outside of work to take care of yourself?
"I go to plays, and parks, and [I go] fishing and hiking and camping; [I like] being outside and getting away from the city. [I] hang out with my friends and go get dinner, go to a movie, go to a play, go to a comedy club, that kind of stuff."

At any point during your career so far, have you thought about quitting?
"No. (laughs)."

What Happens When Women Don't Get Paid Maternity Leave?

Lindsey Stanberry — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 11:20:00 UT

Photo by Grace Willis.

The lack of government-sponsored, paid parental leave in the United States is a hot topic right now. Private companies are garnering praise for their expanded policies — some offering mothers and fathers up to a year off to care for a new baby. While these changes are wonderful, there's a huge section of the population who don't even qualify for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which gives full-time workers in companies with 50 or more employees up to 12 weeks unpaid leave. Why are these policies leaving out those who need protection — and income — the most?

Investigative journalist Sharon Lerner's new article "The Real War on Families: Why the U.S. Needs Paid Leave Now" explores what happens when women are forced to return to work after only taking a week or two off to care for their infants. The stories are heartbreaking, and the statistics are staggering. According to Lerner, "no federal agency collects regular statistics on how much post-childbirth time off, paid or unpaid, women are actually taking," which makes it difficult to quantify the need. But looking at a 2012 study from the Department of Health and Human Services on FMLA, of the 91 women who took the leave to care for a new child, one in four returned to work within two weeks.

one in four new mothers returned to work within two weeks.Ahead, we have an excerpt from Lerner's eye-opening article that details Natasha Long's harrowing account of trying to fit in time to breast-pump during her 12-hour factory shift. We've detailed the difficulties of breast-pumping at work before, but this takes things to a whole new level: Long was forced to pump while sitting in her truck.

To read Lerner's full article, click here. If you want more information on how to get involved with the push for state and national paid family-leave policies, visit Family Values @ Work, a network of state and local coalitions working to promote family-friendly workplaces.

Pumping in the parking lot

What’s it like to be back on the job in the first weeks after having a baby?

For Natasha Long, who was back three weeks after her third child, Jayden, was born in 2012, the worst part was missing out on bonding time with her son.

Long, who was 29 at the time, was determined to make sure Jayden got breast milk. But the factory where she worked, ACCO Office Supplies in Booneville, Mississippi, didn’t have a lactation room. So when she was on breaks, she had to run out to her truck. She sat in the cab, worried that someone might see her, and pumped, while tears rolled down her face and over the plastic suction cups attached to her breasts.

Long cried because she wanted to be holding her baby rather than sitting in the parking lot of a factory in her old Yukon Denali. But exhaustion clearly also played a role in her emotional state. Her job was simple — to place stickers with the company logo on the bottom right-hand corner of plastic binders and then box up the binders. But the shifts were long — from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. — and she put in four or five a week. Because the factory was an hour’s drive from her home in Okalona, Mississippi, Long had only 10 hours left in the day to do everything else, including tend to her three children, spend time with Jayden’s father, and sleep. By the time she got back in the evening, her children, who were being looked after by her father during the day, were on their way to bed. To pump breast milk before leaving for work, she had to get up at 4 a.m.

To pump breast milk before leaving for work, she had to get up at 4 a.m.After just a few days of this crazed schedule, Long began to develop strange symptoms, including a headache that never seemed to go away and a choking sensation that left her feeling breathless. She started biting her fingernails to the quick — something she’d never done before — and crying a lot. “I felt like I was alone,” says Long. “I wanted to fall off the face of the earth.” Long had never been depressed. But when she went to the doctor, he surmised that her physical symptoms were rooted in her mental state, which was itself rooted in her schedule. When her doctor said he thought she was depressed, Long worried that if child welfare authorities found out, they might take her children away. She had seen other people’s children put in foster care. But when her doctor prescribed her antidepressants, she took them.

Long is not the only one to suffer emotionally from a quick return to work. Research has shown that longer maternity leaves, whether paid or unpaid, are associated with a decline in depressive symptoms, a reduction in the likelihood of severe depression, and an improvement in overall maternal health, according to a working paper issued by the National Bureau of Economic Research. One national study of 1,762 mothers found that a one-week increase in maternity leave was associated with a 5 to 6% reduction in depressive symptoms from six to 24 months after birth. Another found that women who took less than eight weeks of paid leave experienced more depression than those who had longer leaves and were in worse health overall. Mothers who work more than 40 hours a week, as Long was, were more likely to be depressed than those who worked 40 hours or less, according to a study by Child Trends, a research center.

Women who go back sooner also tend to breastfeed less, which cuts into the benefits breast milk confers, including better immunity and lower rates of childhood obesity, allergies, and sudden infant death syndrome. It was only through heroic efforts that Long was able to breastfeed Jayden until he was 1.

Shorter maternity leaves may also have a negative effect on the development of early motor and social skills and even, later, on vocabulary, according to several studies. So far, Jayden, 3, hasn’t shown signs of missing any developmental milestones. What nags at Long is the thought that her absence in those first few months might have affected their relationship. He refuses to call her “mama,” and although there’s no research to indicate this would be a result of failed early bonding, she still fears that’s the reason.

The "Real" Reason Ben & Jen Are Splitting Up

Vanessa Golembewski — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 11:15:00 UT

Photo: David Fisher/Rex/REX USA.

On June 30, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced they were splitting up after 10 years of marriage. Within weeks of this announcement, rumors began circulating that the reason for their divorce was Affleck's alleged romance with nanny Christine Ouzounian.

A representative for Affleck told Refinery29 that the claims about Ben and the nanny are "full of lies." But, apparently that's not enough for the general population of Twitter. Some brave Americans have taken it upon themselves to do some freelance detective work to get to the "real" reason Ben and Jen are ending their marriage.

When a Twitter troll is trolling, there's nothing you can do except sit back, relax, and watch the batshit insanity unfold. Here are the most popular (read: disgusting) theories from the sleuths of Twitter.

1. The nanny broke up Ben and Jen, but it's only because she's crazy hot. Everyone knows you never hire a hot nanny, AND IF YOU TYPE IN ALL CAPS, YOUR POINT BECOMES MORE VALID.

Jennifer Garner should've known better than to hire that fine ass 28 yr old girl as a nanny! No excuse for cheating, but she bad AF!
— Vinny Idol (@FinesseBeebs) August 12, 2015

ITS JENNIFER GARNER'S FAULT JUST AS MUCH AS BATTFLECK, YOU NEVER EVER EVER HIRE A HOT 25 YEAR OLD SINGLE NANNY, EVER ❗
— BAT-HARLEY ❗ (@CrayzeeHarley) August 14, 2015

Why do Jennifer Garner hire a hot nanny like if I was married to a hot husband you better believe the nanny wouldn't be cute
— cdawwwg (@cassiedaigle) August 2, 2015

I wouldn't call Jennifer Garner ugly, but it should be common sense that you don't hire a nanny who's better looking than you are.
— Jennifer (@jenn_aquarian) August 2, 2015

The Affleck's former nanny is TURBO HOT.
— RB (@RBPundit) August 12, 2015

2. Affleck is a professional actor, and any affairs he had were part of his method. He should not be criticized for that.

Can we all just discuss how Ben Affleck had an affair with the nanny and how he learned NOTHING FROM GONE GIRL.
— Simone (@youropenpalms) August 18, 2015

Ben Affleck is supposedly guilty for fucking his nanny. Well what do you expect? He's a method actor getting in research for playing the
— MIKEOL (@DJMIKEOLMUSIC) August 9, 2015

3. You know what, guys? This whole divorce can really be boiled down to Garner's affinity for mom jeans. Maybe if she dressed hotter, Affleck wouldn't have strayed.

someone tell jen garner to stop wearing workout sneakers with her jeans. disgusting
— elizabeth (@darlinLizzy) May 28, 2011

I'm wearing bootcut jeans today and I don't care if they aren't in style. This one's for you #JenniferGarner! #idowhatiwant
— Jennifer Jessee (@jljessee) May 15, 2015

I'm more upset that Jennifer Garner gets to be married to Batman? Like really? Jennifer Garner? She wears mom jeans.
— Fiorella (@funkerellaa) August 23, 2013

If Jennifer Garner doesn't want to be known as the wife of Ben Affleck, then she should lose the mom jeans and star in a decent movie.
— Shari Blair (@TheNewYawker) August 13, 2013

4. Plus, she's like, so boring, you guys. Ouzounian is fun. Just look at what a blast she's having pumping gas.

Jennifer Garner's as boring as sliced bread but she still deserves better than that.
— CelebrityWhora (@TheFindingsofMe) August 13, 2015

Jennifer Garner is like an animated wet blanket. Like the mom jeans version of Debbie Downer.
— Anne Surly (@AnneSurly) March 2, 2014

5. We're not totally sure what happened, but Ouzounian is 100% bad for both homes and the porn industry.

There is no better word to describe Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner's nanny= HOMEWRECKER.
— Lindsay (@hashtaglinZ) August 12, 2015

Of course Ben Affleck former Nanny wants a reality tv show.Another nobody getting famous for laying on her back but being a porn star is bad
— Willie L (@TheRealWillLich) August 17, 2015

What's Ben Affleck's former nanny's endgame ?
— Maura McCarthy (@itsmauradotcom) August 18, 2015

Next up: Twitter solves ISIS.

More Entertainment Stories:
11 Of Our Favorite Fictional Nannies — Proving They're Not All Bad News
'90s Nickelodeon Characters We Want Back On TV
15 Amazingly Over-The-Top Female Cosplayers From Disney's Expo
Kerry Washington Is Not Interested In Going Back To Her Pre-Baby Body

11 Rescue Animals That Deserve All The Love

Jessica Chou — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 11:00:00 UT

Alex Cearns photographs more than 900 pets each year, but the ones that mean the most to her are those that are "different." Her project Perfect Imperfection celebrates the beauty of animals, especially those that suffer from disabilities — dogs without eyes, cats with three legs, and animals who have survived abuse.

"Most animals with ‘afflictions’ don’t dwell on them," Cearns, who is based in Perth, Australia, says in a statement. "They adapt to their bodies without complaint, and they survive with determination. They push on, always, wanting to be included and involved in everything as much as they can — and as much as an able-bodied pet does."

Cearns' Houndstooth Studio works with 50 animal charity organizations, photographing rescued creatures from around the world. "The tenacity of animals to overcome adversity never ceases to amaze me," Cearns says. "They make the most out of life... From them, I have learned so much about always seeing the positive in every situation and never giving up."

Ahead, a glimpse at Cearns' latest series, which is dedicated to Savannah and Rowdy — may they rest in peace.

Hannah, a three-legged greyhound, was rescued by Greyhound Angels WA. She now lives in Western Australia.

Grey is a three-legged puppy, rescued by the Bali Animal Welfare Association. Grey's leg broke and subsequently had to be removed; an Indonesian family has adopted the pup.

Mia is blind, but she still greets people at the Bali Animal Welfare Association shop in Ubud, Bali, where she lives.

This baby goat, who now lives on a farm, had a broken leg and was adopted from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Western Australia.

Louie, who only has one eye, is now a beloved family pet, Cearns says.

Rupert, a three-legged rescue kitten, has been adopted and now lives with five dogs and several other cats.

Pip, who suffers from severe mange (a skin disease caused by parasitic mites), was rescued by the Bali Animal Welfare Association. Pip has since been adopted by a BAWA employee.

Spike also suffered from mange; he was found by Best Friends Animal Rescue. Spike now lives with two other dogs in Perth, Western Australia.

After dealing with constant eye issues, Scrappy had to have both eyes removed. The 10-year-old pup is now a family pet in Perth.

Savannah was a beloved Rottweiler who had to have her front leg amputated due to an aggressive cancer. She had a groundbreaking implant placed into the bone of her leg. Sadly, she passed away a few weeks ago from the cancer. This series is partially dedicated to her.

Rowdy also had a leg removed to try and prevent the spread of cancer; she passed away not long afterwards, Cearns says. This series is also dedicated to Rowdy.

Update: Data From The Ashley Madison Hack Has Been Released Online

Christina Bonnington — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 11:00:00 UT

Photo: Courtesy AshleyMadison.

UPDATE: The Impact Team has followed through with their threats and released the data from last month's hack — information from 32 million Ashley Madison accounts are now online.

This article was originally published on July 20, 2015.

Bad news for seekers of adulterous liaisons: Cheating site Ashley Madison got hacked last week, exposing the private information of its 37 million members.

A group calling themselves "The Impact Team" reportedly conducted the hack, which stole information from Avid Life Media, the company that owns Ashley Madison and a couple of other hookup destinations (Cougar Life and Established Men). The group primarily stole data such as employee network account and salary information, plus company bank account details.

Perhaps most damning (and most interesting) about the leak: The Impact Team members decided to expose their own breach because they realized Ashley Madison's $20 a pop "full delete" feature is a scam. The cheating site promises to delete all your details from its servers, but in reality, users' purchase information — such as names and addresses — is never fully removed. Thus, proof of your maybe one-time indiscretion could linger long after it took place, even though you think all the evidence has been deleted.

In a manifesto, the group wrote, "a significant percentage of the population is about to have a very bad day, including many rich and powerful people." Yikes. Unless Ashley Madison is permanently taken offline, The Impact Team says it will reveal all customer records, "including profiles with all the customers’ secret sexual fantasies and matching credit card transactions, real names and addresses, and employee documents and emails."

This hack comes just a few short months after hackers leaked user information from hookup site Adult Friend Finder.

Avid Life Media has released a statement about the attack, and CEO Noel Biderman told KrebsOnSecurity that the company has identified the culprit behind it: someone who had worked on Avid Life Media's servers in the past (likely a contractor), but was not a full employee.

If The Impact Team carries through with its threats, certain spouses will have some serious explaining to do.

The Crazy Response Fashion Bloggers Get When They Take A Break

Alexandra Ilyashov — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 10:30:00 UT

This is easily the first time in my life I've ever taken such a long break from Instagram and I didn't realize it would have so many of my friends, family and all of you concerned. It was not intentional, so please know there's nothing to worry about 😘 I just signed on as creative director for a covetable commercial campaign, which my company will also be producing from start to finish. It's consuming all of my focus and energy, so despite the stress/pressure, I'm incredibly excited to have had the work I do behind closed doors lead me to an opportunity like this. This meant I flew home and stayed in Australia and could quickly pop up to Hamilton Island to support the @netaporter x @thenetset Event, which meant no office walls and visually beautiful content! So happy to be back and thank you for always supporting me through this wild journey. Nothing but love, N x

A photo posted by Nicole Warne (@garypeppergirl) on Aug 17, 2015 at 2:04am PDT

Aussie fashion blogger Nicole Warne, known by her 1.3 million Instagram followers and 29.4K Twitter followers as @garypeppergirl, caused a bit of a scare for her loyal fanbase recently. Warne went off the grid for nearly two weeks — and people freaked out.

Warne’s last post before her unintentional hiatus garnered over 800 comments, ranging from curious (“Where did she go”), to concerned ("You have been missed!” and “Where have you been? Is everything okay?” and “I hope you have a well deserved break love, and get well soon, we all miss you!”), to a little confrontational (“She is killlllin me.” and “Why aren’t you posting on Instagram anymore?”).

where have you been? Is everything okay?Wrote Warne on her “Hi, I’m alive” Instagram post on Monday, "This is easily the first time in my life I've ever taken such a long break from Instagram and I didn't realize it would have so many of my friends, family, and all of you concerned. It was not intentional, so please know there's nothing to worry about.”

The reason for Warne’s brief social media break was a gig as “creative director for a covetable commercial campaign.” “It's consuming all of my focus and energy, so despite the stress/pressure, I'm incredibly excited to have had the work I do behind closed doors lead me to an opportunity like this,” Warne wrote. We think a vacation not spent jockeying for the perfect ‘gram shot would (or should) have also been a perfectly acceptable reason to be disconnected for a bit.

"Having to be constantly present is literally the worst thing about working in social media. I don’t really dare to research into it — ignorance is bliss! — but I’m sure it’s bad for my mental health,” blogger Zanita Whittington says. “Lately, I’ve been posting less and less on Instagram and more on the newer forms, like Snapchat and Facebook Live. I’d absolutely love to have a week or two away.”

Being a blogger has segued from the frivolous vanity project of a wannabe street style star to a viable career path. Case in point: Whittington and Warne were featured, along with The Blonde Salad’s Chiara Ferragni, on the cover of Lucky (RIP) back in February. Putting bloggers on a glossy cover was a big deal — that’s coveted real estate usually reserved for Tinseltown's biggest stars, music heavyweights, and the occasional model. A pop star has albums to make, tours to perform, and press junkets to promote themselves; Hollywood notables have similar to-do lists, swapping in screen time for hours in the studio. Bloggers are expected to create content and interact with followers, to be continually “active” and “available” to a degree that more traditionally famous folks are not. They're also expected to turn quiet, personal, private moments into shareable content.

For some big fashion bloggers, the omnipresence factor exists, but it’s not a problem. “WeWoreWhat is a 24/7 job, so of course there is pressure to always be ‘on’ — loving what I do definitely makes it a whole lot easier,” WeWoreWhat’s Danielle Bernstein says.

Perhaps it’s a sign that we’re entirely too tethered to our technology — and we want our must-follow social media superstars to be equally, if not more, on. Or maybe being constantly reachable, like-able, and re-'gram-able a necessary evil of the (quite plummy) job of being a successful fashion blogger. There are much worse gripes one could have about a gig.

“When life and work gets busy, or you lose momentum and/or inspiration and can't meet [readers’] expectations, it can feel like you're failing...on top of that, hundreds of thousands of people are waiting for your next post — and there’s pressure that whatever you put up next better be amazing. Or at least you need a good reason for the hiatus to prove that you're 'really busy' with 'lots of meetings,' 'collaborations,' and just being a goal-kicking, high-achieving entrepreneur,” says Sara Donaldson of Harper & Harley. “Sometimes, it's just a simple fact that you would rather not be on your phone and instead, live your life in the present.” Amen to that.