Patricia Krenctil, the "Tanning Mom," who is accused of taking her 5-year-old daughter into the tanning booth with her, has become an object of public ridicule for her "extreme tan." Krentcil obviously thinks she looks good, but most people have dubbed her a "freak."
This isn't the first time a woman has done something in the name of beauty (sometimes with risk to her health), that made America turn ugly on her. There are human Barbies, human vampires, and lots of plastic surgery. But if these women truly feel beautiful -- who are we to judge? It's just a shame that they weren't happy with their looks in the first place -- as they were all pretty darn, well, pretty.
Take a look at these extreme beauties, below.
A dad in China jumped out of the car he was driving to rescue his 4-year-old daughter who had opened the car door by accident while climbing from the back of the car to the front. She fell out onto the middle of a busy street and her dad jumped out of the car, ran back, and quickly scooped her up just as another car was approaching the girl from behind.
The car he was driving kept going before crashing into a tree on the sidewalk. Fortunately no one was hurt.
The entire incident was video-taped by a surveillance camera and you really do have to see it to believe it.
Take a look:
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Isn't that amazing?
What reflexes that dad had. He didn't bother to stop his car or pull over, he just jumped from the moving car to save his daughter not caring what would happen to his car -- or even anyone around him. He was willing to do anything it took to save his daughter. It's the way we all hope we'd react in such a scary, crazy situation.
Fortunately, we have car seat and safety belt laws in the U.S., but this is the kind of thing that could happen if we didn't obey them. It's also a really good reminder to keep your kid's car doors locked. They can open them even when they're still pretty small and it's a lesson you don't want to learn the hard way.
That dad must be so very relieved, but I can't help but wonder what he told his wife when he got home.
Image via IBTimesTV/YouTube
Whether you love it or hate it, one thing is for certain, Time magazine's breastfeeding cover has captured the attention of Americans across the country. Those editors are certainly celebrating tonight.
But Time isn't the first publication, nor will it be the last, to raise a few eyebrows, set tongues wagging, and perhaps inspiring a few dozen subscription cancellations (boo hoo). The things that seem to really get people's goat? Nudity (surprise, surprise), blood, racial insensitivity, and of course, a mom breastfeeding her 3-year-old.
Here are some other magazines that also caused more than a little controversy with their now-famous covers.
Last night was the much publicized Obama campaign fundraiser at George Clooney's Hollywood home. The event raised $15 million for Obama's campaign, which is apparently a record for a single fundraiser.
Party-goers -- 150 of Clooney's closest friends who forked over $40k a ticket -- included Tobey Maguire (who sat at Clooney's table), Robert Downey Jr., Salma Hayek, Jack Black, Barbra Streisand, and Jeffrey Katzenberg (head of Dreamworks). Obama and Clooney fawned over one another all night -- cracking jokes about their good looks like they were BFFs.
Sounds like a smashing success.
But if you remember, this dinner is the one that got a ton of press because the Obama campaign held a "Win Dinner With George Clooney" raffle so that two hoi polloi could attend and mix with Hollywood "elite" and the prez. What noblesse oblige.
It sure seemed like a great idea -- kind of an extension of the "Win Dinner With the President" raffles that have been held periodically over the past few months. Unfortunately, it ended up making the president look bad.The Obama campaign raised millions of dollars through the online raffle of two free tickets to the dinner. People could contribute $5 for a chance to go to the party. In fact, you didn't have to contribute anything at all to enter or to win.
The winners were Beth Topinka, a New Jersey science teacher, and Karen Blutcher, a Florida utility company employee. Both of the women went to the party with their husbands. So where did they sit? At the back of the party tent of course (I'm guessing right by the port-o-potties). So unimpressed, George. What kind of host are you?
Why the heck weren't these winners seated at Clooney or Obama's table? One couple could have sat with Clooney and another with Obama -- or both couples could have sat together at a table with Clooney and Obama. We all know the answer to that. These regular folks just aren't good enough to sit aside Hollywood royalty or get that close to the President (although I'm sure he made the most of those photo opps with the winners). The Obama campaign got the press coverage and $$$$ it wanted. George Clooney comes off looking like a great guy. And no doubt the winners will indeed be aglow that they got to bask in the light of all these famous stars -- oblivious to the function they really served.
Ah, America -- where the President is no longer a man of the people, fame and money talk, and politicians throw all the little people a bone ... when they need your vote.
Do you think the winners of the "Dinner With Clooney" raffle should have been seated with Obama and/or Clooney -- or do you think they belonged at the back of the tent?
Image via art_es_ana/Flickr
By now you've heard of Patricia Krentcil, 44, of New Jersey who has been accused of taking her 5-year-old daughter into a tanning booth with her. "Tanning Mom" has been ridiculed everywhere for the past week. Newspapers have mocked her as the "Toast of the Town," Snooki took her on via Twitter, and Kristen Wiig parodied her during SNL's Weekend Update skit.
But this is really no laughing matter.
There's no question taking a kid into a tanning booth is unacceptable, but Krentcil was arrested for it and the law will take care of it -- and hopefully social services now has the heads-up it needs to keep an eye on her kids.
The truly horrifying thing about this case has been America's reaction. Krentcil is the Mean Girls' flavor of the month. Or is it week?
We've long forgotten about Angelina Jolie's right leg and Samantha Brick's "good looks" and now we've moved on to Patricia Krentcil's tan. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Anytime a woman in the public eye does something that makes her feel good or beautiful or happy, we take it upon our collective selves to rip her to shreds.
Do I like Patricia Krentcil's tan? No. But what difference does that make? She does. Just because it looks weird to some of us does that mean we can all get together and ridicule her publicly? Isn't that the very definition of bullying? Or doesn't it count because she's a "freak"? Should we be telling our kids that it's okay to bully the "freaks" in school? That it's okay to make fun of the kids who don't "fit in"? That's what we're doing -- so why wouldn't they? We talk about the bullying epidemic in our country's schools and spend all kinds of time, money, and energy implementing anti-bullying programs. I have an idea -- why don't we all grow up and set a good example for our kids? The sad truth is that bullies and mean girls are alive -- and thriving -- long after high school is over.
More from The Stir: Snooki’s Reaction to Tanning Mom Is Spot On & She Should Know
In Krentcil's case, it's even worse. This isn't about somebody striking an awkward pose on the red carpet or complaining she has no friends because she's too beautiful. It's highly likely that Krentcil has a problem -- she's addicted to tanning, a tanorexic, if you will. What if she were anorexic or an alcoholic? Would we all be making fun of her? Would newspapers be running articles with biting headlines? Would SNL be doing parodies of her? Would faux celebrities be tweeting snide remarks? Here's a woman who is doing something that's incredibly unhealthy. Something that could ultimately take her from her young children too soon. An obsession that she could transfer to her children. Her tan is a red flag that should make us concerned, not crack us up.
How do you think Patricia Krentcil feels when she reads and sees everything that's being said about her? The media and public opinion trap her into a corner like a wounded animal and then when she "lashes out," what does everyone do? They make fun of her even more -- "Oh, she's so crazy!" Score for the Mean Girls!
If you don't give a hoot about her feelings, what about her kids? How do you think they're dealing with the entire country being "mean to mommy"?
And where are all you feminists? Do you only rally 'round women who "deserve" your support? Is a woman from New Jersey who tans excessively not worthy enough? I'd like to think that any time a woman is criticized in such a public, humiliating, and relentless way, her fellow women would stand up for her. How can we complain about all these awful standards of beauty that we are subjected to -- when we crucify others whenever we get the chance? Imagine what we could accomplish if we put all this energy and camaraderie toward something positive instead of using it to make mincemeat of a woman because we don't like her tan.
Say whatever you want about Krentcil bringing her daughter into the tanning booth, but let's leave her appearance out of the conversation. And the next time you have something to say about bullies in your kid's school or Mean Moms on the playground, take a look in the mirror.
Do you think Patricia Krentcil deserves to be bullied over her tan?
OMG. If you didn't see Saturday Night Live last night (Eli Manning hosted), you missed one of the best skits ever in the history of the show. It is the funniest thing I have seen since, well, Bridesmaids. And it's no wonder because Oscar-nominated Bridesmaids actress Kristen Wiig is one of the skit's stars and if you ask me, she's one of the funniest comedians out there -- and soooo much nicer than Chelsea Handler.
The faux ad is about what to give Mom for Mother's Day and shows dads and kids surprising mom with breakfast in bed, flowers, and gifts, but the problem is these moms don't want to bothered. They are, er, "enjoying" themselves while reading Fifty Shades of Grey.
Think vibrators, washing machines, and yellow rubber gloves.
Send your own kiddies out of the room and watch:
AWESOME.
More from The Stir: Ellen DeGeneres Reads '50 Shades of Grey' Aloud & It's Hilarious (VIDEO)
If you have a friend in need of a good laugh today, please share this with her. Oh, and if you want Fifty Shades of Grey (or a "microphone") for Mothers Day, share it with your husband.
Have you ever been "caught" reading Fifty Shades of Grey?
Last night Giants quarterback Eli Manning was the guest host of Saturday Night Live. One never knows what to expect from a non-actor, non-comedian, but the two-time Super Bowl champion was pretty awesome (for a New York athlete).
In his monologue, Manning said that hosting SNL was the third most exciting night of his life -- following his two Super Bowl wins over the New England Patriots. He said he finally felt like a "real New Yorker" -- he told some tourists in the audience to go to Olive Garden in New Jersey for some good New York City Italian food and professed his love for Cats, the Broadway musical that ended over a decade ago.
But Manning's skits are really where he shined. He made fun of Tim Tebow, dressed in drag, and even got in some digs at his big brother Peyton Manning. Hilarious stuff.
Just watch:
Here, Manning takes a dig at Tim Tebow (and makes fun of himself) in a hilarious skit where football players are coming up with their "signature football moves" ...
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Here, Manning plays murder defendant Chad Kevin Jeremy, whose alibi that he was home on the night of the murder is based on the fact that he was "sexting." He shares his silly sexts with the courtroom ...
In his best skit of the night, Manning makes fun of big brother Peyton in a fake ad for the "Little Brothers" program (a dig at the "United Way" skit Petyon did when he hosted SNL). In the skit, Eli helps some boys "straighten out" their older siblings ...
Did you see SNL last night? What was your favorite Manning skit?
Rumors have been swirling about whether Megan Fox is pregnant and Entertainment Tonight host Steve Jones (formerly of The X Factor) decided to get to the bottom of the matter. During an interview with the Transformers star last week about gadgets from the store the Sharper Image (Fox is a spokesperson), Jones decide to drop the baby bomb.
Although he had been strictly forbidden to ask Fox any personal questions during their chat, he went ahead and asked anyway. But he did it real smooth like -- the way you would when you're talking about Sharper Image gadgets and want to know if someone is with child. Jones asked: "Do you know the ultimate gadget that every man wants? A baby."
See how subtle that was -- gadgets, babies. Exactly. Fox was very confused, too, but then she responded. And now we all know she's pregnant. (That's going to be one cute baby!)
While Fox didn't actually say, "Yes, I'm pregnant." Her expression, her body language, and her publicists said it all. She was overwhelmed, she blushed, she giggled, and her publicists cut the interview short. It was completely obvious that the answer to the "Are you pregnant?" question is "YES!"
Watch for yourself:
See what I'm saying?
If Fox weren't indeed expecting a baby, she could have made a joke, like, "Yeah, well a gadgety robot baby is the only thing that my husband is getting." Or "A gadget baby will be the perfect thing to tide my husband over until I'm ready to have kids." She wouldn't have blushed, she wouldn't have looked to her publicists for help, and they wouldn't have jumped in. Because it would have been a non-issue. "Nope, not pregnant, no baby, now let's move on and talk about something really exciting like motorized tie racks."
I completely understand Megan wanting to keep her pregnancy to herself. I didn't tell my family until I was more than 3 months pregnant, and I didn't tell my friends and coworkers until I was about 6 months along. Everyone wants to share the news in their own time and their own way. Unfortunately for Megan, I think the cat is pretty much out of the bag. She really should fire her publicists. Sure, they cut off the interview but not until it was too late.
So we'll save our congratulations for Megan and Brian until they officially announce their baby news. Until then, we'll be secretly very happy for them.
Wonder if the baby shower registry will be at the Sharper Image.
Do you think it's obvious from Megan Fox's reaction that she is pregnant?
Ah, the Kentucky Derby: Mint Julips, cool fashion (fancy hats!), a celebrity crowd and ... oh, right, a horse race that's also known as "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports." This year's 4-legged contenders include Daddy Nose Best, I'll Have Another, and Rousing Sermon, Daddy Long Legs, and Done Talking.
Those are some cute, creative names right? And the names of the horses are no laughing matter (or maybe they are, but we'll get to that later) -- some people actually place their bets based on their favorite names.
In that spirit, various funny, creative types have been brainstorming possible horse names for future Kentucky Derby races and they've come up with some doozies.
ESPN asked its Twitter followers, "If you owned a Kentucky Derby horse, what would you name it?" And got these in response:
Kim KarDASHian
You are the Father
Edward Lizardhands
Runs With Beer
The Gelded Age
Why the Long Face
Michael Boltin'
Hung Jury
Over at Bleacher Report, columnist Gabe Zaldivar came up with these should-have-been Kentucky Derby horse names (among others), which are accompanied by photos that you've got to see (check out "Horse"):
Cool Story Bro
Tickle Me Elmo
My Other Horse is an Ass
Jessica Simpson Hell Spawn
Lilo's Toothbrush
Kimye (Get it? Kim K & Kanye --the new Brangelina!)
NPR asked readers to submit hypothetical horse names (they had to follow a bunch of rules) and here were some of the responses:
Whatever Yourself
No Guarantee
Hunga Dunga Dang
Jimmy Hoofa
Don't Have a Cow
And here are a few mom-themed funnies we'd like to throw into the mix:
Mama Nose Best (I mean c'mon!)
Bodacious Breeder
Bridle Sweet
The Buck Stops Here
Co-Sleeper's Dream
Helicopter Mare
Not Tonight Honey
Dirty Diaper
Rockin' Horse
Vax to the Max
Wear Your Hat
Tiger Horse
Circumcised
Breast Is Best
Free Range Trotter
Tanning Without My 5-Year-Old
Which names are your favorite? What would you name a Kentucky Derby Horse?
Image via southerntabitha/Flickr
Well, folks, the day you've been waiting for has finally arrived. No, we're not talking about the Kentucky Derby or Cinco De Mayo, we're talking about the day (or should we say night) when the biggest, brightest moon of the year will light up the sky -- it's Supermoon Saturday!
And whether you're a science geek or more of a folklore follower, we've got something you'll love.
First the facts: The reason the moon is so gloriously full during this once-a-year event is because it's actually closer to the Earth than usual (approximately 15,300 miles closer). This proximity will make the moon look abut 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than normal. The sicentific term for the phenomenon is "perigee moon." The moon will reach perigee at 11:34 p.m EST tonight.
Still awake? (If so, there's much more science in the first video below.)
Now for the folklore: All kinds of strange things happen during a full moon -- the crime rate goes up, hospital admissions increase, and people start acting all kinds of wacky. In fact, people used to believe that the moon caused mental disorders (the word lunacy comes from the latin worn for moon). If you ask a scientist, they'll say that the full moon's reputation for trouble is a lot of hooey (they've done studies, of course). But I'm not so sure and I'll have my video camera with me tonight just in case -- so I can document whatever crazy stuff I see.
Everything you need to know about the Supermoon from a science perspective is summed up here:
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
And if you're more of a folklore follower (or even just a music lover), a little Creedence Clearwater Revival is probably more up your astro alley. Here's what you can expect tonight during that Bad Moon Rising ...
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Will you be howling at the Supermoon tonight or are you more of a science geek?
Image via bsabarnowl/Flickr
If you have't heard, April 30 to May 6 is Screen-Free Week, which means that your kids are supposed to give up TV and entertainment computer time for 7 whole days. Instead, they're supposed to "unplug and play, read, daydream, create, explore, and spend time with family and friends."
What a bunch of baloney.
If you ask me, Screen-Free Week -- the brainchild of the Campaign for a Commerical-Free Childhood -- is everything that's wrong with our country today.
It's a (very) temporary band-Aid on a very big boo-boo. Kids should be unplugging, playing, and daydreaming EVERY day of EVERY week. Not just one special week every year. Because let's face it, kids who do watch TV and play computer games have already smoked the crack pipe. They're going to hate Screen-Free week. All week long, they're going to drive their parents crazy. They'll try to sneak on the computer and turn on the TV when no one's paying attention. And if these kids are usually watching TV and playing computer games in their free time then it's very likely no one is paying attention anyway. And as soon as Screen-Free Week is over, they'll be back to their old habits and mom and dad will be more relieved than they are.
It's kind of like taking a kid who eats junk food all the time and putting him on a one-week crash "healthy" diet. All of a sudden he's told he has to eat fish, veggies, fruits, and beef (the real thing not the McDonald's version) for a WHOLE WEEK. Of course he's going to complain and hate it. Of course he's going to make mom and dad miserable and wish they never insisted on this one-week healthy diet and of course he's going to go straight back to eating all that crap once the week is up. (Hey, lots of adults do the same thing when they go on diets.) The point is, your child should be eating healthfully all along. He's not going to learn how to eat healthfully in a week. That's why crash diets fail. Being healthy is a lifestyle not a week-long endeavor.
Similarly, no kid is going to be weaned from TV or Facebook in a week and realize the wonders of a Screen-Free world. It's too late, he's already addicted. Mom and Dad should have exposed him to those wonders years ago -- should have cultivated his imagination, and let him figure out how to entertain himself when he was bored. Kids need to be given the benefit of the doubt that yes, they are smart enough and creative enough and curious enough to keep themselves occupied while mom is making dinner. Don't sell your kid short. Throw out your TV.
Just think, given the time and space to explore and use his OWN imagination every day, your kid could grow up to be the next Walt Disney.
Image via MelvinSchlubman/Flickr
By the 9th month of pregnancy most women are over the "I'm pregnant!" bliss phase and are trying everything they can to just get that baby out of there. They jump up and down, have sex, stuff themselves with pineapple, force some cod liver oil down -- anything they can to start labor.
But once labor actually starts, many of us start wishing we could keep the baby in. Whether it's out of fear or pain, delerium or ecstasy, sometimes the craziest things come out of our mouths as our precious baby enters into the world.
Here are some of the funniest things women have admitted to saying during labor and delivery ...
Image via jonnyhunter/Flickr
Oh Betty Draper how we love(d) to hate you. We missed you in the season premiere of Mad Men, and were surprised to discover that there's so much more of you to love. Literally. I'm pretty sure I heard a collective gasp across the country as your two chins graced the television screen.
Twitter has been going crazy with people tweeting things like January Jones is a "shoo-in for an Emmy," and Betty Draper is so much "more likeable" as a "morose tubby lady."
Seriously?
Tonight we found out that Betty is fat. At one point, we learn it might be because she's got cancer or a thyroid issue, but nope, it's just that she's fat. She eats too much and doesn't ride horses or have calorie-burning sex anymore. We see her snacking on chips and polishing off a few sundaes in one sitting. Are we supposed to feel bad for her?
Let's not forget Betty is a bitch. She's vain, materialistic, selfish, mean to her kids, mean to her friends, mean to her husband. Does being fat suddenly make her a nice person? No doubt the writers would like you to think so. They're hoping you'll believe that fat women are more human, likeable, and deserving of our sympathy than skinny ones. In essence, that a woman's personality is defined by her weight. They're hoping that you take just a little karmic pleasure in Betty's weight gain. She was a vain bitch and she got what she deserved. Being fat is unappealing and ugly. Being fat is just so God awful it's deserving of our sympathy. Being fat is bad, but it makes you a good person.
Are you buying it?
Sadly, the majority of Mad Men's writers are women, which makes the introduction of Fat Betty even worse. It's a failure all around. Bitchy Betty was a lot more fun to watch than Fat Betty (then again past seasons of Mad Men have been far more fun than this one is proving to be). And as women, the writers should be more cognizant of the politics of fat -- and the body-image weight that American women bear (so to speak). Perpetuating these tired notions of fat women vs. skinny women is insulting and misogynistic.
Apparently the writers have been so immersed in writing about the '60s that they've forgotten the show's viewers are living in 2012.
Did you perceive Betty as being more human and likeable because she's fat?
Image via AMCTV
Hallelujah! Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have finally caved in to their kids' requests to marry and stop living in sin. The news is everywhere so you've probably heard by now, they tied the knot yesterday at an intimate ceremony at their $56 million estate in Provence, France.
Angelina looked gorgeous in a stunning black gown with a slit up the left leg (she was sick of her right leg hogging all the attention). Yes, that's right -- black! Would you expect anything less from Angie? Her new HUSBAND Brad (!!!) looked strikingly handsome in a tux with his long locks slicked back. Dude didn't shave for the occasion, but he pulled it off.
But the even bigger news about the wedding (besides the actual marriage part) was who was in the wedding party! You will NOT believe this:
George Clooney served as Best Man and wore a tux. (His date was some tart-y chick with fake boobs.) Okay, so that's no big surprise. But you will never guess who was Angie's Maid of Honor ... 3, 2, 1 ... ready? Jennifer Aniston! Brad's former wife, who the gossip rags have us all believing is Angie's arch enemy! Well I guess we know that ain't true. Jenn was rockin' in a long Amish gown that covered all her sexy parts and she wore her hair in two super cute braids, topped with a white bonnet. So sweet! I just knew those two got along!
All of Brad and Angie's kids were in the wedding of course. The twins Knox and Vivienne were ring bearers. Shiloh (who wore a tux and had her hair slicked back just like dad's), Maddox, and Pax were all groomspeople, and oldest sister Zahara was a bridesmaid. Mariane Pearl (Angelina played her in A Mighty Heart) was also a bridesmaid.
I don't know about you guys, but I am so happy this day has finally come.
Congratulations to Brad & Angie!
Oh, and HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY to you!!
Image via cliff1066/Flickr
Last night was the 25th anniversary of the Kids' Choice Awards, and the green slime, a hallmark of the awards, flowed.
Halle Berry was the first to be slimed, but she was most definitely not the last. Justin Bieber, Taylor Lautner, Glee's Chris Colfer, and Katy Perry were all doused in the stuff. And they were all great sports about it. Even First Lady Michelle Obama, who was there to present the Big Help award to Taylor Swift, couldn't avoid some of the slippery goop.
Justin Bieber won the award for Favorite Male Singer and was subsequently informed by host Will Smith that he was the secret celebrity viewers had been voting to get slimed all night. That was followed by a shower of slime coming from all directions.
Twilight's Taylor Lautner got slimed -- he won the award for Favorite Buttkicker (ohhh yeah!) and even though the green goop kicked his ass, he doesn't look too upset about it. Could this werewolf be a future alien?
There was no way for Will Smith to avoid the slime shower that got the Biebs, but he took it like a man. And what a great host -- he not only talked the talk, he walked the (green slime) walk.
Katy Perry got slimed and looks like a creature from the green lagoon! She won a Blimp for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (The Smurfs).
First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha nearly get slimed during Justin Bieber's green shower ... whoops! Take a look:
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
For more fun with slime, check out this video:
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Images via clevverTV/YouTube; Kevork Djansezian/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty
Hosted by Will Smith, last night's annual Kids' Choice Awards was full of the usual antics. There was lots of green slime (Justin Bieber, Twilight star Taylor Lautner, Halle Berry, and Glee's Chris Colfer were among those who got slimed). There were performances by Katy Perry and British boy band One Direction. But the evening wasn't all fun and games and green slime.
One of the night's best moments came when First Lady Michelle Obama presented 22-year-old singer Taylor Swift with the Big Help award for her charity work.
When Obama (who received the same award in 2010 for her Let's Move campaign) presented the award, she said of Swift:
Every step of the way she has always made it a point to give back. She’s supported childrens’ charities, she’s worked to combat bullying and given away books to schools and libraries all around the country. She’s given so much of her own money to victims of natural disasters here and around the world.
On accepting, Swift said she was "freaking out" to have receive the award from the First Lady.
I'm so honored. I have always wanted to meet you; this is amazing. I am so honored to be receiving this award from the first lady of the United States. I am freaking out. I'm really proud of all of you guys. I see you helping each other out. I think it's important you know you are making a difference in this world.
At just 22, Swift is certainly deserving of the award, she's done charity work with U.S. tornado and flood survivors and various youth-related charities. She's donated money to UNICEF, the Red Cross, Children in Need, and various other causes. She even donated her prom dress to raise money for charity. And you can just tell she's a nice person, the real deal. Last month, a teen boy battling cancer asked her to his prom and while she declined, Swift did invite him to be her date at the ACM awards.Talk about making a difference in the lives of individual people around you! That's something most celebrities would never even consider doing.
Congratulations Taylor and keep up the good work!
Did you see the awards last night? Are you a Taylor Swift fan?
Image via Kevork Djansezian/Getty
Earth Hour is tonight, March 31, from 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. (your time, wherever you are). Started 5 years ago by the World Wildlife Fund in Sydney, Australia, more than 5,400 cities now participate in Earth Hour, the world's largest voluntary mass event to support the planet.
Hundreds of millions of people, and many of the world's most popular landmarks turn out their lights for the occasion -- including Washington's National Cathedral, Big Ben, the Great Wall of China, the Sydney Opera House, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, Tokyo Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Empire State Building, and many more.
The purpose behind the event is to raise awareness for climate change and motivate ongoing action to help the planet. (Dear Debbie Downer: No, no one thinks turning out all these lights for an hour is going to save the planet, the point is to inspire all of us to make positive environmental changes in our lives.)
Even Dr. Suess is getting involved.
As part of Earth Hour this year, YouTube is launching an I Will If You Will platform, which lets people challenge each other into doing something good for the environment -- and getting something cool back. For example, Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax movie will turn the main character’s mustache green if 500 children promise to turn off their lights for Earth Hour, and supermodel Miranda Kerr will teach a yoga class to 500 fans who create their own challenge.
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
The popularity of Earth Hour has been increasing every year. In 2007, 2 million people switched off their lights in Sydney. In 2008, more than 50 million people all over the world took part. In 2009 almost 1 billion people participated and in 2011, more than 1.8 billion people joined the party.
So get out your candles and plan a romantic dinner, a relaxing soak in the bath, or just sit under the stars and gaze at the beauty that surrounds our awesome planet.
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
So what do you say? Will you participate in Earth Hour tonight?
Image via earth hour/YouTube
Last night, CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien held a town hall-style show Beyond Trayvon: Race and Justice in America in which a wide-ranging group of people -- from professors to moms -- discussed the implications of the Trayvon Martin shooting and what it says about the state of racism in America.
After the show, O'Brien talked to reporters about her on take on the Martin case.
She said,
I actually get the sense that it's more like a Rosa Parks case [than other shootings have been]. There is this case that is so clearly defined in a lot of people's minds that it sets the bar for them ... people said, 'if this could happen to Rosa Parks, it could happen to anybody.'
And she's right.
Trayvon Martin did nothing wrong but walk down the street at night ... while black. George Zimmerman would like you to believe otherwise, but his claims of being in fear for his life and physically injured are become less credible by the second (that's if you ever believed him at all).
Zimmerman has yet to be arrested and Martin's parents are still grieving their dead teenage son and hoping justice will be done. But even if Zimmerman is arrested and tried, we'll never be able to rectify what happened that night unless we get to the core of the problem. Racism still exists in America, and it's much more rampant than any of us want to believe.
We've seen it rear its ugly head in the weeks since the shooting. Bloggers, the media, twitter-ers, have all been quick to jump on the "it's not racism" bandwagon. Spike Lee has been the recipient of oodles of racist tweets after his twitter snafu last week. Geraldo Rivera was lambasted for blaming Martin's hoodie. President Obama himself commented on the case.
Here's the thing: George Zimmerman probably didn't see Trayvon Martin walking down the street at night and think to himself, "Ooh, there's a black kid. I hate black people. I'm going to kill him." If he did, we can all agree that's all kinds of messed up. But it's unlikely (so let's give him the benefit of the doubt). More likely: He was suspicious. And then he acted in a way that totally crossed the line -- and for which he should be held culpable.
Let's get back to that suspicious part -- because it is very, very important. Why was he suspicious? By all accounts, Martin was doing absolutely nothing out of the ordinary (let's give him the benefit of the doubt too). So ask yourself this: If Trayvon Martin had been a white guy wearing a suit -- but otherwise behaving the same that evening -- would George Zimmerman still be walking around a free man?
Doubt it.
Even sadder, the 17-year-old would still be alive.
Zimmerman was suspicious because Martin was black. And that's why he's now making up all these lies about what really happened. Because he realizes it. He had no good reason to shoot the teenager. But he didn't act alone. Movies tell him to be suspicious of black people, our country's history tells him to be suspicious of black people, institutional discrimination and prejudice tells him to be suspicious of black people. Racism is still very much a part of America's DNA.
Rosa Parks was kicked out of her bus seat over 50 years ago and yes, America has made a lot of progress since then. But the Trayvon Martin case shows we've got a lot of work to do.
Do you think the Trayvon Martin case is about race?
Holy cannoli. Have you been following this Mega Millions madness? The lottery jackpot was at $640 million when the winning numbers were drawn last night (2-4-23-38-46, Mega Ball 23). That's a world record-breaking jackpot and a lot of cash -- enough to put someone right into the 1 percent.
Unfortunately, there were 3 winners last night -- winning tickets were purchased in Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland. They'll have to divvy up the spoils and each person will end up with a meager $213 million (before taxes). Two hundred and thirteen million dollars -- not bad for a day's work.
So who were these lucky stiffs?
Their names haven't been released yet. But while we wait to find out, let's discuss the true magnificence about this whole lottery thing.
The odds of winning were astronomical (176 million to 1). As in, if you bought a ticket, you really didn't have a chance in hell. But who did that stop from buying a ticket? Not any of the dreamers who stood in long lines from coast to coast.
The lottery is apt metaphor for what makes America so great. Even when the odds aren't in our favor, we're willing to throw caution (or at least a few bucks*) to the wind -- and take a chance. (*In fact, lottery players collectively tossed more than $1.46 billion dollars into the jackpot.) And if it looks like we can't accomplish something on our own, we'll team up and pool our resources for a better chance at success (the way so many co-workers and friends pooled their money to buy more tickets and increase their odds). And even today, when the vast majority of us knows we've lost our shot at the big bucks (this time), and there are only 3 among us who have won, we're wondering who those lucky few are. We can't wait to find out and hear their stories -- and be happy for them. We will take joy in their happiness.
And like true Americans, we won't give up. We'll try again. And again. And again. Whether we're playing the lottery or have another goal in mind -- Americans are dreamers, we have hope. We take risks despite the odds. And sometimes, we even win.
Congratulations to the winners!
Did you buy a Mega Millions lottery ticket? Are you dying to find out who won?
Image via Kevork Djansezian/Getty
Yesterday, Current TV anchorman Keith Olbermann was fired by his bosses Al Gore and Joel Hyatt. Olbermann had been working for only about a year of his 5-year, $50 million dollar contract -- and he's pissed. Shortly after Currant made the news of Olbermann's forced departure public, he took to Twitter (where else?) to vent in a weird barrage of 140 character tweets that ended up being akin to a short speech.
Based on what he said, there will likely be a lawsuit and whether you want to or not, we'll all be seeing a lot more of Olbermann for months to come. He's already set to appear on the Late Show With David Letterman next week and our burning "what went on behind the scenes" questions will likely be answered. There's one question I don't think we'll ever have answered though, and that is:
What the heck was Current thinking when it hired Olbermann's "replacement" -- especially in the context of why they fired Olbermann?
Get this:
Current wrote an open letter to its viewers explaining that it was dismissing Olbermann and said, in part,
Current was also founded on the values of respect, openness, collegiality, and loyalty to our viewers. Unfortunately these values are no longer reflected in our relationship with Keith Olbermann and we have ended it.
It went on to say:
We’re very excited to announce that beginning tonight, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer will host 'Viewpoint with Eliot Spitzer' at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.
Ah, Eliot Spitzer -- he's that bastion of virtue who slept with hookers behind his pregnant wife's back and stepped down in disgrace from his position as Governor of New York. Hey, it's great that his wife forgives him and that he's moved on and can still get a well-paying job. But to fire one man because he's not meeting up to the company's standards of "respect, openness, collegiality, and loyalty" -- and to hire another, who has clearly demonstrated that he takes all of those values pretty darn lightly, is a little bizarre wouldn't you say?
Is Current TV hoping prospective viewers actually buy into those words as an apt description of Spitzer? It's pretty darn disrespectful for Al Gore and Joel Hyatt to try to cast Spitzer as a man among men. But then, it's not that surprising. Gore is the guy who won the presidency back in 2004 and couldn't stand up for himself against George W. And Hyatt was found guilty of illegally firing an employee (Clarence B. Cain) after learning he had AIDS. (The incident was the basis for the Tom Hanks' movie Philadelphia.)
All I can say is, thank God for Rachel Maddow.
What do you think of Olbermann's dismissal and Eliot Spitzer's new gig on Current TV?
Image via Freedom to Marry/Flickr
By now everyone on the planet has seen Angelina Jolie's right leg. If you were watching the Oscars, you couldn't avoid it on the Red Carpet or the stage. And if you missed the Oscars, you've no doubt seen some version of her awkward leg pose photo-shopped just about everywhere. I did see the Oscars so I was privy to the pose as soon as it happened. Angelina strode out on stage to the microphone, placed her hand on her hip, thrust out her now infamous right leg, tossed back her hair and gave a throaty laugh. She was a movie star presenting an award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Was it weird?
Yup.
Did I think, Wow, what the heck does she keep doing with that leg?
Yup.
But that's not the whole story.
Let's fast forward to Jim Rash & friends (Nat Faxon and Alexander Payne) receiving that award. Rash came up on stage, accepted his coveted Oscar from Angelina Jolie and then proceeded to mock her in front of the entire world. The audience laughed. Alexander Payne, who was speaking at the time, wasn't sure why anyone would be laughing at what he'd just said so he turned to his left and saw Rash in the "Jolie stance." You don't have to be a body language expert to know he was miffed. Payne finishes the speech and the guys all leave the stage. That's where most of the "hilarious" accounts and videos you're seeing of Rash's mockery end.
Here's what happened next.
Rash, Payne and Nat Faxon left the stage; Angelina was still there. She had another award to present. And she did. But she was very different from the Angie who had strutted so confidently across the stage. Her demeanor changed entirely. Her voice lost its power. She was no longer smiling. Her right leg? Well, that remained covered up. She was humiliated. Her pain was palpable. Can someone please tell me, what is funny about that?
Rash later said he was paying homage to Jolie, a "loving tribute." Nice try. I've no doubt that's the spin he came up with after the tongue-lashing I'm guessing Alexander Payne gave him on exiting the stage. It was obvious that Payne thought Rush's mockery was inappropriate. And it was. It was also downright cruel.
Angie's right leg thrust was very, very weird. I think we all agree on that. But here's the thing: She was on stage standing beside him when he made fun of her ... in front of her peers, her friends, her family, and pretty much, the world. This was the Oscars not SNL. Not only that, but Rash had the gall to make fun of the very person who handed him his Oscar. Most people kiss or hug or otherwise acknowledge the presenter. How many times have you ever seen someone mock their presenter? Zero. And that's not because Rash is the only "comedic genius" to ever win an award, it's because it simply isn't cool.
Rush is the teenage bully, the mean boy who makes fun of the Prom Queen on stage. The guy who gets a laugh at someone else's expense. What's so genius about that? So what if you dislike Angelina Jolie? So what if she posed in an awkward over-the-top way? That doesn't make what Rush did funny or right or something to be celebrated. Anyone who is dubbing him a comedic hero should be ashamed, especially you women. Way to cut down a fellow female who's feeling beautiful and proud. She had a slit and was making the most of it in her own style. Way to rip her apart, ladies.
Think of the teenage boy who favors wearing makeup and flamboyant scarves or the little kid who picks his nose on the playground or the "freaky" girl who wears "freaky" clothes to school or the woman with the "bizarre" tattoo who thinks she's all that. Aren't we constantly telling our children that they shouldn't mock or bully them for being different? Sure they may be doing things that others think are "weird," but that doesn't give us or anyone else license to humiliate them in public. Why does everything think it's okay to do so to a mega star like Angelina Jolie? Just because she's gorgeous, rich, famous, and hanging out with Brad Pitt doesn't mean she isn't vulnerable or that her feelings can't be hurt.
It's true that Angelina is a celebrity and that she's put herself out in the public eye so she's fair game for the press, the twitter account that was set up in her right leg's name, all the memes going 'round, and so on. She's famous. She made a Bjork swan dress move and, unfortunately, she's gotta face the music. The aftermath of her Oscar pose isn't the issue.
The thing that broke my heart for her that night was what Rash did on stage. It was uncalled for at that particular place and time. And all the bullies and mean girls who think it was funny really need to watch a video of a humiliated Angelina presenting the award AFTER Rash's cruel behavior. I'd love to show it to you, but there isn't one.
Bullies don't stick around to see how their actions affect their victims.
The trial of George Huguely has been taking place all week long in Charlottesville, Virginia. Huguely is being tried for the first-degree murder of 22-year-old Yeardley Love, his ex-girlfriend and fellow University of Virginia student. As one would expect, Love's family, including her sister Lexie, and friends have been sitting in the courtroom day after day in support of their lost loved one, hoping and praying that justice will be served.
In a hearing before the trial began, the judge banned spectators from wearing One Love Foundation memorial bracelets in honor of Yeardley. But Love's friends and family didn't let that ruling stop them from showing their solidarity. Instead of bracelets, they show up at court each day wearing the same color clothing.
During jury selection they all wore pink, during opening arguments they all wore turquoise, and yesterday, they wore gray.
Thursday's scene as described by She the People:
The visual result is a particularly female form of dissent: In the front row, Yeardley’s mother, Sharon, never peels off her gray car coat, though it’s not chilly in the courtroom. Beside her, her older daughter Lexie, who celebrated her 28th birthday by testifying for the prosecution, is in gray silk and following every word uttered in court. Behind them, several rows packed with female cousins, friends and former UVA women’s lacrosse teammates in gray sweaters and scarves glare at the defendant en masse as he whispers to his female attorney.
Fashion certainly does make a statement.
It's such a simple thing to do, yet such a powerful one. And while the judge may have kept the bracelets out of the courtroom, he couldn't keep the love out -- or the Love out. Because every time the jurors see that group of spectators sitting there quietly in the courtroom wearing the chosen color of the day, they will remember Yeardley Love, the victim who cannot be there to speak for herself.
Image via Media Relations University of Virginia
This is such a sweet story: Two sick dogs walked into the lobby of Christus Spohn Shoreline hospital in Texas, and waited with the other patients to be seen. The puppies were dog tired and emaciated, and obviously really smart. They also trusted people enough to seek help from them.
And the humans came through for these canine cuties. Rather than kicking them out or calling in the doggie police, the staff decided to give the animals the help they needed: Sausages, bacon, and a little TLC.
After the feast fit for a King (or Duke or Fido), the hospital staff called the local humane society, which agreed to take the dogs if someone dropped them off. The doctor agreed and off they all went.
The news van thing is a little weird, but even if the hospital wanted some good PR for its good deed, it's still a wonderful thing.
The puppies will be ready for adoption in a few weeks -- I really hope someone takes the two of them together! And you'll find other cuties looking for homes at the Gulf Coast Humane Society.
Have you ever adopted a dog?
Have you seen the video of former Massachusetts Governor and presidential hopeful Mitt Romney trying to lead an "America the Beautiful" singalong? (Not to worry if you haven't because I've got it for you right here.) Last night, Romney broke into song at a rally in Florida and tried to get the crowd to join in. They kind of let him down and he was left trying to carry the tune alone. Not a good moment for a man with a very mediocre singing ability.
I'm not sure what Romney was thinking but perhaps he was inspired by the overwhelmingly positive reaction President Obama got when he sang a little Al Green at a fundraising event at the Apollo Theater in Harlem last week. The difference is that the President has got himself some pipes. Oh boy, has he. When he sang Green's classic "Let's Stay Together," the crowd went wild.
So, let's play a little game. We'll call it "America's Idol."
Watch these two videos and decide who's the better singer, then cast your vote (in the comments) for who you think should be America's Idol -- based on singing ability, presentation, confidence, and crowd appreciation.
Here is Contestant #1, Mr. Romney, singing "America the Beautiful":
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
And here is Contestant #2, President Obama, singing "Let's Stay Together":
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Awesomeness.
By the way, you can get a ringtone of Barack Obama singing on his campaign website. No word on whether Romney plans to do one as well.
Who do you think should win this round of America's Idol?
I thought I was over the Sh*t So-And-So Says craze ... UNTIL I saw Sh*t Crunchy Mamas Say. It's so true ... and so funny. I say this as someone who is pretty darn crunchy -- at least as "crunch" is defined by all the things said in aforementioned video.
The send-up (homage?) was put together by Mama Natural, a site described as "a community and refuge for natural mamas who strive for clean living, enjoy extra support, and like to have some fun along the way." And I have to say I'm already a fan. Because they obviously mean it when they say "fun." We hippie, crunchy granola, natural living, organic-obsessed types have a bad rap for being as uptight as we are free and easy (note the irony there). Moms on the playground, friends, and family seem to think we take things waaaay too seriously and this video proves them all wrong. We have a sense of humor. We do. We can laugh at ourselves. And we do.
Take a look.
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Love. It.
Some of my favorite lines:
"Are you going to the chicken pox party?"
"It's actually EYE-na May Gaskin."
"You use regular deodorant?"
"Love the amber teething neklace."
"I might eat my placenta, I might not."
"Facebook took down another one of my breastfeeding photos."
"We chose not to mutilate his genitals."
"Ooh only 20 bucks."
I'm doing my kegels, hold on a second.
[breast pump, whirrrrrr]
Oh ... they're all fab! The people at Mama Natural did a great job of capturing, uh, natural mamas.
More from The Stir:
25 Best Mom Confessions of 2011
15 Moms Share Funny Kid Quotes
What do you think of the video? Are you able to laugh at it even though it might be making fun of you?
