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[TheGloss] Gallery: Jennifer Lopez Wears Swimsuits, Shows She’s Still Got It In Vogue

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:36:46 +0000

In the June issue of Vogue, pop star/actress/The Voice judge Jennifer Lopez can be seen wearing various designer bathing suits and demonstrating that she still has “it” despite the fact that at 42, she’s well over the age at which most Hollywood starlets are taken behind the woodshed and shot. But what does “it” even mean? Here, I will venture to guess what “it” is that J-Lo has in each of her swimsuit photos. Besides a gravity-defying ass and aristocratic bone structure, I mean.

(Via Vogue)

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[TheGrindstone] Afternoon Grind: Energy Drinks And Gay Marriage

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:30:33 +0000

Divorce lawyers say more women are paying child support (YourTango)

How Heidi N. Moore does money (The Hairpin)

How to show your gratitude at the office properly (SavvySugar)

Gay marriage should have an affect on your marriage (DivineCaroline)

You’re not imagining it. Why having kids is getting more expensive (LearnVest)

The science of energy drinks (YouBeauty)

Wendy Tan White’s Moonfruit acquired for $29 million by Yell (Women 2.0)

Post from: TheGrindstone

[Crushable] Because You Always Wanted To See A Photo Of Harry Styles Wearing A Bra

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:13:48 +0000

Whenever I find something as amazing as this photo of young Harry Styles from One Direction on the Internet, the entire soundtrack from Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit plays in my head all at once. That’s just how my body reacts to this kind of excitement.

How did I get so lucky as to stumble upon this photo of young Harry from his childhood? I did so much black magic. You don’t just sign online and just happen to find a photo of grade school Harry wearing lingerie. Sorry, no one is that lucky. Not even the Crushable readers who now get to share this find with their 1D obsessed friends.

You have 1D obsessed friends right? Because sometimes I feel like the only person born in the ’80s who knows everything about them. I’m so tired of having to explain to my friends that a Zayn Malik is not a sexually transmitted disease. Nor is a Nialls Horan a dirty British slang terms. These are real men (well men-ish boys) with real talent.

Tell me the last time you walked down the street and 75 8th grade girls flung themselves at you. Sorry to get hostile, I just sometimes worry that not everyone appreciates this boy band. Long gone are the days of *NSYNC and O-Town’s wet dreams. These are our role models today and we have to accept that.

So accept it today by staring a this photo of Harry Styles wearing a bra. I mean, don’t stare in a creepy way. Just in an admirable way. A safe for work way.

(Photo: Happy Fame)

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[TheGrindstone] 10 Signs You Are A Super Successful Person

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:12:13 +0000

What do Warren Buffett, Sheryl Sandberg, Hillary Clinton and Tina Fey all have in common? Well, they are all super successful and according to Michael Hess of CBS News they may all enjoy stealing newspapers from flight attendants. Hess, who has observed many super successful people, found that many of them exhibit the same kind of behaviors. So if you want to know if you too are a super successful person (looking at your bank account would also work, but only in some cases) see if you have any of these traits.

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[Blisstree] Sketchers To Pay Out $40 Million Settlement For Sketchy Toning Shoe Claims

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:10:08 +0000

Customers might eat up Sketchers‘ claims that their Shape-Up toning shoes can make you fit without working out, but the Federal Trade Commission isn’t amused; in fact they’re fining the company to the tune of $40 million for making false claims–to be paid out to customers in the form of refunds for their shoes.

The FTC’s biggest beef was with the company’s scientific claims; while many of their marketing claims sounded pretty run-of-the-mill, it was their claim that they had clinical studies to back them up that seemed to get them in trouble (one study cited in an ad was independently conducted by a chiropractor, who was married to a Sketchers marketing exec…and whose findings didn’t actually support the advertising claims).

David Vladeck, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement:

Skechers’ unfounded claims went beyond stronger and more toned muscles. The company even made claims about weight loss and cardiovascular health. The FTC’s message, for Skechers and other national advertisers, is to shape up your substantiation or tone down your claims.

Going forward, the FTC ruled that Sketchers won’t be allowed to claim strengthening, weight loss or any health or fitness-related benefits from its toning shoes unless they’re backed by scientific evidence. In the meantime, we’d recommend applying for a refund, then hitting the gym (in regular shoes) for real results.

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[Crushable] Carly Rae Jepsen And Ryan Gosling Should Be The Next Canadian Power Couple

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:06:15 +0000

Part of what we love about Carly Rae Jepsen is that she’s a typical twentysomething. And in a recent video interview with MTV, she revealed herself to be even more of an Everywoman by admitting that she has a crush on Ryan Gosling. Or as she said,

“I’m obsessed with Ryan Gosling. Not in like, the creepy way, I hope. Just in like, a healthy way… I’m obsessed with him in a completely normal way.”

At this point, to not daydream about Ryan Gosling talking feminism to you or pulling you out of the way of a speeding taxi cab means you don’t have a pulse… and yet, we can totally see Carly Rae dating Ryan. Mostly because they’re both Canadian, and there was something really sweet about him dating fellow Canuck Rachel McAdams back in 2005.

If we close our eyes while listening to “Call Me Maybe,” we can pretend it’s Ryan who’s the subject of Carly Rae’s lyrical love letter. Your stare was holdin/Ripped jeans, skin was showin’/Hot night, wind was blowin’? That describes him in just about every movie, though especially his most recent big romantic role in Crazy, Stupid, Love last summer.

Plus, they’re both incredibly memeworthy, as you can see from the above photo. His face plus her lyrics… it’s a match made in internet heaven.

Photo: Troll.me

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[Mommyish] Fewer South Asian Girls Sold Into Slavery — I Mean Child Marriage

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:02:02 +0000

Very few young women are able to find a happy ending following a child marriage. While girls who marry under the age of 18 are suddenly at risk for a host of mental disorders, the union statistically subjects them to higher rates of rape, physical abuse, and pregnancy complications. Not to mention being completely powerless in marriages that deem them no more than domestic slaves. But all parents can perhaps sleep a little better tonight as apparently less girls are being married off in South Asia than in previous years.

Reuters reports that the child marriage decline in Nepal, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan is “sizable,” with fewer girls under the age of 14 being married off:

In Bangladesh, for example, about 34 percent of women reported being married by age 14 in 1991 and 1994. By 2005 and 2007 that number fell to about 19 percent…For girls younger than 14 years old, the falls in girl marriage ranged from about 35 percent in India to 61 percent in Pakistan. In India, the rate for that age group dropped from about 10 percent between 1991 and 1994 to about six percent between 2005 and 2007.

Researchers aren’t quite able to parse out though what exactly has caused this decrease over the last two decades. Although awareness about the devastation of child marriage has grown what with organizations like Girls Not Brides, Anita Raj, the study’s lead author and a professor, says that girls are delaying marriage through educational opportunities. Generally, these girls tend to graduate around 15 or 16 years of age, which presents concerned parties with a new dilemma: marriage rates for girls aged 16 or 17 have stayed more or less the same.

Although marriage under the age of 18 is banned in Bangladesh, India and Nepal, Raj maintains that these regulations are largely ignored. These declining numbers however, demonstrate that opportunities for girls — not just laws — are key to their independence. That and chipping away at the notion that girls are “worthless burdens on their families” ultimately serves to protect many a child.

(photo: photosync/ Shuterstock)

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[Blisstree] Help For Moms: UK Assigns Midwife To Every Pregnant Woman

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:58:23 +0000

If you’re pregnant and you live in the UK, you’re in luck. That’s because the National Health Service (NHS) plans to provide expectant moms with a midwife before, during and after labor. The initiative is meant to help combat postpartum depression – and I must say it’s an amazing idea. Here in North America, many moms I know have hired a midwife or doula for the same reason – many find doctors to be too clinical or simply too busy to give them the attention they crave – and so they’re dishing out thousands of dollars to have someone support them through labor and delivery (and everything that follows). More »

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[TheGloss] This Man Is A Hero

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:51:04 +0000

This man will not be denied his fried fish.

Basically, this 350 pound man ate 12 servings of fried fish, then had 8 more. He ate all the fried fish. And now he will picket. Even though it provided him with a pretty substantial amount. He is picketing every weekend. Presumably forever.

HAHAHAHAHAAH.

Why is his gluttony so delightful!?

Really, this is everything wrong with the world we live in, which is probably why this concept was already parodied on The Simpsons. I do not care. I want him to have the freedom to be a super-glutton. I want fishmongers to keep their promises. Their crispy, salty, battered promises.

He looks so tired, too. Why? Because they did not give him enough fish to keep up his energy for this continued crusade.

This shit never would have happened if Jesus had been around.

MORE FISH FOR THIS MAN! MORE LOAVES, TOO!

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[TheGloss] This 1948 ‘PsychoQuiz’ Will Help You Determine Whether You’re Masculine Or Feminine

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:43:31 +0000

If you think gender essentialism is ridiculous now, imagine how bad it was back in 1948!

Published the year before my mom was born, this 1948 “PSYCHOQUIZ” was just that: a fairly psycho quiz designed to determine if your interests were more “masculine” or “feminine.” (There’s a larger version here.) It includes questions about gardening (men like to grow food, while women do not), recreation (crabbing versus dancing) and drapes, the last of which I suspect is a trick question because real men don’t care about drapes. The reading question makes my blood boil the most, though, because how can someone be a Schwarzenegger of the brain without reading both fiction and non-fiction?

The paragraph beneath is notable because you can tell it’s trying so hard to be progressive while remaining mired in the same vaguely Freudian, gender essentialist bullshit that characterized modern psychology up until rather recently. Amid all the discussion of “masculine” and “feminine” preferences, nowhere does it justify why certain things are necessarily masculine or feminine. They just are because they are, okay?

What did you score on the quiz? I scored a “fuck you,” because I dislike socially constructed gender roles.

(Via Buzzfeed)

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[Blisstree] Afternoon Links: Michelle Obama’s Workout Playlist!

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:30:19 +0000

•What does Michelle Obama jam to while she works out? Willow Smith, of course! (HuffPost Healthy Living)

• Cooking thermometers are a necessary kitchen tool–here are some good ones (The Kitchn)

• One expert weighs in on how to help kids love their bodies. Awesome! (YourTango)

• Want to run faster? Of course you do. Try out one of these four tips (Fitbie)

• How to live by the “five second rule” and not, surprising, get sick (The Stir)

Post from: Blisstree

[TheGloss] Would You Kill Someone Over A Bad Mother’s Day Gift?

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:29:41 +0000

There are no chocolates inside. Only death.

Consult this quiz to check.

Well, some lady did! The Huffington Post reports:

Paige Parkerson, 20, is charged with first-degree felony murder in the death of Clifton “JR” Barkin, the 22-year-old father of her two children…Wright [Barkin's mother] last saw her son at 11:30 p.m. the previous night, when she dropped him off at the home he shared with Parkerson, according to the Enterprise. Just before that, Wright had driven Clifton to Walmart so he could purchase flowers and a Mother’s Day card for Parkerson. Wright believes that her son’s fiancée attacked him because she expected a more lavish gift.

God, in retrospect, he really should have gone to Jared.

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[Crushable] If Matthew McConaughey’s Stripper Scene In Magic Mike Made You Hot, This Interview Will Make You Orgasm

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:27:34 +0000

Forget every “good” movie you’ve rushed to the theaters to see this year because we’re positive that the epic stripper drama Magic Mike will blow them all away. The movie stars genuine Hollywood hunks like Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey. Men so wonderfully beautiful and well-sculpted that you can’t help but use the incredibly outdated Teen Witch era term “hunk.”

This month the free-spirited actor/drummer Matthew McConaughey spoke with The Advocate about his gay fanbase, his filthy movie dancing and how he would respond to his kids if they came out. His answers simultaneously made me want to smile and check TBS to see if How To Lose a Guy in 10 Day was on. While I did smile, I’m sorry to say H.T.L.A.G.I.T.D was not playing.

When asked if he enjoyed stripping for the movie (as much as future movie viewers will enjoy watching), he responds:

At first it was scary as hell, but then it became like a drug, and I couldn’t wait to do it again. Look, I love to dance, but I’ve never been a stripper. Channing’s one of the best hip-hop street dancers I’ve ever seen, and I didn’t want to challenge his style, so I worked on my own strengths. I also knew that my dance had to be the dirtiest. It had to be wonderfully filthy.

A compliment for his male co-star and a nod to his wonderfully filthy dancing. What a gentleman! A knight in shining armor. Thong armor of course. He is a stripper.

He goes on to say that the support of the gay community means the world to him. And then makes my heart grow 3 sizes by continuing on to say that we need to do more than just “tolerate” people who identify as LGBT. It’s about empowering, not oppressing.

It’s much appreciated. You know, I have some good friends of my own who happen to be gay, and when it comes to gay, straight, or whatever, I’m for anything life-affirmative. I’m for gay power, straight power, male power, female power; everybody should feel empowered without oppressing anyone who’s different. You know those World Cup banners about tolerance? I always thought that was one short. No, don’t just tolerate me. Understand and accept me.

And now, just in case you’re not convinced that Matt (yes, we’re on first name basis now) is all kinds of awesome, this is how he responds to a question about his own children potentially coming out.

That’s got to be really hard for a child, even if they think the parents’ reaction is going to be great. I’d sit down, talk to them, and ask them to walk me through how they knew, because I’d want to be open about it. There’s nothing in me that can understand disowning your child because they’re gay. You deal with it, you support them, and you also help prepare them for how some people in the world will treat and think of them. I don’t think you can sugarcoat it, because they will run into some adversity and roadblocks.

Honesty and realism and acceptance all wrapped up into a nice quote. His children are not only lucky to come from physically beautiful parents, but also from wonderfully open parents.

This interview definitely made me respect the Rom-Com actor a lot more and slightly made up for his horrible choice to be in the Kathy Bates thriller Failure to Launch. I could wax poetic all day about this interview, which you should read in full, but I’d prefer to spend my time figuring out when the first Magic Mike tickets go on sale.

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[Mommyish] Sofia Vergara Reportedly ‘Depriving’ Her Son Of A Father By Ending Relationship

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:19:50 +0000

The beautiful Modern Family star, Sofia Vergara, has always been vocal about her years as a young single mother. In fact, she earned my everlasting adoration when she spoke out about all the things that were great about young motherhood, offering a positive example of what’s often seen as a disastrous mistake. Vergara’s 19-year-old son, Manolo, is currently attending Boston University. And from the glimpses that we’ve gotten of him in the media, he seems to be a bright, well-rounded young man.

That’s why it is so disappointing to see that the New York Daily News reported on the actress’s break-up from boyfriend Nick Loeb by saying that Vergara “deprived” her son of a father figure. As the wonderful Laura Donovan said for The Jane Dough, “Though I don’t doubt Manolo grew close to Loeb over the two-year period in which Vergara and her former flame dated, it’s unfair to the high profile celebrity and her offspring to claim that the young man has lost a father figure thanks to his mom’s broken relationship.”

Let me say, I know a thing or two about “depriving” your child of a father. And I know that it is a completely false and unfair sentiment. Before my daughter’s first birthday, I had already chosen to end my relationship with her dad. The fact is that we were not meant to be partners. We were not married when we got pregnant and I think that there was a good reason that never discussed getting married for the sake of our daughter. It wasn’t the right choice for us.

But that decision not to stay together as a couple had absolutely nothing to do with our decisions when it comes to parenting our daughter. My ex is as involved with his little girl as he chooses to be. He has never had a request for visitation denied. Whether it’s on Christmas or in the middle of the day when I’ve already paid for her daycare, he is as much of a father as he wants to be. If he decides not to be too involved, then he would be the one denying his daughter. It wouldn’t be my fault because I chose to end our relationship.

Mothers who make a decision about their personal lives are not depriving their children of fathers. Those men have every right to continue to be a part of their children’s lives. And vice versa, I might add. If a single dad is dating and his relationship doesn’t work out, he is not depriving his children of a mother either.

The entire concept is insulting to both the children and the adults involved in this situation.

Some would say that situations like this are the reason that single parents shouldn’t date. Plenty of bystanders judge single moms for getting back into the dating pool, because they might be setting their children up to get attached to a person who won’t be around a couple years from now. I can even understand and sympathize with a small portion of this conversation, because I know that as a single mom, I was nervous about protecting my daughter from future heartache.

But first of all, Sofia Vergara’s son is 19 years old. He was 17 when his mother started dating her boyfriend. He wasn’t a young child wouldn’t be able to understand grown-up relationships. He would obviously be able to distinguish the complexities of the situation, and to continue on with a friendship with Nick Loeb should he choose to.

Second of all, if you missed out on every relationship because you wanted to protect your child, you could actually be holding your family back from an amazing new addition. When I started dating my now-husband, I was hesitant for fear of my daughter’s emotions. I waited months before I introduced my boyfriend and my little girl. But I am so happy that I was open to a new relationship, because now my daughter has an amazing step-father who loves her with every fiber of his being.

Single parents are always going to protect their children. They’re always going to have a balancing act when it comes to personal relationships and their kids. But their choices should not earn judgment for “depriving” their children of additional parent-figures. A hard-working mom like Sofia Vergara has proven that you can be all the parent your child needs on your own, and I highly doubt that her son feels like he has been deprived of anything.

(Photo: Foodista)

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[Blisstree] Natural Models Aren’t Just Good for Self-Esteem, They’re Good For Sales

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:10:23 +0000

Vogue‘s recent decision to become “ambassadors for positive body image” sounds, for the most part, like an attempt to patch up their many missteps in the fight against terrible self-esteem and eating disorders. But according to an Elle Canada article by Ben Barry (owner of the Ben Barry Agency, a pro-women talent agency that uses diverse body types), it may also be a savvy business move. Because, despite the firmly-held beliefs of many advertisers, women actually buy more stuff when clothing is modeled on realistic, healthy, and natural models.

It turns out, according to Barry’s research, that models are more than just skeletal clothes hangers that women ignore when flipping through the glossy magazine pages. He found that we are, to no woman’s surprise, inclined to look at who’s wearing the clothes, and–here’s the important part–base our purchasing habits on what we see. Shocking, I know.

From the article:

My study found that women increased their purchase intentions by more than 200 percent when the models in the mock ads were their size. In the subgroup over size 6, women increased their purchase intentions by a dramatic 300 percent when they saw curvier models. Conversely, when women saw models who didn’t reflect their size, they decreased their purchase intentions by 60 percent, and women over size 6 dropped their purchase intentions by 76 percent.

It’s true, Fashion Industry and Advertising Moguls: You could be making more money if you actually used real models. You don’t even have to care about the fact that it would help women feel better about themselves. You could totally just do it for the boost in sales. So…why don’t you?

Barry points out that, often, when the use of “normal”-looking women succeeds (like Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign, which bolstered sales by leaps and bounds, and endeared the brand to millions of consumers), the marketing and fashion industries see it as a one-off, or a novelty that won’t succeed again. But, as his and other research indicates, they’re missing a huge opportunity. Apparently women (who have brains and money and self-esteem concerns) actually appreciate it when models are less ‘aspirational’ (read: very thin).

And even if natural or differently-shaped women are just a novelty that excites women (remember how excited everyone and their mom was about that one V magazine spread? Or that time when Crystal Renn, pre-weight loss, modeled swimsuits in Glamour and we all had a heart attack because of her beauty?), isn’t that a good enough reason to keep trying it? If it’s novel to portray women as they are, shouldn’t we keep doing it until it becomes the norm?

Consider a recent interview we ran with Katie Halchishick of Natural Model Management, and our readers loved it, in part because the idea of empowering and photographing women of a variety of sizes is so outside of the mainstream–but it’s not outside of the desires of women.

Women want to see models that look like them, not ultra-thin women who give them something to aspire to /starve themselves to become. And yet, much of the fashion industry is lagging behind, churning out size 2 samples and casting impossibly small women to pose nude, hipbones akimbo, as they shill for handbags and headscarves, because they think that giving women something to “work toward” is the best way to spur purchases. But, as Barry illustrates (and as many of us can attest to), it’s not what we want–and it’s not how we behave. Karl Lagerfeld doesn’t have to be OK with Adele‘s body, or even care about how women feel about their bodies–he just needs to accept that women like seeing other women who look like her.

Designers and marketers should take a leaf out of Barry and Halchishick’s respective books and consider broadening sample sizes and widening their casting pools–if not because it’s better for women (though it is), because it’s better for their bottom line.

Image via

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[TheGloss] Dating Hijinks: He Made An Omelet; I Cried.

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:02:22 +0000

On Wednesdays, Amanda Chatel will be sharing stories about her strange, fascinating and sometimes wonderful dating life. If it makes you want to date, check out TheGloss dating page.

The worst part about dating, for me anyway, is the emotional baggage from past relationships that comes with it. Even if the new person is nothing like the old person, I always find ways to make the two overlap somehow, which ultimately leads to sabotaging the new situation.

Despite my extraordinary efforts to “nip it in the bud,” as they say, Tattoo Guy is still in the picture. Tattoo Guy is pretty much the opposite of the majority of guys I’ve ever dated. For starters, he’s older than me by two years — this is a first for me, as all the other fellas have been younger by at least a few years or more. He’s sweet, yet not so much when I need him to be otherwise (aka. in the bedroom.), and he says really charming things to me. Granted, he could be lying, but let’s take it at face value and assume he really does think I’m pretty and witty and fun and whatever other malarkey came out of his mouth this morning. I also love the way he looks at me.

While these are indeed contrasts to previous fellas, he also, like every one before him, likes to cook. The guy is always cooking; it’s exhausting to watch these elaborate meals he makes at three o’clock in the morning. Where he gets the energy to whip up these masterpieces after inflicting pain on others all day long is a mystery to me, so I just disregard it, have a few bites of whatever he’s concocted then wander into my bedroom.

However, last week Tattoo Guy fucked up a wee bit. What did he do? He made me an omelet. Sure, it may seem insignificant, but for me it is not. The last person to make me an omelet, the person who was always making us omelets at all hours of the day and night was Swede. One wouldn’t think that such a kind and thoughtful gesture on the part of Tattoo Guy would result in an emotional breakdown, but it did. Like any irrational person, I refused to eat it and locked myself in the bathroom. OK, I didn’t lock it, because Swede had kicked it in not once but twice so it no longer locks, but I did shut the door, turned on the shower and proceeded to cry. Some people cry over spilled milk, while I apparently cry over a few broken eggs.

When I finally pulled my shit together, I came out of the bathroom and explained that I just wasn’t feeling well. I also, a day later, explained the truth (I really need to nip this maturity thing in the bud as well.) Since then Tattoo Guy has made a few more omelets which he has all but tried to shove down my throat so as to help me get over my irrational behavior, but I’ve yet to give in to his omelet demands. However, I’ve stopped crying over his omelet making, and that alone shows I’m progressing. I think. Although if he really wants to see me eat for a change, he should bake me a few dozen cupcakes. Swede never liked cupcakes.

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[TheGloss] Poll: Do You Weigh Yourself Regularly?

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:00:50 +0000

In a recent interview with People magazine, Janet Jackson said that she never weighs herself.

“I don’t know how much weight I’ve lost, only because I stay away from the scale,” she said. “I don’t think [stepping on the scale] is healthy. You’re setting yourself up to fail.”

I am actually in the same boat. I haven’t owned a scale since high school, because I know that if I start weighing myself with any regularity I will become unhealthily obsessed with the number I see and start worrying about everything I eat. As far as I’m concerned, if I’m eating well, exercising, and my pants fit, I’m doing fine.

But some people can’t exist without knowing those numbers, and I wonder where you, my Gloss reading friends, fall.

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[Crushable] Anchorman 2 Teaser Poster Doesn’t Tell Us Much About The Sequel But Is Still Occasion For Scotch

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:54:17 +0000

We’re cautiously optimistic about Anchorman 2, and so far this new teaser poster doesn’t tell us anything—but its mere presence is also really exciting! Even just seeing these guys’ legs brings back memories of that wonderfully quotable movie… But who’s wearing two different pant legs? Well, Anchorman did have some very ’70s fashions.

OK, there’s one thing we might have learned: Seems like the sequel will be called Anchorman: The Legend Continues. Could it pick up in the ’80s where the original movie ended, or will it be some sort of go-between? Only time — and some teasers with actual plot details — will tell.

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[TheGrindstone] The Tax On Women: It’s An Unavoidable Part Of Capitalism

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:50:14 +0000

Whether or not you believe in pay disparity between men and women, there’s one fact about men, women and money that no one can deny. When it comes to personal maintenance and health, women spend more. Make-up, hair care products, “medical spa” treatments. There are numerous ways that being female racks up charges.

Most of these additional expenses center around beauty and health treatments that women choose to incur, but men rarely do. (Think of waxing and facials.) But as Forbes and Marie Claire are reporting, there are some other, sneakier ways that ladies are paying more simply because of their gender. From dry-cleaners to deodorants and razors to health insurance, women are being charged more.

My first reaction is that of righteous indignation. How dare a company charge me more simply because I’m a female! I am consumer, hear me roar! I was all ready to start researching my favorite brands and write a couple strongly worded letters to whoever pretends to care about these things.

Unfortunately once all my anger wore down, I started thinking about the actual economics of gendered pricing. The fact is, most of it is built right in to the capitalist system. It’s not a bias on the part of these companies. It’s the economics of the way men and women shop, consume and behave.

Historically, teenage boys have paid more in car insurance than teenage girls. I haven’t dealt with this fact in quite a while, but if I remember right, boys are more likely to be involved in life-threatening or fatal accidents than girls. Because of that, they were a bigger risk to the insurance agency, so they were charged more.

Likewise, women pay for more health insurance because we are stereotypically more expensive to insure. We visit the doctor more. Even if the plan isn’t covering maternity care, women still have regular visits to the gynecologist and post-childbirth complications. On average, we spend more time around kids, so we probably pick up more viruses. Insuring a woman is a higher risk to the insurance agency, so they carge a hirer premium. Whether we like that fact or not, it’s pretty basic business principles at practice here.

And when it comes to products like razors, that cost more simply because they have glitter thrown in the molded plastic, companies are only charging more because women are willing to pay more. Prices aren’t set based on how much an executive respects or cares about women. Prices are set based on what the customer is willing to spend. Females are willing to spend more on hygiene products and personal appearance products. Therefore, companies charge more.

I am not saying that sexism, misogyny and gender bias don’t exist out there in the world. They do. And they are serious issues that we should all be concerned about. But this “tax on women”? It seems to be just an economic response to the women consume and behave. Maybe we should focus our energies on more important battles.

(Photo: The Feminist Wire)

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[TheGloss] Video: Karl Lagerfeld Made A Music Video With Snoop Dogg, Is A ‘Schwarzenegger Of The Brain’

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:49:43 +0000

Just when you think you know The Kaiser, he turns around and surprises you with something even more resplendently ridiculous than anything he’s ever done before.

In the music video for French pop star Jean Roch‘s song “Saint-Tropez” (featuring Snoop Dogg!), Karl Lagerfeld has a small but stirring cameo, kicking things off with a ringing endorsement of the luxury vacation spot. Surrounded by fluffy clouds, the singer asks the godlike designer (dressed in white, naturally) “is it paradise?” “You were never told that Saint-Tropez is paradise?” he replies sagely, at which point the Doggfather kicks things off in earnest.

While I am getting a little bit worried that Snoop Dogg is just saying yes to everything he’s offered these days (cf. Katy Perry), he’s never met a video he can’t imbue with greatness, and this one is no exception. Even if it does remind me a little bit of that 30 Rock Countess LuAnn parody “La Piscine”:

In other Lagerfeldian news, he told The Telegraph that he reads lots of books to keep his brain in shape, saying “I am a brain-bodybuilder. Schwarzenegger of the brain.” Clearly, he used up his last shred of humility apologizing to Adele.

(Via Fashionista)

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[TheGloss] Let’s Rank Johnny Depp’s Costumes

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:38:08 +0000

But first, a word about Dark Shadows.

People seem very indignant about the movie. I heard on fellow remark that “this was our thing, and Tim Burton wasn’t allowed to take it away from us!”

Really? You were around in 1966?

Fortunately, I was!

Dark Shadows was a terrible show. I mean, it was campy and hilarious, but it was on at 4:00 in the afternoon and its prime market was schoolchildren. It was famous largely because budgetary constraints meant actors had to do everything in one take, so they periodically forget other characters names. And it was nicknamed “mike shadows” because of the number of times you see the boom mike being lowered in front of people.

It wasn’t a sacred relic. The new movie is pretty funny, and Eva Green looks absolutely smashing in a red sequined dress. It’s fine.

Now.

Let’s rank all of Johnny Depps costumes in every move.

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[TheGloss] Bill Murray Dressed Like A Crazy Clown At Cannes

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:30:08 +0000

The Cannes film festival is underway and the cast of Moonrise Kingdom is out promoting it in the French sunshine (not the other sunshines). Moreover, mythical figure himself Bill Murray rolled up to the photocall dressed like, well, a fashion blogger. He mixed so many prints! Three prints! That’s more than BryanBoy and the others ones when they’re trying to get the attention of street style photographers.

…Only it’s a lot less annoying when Bill Murray does it. The actor topped off his clashing plaids with a patchwork blazer and Ray-Ban Wayfarers. Here is beside costar and beautiful lady Tilda Swinton (in Haider Ackermann):

Scale of 1 to 10, do you care about Cannes (1o being you are in Cannes)?

Photos via Getty

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[Mommyish] Help For Moms: UK Assigns Midwife To Every Pregnant Woman

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:26:35 +0000

Here in North America, many moms I know have hired a midwife or doula for the same reason – many find doctors to be too clinical or simply too busy to give them the attention they crave – and so they’re dishing out thousands of dollars to have someone support them through labor and delivery (and everything that follows).

Under the UK’s new health plan, women would receive greater support overall (including antenatal care). As for postnatal care, the midwives will be given specific training to help them identify women at risk for depression.

The midwives will be given additional specific training to help them identity women at risk for depression and other postpartum mood disorders. “No woman should have to cope with postnatal depression without help and support,” said Health Secretary Andrew Lansley. “The changes we are putting in place today will mean that the NHS is providing even more support to women who have this serious condition.”

It’s amazing to see women receiving so much support, and it’s amazing to see a government making it a priority. Last year, the Daily Mail reported that 49% of mothers (roughly 35,000 a year) do not seek treatment for depression. In many instances, it’s because many new moms either underplayed their symptoms or because they’re worried about social services getting involved and removing their children.

Hopefully this new midwife plan will help combat some of these cases and offer women the support they so badly need – and deserve.

(Photo: Dirk Ott/Shutterstock)

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[TheGloss] Dear God, Tyra Banks Made Up Another Word

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:18:59 +0000

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Tyra Banks is an odd duck. Have you seen ANTM? She’s always showing up in weird costumes and doing random skits. You can often see the discomfort on contestants’ faces.

And honestly, that’s one of the things I love about Tyra; she really doesn’t give a fuck what anyone thinks of her (or, she has no idea what a special unicorn she really is).

Anyway, as part of the delightful freak show that she calls a modeling competition, Banks made up the word “smize,” which means “smile with your eyes.” And now, in an article for The Daily Beast in which she comments on how happy she is about Vogue’s new no-sickly-looking-models policy, Banks made up another term: flawsome. She writes:

I’ve been using the word “flawsome” a lot. It’s you + your flaws + awesome = Flawsome. I have a big forehead, and I got made fun of all time. When I was a little girl, they used to call me “five-head.” I’ve been teased my whole life, but I continue to rock it with pride. Years ago one of my agents told me that my forehead was what got me signed.

Vogue has the power to make and break—whether it’s fashion trends, designers, models, and yes, even industry practices. Their bold stance means that others will follow.

Now it’s up to you. Take your “flaw,” and turn it on its (fore)head. And never forget that you are fabulous, you are fierce, you are flawsome.

It’s so fucking weird that Tyra just randomly makes up words! That’s such a fucking weird thing to do! But you can’t help but love her for it, especially when they’re words like FLAWSOME.

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[Blisstree] Bull$#*t Study Says 20% ‘Fat Tax’ Would Curb Obesity

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:16:27 +0000

A new study says a 20% ‘fat tax‘—on ‘unhealthy foods’ and sugary drinks—would help curb obesity by substituting for the lack of self control that has clearly led to obesity (wink wink). Published in British Medical Journal, the study aggregated data from several countries measuring the effectiveness of food taxes, and found that they can have a positive impact on public health…if they’re significant enough to really make our wallets hurt. There’s so many things wrong with this, I don’t know where to begin. So I’ll just throw out the biggest issues that come to mind:

First, the phrasing: The concept of a “soda tax” isn’t inherently offensive, but calling it a “fat tax” makes it sound a lot like legislated discrimination. I’m all for correcting a food system that makes junk food artificially cheap, but framing it in terms of hitting fat people with financial penalties doesn’t address those problems—it just lends further credence to the myth that fat people are fat because they have an uncontrollable appetite for Twinkies and Coke.

But Twinkies and Coke are only half the problem; making them expensive might deter customers, but it won’t make vegetables cheap. It also won’t make it easier for people in food deserts to access fresh food, and it won’t teach people how to make healthy meals. And what’s really horrifying is that, for people who can literally barely afford to feed their families junk food from the 99-cent store, raising prices on even bad-for-you foods would mean that they basically don’t get to eat enough. So not only would they be malnourished; they’d literally be starving.

There are plenty of other logistical issues, like how we would define “unhealthy” foods, and how difficult it would be to implement. But what’s most frustrating to me about the whole idea of a ‘fat tax’ is that it completely overlooks the fact that those foods are cheap to begin with because of food subsidies.

If you’re not familiar with food subsidies, the basic concept is that the government gives money to certain agricultural industries in order to supplement their income, thereby influencing the cost and supply of certain commodities. In the U.S., the meat and dairy industries get huge boosts from the government, as do corn farmers—which is part of why things like Twinkies, Coke, and cheeseburgers are so damn cheap. Here’s a quick visual, courtesy of Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine:

Lead researcher Oliver Mytton said of the 30 or so international surveys they observed, most situations pointed to the success of taxes on unhealthy food:

Economists generally agree that government intervention, including taxation, is justified when the market fails to provide the optimum amount of a good for society’s well-being. [This] include[s] a failure to appreciate the true association between diet and disease, time inconsistency (preference for short-term gratification over long-term well-being), and not bearing the full health and social costs of consumption.

But, at least in the U.S., the market isn’t “failing’ to provide the optimum amount for society’s good; the government is failing to subsidize the optimum foods for our health. Layering taxes on top of already-dysfunctional production and pricing wouldn’t help make healthy food affordable or accessible; if we can make that happen (and, you know, frame the discussion around real health concerns instead of fat-shaming), I think we won’t even need to debate how to tax junk food.

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[TheGrindstone] Jennifer Lopez And 6 Other Women Rule The Forbes ‘Celebrity 100′ List

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:10:55 +0000

Forbes put out what feels like its 87th list this month with the release of the Forbes Celebrity 100 list. Jennifer Lopez, with her $52 million in earnings in the last year and omnipresent-like quality, topped the list. Six other women including Oprah, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga managed to nab spots in the top 10. According to the Washington Post, this female heavy top tier shows the importance of “us ladies in the whole being-famous-and-generating-money business, the sort of significant thing that studio moguls should probably pay attention to.”

Jennifer Lopez managed to top the list despite the fact that she doesn’t rank in the top spot on any of the individual metrics used to determine the list. It is her strong and widely appealing brand that has landed her on the top of this list. There is nobody who uses her fame more strategically than Jennifer Lopez.

The list measures power based on his or her earnings for the period between May of last year and May of this year plus data related to the amount of press generated, number of online mentions and influence on social media. Though she is a judge for American Idol and has a clothing line (with Kohl’s), a fragrance (her 18th), and a deal with Fiat (she occasionally still does movies as well), it was probably the press coverage of her divorce that put her over the edge. Her social media following is also significant with 6.6 million followers on Twitter and 12 million fans on Facebook. “She appeals to such a wide demographic, almost every age range,” Stacy Jones, chief executive of entertainment marketing agency Hollywood Branded, told Forbes. Her wide demographic includes Latinas, working women and mothers. “There aren’t any more legs to add to it.”

Lopez even managed to beat out Justin Bieber who took spot number two (but he did nab the cover of the magazine.) He earned more than her and is a budding venture capitalist apparently but J.Lo still dominated. The last year was considered a comeback for the actress/singer/dancer/designer as it was only two years ago that she had two failed albums, four box office disasters (oh Gigli) and two failed clothing lines.

Her move to television with American Idol was considered a last desperate resort and a career risk, but it worked. Forbes writer Hannah Elliott wrote, “Viewers who knew only an attention-grabbing siren met a hardworking, self-made, empathetic single mother, who got emotional when contestants did well and when they failed.” A lot of this comeback was due to getting back together with her manager Benny Medina, who was the architect of this comeback. The magazine estimates that Lopez will earn $13 million from her upcoming tour and she can add that to her new $20 million American Idol salary.

Press coverage as well as many businesses is also what landed Kim Kardashian the number seven spot (she earned $18 million in the last year.) Lady Gaga got knocked off the top spot by Lopez, after she had a slightly quiet year compared to 2010. Oprah took second even though her $165 million was considered a pretty poor year for the media mogul.

First time ladies on the list included Zooey Deschanel and music sensation Adele.

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[Crushable] The Daily WTF: Man Stages Real Life Simpsons Episode, Protests Getting Cut Off At All-U-Can-Eat Seafood Restaurant

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:58:50 +0000

We did it, America! And by “it,” I mean “re-enact that Simpsons episode where Homer gets cut off at the all-u-can-eat seafood buffet.”

In events eerily similar to the plot of that TV show, a Wisconsin man has decided to protest a local restaurant for cutting off his fried fish intake at what was advertised as an “all-u-can-eat” fish fry. Bill Wisth was just minding his business ordering his 13th piece of fish at Chuck’s Place when disaster struck: they told him he couldn’t have any more. Because they were “running out of fish for other patrons.” Also, because they are motherless Nazis.

They let him take eight pieces of fish home with him, but Bill Wisth was still hungry, dammit. He then proceeded to call the police on the restaurant (at which he has a running tab), alleging false advertising, which is not an arrestable offense, but aaaw. When that didn’t work, he made the saddest looking picket sign ever and took his story to the media.

While I have some sympathy for the restaurant, which has been terrorized by Bill for years, it’s also clear they were tempting fate by offering up an “all u can eat” night and expecting him not to show up and eat them out of house and home. A deal’s a deal, people. Give a man all-u-can-eat fish, and he eats for a lifetime.

(Via Best Week Ever)

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[Crushable] New Four-Minute Trailer For The Amazing Spider-Man Released, And All We Can Say Is Yes, Yes Please

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:55:11 +0000

Did you watch America’s Got Talent earlier this week? If not, check out what you missed — a new four-minute trailer for the upcoming movie The Amazing Spider-Man, starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

There’s a whole new scene where Spider-Man rescues a kid from a burning car hanging off a bridge by spider-string (oh man, that happens to my car all the time) that I don’t think has been released before. The kid is super scared so Spidey gives him his mask and tells him it’ll make him strong. Did my eyes tear up? They may have teared up.

It looks like parts of the story we haven’t seen in previous movies, with a lot of human moments of weakness and humor, which I think is a great direction for the franchise to go in. Annnd even if you’re not a comic book nerd, why not go just to watch Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield meet and fall in love and become the adorable couple that we know them as today: Emmandrew Garfstone? Andra Starfield?

…I’ll work on it.

In the mean time, you watch the trailer a few times. I highly recommend the witty banter with the car-thief; it’s delicious.

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[Mommyish] Jason Biggs And His Wife Recreate The Time Breastfeeding Cover

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:51:21 +0000

By now, I’m sure you’ve seen some of the humorous Photoshops dedicated to mocking Time’s troll-tastic Are You Mom Enough? breastfeeding cover. Well, now Jason Biggs and his funny writer/actress wife Jenny Mollen have taken it a step further and re-enacted it IRL. More »

Post from: Mommyish

[TheGrindstone] Are Infographic Resumes The New Norm?

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:40:05 +0000

Last week we discussed Pinterest resumes (or Pinteresumes) and whether or not they will replace LinkedIn as the digital resume of choice for creatives. But Pinteresumes are not the only player on the graphic resume block: And, more importantly, do hiring managers view infographic resumes as acceptable and competitive alternatives to traditional resumes?

Simply put, an infographic resume lays out the data and information from a resume in a creative, visual way. Since there’s no common standard for layout, they can be as creative, playful and unique as possible. They can incorporate colors, timelines, graphic or numeric representations of skills, maps, charts, graphs, or anything else.

This is obviously a fantastic idea for graphic designers and other creative professionals for whom streamlined, clever, creative design can be a huge help in getting a job. And journalism student Chris Spurlock made headlines last year when his infographic resume got him a job with the Huffington Post as HuffPo’s Infographic Design Editor. But could it have gotten Chris a more mainstream job, or any job not involving infographics?

Eugene Woo, the founder of infographic resume company Vizualize.me, thinks so. He told Business Insider that traditional resumes are becoming increasingly obsolete since there’s so much information regarding a candidate online on LinkedIn and other social media. He said that recruiters often defer to that information in any case.

“‘I’ve done hiring for quite a lot of companies, including many senior leadership roles — for GE, and my other startups,” Woo explained. “And very often I also do hiring for my friends who own companies. If I’m hiring for someone with a technical background, I’ll scan the resume for it. Then look for more information outside the resume. I’d Google the candidate, I’d look at their Facebook, Twitter, read their blogs, get a sense of who the person is. Humanize the name on the piece of paper.”

Woo claims that infographic resumes streamline that process for recruiters who don’t have the time to give a thorough read through of hundreds of resumes for each job.

“The advantage of the infographic resume is that you can summarize everything in five seconds. It’s nice to look at. There’s also the potential for employers to pay more attention and more time with your resume. But on the flip side, it also helps them eliminate candidates more quickly. For example, if they want someone with 10 years of experience, and it’s easy to see [via the timeline] that the candidate has only had 5 years, they can dismiss you pretty quickly. The employer doesn’t have to calculate the years. In that way, this resume helps with pre-screening.”

Infographic resumes are a great idea, and we know people love to look at graphics. But traditional HR departments and hiring managers in traditional fields like finance, medicine, law, and accounting may not be as open to resumes that diverge so much from their established norms.

“Traditional employers may be reluctant to accept infographics as ‘the new normal’ in hiring,” Mona Abdel-Halim, co-founder of online resume tool creator Resunate, told HP’s Input Output blog. “You risk alienating the very audience you are hoping to win over.”

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[Mommyish] France’s New First Lady Isn’t Married To The President — And France Doesn’t Care

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:36:04 +0000

Carla Bruni may have made a very photogenic French First Lady, but the country has bid Bonjour! to a new one with the win of François Hollande. The “unglamorous leftist,” to quote The New York Times, seems to be quite the contrast to Nicolas Sarkozy’s flashy ways. But aside from the differences in political affiliation, Hollande isn’t legally married to his long-time partner Valérie Trierweiler, meaning that France has welcomed its first unmarried presidential couple.

The Times suggests that the acceptance of Valérie, and her partner for that matter, reveals that France’s attitudes towards family are changing, along with much of Europe. And perhaps you didn’t even need the twice divorced Sarkozy or his model/singer First Lady to put your finger on that one. Valérie isn’t reportedly looking to loaf about the Élysée Palace sitting for photo opportunities when need be either. The new First Lady is an accomplished journalist of 20 years, also twice divorced, who doesn’t have any intention of being financially supported by France’s newest president.

In addition to asserting that she was not “raised to serve a husband” in any capacity, Valérie also has three teenage sons whom absolutely tug at her mommy guilty heart strings:

“I’ve shared the fate of many working mothers, I felt guilty like them,” Ms. Trierweiler said. “I took Wednesdays off to see my children and make them crepes.” She said she turned down a posting as a foreign correspondent for Paris Match because “I wanted to stay with them.”

Regardless of how perceptions of family and partnerships ultimately change, leave it to that enduring mommy guilt to remain completely the same.

(photo: sott.net)

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[TheGrindstone] My Husband Has The Summer Off Work. Will He Drive Me Crazy?

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:04:15 +0000

I work from home, and my husband is a college professor. During this most recent school year, our first together as a married couple, we were a pretty normal working pair: We’d have coffee together in the morning, he’d leave home for campus, I’d get to work, and he’d be home in time for dinner. But now school is out, and everything is about to change. Not my work load, which continues unabated. But suddenly my husband is free to do his own writing and reading, and basically hang around the house all day, every day, flaunting his big, fat summer vacation in my loser, year-round-employee face. Argh.

Though I anticipate a bit of resentment as he totes his towel down to the lake at 2 pm on random weekdays, however, I think we’ll make it. Luckily, we like being around each other (phew!). He’s sensitive to my work, takes it seriously, and does extra work around the house when he has the extra time. But I can’t help compare us to, say, my dad and my stepmom, who both had careers as high-school teachers, and therefore got to enjoy the summers off together. Isn’t there a particular cruelty to being a “normal” worker married to someone who gets the summer off?

When I asked around about this, I heard from one woman who feels my pain. Jacquie Burchard is a Montana mom whose works in PR for the financial services industry. Her husband is a stay at home dad.

“During the school year, that’s a great arrangement, and my husband pulls his own weight in terms of housework, errands and other work,” she said. “Not only does he run the kids on their errands, help with homework, etc., but he also does house remodeling work for us.”:

But in the summer, it’s a completely different story, and he doesn’t apologize at all for rarely working. A few years ago, he took our two boys on a six-week vacation. I was able to go on two weeks of that trip and then had to return home to work. Great for them, but wow — it must be NICE to have that amount of free time! They went to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and other places that I’ve never been. Yes, I’m jealous! And he doesn’t necessarily pick up more of the housework or any other extra duties during the summer.

This year, he’s thinking of a four-week travel vacation that includes a visit to his parents’ house. He says that it’s not really all vacation because his father is in poor health and so it means helping his parents around their house a little. One week of that four-week trip will include a few days at my family’s reunion on the Oregon coast. But the rest is just pure fun for him & the boys — camping, visiting his family, and traveling around. He also is talking about taking two weeks during the Christmas holidays to visit his family in Colorado. Which means that I’ll get to see our kids for just a few days right around Christmas and they’ll be gone the rest of the time. Plus they’ll be out having all sorts of fun while I’m working.

After these vacation periods, I’ll often find out that they’ve attended movies that I want to see or done other activities that I’d love to do … but don’t have the time for. In addition, summertime often means extra bike rides for him and the kids, extra time at our cabin and other great adventures … while I’m working.

Chilling! Perhaps I and other working women whose husbands have the summers off should consider this a warning. Awesome work schedules aren’t always awesome for everyone in the family.

Photo: Kurhan / Shutterstock.com

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[Crushable] Mindy Kaling Cried In The Airport When She Found Out Her Show Had Been Picked Up

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:00:18 +0000

How do I love Mindy Kaling? I’d count the ways, but I don’t have time right now, so I will focus on one particular way. She reacts to her superhuman accomplishments the same way any regular person would: by bursting into tears while attempting to board a plane.

Mindy kept a diary for Vulture during Fox’s “upfronts,” the shadowy proceedings that decide which shows get picked up for the upcoming season. When she heard the good news, she was in the airport waiting to board a plane to fly back to New York from her parents’ house in Boston, and this happened:

7:15 p.m.
At Logan Aiport, and as my flight is boarding, [Fox's] Kevin Reilly calls. It is good news. I immediately burst into tears. The people at the terminal counter think my boyfriend has just broken up with me over the phone, but I don’t care. I love Kevin so much.

7:20 p.m.
Call my Dad. I start crying again. The airline people at the gate now think I am going through something super awful. The plane really needs me to board now.

I love it that we’ve come to a point in our pop cultural evolution where “girly” is not synonymous with “weak” or “stupid;” Mindy Kaling can admit to crying in the airport over her kick ass accomplishments before going out to kick yet more ass. In fact, I’d argue much of her strength actually comes from this vulnerability. It’s hard to write human characters if you forget what it’s like to be human, and part of Mindy’s appeal lies in the fact that she’s able to capture the weirdness and awkwardness of everyday life, even as she’s writing for larger-than-life TV shows.

I also love it that she enjoys watching Chris Evans movies and attempts to celebrate her victory with an Egg McMuffin. Really, the whole thing is pretty great and worth reading.

(Via Vulture)

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[Crushable] Oh, To Be A Wee Swaddled Bebe In Chris Hemsworth’s ManHands

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:48:47 +0000

I don’t know what you personally were doing on May 11th, 2012, but India Rose Hemsworth was busy becoming the new luckiest person in the world, as she was born to Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky and now gets to ride around in Chris’ hands like an adorably swaddled football.

The new family is wandering around London today generally being charming and pausing every so often so that Chris can be photographed staring with adoration at his new baby girl.

How come you never look at me like that anymore, Chris? I really thought we had something. Sigh. Everything’s just really confusing right now; so many sensations. My body feels so warm and tingly and…

…jealous-y.

(Images: socialitelife.com)

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[Crushable] Meet Chloe Moretz, Your New Favorite Fashion Zombie

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:47:51 +0000

(Image: Flaunt Magazine)

Fifteen-year old Chloe Moretz has a new interview and photo-shoot out with Flaunt Magazine, which I read was advertised as some of her ‘most mature’ work yet. To be honest, that ‘mature’ word definitely sets off some warning bells in my head, as its usually a euphemism for younger actresses getting over-sexualized way too early, and I don’t want that for Chloe.

And hurray! I got my wish! After looking through them, there’s nothing remotely sexual about her new photos for Flaunt. But there’s nothing remotely…cheerful about them, either. I don’t know if it was a stylist recommendation, or Chloe’s own choice, but she isn’t smiling in a single picture. She’s got the ‘zombie-chic’ look completely nailed,which is great for Kate Moss, but slightly off-putting for someone the age of a high-school sophomore.

Granted, I’d much rather have this joyless grayblahmishmash than the Miley Cyrus half-nude poses for that Vanity Fair photo-shoot back in 2008 (when Miley was also fifteen)…but Chloe’s so cute when she’s smiling! It makes her seem so normal and happy! Look at these pictures from her appearance on The Late Show:

(Image: CBS.com)

She’s so adorable! Smile, Chloe! We like that you’re fifteen! We don’t want you to turn into an over-stressed, moody, gross adult like the rest of us! To be fair, Chloe does seem like she has a pretty good grasp on her own youth and what that means to her. Apparently she’s been putting off offers to do a fashion campgain, saying:

‘I’m not doing campaigns yet. I want to wait a couple years, because I think if I do it right now, where am I going to go when I’m 20 and I’ve already done two campaigns or something? You know, I figure, why do everything so young and so fast? I’m only 15. Why rush everything? I’m saving a lot of stuff for later. A fashion campaign will come in due time.’

Good for you, Chloe. I’ve probably been worrying about you unnecessarily, because that’s way more sensible than I was at your age. So yeah, keep listening to your own advice, and maybe just take our advice and smile a little more. You’ll thank us when you’re older.

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[Blisstree] Study: Corn Syrup Is Hurting Your Brain

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:46:26 +0000

A sugary diet won’t just put on pounds, it could also slow down your brain. A new study from UCLA researchers shows for the first time how a diet high in high-fructose corn syrup can hamper your ability to learn and remember information. But Omega-3s (which are pretty much goddamn magic, right?) can help counteract the effects of too much fructose, the authors say.

The study—published this week in the peer-reviewed Journal of Physiology—zeroed in on high-fructose corn syrup in diets, instead of cane sugar. The average American consumes more than 40 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup (in soft drinks, cereals, salad dressings, jelly, bread and more) each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Previous studies have diets high in added sugars can contribute to diabetes, obesity and fatty liver. This is the first to look specifically at how it influences the brain.

Whether corn syrup differs nutritionally from regular sugar is up for debate. The Corn Refiners Association is currently fielding a lawsuit for the right to say your body can’t tell the difference between cane sugar and “corn sugar,” the industry’s preferred term for high fructose corn syrup.

“We’re not talking about naturally occurring fructose in fruits, which also contain important antioxidants,” explained study co-author Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of neurosurgery and integrative biology and physiology at UCLA.

“We’re concerned about high-fructose corn syrup that is added to manufactured food products as a sweetener and preservative.”

The study was conducted on rats, who drank a fructose solution instead of drinking water for six weeks. One group also received omega-3 fatty acids in the form of flaxseed oil and DHA, which protects against damage to the brain’s synapses (the chemical connections between brain cells that enable memory and learning). Our bodies can’t produce enough DHA, so it must be supplemented through our diet, Gomez-Pinilla said.

At the end of the study, the rats who were not given omega-3 fatty acids were slower, had poorer memory and had brains that showed a decline in synaptic activity. The omega-3-deprived rats also developed signs of insulin resistance, which could be a precursor to type 2 diabetes. One of the initial signs of insulin resistance is fatigue, short attention span and brain fogginess.

“Insulin is important in the body for controlling blood sugar, but it may play a different role in the brain, where insulin appears to disturb memory and learning,” said Gomez-Pinilla. “Our study shows that a high-fructose diet harms the brain as well as the body.”

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[TheGrindstone] ‘I Was Sent Home From Work Because Of My Outfit’

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:52 +0000

Kelly: Dammit, Meredith, where are your panties?
Meredith: It’s casual Friday. Happy?- The Office

Dress codes in the office have changed a lot over the years. Historians say it was in the 1960s that the rules for what to wear began to disintegrate. But there are still some employers that are very set in their ways and always expect a certain uniform in the workplace which not everyone is aware of or wants to believe, especially when it is 85 degrees outside. Can you imagine being sent home from work on a hot summer day because you weren’t wearing pantyhose? Well, this has actually happened. We talked to some people who were sent from work because of their outfit.

What is appropriate in an office has changed a lot since those glamorous Mad Men days. The concept of business casual didn’t really exist back then. There was dressed for work and then dressing for work if you worked in a lumber yard. There are still some industries (law, finance) that are very strict and old-fashioned requiring suits for men and nylons with skirts for women with no open-toed shoes.

Violations of those dress codes are clear. The problems seem to start with the more laid back, lenient dress codes. Casual Fridays can be a real mind field for some people. That episode of The Office where Meredith wore a bathing suit because it was casual Friday comes to mind. “There’s a difference between casual and sloppy,” says Sally Morrison, associate manager of Career Partners 3, a job search and career coaching firm. “It’s surprising to me what some people think is appropriate. “I think that when you allow casual dress, some people start to be more casual in the way they approach their work,” says Morrison. “I’m not saying people have to keep their jackets on all day long, but there’s a level of professionalism that comes with wearing the appropriate attire. It garners more respect. If you are dealing with clients, I think this is very important.”

Here are some real stories of dress code confusion resulting in employees being sent home.

The Skort Incident

Samantha Villegas, President of SaVi PRI, told The Grindstone about being sent home from her first job.

“It was 1993 and I was 23 working at a boutique PR agency. I was wearing a plaid skort and a sweater with socks and healed loafers (I know, but they were very “in” at the time). I thought it was okay because it was all very tailored and neat, and I was not planning to see any clients (we worked in a small, seven-person office of all women). The skort was pleated and reached mid-thigh like a mini. At the time, I weighed about 125 pounds (at 5’2″) and was very fit. My boss, a woman, sent me home. She thought the skort was too short. I was mortified, and cried the whole way home and back. I seriously considered not returning to work but I did. That episode stuck with me my whole career. Ever since I have been very traditional and very conservative in the way I dress for work and I find myself critical of other women who border on the sexy or too casual.”

That awkward thing called pregnancy

Ora Shtull, Executive Coach and author of the soon-to-be-released The Glass Elevator: A Guide to Leadership Presence for Women on the Rise told The Grindstone:

“My first job (many years back, in the early 90s) right out of business school was at a cosmetics company that valued fashionable attire. I attended a corporate conference in Arizona in the early stages of pregnancy. I was at that awkward stage when I no longer could fit into my chic suits but was far from ready for maternity clothes. I showed up at the first event in an A-line jean dress with large colorful buttons, which was actually fashionable at the time. My male boss took one look at me and said, “Can you please go change your clothes?” But, I simply couldn’t! Needless to say, things went downhill from there.”

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[Blisstree] Gendered Pricing: The Irritating Reason Women More For The Same Products

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:12:34 +0000

When I was a broke college student, I discovered a giant, money-saving secret in the aisles of Walgreens: gendered pricing. Women’s beauty products, like deodorant and razors, simply cost more than their identical, marketed-for-men counterparts. And according to Forbes and Marie Claire, this isn’t just a small marketing anomaly, in which manufacturers bank on a few extra pennies from the ladies–artificially inflated prices can cost females and female-identified individuals well over $1,000 per year in beauty products and health insurance.

You may recall an article on Blisstree a few months ago, in which Elizabeth deconstructed the model of gendered pricing within health insurance–a sad, upsetting practice in which preventative healthcare measures for women are priced higher than those of men for, it seems, no reason. That practice is slowly, state-by-state, being stopped by the Affordable Care Act…but what about every other way women are gouged, like at the drugstore, where formulas and construction (think shampoo or razors) across genders are similar or identical? Does it really cost more to make stuff for women?

First, let’s compare the ingredients in a men’s deodorant to a women’s, just to see if the formulas really are “totally different” like one source told Forbes. Here are the ingredients for Dove’s Men+Care Clean Comfort Deodorant/Antiperspirant:

Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex GLY, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Steareth-100, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, BHT

And here’s the ingredient list for Dove’s Go Sleeveless Beauty Finish Deodorant:

Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex GLY, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-8, Fragrance (Parfum), Dimethicone, Silica, Polyethylene, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Steareth-100, BHT

When purchased online, they’re about the same price–around $5. When purchased in a store in my neighborhood, the women’s version was a good $1 more expensive. The women’s stick was also substantially smaller. So what gives?

One factor that Forbes points out is that the cost of importing women’s products tends to be higher, because tariff laws are weird and old and controlled by huge market forces and lobbyists. But that’s only part of the problem–if razor blades or ingredients are shipped independently and assembled in US factories, that doesn’t really apply.

What is really at play, it seems, is that manufacturers of health and beauty products know that they can get women to spend more on personal care items, and that by playing to women’s insecurities, they can also hawk more and different products. This is from an actual Datamonitor market research document:

…The increasing image consciousness of many women creates premiumization opportunities for manufacturers and retailers even during a recession

Yup. Making us more self-conscious gets us to pay more money for products.

Additionally, store placement is a big part of the equation. By keeping men’s and women’s products separated, vendors are able to thwart comparison shoppers. Few women actually go check to see what the men’s (or generic, non-gendered) razors, shampoo, or other products cost, and thus, they may not realize how much more they’re really spending for something that’s basically the same, but marketed toward them.

What can you do to save money on beauty products? First, you can consider–hear me out–actually spending a little more, by shopping for sustainable, responsible products. National chains like The Body Shop, which offer more eco-friendly (and way less gender-marketed), or artisan, local vendors may charge more, but it’s not because they’re gouging you–it’s because you’re getting a better product with less ooky stuff in it.

Or, if you’re really looking to pinch pennies, consider doing what I did in college (and still do): look for the products that are the least gendered. Take a stroll to the men’s section to check out the wares, and look for deodorants and other personal care items that seem less targeted toward women. Then compare price–items in yellow, green, blue or other more gender-neutral colors (one market study showed that women don’t actually prefer the color pink–it’s just that buy pink items because they’re in front of them) will likely be lower in price.

You can also, as Marie Claire recommends, reach out to your congressperson or representative and ask that gendered pricing, which is pointless except to make money for manufacturers, be curbed once and for all.

Image via Dove

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[Blisstree] Mattresses Might Improve Your Sleep; They’ll Probably Ruin Your Sex Life

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:20:14 +0000

Which would you rather have: good sleep or good sex? This is the dilemma that many couples are facing when it comes time to buy a new mattress. It seems that sales of those super-plush mattresses are on the rise, and with good reason–we sleep better on them. But, according to a recent Barron’s report, they also have a serious downside–bad sex.

New York sex therapist Sari Eckler explained it best to Barron’s:

There’s a lack of resistance for the knees and feet. And whoever is on the bottom is sinking into the bed.

Or, as an owner of one of these plush mattresses wrote on an Internet message board:

It’s like trying to do it in quicksand.

Ah, point taken.

The type of mattresses, in particular, that are the culprit for bad sex are memory-foam mattresses. And regardless of what happens–or doesn’t happen on them, they continue to be the fastest-growing segment of mattresses out there. In fact, their market share has gone from 14% to almost 20% in the past eight years.

Meaning, those of us in the market for a new mattress value sleep over sex. Or at least sex under the sheets. But who can blame us? Insomnia sucks, and roughly 60 million Americans suffer from it.

As Gayle Greene, author of Insomniac, explained to NPR, few people realize just how debilitating sleep deprivation can be:

Sleep is the fuel of life. It’s nourishing; it’s restorative. And when you are deprived of it, you are really deprived of a basic kind of sustenance.

She went on to explain that people who suffer from insomnia or any sleep disruptions will do whatever it takes to keep it away:

I don’t manage this beast. I live with it. I live around it. I bed down with it every night, gingerly, cautiously, careful not to provoke it. I do my best to placate it, domesticate it, dull its claws, avoid its fangs, knowing that at any moment it can pounce on me and tear me to bits.

And for many of us, that means choosing a plush mattress. Even if that means sex needs to take place elsewhere. Kitchen table, anyone?

Photo: shutterstock.com

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[TheGrindstone] This Is Why Your Boss Doesn’t Trust You

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:04:36 +0000

In yesterday’s Co-Worker Conundrum, we examined a common complaint in the office. We’ll call it the “I’ll just take care of it myself” situation. Plenty of employees get frustrated because they would like to help their boss or their team, but no one takes the time to discuss what’s needed. There’s a lack of trust between the employee and their supervisors and it creates a ton of office tension.

Personally, I advocated that an employee should try to find one task of medium-level importance and focus on doing that task extremely well. Then they can continue to add jobs in this matter and gain responsibility. Don’t go after the jobs that are the most fun or that will earn the most praise. Just aim to demonstrate your capability. Then, you can start working on team projects and continue to build a reputation for dependability. Basically, work your tail off to earn your boss’s trust.

One manager says that while my advice made sense and could be helpful, I may have jumped the gun. A reader of The Grindstone wrote me an email with the subject line, “This Is Why Your Boss Doesn’t Trust You.” Well, not me personally, but the general working “you” out there.

This small business owner says that instead of immediately assuming that the boss is simply mean or micromanaging, employees need to look at their own actions and figure out why a supervisor might not be giving them more work.

“Listen, most managers are happy to have someone take responsibility for a project. We would gladly delegate the work and focus on other important jobs. So if your manager isn’t giving you anything to do, you probably need to take a look at yourself and figure out why.

Do you already have tasks that you’re ignoring because they aren’t fun or exciting? Have you completed all the training necessary to do the jobs? Have you offended a customer or co-worker who now doesn’t want to work with you? There’s almost always a reason that we aren’t asking you to do more. There’s a reason that your manager doesn’t trust you. And you should probably figure out what it is before you go on this mission to ‘prove yourself.’

I get really tired of employees complaining that they want more responsibility when they haven’t completed something I gave them weeks ago. And if your last two projects were handed in late or are running behind schedule, of course I’m not going to give you any more to do. A good manager utilizes their resources. I promise there’s a reason that someone isn’t giving you anything to do.”

Our reader brings up a really good point that plenty of us don’t like to admit. Sure, not every manager is the best, most logical person on the face of the earth. But most of them have goals to meet and are will use the tools in front of them to do so. If your boss doesn’t see you as a tool, you need to figure out why.

It is possible that you simply haven’t had time to prove yourself in a new position. Anytime you have a new supervisor, there’s going to be a learning curve. And you shouldn’t walk in to a new department expecting to get the same amount of work as everyone else. Your bosses are still trying to gage your abilities.

Also, if you haven’t completed previous assignments in a timely and satisfactory manner, no boss in their right mind wants to trust you with more. They want you to focus on the small things until they’re perfect before they more on to bigger tasks.

The most important lesson we might have learned here is that you really need to look at the situation from both sides to see the actual solution. You need to look at how an employee deals with a certain treatment, but you also need to consider why the manager chooses to act the way they do. The best tip might be to put yourself in the boss’s shoes and ask what your motivations would be. At the end of the day, an employee’s job is to make their boss’s job easier. If you aren’t serving that function, you might find yourself a whole lot more bored. Because you might be out of a job.

(Photo: Patrick Breig/Shutterstock)

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[Mommyish] STFU Parents: Why Parents’ Spelling Mahtters On Facebook

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:58:15 +0000

If there’s one thing that makes me laugh while weeping for future generations, it’s poor spelling and grammar on social media. I know it’s petty to laugh since some people don’t know the basic rules, but because I grew up with an English teacher for a mother, I find that it’s nearly impossible not to. The errors practically shout at me when I go through submissions, and over time my “Spelling Matters” folder has become somewhat of a happy place. Whenever I’m feeling low or overwhelmed with work, I take a peek at these submissions and instantly feel better. It’s not that I think good spellers are better than those who aren’t, per se; it’s just that I consider spelling to be such an essential part of the communication process that the typos give me a laugh. One misspelled word can change the meaning of a status update or comment to hilarious effect, and today I wanted to celebrate those mistakes with a round-up of examples.

Of course, there are several reasons people might misspell a word on social media. Their phone might auto correct, they might not have learned English as a first language, or they might just not care about the differences between your and you’re. Some people know the rules of grammar and choose to ignore them out of laziness, and I understand that, but that doesn’t mean I agree with it. That said, the examples today are not “lazy” errors; they’re mistakes made by people who don’t know any better, and that’s why they’re so sadly amusing. I almost want to personally award these people with some kind of anti-spelling bee certificate that says, “Congradulations! Your a winner!” Proper spelling and grammar may not be wholly necessary skills in life, but they sure don’t hurt. Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why I think they matter:

1. Too vs. To

Patsy’s son may be smart, but she’s not making a very convincing case here. Also, I’m pretty sure my cat can search for videos on YouTube. I’m not saying that qualifying intelligence by how a child uses technology is a bad idea, but it probably shouldn’t be the standard.

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[Mommyish] Chaperones Spray ‘Groping’ Teens With Lysol At Worst Prom Ever

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:55:50 +0000

When it comes to teens and prom, few things are shocking. It’s a night of cliches, after all: getting wasted, losing your virginity – that kind of stuff. But now a group of Colorado teenagers is alleging that two mothers – chaperones at their high school prom – sprayed Lysol disinfectant on their faces after they were caught groping (aka dirty dancing). They also claim they were called “sluts” and “whores,” which in my opinion is even worse than the whole Lysol thing (though that’s pretty bad, too). What the hell were these mothers thinking?!

The incident took place at Manitou Springs High School, just outside of Colorado Springs. The mothers, Jennifer Farmer and Hannah Rockey, both 42, told an on-duty police officer that the bumping and grinding was “filthy” and “similar to what you would see on MTV.” (Hi, is 1983 home?) “It’s like they are having sex with their clothes on,” they explained.

As far as I’m concerned, the question isn’t whether or not these teens were being inappropriate. If they were, then yes, they should have been disciplined. But last I checked, spraying someone with Lysol isn’t the most effective way to teach a lesson. And calling girls “sluts” and “whores” is just plain idiotic. Again, what were these women thinking?

Thankfully, one of the students has filed a police report, and an investigation is underway. Of course, there are two sides to every story, and so it’ll be interesting to hear Farmer and Hockey’s side. If they’re charged and convicted, however, they could face fines of up to $750 and up to six months in jail.

Quick, somebody buy the movie rights!

(Photo: lysol.com)

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[Mommyish] ‘I Need Some Place To Put My Angry’: Helping Children Deal With Negative Emotions

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:55:12 +0000

We were driving home from daycare and discussing my daughter’s day. Our provider had warned that Brenna had a rough day. “Her listener needs a little work before she comes back tomorrow,” Annie instructed.

As we made our way home, I tried to get my little one to talk to me about her problems that day. “Were you upset?” I asked. “Tired? Hungry? Grumpy?” I wanted her to think about why she had made poor decisions and what we could do to keep it from happening in the future.

After roughly ten minutes of the silent treatment, she finally acquiesced and started telling me about her issue at Ann’s. “My friends wouldn’t let me be the baby when we played house. I wanted to be the baby because someone else always gets to be the baby and it should’ve been my turn but they said no. So I played all by myself.” The social lives of pre-schoolers, huh?

“I can see why that would make you sad punkin…” I began. “But even when we’re sad, we have to listen to the adult in charge, right?”

“I wasn’t sad,” my daughter broke in. “I was mad. I was angry. It was my turn to be the baby.” We’ve been talking a lot about feelings lately. Obviously, she’s learned the difference between sad and mad.

“But that still doesn’t mean that we can stop listening, Bean. Maybe we need to figure out something that can make you feel better when you’re mad.” This was really our first foray into managing our emotions so don’t judge my approach too harshly.

After a few more minutes of silence from the back seat, my little girl said, “I need some place to put my angry, Momma. Cuz when it’s inside, it’s hard to listen. I need some place to put it.” I cannot lie, I was a little impressed with her amazingly astute observation. There are plenty of adults who never figure out that they need “some place to put their angry.”

At home that night, I dug through our library for children’s books that deal with handling emotions. We sat down to read stories like, Llama Llama Mad At Mama and Mouse Was Mad. The latter selection, by Linda Urban, actually had some great advice that my little one could pick up all on her own. Mouse gets hoppin’ mad, screamin’ mad and rolling on the ground mad. But none of these things help. Finally, he’s so angry that he’s “standing still mad.” He stands there taking deep breaths, until suddenly he realizes that he isn’t mad anymore.

My daughter quickly decided that next time she’s angry, she stood stand as still as possible and take deep breaths until the mad goes away. Once again, plenty of adults could use a little of this advice.

Most importantly for us, our little girl got to come up with her own solution to her problem. I think she’ll be more likely to follow her own advice than to take coping tips for her mother and father. It was at simple as presenting her with examples of handling your frustration and letting her pick the one that worked best.

We didn’t want to tell our daughter that anger isn’t allowed. Of course she’s going to have negative emotions sometimes. But I do want her to be able to process those feelings.

Kids are going to get mad. They’re going to have their own frustrations. And they’re all going to need some place to put their angry. How do you help your kids deal with negative emotions? What coping techniques have worked in your family?

(Photo: MNStudio/Shutterstock)

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[Blisstree] Can We Stop Using ‘Anorexic’ As A Synonym For ‘Thin’?

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:50:09 +0000

A few weeks ago, some pictures surfaced of Miley Cyrus in which the young starlet had clearly lost weight. She wasn’t gaunt or bony, but she had inarguably slimmed down. Rather than simply say that Miley had gotten thinner, though, magazines started running headlines screaming, “IS MILEY ANOREXIC?!” This no doubt doesn’t seem strange. After all, we’re so used to seeing the word “anorexic” slapped across every newly slim celebrity’s photo that it doesn’t register anymore. Even when we know exactly how and why a star is dropping pounds (hi, Anne Hathaway!) we love to wonder whether what she isn’t just dieting, but actually has a legitimate psychological disorder. More »

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[TheGrindstone] Looks Always Come Into Play No Matter Where Women Are On The Career Ladder

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:40:11 +0000

Two women in extremely powerful positions, Rebekah Brooks and Hillary Clinton, have been in the press a lot lately and instead of focusing on the fact that one of these women may have broken a law and the other is the foreign affairs leader for the most powerful country in the world, the press is focusing on their looks. This shows that a woman’s looks are always part of the focus, no matter how far up they are on the career ladder.

Last week there was a ton of attention on Secretary of State’s choice to not wear makeup during a public appearance. The Daily Mail wrote “Make-up free Clinton shows the strain of her busy travel schedule.” Rebekah Brooks, former News International CEO who is on trial for her role in a phone hacking scandal involving a murder, has taken even more of a beating for her rather untamed red, curly hair and her choice of dress. Never mind the murder, let’s talk about that woman’s split ends. One comment was “Rebekah Brooks. We get it. You have lots of curly red hair, but wearing Orphan Annie’s dress to the Leveson hearing? Seriously.” There’s even a Facebook page dedicated to Brooks’ hair, called Rebekah Brook’s hair is so big because it’s full of secrets.

It is no wonder women look in the mirror at least eight times a day, according to a new study. Another recent survey found that women would rather go on a job interview (torture!) than show up to work without makeup. And this isn’t just college graduates at their new job, this is women at the top of their games too. Earlier this year, a female CEO in the investment banking industry admitted she had 10 plastic surgery procedures.

“Whether you’re coming up the career path or at the height of your career like Clinton, we still see women, certainly more than men, judged on appearance not accomplishments,” said Nancy Mellard, general counsel for business services company CBIZ. There are no studies showing that how a man wears his suit will impact whether people think he is smart or not (unless he wears them on his head but in the right context that could be hilarious.) For women there is study after study telling us that if you do not wear the exact perfect amount of makeup, your career may be in danger. Rebekah Brooks is going through a horrible trial right now and her career has been destroyed so maybe she didn’t want to straighten her hair that morning. And because of that she was stoned by the press.

It would be great if we could all adopt Hillary’s attitude of ‘I’m a powerful lady and some days I don’t feel like futzing with my hair and putting my contacts in,” but most of us are not as brave as her. Because, the problem is, it is this focus on our looks that will never help us get into the C-Suite. It takes away from what we really want people to be focusing on. One study sponsored by the Women’s Media Center and She Should Run, a group advocating for more women in public leadership, found that sexist comments about female candidates, including critiques on appearance, lead voters to question how effective they would be.

Photo: Inga Ivanova /Shutterstock.com

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[Mommyish] Morning Feeding: My Big Mom Bag Wasn’t My Kids’ Fault

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:15:13 +0000

I’ve always been a big bag kind of girl even before I had kids (The Stir)

Why TLC’s My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding doesn’t represent the Romani (DoubleX)

Jennifer Garner and Seraphina enjoy a day at the park (Celeb Baby Laundry)

Cupcakes your kids will love (Parents.com)

Kids and sexting: what parents need to know (YourTango)

Eight things we’re starting to understanding about the tanning mom (The Frisky)

What not to wear to Madame Tussauds (The Hairpin)

The science of energy drinks (YouBeauty)

10 things I know now that I’m 30 (HuffPo Women)

Being prepared for a preemie: 13 things I wish I had known (Babble)

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[Mommyish] Rosie Pope’s Advice To Jessica Simpson: Lose The Baby Weight ‘Hard and Fast’

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:11:00 +0000

Pregnant in Heels star Rosie Pope recently offered some advice for new mom Jessica Simpson in an interview with US Weekly, encouraging her to take her time…but not too much More »

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[TheGrindstone] 3 Things You DON’T Want to Do In Your Video Interview

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:37:26 +0000

Video interviewing is going to take recruiting by storm if it hasn’t already, and as a job seeker, you should make sure that you acclimate yourself to this interview style. However, with new technology comes a learning curve for those who use it. Fortunately, video interviewing is a breeze once you know the do’s and don’ts!

As the job seeker, you can be in front of the hiring manager much faster with this interview style so you will want to make sure you set up properly and handle yourself in the best way to stand out among others that are interviewing for the same position.

There is a lot of competition right now so when you get the chance to be interviewed via video, don’t blow it! Know how to ace the video interview by knowing what NOT to do.

1. Your laptop is a piece of junk. Many people use their laptop camera to connect for their video interview. Don’t assume you can try your laptop camera out at the time of the interview. You should always test everything out before you need to use it and give yourself enough time to get it straightened out.

Many online interview companies have some valuable solutions for you to try if you are not set up correctly. It allows the video recording system to recognize various configurations and external webcams.

On top of this, make sure that you are in an area that has the bandwidth to conduct the video interview so you don’t have to deal with a flaky signal. The employer will not be very happy that they took the time to interview you and you didn’t take the time to test out the equipment to make sure it works well.

2. You look like a slovenly mess. One reason that companies are using video interviewing is to see how you present yourself. It offers them things that a phone interview can’t such as non-verbal cues you use in your body language. You should treat this interview the same you would an in-person interview by dressing the part.

The difference between an in person interview and a video interview is that your surroundings represent you as well. If you leave the room behind you looking like a tornado went through it, then you will appear like you are a disorganized mess.

Clean up the entire area around you and set it up in the best way that will convey your personality to the interviewer. Perhaps sit in front of your computer and set it up as an at-home office with a picture of your degree in the background and pictures of you doing the hobbies you love, although choose ones where you are fully clothed, such as golf (not sun bathing!).

3. You failed to realize that the same rules and more apply to video as do in a regular interview. Not only should you dress the part, but you should find ways to stand out while on video just as you do in person.

Know your skills and abilities and if possible demonstrate them. For instance, if you are a web designer and you have your computer handy (aside from the one you’re doing your interview on!), you can give a small demonstration of how you built the framework of a homepage or how you designed some of the images if you have a graphic design background.

Remember that body language and colors have an effect on how your interviewer reacts to you, so make sure to sit with your arms to the side and never cross them or point at the interviewer. Make sure that you dress professionally even in your own home. You don’t want to look like you just stopped skateboarding to do the interview and plan to go right back as soon as you are done.

One last note that I will leave you with is to always look at the camera. That may seem like a given, but when you are nervous, you may look around, or downward, or even just at the computer screen (not the webcam) and it will seem awkward to the person on the other end.

If you can keep these things in mind, you should be well on your way to a successful video interview.

Source: A Hire Calling (http://s.tt/1c0rR)

Picture: Andrey_Popov /Shutterstock.com

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[EveryJoe] Thunder Smash Lakers in Game 1

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:48:28 +0000

The Oklahoma City Thunder versus the Los Angeles Lakers is the series everyone has been waiting for in the Western Conference. However, despite the hype, Game 1 turned out to be a laugher. The Thunder got up early and then destroyed the Lakers by a final score of 119-90.

Russell Westbrook was the player of the game, scoring 27 points, dishing out nine assists and puling down seven rebounds in only 27 minutes of play. He hit 10-of-15 shots from the field and only turned the ball over once.

The big run by the Thunder happened in the third quarter. With OKC already up by 15 points at the half, the Thunder started the quarter with a 15-2 run to end Los Angeles’ hope.

“From then on,” said Westbrook, “it was cruising for us.”

Game 2 will be on Wednesday in Oklahoma City. While the Lakers don’t face a must-win contest quite yet, they definitely need to look sharper than they did in the opening bout.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (Image: TSN.ca)

Post from: EveryJoe

[EveryJoe] Chris Bosh Injury Update – Ab Strain

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:52:36 +0000

The Miami Heat are the favorites to win the NBA championship. However, their chances took a hit when Chris Bosh got injured in Game 1 of the Heat’s series against the Indiana Pacers. Although the Heat were able to win the game, they have lost Bosh to an abdominal strain.

While the team hasn’t given a specific timetable yet, they are saying that Bosh is out indefinitely. If you read between the lines, it sounds like Bosh will miss the rest of this series against the Pacers.

“This season has to be extended for me to play again,” said Bosh. “That’s what’s on my mind.”

Losing Bosh obviously really hurts the Heat. Outside of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, he’s easily the most important cog in their machine. He’s the team’s only high quality bigman and it would be really difficult to win a championship without him.

While Bosh is out, expect Ronny Turiaf to start alongside Udonis Haslem and for Joel Anthony to get more minutes.

Chris Bosh Injury Update (Image: TSN.ca)

Post from: EveryJoe

[EveryJoe] Kobe Drops 43, Lakers Still Lose

Wed, 09 May 2012 17:04:28 +0000

The Los Angeles Lakers were attempting to eliminate the Denver Nuggets in Game 5. However, despite 43 points from Kobe Bryant, the Nuggets were able to survive by beating the Lakers by a final score of 102-99. Denver was led by Andre Miller and JaVale McGee, who both came off the bench.

Miller had 24 points and eight assists on 8-for-11 shooting from the field. McGee added 21 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots on 9-for-12 shooting.

Bryant added six rebounds, five assists and two steals to go along with his 43 points. He shot 14-of-32 from the field and played 43 minutes.

Even with the loss, the Lakers still hold a 3-2 advantage in the series. Game 6 will take place on Thursday in Denver.

Kobe Bryant Can't Beat Nuggets (Image: TSN.ca)

Post from: EveryJoe

[EveryJoe] Josh Hamilton Hits Four Homers

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:25:13 +0000

For only the 16th time in baseball history, a player has hit four home runs in one game. That player was Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers, who did it Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles. All four of Hamilton’s homers were two-run shots.

Said Hamilton after the game: “Obviously it’s, other than being in the World Series, the highlight of my big-league career.”

Hamilton’s home runs came in the first inning, third inning, seventh inning and eighth inning. He also added a double in the fourth inning. For the game, Hamilton was 5-for-5 with four runs and eight RBIs.

On the season, Hamilton leads the American League in batting average (.406), home runs (14) and RBIs (36).

On the back of Hamilton’s heroics, the Rangers defeated the Orioles 10-3. The Rangers are now 20-10 on the season, which is the best record in all of baseball.

Josh Hamilton - Four Home Run (Image: TSN.ca)

Post from: EveryJoe

[EveryJoe] Video: Rajon Rondo Cameraman Fight

Wed, 09 May 2012 03:25:27 +0000

Rajon Rondo and a cameraman got into an altercation after Tuesday night’s game between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. Apparently Rajon Rondo didn’t want to be on camera and went to the cameraman and told him to his face. You can watch the Rajon Rondo cameraman video below to see how it unfolded.

The Celtics ended up losing to the Hawks, with Rondo failing to come through on the final play. The Hawks were up one and Rondo couldn’t get a good look for himself or a teammate and the Celtics were defeated. I’m assuming that’s part of the reason why Rajon Rondo was angry at the cameraman after the game.

Personally, the video is hilarious to me because Rondo is wearing the worst jacket I’ve ever seen. The jacket looks like it’s from the 1980s. Then again, I don’t think anyone wore anything that ugly back then.

Here is the Rajon Rondo Cameraman video:

Post from: EveryJoe

[EveryJoe] Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys Dead at 47

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:58:41 +0000

Adam “MCA” Yauch, one of the founders of the Beastie Boys, has died of cancer at age 47. Yauch had been battling cancer since 2009 when a tumor was found in his salivary gland. The illness kept Yauch from attending the Beastie Boys’ induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in April.

The Beastie Boys with producer Rick Rubin beard (1985) From left: MCA (Adam Yauch), Mike D (Mike Diamond), Ad-Rock (Adam Horovitz)

Yauch co-founded the Beastie Boys with Mike Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) as a punk band back in 1981 but began experimenting with hip hop the following year. They storm into the mainstream music scene in 1986 with Licensed to Ill — the first hip hop album to hit No. 1. The album featured hits like “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)” and “Brass Monkey.”

RIP MCA.

Image: Supplied by WENN

Post from: EveryJoe

[EveryJoe] Mint Julep Margarita

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:28:00 +0000

Tomorrow is the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo — two reasons to party on one day. If you are looking for a cocktail that covers you for both events, the Food Network/Cooking Channel has you covered with the Mint Julep Margarita.

Mint Julep Margarita
This recipe yields one large drink.

Ingredients:

2 limes, each cut into 16 pieces
2 teaspoons superfine sugar
10 fresh mint leaves
2 ounces bourbon
1 ounce orange liqueur
1/4 cup seltzer

Directions:

Place the limes in a cocktail shaker. Sprinkle with the sugar and add the mint leaves. Muddle well, making sure the juice is really extracted from the limes and the sugar dissolves. Add the bourbon and orange liqueur. Add a couple of ice cubes, cover and shake well. Strain. Can be served over ice or straight. Top with seltzer.

Post from: EveryJoe

[EveryJoe] Cinco de Mayo Margaritas

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:18:41 +0000

Are you throwing a big bash for Cinco de Mayo tomorrow? Set up your bar with a variety of margarita recipes. From the classic margarita to the watermelon margarita, your guests will love these refreshing cocktails created with Cointreau.

Classic Margarita

Ingredients:

1 oz Cointreau
2 oz tequila
3/4 oz Fresh lime juice

Directions: Shake and strain into a salt rimmed margarita glass

Garnish: Lime slice

Glass: Margarita glass

The Cointreau MargaDita

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Cointreau
1.5 oz Silver Tequila
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz Monin Rose Syrup
1 pinch Chipotle Spice

Directions: Shake over ice and serve in a chilled coup glass.

Glass: Margarita Glass

Pineapple Chili Margarita

Ingredients:

3/4 oz Cointreau
1 1/2 oz Silver tequila
3/4 oz Fresh lime juice
2 oz Pineapple juice
Dash of Tabasco habanero

Directions: Fill shaker with first 5 ingredients and add ice. Shake vigorously and strain into ice-filled glass. Garnish with pineapple slice.

Garnish: Pineapple slice

Glass: Highball/Long Drink

Blood Orange Margarita

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz tequila
1 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Fresh lime
1 oz Blood Orange juice
Dash of simple syrup

Directions: Combine ingredients in a shaker, shake vigorously and strain over ice into a glass.

Garnish: orange slice

Glass: Long drink/highball

Zesty Margarita

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz tequila
1 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz Lime
1/2 oz Orange Juice
1/2 oz Agave nectar

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker, shake vigorously and strain over clean ice into a rocks glass.

Garnish: Fresh lime and orange zest.

Glass: Rocks Glass/Whisky Glass

Watermelon Margarita

Ingredients:

2 oz tequila
1 oz Cointreau
1/4 oz Lemon
Chunks of watermelon
2 oz Fresh lime juice

Directions: Muddle watermelon. Add to shaker with ice and other ingredients. Strain and serve on the rocks

Glass: Rocks glass or martini glass.

Mezcal Margarita

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Mezcal
3/4 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Fresh Lime juice
1 oz Pineapple Juice

Directions: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into an iced rocks glass

Garnish: Cracked black pepper

Glass: Rocks glass

Post from: EveryJoe

[EveryJoe] Audio: Frantic 911 Call From Junior Seau’s Girlfriend

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:12 +0000

Junior Seau’s girlfriend made a frantic all to 911 when she discovered Seau dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Wednesday.

“Oh my God, I need an ambulance,” the girlfriend of the former USC and NFL linebacker said as she cried. “Oh my God…. My boyfriend shot himself.” A nearly nine-minute conversation with the emergency dispatcher took place, and audio of the call was released by Oceanside officials on Friday.

Listen to Seau 911 Call

Seau’s girlfriend had gone out to the gym for about an hour and when she returned to Seau’s home at about 9:30am on Wednesday. She found Seau dead from a gunshot wound to the chest and a gun beside him. No suicide note was found. The medical examiner has ruled the death a suicide.

According to San Diego Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell, the family of deceased NFL star has decided to allow researchers to study his brain for evidence of damage as the result of concussions he suffered.

Post from: EveryJoe

[EveryJoe] Stunning Comeback! Clippers Clip Grizzlies

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:38:10 +0000

The Los Angeles Clippers have just completed one of the most amazing comebacks you will ever see in the NBA playoffs. Down by as many as 27 points against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Clippers came all the way back to win the game. With the win, the Clippers take a 1-0 series lead over the Grizzlies in the best of seven series.

After the Grizzlies went up by 24 points with 9:12 remaining, the Clippers went on an amazing 28-3 run to pull out the victory. At the end of the game, Chris Paul hit two free throws with 23 seconds remaining to put the Clippers up by a point. On the final possession, Rudy Gay missed a shot — and the comeback was complete for Los Angeles!

Paul finished with 14 points and 11 assists for the Clippers, while Nick Young led the way off the bench with 19 points. Memphis got 19 points from Gay and 17 apiece from Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Grizzlies can survive this massive letdown. Game 2 will be in Memphis on Wednesday, so the Grizzlies will face a must-win contest. As for the Clippers, they’ll be celebrating this win for a while.

Clippers Comeback! (Image: TSN.ca)

Post from: EveryJoe