Golden News

We Know Your Secret Sex Fantasy—Do You?

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 00:23:00 +0000

Not that one. A *new* one.

Hey, cutie. Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our February issue, so if you like what you see, you should probably snag a hard copy ASAP. Bye!

Look, it’s cool if every time you need to get yourself over the edge, you return to that mental picture of being taken from behind while wearing a pair of Telfar boots and nothing else. (Don’t lie.) (It’s only natural to put your fave on repeat.) But given the Groundhoggian hellscape of the past 10 months, wouldn’t it be kiiind of nice to mix things up? With something…even hotter? Yes—yes, it would.

So it’s lucky that you have us. Okay, fine, maybe not us, per se, but rather sex researcher Justin Lehmiller, PhD, and a group of other highly informed secret sources* who know how to use your personality to divine said even hotter fantasy. So pick the description that fits you best, prepare for an *uncanny* amount of detail, and…you know what to do from there.

If there’s something about a color-coded system that rly does it for you (and is it just me, or are those old-school three-ring binders super hot?)…

Your fantasy is:

A loft apartment meetup with that cute afternoon-shift barista. It’s 4:37 p.m., they’re in a beanie (the olive slouchy one), and they smell like vanilla as they slowly unhook your power bra (the red one). Your curated seduction playlist is so good that afterward, they ask you to send them the link. Yes, your life is a movie.

Why:

Very organized people tend to plan their fantasies down to every damn detail. You just like the world to seem orderly, even in your mind, theorizes Lehmiller.

If you are easily torqued by stress or find sex to be a lil anxiety-inducing…

Your fantasy is:

You’re straddling your lover, telling them to look but not touch. Villanelle from Killing Evevibes abound (killer outfit included). Time zooms out, and spiritually, you are vibrating three feet off the ground.

Why:

Engaging in light BDSM and stepping into a character separate from yourself is the perfect escape. Your alter ego isn’t concerned about whether you remembered to turn off your straightener or pay that bill, just Sex Things.

If you’re a big-time people pleaser and usually the one to say sorry (even when it’s obvs the other person’s fault)…

Your fantasy is:

In the midst of sex, you bring out a magic new toy that completely blows your partner’s mind (or, you know, their whatever). Afterward, they lie next to you speechless. Tears of gratitude on their end may or may not be involved.

Why:

Agreeable types tend to fantasize about things they think will make others happy (the five flavored lubes sitting in your Amazon cart say hi). You might be into swinging, not because you’re poly by nature (see page 72 re: that) but because sharing = caring, in your mind, per Lehmiller’s research.

If you’re sociable and super outgoing (hello!) and your greatest phobia is forgetting to respond to a single text…

Your fantasy is:

You’re the Ina Garten of Orgy Hosting and all your guests are vying for your attention, which you’re able to give to everyone equally. You’ve got special ~favors~ picked out to use on each of them, because you’re thoughtful like that. A party platter, if you will.

Why:

Extroverts like to, obviously, “engage with the world,” says Lehmiller. Studies show they’re into sensation-seeking behaviors and also novelty and excitement. So thinking about something you’ve (probs) never done (enter: orgy) is super appealing.

If you’re on constant red alert in relationships (or situationships…especially situationships), looking for hidden signs that they’re Not That Into You…

Your fantasy is:

You are tied up and waiting, completely on edge. Think Fifty Shades—as in, you’ve written a trilogy’s worth of instructions that your highly enthusiastic partner has memorized for you. They know exactly how to play you and make you beg before they touch you again. They’re just as desperate to feel you, but they’re able…only just barely…to hold back.

Why:

Research shows that people who need a lot of reassurance in their relationships (us queens of the triple text) feel most turned on when their partners truly cannot resist them.

*not-so-secret sources: Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, PhD, Assistant Professor at California State University at Fullerton; Shamyra Howard, LCSW, sex and relationship expert; Janet Brito, LCSW, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist.

The Power of Kamala Harris’s Inauguration Outfit

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 23:35:00 +0000

A new day of fashion diplomacy begins in Washington.

As the first Black woman of South Asian descent to reach the second-highest office in the land, Vice President Kamala Harris represents how far we’ve come in American politics.

Her clothing choices Wednesday represent just how far we’ve come in fashion, too.

For the inauguration, Harris opted for a striking purple coat and coordinating dress. When the first photographs appeared, social media immediately lit up—with commentary not just about how she looked (gorgeous, obviously) but about what her ensemble meant. Watchers knew that the shade signified unity, a blend of Democratic blue and Republican red. They also cheered on her choice of not one but two Black designers, Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson, shining a spotlight on young American fashion talent. And the pearls! Her signature pearls shone in the winter sunlight, a beacon to those supporters who wore theirs to celebrate her, and in solidarity with her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters who were cheering her on. It was a recognition of the power of fashion; I felt a wave of joy at the collective embrace of all that style can represent.

To be sure, the path to this moment has been paved with withering critiques of prominent women, an unfair burden men seem to all but avoid (unless you’re President Obama’s tan suit). Think of the hoopla over Sarah Palin’s campaign makeover, or the hot takes on Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits. Add to that four years of Melania’s fashion, a myriad of luxury designers and head-scratching choices—except for that loathsome, loud-and-clear “I don’t really care, do u?” jacket.

But now, with a woman elected to national office, we can finally dispense with the trite “Why does it matter what they wear?” questions. What public figures wear receives a tremendous amount of attention, it always has and likely always will, so long as the visual-heavy cable news and social media dominate our screen time—and that presents a great opportunity to choose clothes that represent who they are and what they stand for.

During the campaign, Harris boasted some standout style moments, seen in her celebrated Converse sneakers, signaling her accessibility, or the white suffrage-inspired pantsuit history had been waiting for, which she wore the evening she and Joe Biden celebrated their victory. But there was something also quite striking about the times she opted out of the fashion discussion. For the vice presidential debate, she chose an unidentified navy suit, effectively rendering her clothes not open for commentary or criticism.

For Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony, the meaning behind Harris’s choices ran deep. In addition to unity, the color purple honored Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to be elected to Congress who chose the hue for her 1972 presidential campaign. Purple also paid tribute to the century-old U.S. women’s suffrage movement; American women followed in the footsteps of their British counterparts who had claimed the shade because of its royal ties.

The saturated, singular color of Harris’s ensemble made it a bold and notable departure from her usual neutrals. But the design was entirely familiar, which represents its own achievement. Her coat, with its notched lapels, buttoned-lined cuffs and two-button closure, looked strikingly similar to the suit blazers we have watched Harris don for years. As a former California attorney general, Harris long ago embraced the traditional prosecutorial uniform of a dark, menswear-inspired pantsuit. Her blazers were a constant on the campaign trail; even for her casual engagements, she wore them with jeans. With her inauguration coat, she maintained her signature straightforward style—no need for embellishments or flourishes.

The simplicity of the dress underneath was tactically smart, without a scarf or detail at the neckline to flap and distract in the wind. But mostly it served to showcase Harris’s signature pearls, which are arguably the most defining part of her public image. The Vice President has become known for her pearls, a symbol of her membership in the Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first Greek-letter sorority founded by Black women at her alma mater Howard University. For the inauguration, Harris wore a pearl necklace by Wilfredo Rosado, a Puerto Rican designer who worked for Giorgio Armani and Andy Warhol. The elliptical chain link, described by the brand as a “bold yet feminine statement,” featured South Sea pearls with small diamonds floating in between. “When I think of hip-hop style, the artists are always wearing heavy chain links, and I decided to combine that with pearls,” the designer told Town & Country.

More so than any one necklace, Harris’s pearls have come to mean something special to her supporters. They wear them to honor her, much like fans of Ruth Bader Ginsburg sport her statement collars. A Facebook group called Wear Pearls on January 20th, 2021, amassed more than 450,000 members. On Instagram, the hashtag #pearlsforKamala was filled with women celebrating her swearing in. And isn’t that the most powerful use of fashion? Crafting a visual legacy that can be shared and enjoyed widely? I, for one, am excited for the next four years.

The secret message hidden on Jill Biden’s inauguration concert outfit

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:19:00 +0000

(NEXSTAR) — To celebrate the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday night, first lady Jill Biden wore a stunning white ensemble designed by New York fashion house Gabriela Hearst.

Lady Gaga adds subtle change to the National Anthem

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 16:10:00 +0000

Lady Gaga brought her voice (and a large, poofy red skirt) to the inauguration of Joseph R. Biden.

The ceremony was different than usual, as befits the changing of the guard in the middle of a pandemic, and the National Anthem was different too.

While Lady Gaga didn’t indulge in the vocal gymnastics that tempt many interpreters of the anthem, she did offer one innovation, singing the song in a different time signature than usual.

The old melody that Francis Scott Key borrowed is in 3/4, which is an unusual meter for an anthem. Gaga used an arrangement that adds an extra beat to every measure, turning it into a 4/4 rhapsody.

I asked friends online whether they noticed, and some couldn’t tell the difference.

To be scrupulously accurate, Gaga sang the first 16 bars in 4/4, the next four bars (“and the rockets red glare. . .”) in a deceptive 4/4 that pretended to be 3/4, the next four bars (“gave proof through the night. . .”) half in 3/4 and half in a rubato stop time, the next four bars (“oh say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave . . .”) in 3/4 and the last four bars in Eastern Standard Time.

This is not the first time a new interpretation has heralded a new president. Beyonce used a similar arrangement at Barack Obama’s 2013inauguration. (Whitney Houston also launched a stemwinding 4/4 version at the 1991 Super Bowl.)

It’s not a small change, and unlike the overdone melisma that many singers apply to the song, it’s not unwelcome.

Three-quarter time is for waltzes. Almost everything else we listen to is played in a meter that can be divided by two. That’s why our national anthem, an old drinking song that ends in a question, is an unusual piece of music.

Unlike the Spanish, German, Russian and French national anthems, you can’t march to it. You pretty much have to stand still and sing. (Unless you feel like dancing.)

Anyone who has ever played in a street band knows how to turn the Star Spangled Banner into a 4/4 tune so that the trumpet section doesn’t trip and fall.

Is 4/4 a better choice for a song that represents a whole nation? Certainly the stomping 4/4 of the Marseillaise (see “Casablanca”) rouses the heart.

It also celebrates watering your fields with the blood of tyrants.

Our anthem (disregarding the latter verses), is less gory, and whether you feel like marching or waltzing, I think it’s flexible enough to accommodate both rhythms. What I like most about it is that it’s not a song about combat, but a song about perseverance.

Does the Star Spangled Banner still wave? As long as we can answer in the affirmative, then we’re still here.

And we’re still here.

Dakota Johnson Lied to Us About Loving Limes

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 17:27:00 +0000

The evidence was right there before us all along. How could we have been so blind? You can’t spell “limes” without “lies.” On January 19, Dakota Johnson revisited her famed 2020 Architectural Digest tour on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon and admitted to a terrible betrayal. Despite gesturing to overflowing display bowls chock full o’ limes and saying, “I love limes. I love them. They’re great. I like them so much, and I like to present them like this in my house,” she actually admitted she doesn’t even like limes. In fact, she told Jimmy, “I’m allergic to limes. I’m mildly allergic to them … Limes make my tongue itch.” “Well,” you might say, rationalizing to yourself as a Dakota Johnstan. “She never said she loves to eat limes. She just said she likes to present them like that in her house.” But this is a fallacy as well. “I actually didn’t even know that they were in there,” Johnson told Jimmy. “I was giving the tour and went into the kitchen and it was set dressing.” We love AD home-tour videosand “73 Questions” and nighttime skin routinesbecause we think we want a peek behind the curtain, but Johnson reminded us that these videos are, in and of themselves, just more curtains behind the curtain. In this way, by exposing her own b.s., Johnson actually further upheld her status as a bastion of truth in Hollywood, calling out her own lies as she would Ellen’s. So yes, continue to stan. But don’t stop sending her limes as offerings.

Joe Biden Faces Justin Trudeau Clash over Keystone XL Pipeline

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 14:44:00 +0000

President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to revitalize America's traditional alliances after he takes up residence in the White House this week, repairing the damage he says President Donald Trump has done to the U.S.-led international system that has dominated international affairs since the Second World War.

But Biden appears to be on course for an early head-to-head with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the $9 billion Keystone XL project, a controversial Canada-U.S. oil pipeline that has been opposed by progressives, environmentalists and indigenous groups.

Trudeau has long supported the project despite the protests, arguing it will help reduce reliance on foreign oil imports and create new jobs.

Reuters reported Monday that Biden is set to rescind the pipeline permit as soon as he takes office, perhaps on his first day in the White House, as he seeks to restore American leadership on climate change action. CBC later confirmed the rumors citing its own anonymous sources.

Biden appears a more natural partner for Trudeau than Trump, with whom the prime minister has clashed repeatedly over the past four years. But cross border ties may have to overcome an early chill if the new president does indeed stop the Keystone XL project like President Barack Obamadid in 2015, citing his administration's commitment to fighting climate change.

Reuters reported on Monday—citing an unnamed source familiar with Biden's thinking—that the new president may rescind the Keystone XL permit immediately. This follows an earlier report by CBC that the words "Rescind Keystone XL pipeline permit" appear on a list of executive actions likely scheduled for Biden's first day in office.

Biden has long planned to stop the Keystone XL project, which will carry oil from the Canadian province of Alberta to Nebraska. In May, Biden policy director Stef Feldman told Politico that the former vice president supported Obama's decision to delay the project in 2015 and will "proudly stand in the Roosevelt Room again as president and stop it for good by rescinding the Keystone XL pipeline permit."

Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman said in a statement to Reuters that Trudeau's government believes Keystone XL is compatible with both countries' climate action goals. "There is no better partner for the U.S. on climate action than Canada as we work together for green transition," Hillman said.

Martin Luther King Day: ‘I Have A Dream’ Defines Civil Rights Movement

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 09:31:00 +0000

MLK DAY: “I Have a Dream” was delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. on August 28, 1963, in which he called for an end to racism in the United States. Delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, the speech was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around King’s birthday on January 15.

The holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.
The campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968.
President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed three years later.
At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays.
It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.

PHIL SPECTOR DEAD AT 81 ... Caught COVID-19 in Prison

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 00:44:00 +0000

Phil Spector, the music producer responsible for some of the biggest hits in music and the architect of The Wall of Sound has died ... sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ.

We're told he died from COVID-related complications, after being transferred from his prison cell to a hospital. We're told he was diagnosed 4 weeks ago and went to the hospital but recovered well enough to return to prison, where he was serving a 19-to-life sentence for the murder of Lana Clarkson.

Our sources say he relapsed, had trouble breathing and was rushed back to the hospital, where he died Saturday.

Spector began his career early... when he was still in high school, he produced his first big hit, "To Know Him is To Love Him," by the Teddy Bears.

And then, the floodgates opened. He produced a flurry of hits ... from The Righteous Brothers "You Lost that Lovin' Feeling," "Unchained Melody," "You're My Soul and Inspiration," The Ronettes' "Be My Baby," The Crystals' "He's a Rebel," and on and on.

Spector had a deep association with The Beatles, and produced their final album, "Let It Be." Among the songs, "The Long and Winding Road," "Get Back," and the title track. He also produced John Lennon's solo work, including "Instant Karma," and "Imagine."

Phil's reach was far and wide. He also produced Ike & Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High."

When Phil produced The Ronettes, he went on to marry their lead singer, Ronnie in 1968, and had a tumultuous relationship. She accused him of tormenting her during their 4 years together by telling her she was nothing -- personally or professionally -- without him, forbidding her to leave their mansion alone, and pulling guns on her.

She eventually fled barefoot from him in 1972.

Spector's "Wall of Sound" was a technique he discovered in a tunnel near Hollywood Blvd. The sound created a roaring effect, which Spector called the "Wagnerian approach to rock 'n' roll" -- it involved overdubbing scores of musicians in an orchestral style to make a fuller sound.

The technique was mimicked by the Beach Boys and Bruce Springsteen.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Spector ended up in prison for the second-degree murder of Clarkson, an actress he'd met in 2003 while she was working at the House of Blues in WeHo. They went back to his mansion, and he shot her ... although he'd claimed it was an accidental suicide.

His first trial, in 2007, was declared a mistrial, due to a hung jury, but he was convicted in a 2009 retrial.

In March 2013, Al Pacino played Spector in the movie "Phil Spector."

Spector was 81.

RIP

Betty White Turns 99, Basks In Outpouring Of Social Media Affection And Slates ‘Pet Set’ Release

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 00:22:00 +0000

Today is Betty White’s 99th birthday. She’s forgotten more about television than most of us will ever know, and the evidence of that came in the outpouring of well-wishes that dotted social media from celebrities and fans.

To put the cherry on the cake, White’s long-unseen series, Pet Set, created by and starring the television icon, will make its debut on digital platforms and DVD on February 23.

The star-studded 39 half-hours feature fellow animal-loving icons, including Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore, Doris Day, Burt Reynolds, Jimmy Stewart, Shirley Jones, James Brolin, and dozens more.

The showed aired in syndication from 1971-1972 and was produced by White and her husband, Allen Ludden. It was canceled when its main sponsor, the Carnation Company, decided to direct its advertising budget exclusively to commercials rather than programming.

The talk show had four segments. White would bring out a guest star to showcase their pets, talk about the animal, then transition to a segment on a select species. The show would then feature an animal expert, then conclude with White and sometimes her guest stars outside with a wild animal, among them a 500-pound Bengal Tiger, a Black Bear, and an Asian Elephant.

“If I haven’t told you already, I will now. The Pet Set is one of my favorite shows,” said White. “I’m thrilled it’s going to be seen again after all these years.”

MPI Media Group has teamed with Darren Wadyko Media and Betty White via her Albets Enterprises banner to release the long-lost 1971 series. It will be available on Apple TV, Google Play and Prime Video during its initial rollout, with more platforms expected later this year.

For the uninitiated, White’s career started in the test days of television and has brought her multiple Emmy Awards, thanks to her work on such classic TV as The Golden Girls, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Hot in Cleveland, as well as countless game and talk show appearances.

The new DVD special features include a behind-the-scenes look at the series, original promotional spots, the featurettes Betty White: Game Show Goddess and Betty White: Queen of Television, Betty’s Photo Album, and her public service ads.

Betty White and Albets Enterprises are repped by APA.

Some celebrity shout-outs to White on social media:

10 Spring Hair Trends That Are Going to Be All Over Your Feed

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 00:08:00 +0000

FYI: It's not too early to try out one of these looks.

During finals season in college, there was a girl in a couple of my classes who always showed up to our exams wearing a full-face beat and big, barrel curls. I remember asking her why she got all glammed up to take a test, and her response? "When you look good, you feel good." And while college me definitely rolled my eyes, a more grown-up me realizes that she definitelyhad a point. I get it: When you're not leaving your house, it can be hard to want to put any effort into your hair. Like, why get all done up when you can pull your hair into a messy topknot bun? But if you're anything like me, when your hair looks good, it's an instant mood-booster.

You're not doing it for anyone else—you're rocking these looks for yourself. That's why I can't wait to start wearing these spring 2021 hair trends below. These looks—which range from colorful streaks to straight-back cornrows—are so. damn. good. Seriously, they can be worn from everything to work Zoom meetings to virtual first dates. So to help you get excited to start planning your looks, I stalked IG to find the 10 spring 2021 hair trends that will be everywhere before you know it.

If you're looking for a sign to cut your hair, this is it. Here's two reasons why you need this spring 2021 hair trend in your life: A blunt bob shows off your best features (hello, cheekbones) and it makes you look like a boss without even trying. Keep your hair looking fly by smoothing on a lightweight oil—it'll add shine, boost hydration, and keep it sleek.

If the thought of dyeing your whole head platinum blonde stresses you out, why not color a streak instead? I mean, all the cool girls on Instagram are doing it. This '90s-inspired spring 2021 hair trend is a fun way to add an electric pop of color to your hair.Lather up with a color-safe shampoo to keep your blonde bright.

Zendaya wore a bucket hat on the February cover of GQ, so that's what we're wearing all spring 2021! Sorry, I don't make the rules. Rake a golf ball-sized amount of moussethrough your ends to add texture, plop on your hat, then snap a selfie.

In case the first bob didn't convince you to chop off all your hair, here's a super-short cut with bangs. If you don't have an urge to grab some scissors right now, IDK what else would convince you. This spring 2021 hair trend is all about body, so spritz on a volume-booster to keep your look from falling flat.

Listen, I know pastels have been trending since, like, forever, but lavender-colored hair isn't going anywhere anytime soon. And for good reason: The spring 2021 hair trend is really freakin' pretty. C'mon, how could you not have heart eyes for this look? Work a gloss into your routine to maintain the vibrant hue.

Forget your regular ol' pony and grab a bunch of hair elastics to recreate this spring 2021 hair trend. So cute, right? Pro tip: Smooth on a non-greasy oil to slick down any rogue flyaways.

Copy this spring 2021 trend and transform your straight-back cornrows into a sophisticated look by pulling your ends into a low bun. Grab some edge control and swirl your baby hairs into an S-shape to put the finishing touch on your hair masterpiece.

Instead of stick-straight hair, opt for this spring 2021 hair trend. These full-bodied, waterfall curls cascade down your back for a look that's equal parts glam and classic. Hit your curls with a long-lasting hairspray to lock them in place.

Another '90s look I'm glad is back? This Baby Spice-inspired spring 2021 hair trend, which is basically the cooler version of the pigtails you rocked in pre-K. Before you put your hair up, mist on a heat protectant spray and reach for a straightener with ceramic-coated plates to minimize damage.

Think of this spring 2021 hair trend as a messier version of a low, French twist. First, roll up your hair and secure it with bobby pins (or a large claw clip). Then, pull out a few face-framing pieces and hit them with a curling iron to finish things off.

You'll Be Wearing False Lashes Every Damn Day After You See These Gorge Lewks

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 11:44:00 +0000

Give me allll the glam.

If you've been looking for an easy way to add a *pop* to your makeup routine, I'd suggest looking into false lashes. With just a bit of glue and some precision, you can transform your simple beat to a glam lewk. But if you're stressed about which falsies to choose and how to put them on, don't worry because we gotchu. On this episode of Cosmo Queens, we got four stunning experts to show you how it's done.

For all of you who are rookies to the falsies world, I would recommend getting some inspo from Blair St. Clair and Janelle No. 5's looks. They definitely used ones with some flair, but they're perfect for giving some ~oomph~. Now if you're trying to go all out, fast forward to Aquaria and Yuhua Hamasaki's tutorials. Not only do they use v bold top lashes, but they also got creative with their bottom ones! Happy glamming!

The Unlikely Connection Between Wellness Influencers and the Pro-Trump Rioters

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 15:13:00 +0000

Inside the dangerous plot to get conspiracy theories into the mainstream.

When the pandemic hit last March, 27-year-old Jennifer*, a childcare worker from Virginia, was furloughed from her job, leaving her with little to do but curl up anxiously on her couch with her phone. She’d spend hours a day scrolling through Facebook and Instagram posts about self-healing, spirituality, and trauma, mostly by wellness types she followed after getting interested in natural medicine a few years back. (“We seemed to be on the same journey,” Jennifer says of her online community. “I’d built up almost a trust with them.”)

But then a new kind of post started appearing in her feed: graphics “in pretty fonts with pretty colors” encouraging her to “Trust the Plan” or to be prepared that “Light Is Coming to Dark.” They were accompanied by an increasing number of posts (all misleading or false) on how COVID-19 was overblown, a hoax, or part of a government scheme to microchip everyone with a vaccine.

To Jennifer, these posts raised “innocent questions”—the kind that the online wellness community had always posed about mainstream health and medical narratives. “They were always like, ‘Put on your critical-thinking hats; this doesn’t make sense,’” she says. “I was in this vulnerable mindset—out of work, at home all the time with nothing to do but scroll online. I wanted to feel like I had more control over the situation than I did.”

From the smaller accounts she followed, Jennifer discovered bigger influencers. She didn’t realize that a vast trail of internet crumbs was leading her straight into the jaws of QAnon, an outlandish far-right conspiracy theory. One that she slid deeper into every day. “I found myself talking more to people online who I didn’t know but who shared these same new beliefs as me,” she says. The validation was intoxicating. Soon she was researching Pizzagate, a bogus QAnon narrative linking Democratic politicians to a child sex ring run out of a pizzeria in Washington, D.C.

When Jennifer started hinting at what she’d discovered on her own account, a childhood friend reached out privately and encouraged her to make sure she was getting her news from legitimate sources. Jennifer brushed her off. “I felt like I had this powerful information,” she says. “Like I was better informed than everyone else. It gives you this feeling of superiority. When people would challenge me, I would just be like, You’re asleep. You’re not woke. You just don’t know.”

One of the stranger subplots in the long, weird story of 2020 is the millennial wellness community’s embrace of a radical, nonsensical, easily debunked QAnon conspiracy theory whose central belief is that high-level Democratic politicians (aka “Democratic elites,” aka the “deep state”) are running a global child sex-trafficking operation. As the theory has spread, QAnon followers have incorporated a tangle of other theories into the mix, among them that the government exaggerated the pandemic and that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.

QAnon dates back to 2017, when an anonymous 4chan user claiming to be a high-ranking government official started posting about a vast cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles in government and Hollywood that President Trump (aka “hero,” aka “savior”) was secretly working to bring down. The theory soon spread from the “cesspool of the internet”—as Annie Kelly, a correspondent for the podcast QAnon Anonymous and researcher specializing in the impact of digital culture on anti-feminism and far-right groups, puts it—to Reddit, then to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even TikTok, although the original poster (known to followers as “Q”) now posts to the site 8kun.

On mainstream social platforms, QAnon mushroomed out from its initial audience of angry alt-righters to infect accounts previously dedicated to crystals, yoga, and manifesting, where it got a glow-up, as it were, from the more aesthetically minded set. Marc-André Argentino, a doctoral student at Concordia University who studies how extremist groups use technology, coined the term “pastel QAnon” to describe the watered-down, sound-bite-friendly version with much more mass appeal than the angry (and much more masculine) original. Suddenly, QAnon hashtags were tucked into selfie captions on perfectly curated feeds that also extolled the wonders of detox tea—the kinds of accounts Jennifer followed. Highlights like “Covid?” and “Trafficking” were sandwiched between “Workouts” and “Meditation”; other times, they were hidden in Linktrees amid brand sponsorships.

There were some obvious explanations: These were the early days of the pandemic, when everyone was online and everything felt like it was going to shit and all of us were seeking a clearer picture of what was happening than could be found in COVID-19 case numbers. “The pandemic gives people a reason to want to doubt the truth, because the truth is scary as hell,” Jennifer says. And then the wellness community, in particular, was full of trusted guides who championed doing your own “research” and questioning health information from official sources like the government, confirms Blyth Crawford, a research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College London.

Influencer Krystal Tini (@KrystalTini), who has 147K followers and long blonde hair and often wears a gold crescent moon necklace, used to post mainly about yoga poses and health topics like alkaline supplements. But by April, she was sharing long viral video rants about how the government was falsifying the death certificates of COVID-19 patients, how it was all a fraud, sometimes adding a long list of QAnon hashtags: #Q #QAnon #QArmy #WWG1WGA #Truth #TruthSeeker.

“I’m not promoting QAnon theories,” Tini tells Cosmo in an email. “I support finding truth. I support saving children from violence and sexual abuse. If that makes me a Q supporter, then I guess I am on the right side of what is best for humanity.”

Yasmin Ibrahim (@MissYasminIbrahim), an intuitive guide and self-described “spiritual rebel” who offers “psychic circles and Zoom master classes,” first heard about Q last spring, and while she says she doesn’t support QAnon, she also says that “some of the things they were saying felt aligned to me.” She’d already started questioning news about the pandemic and forthcoming vaccine, which seemed to her like a setup. “Whether they’re elite, whether it’s a cabal or the deep state, I don’t know,” Ibrahim says. “All I know is that I feel from my intuitive connection and the research I’ve done that there are definitely people who control this.” (Ibrahim isn’t a “conspiritual” influencer, as they’ve been called, but she is vague about her sources, drawing not from actual Q drops—aka Q’s official communications—but “from all over the place,” she says. “I have some friends who work in politics—they send me information; there are some on the QAnon side who send me stuff; Instagram, Facebook, WikiLeaks, the internet, literally just researching.”)

Unfortunately, the mainstreaming of misinformation can lead to dangerous outcomes: In 2019, the FBI warned that QAnon was very likely to motivate people to behave violently. That same year, a 26-year-old man was charged with murdering someone he believed was part of the deep state. (The man has pleaded not guilty.) And just last week, QAnon supporters were among the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol—it’s doubtful that you missed photos of the “Q Shaman” in his Viking hat and face paint or the men in “Q” shirts roaming the halls of Congress. Some of them even livestreamed the events to their followers. The hours-long siege resulted in the death of five people, including a Capitol police officer.

A major reason that QAnon messaging was so successful on social media is that many influencers didn’t know (at least at first) that the language they were slipping in between stories on meditation and essential oils was linked to a conspiracy theory whose main goal was to prop up Donald Trump.

12 Best Hair Removal Creams That’ll Make Your Skin Way Smooth

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 01:42:00 +0000

Body hair not your thing? No prob—try these

Let’s all be honest for a sec—does anyone actually enjoy shaving? I’m going to go with no. I personally always end up with little cuts, razor bumps, and stubble that refuse to go away, which is why I’ve tried basically every single hair removal method out there (waxing, sugaring, lasers, the whole thing). And you know what I always come back to? Hair removal creams—aka super-genius formulas that are filled with chemicals that help break down the keratin proteins in your hair to eventually dissolve them. After you wipe off the cream with a towel, boom—your hair's legit all gone.

And thanks to the fact that most of these creams are super affordable, they're a great option for hair removal when you're looking to save a little $$$. Plus, the burning, irritating, strongly scented formulas that usually come to mind when you think of hair removal creams are a thing of the past. Today’s creams are filled with hydrating ingredients that leave your skin smooth and totally free of any intense scents or chemical burns. So do yourself a favor and throw out your razor and try one of these 12 hair removal creams, ahead.

This hair removal cream is super gentle, but it never leaves any hairs behind. The combo of aloe vera, vitamin E, and baby oil in the formula means that it's ultra easy on your skin (no redness or irritation, TYVM), and it leaves you feeling hella smooth once you rinse it off.

TBH, I absolutely cannot stand the smell of some hair removal creams (anyone else get whiffs of rotten eggs? Like, no, thanks). You don't have to worry about any unpleasant scents with this bb though—it removes your hair with ease, no gross smell included.

If you're into products with foamy textures rather than creamy ones, this pick is for you. This hair removal spray is packed with soothing ingredients (hello again, aloe vera) and is super easy to apply, while still being just as quick and effective as traditional creams.

Caffeine for Hair Growth: Everything You Need to Know Rn

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 01:29:00 +0000

Spoiler: It may be the secret to really, really good hair.

You know it as the sole reason you’ve been able to get out of bed for the past year, but caffeine’s got another job now: taking over the haircare industry. And unlike some of the other buzzy ingredients you see all over IG, this new glut of caffeine-spiked shampoos, conditioners, and treatments has pretty powerful science behind it.

The main takeaway is that caffeine stimulates blood flow to your scalp, explains Bridgette Hill, a trichologist and colorist at Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa in NYC and Palm Beach. And that’s crucial because blood is what feeds your scalp the oxygen and nutrients it needs to stay healthy. If it’s not getting enough—and this can def happen, mostly due to genetics or diet—your hair follicles and strands suffer, leading to dryness, thinning, or straight-up hair loss. Yeah, not ideal—and why caffeine-infused products might be an important add to your routine.

About that hair-loss thing: Caffeine naturally counteracts DHT, the hormone responsible for it, says dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, founder of Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery in NYC. Caffeine also encourages your hair to keep growing, kind of like how minoxidil—aka what’s in popular treatments like Rogaine—does. So basically, think of caffeine haircare as a form of prevention andas a proactive way to get longer, thicker, healthier hair.

There’s just one caveat (what? I didn’t say it was a miracle miracle). Caffeine products take about three months of continual use to work. And no matter how much you’re chugging in the a.m., it’s not going to speed things along. But you know what? I’m happy to support your Starbucks habit and keep that last part to myself.

The Coronavirus Doesn’t Have a Race Problem—America’s Systems Do

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 01:18:00 +0000

This country’s institutions treat Blackness like the most toxic comorbidity of all.

A global crisis does not erase inequality. It expands it.

It may be inconvenient to remember that LGBTQ+ youth, foster children, or abused partners may not be safe to shelter at home—but it is no less undeniable. It may be uncomfortable to remind yourself that all kids don’t have laptops and broadband to learn in a Google classroom—but it is no less real. It may be disheartening to face the fact that health systems have inherent bias and that Black people, undocumented folks, the elderly, and those who are disabled may not be given the lifesaving treatment they need because their lives are deemed less valuable—but that is no less true.

A global crisis does not erase inequality. It expands it.

As we live through this pandemic, we have a responsibility to expose and solve for injustice. Demand that Congress require COVID-19 data collection to include information on social identity, like race, disability, and income—and that they fully fund tailored treatment and testing for those most at risk. Communicate best practices with your loved ones, so they are not confused by false narratives and misleading press conferences. Visit WhileAtHome.org to support the hardest hit communities with your time and talent.

Confronting injustice will always be more important than it is popular—unless we choose it. Even and especially when it’s hard. We don’t have time to be surprised. There is only time for accountability, solidarity, and solutions. Right now.

have asthma.” Growing up in my beloved St. Louis, I thought this might be the most common middle name for Black kids like me. Brittany “I have asthma” Packnett. We were strong in numbers. It just seemed like a fact of life.

Until I realized just how many of my white peers were not wheezing after high school gym class. It was not a fact of life, it was a fact of Black life. If you were a Black child in the city of St. Louis as recently as last year, you were 10 times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than a white child.

And if you are a Black resident in St. Louis during the coronavirus pandemic, you are painfully aware: Every single person who has died from COVID-19 in the city so far has been Black.

We are all weathering the same storm, but we are not in the same boat.

This staggering fact mirrors what’s happening across the country: Black people account for 72 percent of the coronavirus-related deaths in Chicago, 40 percent in Detroit, and 70 percent in all of Louisiana, even though we represent far smaller proportions of the population in those regions.

As Anthony Fauci, MD, recently acknowledged, Black Americans were already suffering from health disparities and higher incidences of COVID-19 comorbidities like diabetes and asthma, making these figures unfortunate—but expected. The numbers are stark and they remind us that we are all weathering the same storm, but we are not in the same boat.

But of course this—and the societal victim blaming that followed—was all predictable. The idea that Black people are born with predispositions to diseases like diabetes and asthma or that we have brought them on ourselves through weak will power and laziness is not new but especially pervasive in this time. The insidiousness of oppression renders too many people unable to do the harder, nuanced, complex work of examining this country’s deep structural issues and the legacy of systemic oppression.

America’s systems treat Blackness like the most toxic comorbidity of all, whether you have diabetes and have been exposed to COVID-19 or you wore a mask to keep safe but were discriminated against or accosted for it.

But my Black friends and I did not have a higher risk for asthma from birth or bad parenting; the legacy of housing discrimination and environmental racisminstead put more Black children in the midst of polluted indoor and outdoor air. The prevalence of diabetes in Black communities is not a consequence of unrepentant laziness; it is the direct result of food deserts and disproportionately low wages.

There is no pathological brokenness in Black people. The pathology lies in our systems.

As an activist, I am trained to never let systems off the hook. And our greatest injustices are rooted in systems of reckless power that have and will continue to cost us lives—unless we make a different choice. The responsible choice. The human choice. We must choose to care about inequity and injustice all the time, not simply when it is convenient. It is not convenient to think about who is suffering most during this pandemic when you’re on eight hours of video calls and your child will not stop screaming. Or when you are not allowed to leave your home or see your loved ones for days at a time.

A global crisis does not erase inequality. It expands it.

A global crisis does not erase inequality. It expands it.

Trump’s Presidency Was Always Going to End This Way

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 21:16:00 +0000

The final show of toxic masculinity was embarrassing but inevitable.

Amid all the chaos of Wednesday’s MAGA insurrection in Washington, D.C., there’s one particular scene that stands out: An aggrieved white man who believed his country was stolen from him strolled right into the U.S. Capitol Building without much resistance and put his feet up on the desk of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, arguably the most powerful woman in American history. He left a note calling her a bitch.

This man was part of a mob that stormed the Capitol to disrupt the tally of electoral votes for Joe Biden after Trump had encouraged them to “take our country back.” The riot followed 24 hours of marauding gangs of mostly white dudes with rage veins popping out of their foreheads punching street signs, picking fights, and spewing homophobic slurs. “Pull the cock out of your mouth!” one zombified man-baby screamed Tuesday night, his voice hoarse from all the shouting.

The Capitol riot was such a fitting and obvious end to a presidency that began with a reality TV star defending the size of his penison the debate stage. Of course, this was just one final, grand display of toxic masculinity.

Of course, this was just one final, grand display of toxic masculinity.

And what a quintessentially Trumpian thing it is to feel angry and victimized by a culture in which you actually still have so much power and privilege that the U.S. Capitol Police will practically escort you into the building and take selfies with you as you snatch statues and wave a Confederate flag around. D.C. law enforcement made only around 60 arrests on Wednesday, compared to 289 on the first dayof the Black Lives Matter protests in the city over the summer. If Wednesday’s events showed us anything, it’s that white men still have it really f*cking good in this country.

“Let’s go get a beer and then come back,” one man could be heard saying as he strolled out of the Capitol Building he just invaded through a door on which a fellow rioter had scribbled the words “Murder the Media.”

This riot will be Trump’s legacy. He gave a megaphone to a particular kind of insecure white dude who doesn’t even understand what he’s angry about, who equates masculinity with brute displays of dominance and force. The embarrassing, former-beauty-pageant-owning president who wanted to wear a Superman shirt out of Walter Reed hospital while recovering from COVID-19 was never going to inspire anything more out of his supporters than a “bitch” note on Pelosi’s desk and a can of Axe body spray rolling around the U.S. Capitol Building.

Kim Kardashian’s Post-Divorce Style Is the Only Thing Giving Me Hope Right Now

noreply@blogger.com (Golden) — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 19:31:00 +0000

The world needs more bandage dresses. There, I said it.

When the news broke about Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s impending divorce, I think I can speak for a lot of Kim fans when I say that my first reaction was: I have been waiting for this day.

Of course, when they first got together, I was happy to see her happy. But…I miss the old Kim. The Herve-Leger-bandage-dress-wearing Kim. The extremely-highlighted-under-eye Kim. Frankly, I just miss Kim.

I have been keeping up with the Kardashians since the show premiered in 2007. I saw Kim break up with Reggie Bush and power through a Carl’s Jr. commercial masking heartbreak with a burger (relatable, TBH). I watched her marry and then divorce Kris Humphries after 72 days

So when she first started dating Kanye West, it seemed they were soul mates. I gleefully watched the engagement, the wedding special, and the pregnancies. I felt this was it. Our Kimmy got her happy ending. ::sob::

And yet—insert Carrie Bradshaw voice—I couldn’t help but wonder just how much Kanye would influence her style. Soon after they got together, we all learned how controlling Kanye was over her looks. Back in 2018, Kim said during an interview, “I always thought I had really good style until I met my husband, and he told me that I had the worst style. He was really nice about it and cleaned out my whole closet. I probably had 250 pairs of shoes, and when we were done cleaning it out, I had two pairs left and I cried

Um…yeah, I’d cry too.

He basically turned Kimmy’s closet into a Yeezy storage facility, outfitting her in desert tones, leather, and whatever else he was sending down the runway.

On a recent episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman, Kim revealed that Kanye dipped out of his tour to basically stage an intervention when he took issue with one of her Paris looks. “Kanye flew in because he didn’t like my outfit,” she said. “So he flew in [from his tour] to style me. He saw a picture of my outfit and he said, ‘I’m on the next flight.’”

And since we’re walking down memory lane, here’s a clip of Kim saying that when she and Kanye first started dating, he and his stylist chucked everything that wasn’t “cool enough.”

All I’ve gotta say is, if a friend told me that their new boyfriend went into their closet and completely controlled everything they wore, I would do a Spy Kids–style rescue mission and get them the f*ck outta there.

Gone were the oversize sunglasses, massive Louis Vuitton bags, and hot-pink shades I’d grown fond of. Pre-Kanye, Kim was all about that 2000s glam. She was Make-Up by Mario™ flawless, had her signature middle part with loose waves. She wore a lot, and I mean a lot, of platform pumps with capris and lived in those GD bandage dresses.

Yeah, sure, she lacked credibility in the high-fashion world and she wasn’t sitting front row with Anna Wintour, but that’s what I liked about her. I enjoyed seeing her wear a colorful oversize tunic and hit Khloé in the face with a black leather bowler bag. Reality television gold, amirite? The new Kim would never.

I knew we lost her for good when she wore that floral Givenchy dress to the Met Gala. You know the one. It looked like a couch, had gloves, and was something I picture the old Kimmy gawking at with bewilderment. Just seeing those pictures again makes me claustrophobic.

Yet still, I was Kimye’s biggest fan, a cheerleader of epic proportions. For years, I defended them at dinner tables full of Taylor Swift stans (ILY too, Taylor!). But here I am, pleading for the old, single Kimmy to come forward.

Why? Because ever since Kim got together with Kanye, her life—her entire vibe—has felt less and less authentic. From the careless cultural appropriation to the “reality show” that became just 48 minutes of them shaking their salads (and no, that is not a sexual innuendo; they literally shake their salads), the realness that made so many people fall in love with Kim in the first place has dwindled away.

Yes, of course I know there was always someone behind the curtain—stylists, producers, editors, Jonathan Cheban, etc.—but it still felt like Kim had some say and was showing her fans at least a version of the real her. When Kanye started dressing Kim, she basically shed her Kimmy persona and adopted his vision of her. She became a walking runway of his creations—of his creation.

Obviously, Kanye isn’t to blame for all of Kim’s missteps. Let’s be real—she’s gotten increasingly out of touch, even by celebrity standards.

One example: Kim’s 40th birthday party…which she celebrated…in Tahiti…with 40 of her closest friends…in the midst of a global pandemic. But even putting all that nonsense aside, what really got me was this characterization of Kimye’s relationship, as seen in Page Six. “All he [Kanye] did was bring over the hologram of her father, Robert Kardashian,” a source said, “then got out of there as fast as he could.” Oh, just a hologram? Sure, completely normal stuff.

It may be a little gauche to celebrate the end of a marriage, but I’m choosing to see the silver lining, aka the signs that Kim may be reverting to her old self. She was seen without a wedding ring, which is telling in itself. And during that same birthday trip in October (the one Kanye “got out of…as fast as he could”), she took photos in a sexy dress and…flip-flops. *gasp!!* She also launched a Skims velour collection, which pays homage to her BK (Before Kanye) days. Ahem, my Kim senses are tingling.

Only time will tell if a new era of Kim is really upon us. But a return to the innocent days of bandage dresses and belts for no reason feels like just what our 2021-addled brains deserve.