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Bernie and Hillary Each Won a State at Yesterday's Primaries

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With the presidential election narrowed down to just three candidates, America is finally focusing on the Democratic side of the race. It’s the final showdown for the Dems. The ultimate battle. Sanders v. Clinton is about to get very real.

Whether you #FeelTheBern or shout #HillYes from your rooftop, here is all the action that happened in last night’s Kentucky and Oregon primaries to satisfy your inner political junkie.

Bernie Sanders Won Oregon

As results flooded in by mail in Oregon, Bernie Sanders was able to emerge victorious in the Western state. The New York Times reported that he won over 55 percent of the vote, overtaking all but two counties.

According to Vox, Sanders may have proven so popular in Oregon because it combines some of his best proven demographics—whites, youth voters and progressives. Apparently, Oregon instituted a new system in which every person with a driver’s license who is old enough to vote is automatically registered. The state has seen a 21 percent increase in voters under the age of 30 because of this. We all know that young people love Sanders…Young people and birds.

Hillary Won Kentucky…By Less Than a Point

According to The New York Times, Hillary Clinton managed to beat Sanders by less than half a percentage point in Kentucky—which is fewer than 2,000 votes. The results were so close that the delegates will likely be split evenly between the two candidates.

Clinton grasped a hard-won victory in the state. This required quite a bit of last minute rallies in order to avoid a two-loss primary day. The frontrunner did not make a speech, but did post “We’re always stronger united” to her Twitter.


In 2008, Clinton beat President Barack Obama handily in Kentucky during the primaries, by 35 whole percentage points. This time, it wasn't so easy for her. This may be because of the former Secretary of State’s comments claiming she will put coal “out of business.” The state has suffered huge layoffs in the coal industry already, with about one in 10 coal employees losing their jobs in the beginning of 2015. Coal mining contributes nearly 5 percent of Kentucky’s GDP. Although Clinton’s coal comments may have been thoughtless or directed at green energy supporters, they ended up losing her West Virginia and almost losing Kentucky.

Hillary Is Holding Out Hope for California and the Garden State

Although CNN puts Clinton at a 96 percent chance of clinching the Democratic nomination, the frontrunner would probably prefer to stop losing primaries. They don’t hurt her chances mathematically so much as they symbolize deep and troubling weaknesses in her campaign.

This is why the upcoming votes in California and New Jersey are so important to Clinton. Combined, the states offer democratic candidates 688 delegates. A decent share of these when results come in on June 7 could be enough to push Clinton over the 2,383 delegate threshold and help her to formally become the presidential nominee. After recently losing in Rhode Island, Indiana, West Virginia and Oregon, this could help save Clinton’s campaign from appearing too weak to compete against Donald Trump.

Bernie Promises to Continue Fighting

The two candidates are pretty close in pledged delegates after last night. Sanders only trails Clinton by around 280, which seemed unthinkable if you asked most people at the start of the race. However, he is seriously lacking in superdelegates (political figures who may change their support anytime leading up to the Democratic convention this summer). To have a good chance of becoming the nominee, Sanders would need to convince a large portion of these 500+ people to change their minds—an unfortunately steep and unlikely task.

Despite his small odds of formally becoming the nominee, Sanders has refused to give up. “We are in till the last ballot is cast,” he said to a group of California supporters, according to the Times.

Some people think that staying in the race could divide the Democrats further. Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver seems to disagree.

“You know, as soon as this Democratic primary process is over, we're not gonna hear any more talk about the minimum wage. We’re not gonna hear any more talk about making college affordable or providing health care to everybody,” Weaver said, according to Politico. “As long as there a Democratic primary process going on, people are talking about issues that are important not only to Democrats but to Americans as a whole.”

Donald Trump Is Trying to Split the Democratic Party.

Throughout the struggle between Clinton and Sanders, there has been a fly buzzing around everyone’s ears trying to butt into the conversation. This metaphorical fly is, of course, Trump. As the presumptive Republican nominee, it’s not surprising he would try to wedge himself into the Democratic race.

To be more specific, he has been rooting for Sanders to split from the “rigged” Democratic party and run as an Independent.



Luckily, Sanders’ people saw through this trick pretty quickly. “Trump obviously would like a third-party candidate on the left so that he could try to divide the vote and win. But I think what you're gonna see is unity to defeat Trump,” Weaver told Politico, adding that Sanders will stick by his promise to support the eventual Democratic nominee.

Let’s just hope that regardless of whoever ends up being the nominee, Berniacs and Hillary fans are able to unify for the sake of the Democratic party. Otherwise, Trump would have a pretty clear path straight up Capitol Hill and into the White House. 


Custodian Graduates From College He Cleaned For 8 Years

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Graduating college is a huge milestone in life—especially when you get your diploma against all odds. A Massachusetts man who lost everything in the Great Recession has done just that. Michael Vaudreuil, 54, graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Saturday, where he has spent nearly the last decade working as a custodian. 

After eight years of taking classes by day and cleaning the school by night, he emerged with a diploma in hand. Vaudreuil earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, according to CBS Boston. He told CBS, "You go through life and you say, 'someday I'm going do this. I'm going do that,' and very often in life you're hit with a curve ball that kind of throws you off track." 

Vaudreuil’s curve ball and "rock bottom" was the recession that began in 2007. He had a successful plastering business until then. Once the recession hit, his business and all other things in his life went under. Vaudreuil lost his home and his car, eventually having to declare bankruptcy. "It left our heads spinning. It happened so fast," he said, according to CBS

“I was getting pretty depressed,’’ Vaudreuil told The Boston Globe. “I’m supposed to be the breadwinner. I’m supposed to go out there and kill the meal and bring it home, and I wasn’t doing that. I was feeling a tremendous loss of confidence. My ego was taking a big hit. I was just a shell of a person. It was a meaningless existence at that point.’’

That is when Vaudreuil took the only job he could find—He began working full-time as a custodian at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The university offers tuition-free classes to all of its employees, and Vaudreuil took them up on that offer. “The thought process was: This is it for me,’’ Vaudreuil told the Globe before commencement. “This is the last train out of the station. Your back’s against the cliff. You either jump off, or you fight for your life.’’

Vaudreuil ended up finding a passion for engineering. Within WPI's labs, he even developed his own prototype for a reusable dust fuel cartridge, according to the Daily Mail.

Going back to school wasn't always easy. The Globe reports that Vaudreuil sometimes wanted to quit, but his wife, Joyce, never let him. "She let me cry on her shoulder. She was my cheerleader," said Vaudreuil. Other students would even encourage and accept him into group work easily, treating the 40-something man no different than their peers who were half his age.

He hopes that his achievement will reach anyone who has ever felt lost and serve as motivation for them to keep working towards a better life. As a man who made the best of losing almost everything, Vaudreuil is truly an inspiration to anyone who has ever hit rock bottom in their life. 

Evolution Makes Women's Sexuality More Fluid, Study Says

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It turns out that when it comes to sexual fluidity, more women tend to change between heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality compared to men. As in, women can more easily switch between male and female partners. And according to evolutionary psychologist Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa, this is all a result of evolution.

While that may sound a little far-fetched, Dr. Kanazawa's reasoning in Biological Reviews is that women are more sexually fluid than men as a result of historically common polygamous marriages, where one man would have multiple wives. These women would engage in sex amongst each other in order to "reduce conflict and tension among co-wives in polygynous marriages." Basically, engaging in sexual relationships with the other women helped to make them friends, rather than competitors. Sound like Big Love yet?

Kanazawa formulated his proposal by tracking the self-identified sexual feelings of American young people over 10 years. After measuring sexuality through four waves of interviews, Kanazawa found that women were less likely to define themselves as strictly homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual. According to Glamour UK, Dr. Kanazawa commented, "Rather than being straight or gay, to whom women are attracted may depend largely on the particular partner, their reproductive status, and other circumstances."

Another aspect of the theory is that, since women left their homes in order to marry while men stayed in their childhood community, it was more beneficial for women to develop alliances and relationships with other wives as they adjusted to a wholly unfamiliar environment. Long story short, sexual fluidity was a coping mechanism for women back in the day.

According to Kanazawa, his theory that female sexual fluidity stemming from polygamous marriages could also explain male arousal to lesbian sex as well as menstrual cycles between females synchronizing over time. For now, we'll just have to see whether Kanazawa's theory becomes accepted or not. It could really change the way we perceive sexuality.

Man Undergoes First Penis Transplant in the U.S.

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These days, anything can be accomplished with surgery. Limbs can be replaced. Faces can be reconstructed. Botox removes any sign of age. And now, penises can be transplanted. The first ever penis transplant in the United States was completed this month in Boston—Now doctors just need to see if it will be successful. 

When 64-year old-Thomas Manning was diagnosed with penile cancer, he unfortunately had to have his penis removed in 2012. This is a problem for, well, obvious reasons and can really mess up someone's life. The Halifax, Mass. man seemingly would be stuck without a penis for the rest of his days.

Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, though, had a solution. The New York Daily News reports that a deceased organ donor's family was willing to donate their relative's penis for Manning for a procedure that has only been seen in China and South Africa. Three years of planning and a 15-hour procedure later, Manning has a new member. According to CNN, it took nearly 50 surgeons, doctors and nurses to complete the task on May 8 and 9. The surgery seems to have gone well, and Manning is now open to speaking publicly about the surgery as a way to overcome the stigmas often linked to genital cancers and injuries.

The leader of Manning's surgical team, Dr. Curtis L. Cetrulo, told The New York Times, "We're cautiously optimistic. It's uncharted waters for us." His caution comes from the knowledge that this surgery was an experiment as part of a research program. If Manning's operation turns out to be successful, it could become a milestone for helping injured veterans, accident victims and cancer patients with similar issues. Dr. Cetrulo continued by saying that a successful operation would mean normal urination will return for Manning in a few weeks, and sexual function should resume within the coming weeks to months. Because of the optimistic outcome of the operation so far, there is already another patient lined up for a similar transplant once another donor comes along.

Although an operation of this sort would usually cost around $50,000 to $75,000, the hospital is paying for the procedures and the doctors are donating their time to perform the surgeries. As part of an experimental process, patients like Manning are told not to expect anything from the operation, as only two other penis transplants have been performed before. As Manning told The New York Times, "They made no promises. That was part of the deal." One operation done in China in 2006 failed, while one performed in South Africa in 2014 was a success. 

Penis operations are nothing to joke about. They mean taking anti-rejection pills for the rest of Manning's life and having to become familiar with very unfamiliar genitalia. However, success for Manning could benefit veterans in a huge way. The Times reported that suicide rates are exceptionally high in veterans with genital injuries. This operation could very well be life-saving to these men. "We are hopeful that these reconstructive techniques will allow us to alleviate the suffering and despair of those who have experienced devastating genitourinary injuries and are often so despondent they consider taking their own lives," Dr. Cetrulo told CNN. 

Just as uterus transplants would be groundbreaking for women, penis transplants could help men finally regain a sense of self after suffering from diseases or injuries. Hopefully, Manning is happy with his new member and paves the way for men everywhere.

Obama Goes After Trump in Rutgers Commencement Address

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Barack Obama has definitely not been Donald Trump's biggest fan. The two political figures have repeatedly thrown shade at one another. Trump has even questioned Obama's citizenship. In his commencement address at Rutgers University, Obama indirectly targeted Trump's presidential campaign once again. 

According to NPR, President Obama told the graduates, "In politics and in life, ignorance is not a virtue." Obama has repeatedly shown his distaste for the statements Trump has made during public speeches and appearances. He referenced Trump multiple times, pointing out that America was not necessarily greater in the past as Trump has tried to prove with his "Make America Great Again" slogan. Obama also challenged his ideas to build a wall and to keep Muslims out of our country.

Later in his address to the graduating class of 2016, Obama showed his growing concern with the future of the United States. Again, hinting at his clear dislike for Trump, Obama explained, "Facts, evidence, reason, logic, an understanding of science: These are good things. These are qualities you want in people making policy... That might seem obvious... We traditionally have valued those things, but, if you're listening to today's political debate, you might wonder where this strain of anti-intellectualism came from."

Overall, his speech had a focus on the theme of helping one another—not only in the United States, but around the word. He warned against trying to keep the rest of the world out of our country, knowing that at this point in time it is vital that we continue to stay connected. "The world is more interconnected than ever before, and it's becoming more connected every day," said the President, according to The New York Times. "Building walls won't change that." 

NPR reported that Obama has delivered close to twelve commencement speeches during his eight years of presidency, and each has done a great job of connecting an inspiring message to graduates with a message to everyone on the state of our country and what we all need to work on for a bright future. His last commencement address is scheduled to be in June at the Air Force Academy.

Obama has run our country for almost eight years now—At the very least, he knows what the job entails. He has experience with the presidential office that only a handful of other living people have had. Seeing him worry about what the current election holds might make you think twice about the state of our country, and whose hands we want to put so much power into.

Dr. Luke Bans Kesha From Performing at the Billboard Music Awards

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Kesha's legal battle with producer Dr. Luke and his label, Kemosabe Records, continues to hinder the pop star’s career. The latest incident? Kesha was set to perform at the Billboard Music Awards this Sunday. But Dick Clark Productions, which produces the BBMAs, has released a statement saying that Kesha will no longer be a part of the award show.

“Kesha accepted an invitation to perform on the show and she received written approval from Dr. Luke’s record label, Kemosabe Records. Kemosabe subsequently rescinded its approval following a media report on Wednesday May 11 regarding Kesha’s appearance on the BBMAs.”

Last week, rumors circulated that Kesha was going to use her slot on the show to address her situation with her one-time producer; one outlet claimed that the singer might even weave images of Dr. Luke into her performance. This is likely the media report that Kemosabe is all fired up about.

Kesha responded to the devastating news with a heartfelt Instagram post.


Unfortunately, it seems we will never see what would have been an iconic performance for both Kesha and her fans. This is yet another disappointing loss for the singer, but we know she will continue to shine a light on her message regardless.

Missouri Teenager Graduates from College...A Week Before Graduating from High School

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A Missouri senior beat us all in the productivity competition when she received her college diploma on May 12—about a week prior to her graduation from high school in Independence, Mo., which will take place on May 21. Alesha Diman decided to enroll at a local community college during her junior year of high school so she could get some of her undergraduate career out of the way. Talk about dedication!

Alesha credited her AP Literature teacher as well as her father, who is also a teacher, for staying on top of her and keeping her motivated to earn two degrees at once. She will earn not only a high school diploma this spring, but an associate’s degree as well, according to Seventeen.   

She also adds that “dedication and time management” were what allowed her to take enough credits at Metropolitan Community College to earn her associate’s degree while also being a full-time high school student.

“It makes me feel great...she kept pushing through and said she was going to get it done,” said Alesha’s dad on her accomplishment. Alesha, care to share some of your extraordinary capability with us?

On why she decided to undertake more than most of us could ever hope to, Alesha said to KCTV, “I thought it was a really good idea and that it would get me ahead in life.” Come this fall, she will start studying for a biomedical engineering degree (!!!) at the University of Arkansas.

When asked about her upcoming schooling, Alesha told KCTV “I could create something that would help blood pump through the heart easier so there’s less of a chance to get heart disease.” Needless to say, we are impressed. Way to go, Alesha! Double the congratulations and, hopefully, grad gifts!

Spanish-Speaking Reporter Asked To Leave Trump Tower

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An Argentine reporter was asked to leave Trump Tower in New York after he was overheard speaking Spanish, according to Buzzfeed News.

Marcos Stupenengo, a reporter for the Mexican television network Azteca TV, was taking a phone call in Spanish while waiting to begin filming when he was told the campaign no longer wished to participate.

BuzzFeed initially reported that Stupenengo had scheduled a one-on-one interview with Trump ahead of time. Stupenengo clarified Tuesday that it was not a personal interview with Trump that was canceled, but rather a request to film, Politico reports.


"There was no interview scheduled. We do not know this individual or anything about the alleged situation," Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks told Politico.

While Trump's campaign denies the claim that Stupenengo ever had anything to do with them, Stupenengo didn't have a lot to say about the issue, Buzzfeed reports.

“I can say that after 13 years of journalism worse things have happened to me,” Stupenengo told Buzzfeed.

Trump's struggle to maintain relations with Latino voters and media has been a theme throughout his campaign, after he has repeatedly made offensive comments regarding Latino culture and immigration.


Blake Lively Accused of Being Racially Insensitive on Instagram

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Blake Lively is in some hot water over a caption she wrote on an Instagram photo of herself at the Cannes Film Festival. Referencing Sir Mix-a-Lot's hit "Baby Got Back," Lively posted a side-by-side photo of her front and backside with the caption, "L.A. face with an Oakland booty." 


 

L.A. face with an Oakland booty

A photo posted by Blake Lively (@blakelively) on

While Lively may have been giving props to her killer behind, many of her Instagram followers and several media outlets have pointed out that the caption could be perceived as racially insensitive. In fact, the chatter within the comments on Lively's post are downright hostile.

We are still of the belief that Lively is a goddess, and there is no denying she looks gorg in that Versace gown. Now, can we all simmer down?

Is Snapchat Trying to Make People Look Whiter?

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Snapchat users are taking to other social media platforms to express their dismay about how some filters drastically alter their natural features, BuzzFeed News reports.

Users are concerned that some filters lighten skin, in addition to altering facial features by making them smaller or thinner, BuzzFeed reports. These filters are seemingly supposed to make the user look better or prettier, which definitely makes it seem like Snapchat favors whiter skin.

The biggest offender? Your favorite flower crown filter, BBC Newsbeat reports.


 

I somehow feel like a model of a cheap whitening soap. #snapchat : jenedelrey

A photo posted by Jenelyn Azores (@jenedelrey) on

The issue is sparking debate on social media, especially Twitter, where some users argue that the filters are not a problem.


Users are mostly taking issue with Snapchat's "pretty" filters, which smooth blemishes and under-eye circles, while also making skin look lighter in tone.


This is the latest in allegations of racism by Snapchat. The company featured a "Bob Marley" filter on April 20, which was criticized for representing "digital blackface," BBC Newsbeat reports.

Girls Outscored Boys on a National Test of Technology and Engineering

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Remember all of those times when you were a kid and you would tell the boys you were smarter than them because you were a girl? Well, looks like you weren’t actually that wrong. According to The Washington Post, on a national test of technology and engineering literacy, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), girls outperformed boys. The results of the test that the federal government administered were made public Tuesday—And TBH, the results are pretty great for girls. 

The Post reported that the test was “designed to measure students’ abilities in areas such as understanding technological principles, designing solutions and communicating and collaborating” and that the girls were especially strong in the last part. The computer-based exam included questions involving imaginative scenarios, such as creating a healthy living environment for "Iggy," the virtual classroom iguana, or coming up with a safe bike lane design. 

"Overall it looks like girls have the ability and critical thinking skills to succeed in the fields of technology and engineering, and that's worth noting," Peggy Carr, acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, told U.S. News & World Report

But in addition to girls seriously kicking guys' butts, there were some disturbing race and wealth gaps in the results. Poorer students scored more than 30 points lower in proficiency than their wealthier peers, according to U.S. News. The Post also reported that 18 percent of black students and 28 percent of Latino students scored in the proficient range, way below the average of 56 percent for their white and Asian classmates. 

The test was created to test the abilities of over 21,500 eighth grade students by asking straightforward questions and more open-ended answer scenarios. Overall, a total of 43 percent of all students scored proficient—42 percent of boys on average, while 45 percent of girls scored the same way. *Mic Drop.* Girls run the world!

Bernie Sanders Supporters Sending Death Threats to Chairwoman Over Nevada Caucuses

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Do you remember back in February when Hillary Clinton won the Nevada caucuses regardless of the work that the Sanders campaign put in to win the delegates? Well, Bernie Sanders supporters certainly do. 

According to The New York Times, nearly 60 of Senator Sanders' potential delegates were found ineligible “amid a dispute over the rules” at the state convention Saturday held at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. Supporters of Sanders went crazy, yelling and throwing things. Eventually, security felt it was no longer safe for the participants and people had to be escorted out. 

Because of this, supporters of Sanders Sanders have been hashing out death threats, violent calls and other horrible messages to Roberta Lange, the chairwoman of the Nevada Democratic Party. “It’s been threatening messages, threatening my family, threatening my life, threatening my grandchild," Lange said.

Some of the threats against Lange were published by the Huffington Post. Some called her a "stupid ass bitch," a "coward," and an "abomination to the humans race" [sic].

A spokesman for Sanders told the Times that the Senator does not “condone violence of any kind.” However, the Sanders campaign is still deciding whether or not they will challenge the Nevada results. 

Regardless of what happened in Nevada, the Democratic National Committee is hoping that all of this will blow over as people realize how close the country is to having Trump win the presidency. Sanders promised, regardless of the Nevada results, that if he is not the nominee he will help defeat Trump; Clinton has said the same thing. Either way, in their eyes and in the eyes of Democrats everywhere, a Trump presidency would be far worse than losing a few delegates here and there. Let's just hope we can get there without anymore death threats or unnecessary violence. 

10 Things You Need to Do With Your Best Friend Before Graduation

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College is probably the only time in your life when you will have the freedom to do as many crazy, adventurous things as you wish. Unfortunately, it only lasts four years, and for those about to graduate in a few short weeks, it's probably seeming like it went by way too fast. So while you're still able to visit each other's rooms on weekday nights and spend hours studying together, make the most of this time with your bestie by doing things you wouldn't want to do with anyone else.

1. Revisit your old hangout spots

Yeah, yeah, you might be tempted to roll your eyes at the sentimentality of this idea. Or you might be gettting the feels just thinking of all the study spots, cafes, and hidden nooks and crannies that you and your friends frequented these last few years. And with finals taking up all your time, what better way to simultaneously bond with your bestie and rediscover a gem of a study space? 

2. Leave a message on one of said old hangout spots

Carving your names into wood is a pretty solid way to cement a memorable friendship (especially since it'll take quite a long time to do it), so in the whirlwind of graduation and all the crazy get-togethers you'll be obligated to attend, take a quiet moment to sneak away with your bestie, revisit your favorite place on campus and leave a mark! This could mean carving your names, but if you're not feeling that gutsy, hide a paper note with an inside joke or some advice on it for the confused freshmen who will inevitably find it.

3. Drop in on a random class together

This is the kind of thing you should definitely do senior year, when you’re days away from graduating and have kind of sunken comfortably into your senioritis. Drop in on a random lecture with your friend just for fun. It doesn’t really matter what subject the class is on, as long as it interests you and is a departure from all those required classes you've taken. It’s all about having one more adventure with your bestie, while also stepping out of your comfort zone.

4. Go crazy on Seamless

Let's admit it; you will probably never again order in as much pizza and wings as you have in the last four years. As much as it hurts, it's a fact of life. So literally go ham one final time with your bestie; pull out all the stops on Seamless or just get a bunch of takeout from your favorite restaurants around campus. The fact that you will be graduating never tasted so good.

5. Write a Medium post together

It's time to put all those sappy thoughts you've been having about leaving your bestie and graduating into words! Medium is kind of the perfect place to write pseudo-intellectual and sorta cheesy thoughts such as these, but hey, it'll give the future you insight into how 22-year-old you was feeling about embarking on adulthood. Doing it with your BFF will make the whole writing about your feelings thing come more naturally, and she will definitely be there to remind you of the inside jokes, the late-night stories and all the great times you've had together.

Related: 22 Sappy Thoughts You Have When You're About to Graduate

6. Plan a way to keep in touch…then really do it

One of our biggest fears as graduating seniors is that we will fall out of touch with our college bestie. After all, it happened to some of us after high school. Of course you won't be able to spend as much time together as you did, but graduation doesn't have to mean you won't fall out of touch. One way to keep each other updated as you move away and begin working, traveling and starting families is to maintain a joint blog. You can make it a private blog between just you two and write posts whenever something noteworthy happens. It's definitely less commitment than weekly Skype dates but ensures that you won't miss out on each other's daily milestones. Think of it as a millennial version of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

7. Pull a cozy all-nighter together

On the other hand, a girls’ night in can be just as amazing, with the right company and the right drinks (insert wink emoji). There’s nothing like some quality time snuggled in blankets and a cheesy rom-com to get the feels going. If a cramped dorm room isn’t going to fit your posse, think about treating yourself and splitting the price of a hotel suite to have a massive sleepover in. Room service, anyone?

8. Get massages

Trust us, you'll miss them once you enter the workforce full-time. Get a massage with your bestie and enjoy an afternoon of complete relaxation. And if you’re feeling like your skin could use a little extra love, finish off the afternoon by making some DIY masks (maybe try a snail mask?) or visiting a facialist.

9. Have a quintessential college photo shoot

How else will you Instagram that #rideordie post you've been planning to feature your bestie in? In case you're swept into a sea of well-wishing family members on graduation day, reserve an hour or two beforehand to get in a few snaps of you and your BFF all dressed up. 

10. Do something, anything, you’ve always wanted to do!

Besides doing fun things that take advantage of the fact that you’re basically an unsupervised minor at heart, know that your college friendships are all about supporting one another and encouraging each other as you grow into your adult selves. Through the laughter and tears, your bestie is by your side.

It's going to be tough saying goodbye in a few days/weeks, but after four years of sharing literally everything, you and your bestie won't be forgetting each other anytime soon. Consider your twenties the sequel to your already legendary friendship.

Beauty Pageants Changed My Self-Confidence For the Better

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By Peyton Wilson

I stood under the lights of a high-school auditorium in the middle of Tennessee, squatting and trying to decide whether to cry or laugh as my predecessor placed what I believed to be one of the most beautiful crowns in the world on my head. It was a moment of sheer elation. Just the year before, she and I had talked about the time we would spend together at our state’s pageant, but as preliminary season had come to a close, I was left without a crown and the chance to vie for the job of my dreams: Miss Tennessee. It made the moment even sweeter to know the young woman that crowned me the very next year was also my friend, and like me, she had competed several times before she won her prelim. Me? Well, I competed ten times. A lot of people would have given up after only once or twice, but I didn’t. From the time I was fifteen years old, my dream had been to compete in and hopefully win the pageant when the time was right. Let me tell you why.

When I was twelve, I had no control over my body. My face would twitch and I would make these noises I still can’t really explain. I would go to bed every night completely exhausted, because my eyes would be so tired from the amount of blinking I did, and going to sleep was a massive struggle, because I started having these intense rituals I would have to pursue before finally letting myself be relieved with rest. When I went to the doctor, I was told that the disorder I had was Tourette’s Syndrome. I thought, there’s no way. I didn’t have a problem cussing and I didn’t hit people at random. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized just how right my doctor was. The signs had always been there; we had just waited that long to find the root of the problem. I had never felt less beautiful, and I created my own shell to hide in, doing what I could to avoid people in order to avoid adversity.

That’s why people were surprised when I signed myself up for a pageant. I honestly don’t know what possessed me to do it. I would almost say it was divine intervention. Time passed and I decided I wanted to do our local fair pageant. We were directed by two blonde women who later became great friends and mentors for me. With their help, I placed fourth-runner-up in the pageant, and felt beautiful for the first time in a long time. They encouraged me to compete further and led me to the Miss America Organization.

I think every little girl wants to be Miss America at some point. She’s the ideal woman—beautiful, poised, and smart. Surely there was no way I fit the bill. I was the Tourette’s Girl. I was a band geek, a comic book nerd, and not someone who could compete for Miss Tennessee. I spent the next few years preparing to compete and finally got the chance to “apply for the job” when I was seventeen. I fell so in love with it that I competed ten times before finally being awarded the opportunity to work towards the role I had been dreaming about.

But why did I love it so much? Behind the glitz and the glamour, Miss America is a real woman. Yes, she is beautiful, poised, as well as intelligent, but what so many people fail to realize is that the women that have become Miss Americas all started out in the same place as I stand today—as girls with dreams that may seem a little big for their heels. Heather Whitestone was deaf. Laura Kaeppeler’s father was incarcerated. Like many before me, this amazing organization has encouraged me to speak out and let the world hear my story instead of silencing my voice.

Miss America is able to sit on the floor and talk to children as well as the President. She is encouraged to walk in Scholarship, Style, Success and Service, by being a volunteer and serving her community. As part of the leading scholarship organization in the world, I am proud to say I am able to pursue a higher degree someday.  

Every time I didn’t win, I still walked away a winner. With every failure, I learned how to gain success. Was I ever discouraged? Of course, but in my entire time competing, I never doubted one thing: I had found an organization that believed in me. As a local titleholder, I have learned to embrace my challenges, because they have made me who I am today. There have been times when I’ve talked to school children about my disorder only to find out I was talking to a child that was struggling with the same challenges. Those are the moments that make me realize that even as a local titleholder, I am somebody’s Miss America.

Miss Tennessee has given me an entirely new outlook on my life. I’ve gained so much confidence to be the young woman I dream to be, thanks to the support of my family, the friends I have made, the organization and a director who always encourages me to reach for greatness. Of course, going to the gym twice a day, having to skip over that cake I love, constantly reading up on currents events and fitting after fitting can be sort of overwhelming, but at the end of the day, it will all be worth it. This is my dream we’re talking about.

The state pageant is next month and I may or may not win. I may never win another prelim after this, but the experiences and the friendships I’ve made make me a winner. At nineteen, I’m able to say I’m chasing after a chance not many women can say they do. It’s all because of the hard work, perseverance and the passion I have for this organization. You may or may not believe in pageants—and that is totally okay. But the fact that this organization made me realize I am more than my disorder has me sold.

 

The Definitive Ranking of all Mary-Kate and Ashley Movies

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Back in the days of VHS, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen ruled the small screen. The unrealistic plot twists were so bad that they were good. To this day, you still blame the twins for your horrendous haircut and your desire to spend semester studying abroad. Since your childhood was shaped by them and your teenage years were planned because of them, here are all 14 flicks ranked from worst to best:

14. How the West was Fun

TBH, the picture says it all. You probably look as scared as MK & Ash do above.

13. The Challenge 

An Olsen twin spin on Survivor? It was bound to be terrible. 

12. Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

This is a cute Halloween movie, but compared to the other MK & Ash movies, it ranks low. Aunt Agatha and a gravedigger aren't the best supporting characters the twin's movies have seen, anyway.

11. Getting There

Subtitled, Sweet 16 and Licensed to Drive, the movie emphasized all the clichés of the twin's coming of age. You automatically fantasized about your friends in cars and boys in hot tubs. Also, you were invoked with fear to ever face a drive thru again. 

10. To Grandmothers's House We Go

 

Because an escape from home wasn't enough to keep up with the boy- crazed Olsen twins. 

9. New York Minute 

New York Minute is an obvious pivot from the goodness to greatness of the Olsens in this ranking. Even though MK & Ash’s  adventures were coming to a halt, New York Minute was important. Not only were fans hyped to see the two on the big screen, but the fashion was on FLEEK. Bob Saget and the twins bracing NYC on the ledge of a building were unforgettable.

8. When in Rome 

If you love to romanticize, just replay When in Rome. MK & Ash are fired by their boss and then frantically forced on a vacation by him. **Insert a combo of confused and love stricken emojis here**

7. Our Lips Are Sealed

This made us believe all Aussies are attractive, surf and eat Vegemite.

6. Winning London

Ah, another movie = another attractive accent. This movie’s monumental moment was the French kiss! But, in reality, this movie was a monumental moment for high schools as their Model U.N. members increased. Thanks MK & Ash.

5. Billboard Dad

This feel good flick was for all the daddy’s girls out there. Thanks to Billboard Dad, pool clubs and scrambled eggs in plastic bags were all the craze.

4. Switching Goals 

This one satisfied the tomboy in all of us.

3. It Takes Two

Watching this involves the slightest bit more brain power than the normal foreign boys frenzy.  Forget Tinder, MK & Ash are the perfect match makers. Brownie points goes to It Takes Two for the epic food fight scene.

2. Passport to Paris

As the first international trip apart of their saga, the 13 year twins venture around France with their somewhat older boyfriends.

1. Holiday in the Sun 

Holiday in The Sun is the epitome Olsen twin movie masterpiece. We're sure parents had headaches from the number of times they were asked to go to Atlantis. Who knew a night in jail could be such a fantasy?


16 Thoughts Every Girl Has While Taking a Selfie

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We're all guilty of the occasionally shameless selfie. And while we try to create a spontaneous glimpse into our everyday life, in reality we spend way too long adjusting ourselves to make sure we get the perfect shot. The “effortless” selfie takes a lot more effort than we like to admit. Here are every girl’s thoughts while taking a selfie.

1. Ew, did I really walk around looking like this today?

2. Since when is my nose so huge?

3. Lighting on my face or from the side or from behind? The possibilities are endless.

4. Okay, the lighting is perfect here, but will people notice the cat poster in the background?

5. Well, if I put my hair up I’m showing off my neck, but having my hair down makes me look somewhat mysterious…

6. Is it overkill to do my hair just for this picture?

7. No. Never. Do it for the selfie.

8. Do I smile? Smirk? Wink? Stay straight-faced?

9. Okay, definitely not straight-faced. I look like I want to kill someone. Struggles of chronic resting bitch face.

10. Hair is the perfect volume, teeth look super white... *takes picture*

11. Ugh, why does it look like I'm about to sneeze? Maybe I should tilt my head a bit... *takes picture*

12. Dear God, it looks like I'm some kind of freak-show contortionist. Natural is probably best. *takes picture*

13. I. Am. A. Creature. Please tell me it's something wrong with my camera, not me.

14. How much of a close-up should this be? Like, cleavage or nah?

15. What filter should I use? Should I even use a filter? Is that trying too hard?

16. *One hour later* Yes, this is perfect!

Caption: "I woke up like this."

Someone Got Louis Tomlinson's Phone Number & What They Sent Him is Horrifying

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One Direction member Louis Tomlinson was reportedly the victim a of a threatening phone call this past March. Last Monday, 1D fan account @ladscheckups shared an audio clip of the disturbing call to Twitter.


The audio clip is assumed to be between Tomlinson and the unidentified caller, who is heard making threats against the musician and his young son, Freddie. At one point, the anonymous voice goes so far as to say, “You fucking bitch. I hope your baby dies.” Tomlinson can then be heard saying he is “going straight to my lawyer,” though the unknown caller does try to apologize after this. 

The threatening phone call isn’t the only reported drama Tomlinson has been facing recently. Since the birth of his son in January, Tomlinson has been engaged in a custody battle with Freddie’s mother, Briana Jungwirth. In addition, both Tomlinson and Jungwirth have been the targets of negative and hateful comments on Instagram that don’t seem to be dying down.  

Unsurprisingly, the Internet has gone into a frenzy over the alleged, disturbing phone call. Many 1D members are publicly proclaiming their support for Tomlinson and his family and expressing disgust over the threatening phone call. The hashtags #RespectLouis and #RespectLouisandFreddie have become popular on Twitter since the audio clip was posted.

We hope that this is the only instance of threatening phone calls. Tomlinson and his family have had a crazy past couple of months, so it's about time things calm down so they can focus all of their attention on their adorable baby. 

Court Tells Mississippi Town to Desegregate Public Schools

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Cleveland, Miss., a town that was once a hotbed for segregation and racism, has come a long way since the Civil Rights era. However, not all segregation has been eradicated from the neighborhood. On Friday, after a 50-year battle with the state, a federal court ordered the Cleveland school system to desegregate by consolidating its middle schools and high schools.

The vast majority of one of the middle schools is made up of black children. Similarly, one of the high schools is largely populated by black teens. The other middle and high school are mostly white. According to the Clarion Ledger, people have been fighting segregation in the schools for 50 years, making this groundbreaking news for everyone that has been dreaming of equality in Cleveland (which, we hope, is the entire town of 12,000 people).

The Cleveland school system provided two alternative plans, but the court rejected them and ruled them as unconstitutional, according to Reuters. U.S. District Judge Debra Brown found that the only real way to desegregate the schools would be to consolidate historically black and historically white schools into more diverse communities. 

This court order was made 62 years after the historic case Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled that the "separate but equal" has no place in public schools. "This decision serves as a reminder to districts that delaying desegregation obligations is both unacceptable and unconstitutional," said Vanita Gupta, the head of the Justice Department's civil rights division, according to CNN. The Cleveland school system is apparently still deciding whether they want to appeal the decision. Otherwise, it has 21 days to submit a timeline to enact Brown's decision. 

The town, which borders the Mississippi Delta, used to be a gold mine for cotton plantations and slaves. While we're happy that this court ruling was made, we're forced to wonder why the desegregation took so long to happen.

Twitter May Be Changing its 140-Character Limit

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We've all had at least one devastating Twitter moment when we had the most amazing tweet written out, only to see that we went over the 140-character limit. So, we sacrifice our good grammar and proper spelling in order to replace "your" with "ur,""and" with "&," and delete our super cute and relatable emojis. If we're lucky, the tweet still makes sense after all the alterations and we can salvage our Twitter cred.

Luckily, the binding chains of the 140-character limit may be released soon. Rumors have been flying around since the beginning of the year, but no changes have been made so far. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey hinted at the idea of a character extension, but has yet to confirm the rumors.


According to Refinery29, if a change was made, the company would likely just stop counting photos and links toward the 140-character limit. So, we won't be able to write long-winded tweets, but that's probably in our best interest anyway. Even with the 140-character limit, Tweeters everywhere have made long stories work by tweeting tons of shorter tweets. Anyone remember the Zola story?

Bloomberg reports that the limit was designed for users to be able to send tweets through SMS messaging (which have 160-character limits); the common way to tweet before smartphones became popular. Now that the use of SMS tweeting is, well, archaic, the company is more flexible about changes.

Twitter was created as an online space to send out quick and concise messages, so should it stay that way? Or are we ready to step our twitter game up beyond using "U" for "You?" 


Donald Trump and Megyn Kelly Meet After Months-Long Feud

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Megyn Kelly of FOX News hosted her first prime-time special on Tuesday in an extensive interview with Donald Trump. This was a much anticipated interview as both Trump and Kelly have received significant media attention in the past for a feud that developed after the first Republican debate, when Kelly criticized a comment Trump made towards women, referring to them as "fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals." Since that interaction, Trump has openly spoken badly about Kelly, calling her "Crazy Megyn" and accusing her of "having blood coming out of her wherever", a comment that has been interpreted to mean menstruation. 

So as you can imagine, the reunion of these two was bound to be interesting. Kelly didn't beat around the bush and immediately took to addressing some of the bad blood between her and Trump in the past nine months.



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