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8 Reasons Why Living on Your Own isn't as Great as You Expected

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Everyone thinks leaving home and venturing out on their own is going to be all fun all the time. And even though it can be, we're here to tell you that it's not always as glamorous as you think it'll be. 

1. Cooking becomes a necessary part of daily life:

It's essential to learn to cook properly so that you can nourish yourself...or you can just memorize the phone number of the nearest Thai restaurant.

2. Your apartment isn't going to clean itself:

So, that thick layer of dust and random hair balls you find everywhere...apparently they don't just go away on their own.

3. Bills are a thing:

You just got your paycheck! Finally you can buy the new jeans you want. Except you need to pay rent, electric, cable...maybe next month?

4. Your roommate's boyfriend won't be the only pest in your place:

MICE ARE REAL AND SO ARE SILVERFISH. WE ARE SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE.

5. You'll have to deal with an unresponsive, apathetic landlord:

Your dishwasher broke? Don't worry your landlord will fix it for you in 3-4 weeks! If you're lucky.

6. Groceries don't just magically appear in your fridge like they did back home:

Being a grown up is spending $160 on groceries for the week and eating half of it in one night while watching OITNB.

7. You have to learn to deal with neurotic neighbors:

They're always there to throw a huge party when you're trying to sleep, or complain that you're making too much noise when you're just sitting around quietly watching TV.

8. Construction work is going to be your new hobby:

Absentee landlords mean you need to start learning to fix some things on your own. Cabinet door falls off? Reattach it. Or just leave it on the ground. No door makes it easier to grab snacks anyways.

Welcome to adulthood!


Paris Hilton Reminds Kanye Who Made Kim Kardashian Famous

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Since the first episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians aired, "Kim Kardashian" has been a household name. In the early 2000s, however, Kardashian was simply known as Paris Hilton's assistant and party buddy.

In fact, the first time Kanye West even saw his now-wife was when she was still Hilton's doting assistant. "I remember I saw a picture of her and Paris Hilton, and I remember telling my boy, 'Have you seen that girl Kim Kar-djion?'" West recalled in a 2013 interview with Ryan Seacrest.

While Kardashian may have put her friendship with Hilton behind her, it seems like our favorite blonde heiress doesn't want anyone to forget how Kardashian got her start. 

Hilton recently liked a meme on Instagram that showed her head photoshopped into Kanye West's video for "Famous." Savage AF.

Our 2004 selves are LIVING right now. 

Lena Dunham is 'Sickened' by Kanye West's Video for 'Famous'

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We're not the only ones disgusted by Kanye West's exploitative video for "Famous." Lena Dunham, too, has some things to say.

The video features a number of controversial and noteworthy celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Donald Trump and Kim Kardashian, naked and asleep in bed together. The Girls star took to Facebook to talk about just how problematic this video is. 

"At the same time Brock Turner is getting off with a light tap for raping an unconscious woman and photographing her breasts for a group chat... As assaults are Periscoped across the web and girls commit suicide after being exposed in ways they never imagined... While Bill Cosby's crimes are still being uncovered and understood as traumas for the women he assaulted but also massive bruises to our national consciousness... Now I have to see the prone, unconscious, waxy bodies of famous women, twisted like they've been drugged and chucked aside at a rager?" she wrote. "It gives me such a sickening sense of dis-ease."

Dunham explained how she couldn't see the artistic merit of the video, "because seeing a woman I love like Talyor Swift (fuck that one hurt to look at, I couldn't look), a woman I admire like Rihanna or Anna reduced to a pair of waxy breasts made by some special effects guy in the Valley" makes her feel "sad and unsafe and worried for the teenage girls who watch this and may not understand that grainy roving camera as the stuff of snuff films." 

But despite her criticisms, Lena finished up with a powerful appeal to the artist himself: "Here's the thing, Kanye: you're cool. Make a statement on fame and privacy and the Illuminati or whatever is on your mind! But I can't watch it, don't want to watch it, if it feels informed and inspired by the aspects of our culture that make women feel unsafe even in their own beds, in their own bodies." 

Chelsea Handler Talks About Getting Abortions at Age 16

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Chelsea Handler has never been one to shy away from sharing details of her personal life—both the hilarious and the painful—and now, she's showing her strength and bravery in a recently published personal essay for Playboy. In the essay, entitled "My Choice," Handler courageously shares that she had two abortions as a teenager after unwanted pregnancies from the same man left her facing the difficult task of potentially raising a child. 

"Getting an abortion wasn't the first idea that popped into my unripened brain," Handler explained. "I was going through a very bad stage in my life. I hated my parents and I was having unprotected sex with my boyfriend, who was not someone I should've been having sex with in the first place, never mind unprotected sex. I wasn't really playing with a full deck of cards, and when I got pregnant I just thought, 'Why not? I can have a baby. Maybe I'll have twins and give them rhyming names!'"

Handler's parents informed their daughter that she had other options, including abortion. "They acted like parents for one of the very first times in my life and took me to Planned Parenthood. I felt parented, ironically, while I was getting an abortion. And when it was over, I was relieved in every possible way," she said. In fact, when Handler became pregnant again later that year, she elected to have another abortion. 

"I didn't have just one abortion; I had two in the same year, impregnated by the same guy," Handler admitted. "I didn't have the money the second time. I had to scrape together the $230 to pay Planned Parenthood, but it was a safe abortion. Getting unintentionally pregnant more than once is irresponsible, but it's still necessary to make a thoughtful decision. We all make mistakes all the time. I happened to fuck up twice at the age of 16. I'm grateful that I came to my senses and was able to get an abortion legally without risking my health or bankrupting myself or my family."

Handler's essay, along with SCOTUS's recent ruling preventing a Texas abortion clinic from shutting down, serve as the necessary reminders to our society that reproductive rights are human rights, and nobody has the right to police someone's body. 

There's Something Wrong With the Portrayal of This 'Moana' Character

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Over the years, we've (thankfully) seen an improvement in the diversity and strength of female characters in Disney films. Movies like The Princess and the Frog and Frozen are prime examples, proving that Disney can modify traditional ideas and still produce successful movies. Although Disney seems to moving in the right direction for future movies, many people have voiced their discontent with the company's upcoming movie, Moana.

In the film, Disney fans are introduced to a new princess named Moana. Based on what we know about the character, she's a South Pacific princess who goes on an adventure to discover a mythical island beyond her village. Along the way, Moana meets a demi-god named Maui (voiced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson). For most people, the depiction of Maui is where the dissatisfaction stems from.  

In the trailer for the movie, Maui is described as "the greatest demi-god in all the Pacific islands." Aided by his magic hook, he has skills that seem to rival The Rock himself. However, many are in agreement that the portrayal of this demi-god character is offensive, stereotypical and inaccurate. They believe that Maui should be depicted as a beautiful and fit warrior, rather than the seemingly obese figure seen in the trailer. 



While most find the depiction far from accurate, there are also others who argue that the character's appearance isn't offensive at all. Disney has yet to respond to the backlash, but we're quite curious to see how the company will defend their portrayal of Maui.  

Dove's Body Image Report Shows Some Concerning Results

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Summer is meant to be a time when we can let loose and have fun, but instead, it's become a time that many dread. The reason stems from the body image issues that so many girls face. Although we seem to be living during a time where all body types are celebrated, and women like Ashley Graham and Gigi Hadid are changing the norm among models, self-confidence is still as big an issue as ever. The Dove Global Beauty and Confidence Report revealed that many women still feel uncomfortable in their own skin. Featuring 10,500 women and girls across 13 countries, the survey found overwhelming unhappiness and lacking self confidence.

In fact, 85% of women and 79% of girls say that they will skip out on everyday activities because of their low self-esteem. More alarmingly, the report also found that 9 out of 10 women stop themselves from eating because they feel uncomfortable with the way they look. The most interesting part though? No matter where they were from, body image was always a main concern.

Dr. Nancy Etcoff, Assistant Clinical Professor Harvard Medical School, Director of Program in Aesthetics and Wellbeing, MGH Department of Psychiatry told Dove, "This latest research shows that low body confidence is a global issue… Though troubling, these results are also unsurprising, given the increasing pressures women and girls face today. We need to help empower women and girls in many ways, including increasing body-confidence education, driving meaningful conversations around the pressures women and girls face, and advocating for change in how females and their appearance are talked about and portrayed in the media."

Media seems to be a large concern for women and girls as well, with 71% of women and 67% of girls telling Dove that they want the media to portray a more realistic body image. With the prevalence of social media and the constant pressure to look, feel and live up to unrealistic expectations, it's hard to find confidence, but with so many women and girls pushing for change, hopefully we can learn to truly love ourselves.

Suicide Bomb Attack in Istanbul Airport Kills 36 And Wounds Almost 150

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Three suicide bombers opened fire in Istanbul’s Ataturk airport on Tuesday before blowing themselves up. Al Jazeera reported that the suicide attack killed at least 36 people and wounded 147.

Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim indicated that the Islamic State (ISIS) may have carried out the shootings and bombings. One U.S. senior official agreed, telling CNN that the use of weapons and explosives was extremely characteristic of an ISIS-coordinated attack.

CNN reported that one video of the attacks showed a police officer shooting one of the gunman. After hovering above the man briefly, the police officer ran away. An explosion erupted approximately 10 seconds later.


"The attack, which took place during the holy month of Ramadan, shows that terrorism strikes with no regard for faith and values," Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement, according to Reuters. "The bombs that exploded in Istanbul today could have gone off at any airport in any city around the world.”

This was the fourth terror attack in Istanbul this year. Erdogan called for all governments to join forces against terrorism, rather than a select few dealing with the global threat in a gradual manner.

"Make no mistake: For terrorist organizations, there is no difference between Istanbul and London, Ankara and Berlin, Izmir and Chicago or Antalya and Rome. Unless all governments and the entire mankind join forces in the fight against terrorism, much worse things than what we fear to imagine today will come true," said Erdogan, according to CNN.

The Ataturk airport is the third-busiest in Europe, the 11th-busiest in the world, and the largest in Turkey in terms of visitors per day. Officials say that most of the casualties were Turkish residents, although others from around the world were killed as well. Following the attacks, the airport could be closed for up to 48 hours.

In a statement, the White House said, "Ataturk International Airport, like Brussels Airport which was attacked earlier this year, is a symbol of international connections and the ties that bind us together.” The attack resembles the Brussels Airport attack that killed 32 people in March, which was perpetrated by the Islamic State. 

16 Easy & Tasty Fourth of July Dessert Recipes

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This Fourth of July, celebrate the red, white and blue in the sweetest way—with one of these festive and delicious dessert recipes. 

1. Cake Pops

Let's just say that with these cake pops you'll be the talk of any Fourth of July BBQ. 

2. Firecracker Cake

What better way to show your patriotism than with this firecracker cake?

3. Rice Krispie Treats

A party isn't a party without some sort of Rice Krispie dessert.

4. Red, White and Blue Bark

A Christmas in July treat.

5. Dipped Pretzels

A munchie perfect for any occasion—it never gets old.

6. Mini Patriotic Parfaits

We must admit we've never seen anything like this, which is why we can't wait to try it out! 

7. Tie-Dye Fudge

Vanilla fudge gets a festive twist with this red, white and blue design.

8. Oreo Pops

Because covering Oreos in chocolate makes them even better! 

9. Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

This totally beats a cupcake in a jar.

10. Brownie Bites

This dessert is a real crowd-pleaser.

11. Patriotic Ice Cream Sandwich Pops

A frozen treat everyone will love!

12. Dipped Strawberries

A classic dessert with a holiday twist. 

13. Fruit and Jello Cups

Jello has seriously never looked so good.

14. Candy Apples

The secret? Blue raspberry candy apple magic mix!

15. Summer Berry Popsicles

We found the perfect way to cool off in the summer heat.

16. Patriotic Berry and Cake Dessert Platter

This beautiful dish works for any patriotic holiday. 


8 Ways to Move Past Coffee & Copies at Your Internship

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We all know that interns are the lowest employees on the company totem pole, which means that trips to both the local Starbucks and the Xerox machine are probably inevitable. However, that doesn’t mean you should resign yourself to a “coffee-and-copies” type of internship if a couple weeks have gone by and you still haven’t been asked to do anything meaningful. Rather than complaining to all of your friends about your wasted summer and spending all of your mental energy daydreaming about Zac Efron, here are eight ways you can transform a “meh” internship into a super-productive experience.

1. Talk to your supervisor

Although it may seem obvious that you didn’t sign up to be an intern so you could spend all of your time doing mindless chores, your supervisor might have no idea she’s not using you to your full potential. However, if you’re considering going up to her and saying, “I’m bored,” abort mission! That’s the number one thing you should never utter at work.

"Avoid putting yourself in the victim role, but be honest and forthight," says Lisa Orrell, author of Your Employee Brand is in Your Hands: How Any Employee Can Create & Promote Their Own Personal Leadership Brand for Massive Career Success! "Your adviser will probably assume you have things to do if you don't say anything."

Orrell recommends asking for a meeting with your boss and respectfully asking for more responsibilities. She also says this is a great time to restate your strengths.

“Are you strong at Excel, PowerPoint or another type of software? Are you good at social media? Even if you brought those things up during the initial interview, your supervisor may have forgotten,” Orwell says. “You’ll jog their memory and they’ll remember other tasks and projects they can have you do.”

For example, you could say, “During the interview, we discussed my research skills. Is there anything I can help you with that would utilize those skills?”

Maybe you’re a talented writer and your blog is your baby. Ask your supervisor if you can help work on the company newsletter. Or maybe you’d like to help out with the company’s Twitter page (you’re so great at clever tweeting!).

Don’t think you can’t use this strategy if you have the opposite problem: being too busy, but with busywork. You should still respectfully ask for more higher-level tasks by reiterating your strong suits. Succeeding at these will have a domino effect: your supervisor will see that you’re capable and responsible, which will lead to more challenging projects. This will further prove your potential!

2. Manage your time

If, even after talking to your supervisor, you’re still bogged down with chores that require approximately 2 percent of your mental capacity to complete, than try to do them as quickly as you can without sacrificing quality. In other words, don’t make the time “go by faster” by checking Facebook at every consecutive 10-minute mark, as tempting as that may be. The faster you complete the boring tasks, the sooner you can get to more stimulating ones.

“There will always be a juggling act at work that tests your ability to complete the things that need to get done and those you would prefer to be doing,” says Joan Snyder Kuhl, founder of Why Millennials Matter, a Gen-Y speaking and consulting company. “If you approach your internship with a project-management mindset, then it will help you organize your time to execute the top priorities set by your boss and allocate time for developmental opportunity projects.”

This may require writing copious to-do lists, blocking social media on your phone and laptop and arriving at the office early and staying late. But even if you have to buy an extra cup of coffee and sacrifice a couple sushi nights with your girls, it will be worth it. Your boss will notice what a strong and dedicated worker you are, which will — hopefully — lead to projects that actually require some thinking.

3. Come up with your own project

“Taking initiative” is a career buzzword, but there’s a good reason for that: it’s super impressive. There’s no better way to show your supervisors you can think for yourself, find areas for improvement and develop solutions.

According to Snyder, the first step in creating your own task is to understand the business model of the company you’re working for.

“You need to ask yourself, ‘How do they make money? What’s important to them? What drives their results?’” she says. “Any project you devise should help them get their results faster.”

There are also projects that apply to almost every industry.  For example, if you notice that meetings are run inefficiently — they always run over their scheduled times, people become restless, no one stays on topic, etc. — you could research ways to run meetings more effectively and then share the info with your supervisor or team.

“Sometimes, especially at small companies, employees are out of touch and relying on antiquated ways of doing something,” Orrell says. “They’re so busy doing their jobs, they don’t have time to re-organize their processes.”

If nothing jumps out at you to fix, the last approach is sitting down with your supervisor and other team members and asking them what niggling problems they have at work.

“It could even be something like, ‘our storage room is incredibly disorganized, and none of us want to deal with it, but we complain about it all the time,’” Orwell says. “Even if it doesn’t directly pertain to your major or your career, you’ll look like a rock star for solving an ongoing problem.”

4. Go to other departments

If you still don't have enough to do, you can go to other departments — but tread carefully. Walking over to another wing of the building and volunteering your help may seem vastly preferable to sitting at your desk and idly swiping through Tinder to pass the time; however, doing so without asking your boss first is a serious faux pas.

“You don’t want to alienate your supervisor by unintentionally making them look bad,” says Jason Dorsey, author of My Reality Check Bounced! The Gen-Y Guide To Cashing In on Your Real-World Dreams.

Instead, go to your supervisor and tell him or her you’re interested in helping out, say, the marketing department, because you took a couple of marketing courses in college and would like a chance to learn more about the field.

“When you ask, don’t forget to say that the work that they have assigned you obviously comes first and you’ll get that done before helping the other department,” Snyder says.

You can also find opportunities for work by sitting in on company meetings (with your supervisor’s permission) and listening carefully. If someone is assigned a project he or she seems less than enthusiastic about, he or she would probably jump at an offer for an extra pair of hands. And even if the employee does accept a task with a smile, he or she may still want your help! After the meeting, send him or her an email saying, “I’d love to contribute to X project. Are there any tasks I can do for you?”

Stay alert and you won’t have to resort to swiping right and left for entertainment. Meanwhile, your go-getter attitude will impress the whole office.

5. Network

Whether you’re doing grunt work or helping out on a major project, you can definitely make connections so that even if you walk away with nothing else, you’ve still gotten a lot of value out of your internship. According to Dorsey, an intern should network every single day, but not just at work.

“If you’re in a small office, there may simply not be that many people, and you’re already getting to know them,” he says. “If you’re in a big company, there may be hundreds or thousands of people at your location, so meeting all of them is impossible and a waste of time.”

Dorsey advises building a core group of contacts by consistently getting meals with your coworkers and holding friendly conversations. After that, you can expand your network outward.

“Make new friends when you go to get coffee, eat lunch, take a break or [are] in areas of the building where people naturally congregate,” he says. “Be the person who says ‘hello’ first, and your network will naturally build.”

In addition to making connections organically, you also can — and should! — request an informational interview with professionals in the company or area where you’re working.

“Interns should send polite emails asking for 15-minute coffee meetings to learn more about that person’s career path, field or just any advice they may have,” Snyder says.

Take advantage of the one time in your life where you can pull the “student card.” And thankfully, you can schedule meetings outside the 9-5 workday, so even if you’re busy unjamming the copier, networking is totally doable. To learn more about informational interviews, read this comprehensive guide.

6. Develop your skills

If you’re still a little bitter about how your internship expectations differed from reality, look at this as a fantastic opportunity to broaden your skill set. Start by observing what’s highly valued at your workplace and then find areas for self-improvement.

“Maybe you aren’t really strong at Excel, but the company uses it quite a bit,” Orrell says. “You could ramp up your skills within a couple days, and that would open the door towards people asking for your help.”

Teaching yourself how to code, reading tutorials on SEO (search engine optimization), practicing your Photoshop and image-editing skills, improving your writing and even learning practical business skills are all great uses of your time that you can do for free and on your laptop (YouTube, anyone?). Plus, they’ll look way better on your screen than Facebook’s characteristic blue-and-white page, should your supervisor should happen to walk by.

7. Research the competition

By examining the competition, you can improve your knowledge and potentially help your company. Try looking at other companies in the field and figuring out what they do differently than the one you’re interning for. What works? What doesn’t? If you find anything yours could change to increase its competitive edge, summarize your results in a Word document or PowerPoint and send them to your supervisor. Your employers will love that you recognized such an essential part of being a successful business.

8. Request to job shadow

For a hands-on learning experience and a way to get a feel for different roles in the company, see if there’s anyone willing to let you shadow him or her. Dorsey says asking to job shadow is a good idea as long as you don’t request a whole day.

“Make it more manageable by asking if there are specific blocks of time that work well for them for you to tag along,” he says. “That way they don’t feel obligated, and it increases the likelihood they’ll say yes.”

According to Orrell, you should shadow someone at the level above you as well as someone above that person, if possible.

“That gives you a really good picture of what to expect and what skills you will need as you move up the ladder,” she says. “In addition, it can help you determine if that’s even a career path you want to pursue.”

Orrell also advises starting in your own department and then branching out. For example, if you’re interning with marketing, start there, then move to sales, and then move to the next related tiers, such as distribution, customer service or manufacturing.

With a little creativity and effort on your part, virtually any internship can be productive! Today, you’re making friends with the baristas at Starbucks and filing documents ceaselessly; tomorrow, you’ll be taking over the world.

Twitter Is Adding Stickers You Can Put on Your Pictures

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Already a hit feature on both Snapchat and Facebook, stickers are one of social media's latest trends. I mean, who wouldn't want to add a smiling sun to their picture or a crown to their #selfie? Now, Twitter is joining in on the fun!

Twitter stickers are emojis that you can place on top of a photo, according to Wired.  There's crowns, masks, sunglasses, and other favorite stickers you can find on other platforms. The new feature includes a standard set of stickers, as well as special event stickers. 

Stickers have become a worldwide phenomenon for social media. According to Quartz, the messaging app Line sold $268 million in stickers last year alone. Adding "stickers" could help Twitter cash in on another source of revenue as the company fights for its user base to grow. 

The stickers will work pretty much the same as hashtags. All you need to do is to tap the sticker in a picture to see other Tweeters who used the same one recently. The stickers will be especially useful during large events, where the "special event" sticker will serve as the ubiquitous hashtag for the occassion. Check out how they work below! 



Neo-Nazi Rally at California Capitol Turns to Chaos

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With the rise of Donald Trump, American politics has become increasingly violent over the past few months. The newest outbreak took place at the California Capitol Sunday afternoon when two neo-Nazi groups rallied together in support of the presumptive Republican nominee, and were faced with protesters.

The Traditionalist Worker Party states on its website, "European-Americans are the descendants of indigenous people of Europe. They are often identified on government forms as Caucasian or 'white'. We believe that European-American identity is under constant attack by members of American institutions such as the state, education, culture and even churches." Some of its beliefs include enforcing the "traditional" family, attacking anti-Christian values, and supporting the enclaves (or separation) of different heritages within the U.S. The California Skinheads, a white supremacist group and a branch of the Traditionalist Worker Party, joined in the rallies. Their website states that the group's mission is to fight "for the rights of whites," and to "secure a future for our people." 

"The purpose of the protest was a reaction around the Donald Trump rallies where working-class white Americans were trying to peacefully organize," Matt Parrott, spokesman for the Traditionalist Worker Party told the Sacramento Bee

But the protest soon became a battle before it even had a chance to begin. The 30 members of the Traditionalist Worker Party that came out for the protest were met by about 400 anti-fascist protesters, according to California Highway Patrol Officer George Granada. 

The counter protesters began by chanting "Nazi scum off our streets," and soon the tension between the two parties erupted into violence. Robert Bautista, a bystander, told the Los Angeles Times that the anti-fascists "beat the heck out of a couple guys."

Bottles, rocks, and sticks were thrown and swung by the opposing groups. One hundred police officers swarmed the capitol to regain order. By the conclusion of the violent outburst, five people had been stabbed and multiple people injured. While attending to an African American man who had been stabbed in the leg, medical assistant Andrea Combs, 43, told the Bee, "The Nazis are after the black people. I saw the second stabbing victim drop, too."

People from both sides of the riots were quick to put the blame on each other for starting the violence. Sacramento Police Chief Sam Somers told the Bee that "regardless of the message, it’s the skinheads’ First Amendment right to free speech." 

Meanwhile, Yvette Felarca, a counter protester, told CBS News that the anti-fascists achieved their goal. "[We] came out to shut them down and we succeeded in doing that." With the election nearly four months away, political rallies and riots will probably only get more violent as tensions increase about the future of the country. 

This Teen Asked To Help Carry Groceries and Ended Up With Over $300K

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The last two weeks have been a whirlwind for two unlikely friends.

When Chauncy Black walked up to Matt White outside a Memphis Kroger store and offered to carry his groceries to his car in exchange for a box of glazed donuts, he had no idea that his whole life was about to change. Matt accepted Chauncy's offer and decided to take him shopping for more than just donuts. 

"He said that he had come all the way out here with the hopes of someone buying him something to eat because he and his mother had nothing at home," Matt wrote in a Facebook post. "So, needless to say, he and I went on a shopping spree. We had so much fun! We got cereal and chips and frozen veggies, pizza, Cheertos, melons and pasta, peanut butter, milk, soap, tooth brushes, just a little bit of everything."

During their shopping spree, Matt learned that Chauncy is a straight-A student who picks up odd jobs wherever he can to help support his sick mother. Matt dropped Chauncy off at home after their trip so he didn't have to take the bus.

He was truly humbled by what he saw. "He and his mom had nothing," Matt wrote. "They didn't even have beds or furniture. They were sleeping on pads made out of sleeping bags, they had two lamps and nothing in their fridge."

Matt knew he had to do something to help, so he started a GoFundMe page in Chauncy's honor. The original goal of the page was to raise enough money to buy Chauncy a push lawn mower, which costs around $250, so that he could begin his own lawn service. But the page soon went viral and raised over $300,000 in just 14 days. 

Chauncy can't believe the outpouring of support. "It means a whole lot to us and our family," he told CNN. "We are very thankful to all of those who reached out to get us into a better home and a safe environment."

His mother, Barbara Martin, was choking back tears as she spoke to CNN. "I'm still stunned," she said. "I just don't know what to say. It's just so wonderful. I just know God is good and he sent a good person into our lives."

The money raised will be put into a trust that will be used to finance Chauncy's education and get his family into a new home, Matt told WMC Action News 5. The family will also be meeting with financial advisors to ensure that the money is put to good use.

7 Reasons Why You Should Apply to Be a Her Campus High School Ambassador

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Are you a high school student looking for a new amazing opportunity? You’re in luck—the Her Campus High School Ambassador Program is now accepting applications! If you are interested in journalism, digital media, marketing, public relations or writing, this position is perfect you.

Being an ambassador has so many perks—like gaining valuable work experience and making awesome new friends, to name a few. Need more convincing? Read on for 7 reasons why you should apply to be a Her Campus High School Ambassador now!

1. The assignments are totally manageable

Assignments are given on a weekly basis. Typically, they are assigned Monday morning and are due the following Sunday night. All of the assignments can be handled by any pre-collegiette and can be completed with ample time to spare within the week. You can even reach out to other members of the High School Ambassador program if you need help. Plus, once you’re finished you’ll have some fantastic new clips to add to your portfolio!

2. You'll be part of an amazing network and meet tons of other brilliant teens 

The High School Ambassador program consists of high school students from all over the globe. Whether you chat in the Facebook group or you end up peer editing each other’s work, you are guaranteed to meet teens who are hardworking, focused and ambitious just like you. The program’s Facebook group is a great way to keep connected, to share your ideas and thoughts, or even to ask for help with your assignments. You’ll become part of an incredible and supportive community (and you’ll all totally like each other’s HC-related social media posts, of course).

3. You will be exposed to even more opportunities beyond Her Campus

With the wide variety of connections and partnerships within the Her Campus community, you will be exposed to so many exclusive opportunities. For example, in the past, ambassadors have been offered the chance to join Keds' online fashion community. Fashionistas were selected to work with Keds to inspire new styles and exchange opinions. Being an ambassador will open up doors that will provide you with these kinds of exclusive opportunities and help you achieve your professional goals.

4. It looks awesome on your resume

Mentioning that you were an ambassador for the #1 global community for college women will certainly give your resume a boost! College admissions officers, internship hiring managers and potential employers will all be impressed to see that you have gained professional experience in your field of interest prior to graduating high school. And when you list all of the skills you’ve acquired through your position as a High School Ambassador, your resume will definitely stand out from the rest!  

5. The skills you learn are beneficial and practical

The program covers areas such as marketing, journalism, writing, editing, blogging, public relations and design. These areas are crucial to thrive not just in the media, but in any industry! It’s not often that students are able to obtain these skills as early as high school, so take advantage of this opportunity while you can. Past assignments for this program have included writing articles, developing marketing plans and pitching product ideas. The assignments are practical and will provide you with relevant and meaningful experience. So when you get your first college internship, you’ll already have all of these skills up your sleeve!

6. You're eligible for discounts at Her Campus conferences

Whether it’s Her Conference or Her Conference: High School, if you're a High School Ambassador, you can bank on discounted tickets. Plus, you'll get the chance to meet all of the people you've been chatting with in the Facebook group IRL! You’re welcome.

7. You'll be a part of a company that has been recognized by Glamour, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Lucky, Cosmopolitan, Business Insider and so many other prominent publications.

That’s right, Her Campus has been recognized by all of these famous media outlets and then some. Her Campus was even ranked as one of the best 100 websites for women in 2013. This global community has over 6,000 contributors and over 250 campus chapters around the country (and in the U.K. and Brazil!). Her Campus is growing and expanding every single day—and you have a chance to be a part of that.

The High School Ambassador application closes on September 1, 2016. Be sure to submit your application, and spread the word to your friends and peers! We are so excited to meet our ambassadors for the 2016-2017 school year. Good luck, pre-collegiettes!

Chloë Grace Moretz Takes On Body-Shaming Internet Trolls

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Chloë Grace Moretz has always been outspoken about her thoughts on everything from feminism to celebrity squads. At only 19 years old, the young actress is proving that she's wise beyond her years, serving as a great role model for girls. Seriously, we need more outspoken and educated people like Chloë in the world. And when she's not busy filming a movie or giving her opinion on politics, she's also showing that she has absolutely no time for Internet trolls—especially those who body shame others.

It's no secret that the increased popularity of social media has led to an unacceptable amount of cyberbullying. Every day, you're likely to see a negative comment posted online, whether you're scrolling through Twitter or Instagram. Celebrities like Chloë have experienced their fair share of public scrutiny, but the rude messages directed toward these stars are beyond offensive. Being in the industry for several years now, Chloë has reached her limit on the negativity and is letting everyone know that body shaming isn't acceptable on any level.

During a Twitter rant, Chloë voiced her disgust over people who judge others from behind the protection of their computers. "When will people hiding behind computer screens get tired of calling someone 'fat' or 'masculine,'" she wrote. "Does it make you feel good typing your hateful comments? Does it fulfill you in some dark way?"

"Sit back before you fire away commenting ignorant things and imagine the real HUMAN BEING you are commenting about," she continued. "He or she is a PERSON, with feelings and thoughts and a life that you are affecting so negatively."

Chloë wrapped up with a powerful call to action: "I've spent my whole life in front of cameras growing up with miscellaneous people judging and critiquing every little thing about myself…and it's time we all stop hiding behind keyboards pretending we know even the smallest thing about the people we judge."

The starlet also made sure that she ended her brilliant rant on a positive note. 


Because LBH, who doesn't like tacos?

Former Indiana University Student Avoids Prison After Being Accused of Two Rapes

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Former Indiana University student John P. Enochs has been charged with rape in two different cases, but just last week was able to accept a plea deal dropping both felony charges—leaving him with only one year's probation and no prison time. The 22-year-old spent only one night in jail last fall because he was able to post bail the next day. As in Brock Turner's case, the news about Enochs has caused outrage.

According to The New York Times, "Enochs pleaded guilty to one count of battery with moderate bodily injury." Prosecutors wanted to charge him with a felony, but his age and lack of prior convictions caused the judge to reduce this charge to a misdemeanor. The Huffington Post reports this crime is usually a level 6 felony in the state of Indiana. Along with probation, Enochs has to pay $183 in court costs. Even though Enochs had had marijuana and alcohol charges pressed against him in the past and was facing sexual assault charges from two different women, prosecutors ultimately decided there was not enough evidence to win a trial against him.

The more recent charge brought against Enochs was after a party hosted by his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, on April 11, 2015. Court documents explain that the woman accusing Enochs reported to police that when she was trying to find a bathroom in the house, she found herself in a bedroom with an unknown male having sex with her, even though she knows she repeatedly say "no." Video surveillance gives proof that she did enter and leave the room with Enochs, and showed her possibly hugging Enochs as she left—which lawyers could have used to pass doubt on the victim's rape claims. DNA evidence proved that the two had sex, but found the DNA of two other men as well. While a nurse found a laceration in the victim's genital area, there was no way to prove Enochs was the one who caused it, because of the presence of other DNA.

A second woman came forward to push criminal charges against Enochs as well. She says in a police affidavit that in October of 2013 she blacked out in her sorority house while drinking with Enochs, and was later told by friends that she had sex with her. Due to alcohol, she had no memory of the events of that night, making it hard to prosecute the case.

The woman from the 2013 case is now trying to file a civil complaint against the Delta Tau Delta chapter of Indiana University. The fraternity was placed on social restrictions for six months following the 2015 allegation, and Enochs was expelled, according to court documents obtained by Huffington Post, but the university would not give details as to the reason for expulsion.


House Benghazi Report Presents No New Allegations Against Hillary Clinton

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After a long and costly two-year investigation, the House Republicans haven't found any new evidence of wrongdoing by Hillary Clinton leading up to the Benghazi terror attacks that resulted in the deaths of four Americans.

The inquiry into the controversial attacks has gotten press due to its relation to Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. Although the report doesn’t explicitly point to Clinton as the reason for the investigation, it does say that she was involved because she and other government officials did not accurately measure the risks of the situation. The report also agreed with previous findings that concluded that United States military was capable of reaching the scene of attack. However, nowhere in the 800 page report is there specific information that further criminalizes Clinton.

CNN reports that Republican Representatives, Mike Pompeo of Kansas and Jim Jordan of Ohio, told Chris Cuomo Tuesday on CNN's "News Day” that "[t]he overall report, it's about the facts, what happened…But Mr. Pompeo and I thought it was important to ask the questions. Why were we still in Benghazi when almost every other country had left? Why did we stay in Benghazi when the security situation was so terrible, so dangerous? And why did the administration mislead us?"

The fact that Clinton used a personal email server during the time of the Benghazi attack caused even greater scrunity and investigation into her involvement. One dramatic moment in the investigation occurred in October of 2015, when Clinton testified for over 8 hours—even after she had already admitted her wrongdoings in how she handled the attacks. Her testimony did not provide much revelation, and The New York Times reports that many regarded it as an embarrassment to the Republican party, a sentiment that is also felt by Democrats following this new Benghazi report:

“More than two years and more than $7 million in taxpayer funds, the Committee report has not found anything to contradict the conclusions of the multiple, earlier investigations,” said a spokesperson for the Clinton campaign in a statement that was reported by the Times.

This opinion is also shared amongst many Democrats, who view the extensive research and funds into Clinton’s time as Secretary of State as a waste of taxpayer money. Furthermore, the lack of any finite evidence further backs the Democratic allegations that the House Benghazi Report was merely created to disrupt and hinder Clinton’s presidential efforts.

7 Things Your Pee is Trying to Tell You

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There are a lot of fun things that come with being a girl; from obsessing over makeup, to touting a “messy hair, don’t care” policy and just going with flow. However, there are plenty of not fun things that make it suck sometimes, too. Wondering, “Is my pee pink because I’m getting my period or because I’m getting a UTI?” is one of those not-so-fun things to have to deal with. Luckily, we got the lowdown on what’s normal and what isn’t when it comes to the things about your body that your pee is trying to tell you.

 

What’s normal

1. You’re well-hydrated

The most common thing your pee could also be telling you is that you’re well hydrated. If so, you’ll notice a clear or very faint yellow color and little to no odor -- though you may run to the restroom more often then your less-hydrated pals. According to Dr. Greg Scott of the Center for Natural Healthcare and Nutrition, these symptoms are healthy and a sign of proper hydration. Go you!

2. You’ve been eating lots of veggies

You may not know this, but the color and odor of your urine can also be affected by the kinds of vegetables you eat. If you’re noticing a smell that’s a little funky and you’ve recently eaten asparagus, the vegetable is the likely culprit. Doctor Scott explains that “over half of all humans will have abnormal smelling urine following consumption [of asparagus],” so you can rest assured that you’re not “weird” or “gross,” this reaction is completely normal!

If you consume large amounts of beets or tomatoes, your pee could also turn a bright red. Again, Dr. Scott ensures us that this is a completely normal reaction to consuming those foods . Note that if veggies like beets are the culprit of your red pee, you shouldn’t experience any pain or burning—if you do, that might indicate a UTI, which we’ll get into later. 

Related: 9 Hacks for a Healthier Week

3. You’re getting a lot of vitamin B

Another common food-related tell-all that may reveal itself in your pee is your intake of vitamin B. “Most commonly I see a concern of urine turning neon yellow to an orange color because someone is taking a high quality multivitamin or B complex supplement.” says Dr. Scott. He explains that this happens when the body experiences an overload of vitamin B2 (also known as riboflavin) and those extra B vitamins that the body can’t use are then excreted into the urine.  

Most multivitamins include vitamin B in their formulas, so if the neon yellow discoloration is bothering you, consider relying on your multivitamin for your vitamin B intake and cutting out the supplements if you’re taking them (unless prescribed by a doctor, of course). 

4. Something you ate had blue food dye in it

While this is extremely rare, Dr. Scott notes that it is possible for your pee to turn a vibrant blue or blue-green. However, he says this is almost always associated with the ingestion of food dyes, and isn’t usually a cause for concern. 

In order for the color of your pee to be affected by blue food dye, you would have to consume a lot of it—and by a lot we mean several blue cupcakes with blue frosting in order to give your pee a bluish tinge. 

However, if you’re taking any kind of medication that is colored blue, you may also notice blue pee. Dr. Scott says that Amitriptyline, which is commonly prescribed for many reasons, such as to treat anxiety, depression, or migraines can cause this since it contains blue food dye too. 

What’s NOT normal

5. You’re dehydrated

If you’re noticing dark yellow pee, your body is most likely trying to tell you that you’re dehydrated—which is super common! 

Dr. Scott explains, “When we are dehydrated, the kidneys choose to hold back water and the urine that results is very concentrated. This makes the color [a] darker yellow and odor stronger.” 

It’s always important to stay hydrated, but especially so in the summer. If your pee is telling you that you’re dehydrated, you should definitely incorporate drinking more water into your daily routine. After all, according to the National Institutes of Health, you should aim to consume about three to four liters of water every day between the foods you eat and the beverages you drink. While this sounds like a lot, you should be able to meet your water quota by simply reaching for a cup or a bottle when you’re thirsty instead of reaching for coffee or a soda. Sometimes all it takes is a cute water bottle or some yummy fruit infusion to help you sip up!

6. You may be getting a urinary tract infection or something more serious

Pinkish-red or brown-orange pee accompanied by itching, burning and pain while sitting on the toilet could mean that you have a urinary tract infection, or a UTI. According to Dr. Scott, cloudy urine that also smells “fishy” is another symptom. If you notice any of these, make an appointment with your doctor or campus health center ASAP so they can figure out and fix what’s actually going on. But don’t worry, a UTI can be easily diagnosed with a simple urine sample at the doc’s office and they can send you on your way with a treatment in no time. 

One reason it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible if you notice abnormal symptoms is because it’s impossible to know exactly what’s going on in your body without a proper urinalysis. Dr. Scott shared that some of the same symptoms indicative of a UTI (such as brown or orange pee) can also indicate more serious medical conditions like metabolic disease, a kidney infection, kidney failure, or liver disease.

7. You could be diabetic

Lastly, your pee can also be telling you that you’re diabetic. If you’re noticing a sickly sweet odor (like maple syrup) or an odor that reminds you of acetone (like nail polish remover) then you might be diabetic. If you notice these odors, combined with frequent, uncontrollable urges to pee, Dr. Scott suggests that you visit your doctor and express your concerns.

Obviously, the only way to know for sure if any of these more serious conditions apply to you is to go into your doctor’s office and get tested for them. But hopefully now you can save yourself the five minutes of Googling ‘neon yellow pee’ and rest easy knowing that you can instead spend those moments looking up something super important—like easy snack recipes that speak to your lazy-day soul.

A Letter to The Girls Who Have Never Been Loved

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“You’ve never been in a relationship?” they ask us in an astonished tone, doing their best to mask the confusion and pity they feel for the girl standing in front of them. And you smile and nod in response, trying to brush off the question as if it hasn’t already spilled salt in a bleeding wound. Deep down, you know ignoring is never a remedy for the sting. The truth that you’ve never fallen in love, and that no one has ever fallen in love with you, is a loneliness that is incomparable to most form of pains—and you’ve been feeling it for so long that it’s hard to imagine it ever going away.

Remember, You’re Not Alone.

Regardless of how much denial we want to bury ourselves in, the social norm for our culture is to have been part of a romantic relationship, or multiple romantic relationships, by the time we enter college. This is further proven by songs, movies, books, and couples boasting their perfect relationships on social media.

This constant bombardment of a love fueled atmosphere is enough to spiral us “forever alone” folk into an extremely sad state of mind. But it’s not abnormal. There are more of us girls than you think who haven’t been in love and it’s not a bad thing. Comparing your life to others is the only “wrong” thing about this scenario. It will grant no positivity to your life. Don’t focus on societal expectations and always remember—you’re not alone in having never experienced love.

There is Nothing Wrong With You.

It’s easy to chalk up your lack of relationships to your own personal flaws and it can seem as if there is something wrong with you that acts as a repellant to all potential suiters. That is not the case. When outward experiences aren’t going as planned, we tend to look for inward blame.

That’s not only harmful to your self-esteem but can also make you feel even worse. Embrace who you are and understand that love is about accepting another person’s flaws and not about avoiding people who have them. You will find someone who loves you for you.

We’re Strongly Independent.

Compared to most, we have spent the largest portions of our lives having to be utterly dependent on ourselves for all aspects of life and this is an immensely essential process for young women to go through.

We’ve only ever relied on ourselves to find happiness, to feel secure, to find comfort, and to fulfill our needs and this gives us a unique stability and strength. We all know the girl who always feels like she has to be in a relationship to feel okay, and luckily, that will never have to be us because we’ve already mastered self-sufficiency.

We Will Be Amazing Lovers.

Years upon years of unused love have been storing up in our hearts, and the person we eventually meet will be extremely lucky to have us. We have so much to offer and we are more than ready and willing to give our all to the person who deserves our love. Once we meet the person we’ve been waiting for, the love will be authentic, fresh, exciting, and consuming. It will be everything we ever hoped for.     

A Quote To End On

“It is the secret fear that we are unlovable that isolates us, but it is only because we are isolated that we think we are unlovable. Someday, you do not know when, you will be driving down a road. And someday, you do not know when, he, or indeed she, will be there. You will be loved because for the first time in your life, you will truly not be alone.” - Gabrielle Zevin           

 

 

 

            

15 Things You Should Never Say to a Journalism Major

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If you're a journalism major, you've probably dealt with a lot of criticism throughout your time in college. If you're not a journalism major, listen up, because these are things you should never say to us:

1. Journalism is a dying field.

2. That's an easy major. 

3. Newspapers are so boring.

4. You actually like writing?

5. You can't make a living out of that!

6. Journalism is all politics.

7. All media are biased.

8. No one reads the news anyway.

9. Is that like The Devil Wears Prada?

10. It's going to be hard for you to get a job.

11. Can you write an article about...

12. How do you read so much?

13. You aren't going to make a lot of money.

14. Do you get to meet famous people?

15. Why wouldn't you major in something like business?

To all the journalism majors out there: we feel you, girl.

Win an Amazing Beverly Hills Girls' Weekend from Coffee Meets Bagel!

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Let’s be honest: these days, ain’t nobody got time to date. With all the swiping and sifting and tapping and texting, it’s so much easier to order take out for one and stream your favorite TV show.

Luckily we’ve partnered with Coffee Meets Bagel, the smart dating app that gets you your perfect partner without all that hassle. Coffee Meets Bagel carefully curates your matches—or what they refer to as “bagels” (how cute is that?!)—through a proprietary algorithm based on attraction, geography, common interests, sexuality, and social network. A focus on quality over quantity has helped Coffee Meets Bagel facilitate more than 1 million real dates since it’s release. It’s old school dating with a modern twist, and we couldn’t be more obsessed!

Her Campus and Coffee Meets Bagel want to set you up with an amazing all-expenses paid Beverly Hills Girls' Weekend! One lucky winner (and a friend!) will receive round-trip airfare, 3 nights at the Beverly Hills Hilton, and $750 towards spa trips, food and wine!

Enter to win this fabulous trip by downloading the Coffee Meets Bagel app!

Coffee Meets Bagel

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