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Several Eagles Players Won't Be Participating In The Traditional Post-Super Bowl White House Visit & Here's Why

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On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl for the first time ever. As tradition goes, the team will be visiting the White House so that the president can officially congratulate them on their victory. However, several players have expressed that they will not be participating in the White House visit. These players include safety Malcolm Jenkins, defensive end Chris Long, and wide receiver Torrey Smith.

So what’s up? Why don’t they want to go? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that a lot of Americans aren’t huge fans of Trump, but skipping out on the longstanding tradition of visiting the White House seems a little petty. Or does it?

To understand these players’ choice, we first have to get rid of the idea that sports and politics are completely separate. Sports have a unique place in the political world because of their massive audience. Where else do you see tens of thousands of people crowd into one stadium, week after week after week? Even concerts and political debate don’t draw that kind of mass appeal. The Super Bowl is consistently the most-watched American television broadcast each year. Of course it’s going to be a breeding ground for social movements!

"We read the news just like everyone else," Torrey Smith said on Wednesday. "You see Donald Trump tweet something ... We have those conversations in the locker room, just like everyone else does in the workplace. We're very informed about what goes on, and we're trying to continue to educate ourselves. It's pretty special to have a group like that of folks that aren't just socially conscious, but folks who genuinely care about people and care about learning more.”

Professional football players have more eyes on them than almost anyone in the country, so it makes sense that they would use their influence as a catalyst for social change. I’m sure you’ve heard about the controversy in which several NFL players, led by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, kneeled during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.

49ers safety Eric Reid was one of the primary faces of this protest. He explained in an op-ed for the New York Times in September, “I approached Colin the Saturday before our next game to discuss how I could get involved with the cause but also how we could make a more powerful and positive impact on the social justice movement...We also discussed how we could use our platform, provided to us by being professional athletes in the NFL, to speak for those who are voiceless.”

Kaepernick and Reid spoke with Nate Boyer, a retired Green Beret and former NFL player, about how to ensure that their protest was peaceful and respectful. Reid says in his op-ed, “We chose to kneel because it’s a respectful gesture. I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy.”

This movement caught on quickly, and professional players across the country began to kneel during the national anthem before their games. (Except on Veterans Day, during which almost all players stood to show respect for veterans.) Like any social movement, this did not occur without opposition. The head of the opposition? None other than President Donald Trump.

In September, Trump said that when a player kneels, NFL owners should respond by saying, “Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, he's fired. He's fired!" He continued to say that kneeling for the anthem is “a total disrespect of our heritage. That's a total disrespect for everything we stand for.”

Before the Super Bowl, Trump expressed his opposition in a more eloquent manner. He stated, “Though many of our nation's service members are unable to be home with family and friends to enjoy this evening's American tradition, they are always in our thoughts and prayers. We owe these heroes the greatest respect for defending our liberty and our American way of life. Their sacrifice is stitched into each star and every stripe of our Star-Spangled Banner. We hold them in our hearts and thank them for our freedom as we proudly stand for the national anthem."

Reid’s op-ed, on the other hand, states, “It baffles me that our protest is still being misconstrued as disrespectful to the country, flag and military personnel. We chose it because it’s exactly the opposite. It has always been my understanding that the brave men and women who fought and died for our country did so to ensure that we could live in a fair and free society, which includes the right to speak out in protest. It should go without saying that I love my country and I’m proud to be an American. But, to quote James Baldwin, ‘exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.’”

Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith explained his decision not to visit the White House on Wednesday, per NJ.com: “They call it the anthem protest. We're not protesting the anthem. It's a protest during the anthem. I understand why people are mad, or may be offended when someone takes a knee. My father, when he dies, is going to be buried with an American flag draped around his casket, being that he served in the Army."

The Eagles’ decision not to visit the White House just goes to show that nothing is ever “merely political.” Politics exist affect all areas of our lives. Those who support and oppose the protests would all agree that racial injustice and disrespect of the military are not issues that we can tie up in little bows and label as “political.” It makes sense that those who are firm supporters of the NFL protests would not want to fake nice for long enough to shake hands with one of its biggest opponents. Skipping the White House trip is another way for the players to use their platform to stimulate conversation about the protests and what they stand for.

Sometimes simple is better. Chris Long, who played for the Super Bowl champs last year and skipped the White House visit, said this year, “No, I’m not going to the White House. Are you kidding me?”


Shake Shack's Special Valentines Day Shake Is Going To Benefit Puppers & the Disabled

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It’s that time of year again: plastic hearts filled with chocolate, Sweet Tart candies with cliche messages and of course, cheesy “Roses are red, Violets are blue” poems. Valentine’s Day. A day filled with love and appreciation. There are many things to appreciate —such as food, shelter or a loved one — but this year, fast food chain Shake Shack is focusing on the love for man and woman's best friend.

According to Food & Wine, Shake Shack has collaborated with Canine Companions for Independence, a company that pairs assistance dogs with disabled for free. For every Love Shack Shake that is purchased on Valentine’s Day, Shake Shack will donate $2 to the company.

The iconic shake is inspired by B-52’s "Love Shack" song, according to Genius Kitchen.

The delectable drink features a strawberry blonde milkshake, topped with mountains of whipped cream and dusted with edible glitter. Because, would it really be Valentine’s Day without some edible glitter?

Without say, the shakes are limited edition and will be sold at $5.99 a piece at limited locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta according to Spoon University. So, for all of those who may be suffering from a broken heart this Valentine’s Day, let Shake Shack and some assistance dogs lick those tears away by purchasing a shake to help someone in need.

(H/T: Food & Wine)

The Internet Completely Dragged The Idea Of Quiet, Less-Crunchy 'Lady Doritos'& We Can't Blame Them

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Women may be saying goodbye to the lovely crunch of Doritos that we all know and love.

According to Time, Pepsico CEO Indrya Nooyi thought it would be a brilliant idea to create a Dorito chip specifically for the ladies who would want to be free from the messy (and, I guess, masculine) nature of the OG chip. 

In an interview conducted with Freakonomics Radio, Nooyi commented the “issue” that lies beneath the Dorito. She explained how when men eat the crunchy chip, they can enjoy the loud sound of the crunch and lick the delicious cheese residue off of their fingers. But apparently, women cannot find the same joy in that.

“They don’t like to crunch too loudly in public,” she said, according to The Guardian. “And they don’t lick their fingers generously and they don’t like to pour the little broken pieces, and the flavor, into their mouths.”

Not only Nooyi’s comments caused a controversy, but also the presence of a gendered product that could easily be deemed unnecessary. The female Dorito was created to make less noise and come in a bag that was the right size for purses, according to The Mary Sue

The pointless gender product debate has always been an issue, with nearly 800 products that consisted of a surcharge due to the gender in just New York alone, according to a 2015 report from TheWashington Post. With products ranging from pens to razors to lotions that are marketed with gender in mind, often the only difference seems to be that the women's products are way more expensive.

It's no wonder that the Internet wasn't really picking up what Doritos was putting down. 

And some intrepid inventors on Twitter even came up with a trick to DIY your own crunch-free Dorito...

But for now, in this economy, the general consensus is that no one needs a Lady Dorito.

4 Ways to Add Life Back into Super Dry Hair

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The end of winter should, in theory, mark the end of dry hair season. The days are getting longer, and you don’t have to wear your huge puffer coats out to brave the cold… so why is your hair still so dry?

Maybe you’ve tried switching up your shampoos and conditioners, washing your hair every day, or have gone a few days between washes, but to no avail. Well, have no fear: we looked into the best products and techniques that are recommended by real people and experts, that won’t make you sacrifice styling.

The heat from your hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons does a lot of damage to the health of our hair. Yes, expensive products exist to combat dryness, but there are also natural ingredients and other remedies that will solve your hairdo woes. (Hint: you also cook with one of them!) 

1. Try a deep conditioning routine

Alikay Natural's Honey and Sage Deep Conditioner $15.99 for 8 oz

Deep conditioning isn't just for trips to the hair salon. Hair naturally loses moisture from styling, being exposed to chlorine, or just based off of genetics. Daily regular conditioner treatments may be good for maintenance, but not for improving the quality of hair.

“Definitely do deep conditioning treatments. Get a deep conditioning mask, wash your hair then towel dry it. Put the mask all over and then put a shower cap on. You should sit under a dryer for 15 minutes to open the cuticles of the hair. Then cool the hair so the cuticles close and really lock the conditioner into the hair shaft. Rinse and style as you want," says Elizabeth Coleman Meyfohrt, a hair stylist at Madison Taylor Salon on Long Island. "If you do this once a week for a month you will notice a difference and then you can do it once in a while as needed.”

2. Use coconut oil for split ends (and for an affordable way to add moisture)

Coconut oil has good fat that's sure to condition your hair more deeply than the bottles in your shower. In addition to combating dryness, it also helps with split ends.

Isabella, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, has the steps to bring your hair back to its full glory with coconut oil.

“I wash my hair every three days, and at the end of those three days before I wash my hair at night, I'll do a coconut deep conditioning,” says Isabella. “Here's how you do it: You take a good amount coconut oil, and massage it into the ends of your hair and especially your scalp because it can get dry in the winter and that's where your new hair is growing in. Leave it in for about twenty minutes and then wash your hair in the shower and it will feel really soft. Also don't keep your hair in a ponytail all the time because that breaks it. Also going to bed with wet hair breaks it."

3. Get regular haircuts

As much as you hate to part with your luscious locks, hair is revitalized when the dead ends are cut off. It allows hair to grow in better and healthier.

"As far as dry hair," says Meyfohrt "you should get trims more often so this way you get the dry ends off."

4. Take your vitamins, especially if you have a dry scalp

We bet that once you graduated from Flintstone gummies, you probably neglected to take supplements. Aside from helping with your organs, digestion, overall health and blah, blah, blah, certain vitamins are excellent for hair growth, health, and maintenance. 

“For a dry scalp, the best is always taking something internal," says Meyfohrt. "You can take vitamins B or E.”

Our bodies also don’t naturally make B12, a vitamin that helps aid in moisture, so it’s important to take it in general, even if your scalp isn’t super dry.

“Make sure you are getting enough vitamins,” said Hannah, a sophomore at the University of Michigan. “When I wasn't taking B12 supplements, my scalp got so dry and itchy and I had so much dandruff, but within a week of taking supplements, it got better!”  

While food products like milk and eggs also have B12 in them, we don’t recommend putting those in your hair, just eat them instead!

The next time your hair is facing that end-of-winter dryness, try one of these hacks. You may only need to go as far as your kitchen.

5 Valentine’s Day Dates for Couples Who Haven’t DTR’d Yet

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Ah, Valentine’s Day. A day that causes anxiety for many of us, especially those of us who have no idea what is happening in our love lives. Label-less and undefined relationships are possibly the hardest situations to deal with come Valentine’s Day because what do you do? We’re not a full-fledged couple, but we’re also not single. It can be very complicated, which is why we’re here to bring you some date ideas that aren’t too romantic or too casual but are just right.

Gone shooting

One of the best ways to avoid awkwardness when you’re in a label-less situation is to just keep things light-hearted. “I think a great date idea for label-less couples would be to go out and do a fun activity like going to a shooting range,” Alexandria Galli, a first year grad student at York University, says. “Something that will keep the day fun and light instead of driving a wedge of pressure that could knock you off your path.” Going on a date like this will allow you two to get as romantic as you choose without there being any pressure to get overly romantic, if you aren’t there yet or don’t want to do that.

Get with a group

If you’re worried about Valentine’s Day being too intense of a holiday for you and the person you’re seeing to fully celebrate, then suggest the two of you hanging out in a group setting, like Megan Mann, a graduate of Purdue University, did. “My boyfriend and I started dating just after Valentine's Day, so we hung out as part of a group scenario on that day,” she says. “It worked because we weren't fully there yet, but we still wanted to spend time together. So, we just went to a bar with a group of friends.” Along with going to bar, you could also try going dancing, bowling, going to a bar arcade or a board game restaurant.  

Escape your comfort zone

You could also combine the light-hearted date idea with a group date to have an adventurous day with your friends and the person you’re seeing. Alexandria mentioned that a fun activity to try would be going to an escape room. The live-action puzzles have all sorts of fun themes you can choose from, such as heist and detective themes. Not only do you get to crack the code with your friends, but you might also learn a thing or two about the person you’re seeing, like his or her ability to get the both of you out of a tight situation.  

Related: 4 Completely Free Valentine's Day Date Ideas For Couples on a Budget

Wine and dine

Planning a Valentine’s Day date can be really overwhelming, especially if you’re not ready to go on that classic fancy dinner date. Take the intimidating classy dinner date and make it cozy by having it at home. “It makes it less formal, but gives you that intimacy to still be together without prying eyes,” Megan says. So crack open your favorite bottle of wine and get some candles and jazzy music ready.

Do the deed

This might be the most nerve-wrecking date on this list, but a good way to spend Valentine’s Day when you’re in an undefined relationship is to sit down with the person you’re seeing and DTR (define the relationship). “I would say that Valentine's Day isn't a good day to go on a date, but to finally define the relationship,” Morgan Mullings, a sophomore at St. John’s University says. “There is no 'good time' to define the relationship. Show love for the person you've been spending so much time with this Valentine's day by letting them know that you care for them enough to not let them wonder what the relationship is.” Alexandria recommends having this conversation over an at-home dinner. “Light some candles and watch a cute movie, perfect to set the scene for having a conversation about where you stand,” she says.

Valentine’s Day is meant to be a holiday about love not stress and confusion. So take it slow this Valentine’s Day, and do whatever you feel comfortable doing. If that means defining the relationship, then go for it! But if that means hanging out with the person you’re seeing at a bar with some mutual friends, then hey that’s cool, too. But don’t feel obligated to do the big romantic thing on Valentine’s Day if that’s not where you feel your relationship is at just yet. All things with time.

Here's Everything You Need to Know About the Russia Memo

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The Russia memo has certainly become a highly discussed topic, but it’s hard to keep track of what is going on. So what exactly does it all mean?

From there actually being multiple memos to certain Congress members and the FBI not wanting the memo to be released Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi calling on Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to have the chairman step down from the House Intelligence Committee and the House Intelligence Committee actually releasing it, here’s everything you need to know about the Russia memo.

What is the Russia Memo?

There are technically three memos, but the one that started it all is the original memo written by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA). The second memo that is talked about it the rebuttal that Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) wrote against Nunes’ claims. The third memo is an altered version of the first memo that was sent to the White House for review.

According to a report published by The New York Times, Nunes’ memo focused on the surveillance of Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, who, according to Vox, had business ties to Russia and was sympathetic to the Kremlin’s foreign policy. When Page went to Russia while working on the Trump campaign, it caused some concern with the FBI, especially since the FBI was investigating possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. The FBI and the Justice Department went to a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court, which approves warrants for surveillance pertaining to national security and foreign intelligence, to seek a warrant to keep tabs on Page, and the court permitted it, Vox reports.

Nunes’ memo looks, however, claims that the surveillance was not properly vetted by the court. In its report, the Times writes, “The memo’s primary contention is that FBI and Justice Department officials failed to adequately explain to an intelligence court judge in initially seeking a warrant for surveillance of Mr. Page that they were relying in part on research by [Steele].” The Steele dossier that the memo refers to was a document composed by former British spy Christopher Steele who claimed that there was a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Nunes’ also claims that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein approved the continuance of surveillance on Page last year, Vox reports. Basically this means that the memo alleges that Rosenstein overlooked the reliance on the Steele dossier or just simply let it bypass.

Either way, experts on foreign surveillance have said that the allegations in the memo are questionable, but most Republicans have been calling for the release of the memo, Vox reports. When put to a vote on the House Intelligence Committee, all Republican on the committee voted to release the memo, and all Democrats voted not to.

The counter-memo written by Schiff basically refutes the claims made in Nunes’ memo. In a press conference on Monday, Schiff said that Nunes is trying to “politicize the intelligence process.” According to Vox, in Schiff’s memo, he defends the FBI’s actions. Schiff has also called for the release of his memo alongside Nunes’, but Republicans on the committee have voted against it.

Rep. Schiff Accused Nunes’ of Altering the Memo

On Wednesday night, Schiff accused Nunes of altering the memo before he sent it to the White House for approval, CNN reports.

According to CNN, Schiff wrote that his staff noticed that the memo sent to the White House was “materially different” than the memo the committee had voted on.

“It is now imperative that the Committee Majority immediately withdraw the document that it sent to the White House,” Schiff wrote. “If the Majority remains intent on releasing its document to the public, despite repeated warnings from DOJ and the FBI, it must hold a new vote to release to the public its modified document.”

A spokesperson from Nunes’ office responded to Schiff’s claims, saying that the edits were nothing more than simple fixes for grammatical errors, as well as edits requested by the FBI and Democrats, CNN reports.

“The vote to release the memo was absolutely procedurally sound, and in accordance with House and Committee rules. To suggest otherwise is a bizarre distraction from the abuses detailed in the memo, which the public will hopefully soon be able to read for themselves,” Nunes spokesperson Jack Langer said.

President Trump Was Expected to Approve the Memo's Release After Reviewing it, But The FBI Urged Him Not to

President Trump had reviewed the House Intelligence Committee’s memo and was expected to approve its release, ABC News reports.

“Right now, I think it will be that we tell the Congress, probably tomorrow, that the president is okay with it,” a senior White House official told reporters on Air Force One.

“I think you all know that the process is a House process, it is a congressional process. They sent over the memo. We have had over the last couple days to look at it to make sure it doesn’t give away too much in terms of classification. I doubt there will be any redactions. Then it is in Congress’ hands after that,” the official added.

However, the FBI urged Trump to not release the memo. According to NBC News, the FBI released a statement, saying, “We have grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy.”

The Washington Post reported that FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein visited the White House last Monday to request that the memo not be made public.

The FBI Agents Association, which represents current and retired agents, released a statement supporting the FBI’s push to keep the memo classified. “The FBI Agents Association appreciates FBI Director Chris Wray standing shoulder to shoulder with the men and women of the FBI as we work together to protect our country from criminal and national security threats,” the statement said.

According to NBC News, Republicans had said that the memo shows corruption in the FBI that is “worse than Watergate,” and that the FBI relied on the dossier, which was allegedly paid for by Democrats; on the other hand, Democrats argued that the memo is an attack on the Russia investigation lead by special counsel Robert Mueller.

Justice Department officials told NBC News that the issues discussed in the memo are highly classified, and if it was released, it would not be able to correct any information without further compromising classified information.

White House officials, according to ABC News, did say at the time that it would make redactions based on recommendations from the FBI, but ultimately determined that there were few redactions needed, if there were any needed at all.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Called on Speaker Paul Ryan to Have Nunes Resign as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on Thursday, calling for Nunes to step down as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and saying that Ryan must “put an end to this charade,” The Huffington Post reports.

In her letter, Pelosi criticized Nunes, saying that the lawmaker has “disgraced the House Intelligence Committee.”

“It has now come to our attention that Congressman Nunes deliberately and materially altered the contents of the memo since it was voted on by the House Republicans,” Pelosi wrote. “This action is not only dangerous, it is illegitimate, and violates House rules.”

“Congressman Nunes’ deliberately dishonest actions make him unfit to serve as Chairman, and he must be removed immediately from his position,” she said.

However, at the GOP retreat in West Virginia, Ryan said that the memo was “not an indictment” of the Justice Department or the FBI, ABC News reports.

“If mistakes were made, it’s our job to conduct oversight over executive branch,” Ryan said.

“If there are individuals who abuse power, it’s our job to shed light and transparency to the process,” Ryan added.

Trump Approved the Release of the Memo, Without Redactions

Despite objections from the FBI and the Justice Department, Trump authorized the release of the memo by the House Intelligence Committee on Friday, without any redactions, ABC News reports. 

According to ABC News, the White House sent a letter detailing Trump's opinion and approval of its release to the House Intelligence Committee on Friday morning, paving the way for the memo to be released that same afternoon. 

During a photo op at the White House, Trump said of what the memo was to reveal, “I think it's a disgrace.” 

“A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves,” Trump added. 

In a statement released by Devin Nunes' office, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said, “The Committee has discovered serious violations of the public trust, and the American people have a right to know when officials in crucial institutions are abusing their authority for political purposes.” 

Before the memo's release, Trump took to Twitter to criticize the leadership at the FBI and the Justice Department. 

“The top Leadership and Investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans - something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago,” Trump wrote. “Rank & File are great people!” 

What Does the Memo Say?

The three-and-a-half-page memo, which was written by Nunes, criticized the FBI's application to the FISA court for surveillance on Page, Trump campaign foreign policy adviser, NBC News reports.  

“Our findings, which are detailed below, 1) raise concerns with the legitimacy and legality of certain DOJ and FBI interactions with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), and 2) represent a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abuses to the FISA process,” the memo says.

The memo outlines that the Steele dossier was a key component to the FBI's application for surveillance on Page, but it was not disclosed to the court that the dossier was financed by the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and Hillary Clinton's campaign, even though, according to the memo, FBI and the Justice Department officials were aware of this, NBC News reports. The memo, according to NBC News, also points out that the FISA application did not state that Steele was working for opposition research firm Fusion GPS who was paid by the Clinton campaign and the DNC for opposition research.

The FBI's FISA application referenced a Yahoo News article by Michael Isikoff, which discussed Page's trip to Moscow in July 2016. However, according to the memo, the article does not corroborate the Steele dossier because the source for the Yahoo News article was Steele himself, but the FISA application says that Steele did not provide this information to Yahoo News, or any other media outlet. It was also reported in the memo that Steele was fired as a source from the FBI due to Steele disclosing his relationship with the FBI in a Mother Jones article by David Corn in October 2016. According to the memo, this made Steele a “less than reliable source for the FBI.” 

Steele was also accused of being politically biased in the memo. In September 2016, Steele told then-Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr that he “was desperate that Donald Trump not get elected and was passionate about him not being president.” During this time, Ohr's wife was working for Fusion GPS to assist with the gathering of opposition research on Trump. According to the memo, Ohr later shared his wife's findings with the FBI. 

When the FBI was filing its initial FISA application, the Steele dossier was only in its “infancy” of being corroborated, and in the end, according to the memo, Steele's reporting was only minimally corroborated. In addition, the memo states that FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe told the House Intelligence Committee in his testimony that “no surveillance warrant would have been sought from the FISC without the Steele dossier information.” 

Lastly, the memo refers to text messages between FBI lawyer, Lisa Page (no known relation to Carter Page), and Peter Strzok, the FBI agent who Lisa Page was romantically involved with, in which there was a clear bias against Trump, NBC News reports. The text messages shows “extensive discussions about the investigation, orchestrating leaks to the media, and include a meeting with Deputy Director McCabe to discuss an insurance policy against President Trump's election.” 

On Saturday, after the memo was released, Trump took to Twitter, writing that the memo has vindicated him. 

“This memo totally vindicates “Trump” in probe. But the Russian Witch Hunt goes on and on. Their was no Collusion and there was no Obstruction (the word now used because, after one year of looking endlessly and finding NOTHING, collusion is dead),” Trump wrote. “This is an American disgrace!”

House Intelligence Committee Votes to Release Rebuttal Memo

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The House Intelligence Committee voted unanimously on Monday evening to release the Democrats’ rebuttal memo to the now infamous Russia memo authored by the House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes, ABC News reports.

After President Trump approved the releasing of the Russia memo and the House Intelligence Committee made it public, Democrats had been pushing for their rebuttal memo to also be made public in an act of transparency.

“The vote was unanimous to release this,” Rep. Adam Schiff, top Democrat on the committee and author of the rebuttal memo, said. “I think the Republican members understood that after calling for full transparency, they were getting hammered over the course of the week for trying to hide the minority response.”

Just last week, GOP members of the House Intelligence Committee blocked the release of the rebuttal memo, but agreed to let the House review the memo in a classified setting, CNN reports.

“Every story has two sides. And I think it's only fair that Democrats get to tell their side,” Rep. Mike Conaway, the senior Republican leading the Russia probe on the House Intelligence Committee, told ABC News.

According to CNN, the memo authored by Schiff is a direct rebuttal to the allegations in Nunes’ Russia memo. The Russia memo, which was released on Friday, accuses the FBI of abusing the FISA application process by not disclosing certain information pertaining to the Steele dossier when trying to obtain a warrant for surveillance on Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page. The Russia memo alleged that ex-British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, who authored the Steele dossier, was working for opposition research firm Fusion GPS which was funded by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Schiff and other Democrats have charged that the Russia memo is “inaccurate and misleading,” and have said that the 10-page rebuttal memo counters each point made in Nunes’ memo.

According to ABC News, Schiff told reporters after the vote that Trump will have five days to review the memo and approve its release or deny it based on national security reasons. Before the memo is sent to the White House on Monday night, the FBI and Justice Department will have an opportunity to vet the memo.

Schiff did say that he was concerned that Trump would make “political redactions” before releasing the memo, and that’s why he asked the FBI and Justice Department to also play a part in the memo’s vetting process, CNN reports.

On Monday morning, however, Trump took to Twitter to criticize Schiff, calling him “one of the biggest liars and leakers in Washington.”  

“Little Adam Schiff, who is desperate to run for higher office, is one of the biggest liars and leakers in Washington, right up there with Comey, Warner, Brennan and Clapper! Adam leaves closed committee hearings to illegally leak confidential information,” Trump wrote, referring to former FBI Director James Comey, Sen. Mark Warner, former CIA Director John Brennan and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. “Must be stopped!”

Schiff replied to Trump on Twitter, asking him to turn “off the TV” and help “solve the funding crisis.”

Trump, however, did praise Nunes for releasing the Russia memo. “Representative Devin Nunes, a man of tremendous courage and grit, may someday be recognized as a Great American Hero for what he has exposed and what he has had to endure!” Trump wrote.

The 5 Cutest Things Guys Have Done for Their Girlfriends on Valentine’s Day

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Sometimes college guys get a bad rap. We hear stories all the time about players, guys who never respond to texts and those who only want to hook up.  To quote our girl Taylor Swift, aren’t there any guys out there who are more “Today Was a Fairytale” and less “I Knew You Were Trouble”?  But don’t worry, collegiettes; there are college guys out there who really appreciate the meaning of romance, and on the most amorous day of the year, they know how to pull out all the stops to give their girlfriends the romantic memories they deserve. Read on for the five cutest things college guys have done for their girlfriends on Valentine’s Day.

1. The artsy beau

“I had been dating a girl for a few months, but we agreed not to break the bank on each other. I still wanted to do something nice, so I let my creative side take over. Her favorite candy was Reese's, so I bought a big bag of the heart-shaped Reese's that come out around Valentine's Day and taped them (in their wrappers) to a piece of cardboard in the shape of a heart, then wrote a nice letter on the back of it for her. She loved it! I still got roses and took her to dinner, but I could've just done that on my low budget because she appreciated the thoughtfulness behind it so much.” - Patrick Bradley, Merrimack College

2. So thoughtful

“My ex-boyfriend and I go to different schools. Since he couldn't visit me on Valentine's Day last year, he surprised me with a package from Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. He sent me a stuffed animal customized by him with a tag that said ‘Happy Valentine's Day’ in Spanish as I am a Spanish major. Later in the day, I was emailed that I got another package. He sent me a tin of my favorite cookies. It was all very thoughtful!” - Liz Bacharach, Bucknell University

3. The long-distance sweetheart

“Last year, my boyfriend was studying abroad in Italy, but still managed to make Valentine's Day awesome. He got my friends and his friends together to send me on an elaborate scavenger hunt around campus, and I eventually ended back in my dorm room to find flowers, chocolates, a big stuffed dog and a really sweet letter from my boyfriend. It was adorable!” - Kristin Doherty, Drake University

4. The videographer

“This was Valentine's Day 2011. I made a video with pictures of me and my girlfriend, Jenn, interspersed with quotes about love and whatnot to the tune of ‘Don't Make Me Wait’ by This World's Fair. Then I posted the video a couple of weeks before Valentine's Day and told all of her friends and family and my friends and family about it and to go and leave comments on it. Then Valentine's Day, I took her out to dinner at Makoto's Japanese Steakhouse in Boone up at App State and then afterward gave her flowers and showed her the video. It was a huge success; she loved it.” - Matt Caulder, Appalachian State University

5. The early-bird

“The day before our very first Valentine’s Day together I was telling [my boyfriend], Brad, how it was kind of sad that it was on a school day where we both had labs/classes/meetings/etc. We usually studied together at night somewhere like the Union, his living room or the lobby of my dorm because that was the only time in our crazy schedules that we could be together, and that didn't sound too romantic. Well, the night before our first Valentine’s, I kept him well past midnight to try to spend more of the holiday together. He was a really good sport considering the sneaky plan he had up his sleeve. The next morning I expected to get a sweet text or even a phone call, but instead, I awoke to [my roommate] telling me there was something at the door and then passing it up to my bunk. Brad had woken up insanely early, somehow got into [my] dorm, and left the sweetest surprise gift basket for me to find at my door full of all my favorite chocolates, red ribbon for a Valentine’s Day bow, a hand-cut heart shape and sweet love letter as well as two (COLD!) Diet Cokes! He had thought of everything even down to the tiniest detail. While it made for a terribly unhealthy breakfast, it left me with the brightest smile all day knowing how lucky I was to be surprised so sweetly by my valentine (and now, years later, fiancé!).” - Alex Bradsher, UNC-Chapel Hill


HC Wake-Up Call: SCOTUS Denies Pennsylvania Lawmakers' Appeal to Delay Redrawing Congressional Map, More Teens Identify as Transgender & First Planets Outside of Our Galaxy May Have Been Discovered

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Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

SCOTUS Lets Pennsylvania Supreme Court Decision Stand: Lawmakers Must Redraw Congressional Map

The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has denied Republican lawmakers’ request to delay the redrawing of the congressional map ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, The Huffington Post reports.

In January, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the state’s congressional map gave the Republican a political advantage, saying it was “clearly, plainly and palpably” in violation of the state’s constitution, HuffPost reports. The Pennsylvania Court said that lawmakers had to redraw the congressional district lines, otherwise the court would redraw it if lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on a new map with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf.

Republican lawmakers appealed to SCOTUS, saying that the U.S. Constitution only allowed legislatures to draw congressional maps, not courts, and that redrawing the map under such a short timeline would cause chaos in the election process, HuffPost reports.

But now lawmakers will have until February 15 to redraw the map and come to an agreement on it.

“The U.S. Supreme Court correctly recognized that there is no reason to delay implementing the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s order. Now, all parties must focus on getting a fair map in place,” Gov. Wolf said in a statement. “Gerrymandering is wrong and we must correct errors of the past with the existing map. My team is ready, willing and able to work with the General Assembly to ensure a new map is fair and within the clear orders given by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.”

Pennsylvania House Speaker Michael Turzai and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati said in a joint statement that they did not believe the congressional map that was drawn was illegal, HuffPost reports. The Republican lawmakers said the would “do [their] best” to meet the court’s deadline, but “may be compelled to pursue further legal action in federal court.”

More Teens Identify as Transgender According to New Study

According to a study released on Monday in Pediatrics, far more teens are transgender or identify themselves using nontraditional gender terms than previously thought.

The study looked at ninth and 11th grade students and estimated that approximately three percent of students are transgender or gender nonconforming, ABC News reports.

“With growing trans visibility in the United States, some youth might find it safer to come out and talk about gender exploration,” lead author Nic Rider, a University of Minnesota postdoctoral fellow who studies transgender health, said.

The numbers in this study are higher than a study released last year by UCLA that found that 0.7 percent of teens aged 13 to 17 are transgender, ABC News reports.

The study did find, however, that these students were more likely to experience worse mental and physical health, possibly due to bullying and discrimination.

In an accompanying opinion article in Pediatrics, Dr. Daniel Shumer, a specialist in transgender medicine at the University of Michigan, wrote that the study shows that earlier counts of the trans population in previous studies “have been underestimated by orders of magnitude,” and that these increased numbers should “serve as a lesson to schools and physicians to abandon limited views of gender.”

“Youth are rejecting this binary thinking and are asking adults to keep up,” Shumer wrote.

The First Planets Outside of Our Galaxy May Have Been Discovered

Scientists may have just discovered planets beyond our own galaxy, NBC News reports.

The planets are located approximately 3.8 billion light-years away, and are not visible even with the most powerful telescopes we have today.

Astrophysicists founds the planets using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and gravitational microlensing, which means that the gravitational field around objects in space can focus light so they can be seen at high magnification, NBC News reports.

“We are very excited about this discovery,” Dr. Xinyu Dai, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy and the leader of this new research, said. “This is the first time anyone has discovered planets outside our galaxy.”

While some scientists were excited about these latest discoveries, others were skeptical, adding that additional research would be needed to confirm this discovery.

Dai said that the data showed that trillions of planets exist within a galaxy called “RXJ1131-123,” HuffPost reports. However, these planets don’t orbit a central star like we do; they are “free-floating” between stars in their galaxy.

Pretty cool discovery!

What to look out for…

Kendrick Lamar released his new track, “Pray for Me” (featuring The Weeknd), from the “Black Panther” soundtrack, and it is straight fire.

This Week's 'Bachelor' Two-On-One Date Took a Feminist Turn & Twitter Loved It

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By now, any loyal Bachelor viewer knows the go-to formula of the two-on-one date. The villain of the season and, inevitably, someone he or she famously clashed with are sent on an awkward afternoon with the lead. They compete for cuddles and flash death glares at each other over the rims of their wine glasses. While the past few Bachelorette two-on-ones have featured macho men borderlining on violent behavior, Bachelor two-on-ones also often include the women making comments about the other’s flaws when the Bachelor isn’t around.

However, on Monday night’s episode of The Bachelor, this year’s two-on-one date took an unexpected turn. Picking Krystal and Kendall for the date, Arie left them together long enough for the conversation to turn deep. While Krystal stuck to her confidence-building strategy of picking at Kendall’s self-esteem in the situation, Kendall transformed from a background player with weird cannibalism comments to the best friend we could all use.

Kendall chose to focus on complimenting Krystal, reminding her that she's beautiful and that trying to deal with her own hurt by hurting others wouldn’t get her anywhere. It was a sincere moment that almost felt unsettling to watch on The Bachelor, but after featuring some group dates that weren’t the most girl-positive earlier this season, Kendall shutting Krystal down with respect rather than hate is a much-welcomed step in the right direction.

Fans on Twitter agree, so here are seven of our favorite tweets about the two-on-one date’s surprise feminist twist.

We always see the women show tiny signs of friendship throughout the season, but it's usually not until after the show when the contestants appear on spinoffs that we get a sense of true friendship between the women. Kendall reaching out to Krystal this way just emphasized that friendship isn't exactly encouraged in this atmosphere, which is why it's so great when moments like this shine through. 

In Krystal's intro package in the show's first episode, we learned about her brother struggling with addiction and homelessness. However, thanks to the way her edit has come across, it's been easy to forget her personal struggles until Kendall briefly referred to them in this conversation. 

Such sweet people like Kendall clearly don't belong on this show, right? 

@realDonaldTrump, you up?

Can we keep Kendall around as a life coach for future seasons' women? 

It takes a lot of effort to step back and smile at your enemy rather than try to fight back. Kudos to Kendall for doing just that. 

In a moment of weakness, choose to see the potential for growth in your enemies. The first time you try this, you probably won't pull it off with as much grace as Kendall, but just like The Bachelor airing this conversation, it's a much needed improvement. 

Kendall deserves all the praise for inserting such a dose of realness into The Bachelor. Here's hoping that the two-on-one date is addressed at the "Women Tell All" and Krystal has a chance to redeem her behavior. 

How to Stay Productive Working From Home When You're Easily Distracted

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For many people, home is a safe space to retreat after the grueling work week. Walk in the door, pants and bras come off, and it’s time to relax, veg out and if you’re feeling ambitious, maybe make dinner instead of ordering out. But how do you turn the place you unwind into a productive environment, and stay motivated to get work done? Well, we spoke to work-from-home pros across all many several industries and here’s what they had to say.

1. Stay organized

Allie Busalacchi, a production associate for ABC News, works part-time as a data steward for the consulting firm QuintilesIMS. She says the key to working from home is being self-motivated and knowing your work style. 

“I’ll break down my weekly goals into daily goals, then into hourly goals. I like to schedule my days working from home to ensure I’m staying on track for the week. I always schedule in breaks as well, and I keep the goals realistic and attainable,” Allie says. “Whether you’re a morning person or a night person, working from home allows you to set a schedule that will work best for you.”

When you work from home, chances are you won’t have immediate access to coworkers or supervisors to ask for help or keep you on track. Try collaborating with apps like Google Drive, Asana or Slack to make sure everyone is on the same page. Are you more of an early bird or night owl? Does your job allow you to choose the hours you work from home or are the hours assigned? These are important questions to ask yourself when setting up your work from schedule. 

2. Limit distractions

A quick internet search can easy turn into an hour spent watching recipe videos on Facebook or lead you into the depths of YouTube. Suddenly hours have gone by and you still haven't gotten anything done. Freelance writer and graphic designer Victoria Feinster says she turns off all social media when a large task is at hand.

Related: How to Teach Online & Earn Money

“Take more steps to minimize distractions before they become a problem," she explains. "When I need to focus, all social media goes away: WiFi gets turned off, phone goes into another room. Social media can be your friend (colleagues to chat with! news to absorb! cat pictures to enjoy!) but it can also be a black hole of procrastination. Treat it like a tool and put it away when you're not using it.”

3.  Switch up your workspace

The same lethargic and uninspiring feeling you get sitting under fluorescent lights in an office all day can happen to you at home too. Sitting in the same place for too long can stifle productivity and leave you at a roadblock. Laura Dettman, a social media community manager, moves locations throughout the day to stay focused.

“I tend to do my work sitting on the couch a lot, but find myself eventually getting sleepy. I will then move myself to the dining room table where I get the most lighting. I can spread out all my stuff on and has bright lighting that keeps me wide awake,” says Laura.

And when home gets a little too boring, she turns coffee shops into her office.

“Since I do not have the option to occasionally work from an office, when I feel myself getting too distracted at home, I will make Starbucks my office. A Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks in one hand and my planner in the other...and I'm ready to take on my day's work.”

Pro-tip: Always keep a few places in mind where you can work from besides your living room like a coffee shop, local library or even a public park with WiFi if you like to be outside. If you're able to splurge, you can even try joining a co-working community like The Wing.

4. Take breaks

This goes hand-in-hand with switching up your workspace. If you would take breaks in an office job, why wouldn't you take breaks working from home? You want to make sure you give yourself time to refresh to avoid burning-out.

Deanna Thornton works as a recruiter in a hybrid role that allows her to split her time between the office and home. She says while it’s important to keep a schedule, you shouldn’t feel bad about tending to personal tasks if you need to.

Related: 4 Ways to Be Productive After Work

“It’s nice to be home when you can to do other stuff like laundry and run errands or even go out of town and still work,” says Deanna.  “I also still try to take a lunch so I don’t get sucked into the vortex of working all day.”

Try separating your workload into "power hours," with one hour of distraction free working followed by a 15 minute break. If you're taking a quick break, go ahead and load the dishwasher or start a load of laundry, but be cautious of letting hours go by doing everything else besides your job. 

There are so many benefits to working from home, independence, the freedom to create your own schedule (hello, sleeping in!). and prioritizing tasks as you see fit. Not having a commute is a huge benefit in terms of expense and time saved, too. Finding the balance between taking advantage of these freedoms and being effective in your role may difficult at first, but it’s totally doable if you set realistic goals and hold yourself accountable.

 

OMG, Drake Surprised Miami High School Students By Filming 'God's Plan' Music Video At Their School

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Can you imagine sitting in Chemistry, looking out the window and seeing Drake performing on a crane about your high school's baseball field? Probably not — but this became a reality for students at Miami Senior High.

The rapper surprised students on Monday when he showed up to film a music video for his hit song "God's Plan," according to the Miami Herald.

Students can be seen dancing and singing along with Drake as a drone films him on the crane. Naturally, they're loving it.

Some were lucky enough to get up close and personal, though.

In addition to surprising students, the Heraldreported that Drake also presented the school with a $25,000 check and said he would help design new school uniforms.

Like, what?! You'd get to wear something every day that you can say Drake personally designed. It's safe to say I'm jealous.

Uma Thurman's Harvey Weinstein Accusations, Quentin Tarantino Comments & Their Responses: Everything You Need To Know

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As the #MeToo movement began to take shape back in November, Access Hollywood asked Uma Thurman how she felt about sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry. 

"I don't have a tiny soundbite for you," Thurman said. "Because I am not a child, and I have learned that when I've spoken in anger, I usually regret the way I express myself. So I've been waiting to feel less angry. And when I'm ready, I'll say what I have to say."

It appears as though Thurman is ready. 

The actress spoke to The New York Times in a story that ran Sunday about being sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein, a now disgraced producer facing multiple sexual misconduct accusations, whom she knew from Pulp Fiction— the movie that arguably put Weinstein on the map.


"I knew him pretty well before he attacked me," Thurman told The Times. "He used to spend hours talking to me about material and complimenting my mind and validating me. It possibly made me overlook warning signs. This was my champion. I was never any kind of studio darling. He had a chokehold on the type of films and directors that were right for me."

Thurman said it was in a meeting in Weinstein's Paris hotel room where things took a turn. 

"They were arguing about a script when the bathroom came out,"The Times article said. Weinstein allegedly led Thurman down a hall into a steam room. She said she told Weinstein how ridiculous it was, since she was in a full black leather outfit and it was so hot. Weinstein supposedly got "very flustered and mad and he jumped and ran out."

Not long after this, Thurman said Weinstein attacked her in a hotel room in London.

"It was such a bat to the head. He pushed me down. He tried to shove himself on me. He tried to expose himself. He did all kinds of unpleasant things," Thurman told The Times. "But he didn’t actually put his back into it and force me. You’re like an animal wriggling away, like a lizard. I was doing anything I could to get the train back on the track. My track. Not his track."

Thurman said Weinstein sent her flowers the next day.

"They were yellow," Thurman said. "And I opened the note like it was a soiled diaper and it just said, ‘You have great instincts.’"

The article continued, "Then, she says, Weinstein’s assistants started calling again to talk about projects." These assistants allegedly "had their own special choreography" to lure actresses to Weinstein, The Times said.

"Once the assistants vanished, Thurman says, she warned Weinstein, 'If you do what you did to me to other people you will lose your career, your reputation and your family, I promise you.'" Thurman didn't mention any response from Weinstein, though his representative confirmed to The Times, "she very well could have said this."

Also through a spokesperson, Weinstein denied "ever threatening her [Thurman's] prospects." According to him, the two had "a flirtatious and fun working relationship" up until the steam room incident.

Of the alleged incident in London, a statement from Weinstein said: "Mr. Weinstein acknowledges making a pass at Ms. Thurman in England after misreading her signals in Paris. He immediately apologized."

According to The Times, Thurman maintained a working relationship with Weinstein despite privately regarding him as an enemy.

But everything supposedly changed after Quentin Tarantino noticed how Thurman acted around Weinstein.

 Thurman said she had already told Tarantino about what happened in London, but "he probably dismissed it like ‘Oh, poor Harvey, trying to get girls he can’t have,’ whatever he told himself, who knows?' But she reminded him again and 'the penny dropped for him. He confronted Harvey.'"

When this happened, Weinstein was "hurt" and "surprised," and supposedly offered an apology.

The animosity between Thurman and Weinstein reportedly affected her relationship with Tarantino, whom she worked with on Kill Bill.

It was on set for the film where Thurman said she was pressured by Tarantino to drive a vehicle that "might not be working that well." She ended up crashing the vehicle into a tree.


The Times article included a point-of-view camera that showed the crash.

"I felt this searing pain and thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m never going to walk again.'" Thurman told The Times. "When I came back from the hospital in a neck brace with my knees damaged and a large massive egg on my head and a concussion, I wanted to see the car and I was very upset. Quentin and I had an enormous fight, and I accused him of trying to kill me. And he was very angry at that, I guess understandably, because he didn’t feel he had tried to kill me."

Thurman also detailed other behavior from Thurman deemed "sadistic" by The Times, such as spitting in her face and choking her with a chain for scenes.

"Harvey assaulted me but that didn’t kill me,” Thurman said. "What really got me about the crash was that it was a cheap shot." She told The Times she never felt disempowered — until the crash. 

Thurman took to Instagram on Monday — a day after the interview was published — to say that she doesn't hold Tarantino responsible.

 

i post this clip to memorialize it’s full exposure in the nyt by Maureen Dowd. the circumstances of this event were negligent to the point of criminality. i do not believe though with malicious intent. Quentin Tarantino, was deeply regretful and remains remorseful about this sorry event, and gave me the footage years later so i could expose it and let it see the light of day, regardless of it most likely being an event for which justice will never be possible. he also did so with full knowledge it could cause him personal harm, and i am proud of him for doing the right thing and for his courage. THE COVER UP after the fact is UNFORGIVABLE. for this i hold Lawrence Bender, E. Bennett Walsh, and the notorious Harvey Weinstein solely responsible. they lied, destroyed evidence, and continue to lie about the permanent harm they caused and then chose to suppress. the cover up did have malicious intent, and shame on these three for all eternity. CAA never sent anyone to Mexico. i hope they look after other clients more respectfully if they in fact want to do the job for which they take money with any decency.

A post shared by Uma Thurman (@ithurman) on

"Quentin Tarantino, was deeply regretful and remains remorseful about this sorry event, and gave me the footage years later so i could expose it and let it see the light of day, regardless of it most likely being an event for which justice will never be possible," part of the caption read. "he also did so with full knowledge it could cause him personal harm, and i am proud of him for doing the right thing and for his courage."

Thurman went on to explain that the cover up of the accident is "unforgivable." She said she holds Lawrence Bender, E. Bennett Walsh and Weinstein himself solely responsible. Thurman also later mentioned CAA, her former agency, condemning them for not looking after their clients.

"they lied, destroyed evidence and continue to lie about the permanent harm they caused and then chose to suppress," the caption continued. "the cover up did have malicious intent, and shame on these three for all enternity." 

A spokesperson for Weinstein denied these allegations, and said he "did not give instructions to destroy the vehicle or orchestrate a cover-up."

On Monday, Tarantino responded to The Times' article in a lengthy interview with Deadline Hollywood.

He told Deadline he had spoken to Thurman prior to The Times article. Tarantino was even set to participate in the interview, but he was unable to hook up with Maureen Dowd, the article's author. This, he said, resulted in him ending up "taking the hit and taking the heat."

Tarantino called the accident "one of the biggest regrets" of his career and life, and expressed remorse; although, he said he did initially feel Thurman would be safe in the car and that he didn't pressure the actress. 

Tarantino didn't seem too concerned about any controversy resulting from The Times article.

"I feel like I’ve been honest here and told the truth, and it feels really good after two days of misrepresentation, to be able to say it out loud," Tarantino told Deadline. "Whatever comes of it, I’ve said my piece. I’ve got big shoulders and I can handle it."

Thurman hasn't yet responded to the Deadline article. 

Here's What Your Next Tattoo Should Be, Based on Your Style

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Scrolling through Pinterest, Tumblr and even Facebook can give you some awesome ideas about your next tattoo. But since a tattoo is with you for life, you want to get something that represents something important to you and isn’t just a trend. Here are some ideas to help you through your next pre-tattoo parlor brainstorming session!

1. Minimalist

If you plan on working in a conservative workplace in the future, or just aren’t one of those people who enjoys huge, colorful tattoos, try something small with a big meaning.

Jamie Kravitz, a senior at Emerson College says, “As a writer, I wanted something that would represent my love for words, but I also wanted something small and simple. I decided to get quotation marks on my wrist in Times New Roman.”

A simple symbol, shape or number can hold so much importance, and it can be easily covered or even be something secret that only you know about!

2. Flower Child

Flowers are classic, whether they are sitting in a face or inked on your body. Picking your favorite flower for your next tattoo can lead the way to a lot of creativity, cool placement and most importantly, represent your favorite memories.

Getting your favorite flower as your next tattoo can represent your childhood, pay tribute to a family member or simply make your body more beautiful than it already is.

“I got a hibiscus flower for personal reasons and went to a tattoo artist who specializes in flowers, in order for it to be the best,” says Isabel Calkins, a junior at NYU. “I think that if your tattoo has meaning or if you find it beautiful, cliché is only something others can call it.”

Flowers may seem basic, but there’s a reason a lot of people get them instead of trendy pieces: they never go out of style. Flowers also let you play around with color and size, so you can choose whether or not you want a statement pieces or small piece.

3. Traveler

What your traveling experiences have meant to you can’t always be conveyed through great Instagram photos or the stories you tell when you get back. Paying tribute to one or a few of your favorite countries by getting a tattoo that represents your time abroad can take you down memory lane or spark an interesting story.

“When I studied abroad, I got the German word ‘Fernweh’ tattooed on the side of my foot. Fernweh means an ache for distant places, sort of like ‘wanderlust’ in English,” says Lauren Wingo, a graduate of Marymount University. “Germany was the first country I ever visited and learning the language, I was obsessed with the beauty and realness of that word.”

If a word isn’t what you had in mind, think about landmarks you visited, animals and pieces of nature that stood out or a mini map of the city or country. If you want something more simple but still profound, try getting the coordinates of your hometown, your favorite place or country!

Related: 21 Things Only Girls with Tattoos Will Understand

4. Nature lover

Similar to the traveler, nature lovers often have a lot of experiences that they can’t represent in just photos and stories. Maybe it’s a national park, a hiking trail or a wonder of the world, but honoring Mother Nature through a tattoo is the way to go if you’re constantly strapping on your hiking boots.

“I had an internship in Denver, CO. I lived there for 11 weeks, worked and explored the beautiful state I had the privilege of living in for a short time. I fell in love with the mountains and the city,” said LuAnna Gerdemann. “A friend of mine was going to get a tattoo, and I went along with her to schedule her appointment. Within the 10 minute walk to the tattoo shop, I was contemplating getting a tattoo of the mountains. I had finally found something I was passionate enough about, so I said why not, just do it!”

Mountain peaks are great and can be as simple or as detailed as you want them to be! Plus when you’re too old to go hiking or adventuring one day, you can look at your tattoo and remember your time outdoors.

5. Artsy

Take a break from your next masterpiece or novel of the century and pay tribute to your passions. Honoring your awesome writing skills or your Picasso-esque painting skills in a tattoo can keep you focused on your goals and remind you of what you love.

Micki Wagner, a junior at the University of Missouri-Columbia got a tattoo that shows her love for writing. “I chose a typewriter because I love that romantic, old-school idea of what a writer should be,” she says. “I've always had a fascination with typewriters too. I just love the way they look and the way they sound. There's something so classic and beautiful about them.”

Think outside of the box when paying tribute to your craft, do some research into retro tools people used back in the day to write, paint, sew or do makeup! If you want something more detailed, look into retro ads for products you find yourself using while producing art and see if any of them fit your style.

Getting a tattoo can be a big commitment and the more unique, the better. Tattoos can be artwork within in themselves, or be simple yet pack a big meaning. The best way to get a unique tattoo that fits you perfectly, do a lot of research outside of your social media networks. This may require you to be creative and sketch out your next piece of ink. So, start brainstorming, schedule an appointment and get a tattoo that’s important to you!

YouTuber Kian Lawley Was Dropped From The Upcoming Film 'The Hate U Give' After A Racist Video Surfaced

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Kian Lawley, YouTuber and actor, will be replaced in the upcoming film The Hate U Give after a video of him saying racial slurs like the N-word surfaced on the internet. Didn’t you get the memo, buddy? This type of cruel behavior will no longer be tolerated in 2018.

Warning: This video contains offensive language.

In the video, Lawley makes a variety of disturbing comments, including, “We’re all black drinking purple Kool-aid and eating Kentucky fried motherf*king chicken." 

20th Century Fox confirmed to Variety that "due to the controversy surrounding his [Lawley's] past comments and behavior," any scenes with him will be reshot and his character, Chris, will be recast.  

Considering what the movie is about, it makes Lawley’s comments even more controversial and unsettling. The Hate U Give (based on a book of the same name by Angie Thomas) tells the story of a girl named Starr, played by Amanda Stenberg, who is caught between the poor black neighborhood she lives in and the rich, white prep school she attends. The contrasts within her take an even bigger turn she witnesses her childhood best friend get shot by a police officer. The twist? She’s the only witness.

This sounds like a must-see movie as it sadly relates to today’s realities we continuously see on the news. Lawley, who has received obvious backlash for his actions in the video, has since spoken out.

Hopefully, his words hold some truth to them.

I’m grateful to see so many powerful companies and productions holding people, especially ones in the spotlight, accountable for their actions. May Lawley’s mistakes be a reminder to all. 


10 Blush Pink Clothes & Accessories to Show Your Valentine's Day Spirit

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Lovers and friends, Valentine's Day season is finally here! Whether you're single or taken, this holiday is the perfect excuse to rock pink all day (and totally go ham on chocolate). Check out our top picks for adorable blush pink clothes and accessories that will show off your V-Day spirit. 

1. Reformation Harlow Dress ($218)

A dreamy silk fabric and daring neckline are a perfect pair for Valentine's Day.

2. Topshop Slouchy Knot Blouse ($55)

This top is the perfect way to casually slip a little pink into your ensemble.

3. BaubleBar Gabriela Tassel Earrings ($48)

Tassels and pom-poms are so on trend this spring, and they're the perfect addition to your Valentine's outfit.

3. Sam Edelman Mara Velvet Platforms ($52)

Platform heels are a must, especially in blush velvet!

4. Zara Palazzo Trousers ($46)

Retro everything is such a movement right now and these high-waisted trousers feature the  vintage-esque belt we all need in our lives. Like ASAP.

5. Leith Asymmetrical Ruffle Top ($59)

This top is really a combination of three different trends, but it totally works. You've got ruffles, bell sleeves and a gorgeous floral print—what more could you need?

6. Lulu's Faux Fur Jacket ($61)

You'll be both cozy and cute with this jacket that gives off major V-Day vibes. Pair with your favorite plain white tee and you're ready to go.

7. Glance Eyewear Pastel Cat Eye Sunglasses ($14)

Pink cat eyes are a thing and we love it.

8. Zara Cable Knit Sweater ($69)

This bubblegum pink cable knit is the perfect combination of cute and comfy.

9. WAYF Delancey Ruffle Wrap Dress ($73)

Valentine's Day date night dress? Look no further. 

10. Lulu's Pink Clutch ($24)

Velvet is a must this season and so is this clutch.

Jimmy Kimmel Is Definitely Not A Fan Of Krystal From 'The Bachelor'

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Krystal, one of the contestants on this season’s The Bachelor, did not receive a rose on Monday night’s episode that took place in Paris and was therefore eliminated. Sent home in the city of love? Ouch.

Krystal is a 29-year-old fitness coach who has been proclaimed this season’s "villain." In other words, not many people were sad to see her go.

Apparently, Jimmy Kimmel was one of them. He didn’t think her failure to find love was humiliation enough, so he created a video montage of the weirdest, most unforgettable noises she made throughout the show. Who would’ve thought Kimmel was this invested in The Bachelor?!

Kimmel added that Krystal has "...the single most annoying voice in not just Bachelor, but television history.” He sounds pretty ruthless, right? But, if you watch the clips, you’ll understand why Krystal’s voice clearly shook Kimmel to his core. 
 

Now that she's gone, the remaining ladies are one step closer to winning Arie's love. In her own infamous, ear-piercing words, buhhhbyee Krystal!

7 Black Women Who Are Redefining Modern Beauty

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In an industry where the standard of beauty is still quite homogenous, a few remarkable women make it their goal to stand out and stand up for change. In honor of Black History Month, here we've thrown the spotlight on a few of those modern-day women who break ground in the name of not only diversity, but self-love and acceptance. 

1. Alicia Keys 

When Alicia Keys decided to say goodbye to makeup completely back in 2016, she proved you don't need to cover up to feel beautiful. She told Lenny Letter, "I don't want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing." Amen! 

2. Rihanna 

 

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For such a long time, women of color had to mix, match and dig their way through the makeup counter just to find a halfway decent foundation shade. Rihanna's release of Fenty Beauty last year turned the whole beauty industry on its head. With 40 inclusive shades of foundation (and more on the way), RiRi made sure that every beautiful skin tone could find their perfect match. 

3. Maria Borges 

Maria made history back in 2016 for being the first model to wear natural hair on the Victoria's Secret runway. As if that wasn't awesome enough, she's now the spokeswoman of L'Oréal Paris.

4. Nyma Tang 

Like so many others, Nyma became frustrated at the lack of consideration for diverse skin tones in makeup. To raise awareness towards the issue and help out her fellow makeup junkies, she started a YouTube series where she tests out the darkest shades of different foundations, concealers and contour kits. 

5. Zendaya 

 

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No stranger to making a statement through fashion, Zendaya often makes the biggest statement with her hair. Not only has she sported her natural, brushed out tresses in all their glory at the Met Gala, she also wore an afro on the red carpet as an homage to her family and roots. 

6. Pat McGrath 

The makeup industry as we know it today would not be possible if it weren't for Pat McGrath. She's been lauded as the most influential makeup artist alive, and for good reason. Her wildly creative and innovative skills have been sought out by the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, CoverGirl and so many more.  

7. Beyoncé 

 

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Of course, no list of amazing black women would be complete without the Queen herself. Through both of her pregnancy announcements, she portrayed motherhood and the strength of the female body as ethereally beautiful. 

Header Image: Nyma / Instagram

Want more beauty inspo? Follow @HerCampusBeauty on Facebook, and tune into @HerCampus on Instagram for endless beauty stories!

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How to Make the Most of Your Syllabus & Plan the Semester

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This article has been syndicated from Julia Does, an InfluenceHer Collective Member. Read the full post here

Syllabus week = Quite possibly the best week of any semester. Everyone loves it because it’s the “slow” week and the intro back into classes. Everything is fine––until you get that famous sheet of paper (or sometimes packet).

Your syllabus. 

Now, it can be easy to hate the syllabus, because it’s basically outlines all the work you’re going to have to do this semester and all the stress you’ll have to endure. But that reason right there is the reason it can also be your best friend. It’s basically an outline of all the work you’re going to have to do this semester right in front of you for free, simply put and dated. Hooray! A class syllabus is a great tool for planning your semester, as long as you look at it the right way. Here’s how to get the most out of that jam-packed piece of paper.

Notice the weights of the grades

The cool thing about different classes is that depending on the subject and professor, the grades can be weighted in different ways. I’ve had classes where in one, the homework was worth 20 percent of the overall grade. In another that same semester, the homework was completely optional and worth no credit.

This can be super helpful when you’re crunched for time and need to prioritize your work. It can help you determine how much time to put into a project, or how much homework to do. I recommend doing all your homework, because it benefits you, but if one night you’re stressing about two assignments and one isn’t even credit bearing, focus on the other one. Plan your study sessions around what is worth the most.

Look at office hours

I truly think office hours are under-appreciated and here’s why: professors are required to take time out of their week to help you out, and not a lot of people use them. If you are stuck on something, or just need something clarified and don’t want to ask in class, office hours are the perfect time to get that straightened out.

The professor will likely be happy to see you so they don’t have to sit and do nothing. A professor will have their hours on their syllabus, so you can mark them in your calendar if you ever need to go!

Read the full post here

10 Dates to Take Yourself On This Valentine’s Day

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This article has been syndicated from Eva Darling, an InfluenceHer Collective Member. Read the full post here. 

Valentine’s Day has been coined as the most romantic day of the year for many (mostly by Hallmark). Jokingly called “Singles Awareness Day,” it also seems to be known for being a day for strictly couples to appreciate their love for each other. I think it’s high time we start utilizing Valentine’s Day as a day for self-love, too––but then again maybe I’m just a narcissist and that’s why I’m single. Who knows? After all, we’ll be happier and healthier for taking the time to love ourselves which could only make it easier to love another person as well.

Single or not, I’ve compiled 10 dates you can take yourself on this Valentine’s Day to love yourself.

1. Have a spa day

Whether you only have time for a quick 15-minute facial or a full day of glam mani-pedi, massage, mud bath, pampering, there’s very few things that a spa day can’t make better.

2. Go for a blowout

Blowouts have to be one of the most extra things money can buy, but they can make even a normal day feel that much more special. Plus, they make your hair look AMAZING. Side note: I can’t hear the word “blowout” without thinking of the New Girl episode “Walk of Shame” in which Jess and Cece get fabulous blowout by a sassy hairdresser appropriately named Charisma. “Charisma made us promise not to waste these blowouts!” Jess exclaims.

3. Take yourself to a nice meal

Who says that just because you’re alone you can’t go to a nice restaurant and feel weird about getting a table for one? Part ways with that small cafe you like stopping by for takeaway on your way home from work and treat yourself to that nice Italian place you love so much. My favorite option in this scenario is to get takeaway from the nice Italian place, put on your pajamas, and turn on Netflix.

4. Go ice skating

Take a spin around the ice rink for a few hours then combine with date #3 listed above. Substituting ice skating for skiing, snowboarding, or snow tubing also isn’t bad idea. There’s just something liberating about moving at high velocity in winter weather. You get the idea.

5. Buy that something extra for yourself

That adorable handbag you’ve been wanting? The perfect shade of lipstick to add to your collection? Don’t wait for someone else to read your mind and buy it for you, and purchase it for yourself! It doesn’t need to be expensive or extravagant, it could just be something small you always counted as an “extra” on your trip to Target. Toss in a bouquet of roses too, you deserve it.

6. Host a Galentine’s Day

Gather up your best girlfriends for a Valentine’s Day brunch, lunch or dinner! A perfect opportunity to catch up or just to spend a few hours laughing with the ones that are always there for you.

Read the full post here.

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