The North Korean leader is ramping up his war game to the point of no return. He has now approved a nuclear attack on the U.S.
SEOUL — North Korea dramatically escalated its warlike rhetoric on Thursday, warning that it had authorised plans for nuclear strikes on targets in the United States.
“The moment of explosion is approaching fast,” the North Korean military said, warning that war could break out “today or tomorrow”.
Pyongyang’s latest pronouncement came as Washington scrambled to reinforce its Pacific missile defences, preparing to send ground-based interceptors to Guam and dispatching two Aegis class destroyers to the region.
Tension was also high on the North’s heavily fortified border with South Korea, after Kim Jong-Un’s isolated regime barred South Koreans from entering a Seoul-funded joint industrial park on its side of the frontier.
In a statement published by the state KCNA news agency, the Korean People’s Army general staff warned Washington that US threats would be “smashed by… cutting-edge smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear strike means”.
A team led by Francesco D’Andria, an Italian archaeologists from the University of Salento, has discovered a sort of Gates to Hell.
This ancient gateway to hell aka Pluto’s Gate excavated near a cave entrance was described by the Greek geographer, Strabo, in 24 A.D. as a,
Space full of a vapor so misty and dense that one can scarcely see the ground. Any animal that passes inside meets instant death. I threw in sparrows and they immediately breathed their last and fell.
It was believed to be a true portal to the underworld in Greek mythology and a place where the “rites of incubation” would occur. Vapors from the gate would cause hallucinations which would give rise to visions and prophecies to those who slept nearby the cave. The temple complex was also used as place to offer up sacrifices to Pluto. Also unearthed nearby was a thermal pool and courtyard for priests and travelers.
Even today the gateway located in the city of Hierapolis still contains lethal vapors as D’Andria describes of his excavations,
We could see the cave’s lethal properties during the excavation. Several birds died as they tried to get close to the warm opening, instantly killed by the carbon dioxide fumes.
A digital reconstruction of the site is currently being designed by D’Andria and his team to help give more insight into this unworldly find.
Now, if only we could find the Stairway to Heaven next.
Branden Lee is a blogger, screenwriter, producer, and actor, currently residing in Boston, MA. Follow Branden on Twitter @Brandeness and check out Branden’s blog .
Retired actress is claiming the spottings of a disheveled crazy looking Amanda Bynes, that’s been spotten around NYC aren’t really her.
DListed reports Amanda tweeted “I have the blondest hair ever!” since the alleged doppelganger has red hair
Because of Amanda’s constant erratic tweets and strange behavior, many assume that’s she’s spiraling out of control.
Claiming she has someone out there pretending to be her could be true, since celebrities do have impersonators all the time, but it also could be another sign of her acting deranged.
Hopefully the identity thief is apprehended or Amanda Bynes starts getting the help she needs.
This report conducted by Think Progress is based on a recent Quinnipiac poll released today, showing that if the election were held today, 43 percent of the electorate would support a Democratic U.S. House candidate, as opposed to just 35 percent who would back a Republican.
That 8 point lead for Democrats is significantly more than the GOP’s margin of victory during the 2010 Republican wave election (6.6 percent) and even more that the Democratic margin of victory during the 2006 wave (7.9 percent) — when Democrats were bolstered by both an unpopular Republican president and a failing war in Iraq. And yet, if Democrats succeed in maintaining this substantial lead through next year’s congressional election, they will likely emerge with a tiny majority of just 5 seats.
Last January, the Republican Party published a triumphant report bragging that “Republicans enjoy a 33-seat margin in the U.S. House seated yesterday in the 113th Congress, having endured Democratic successes atop the ticket and over one million more votes cast for Democratic House candidates than Republicans.” The report touts the role GOP gerrymandering played in enabling Republicans to keep the House despite losing the popular vote, citing states like Michigan, where “Michiganders cast over 240,000 more votes for Democratic congressional candidates than Republicans, but still elected a 9-5 Republican delegation to Congress.”
Indeed, Republican gerrymandering was so successful during the last redistricting cycle that Democrats would likely need to win the national popular vote by more than 7 points in order to win the barest of majorities in the House. In 2012, gerrymandering enabled 215 House Republicans to win their elections by at least 8 points or more — only 218 seats are needed to control a majority of the House.
Thus, assuming Democratic gains are evenly distributed nationwide, even if Democrats won the 8 point landslide predicted by the Quinnipiac poll they would control the House by only a narrow 220-215 margin. If this poll is off by just one point, and Democrats win by only 7 points, Republicans will retain control of the House by a single seat.
From elementary school through high school kids, have the word “college” drilled into their heads as if their own future depends on it. Teachers and principals are pressured to make their students’ grades resemble those of a Harvard Graduates. Parents try to get their kids involved in sports, after school activities, volunteer work, and even jobs to just increase their value towards colleges. The thing people seem to miss is that college is not a walk in the park. It is not meant for everyone and everyone is not meant for college.
Back when my parents attended college you had the choice of working instead of attending school, both of my parents worked for a bit then attended school. The woman who cuts my hair has never attended college and I can honestly say she seems no less happy or successful than my parents or anyone else I have met. I’ve put my hands in both the school and work corners, and neither of them have panned out at all and it makes me wonder. What is a teenager to do?
The idea of four more years of school straight after high school just didn’t sit well with me at all. I knew I was already burnt out from high school and college would be me running out of gas, hence, why I was reluctant to apply. But I didn’t know where else I was going to go. With an unhappy look on my face I started filling out applications and soon enough I began getting responses.
The first letter I received back was from Rutgers New Brunswick, Not even an afterthought to go to for college, but I just wanted to test the waters. I opened the letter and read the first line… “sorry but we cannot accept your application into Rutgers New Brunswick”.
I knew I wasn’t this outstanding student, but wow. That initial rejection hurt a lot more than I’d expected, even from a college I had no intention to go to. The next few letters were much more positive and by late December I had a handful of choices where I could get into that “college life” that movies seem to make so perfect, fun, and amazing. I decided to become a pioneer and attend William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. I stayed there for four months till I became absolutely sick of college and decided to try the road less traveled and work for a couple of years.
When I started my job hunt, my greatest ally – at least told by everyone in this world – would be my résumé. My resume looked like a blank piece of paper with the name “Justin Emerson” on top and my contact information. Very impressive, I know. I cannot say I didn’t try to find a job in high school but I never seemed to think I’d be so desperate to find one.
When I left college, I knew I did not want to work some dead-end 9-5 that pays me mere change. I wanted something exotic and exciting. Bartender! It had this aura of excitement around it in my mind and was something where I could be social and enjoy my job at the same time. So off to a bartending school I went. I took the course, graduated, went to their job placement, and well…here I am writing about me trying to find a job.
A new approach was needed. While a minimum wage job totally cramps my style, it seemed more reasonable than an eighteen year old bartender. I went off filling out applications and searching Craigslist and the internet for jobs. This approach met little success coupled with mostly failure. Here is a short list of places I’ve worked at or applied to:
Toyota dealership
Tesla Motors
Apple
Gamestop
Nike
Converse
FootLocker
Kohl’s
CottonOn
H&M
PacSun
Olive Garden
Red Lobster
One word can sum up my job hunting: discouraging.
So, as you can see neither road has really worked for me. On that note I have applied and been accepted to Bergen County College where I plan to go and transfer to a four-year college soon after. I’m not happy or excited about going back to college, but like I asked in the first paragraph. What is a teenager to do?
Another example that the President identifies with what the American people is going through. He has volunteered to give back 5% of his salary. Now if only each member of Congress would follow suit.
Sharing a bit of budget pain, President Barack Obama will return 5 percent of his salary to the Treasury in a show of solidarity with federal workers smarting from government-wide spending cuts.
Obama’s decision grew out of a desire to share in the sacrifice that government employees are making, a White House official said Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands of workers could be forced to take unpaid leave – known as furloughs – if Congress does not reach an agreement soon to undo the cuts.
The president is demonstrating that he will be paying a price, too, as the White House warns of dire economic consequences from the $85 billion in cuts that started to hit federal programs last month after Congress failed to stop them. In the weeks since, the administration has faced repeated questions about how the White House itself will be affected. The cancellation of White House tours in particular has drawn mixed reactions.
A 5 percent cut from the president’s salary of $400,000 per year amounts to $20,000
Real-estate billionaire Donald Trump has withdrawn his $5 million lawsuit against Bill Maher, the liberal comedian host of HBO’s “Real Time” — for now anyway.
“The lawsuit was temporarily withdrawn to be amended and refiled at a later date,” Michael Cohen, a lawyer for Trump, told TMZ.
The suit centered on a $5 million bet between the two celebrities. In January, Maher said he’d pay that amount in cash to charities of Trump’s choice if the Donald released a birth certificate proving he’s not the “spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan.” Maher was playing on Trump’s challenge of President Barack Obama’s birth certificate.
Trump indeed released his own certificate. But Maher refused to pay up, saying it was all a joke. Trump promised legal action and filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles in February.
Last month, Trump insisted he was ready for justice to run its course. “He made an offer, I accepted the offer,” Trump said then on ABC. “He didn’t say it was a joke [at the time]. We’re going to find out if it was a joke. The courts will tell.”
U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, the federal judge in Montana who sent an email last year suggesting that President Barack Obama’s mother had sex with a dog, has retired following an investigation into his conduct.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit announced Tuesday that Cebull had submitted his retirement letter, effective May 3. A special committee had conducted a “thorough and extensive investigation” and submitted their report to the circuit’s Judicial Council, which issued a confidential order and memorandum on March 15, according to the court.
In the email forwarded by Cebull, a young Obama asks his mother why he’s black and she is white. “Don’t even go there Barack! From what I can remember about that party, you’re lucky you don’t bark!” his mother replies. Cebull told recipients of his email that he hoped it “touches your heart like it did mine.”
Branden Lee is a blogger, screenwriter, producer, and actor, currently residing in Boston, MA. Follow Branden on Twitter @Brandeness and check out Branden’s blog .
Some of the best shows are currently being distributed online. Many up and coming screenwriters, producers, directors, actors, etc… are getting their work out there by creating and starring in webseries. As a TV junkie, and screenwriter/producer/actor myself, I’m always looking for something new to watch, and discovering other talented artists out there. Webseries give these filmmakers the freedom to distribute their content for all to u see. Using sites such as Kickstarter, and other fundraising venues, budget raising is becoming so much easier and more accessible. There are tons of talented people out there, whose work has yet to be discovered by the mainstream. Webseries give these may talented artists the chance to be discovered and entertain the masses.
Here are just of few of my favorite webseries that are definitely worth watching.
1. The Most Popular Girls in School
The Most Popular Girls in School is my favorite webseries discovery. The show revolves around the rivalry of the cheer quad and the Van Buren sisters, with many other hilarious characters in between, fighting to be the most popular in Overland Park, Kansas. The series is outrageously funny, superficial, campy, ridiculous, and I would probably watch every single episode every single day if I had the time. The Most Popular Girls in School began airing in 2012, and gained much of it’s popularity through the extremely quotable gifs made of the characters on Tumblr. The series is told using Barbies instead of real people, which makes it even better. Personally, I love everything that uses Barbies. The Most Popular Girls in School began airing episodes for it’s second season last month, but all episodes are available on the show’s YouTube account.
2. The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl revolves around J, who’s an awkward black girl. The show follows J and her life struggles, including a job she hates and her hilariously annoying coworkers who she can’t stand. J must also deal with her dating life, and lack their of, and delves into her first experience of interracial dating. Awkward Black Girl is wildly hilarious and extremely relatable. Even if you’re not awkward, black, or a girl, it’s impossible to not laugh out loud to this program. It’s extremely entertaining. All episodes are available on YouTube.
3. Hunting Season
Hunting Season is the Logo Channel’s first official commissioned webseries. Hunting Season revolves around Alex, an aspring writer in NYC. The show follows Alex and his three best friends, and their trials and tribulations of being sexual young gay men in today’s day and age in New York City. It’s basically Sex and the City, but with young gay guys. Hunting Season may not seem that original in concept, but it’s a fantastic show. Dealing with so many issues gay men face in today’s dating world from online dating, clubbing, hookups, open relationships, etc… Hunting Season is definitely worth watching. All episodes are available for watching on the show’s website or the Logo website.
4. The Outs
The Outs also follows a group of young gay men, and a girl, and the ins and outs of their lives in NYC. Well more specifically Brooklyn. The Outs has proved to be extremely popular because of it’s more slow paced and realistic view of being young and gay, and having troubles dealing with breakups and moving on. Where many gay shows are complained about by depending on nudity and sex to get viewers, The Outs has proved that there’s more to gay storytelling than sex. The series does have it, but it’s not gratuitous or for shock value. The Outs is available for viewing on their website.
5. Where The Bears Are
Where The Bears Are also revolves around a group of gay men, but instead of being young, conventionally attractive, or in shape, this show focuses on the older, huskier, men in the gay community known as “bears”. Where The Bears Are revolves around 3 friends, who discover a dead body in their bathroom after a party at their place. The entire first season revolves around trying to solve the mystery of who murdered the man and their tub, but also delves into the characters personal lives. So if watching young in shape gays’ dating struggles doesn’t appeal to you, perhaps watching older chubbier gay men’s dating struggles will interest you. Plus it’s a murder mystery! Where The Bears Are is available for viewing on their website.
With most network shows ending their seasons before summer, now is the perfect time to discover plenty of other programs to add to your TV catalog to enjoy! Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
And while a lot of people start going to the gym for swimsuit season, looking good in a swim suit is not my motivation behind setting the alarm clock early and hitting the street for an early run.
For me, staying strong and fit isn’t just about today. Staying healthy is an integral part of the vision for my life.
I want to stay fit for the person I will be in three decades. It’s about being in the best shape possible so I can participate in life.
It’s hard to enjoy life to the max when we aren’t feeling our physical best.
That’s why taking the steady route to fitness and good health is better than working out in fits and spurts. Because health isn’t about getting fit for a season. Good health is about being fit for life.
It’s about our kids and our families and friends. It’s making sure we are here for the important events in life like watching sunsets in June and shoveling snow in February.
Staying fit is about being able to throw my nephews up in the air and chasing my youngest sister around the park.
It’s about walking all over Boson and participating in community activities- now and in thirty years.
In the near future, I want to backpack through Italy and coast of La Cinque Terre. I want to hike all over Bali and Manila.
I want to throw my own kids up in the air one day. I want to run over (medium sized) mountains and through nature trails. It’d be nice to beat my brother in arm wrestling (probably just a fantasy).
I won’t be able to do what I want to do, to live the life I want to live, if I’m lugging around a lot of extra pounds or if I don’t keep my bones and muscles strong .
I worked for more than 8 years as a RN in acute care hospitals. I saw what happened to people who spent years doing all sorts of activities but neglected to care for their own bodies.
Watching a grown man- a big, tough guy- break down crying sitting on the side of the hospital bed was heart wrenching.
He was significantly overweight and was recently diagnosed with diabetes. To top it all off, the knee operation after an accident was going to require a lot of physical therapy and his pain was intense. He had a lot going against him in his battle to regain his health. Now he couldn’t take care of his young family like he wanted to. They were going to take care of him.
I wish I could tell you he was an isolated story.
Unfortunately, I witness hundreds if not thousands of people whose current physical situations were being exacerbated by lifestyle choices: overweight, weak muscles, years of smoking and basic inattention to their own health.
Before I make it sound like I’m a marine about working out…I’m not. I love to bake. I love to eat. I love to cook. I am convinced that what goes on in the kitchen is a lot more than onions and mushrooms sautéing on the stove. I’m working on a book about the joy of baking and building relationship in the kitchen. Working in the kitchen has changed my life.
But at the same time I’m careful that what I love doesn’t interfere with my ability to live.
I don’t eat out at fast food. I watch the salt intake. I’ve eliminated certain foods from my diet. I believe in moderation in all things. I walk every day.
Some days I mess up and have a few too many just-out-of-the-oven warm, chocolate chip cookies. But I get back on track.
Allow them to reintroduce themselves as ROC Nation. Robinson Cano has stunned the baseball world by firing Scott Boras in the middle of extension talks with the Yankees. Boras is the biggest agent in baseball so for Cano to fire him during negotiations is bizarre. As if this wasn’t a strange enough development, soon after ESPNs Buster Olney reported the split, word circulated that Cano had found new representation. Cano signed a deal with hip hop mogul Jay Z.
At first I thought reports had to be wrong but apparently Jay Z has started a new endeavor. He has partnered with CAA talent agency to start his own sports management agency by the name of ROC Nation. Jay Z’s first client is Robinson Cano. When reached for a statement, Boras told members of the New York media that he hadn’t heard from Cano about a split but a tweet from Cano told a different story.
Rumors have been swirling and sources have been speaking. The word is that former Boras clients, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixiera had been in Cano’s ear about firing Boras. They allegedly told him that parting ways with Boras could only help his image with the fan base. Rodriguez and Teixiera both have fired Boras in the past, but only after major contract negotiations. Cano is the first major name to ever bounce the super agent before a big pay day.
Another rumor swirling is why Boras was not alerted of this blockbuster deal. The rumor is that the Yankees offered Boras a 6 year deal worth $27.5 million a year and Boras told the Yanks “no way” without consulting with Cano. If that is true, it makes sense why Boras would be the last to know about his termination.
As for Cano’s decision to sign with Jay Z, a lot of thought has gone into that. Sources say the Cano wants to be a name brand both on and off the field. Sweeny Murti from WFan said he was told Cano wants to be like Jeter and sees that only being possible in New York. Cano sees Jay Z as the best way of accomplishing all this. All in all, this move seems to be the first win of the season for the Yankees. The likelihood of Cano staying in pinstripes is much greater now that Boras is out and Hova is in.
I recently returned from a week long vacation where I ate and drank whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. While it made for a free-spirited break from real life, upon returning home, I find my body feels sluggish and my jeans are a bit tighter than I would prefer. Yikes!
The internet offers no shortage of ways to drop a few pounds fast, but if I don’t return to my daily healthy lifestyle, I know those pounds will creep right back (and probably bring a few friends). Further, so-called “Crash Dieting” (aka Fad Dieting, Yo-Yo Dieting) carries its own host of problems, including:
Slowed metabolism
Weakened immune system
Cardiac stress
In particular, shortages of essential vitamins and nutrients to body can cause tremendous stress, potentially carrying long-term, damaging results. When your body doesn’t get what it needs from food, it will turn inward to find it, potentially pulling nutrients from bones and tissue.
Is it worth it?
Even if you commit to a crash diet for no more than a week or two, there are very few (if any) advantages gained. Namely, the weight you may lose is predominantly water, and will very likely reappear once you return to your normal diet. More importantly, a crash diet throws your body’s metabolism into shock. When you severely restrict your calories and nutrients, your body adapts to functioning on the lesser amounts. When you do return to your normal diet, your body will still be accustomed to functioning on less, typically resulting in weight gain. While your body will eventually adapt back to functioning with more food, it could take weeks or months of weight gain before everything balances.
The Bottom Line
Changing your eating habits is still the number one way to manage your weight, but slow and steady wins this race. Committing to healthy lifestyle choices, specifically a balanced diet and exercise, will ultimately yield greater returns in the long run. Consider losing and maintaining weight is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise – you can have one without the other, but they work best together.
If you’re ready to take a closer look at your nutrition and exercise habits, there are several great online tools to help you track what you eat and how often you move. Take a week or two and start logging using one of these tools. Before too long, you’ll be able to identify which foods are undermining you, and areas for improvement.
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