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Black Lives Matter Art Show Organizer Wants To 'Wake People Up To Injustice'

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When it comes to her Black Lives Matter art show, artist and organizer Carla Cubit has one goal: “Get people to wake up.” 


For years, Cubit has orchestrated exhibitions and performances around social justice themes ― themes she believes are often overlooked by the mainstream art world. Her first undertaking, “Occupy Art,” took place in 2011 during Occupy Wall Street at the Lower East Side’s Theater for the New City. Cubit, who herself crafts mixed-media assemblage sculptures using found and discarded objects, invited poets and performers to participate in the pop-up political event. 



More recently, Cubit’s shows have revolved around Black Lives Matter, addressing issues related to police brutality and the private prison industry while providing a safe space for thoughtful discussion, expression and community. 


“The political climate has changed but I’m still interested in the same social justice themes,” Cubit told The Huffington Post. “Open the discussion, get people aware of what’s going on in the world around them. Wake people up to injustice.”


Much of Cubit’s programming for the pop-up exhibition is interactive, meaning the show won’t fully take shape until viewers show up and participate. In the past, the artist hung banners on the gallery walls with statements including, “Your Thoughts on Black Lives Matter,” inviting visitors to share their perspectives with their community. Responses included, “Focus on the progress ― not hate: otherwise, they win” and “Love your blackness,” with some comments sparking full conversations that blossomed on the gallery walls. 



Cubit’s upcoming show will feature a talk from Monica Octavia of the Museum of Impact, billed as the world’s first social justice museum, as well as a jam session featuring Welf Dorr of Underground Horns, Ras Moshe Burnett and Kenny Wollesen. Cubit will also open the stage to other poets and performers interested in participating in the evening’s events; all they need to do is show up. 


The event is free for all attendees, but the artist will be selling handmade jewelry with messages like “Black Lives Matter” and “Not My President” for $1 each. Posters from the Stop Mass Incarceration Network will also be available at no cost. 


For many, the time to support local organizations advocating for racial justice and artistic expression is now. As Cubit put it, the show offers a chance for viewers “to see things other than pretty flowers and trees in the contemporary art world. Something that makes a statement.”


“Black Lives Matter Art Show” will take place Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Living Gallery in Brooklyn.


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Ben Affleck And Antoine Fuqua Are No Longer Directing 'The Batman' And 'Scarface,' Respectively

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Two high-profile directors, Ben Affleck and Antoine Fuqua, stepped down from their high-profile reboots on Monday night, one to focus on his acting duties and the other to make a sequel instead. Hollywood roars on! 


The first was Affleck, who announced in 2015 his plans to co-write and direct a standalone Batman movie. Then Fuqua said he would be abandoning a reboot of the gangster classic “Scarface.”



Technically, Affleck’s vision for “The Batman” ― inspired by his work on last year’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” ― was partly influenced by the DC comic books and partly by an original story. As of a Jan. 9 appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Affleck said he was indeed directing the upcoming film, then complained because no one seemed interested in what he was promoting at the time, the soon-to-be box-office bummer “Live By Night.” 


But apparently portraying the Caped Crusader was plenty for the elder Affleck brother, who will still star in and produce the movie, according to Variety.


“There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions. Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give,” the actor said in a statement. “It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world.”


Affleck’s replacement probably won’t be “Batman v Superman” director Zack Snyder, who is busy making this year’s “Justice League,” in which Affleck is set to appear as part of a three-picture contract with Warner Bros. Variety reports that “Cloverfield” and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” director Matt Reeves’ name has been tossed around as a possible substitute.


This is not the first time a star director has exited a Batman sequel. Concerned that Tim Burton had made 1992’s “Batman Returns” too dark for children, Warner Bros. hired Joel Schumacher to take over 1995’s “Batman Forever.” Revenue soared, but reviews dampened. Today, Schumacher’s two Batman installments are often mocked. (No pressure, Ben’s replacement!)


As for “Scarface,” Fuqua (”Training Day,” “Olympus Has Fallen”) had to choose between that film and a sequel to 2014’s “The Equalizer,” which Variety and The Hollywood Reporter indicate is on the fast track at Sony, with Denzel Washington slated to reprise his role. Fuqua had already spent considerable time developing the “Equalizer” follow-up, so he picked that project.


The upcoming “Scarface” will be the second reboot of Howard Hawks and Richard Rosson’s 1932 film loosely based on the life of Al Capone. (The first remake was Brian De Palma’s 1983 version starring Al Pacino.) Diego Luna, fresh off a breakout role in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” is set to portray Tony Montana, the movie’s central drug kingpin. 


“Scarface” has a 2018 release in mind, while “The Batman” hasn’t announced a target date. 






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Amy Adams Explains Her Relationship With The Aliens In 'Arrival'

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For those who have seen already seen “Arrival” ― or don’t care about spoilers ― the pleasant surprise of this 2016 Amy Adams-led movie is that despite the vague marketing, the plot isn’t actually a full-on sci-fi disaster movie. With a winking, dialogue-heavy script about the importance of communication, “Arrival” triumphed the very idea of making a connection between storytellers and listeners.


In a new video provided exclusively to The Huffington Post, Adams and linguistic consultant Jessica Coon explain how the movie pulled off such a storytelling accomplishment. (The clip also appears on the the digital and Blu-ray release of “Arrival,” released Tuesday.)


Adams admits that after meeting with a language expert and reading up on the general field of study, she decided the source material for the script was still a bit over her head.


“I realized I wouldn’t be a good linguist,” joked Adams.


 


Watch the full trailer for “Arrival” below:




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This Artist Sent Her Painting To The New Yorker On A Whim. Now It's The Cover.

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Ahead of its Feb. 6 issue, The New Yorker released a sneak peek of its upcoming cover ― a tribute to the Women’s March that attracted over 3 million protestors around the world.


Familiar at first glance, the cover features a collared-shirt-clad woman flexing her arm in the style of Rosie the Riveter, the WWII-era feminist icon. Though a few details set this Rosie apart: She’s a woman of color, for starters. And instead of a bandana, she dons a “pussy hat,” the reigning symbol of the Jan. 21 march.


Maine-based artist Abigail Gray Swartz created the image after attending a march in Augusta, at which she wore a hand-painted cape decorated with the words “Equality for Womankind.” The following week, Swartz decided to send her updated portrait of Rosie to The New Yorker unsolicited, not anticipating a response. It’d been a longtime dream to have her work accepted by the magazine, she told The Portland Press Herald.


Unexpectedly, art editor Françoise Mouly responded asking Swartz to send a few more variations of Rosie. Seventy-two hours later, Swartz learned that her work had made the cover. A new image of feminism ― intersectional, DIY, unapologetically pink ― was solidified.


Ahead of her cover’s official debut, we checked in with Swartz over email to learn more about her radical art, her dedication to activism, and why she believes the revolution will be handmade. Check out our interview below:





What inspired you to revisit Rosie the Riveter? And what motivated you to update her in the ways that you did?


I’m a knitter and I knit several pussy hats for myself and for my friends to wear to the [Women’s] March. Watching all of my friends and strangers sharing their Instagram stories of knitting hat after hat was incredible. The act of making the symbol brought unity to the event even before it began. Therefore, I knew that the hat would be a symbol of the woman’s movement. 


So on the Monday following the march, I sat down and started thinking about the art I wanted to make in response to my own experience on Saturday as well as the collective experience of women nationally and worldwide. I adored seeing the images flooding in of the sea of women (and men) in pink hats. So much pink! I saw a headline from a newspaper that read “She the People” and I thought, “She The People: The revolution will be handmade.” I started thinking how there was this effort on the part of women to create a symbol for the march. It felt reminiscent of World War II when women rationed silk stockings in order to have enough material for the soldiers’ parachutes. How women knit for the soldiers and filled in at the factories while the men were away at war. Just like how we are reclaiming the word “pussy,” the hat is also a symbol of our history in our country ― we are knitting something for the new “war effort” to fight for our rights as women. We are knitting for ourselves.


As a result, I turned to Rosie as a symbol to convey the transformation we have taken from the times of WWII. I made Rosie a woman of color, because as an artist I feel it’s my job to paint diversity. I recently read how important it is for children, especially for children of color, to see images of Barack Obama in their schools. So I concluded, why not give girls of color, and everyone for that matter, an image of a Rosie with brown skin. It was just a no brainer ― I want to paint Rosie as a symbol of the Women’s March and she should look like this.


When The New Yorker commissioned an image for “The March” issue, did [editors] ask for any visual details or messaging in particular?


I actually reached out to Françoise Mouly of The New Yorker. My Rosa Parks portrait was in her Women’s March newspaper, Resist. I had this idea on Monday, quickly sketched it up, added some paint and sent it to them on a total whim. They got back to me and said yes, we’d like to see more sketches. So after emailing them multiple sketches, and two different finished portraits, they asked for me to send the art to them via FedEx on Wednesday night and they called me on Thursday night and said it was officially a “go” and they would release it on Friday.


And I ugly cried and my kids were like, “Dad what’s wrong with Mom?” And he said, “It’s happy tears. This is a good thing, Your mom has wanted this for a long time.” So it’s been a whirlwind week career-wise. I’ve wanted to paint covers for The New Yorker for years, and here is my first cover, it’s a dream come true!




Online, fans of the cover have already praised your illustration’s emphasis on the role of intersectionality in feminism. Have you been pleased with the ways fans have read into your work? 


Yes, I have been pleased. I’ve had women, like Adrienne Lawrence thank me on Instagram. And others have thanked me on Twitter. It’s been really nice. As a white woman, I am sensitive to the issues about race and the Women’s March. I was well aware of the need for inclusion. I agree that white women need to show up to the Black Lives Matter rallies. If one hurts, we all hurt. Plus it’s simply your moral obligation as a white woman to acknowledge your privilege and to use it to help others. It’s the rent you must pay. And, if we are going to get anywhere as a movement we must be united and that also means accepting all forms of feminism. It’s like what Maya Angelou said about the women’s movement, “The sadness of the women’s movement is that they don’t allow the necessity of love. See, I don’t personally trust any revolution where love is not allowed.” That, to me, means inclusion and allowing for a variety of definitions of feminism. 



On your website, the “about” section describes you as an activist in your community. Can you tell me a little about the issues or organizations important to you? Why do you believe that engaging in activism on a local level is important?


It’s a very overwhelming time for the majority of Americans (because remember, we are the majority!) so I believe it’s important to focus on our smaller communities. Locally is where we can have the most impact in an immediate way, by meeting our neighbors, supporting our refugee communities, banding together, and focusing on electing good people for the 2018 elections. I’m on several local committees ― a civics group of neighbors and activists who meet once a month and work on supporting our community’s civic issues, and I’m on the DSA [Democratic Socialists of America] civil liberties committee of Portland. 


In addition, I’m supporting my friend with her community project. She is starting a creative pilot program for Maine-based refugee women and their children to meet with local moms and their kids in a safe space to create with one another. The making activities will be a backdrop for the important work of sharing space, listening, healing and gathering together. [Editor’s Note: Those interested in getting involved or helping to fund the program can contact Swartz.] 


Beyond the New Yorker cover, what kinds of projects have allowed you to translate your belief in activism into art?


I had the honor to paint the image for Lena Dunham’s election piece for Lenny Letter, that was really special. And I loved painting this piece for The New York Times about marriage equality. I’m hoping to do more murals this year of inspiring portraits within a variety of communities.


What advice would you give to other artists who want to engage in activism or use their work to send a message? 


Become involved and show up! I keep a note on my phone where I jot down ideas as they come to me at rallies and during the times between the rallies. I also take a lot of pictures on my phone and then chew on the ideas until something sticks. You have to be a sponge. If you like something that crosses your path, take hold of it because you might find a way to use it later in a piece of work. 


I also love the saying by the artist Lisa Congdon: “The more work you make, the more work you’ll get.” It’s very true. I just manifested that this past week! Keep plugging away at the concept of the art piece or of the larger body of work. Do public art, work with other artists, build communities and dialogue. I loved seeing the “Love Wins” flyers plastered around Portland, Maine, on the morning of the inauguration. And then of course a good yarn bombing with pussy hats is always appropriate.


To see more of Swartz’ artwork head to her Etsy shop or website. You can also follow her work on Instagram.


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These Girl Scouts Are Fighting Sexism In Central Park

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After learning that there are no statues of real women in Central Park, a New York City Girl Scout troop decided to take action.


Last year, the 10 members of Girl Scouts of Greater New York Troop 3484 went on a field trip to the Roosevelt House to tour an exhibit on the suffragette movement. Troop leader Gina Sohn told The Huffington Post that during the visit, the 10-year-old girls discovered “to their great disbelief and outrage” that while there more than 20 statues of actual historical men in Central Park, there are none honoring real women.


Instead, women are represented in the form of fictional characters like Mother Goose, Alice of ‘Alice in Wonderland,” Juliet with Romeo, and characters like angels and nymphs. 



The girls of Troop 3484 decided to do something about the underrepresentation. They’ve pledged to donate $1,920 of their Girl Scout cookie proceeds to the Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Statue Fund, an initiative to place statues of the two famous women’s rights activists in Central Park.


The dollar amount commemorates the year 1920, when women in the U.S. won the right to vote.


“The girls were also out in Central Park most weeks this fall raising awareness for the cause with signs, chants and information they handed out about the fund,” Sohn said. “We can’t put a number on donations that resulted from this, but they hope it has made a difference.”


Author Myriam Miedzian and her husband Gary Ferdman launched the statue fund in 2013 after noticing the absence of statues honoring women during one of their frequent long walks through the park. Together, they formed a committee with other people looking to change thsi reality. 


“My husband and I identified 44 women who we believed were as deserving as many of the men in the park, of statues honoring them!” Miedzian told HuffPost. “We decided that most deserving of all were Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony who had worked together for over 50 years for the most basic human rights that women were denied during their lifetime.”



Major fundraising efforts began in May 2015, after New York City Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Mitchell Silver, gave them the go-ahead for the project and confirmed a location, Central Park at West 77th Street. The budget is $1.5 million, and to date, they’ve raised over $200,000 from more than 400 donors. The fund also received a challenge grant from New York Life Insurance Company, which pledged to match contributions up to $500,000.


Ferdman told HuffPost he believes these statues will help raise awareness around women’s issues. “I think that young men also need a greater appreciation of the achievements of women and the importance of the kind of organizing that resulted in women winning the right to vote,” he said. “Violence against women, unequal pay, the lack of women in political leadership are problems that affect us all.” 


Sohn said her troop hopes to rally enough people to donate to the fund so that the first statue of a real woman will appear in Central Park by 2020 ― the centennial of women winning the right to vote in the U.S.



The girls also hope this project will inspire others to examine their cities and parks and ask, “Where are the women?” And if there are none, perhaps those people will work to get women “out of the dark and into the park” by starting their own similar campaigns.


Sohn commends the members of her troop for turning inspiration into action. “The girls have been studying human rights this year, and all the different rights that fall under human rights ― including women’s rights. They were outraged by what they identified as problem to women’s rights (representation) and came up with an idea of how to solve it,” she explained.


“They learned that there was power in their loud voices and passion to right wrongs and ‘to help people at all times’ ― part of the Girl Scout Law,” she added. “They were bold, courageous, intelligent, creative and persistent in their approach to righting a wrong. Girl Scouts can and should be a moving force in empowering girls and young women to change the world for the better. We all could learn from them.”

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'Moonlight,' 'Star Trek Beyond' Receive GLAAD Media Award Nods

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Just two mainstream movies - “Moonlight” and “Star Trek Beyond” - earned nominations on Tuesday for the annual GLAAD awards recognizing the fair portrayal of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in film, television, music and journalism.


Activist group GLAAD said the two nominations were the lowest since 2003 in its wide-release movie category and reflected the dearth of LGBT-inclusive storylines at Hollywood movie studios.


“At a time when progress is at a critical juncture, it is imperative that Hollywood tell more LGBTQ stories that reflect the community’s rich diversity - and build understanding that brings all communities closer together,” GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement.


“Moonlight,” which is also nominated for eight Oscars, is the coming of age tale of a young black man struggling with his sexual identity in an impoverished South Miami neighborhood.


Sci-fi adventure “Star Trek Beyond” portrayed USS Enterprise crew member Hikaru Sulu as a gay man to honor the gay activism of actor George Takei who originated the role but played it as a straight man some 50 years ago.


Outside film, GLAAD found plenty to honor on television, including nominations for comedy series “The Real O’Neals,” “Transparent” and “Grace and Frankie,” as well as drama series “The OA,” “Supergirl,” “The Fosters” and soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful.”


Singers Frank Ocean, Elton John, Sia and Lady Gaga were among those nominated in an expanded music category, while comic book nominations doubled to 10 this year and included “DC Comics Bombshells” and summer camp girls adventure “Lumberjanes.”


The GLAAD media awards were started 28 years ago to honor images and storylines that challenge misconceptions and broaden understanding and acceptance of the LGBT community.


The awards will be handed out at ceremonies in Los Angeles on April 1 and in New York on May 6. (Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

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Miles Teller Denies Report He And Emma Watson Were 'Too Demanding' For 'La La Land'

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While it’s true that Emma Watson and Miles Teller came close to being cast as the leads in “La La Land” (roles that ultimately went to Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling), Teller takes issue with Page Six’s claim the pair were dropped from the project for being “too demanding.”


A “movie insider” told Page Six that salary demands kept Teller from remaining attached to the role, reporting that the actor was offered $4 million, but wanted $6 million. Meanwhile, the source claims Watson initially wouldn’t commit and allegedly asked that the film ― which is set in Los Angeles, hence its title ― be filmed in London.


The source also claimed that now the film is a success, both actors were “raising hell” with their agents for being unable to secure the roles. 


Teller took to Twitter on Saturday to deny the claims: 






Though Teller takes issue with Page Six’s claims, The Hollywood Reporter similarly reported that salary negotiations kept the actor from the role. Back in September, sources told THR that Teller “balked” at a $4 million offer. Then, as negotiations dragged on, his window of availability began to close. 


While THR makes no mention of any demands Watson might have made, the outlet previously reported that the actress “waffled over the time commitment” and chose to film Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast” instead.  


Of course, it’s not uncommon for projects to be recast. Teller had even shared the story of how he learned he’d been let go from the project in a 2015 interview with Esquire: 



Of course, he knows that what’s next is not always up to him. He was supposed to play the lead in the “Whiplash” follow-up, “La La Land.” He says director Damien Chazelle offered him the part when they were filming “Whiplash,” way before it became an Oscar-winning hit. Teller gets a little nervous telling the story, tearing his dinner roll to shreds and claiming he doesn’t know what happened before deciding, whatever, “These are just facts.” He explains that he almost passed up the chance to be in Arms and the Dudes because it would have conflicted with La La Land. “And I got a call from my agent, saying, ‘Hey, I just got a call from Lionsgate. Damien told them that he no longer thinks you’re creatively right for the project. He’s moving on without you.’ “ So he sent him a text: What the fuck, bro?


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Hear 11 Celebrities Take A Stand On Politics At The SAG Awards

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1. David Harbour (Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, “Stranger Things”)





2. Mahershala Ali (Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, “Moonlight”)





3. Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, “Veep”)





4. Bryan Cranston (Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series, “All The Way”)





5. Common and Sophia Bush (Presenters for Male Actor in a Drama Series)





6. Lily Tomlin (Lifetime Achievement Award)





7. William H. Macy (Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series, “Shameless”)





8. Taylor Schilling (Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, “Orange Is the New Black”)





9. Ashton Kutcher (Presenter for Female Actor in a Comedy Series)





10. Sarah Paulson (Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series, “The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story”)




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J.K. Rowling's Twitter War With Trump Supporters Is Magical

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It’s no secret that British author J.K. Rowling does not like President Donald Trump or his policies.


“When a man this ignorant & easy to manipulate gets within sniffing distance of the nuclear codes, it’s everyone’s business,” she tweeted one month before the 2016 election, defending her habit of using social media to take a stance on controversies surrounding the former reality star. Examples abound:


















The results of the election didn’t stop her from speaking out on issues she cares about. And Trump’s latest executive order targeting Muslims and refugees is no exception.


In fact, it’s gotten the author into a retweeting kick in which she’s shared gems like this:














Rowling has also been sharing recent responses to a Trump Hotels tweet from 2011 that asked for a “favorite travel memory.”






Here are a couple of her favorite replies to the hotel chain’s callout:










And when Trump tweeted this critique of European policies ...






Rowling re-tweeted a clever response.






The author hasn’t just been retweeting, though ― she’s been doing her share of fire-starting, too. On Sunday she shared a 2015 tweet by current Vice President Mike Pence, which read: “Calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offensive and unconstitutional.”


She commented on Pence’s message by pairing it with a simple Bible quote:






And with that, Trump supporters came out of the woodwork. But Rowling handled each one with masterful rebuttals:






On Monday, she tweeted a Winston Churchill quote after receiving a number of hateful messages:






And, of course, she got trolling response:






But Rowling is not afraid of a duel.


She hit right back:






And she keeps going.






Damn girl, you’re on fire!






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Mom Who Quit Job For Photography Now Captures Daughters' 'Magic Moments'

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A mom in Romania who quit her job to pursue her passion for photography has found her favorite subjects: her daughters.


Gina Buliga worked in Romania as a producer for Frame Film for nine years before quitting her job in 2009 to work on her photography. The mom now snaps black-and-white and color photos of her daughters, 12-year-old Alexa and 8-year-old Maria. Buliga told The Huffington Post she “rediscovered” herself through her photography journey.



Aside from being models, Buliga’s daughters also offer assistance behind the camera. They already seem to have an eye for photography like their mother. 


“Sometimes the light is in the house, and one of the girls will say, ‘Mom, Mom, come with the camera,’” she said.


Buliga, who also has a passion for underwater photography, described the process of taking photos of her kids as “magic moments.” She has encouraging words for others who might also want to pursue a different passion: “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.”


See more photos Buliga took of her daughters below and check out more of her work on her site.



H/T Bored Panda

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‘The Bachelor’ Season 21, Episode 5: Here To Make Friends Podcast

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One bearded hunk, 30 lovely (mostly brunette) ladies, and four chances at love: It must be Nick Viall’s season as The Bachelor




This week, Claire Fallon and Emma Gray, along with guest and Vulture recapper Ali Barthwell, talk plantation romance, ahistorical voodoo, Bachelor Nation’s new BFF Rachel, and other highlights from Episode 5 of the most shocking season in “Bachelor” history.







 


Listeners of all intelligency welcome ― let’s recap:



 

 





 




Do people love “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette” and “Bachelor in Paradise,” or do they love to hate these shows? It’s unclear. But here at “Here to Make Friends,” we both love and love to hate them — and we love to snarkily dissect each episode in vivid detail. Podcast edited by Nick Offenberg.


Follow Claire Fallon, Emma Gray and guest Ali Barthwell on Twitter. 


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27 Perfect Tweets About 'The Bachelor,' Episode 5

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For more on “The Bachelor,” check out HuffPost’s Here To Make Friends podcast below: 





Do people love “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette” and “Bachelor in Paradise,” or do they love to hate these shows? It’s unclear. But here at “Here to Make Friends,” we both love and love to hate them — and we love to snarkily dissect each episode in vivid detail. Podcast edited by Nick Offenberg.


Want more “Bachelor” stories in your life? Sign up for HuffPost’s Entertainment email for extra hot goss about The Bachelor, his 30 bachelorettes, and the most dramatic rose ceremonies ever. The newsletter will also serve you up some juicy celeb news, hilarious late-night bits, awards coverage and more. Sign up for the newsletter here.

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In Response To Muslim Ban, Publisher Will Only Release Books By Authors From Affected Countries

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Days after President Donald Trump issued an executive order preventing refugees, immigrants and visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering America, protesters flooded international airports to voice their disapproval.


Thousands of academics, including Nobel laureates, signed a petition opposing the ban. Celebrities such as Kerry Washington, Judd Apatow, Miley Cyrus and Seth Rogen voiced their thoughts on Twitter, many of them airing support for the ACLU, which sued the White House over the ban and achieved a stay on Saturday night.


All of this coincides with President Trump’s unprecedentedly high disapproval rating, which spiked above 50 percent according to Monday’s Gallup poll


Now, writers and publishers are chiming in, too. According to a post on The Guardian, a slew of best-selling authors have spoken out against the ban. And a British nonprofit publisher, Comma, took its criticism a step further. The press, which specializes in translated work, announced that it will only publish books by authors from the affected countries while the ban is in effect.


“We’re heartened to see the wonderful demonstrations taking place at airports across the States over the weekend. But we’re sickened by this new side America, as a nation, is showing the world,” publisher Ra Page told The Huffington Post. “Personally, I’d much rather hear voices from Somalia, Yemen or Iran than have to listen to yet another news report about the new show business that is U.S. politics.” 


Comma has an impressive backlist of titles by Muslim authors, authors whose work is translated from Arabic, and authors who are refugees. Perhaps their best-known writer is Hassan Blasim, whose short stories about war in Iraq were translated into English by Penguin Books. Covering his collection The Corpse Exhibition in 2014, HuffPost wrote, “Blasim’s stories give shape to an absurdist world in which brutal violence is commonplace.”


Today, Blasim is unable to travel to the U.S. But, he said in a statement to HuffPost, he had no plans to visit the country after a 2014 trip, during which he felt treated “like a criminal or a terrorist although he had a visa and an invitation as a writer.”


He’s one of many writers published by Comma facing these restrictions. His collection Iraq + 100: Stories from Another Iraq, the first-ever anthology of sci-fi set in Iraq, was published recently in the U.K., and will be published in the U.S. this year. One of its featured writers, Anoud, lives in New York currently, but questions whether she’ll be forced to return to her hometown, Mosul. 


“She still doesn’t know where she stands as an Iraqi-born, British-raised writer based in New York,” Page said. “It’s not just writers of course, it’s thousands and thousands of ordinary, innocent people.”


In solidarity with these writers – as well as the authors collected in Comma’s Sudanese anthology The Book of Khartoum – Page found the decision to “culturally boycott” America an easy choice to make.


“There is a world beyond our friends in America, and we need to turn around and listen to it, give it a platform, hear its stories,” Page said. “Not just continually ‘other’ it.”

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Mark Hamill Finally Explains Those Joker-Trump Impersonations

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Mark Hamill has voiced animated versions of the Joker for the DC Universe since 1992. By now, his take on the villain is fairly inseparable from the popular imagination of the Joker, rivaled only by Heath Ledger’s too-brief take on the role for the 2008 movie “The Dark Knight.”


So when Hamill decided to start reading tweets made by Donald Trump as the famous Batman nemesis, the audio recordings obviously garnered many “Ha! Ha! Ha’s!” and overly-wide smiles perhaps too similar to the devilish source material.


The idea originated from Matt Oswalt (Patton Oswalt’s brother), who suggested on Twitter that a particular tweet by Donald Trump sounded like “something the Joker would say right before releasing a swarm of killer bees into Gotham.” That specific Trump tweet read, “Happy New Year to all, including to my many enemies and those who have fought me and lost so badly they just don’t know what to do. Love!”


Hamill responded to Oswalt that he was up for doing the Joker voice. As soon as the actor figured out how to upload audio to the social platform, he shared his first Trump-as-Joker impersonation. That quickly went viral and has over 78,000 likes at this time. The response is certainly no surprise, with Trump’s historically low approval ratings and Hamill’s recent return to the spotlight with reprising Luke Skywalker in the new “Star Wars” trilogy.


 


Watch a fan’s animation of the impersonation:






To date, Hamill has done only two more impersonations, focusing on Trump’s disparaging tweets about Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Meryl Streep.


“I don’t want to make it an ongoing thing,” Hamill told The Huffington Post in a phone conversation. But the Lewis and Streep tweets crossed a threshold where the actor felt he needed to respond.


“The second one was when he insulted Meryl Streep,” Hamill said while fighting back laughter. “Nobody could ignore ... I mean, c’mon, it’s like a Mel Brooks comedy. He’s so funny!” Hamill felt the Lewis attack was too offensive to let go. (Trump’s tweet happened on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, despite Lewis collaborating closely with MLK in the civil rights movement.) “I mean, my jaw hit the ground,” explained Hamill. “That one I felt I almost had a moral obligation to do.”


The most important aspect of this project to Hamill, though, is that the quotes are recreated word-for-word. He is openly a Trump detractor, but wants these tweets to be able to stand by themselves ― allowing listeners to decide whether the quotes do in fact sound like the dialogue of a supervillain.


“Having done villains for so long, you do recognize rich dialogue,” said Hamill, adding, “in a bipartisan way, these are his words ... not mine. The fact that they sound perfect coming out of such a demented character, that speaks for itself.”


 


Hamill has been tweeting various depictions of Trump as the Joker since his initial impression, as seen below:






The actor really doesn’t want the focus of this project to be on him. After agreeing to explain the motives behind it, Hamill expressed to HuffPost that he also wanted to promote his recent appearance in the Kyle Mooney-led “Brigsby Bear,” which debuted earlier this month at the Sundance Film Festival. Hamill was very excited about Mooney’s work, saying, “He doesn’t make a false move” and “I like him on ‘Saturday Night Live’ too, but he’s underutilized.”


Hamill also made a point of highlighting a similar Trump project by another actor, Peter Serafinowicz, who is reading the president’s quotes verbatim in different voices, such as “sophisticated” and “sassy.”


Hamill doesn’t want the attention, just the results.



"These are his words ... not mine. The fact that they sound perfect coming out of such a demented character, that speaks for itself.”
Mark Hamill


Clearly some aspect of Trump’s personality is magnetic to his millions of supporters, so there’s value in finding ways to break down his charisma to allow people to take the words as they are.


“I totally agree with people who say, ‘Ah you’re a celebrity, shut up, we don’t want to hear your opinion,’” said Hamill, “But I’m also a citizen. They’re entitled to their opinion, as well. I’m not interested in telling other people how to vote. I mean, honestly, I think this man has showed us who he is, and if you find that acceptable in a president, more power to you, that’s what America is all about ...”


The actor, who despite voicing the Joker is also famous for playing a character that led a rebel alliance against a seemingly unbeatable imperial darkness, continued, “I’m a member of the resistance, and I always will be.”

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These 14 Kids Just Won A National Geographic Photo Contest

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What were you doing between the ages of 6 and 14? Probably not entering an international photo contest.


On Tuesday, National Geographic Kids announced the winners of its photography competition, which received more than 46,000 entries from around the world. 


The international winner was 11-year-old Dewi Baggerman from the Netherlands, who took a beautiful low-angle shot of a field of tulips.  



For her prize, Baggerman won a five-day, four-night trip to Washington, D.C., and a tour of National Geographic headquarters.


Twelve-year-old Kate Anderson from Shelley, Idaho, won the U.S. category for her adorable photo of an ostrich chick appearing to step up to a microphone. She received a 10-day trip to the Galapagos islands for her win.



Check out photos from the remaining winners of both the U.S. and international competitions below: 


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Rad Coloring Book Busts Gender Stereotypes With Awesome Images

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This coloring book is a creative mix of fun and social commentary.


Girls Are Not Chicks, from Jacinta Bunnell and Julie Novak, aims to teach kids to think past boys’ toys and girls’ toys and to be bold. From a girl who loves to farm to a princess who rescues herself to little Miss Muffet who refuses to get off her tuffet, the characters in the coloring book celebrate feminism, boldness and the beauty of being yourself.



Bunnell, a former community health educator for Planned Parenthood, began writing children’s books that defied stereotypes after seeing the messages kids received from other books and television shows.


“When I left Planned Parenthood to start my own childcare business, I observed children playing unbiased and non-gendered games everyday, and yet the toys, movies and clothes all around them were sending clear messages: there is a certain way to be a girl in this culture; there is a very narrow way to be a boy; there is nothing in between,” she told The Huffington Post. “And no, you cannot see same-sex couples in any media made for children!”


Her first coloring book, a joint effort from Irit Reinheimer titled Girls Will Be Boys Will Be Girls, took down traditional gender roles. She then teamed up with her friend Julie Novak, a graphic designer, for Girls Are Not Chicks. They first self-published the coloring book in 2004 before reformatting it with PM Press in 2009. It’s available on Amazon as well as Reach and Teach, a “peace and social justice learning company.” Though the book has been around for a while, its message still resonates with parents who want their kids to defy the typical pink and blue standards of gender stereotypes.



With Girls Are Not Chicks, Bunnell wanted to show kids that there is more to being a woman than the characters in most fairy tales. 


“There is so much more to womanhood than that,” she said. “There is cleverness, courage, adventure, intelligence and boldness. These are all inherently human characteristics, no matter where you fall on the gender spectrum. I want to bring characters like this to children.”


Bunnell’s other children’s book titles include The Big Gay Alphabet Coloring Book and Sometimes the Spoon Runs Away With Another Spoon. She also started a new project where people can celebrate what Planned Parenthood has done for them in the form of hand-painted signs and share them with the hashtag #iluvplannedparenthood. One day, she’d also like to create a queer, feminist children’s TV show. 


“It would be feminist, queer, radical, fun and zany,” she told HuffPost. “Kids can handle all this stuff. They are the ones pushing us forward to think about gender, identity, ethnicity and sexuality in new ways.”


Whatever her next project might be, Bunnell vows to help all kids see themselves in media of every sort as a way to normalize how they feel. Most importantly, she wants kids to appreciate who they are despite what other books might tell them.


“I want to provide media examples of something other than the hyper-masculinity, hyper-femininity and compulsory heterosexuality that the media bombards us with,” she said. “I want people to be proud of themselves.”


See more pages from the “Girls Are Not Chicks” coloring book below and learn more about it at Reach and Teach.


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Searches For 'Betrayal' Spike After Spicer Is Asked To Define It

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Press Secretary Sean Spicer may not want to define the word “betrayal,” but Merriam-Webster will gladly do so.


The publishing company said that the look-ups for the word “betrayal” had spiked on Jan. 31, shortly after a press conference with Spicer.











In the conference, Spicer addressed the recent firing of Acting Attorney General Sally Yates. President Trump fired Yates for refusing to defend his executive order barring refugees and others from seven majority-Muslim nations, and for sending a letter opposing the ban to the Department of Justice.


Trump issued a memo about Yates’ refusal that indicated she “betrayed the Department of Justice.”


After a reporter asked about Spicer’s use of the word “betrayal” regarding Trump’s assessment of Yates’ actions, another asked, “Why use the word betrayal?” This led to Spicer being asked to define the word. He insisted he wouldn’t. 


But, as dictionaries are wont to do, Merriam-Webster is here to educate us on what it all means.


Their definition is as follows:









Betrayal is the noun that came from the verb betray, which has several meanings, including ‘to deliver to an enemy by treachery,’ ‘to fail or desert especially in time of need,’ ‘to reveal unintentionally,’ and ‘to disclose in violation of confidence.’ Betrayal means ‘the act of betraying or fact of being betrayed.’”



So, there you have it. You can infer for yourself whether or not it was the right word for what Yates did. These are just the facts.











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This Black History Month, We Declare: 'We, Too, Are America'

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February marks the launch of Black History Month, a time to recognize the central role and revolutionary work of black people in America.


Historian Carter G. Woodson created Negro History Week in 1926 and it officially evolved into a month-long celebration forty years later. With white history being the dominant narrative in America, the work of revolutionary black Americans is often neglected and, while it should acknowledged all the time, February serves as a time to educate ourselves on the invaluable contributions of these trailblazers. 


However, this year, Black History Month, a time meant to celebrate and embrace inclusion, also descends at a shameful moment in American history. Our president ran on a platform of racism, emboldened white supremacists and, in his first week in office, has signed executive orders putting marginalized groups in danger. The message is clear: Not all Americans belong here. 


History teaches us that black men and women have been victims of oppression, discrimination and hate for centuries, so we understand the fear Muslim Americans have right now, and we’re familiar with Trump’s dogwhistle about sending the “feds” to Chicago. However, history also teaches us that men and women of color have been among some of the most revolutionary people to fight back against racial challenges. 


Among these heroes is Langston Hughes, the black poet who was born on this day in 1902 and whose words accurately paint the reality of black plight and progress. In one of his most acclaimed poems titled “I, Too,” Hughes wrote about why being a “darker brother” should not disqualify him from the basic liberties afforded to white Americans. With four words at the end of the poem, Hughes serves a striking reminder that the basis of patriotism is not limited by race and that his blackness does not, and should not, discount his identity as one that is not wholly American: “I, too, am America.”


That’s why, this year, Black Voices is commemorating Black History Month by adopting and adapting Hughes’ message to declare: #WeTooAreAmerica. We will publish stories throughout the month that reinforce a message that all black people ― including those who identify as muslim, refugee, immigrant and queer ― are who help to define the identity of this country. 



Over the last week, immigrants across America have spoken out against Trump by using hashtags like #NoBanNoWall and #ImAlreadyHome. Coincidentally, the hashtag #WeTooAreAmerica has also been used previously as part to tell immigrants’ stories ― a mission slightly different than ours.  


Over the next month, Black Voices will use the hashtag to instill hope by highlighting the history of black trailblazers like Hughes. We will share the stories of legendary and little-known black men and women to spread inspiration at a time we need it most. We will recognize current-day black trailblazers in all types of industries and fields. We will highlight black heroes who embraced inclusivity and solidarity in their movements. We will show images of black people engaging in acts of love to fight back against hate. We will promote pieces that highlight the diversity among black people to honor the many ways in which we identify. We will disseminate self-care tips to encourage communities to prioritize mental and physical health. And, among other things, we will resurrect stories of resistance that remind us all that if these men and women ― armed with little protection and resounding might ― had the courage to overcome adversity, so do we.


In reflecting on our past, we will also use these lessons to help us paint a clearer vision for what lies ahead. For the third year in a row, Black Voices is teaming up with the Black Lives Matter network to bring back our “Black Future Month” blog series by inviting 28 black writers to explore issues that affect the black community and identify ways to make progress in these areas going forward. Each piece will also be accompanied by powerful artwork created by 28 different black artists.


At Black Voices, we understand both the burden and beauty of blackness — and we are committed to telling stories that explore all the complexities of our identity and culture. We invite you to follow along on Facebook and Twitter as we amplify the stories we believe deserve to be told, now more than ever, and give praise to the power among our people. 

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50 Iconic Black Trailblazers Who Represent Every State In America

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Black History Month is finally upon us. As part of our BHM kickoff, we’ve compiled a collection of black icons from each state that have made invaluable contributions to America. The people featured in the collection have made monumental (and for the most part, understated) advancements in politics, music, sports, literature and beyond.  


While the vast majority of these icons were born in the state they’re featured under, a handful of them weren’t, but did make history in the state.


Their excellence is just another reminder that we too, helped make America.


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29 Classic Movies To Watch In Honor Of Black History Month

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It’s Black History Month, which means there’s really no better time to see a great film that captures the diverse narratives of black people. In theaters, movies like “Hidden Figures,” “Loving,” and “Fences” are telling little-known stories that focus on black lives.


But if you’re in the mood to watch something compelling and enlightening about the black experience right now, below are 29 feature films and documentaries to check out. Spanning everything from a portrait of Barack Obama in his youth to the rise of the Black Power movement in the 1960s, these films are sure broaden your black film vocabulary: 


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