Maya Angelou's Iconic Poem Receives Hip-Hop Twist For New Album 'Caged Bird Songs'

September 3, 2014, 10:07 am

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NEW YORK (AP) — Maya Angelou's iconic words and lyrics will blend with hip-hop beats for a new album called "Caged Bird Songs."

Shawn Rivera, the lead singer of R&B group Az Yet, and RoccStarr, who co-wrote Chris Brown's "Fine China," produced the 13-song set, to be released through Smooch Music on Nov. 4. The album — the title taken from Angelou's classic 1969 book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" — is one of the last projects Angelou completed before she died in May, her grandson said in an interview Tuesday.

"Grandma loved it from the beginning," Colin A. Johnson said of the album's concept. "These guys were inspired by grandma's work, which many people are, and felt like giving it a different medium of delivery to make it more obtainable to a larger group of people."

Rivera and RoccStarr started working on the album before Angelou knew of it. Johnson, who is in charge of Angelou's estate with his father Guy B. Johnson, said once she was aware, she completely backed the project, which was recorded at her North Carolina home. Some of the songs use previously recorded Angelou vocals, while others were recorded specifically for the project.

Johnson said Angelou's initial reaction to the songs was similar to when she first saw her own Facebook page: "She just laughed."

"She loved it and was excited to hear more about what they wanted to do," he said of the album. "She had a lot of energy around it."

Angelou won three Grammys for her spoken-word albums. She previously released a calypso album and collaborated with Ashford & Simpson for 1996's "Been Found." She also was featured on Common's 2011 album, "The Dreamer/The Believer."

Johnson said his grandmother was a fan of hip-hop music.

"She saw (hip-hop) as this generation's way of speaking and conveying a message," said Johnson, adding that Angelou had "great stories about interactions with Tupac (Shakur)."

Johnson said he hopes the album will connect Angelou's work with younger generations. It resounded with his own 13-year-old and 16-year-old children, he said.

"I don't know that they ever have picked up a book of poetry without it being assigned by either me or their school," he said of his children. "To hear somebody that is so famous for her poetry and her message, and then set to some music that you can enjoy definitely feels like this is something that can continue her reach through generations."

Johnson and his father founded Caged Bird Legacy to launch future Angelou projects.

"There are other things coming out," he said. "You'll see a lot of other things come out with her name. ... And these are all projects that she had out there in the works at various different levels of completion."

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Follow Mesfin Fekadu at twitter.com/MusicMesfin

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Firefighters Show Off Sizzlin' Steps In Fierce Flashmob

September 3, 2014, 10:20 am

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These firefighters really brought the heat with their smokin' dance moves!

A video uploaded to Facebook by Sacha Kekic captured firefighters from Raon-l'Étape, a community in Lorraine, France, participating in a flashmob. According to the video description, the performance was staged to impress a woman named Lisa. Watch as the firemen jump, pump their arms and stay totally in sync during one of the most energetic dance performances you've ever seen.

At the 1:30 mark, the firemen appear to slow down and cool off, as they take off their jackets. But don't worry, the show's not over yet. Just a few seconds later, the boys are back at it and resume the pumping, jumping and show-stopping.

We have to say, that's one fiery flashmob we don't want extinguished!

h/t Right This Minute

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These Photos From Inside A Tent Will Incite Some Serious Wanderlust

September 3, 2014, 1:02 pm

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When Russian photographer Oleg Grigoryev camped in the Fann Mountains of Tajikistan, he woke up to breathtaking views of misty lakes reflecting majestic mountains, dusted rocks and expansive blue skies.

His unique, first-person point of view photography series below, entitled "Morning Views From the Tent," enables countless viewers to experience the sights as though they were there.

"I love traveling, especially to mountains," Grigoryev told The Huffington Post in an email. "I draw emotions from there, which I'm trying to express in my photos, and motivate people to travel and not be conformists."

The photo series features campsites up to 4,7000 meters above sea level. All of the images are taken from the inside of Grigoryev's tent. With his legs extended in full view, and the vibrant scenery juxtaposed against the fabric of the tent with Grigoryev's camping gear, the viewer is invited to sit alongside the artist.

Warning: these images may incite wanderlust -- or make you feel as though you've already done the traveling and are ready for a well-deserved nap.

Near Mirali Peak


Lake Alaudin




Big Allo Lake


Kulikalon Lake


Chimtarga




Muddy Lake


Fann Mountains




H/t Viral Nova

Grover Norquist Reveals His Ultimate Burning Man Dream Team

September 3, 2014, 1:39 pm

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Grover Norquist, the founder of Americans for Tax Reform, had a few interesting picks when he was asked who would be in his ultimate "fantasy" political lineup at Burning Man, the week-long counterculture festival that the conservative advocate attended this year.

In an interview with Fusion’s Cleo Stiller to be aired Monday, Norquist said his dream team would consist of politicians who brought a mix bit of athletic, artistic and technical skills, including Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), because “he’s a surfer, he would be a natural in here.” He also would draft Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) because “he’s a high-tech guy.” The only non-Californian to make the cut was Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). According to Norquist, Paul “would be perfect. I think if he came out here, he’d carry the art vote.”

Burning Man occurs annually the week before Labor Day and is a celebration of art and self-reliance. The environmentally-friendly atmosphere in the Nevada desert is absent of trash cans, and participants take their garbage with them when they leave. This year an estimated 66,000 people from around the world attended the festival, according to the Associated Press.

Watch Norquist's interview with Fusion above.

If This Is Will Smith Dancing At Burning Man, We're Super Impressed

September 3, 2014, 2:48 pm

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Plot twist: Jaden Smith may not be the most eccentric member of the Smith family after all. Sure, the 16-year-old wore a white batman suit to Kimye's wedding like it was no big deal. And okay, sometimes his tweets are, a little, um, out there:

If A Cup Cake Falls From A Tree How Far Away Will It Be From Down. #Jupiter

— Jaden Smith (@officialjaden) August 29, 2014

But there may be a totally logical explanation for Jaden's behavior: he got it from his dad, Will Smith. Vulture uncovered an Instagram video in which Will and others appear to be dancing on segways:



Though we can't tell for sure if that is the 45-year-old actor/rapper, Vulture pointed out Will's Facebook photo, posted Aug. 31, in which he is wearing a similar mask as the one seen in the video:

Post by Will Smith.

So, this is probably Will Smith, unless there was another very muscular man rocking a makeshift gas mask -- which is very possible, because it is Burning Man. Gettin' jiggy with it.

[h/t Vulture]

Mormon Artifacts On Display In 'Foundations Of Faith' Exhibit

September 3, 2014, 4:27 pm

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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Wednesday unveiled a new collection that features some of the faith's most treasured artifacts, including a page from the original Book of Mormon manuscript written by founder Joseph Smith.

The "Foundations of Faith" exhibit that opens to the public this week in the church's history library in Salt Lake City also includes 26 other books, manuscripts and documents that go back to the early days of Mormonism. The Book of Mormon is considered the religion's most valuable manuscript, said Richard E. Turley, assistant church historian and recorder.

The exhibit, unveiled by church historians at a news conference, marks the latest example of the faith being more open and transparent about its history.

A year ago, the church began releasing books containing historical documents that shed light on how Smith formed the church in upstate New York more than 180 years ago.

The religion also recently issued a series of in-depth articles that explain or expand on some of the more sensitive parts of its history and doctrine that it once sidestepped. Articles have addressed the religion's past ban on black men in the lay clergy and the early history of polygamy.

The exhibit contains first printed editions of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. All are keystone documents for the faith that counts 15 million members worldwide and is based in Salt Lake City. Smith's journal from 1832 to 1834 also is in the collection.

"These four display cases comprise our most precious documents," Steven E. Snow, church historian and recorder. "They go to the foundation of our faith. These are our spiritual roots."

Some of the earliest records in the collection were carefully maintained as church headquarters moved from New York to Pennsylvania to Ohio to Missouri and Illinois, and finally to Utah in 1847 after a t r ek across country by early church members.

Of Course Jack White's Latest Performance Was In a Moody French Castle

September 4, 2014, 12:52 pm

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There might not be a more fitting backdrop for Jack White's electrifying blues rock than an ornate French castle.

White, a Nashville-based musician hailing from Detroit who also runs a record label, performed a recent song and an old favorite for La Blogothèque's "The Take Away" show at the Château de Fontainebleau near Paris. The historic castle -- and we mean really historic, as the site dates back eight centuries -- seems like a perfect fit for White, who has always paid close attention to style, from record design to the outfits of his employees.

In the La Blogothèque video, above, the musician goes back to his early days to play the White Stripes' "The Same Boy You've Always Known," which echoes under the soaring ceilings. Next, he performs an acoustic version of "Entitlement" off latest album "Lazaretto," while sitting on the roof and looking out over the estate's sprawling manicured gardens.

Here's how La Blogothèque described the filming:

The bells began to ring as we were leaving, pulsating through our every fibre and signalling the end to a day we still weren’t entirely sure happened. With their vibrations still lingering through our bones, we gave a collective last look over what had, only moments prior, been the scene of the most surreal Take Away Show we’ve ever done.

Sounds about right.

See One Of NYC's Trendiest Neighborhoods Transform In This Dramatic Photo Series

September 4, 2014, 1:22 pm

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Over the past few decades, the East Village has witnessed one of New York City's most dramatic transformations, one that has seen the neighborhood's former grit overtaken by trendy restaurants, divey watering holes and sky-high rent prices.

Photographer Daniel Root's images documenting this change offer a glimpse at the swift march of time and its effects on the character of the East Village.

Root moved to the neighborhood in 1984, when it was already undergoing significant shifts, mainly with the influx of young professionals in search of cheap places to live. Root hoped to capture this inexorable reshaping with a series of photos, which he thought might accompany a book. Though the book was never published, Root held on to his photos.

Thirty years later, he has unearthed his work. Over the summer, he revisited each of the locations he photographed in 1984. In the process, his present-day images have highlighted the sometimes startling differences between the East Village of yesterday and today. He has also posted the before-and-after photographs at their current East Village locations for public viewing.

Check out some of the photos (below), or visit Root's Tumblr blog for a look at the entire series.


Location: 360 East 4th Street. "Neighborhood kids wanted to be photographed while they were playing around the empty buildings. Now almost every once-vacant building is renovated and occupied," Root told The Huffington Post.


Location: 371 East 10th Street. "This was a block party," Root said of the scene in the top image, taken in 1984. "It was 'all inclusive' with homemade food, music and other entertainment like foot races and magic shows."


Location: 222 East 3rd Street. "A grandmother and grandchild playing on the makeshift swing set in an empty lot. The entrance to the new building ... now occupies the 'swing set lot,'" Root told HuffPost, explaining the difference 30 years has made on this location.


Location: 143 Avenue B. "In 1984 the entire building was empty and some in the neighborhood were hoping for low-income housing, but it stayed free market," Root said of the neighborhood's historic Christodora House, pictured above in 1984 and 2014. "When the renovation was complete, the building became a symbol of the changing, gentrifying neighborhood. Anti-gentrification protests [that followed] would often focus on the Christodora House."

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How To Brainpick The Internet

September 4, 2014, 2:03 pm

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Maria Popova tweets 60 times a day but fears the Internet’s information overload. She told The European's Max Tholl how to strike the balance and not conflate the amusing with the interesting.

The Bulgarian writer, blogger and critic is the founder of the BrainPickings, blog that features Popova's writing on culture, art and things she finds on the Internet. Popova was featured in Forbes' "30 under 30" list as one of the most influential individuals in media and was listed on “The 140 Best Twitter Feeds of 2012 List” by Time magazine. She spends anywhere from three to eight hours writing a day, publishes three articles a day from Monday to Friday, and tweets four times per hour between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. EST with few exceptions.

"Literature is the original Internet."

The European: You call “Brain Pickings” a “human-powered discovery engine for interestingness.” What’s your definition of “interestingness”?


Popova: Anything that moves me and impresses upon me some fragment of truth that leaves me different, even slightly altered and more enriched -- intellectually, creatively, and spiritually.

The European: Do you think that that concept has changed in the digital age?


Popova: Not at all! What has changed is that we’ve conflated the amusing (cat slideshows! silly quizzes!) with the interesting, the temporary diversion with the deeper dimension of personal growth. The most “interesting” ideas are invariably timeless.

The European: How much do interests reveal about a person?


Popova: Kurt Vonnegut once wrote: “The most damning revelation you can make about yourself is that you do not know what is interesting and what is not.” No doubt it’s an intentionally cheeky sentiment, but there’s a grain -- perhaps a boulder -- of truth. We are a collage of our interests, our influences, our inspirations, all the fragmentary impressions we’ve collected by being alive and awake to the world. Who we “are” is simply a finely curated catalog of those.

The European: Do you have any idea who your readers are?


Popova: Based on the letters I receive, my readers cut across nearly every imaginable occupation, age group, and life path, so it’s difficult and misleading to attempt lumping them into an archetype or two. Just yesterday, I heard from a high school student in the Netherlands and a retired educator in Nebraska within minutes of one another. I think the only common denominator is that, like me, they are people interested in what it means to live -- what it means to lead a good life, a fulfilling life, a purposeful life -- which is, in turn, the only common denominator between all the ideas I read and write about.

The European: How do you select the things you present on “Brain Pickings?"

Popova: With that same lens: Is this something that’s both interesting and important, shedding light on some corner of human existence? Is it something that helps me answer even a tiny portion of that grand question of how to live?

"I still write for an audience of one."

The European: Do you think that it is easier to establish consensus in the digital age because like-minded people can easily share what they like, thereby establishing a consensus about certain things among that group?


Popova: I’m not sure “consensus” is the right term, but people are certainly better able to gravitate toward like-minded others. The downside of that, of course, is that it creates a kind of echo chamber -- or what’s been called a “filter bubble” -- where we become even more firmly rooted in our existing beliefs through peer affirmation. It takes a constant practice -- an increasingly urgent discipline -- to seek out ideas that challenge us and stretch us. It’s a form of intellectual hygiene that has always been necessary, but never more so than in the digital era, where it is so easy and so frictionless to surrender to the filter bubble.

The European: There is such a huge availability of information on the Internet. Does this make it easier or more difficult to gather information and thereby knowledge?


Popova: I don’t think knowledge results from “gathering” information. If anything, the correlation is probably negative. The Internet does make it easier to gather -- aggregate, as the jargon goes -- information, but not necessarily to make sense of it. An overabundance of raw information devoid of context and interpretation can actually be detrimental to knowledge. Knowledge springs from the act -- the art -- of interpreting, digesting, and integrating new information with our existing understanding of the world. That’s why the human element is so vital in the age of algorithms, because we’re very far from having artificial intelligence advanced enough -- morally and creatively, as these are necessary components of sense-making -- to do this interpretation and integration for us.

The European: Do you think that, because of this huge availability of information, people have more interests today?


Popova: I can’t speak for others, but I’ve found in myself a tendency to retreat deeper and deeper into my existing interests as a form of self-defense against the abundance of demands for my time and attention. Again, it takes a certain discipline not to do that and to continually expand one’s ideological comfort zone, as it does not to scatter oneself too chaotically across a multitude of diversion.

The European: Anne-Marie Slaughter described “Brain Pickings” as “like walking into the Museum of Modern Art and having somebody give you a customized, guided tour.” Is that an accurate analogy?


Popova: It’s a very generous one. I certainly try to do this for myself -- "Brain Pickings" remains a record of my own becoming, so I still write for an audience of one -- in a more metaphorical way, of course, taking “art” to mean the art of living, encompassing everything from philosophy to science to design.

"The label is irrelevant."

The European: You do draw a lot of inspiration from books. What are books better at than the Internet?


Popova: Literature is the original Internet -- every footnote, every citation, every allusion is essentially a hyperlink to another text, to another mind. The difference -- the advantage, for me at least -- is that in books, those “links” don’t beckon as immediate demands for our attention, redirecting us elsewhere before we’ve finished the present thought, but serve instead as gentle invitations to extend this thought once we’ve finished absorbing and digesting it. There’s something to be said for the value of slow, continuous, deliberate thinking, which remains the forte of books and the Achilles' heel of the vast majority of the web.

The European: Do you think that digital curation is a greater threat to traditional print papers than regular online journalism?


Popova: I’m not exactly sure what “digital curation” even means anymore -- certainly not something I identify with at this point. But I do believe the editorial and the curatorial live on a spectrum. Every nonfiction writer is essentially a curator of ideas -- whether this means the selection of academic and clinical studies to be cited in a Malcolm Gladwell-style pop psychology book or the snippets of articles highlighted and contextualized in a day’s worth of Andrew Sullivan’s blog. At their best, journalists -- writers, editors, “curators”, or whatever we choose to label them -- help people figure out what matters in the world and why. The label under which they do it is irrelevant.

The European: What was your favorite “Brain Picking” so far?


Popova: In a way, what has propelled me to do this for nearly eight years now is the longing for perpetual growth, for self-expansion and self-transcendence, which requires a hope that each new day brings a better “favorite.” That said, when “Brain Pickings” turned seven in the fall of 2013, I wrote about my seven most important life-learnings from those years, and those remain at the heart of what I write about and how I live, so that particular article is something I keep coming back to whenever I need to re-center.

This piece was first published in The European.

When Madison Square Park Transformed Into A Modern Fairy Tale

September 4, 2014, 2:20 pm

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"What I learned is I do not know Annabel Lee nearly as well as I thought," Esmerelda Seay-Reynolds said Wednesday evening, wringing water from her platinum blonde hair. Clad in a black wetsuit that showed all her angles, she did not look like someone with Edgar Allen Poe on the brain. But for the past two hours, Seay-Reynolds -- a runway model who could be the long lost sister of Annie Clark, or Princess Aurora -- silently ran through every rhyme she could think of to pass the time during one of her more unusual jobs, as a human fountain in Madison Square Park.



If it sounded fantastical, it was probably happening at "The Last Days Of Folly." Commissioned by the Madison Square Park Conservancy, the one-day festival featured work by indie demigods on a surrealist stage: from a dance co-choreographed by Sofia Coppola, to oversized balloons by Proenza Schouler. A fellow fashion designer, Cynthia Rowley, helmed the human fountain.

In charge of the shenanigans was Rachel Feinstein. Known for her fairy tale-inspired work, the Manhattan-based sculptor set the scene with three structures -- follies -- designed to anchor the activity in the park. As the sun set, strange characters roamed the paths connecting the aluminum creations, which had been powder-coated bone white. Among them was Feinstein herself, looking equal parts regal and wacky in a rubber gown and updo. If this was Wonderland, she was the White Queen.


A "flying ship" designed by Feinstein was installed to look moored in a tree at the park's southwest entrance.

Her inspiration was the 18th century European notion turned popular modern architectural conceit of the "folly," a building with no purpose save whimsy. Feinstein's follies included a flying ship, a gnarled "cottage" and a larger structure shaped like a castle -- the latter two of which were backdrops for the action. All were meant to appear far more delicate than they were, like paper "cut from the same giant sheet," according to a plaque on the grounds.

Modernity wasn't totally banished -- visitors were encouraged to Instagram photographs with pointed hashtags. But many attendees arrived in their own wacky dresses and hats, making any brandished phones look like props for the pastiche.

In other words, the queen reigned. "It's one thing to have an idea," said Rowley, who designed the pump and tubes laced under Seay-Reynold's wetsuit, as well as the sequined overlay atop it. "It's another thing to have it realized so beautifully."

No, Burning Man Was Not Infected With West Nile Virus

September 4, 2014, 4:42 pm

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Calm down, people. Don't curse the playa gods just yet. Contrary to the rumors currently stirring around the web, Black Rock City, also known as Burning Man's playground, was not exposed to West Nile Virus.

West Nile, which is spread via infected mosquitoes, was detected in Gerlach, Nevada, 14 miles away from the Burning Man action. The Washoe District Health Department released a statement announcing nine traps tested positive for the virus, the second positive identification in the county this year. The news comes just after the discovery of the first reported human case of West Nile Virus of the year in Clark County, Nevada.

However, just because West Nile was detected in Gerlach doesn't mean it made its way to your painted van. The Huffington Post reached out to Washoe County press contact Phil Ulibarri who verified that, despite the positive traps in Gerlach, there is no chance the Burning Man desert was infected. "Zero," he said when asked about the odds of such an occurrence.

So there you have it. The slowly gentrifying hippie-fest, while potentially still your worst nightmare, was at least not infected with a deadly mosquito virus.

Comic Artist Pays Tribute To Dr. Seuss

September 5, 2014, 4:14 am

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It's easy to forget that Theodor Geisel, who wrote and illustrated under a pen name that's become synonymous with playful storytelling, was much more than a children's book writer. Many of his stories promote whimsy more than staunch moralism (Dr. Seuss referred to himself as "subversive as hell"), but outside of his work, he expressed his political beliefs readily. He was banned from editing his college paper at Dartmouth for violating Prohibition, and drew editorial cartoons for a leftist tabloid, PM, during World War II.

In a style that mimics Seuss', comic artist Denis Kitchen illustrated these and other scenes from the famed writer's life. Kitchen shares delightful anecdotes, including Dr. Seuss' meeting with Teddy Roosevelt, and subsequent development of stage fright. He also provides lesser-known facts about the artist: After midnight, he worked on personal, surrealist paintings; in the later years of his life, he struggled with transient blindness.

The below strip is part of a larger anthology in which contemporary artists illustrated the lives of the cartoon juggernauts who influenced them. Monte Beauchamp, the editor of Masterful Marks, commented on Kitchen's style, in which Seuss' influence is evident: "When you are reading his story you feel as if it had been created by Dr. Seuss himself, yet Denis didn’t ape Dr. Seuss’ style. That’s just the way Denis naturally draws."

Read an excerpt from Masterful Marks below:



From MASTERFUL MARKS by Monte Beauschamp. Copyright © 2014 by Monte Beaushamp. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Little Lies You Tell Yourself Every Day, Gorgeously Illustrated

September 5, 2014, 4:14 am

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“I’ll get up early and go to the gym tomorrow.” “I’ll just have one cookie.” “Tonight I’m going to finish reading Infinite Jest instead of Netflixing ‘30 Rock’ again.” Sure you will! But don’t feel too bad if you don’t -- we all, from time to time, make these optimistic promises to ourselves, knowing how likely we are to break them.

In her new book, Daily Dishonesty: The Beautiful Little Lies We Tell Ourselves Every Day (Abrams Image, September 2), Lauren Hom has brought this ubiquitous habit into the spotlight, crafting elegant, hand-lettered illustrations for common white lies we tell ourselves: “These heels don’t hurt”; “I’ll just have a salad”; “I’m over it.” It was her own tendency to embellish her future plans that inspired the project, she explains, saying that she and her roommate were describing what they intended to do with their free time when they realized they simply didn’t have any.

Hom’s illustrations play cleverly with our expectations of presentation versus message; as she notes, “When I first started Daily Dishonesty, I was just beginning to dabble in hand lettering and typography. I noticed that most of the work out there was beautiful, but the subject matter was kind of soft --­ mostly inspirational sayings and quotes from movies.“ By presenting an obviously tongue-in-cheek message in such traditionally Pinterest-quote packaging, the illustrations subtly satirize the pervasive inspirational-saying culture while nonetheless celebrating its aesthetics.

In a way, the book embodies this meeting place between snark and positivity, in spirit as well as in aesthetic. While it goodnaturedly punctures the widespread earnestness of Pinterest-y inspirational illustrating, suggesting that such beautiful, and beautifully delivered, messages are unlikely to be lived up to in reality, the illustrations themselves carry a note of (inspiring) comfort -- after all, we may be lying to ourselves about the salad, but it’s okay; everyone is doing it. We’re all in this together. Hom herself points out, “These little lies have even become a part of our culture,” and not in a bad way. “They help us make light of life's little quirks.”














Photos courtesy of Lauren Hom; Abrams Image, 2014

This Poem About Sexual Harassment Will Haunt You, Then Make You Think

September 5, 2014, 4:56 am

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Sadly, it is no secret that women navigate sexual harassment often, in a number of environments.

However, in this video-reading of her poem "Wednesday," poet Olivia Cole describes a scene of harassment on a city bus that is especially haunting.

With rhythmic, visceral language, Cole describes a situation in which a man on a bus rubs his crotch up against a female passenger. The woman prepares her body for his further advances as a soldier would for battle, readying her elbow to jab him, if need be. Meanwhile, other women look on, sympathetic but silent.

"In this world, we are armed with subtleties and stiff silences," Cole says of women, in the video.

Cole then makes a larger, equally resonant point about what will happen when the male aggressor leaves that space -- and how important it is for women to be ready to protect themselves.

"He will be diverted for the day, but will come back with masks that keep out my fumes, moving through the mist toward my comrades, less well-trained, newer to the jungle, and wet behind the ears, taught to fight fire with sugar, which does nothing but sweeten the flames," she concludes.

Cole wrote "Wednesday" in 2010 with a friend from college. She published this video on YouTube in March 2013.

On her WordPress blog, where she also shared the video in 2013, she writes of her work: "I feel much the same now as I did then when I wrote the poem. Some things never change."

h/t Upworthy

Miles Teller Deserves Some 'Whiplash' Oscar Buzz

September 5, 2014, 5:06 am

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Since "Whiplash" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, J.K. Simmons has been the focal point of the film's awards prospects. That praise is with good reason: Not only does Simmons give a true standout performance, but after 20 years of steady work and 142 credits to his name on IMDb, the quintessential character actor deserves a chance to shine.

In Damien Chazelle's breakout feature, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday, Simmons plays a jazz maestro named Terence Fletcher who abuses the musicians in his care at a prestigious New York institution on a daily basis. Fletcher is a guy who probably thought Bobby Knight was soft. He hurls racial and homophobic slurs around like chairs. (He also throws a chair.) It's a showy role for Simmons, and he makes the most of its ups and downs.

But at the risk of making a terrible music pun, Fletcher is also kind of one-note. After a while, the insults become expected, and his motivations are explicitly spelled out: He's doing this for the children, because in a world where trophies are handed out for attendance, no one is expected to truly excel. He's a villain who has our best interests at heart.



Thank goodness, then, for Miles Teller, a villain worried about his own interests. He's Andrew Neyman, a talented jazz drummer who thinks he's good enough to become one of the greats. As a result, not only is Andrew willing to put up with Fletcher's torment, but he also throws away his family, friends, girlfriend and even some blood and tears. The trick of "Whiplash" is that we're pulling for Andrew in his tug-of-war with Fletcher, until we're not. These two guys deserve each other, the film tells us, because who else would ever put up with either one of them?

That's why Teller's work in "Whiplash" is kind of revelatory. As the 27-year-old has climbed Hollywood's ranks, he's displayed both the smart-aleck energy of a young Shia LaBeouf and the verbal dexterity of Vince Vaughn. He's normally playing the bad boy with a heart of gold; the douche bag you'd bring home to meet mom. But in "Whiplash," Teller's boyish good nature hides some deep, frightening flaws. On a long enough timeline, you feel like Andrew will become a true sociopath. Teller is given less to do than Natalie Portman in "Black Swan" -- a movie Chazelle likely found very illuminating on his journey of making "Whiplash" -- but he's nearly as perfect. Portman won Best Actress for her troubles in "Black Swan"; Teller is barely on the extremely early list of possible Best Actor contenders.

Yet as much as Simmons towers over "Whiplash," it's Teller who holds this film together by utilizing a full bag of tricks (including playing the drums, a feat every bit as impressive as gaining or losing significant weight for a part). Teller is now a permanent member on the Next Great Leading Man list alongside Chris Pratt, Chris Evans and James McAvoy. If only he had Oscar buzz to go along with his ascension. Maybe he can borrow some from Simmons.

"Whiplash" screened at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. The film opens in theaters on Oct. 10.

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The 5 Decorating Rules All Great Workspaces Adhere To

September 5, 2014, 6:09 am

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For those of us who have since graduated, back-to-school season can leave us feeling a little left out. But just because we aren't spending our days in a classroom, doesn't mean we can't take some time to give our grown-up workspaces a new look.

Follow the leaders below on how to do it. You're going to want to take notes...

Lesson #1: Everything has a place.
Keep supplies organized with trays, pencil holders and the like, so you can focus on being productive at work and not tackling tabletop clutter.







Lesson #2: Practicality isn't forgotten.
As fun as it is to add all that desk decor, things like printers, bulletin boards and proper lighting need a home as well. Plan your workspace around the essentials -- and leave enough room to move your mouse and put your coffee down.







Lesson #3. A little personalization is always needed.
There's a reason back-to-school shopping is so much fun. Who doesn't love making a desk their own? Incorporate photos, monogramed pieces or writing utensils and other accents that speak to your style.







Lesson #4: Seating is a priority.
With most jobs, there's too much time spent sitting down time to not choose an option that's ergonomically correct. Make sure your feet and arms are fully supported when sitting in a relaxed position and you're able to see your work without having to physically strain. Bonus points if the chair matches the rest of the room's decor.







Lesson #5: Plants are as important as staplers.
Science has shown that keeping a live plant in your work environment can actually help increase productivity. But if you don't have the greenest thumb, go for fake flowers that are yellow. The color boosts your mood and gives you more energy to accomplish tasks.







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Are you an architect, designer or blogger and would like to get your work seen on HuffPost Home? Reach out to us at homesubmissions@huffingtonpost.com with the subject line "Project submission." (All PR pitches sent to this address will be ignored.)

A Typography Lover's Guide To Finding Unusual Letterforms In Real Life

September 5, 2014, 7:03 am

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Pareidolia is that curious phenomenon in which humans see faces in the most mundane places. Whether it's a cloud formation or a random arrangement of vegetables, some people have a knack for finding the eyes, nose and mouth that aren't really there, conjuring a smile or a frown within configurations of largely inanimate objects.

"Typographic Universe," a new book by Steven Heller and Gail Anderson, proves pareidolia can apply to typefaces too. The 352-page tome makes it its mission to locate and explore the typographical potential of the natural and built world, collecting together image after image of handmade and digitally rendered homages to letterforms.


Alphabet Truck, PHOTOGRAPHER: Eric Tabuchi CLIENT: Florence Loewy, LOCATION: France

"Building letters out of objects is an ambitious kind of visual punning," the authors write. In pursuit of the best visual puns, they scan the design world, showcasing the talents of artists drawn to spontaneously occurring -- or well-staged -- letters. From alphabetic topiary to typographic trompe-l'œil, the book is a font-lover's best friend. Eric Tabuchi presents the unexpectedly beautiful typography found on the rear side of trucks, while Jonathan Parker mines iPhone Apple Maps searching for aerial shots of an "S" or a "B" hiding in the landscapes of Nevada.

Heller and Anderson will be launching the book at the Powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn on September 16. For a preview of their design bible, check out the images below.

This Pup Has Traveled The World, And Has Drool-Worthy Pics To Prove It

September 5, 2014, 7:19 am

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Move over, Carmen Sandiego, this adventurous pup is one serious traveler!


People watching by hot springs in Italy.

Cerbero the dog, originally from Lima, Peru, has been globetrotting since he was 11 years old. Now 14, the pup has hit some seriously dreamy destinations, some of which have been documented by adorably whimsical travel photos on his owner's blog. From the hot springs of Italy, to the beaches of Mexico, this little seasoned tourist has been to some pretty cool places.


Cerbero gets to know the Slovenian locals.

While the pup has been to many countries, Cerbero's owner, Ety Fefer, says he is still itching to explore, and is always up for another adventure.

"He never wants to stay home," Fefer told The Huffington Post. "He loves to travel.


Cerbero enjoying an authentic German experience.

Fefer says that these days, there's not much else that the little guy likes to do besides travel, but he has found one new passion -- snuggling up to his baby "brother," Fefer's son.


Our furry friend loves snugglin'. But then again, who doesn't?

We wonder where the little jetsetter is off to next! Check out some of his pics below. They're sure to make you start wanderlustin'!


Trying to blend in with the scenery in San Francisco's Chinatown.


A seafaring Cerbero in Acapulco, Mexico.


We totally agree with Cerbero, who's chillin' in Tulum, Mexico. Life IS better on the beach.


Looks like Cerbero has found a very interesting pal in Acapulco, Mexico.

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Once Again, Invisible Artist Liu Bolin Is Proving He's A Living Chameleon

September 5, 2014, 7:20 am

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Most often when we encounter body art, there's not much meaning behind the images aside from the fairly obvious fact that beautiful naked bodies covered in paint look aesthetically pleasing. And then there's Liu Bolin.



Bolin is a Chinese artist and living chameleon, known for masking himself in a variety of backdrops as colorful as they are poignant. In his newest exhibition "A Colorful World?" Bolin broaches the more sinister aspects of contemporary culture, from our consumption of poisonous junk food to consumer oppression. Despite the works' mischievous appearance, a closer look proves you'll often find a serious undertone (and a painted Liu Bolin!) beneath the surface.

For his "Security Check" series, Bolin sculpted a cast of his own body, raising his arms in a helpless fashion typical of one undergoing an airport security check. The work illuminates the surrender-like pose civilians are trained to assume on a daily basis without a second thought, surrendering their privacy for the promise of safety that, lately, hardly seems to exist.



Bolin's "In Junk Food" fist sculptures address the brightly colored junk food packaging that advertise unhealthy, if not downright poisonous, merchandise. Bolin's work argues that the lighthearted colors and designs adorning chip bags and soda cans aren't just faulty advertising, they're a form of oppression.

And finally, there's the iconic "Hiding in the City" series, featuring the art world's stealthiest model in a variety of stellar camouflage, blending into magazine racks and street murals flawlessly.

"The background is the most important element in my work," Bolin said in a previous interview with The Huffington Post. "I hide myself in locations carrying a deeper level of societal issues and human culture behind the modern world we developed. Normally I'm the figure in my photo, but at the same time, it could be any one of us. I expose the most private thinking within everyone."

See Bolin's exhibition from September 11 until November 1, 2014 at Klein Sun Gallery.

Portraits Of Young Male Dancers Push The Boundaries Of Gender Identity And Masculinity

September 5, 2014, 7:20 am

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"Masculinity as a socially constructed identity is not a stable entity, but one made up of conflictual and contradictory aspects.”

Those are the words of Ramsay Burt, author of The Male Dancer, and they are part of the inspiration behind Amy Elkins' stunning photography series, "Danseur." For the project, she captured portraits of young male dancers in Copenhagen, Denmark, moments after intensive training. The subjects, ages 12 to 28, stare purposefully at the camera or glance wistfully into the distance, projecting diverse interpretations of what it means to be a masculine athlete.



"I am fascinated with the art and sport of ballet and contemporary dance, specifically with young men who push past gender stereotypes associated with dance and challenge societal notions of masculinity," Elkins explained to HuffPost.

Framing the men in her images alone, basking in light, she presents both the vulnerability and strength involved in their very different portrayals of male identity. While a second year student of the Royal Danish Ballet School stands comfortably in front of Elkins' lens, hands intertwined and a calm expression fixed on his face, an older member of Dansehallerne appears in a hypnotic state, his arm twisted around his face and his eyes tightly shut.



The Los Angeles-based Elkins has spent some time exploring the realms where gender-based stereotypes and male identities are pushed to their limits. In a series titled "Elegant Violence," the photographed dove into the world of rugby, creating vintage studio portraits of athletes who demonstrate both sheer aggression and athleticism, as well as intimate body contact and physical grace. Similarly, in "Wallflower," she situated her subjects in front of floral wall prints, stripped of clothing or any other context that would point to their personal self. She reverses the traditional male-on-female gaze, questioning what aspects of beauty we associate with specific genders.

While "Elegant Violence" and yet another series, "Black is the Day, Black is the Night," centered on prisoners serving life or death row sentences, focus on the hyper-masculine, "Danseur" moves to the other end of the spectrum. While it's clear the men pictured are not only physically adept but also psychologically determined, their bodies are channeling postures and expressions not typically -- or, stereotypically -- matched with masculinity.

See a preview of the works below and head over to Elkins' site for more.





h/t Feature Shoot