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Paintings Of Feminist Protestors Celebrate The Women Who Bare It All To Fight Back

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What a cool month it’s been for women in America! First, a presidential candidate bragged about sexually assaulting women. Then, he denied, publicly shamed and threatened the (quickly growing) number of women who’ve accused him of sexual assault. Oh, yeah, and #Repealthe19th was trending on Twitter, so there’s that.


But this is not the first time women have been targeted, oppressed, discriminated against, scrutinized, doubted or judged. Far from it. And throughout history, no matter the bullshit thrown their way, women have somehow mustered up the power to fight back and push forward. Sometimes, this even happens topless. 


A series of badass watercolors by artist Nadine Faraj celebrates the many women who have bared all to challenge the patriarchy and rebel against everyone who thinks women should sit quietly and look pretty while men determine the destinies of their bodies and minds. In her series “Naked Revolt,” Faraj depicts activist women from around the world who have used their bodies as feminist weapons.


From the BlackOUT Collective in San Francisco to the Ukrainian group FEMEN based in France, from Muslim feminists in the Middle East to students in Canada and South Africa, Faraj’s subjects are real-life activists who crusade for the right of women to possess and express their own bodies without being endangered, demeaned, or accused of narcissism or promiscuity.



One painting depicts Tunisian filmmaker Nadia El Fani, who, in 2013, posted an image of herself on Facebook with a statement on her chest: “My body belongs to me and is not the source of anyone’s honour.” The photo was taken in support of Amina (Tyler) Sbouï, a Tunisian women’s rights activist and former member of FEMEN who was detained as a result of her protests.


The caption of El Fani’s photograph sums up the importance of the series: “If a person performs a subversive act, then that act becomes political and it must be analyzed as such! When someone self-immolates in public, we get the message ... It is time to stop considering women’s nudity as exhibitionism, especially when they use their bodies for self-expression!”



Faraj uses what her gallery describes as a “wet technique,” which allows paints to seep and ooze into the paper. The resulting portraits seem to reject descriptions like “pretty” or “sexy,” instead embodying an untamed energy that mimics their inner fire.


“I consider that my figures resist objectification by being so distorted,” Faraj explained in an interview with ArtFile Magazine. “The grotesque blurring and blemishes that appear imbue them with a fearsome power ― some really are frightening. They aren’t attractive like traditional nudes who are ready to seduce. They show their wild side as a display of their unpredictability. They’re a little dangerous.”


If you are feeling like these past few weeks have been a dark, depressing hole of misogynist garbage and rotting male fragility, may these playful and powerful watercolors of topless heroes give you life. 


Nadine Faraj’s “Naked Revolt” runs until Nov. 12, 2016, at Anna Zorina Gallery in New York.


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Donald Trump Sucks At Pottery, Excels At Creeping Out Women In Throwback Commercial

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What will overgrown man-baby Donald Trump do with himself after losing the presidential election next month? It’s safe to say “become ceramicist” is out of the question, at least according to this throwback commercial for an internet company called Cozone. 


Politico uploaded the old gem to Facebook last week, which features Trump’s clumsy attempt at mastering the potter’s wheel. It seems, however, that the Republican nominee lacks the patience and tenderness needed to truly work the clay into anything beyond a turd-shaped mess. He ends up bribing a fellow potter for his piece instead. 


The short clip concludes with Trump leering at a female ceramicist’s cleavage while washing up, which feels all too real in light of recent sexual assault allegations against him. So funny how bad he is at ceramics and how good he is at being a sexual predator! Really guys, good one.





H/t Politico Facebook


Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly
incites
political violence
and is a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-911_565b1950e4b08e945feb7326"> style="font-weight: 400;">serial liar, href="http://www.huffingtonpost
.com/entry/9-outrageous-things-donald-trump-has-said-about-latinos_55e483a1e4b0c818f618904b"> style="font-weight: 400;">rampant xenophobe,
racist, style="font-weight: 400;">misogynist and href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-stephen-colbert-birther_56022a33e4b00310edf92f7a"> >birther who has
repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from
entering the U.S.

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5,000 Jack-O'-Lanterns Stun In Haunting Halloween Display

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If this doesn’t light you up, nothin’ will.


More than 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins are shining a little extra light on the ghouls and ghosts of the fall season as part of this year’s “RISE of the Jack O’ Lanterns” display in four cities.


The intricate pumpkins, which each take 10 to 15 hours to carve, are popping up around the country with displays in Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey and Boston. 


Those unable to make any of the upcoming events can check out some of the dazzling displays recently seen at the Los Angeles event below:



type=type=RelatedArticlesblockTitle=Related ... + articlesList=57e969e3e4b00267764fca73,56140091e4b0baa355ad758d,5634c40ee4b0c66bae5ca695

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Meet The Artsy Magazine That Will Focus Solely On Mental Illness

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One of the most challenging aspects of living with a mental health condition is trying to accurately convey the experience to others. Enter Anxy, a forthcoming magazine that promises to shed an artistic and informative light on the subject.


The magazine aims to take a deep, illustrative look at what it’s like to have a mental illness in the world today primarily through visual storytelling. Indhira Rojas, Anxy’s founder and creative director, and Jennifer Maerz, the editor-in-chief of the magazine, hope to launch the first issue early next year.


The magazine, published biannually, will use photography and detailed illustrations and text to focus on personal narratives, profiles and helpful tips on how to manage a mental health disorder.


“We want to hear people’s stories and have those stories be commonly shared,” Maerz said. “It’s important to print those testimonies, either visually or through essays, and start a different conversation about mental health.”



“The biggest takeaway that we want readers to have is this sense of connection,” Rojas said. “This can be a shared experience, but the main challenge is that people rarely talk about it. The magazine will hopefully give those with mental health issues a greater feeling of community.”


Of course, Anxy isn’t the first print outlet to focus on mental health. Magazines like Psychology Today, Scientific American and many trade publications have either partially or solely dedicated their pages to exploring behavioral conditions. Some magazines have even tackled mental health topics through poetry. But what Rojas and Maerz hope sets Anxy apart is their commitment to visual storytelling.


“We like the idea of visually sharing people’s experiences, so that may be through a photo essay, or someone’s artwork or a graphic design,” Maerz explained.


Rojas says the initial inspiration for the product came from her own personal experience. She was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder following years of severe panic and stress, due in part to being a victim of child sexual abuse.


Rojas realized throughout the process that there were very few outlets aside from therapy to help her make sense of her condition.


“I tried to navigate some of this trauma and realized there were very few spaces to talk about it,” she said. “I started wondering why that barrier existed, especially when these conditions can be very formative and influence how we interact with people and the world.”


She also personally dealt with the discomfort that’s associated with having a behavioral health condition.


“Even with close friends that I trusted, it was really hard to bring up those topics,” Rojas said. “Mental health is not something that people are accustomed to talking about and you’re always worried you’re going to burden someone with too much information.”



This can be a shared experience but the main challenge is that people rarely talk about it. The magazine will hopefully give those with mental health issues a greater feeling of community.
Indhira Rojas, founder and creative director of Anxy magazine


Approximately one in five American adults will experience a mental health condition in a given year, yet many of them stay silent about their disorder for fear of being judged or discriminated against. Anxy looks to provide an outlet for those individuals.


And clinically it might help: Research shows that stigma prevents people from seeking professional support ― so acceptance and openness to discuss mental health issues can be an encouraging first step on the path to treatment.


“I think we believe that so much of mental health disorders or problems we face in life have a lot shame,” Maerz said. “We’re wondering how to avoid telling people we’re depressed or that we suffer from panic attacks. We’d be a much healthier world if people could talk about things like anxiety, depression and PTSD the same way you talk about cancer or migraines.”


Ultimately, Rojas says she hopes Anxy serves as a tangible representation that people dealing with mental health issues are not alone in their experience. She also hopes people without mental health conditions can learn something from the magazine.


“If we look closely at mental health and what that means, we would see that all of us are affected by it in one way or another,” she said. “The more we collectively understand that it influences all of us, the more everyone can thrive.”


Check out Anxy’s Kickstarter campaign to learn more about the publication.


If you or someone you know needs help, call
1-800-273-8255 for the
style="font-weight: 400;">National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Outside of the U.S., please visit the href="https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/">International
Association for Suicide Prevention
for a database of
resources.

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This Time Lapse Of 52,000 Books Being Shelved Is A Bibliophile's Dream

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Libraries aren’t quite what they used to be ― for better or for worse. Once homes for physical books, they’re now community centers, research aids, and spots where the internet can be accessed by those who can’t afford to front such a bill themselves.


The New York Public Library has faced this paradox in recent years: how to provide these helpful services, while also allotting funds to, you know, the preservation and distribution of books?


In 2014, the building’s most majestic public space ― the Rose Main Reading Room ― was closed due to ceiling construction, and the book-lined walls, which looked like something straight out of “Beauty and the Beast,” were stripped in the process.


Earlier this month, the Rose Main Reading Room was finally reopened, with a pristinely restored ceiling and, yes, shelves and shelves full of books. 52,000 books, to be more precise.


The library shot a time lapse video of the physical books’ triumphant return. You can watch the transformation above, in a two-minute video that encapsulates what looks like a very daunting task.






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Neville Longbottom Is Probably A Bigger 'Stranger Things' Fan Than You

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Neville Longbottom just took his “Stranger Things” fandom to a new level. 


Matthew Lewis, who plays the “Harry Potter” character, posted a selfie with Millie Bobby Brown, aka Eleven on the Netflix series, and jokingly revealed that her character was the inspiration behind his “XI” tattoo. 


“A lot of people ask what my tattoo means. Now you know. @milliebobby_brown #XI #Eleven,” Lewis wrote in the caption.



A lot of people ask what my tattoo means. Now you know. @milliebobby_brown #XI #Eleven

A photo posted by Matthew Lewis (@mattdavelewis) on




As it turns out, though, Lewis has had the tattoo for a while. Back in 2008, during Dragon Con, the actor revealed it actually represented his “football squad number.” 


“It was on my mind for ages what to get so I said why not get that because it’s always going to be my squad number, it’s never going to change, I still play football so yeah.” 


In our hearts, it will always be for Eleven from “Stranger Things,” even if the timing makes no sense. 

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How A Real Syrian Mother Became The Hero Of A Marvel Comic Book

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Marvel has added another superhero to its collection, and she’s not your typical flying crime fighter ― she’s a Syrian mother. 


Since January, ABC News has been documenting part of the Syrian civil war through text messages and phone conversations from a mother of five in the town of Madaya, which has been under siege by Syrian government forces. Marvel teamed up with ABC News to turn the mom’s heartbreaking experiences in the war-torn country into a comic titled “Madaya Mom.”



Through her communication with ABC News, the mom explained that she and her family have faced intense hunger and that cold weather has forced them to burn their furniture for warmth. She also shared that her neighbor lost one of his legs after stepping on a landmine. Dalibor Talajić, the artist behind the comic, said that it was the way the mother described this “everyday horror” that impacted him. Through his art, he wanted to encourage readers to pay attention to the traumatizing reality Syrian people are facing. 


“They are somewhere out there within our TV sets, some far world that we don’t belong to,” he told ABC News.


Marvel editor-in-chief Axel Alonso agreed that the “Madaya Mom” project, which includes a digital comic book and a graphic documentary, offers an important and necessary story that can’t be ignored. 


“This meticulously researched collaboration between ABC and Marvel goes where cameras can’t and provides visuals to the true story of Madaya Mom - a story that needs to be seen and told,” he said in a press release.


“Madaya Mom” is available to read online at ABC News. See more images from the comic below.




H/T The Stir

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28 'Westworld' Podcasts That Already Exist, Somehow

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To watch a TV show in 2016 is to obsess over it beyond its simple once-a-week, 60- to 90-minute runtime. If it’s the right kind of show — perhaps one with complex robots in period gear inhabiting a Western-themed fantasy land — merely observing it isn’t enough. There are details to dissect, dialogue to ruminate over, Easter eggs to discover, Hemsworth brothers to uncover.


Recap podcasts have become a staple for TV fans, especially for television shows like “The Bachelor” and “Game of Thrones” that are released weekly, instead of the all-at-once releases of streaming TV. HBO’s “Westworld,” with its fascinating premise, star-studded cast and source material from the original 1973 film, is a perfect fit for the recap podcast “genre,” so to speak.


Perhaps too perfect. We’re just three episodes into the series, and those looking for a little extra audio commentary from fellow fans have a lot to choose from. Simply typing in “Westworld” into a search yields more than 30 shows. 





Here’s a sampling of what’s out there — can someone tell us what’s good?


— “Westworld” (Ed. note: These guys capitalized on this trend nice and early.)
— “Westworld the Podcast”
— “Westworld (Coffee Klatch Crew)”
— “Westworld (Tower of Babble)”
— “Westworld AfterBuzz TV Aftershow”
— “Violent Delights: A Westworld Podcast” (Points for poetic/ominous titling.)
— “K&J Recaps: Westworld”
— “Westworld Rants: A Westworld Fan Podcast”
— “The Hosts: A WestWorld Podcast”
— “Westworld with Ben and Wade”
— “Westworld with Jay, Jack and Mike”
— “Westworld: Post Show Recap with Josh Wigler & Jo Garfein” 
— “A Westworld Podcast: Bullets, Brothels and Bots” (Alliteration: The key to recap podcast success, maybe?)
— “Radio Westworld”
— “Watching Westworld”
— “Watching Westworld | A podcast about HBO’s Original Show”
— “Westworld Cast”
— “Westworld FM” 
— “Beyond Westworld”
— “Finding Freedom: A Westworld Podcast”
— “Westworld Tonight”
— “Westworld Roundup” (If the world was just, this would be a roundup of all the “Westworld” podcasts out there.)
— “Sweetwater Saloon — A Westworld Podcast”
— “The Hosts: A Westworld Podcast”
— “The Hosts: Westworld” (One of these guys should’ve thoroughly Googled before committing to a name.)
— “Player Piano” 
— “South of Westworld” (Different from SouthWestworld, so don’t get it twisted.)
— “Without Limits: A Westworld Podcast”


That’s 28 podcasts, and this list is by no means the end of the growing genre of audio programs devoted solely to what seems to be HBO’s next big hit. The lesson here? If you like “Westworld” and thought you’d be clever by starting a podcast about it — sorry, buddy, you’re too late! Or you need to pick a really, really strong noun or image from the show to name your program.


On the bright side, we finally know what Dolores’ father was talking about when he whispered, “These violent delights have violent ends.” It’s the recap podcasts, man. There’s just so many. Which will make it to Episode 10?




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Not Even A Nobel Prize Can Get Bob Dylan To Pick Up The Phone

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Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature last Thursday, but the Swedish Academy can’t seem to get in touch with him regarding the accolade.


According to The Guardian, the academy’s president, Sara Danius, told Radio Sweden, “Right now we are doing nothing. I have called and sent emails to his closest collaborator and received very friendly replies. For now, that is certainly enough.” 


At this point, it’s unclear whether the 75-year-old music icon will attend the annual award banquet in Stockholm this December, but Danius said she’s “not worried at all. I think he will show up.” 


“If he doesn’t want to come, he won’t come. It will be a big party in any case and the honor belongs to him,” Danius said, via The Guardian. 


Dylan is the first songwriter to ever win the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was chosen for the award over other contenders like Salman Rushdie and Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o. 


Rushdie commented on Dylan’s win on Twitter, calling it a “great choice.” 






Naturally, Dylan’s win elicited some controversy and confusion, with critics poking fun at the Nobel committee for giving the prize to a musician. Others pointed out that the Swedish Academy could have, perhaps, awarded a lesser-known author, a woman, or a person of color. Danius, on the other hand, said Dylan had the vast majority of the panel’s votes. 


Dylan is currently on tour, with his last show taking place on Nov. 23 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida ― just in time for the award ceremony. 

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Childhood Fears Vs. Adult Fears, In 4 Hilarious Comics

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Little kids are known for having fears that seem irrational to us “older” and “wiser” adults. But what we don’t realize is that many of our adult fears are strikingly similar to our childhood ones, at least in theory.


Consider these silly yet all-too-real comics from CollegeHumor, illustrated by Dave Mercier of MercWorks. They’re proof that no matter how old we get, we’re never alone in our fears (especially of clowns). For even more, head over to CollegeHumor.


1



2



3



4



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This Boy’s 'Star Wars' Costume Is Out Of This World

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Parents, you’ve got some big shoes to fill this Halloween.


An adorable little boy was transformed into Luke Skywalker riding around on his very own tauntaun snow beast in one of the most impressive handmade costumes we’ve seen.


In a 40-second video showing off the outfit, the future Jedi knight appeared dressed to the nines, with a radio and a trusty lightsaber on his hip — which he hopefully won’t have to use to get some candy. 


The short clip, which shows the trick-or-treater bounding around to laughter, easily became one of the top trending videos on YouTube Monday, with more than 88,000 views.


As Han Solo might say: Great, kid. Don’t get cocky.

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'Hamilton' Parody Is The Theme Song Hillary Supporters Needed This Election

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The best of Broadway gathered Monday night (their one night off, host Billy Crystal joked) to celebrate Hillary Clinton, the presidential candidate most likely to get a free ticket to “Hamilton.” 


Broadway for Hillary” featured an impressive cast of recognizable faces from Hollywood and the Great White Way. Yes, Neil Patrick Harris was there. So was Hugh Jackman. (And Alan Cumming, Bernadette Peters, Dame Helen F**king Mirren ... the list goes on.)


Speaking of “Hamilton,” Lin-Manual Miranda showed up with his former costar Renée Elise Goldsberry to perform a rewritten version of the song “The World Was Wide Enough.” It’s not difficult to draw parallels between the politics of two centuries ago and the politics of today ― stolen correspondence, foreign meddling, a rich and entitled New Yorker running for office, etc. But in case you were having trouble, the original stars of the “Hamilton” musical are here to help with a useful parody.


Below are the entire lyrics of the new “The World Was Wide Enough,” as sung by Miranda and Goldsberry:



One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine
There are ten things you need to do (number one!)


You register to vote and it’s on
You post that Hillary sign up on your lawn (number two!)


Call some undecideds in your crew
Your cousins in Ohio maybe try and flip ‘em blue (number three!)


Watch Hillary examine the terrain
Watch her campaign with the man Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine in the membrane
Tim Kaine in the brain (number four!)


Hillary makes each decision
Looking at the world from a rarefied position
A public servant with tenacity, agility
Mi gente, experience is not a liability (number five!)


Now we all know this is the time
When the other side tries to fly low we go high (six!)


We know that our Hillary is no quitter
We watch as her opponent sits and fiddles with his Twitter (seven!)


Confession time? All in a burst
I want to vote for a candidate who puts our kids first (November 8!)


Your last chance to participate
Roll up to your polling place, vote up in your home state 
It’s down to the nitty gritty
Three weeks to go, are you ready New York City?


Yes, in a world gone berserk
Hillary rolls up her sleeves and goes to work!
I have only one overwhelming feeling
Anybody here wanna shatter a glass ceiling? (nine!)


Look them in the eye, clear your throat
Summon all the time you can devote
Then count (one-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine-number-ten, paces, vote!)






Some other highlights from the night: Ayodele Casel’s tap dance performance, Harris’ “Origin of Love” rendition (accompanied by ballerina Stella Abrera), Barbra Streisand as the voice of God, Jon Hamm and Jake Gyllenhaal’s “It Can’t Happen Here” skit, Sarah Jessica Parker and Andrea McArdle’s “Annie” homage, Cynthia Erivo’s absolutely arresting “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” Angela Basset’s reading of “Ain’t I a Woman?” and Julia Roberts’ f-bombs.


The event, held at the St. James Theater in New York City, streamed on YouTube Monday. Despite the seemingly endless hellscape that is this election season, for just a moment, the world was a little happier. Or, at least, filled with more show tunes.

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Watch Out For This Halloween Flipbook's Spooky Surprise

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Beware of the seemingly innocent selfie this Halloween.


Ben Zurawski ― aka The Flippist — gives the self-portrait photograph a spooky twist in his latest hand-drawn cartoon flipbook.


What appears to be a pumpkin-costumed woman taking “just a boring Halloween selfie” transforms into something rather different under UV light. But beware, it may scare little ghouls.


“Time to spread some Halloween cheer in flipbook form,” Zurawski wrote on YouTube on Monday.


Check out the spooky clip, if you’re brave enough, above. It’s a trick and a treat all in one. 


type=type=RelatedArticlesblockTitle=Related Coverage + articlesList=580493b9e4b06e0475959a40,56c4b51ee4b0b40245c8a64d,5805cc1ee4b0b994d4c12ad5

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Where The Oscar Race Stands After Fall's Major Film Festivals

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As the leaves change colors, so does the Hollywood calendar. We’re officially on the cusp of “Oscar season,” that lovely and interminable period where so-called prestige films are bandied about in hopes of earning awards glory. The major fall festivals (Telluride, Venice, Toronto and New York) are all said and done as of last weekend, so now the drama starts to come into focus. I’ll cover the Oscar race more in-depth in the months to come, but here is an overview of where the six major categories stand. Nominations are announced Jan. 24, but studios’ campaigns are already underway ahead of the Feb. 26 ceremony.


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The Rarest Pepe Of All Is An Alt-Right Election Nightmare

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Pepe just broke the fourth wall.


Even if you don’t know what Pepe is, the odds are pretty high that you’ve seen him before. 


For reference, this is Pepe:







The quick backstory of Pepe is this: He came to life in 2006, courtesy of California cartoonist Matt Furie. The now-infamous big-eyed frog was part of “Boy’s Club,” a strip about a group of 20-something slacker roommates, one of whom was a mellow frog man named Pepe. What skyrocketed Pepe to internet meme status was a panel that included Pepe being called out for peeing with his pants all the way down and him responding that it “feels good man.” 


After a long and winding road of people idolizing and then creating their own Pepes, often identified as “rare Pepes,” Pepe has most recently been appropriated by the alt-right (a movement that seeks to distinguish itself from mainstream conservatism by openly embracing racist and anti-Semitic policies).


Which brings us to this week when Pepe’s creator, Furie, took to the internet one more time to bring us the most meta, self-aware Pepe of all.


Furie has spoken out before about his distaste for what the world has done to his dear Pepe.


“To lump Pepe the Frog as being similar to a swastika or a burning cross or any of this other nonsense ― I think they kind of rushed to do that because of whatever’s going on in politics right now,” Furie said.


But after the Anti-Defamation League listed Pepe the Frog as a hate symbol, Furie decided to take further action. In partnership with ADL, he created a brand new comic and started a campaign to #SavePepe from the alt-right.






The comic was published on The Nib, a site for political satire, journalism and nonfiction comics. In its bizarre blend of surrealism and terror, the comic personifies this election in more ways than one. From the Trump-like waves on Pepe’s head to his waking up in a cold sweat, wondering what the world will look like tomorrow, this Pepe hits close to home.


And the internet is in just as much awe as we are.














Let’s all band together to #SavePepe. He deserves better. 

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Help The American History Museum Save Dorothy's Ruby Slippers

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As one of the most popular attractions at the National Museum of American History, the iconic ruby-red slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” have entranced visitors for nearly 80 years. 


Unfortunately, the glittery shoes have lost a bit of their shine since the film’s debut in 1939, and they’re now slowly deteriorating.


To prevent them from totally falling apart, the National Museum of American History has launched a Kickstarter campaign ― and a hashtag, #KeepThemRuby ― to keep the movie’s magic alive. The museum is looking to raise $300,000 to conserve the shoes and build a state-of-the-art display case to protect them from the elements.



Richard Barden, the museum’s preservation services manager, told a local ABC News affiliate that the slippers incorporate “at least 12 different materials” from cotton to steel. With his team, Barden plans to use a “specialized vacuum on each and every sequin” to bring the shoes back to their original glory. 



The campaign went live at 12 a.m. Monday morning and has raised just over $40,000 as of this posting. Starting at $10, campaign donors can snag goodies like tote bags, T-shirts and even replica ruby slippers ― though you’ll have to shell out a $7,000 donation for those.


This isn’t the first time the museum took to the internet to raise funds. In July of last year, it launched a similar campaign to conserve astronaut Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit.



Click your heels twice, friends, and throw this piece of history a dollar! Head over to the museum’s Kickstarter campaign here.


 






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14 Powerful Photos That Prove Femininity Has No Expiration Date

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Even before her 60th birthday, Jenny O’Connor knew this new decade of her life was going to be a defining one.


“I had a strong sense that this birthday was a bigger milestone than any of the others. I had a sense of feeling more certain about myself and who I am and what was important to me now,” the New Zealand-based photographer told The Huffington Post.


With society’s pressure on women to look a certain way and appear more youthful, many of our bloggers at Huff/Post50 have written about feeling “invisible” after a certain age. 


But O’Connor says she herself felt curious as to how others her age were feeling about the sixth decade of life and, thus, “The Visible Project” was born. 



O’Connor began photographing women who were 60 in 2012, to allow them to show the camera ― and the world ― who they are and how they will defy “invisibility.” With props, costumes and makeup, O’Connor photographed 75 women for the series. The project has mushroomed to include a book, exhibitions and even a live show.


“I hope it challenges some of the stereotypes of women aging that exist,” O’Connor said. “I am always delighted when younger women contact me and tell me that the portraits have inspired them and helped lessen their fear of aging.”


As for O’Connor, the project left her with an even greater appreciation of older women, like herself. 


“There is so much depth in each and every person,” she said. “I am constantly in awe of the strength and resilience of the human spirit... Women dig deep ― they love and they nurture. They are amazing.”


You can see a selection of the photos below or head over to Visible At 60 to learn more. 


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Laurie Hernandez Killed It During Her 'DWTS' Salsa Performance, Obviously

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Laurie Hernandez turned to her Puerto Rican roots for Latin week on "Dancing With The Stars." And the Olympic gold medalist didn’t disappoint on the dance floor.


After earning the season’s first perfect score on Oct. 3, Hernandez admitted she and her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, had a "bit of a rough week" with their tango performance last week. But the gymnast hoped her Latino heritage would help her during her Salsa performance on Monday night. 


“I’m a second generation Puerto Rican, so I’m really hoping my heritage can really come through this week,” Hernandez told the camera, before holding herself and saying: “Come on guys, wake up.”


Chmerkovskiy said he felt the gymnast’s young age could be a “disadvantage” when it comes to giving a sensual Salsa performance, and Hernandez admitted to former “DWTS” champ and fellow Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson that she’s felt “weird” shaking her hips in front of her male partner. 


Still, the duo slayed their Salsa routine Monday evening to the beat of Major Lazer’s “Light It Up,” earning a score of 37. Guest judge Pitbull said the performance was “amazing” and commended Hernandez for pushing past her comfort zone. 


“I know you didn’t want to shake your hips in front of him but you sure did,” Mr. Worldwide added. “You brought it.”


Watch Laurie and Val light up the dance floor with their Salsa routine in the clip above. 

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16 Unusual Baby Names That Are About To Be Trendy

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You’ve likely never met anyone with one of the “hottest” names of 2016, but baby naming experts are predicting that will change. 


Nameberry analyzed statistics from the website to see which baby names are attracting the biggest share of new attention from parents this year versus last. They found these 16 names that are wildly unusual and distinctive among those are leaping fastest and furthest up the ladder.


These hot baby names are inspired by a wood used to make surfboards and a hip New York neighborhood, by two ancient warriors and a celebrity entrepreneur. Here, the 16 unusual baby names that are among the hottest so far for 2016.


Koa, up 357 percent


Think of Koa as the newer, cooler Noah with a surfboard instead of a long gray beard. In fact, the wood used to make surfboards is koa, native to the Hawaiian Islands. About 160 boys were named Koa last year, but that’s more than twice as many Koas as were born five years ago and ten times as many as received the name in 2000. Given the high level of interest from parents, we predict Koa will surface on the official top 1000 baby names list for 2016.


Wells, up 202 percent


Wells is an English surname popularized as a baby name by pregnancy guru Rosie Pope, who uses it as a short form for her son Wellington. It means spring, which gives it a pleasantly watery nature feel. Nearly 100 baby boys were named Wells in the U.S. last year.


Saskia, up 174 percent


Saskia is a Dutch name ― she was Rembrandt’s wife ― that is still extremely rare, given to fewer than 20 baby girls last year. But the combination of ancient roots and fresh feel places it first among hottest girls’ names right now, prime for import to the U.S.


Theodosia, up 135 percent


All names The-related are having a moment, with Thea newly-arrived in the top 1000 for girls and Theo vaulting up the boys’ chart. Theodosia makes a unique addition to the class ― truly unique, as there were zero baby girls given the name in the U.S. last year. Like Theodora, Theodosia is a long form that gets you to Thea ― or maybe Theo, on the girls’ top 1000 a century ago.


Neo, up 127 percent


Theo’s o-ending is another hot quality shared by rhyming brother Neo, Latin for “new.” Neo got its start as the name of Keanu Reeves’ character in “The Matrix,” which also spawned hit name Trinity. Eighty boys were named Neo in 2015, but we see it following Theo and Leo up the official ranks.


Ragnar, up 91 percent


The History Channel show “Vikings” turned Norse warrior Ragnar Benson, along with his less-than-melodic name, into a modern hottie. While only 30 baby boys were named Ragnar in the U.S. last year, that’s 30 more than were given the name outside Scandinavia at any time before the show.


Calypso, up 87 percent


Now here’s a name with a sound that makes you want to dance. But unlike some musical word names such as Cadence or Drummer, Calypso has ancient roots as a first name: Calypso was a Greek nymph who delayed the hero’s return home in The Odyssey. A mere 15 baby girls were named Calypso last year.


Zephyr and Zephyrine, each up 78 percent


These twinned Z names also have roots in ancient Greek mythology: Zephyr was the God of the West Wind. Used throughout Europe but virtually unknown until recently in the U.S., Zephyr was chosen by tech mogul Sean Parker for his infant son and was used in the U.S. for 126 boys last year along with 25 girls. Zephyrine, a relative of the stylish Seraphina, is much more unusual, not recorded at all on last year’s Social Security list.


Kaiser, up 75 percent


Kaiser gained visibility as a boys’ name rather than the title of a Germanic emperor thanks to “Teen Mom” Jenelle Evans, who cleverly made Kaiser more mainstream by shortening it Kai. Kaiser is also prime for widespread popularity on the heels of other titular names, such as Saint, King, Prince, Duke, and Messiah.


Mika, up 72 percent


Mika is a name found in two very different cultures with different roots and meanings, though both are spelled and pronounced (it’s mee-ka) exactly the same. As a girls’ name, Mika is Japanese and means “beautiful fragrance,” while the male Mika is a short form of Mikael, the Scandinavian and Finnish version of Michael. Mika was given to nearly 200 baby girls in the U.S. last year, its popularity ― it’s closing in on the top 1000 ― undoubtedly spurred by its similarity to fashionable names Mia, Mila, and Mikayla. On the boys’ side, Mika was given to 50 babies, though we see it climbing as a successor to Michael and Luca.


Astoria, up 59 percent


First came Brooklyn, now a top 50 name for girls. Then, thanks to Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz, we had Bronx. Now the newest New York City place name to become a trendy baby name is Astoria, the Queens neighborhood named after titan of industry John Jacob Astor. Master character namer J.K. Rowling used Astoria as the name of grownup Draco Malfoy’s wife. Only 16 baby girls were named Astoria last year.


Seren, up 57 percent


Seren may sound synthetic to the unschooled American ear, but it’s a popular girls’ name in Wales, drawn from the name of an ancient goddess and meaning star. Fewer than 50 girls were given the name in the U.S. last year, but we see that rising dramatically given that Seren is a name that’s both exotic and approachable.


Leonidas, up 55 percent


Can you think of a less likely hit name than Leonidas? This name of an ancient Spartan warrior-king was catapulted into the modern world by “300: The Movie.” Now it’s nearing the Top 500 and seems prime to keep climbing. Throughout Europe, the pronunciation is lee-OH-nee-das, but most Americans say lee-oh-NYE-das.


Alba, up 50 percent


This ancient Roman name meaning “white,” last fashionable more than a century ago, is making a comeback thanks to inspirational actress-turned-baby product entrepreneur Jessica Alba. More than 150 baby girls were named Alba last year and we predict it will climb into the top 1000 before 2020 as a successor to Ava and Ella.


Lula, up 50 percent


You might think of Lula as the love child of Luna and Lila, two trendy girls’ names heavy on the lilting, lovely L sound. Lula has lagged behind other fashionable L names but that may be exactly why parents are turning to it now that Talullah and Lola are becoming overexposed. Just shy of 100 girls were named Lula last year.

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Girl's Creative Costume Incorporates Her Love For 'Frozen' And 'Star Wars'

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Steven Lamb’s daughter Stormie loves Elsa from “Frozen.” She also loves Rey from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” That’s why he turned her into Jedi Elsa Rey with one awesome costume. 


In May, Lamb took his daughter to Wizard World Comic Con in Des Moines, Iowa. Stormie, who just turned 5, got in on the cosplay (costume play) action by wearing a Jedi robe like Rey in a shade of blue Queen Elsa would especially appreciate. Her lightsaber was blue, of course, and even the staff she carried had a “Frozen” touch.



Lamb, who shared photos of the costume on Reddit, told The Huffington Post that after watching “Frozen” Stormie loved Elsa so much that she didn’t enjoy much else ― until he took her to see “The Force Awakens.” Stormie now adores both Elsa and Rey, especially because of their strength. 


“She took to Elsa because of the similar hair and eyes to Stormie’s own, and the ice powers,” Lamb said. “With Rey it was more about seeing an empowered female character using the force and kicking bad guys’ butts.”



A member of a “Star Wars” cosplay group called the 501st Legion made the costume for Stormie after Lamb picked cotton gauze and crushed satin in a color similar to Elsa’s dress. Lamb pitched in by giving Stormie’s staff a “Frozen” spin and stitching her bag by hand, and his dad made leather pieces for the costume. In total, Lamb said he spent about $150 on the materials, accessories, staff, boots and lightsaber.


And it was totally worth it. The first time Stormie put on the costume she “was in love.” She also took her Jedi skills extremely seriously. 


“She was force pushing everyone and using Jedi mind tricks to get hugs and cookies,” Lamb said.



Stormie made her mark on Wizard World Comic Con, and other “Star Wars” cosplayers at the convention couldn’t help but admire her costume. 


“Everyone there was playing along, having lightsaber battles and taking pictures with her,” she said. “It was an amazing time.”


Lamb also plans on his daughter wearing the costume for Halloween. No doubt she’ll have the most original costume on the block.

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